Abstract:
Sports balls, including but not limited to, footballs, basketballs, soccer balls, and volleyballs, bisected such that the two sides of the sports ball separate yet are still attached at a specific point holding the bisected pieces together, causing an opening between the two sides, but not a complete separation. The bisected sports ball may maintain its original appearance on its outer surface, but will hold one concave mold in each side that has been fitted to the internal shape of each side, holding the shape of an inflated version of that specific sports ball. The fitted molds are covered with fabric that complements the outer color of the ball and the theme of the gifts that will be displayed within the sports ball. The entire sports ball display will attach to a flat-bottom base to ensure immobility and stability of the display unit.

Description:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       [0001]      FIG. 1  depicts a frontal view of a basketball sports ball as it could be used to form a basketball sports ball gift display. 
         [0002]      FIG. 2  depicts a rear view of a basketball sports ball as it could be used to form a sports ball gift display or gift ball, demonstrating a fabric covering for decorative purposes on one half of the base of the device. 
         [0003]      FIG. 3  depicts a side view of a basketball sports ball as it could be used to form a basketball sports ball gift display. 
         [0004]      FIG. 4  depicts a side view of the interior of the basketball sports ball gift display including the thick gauge wire placed along the rear inner surface of the ball for the purpose of propping or holding the upper half of the ball in a raised or open position, the concave molds, the base of the device, and the positioning of the sports ball within the center of the base. 
         [0005]      FIG. 5  depicts a frontal view of a soccer hail sports ball as it could be used to form a sports ball gift display or gift ball bank for holding money with locking mechanism. 
         [0006]      FIG. 6  depicts a frontal view of a football sports ball as it could be used to form a football gift display centerpiece with plastic bowl insert for the purpose of food service, i.e. dips, salsa, etc. 
         [0007]      FIG. 7  depicts a frontal view of a baseball gift display (constructed from an inverted basketball and painted to resemble a baseball), as it could be used to form a baseball floral display including plastic bowl insert for moisture containment. 
         [0008]      FIG. 8  depicts a frontal view of a Christmas ornament gift display (constructed from an inverted basketball which is painted and decorated with glitter), utilizing the protruding valve stem as the top portion of the ornament where the hanging hook or loop is typically attached. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0009]    As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 , device  10  includes a sports ball corn only referred to as a basketball  12 , comprised of an outer rubber cover  14 , inner inflatable bladder  16 , and valve stem  18 . The basketball  12  as illustrated is bisected along a predetermined line around the circumference of the sphere, which is implemented and terminated within two inches on either side of the valve stem  18  mounted within the ball. The valve stem  18 , remaining intact is utilized as a hinge holding the bisected sides of the ball  12  together, creating the necessary flexibility in order for the sides to be opened and closed for the purpose of displaying gift items inserted within the ball  12 . Trim ribbon  20  is then adhered to each side of the ball  12  along the line of bisection in order to restore a more polished appearance. Thin ribbon  20  may be comprised of any ribbon, material, fabric, etc., which is complementary to the device. Solid concave or “bowl shaped” molds  22 , constructed from clay, paper mache, plastic or other hardened material are covered with fabric  24 , and fitted to the interior of each side of the bisected sports ball  12  and adhered to each side with glue, rubber cement or any suitable adhesive, compound. The covered molds  22  are of suitable size and shape as to reinforce the outer surface of the ball  14  giving the ball  12  an inflated appearance. A heavy gauge wire  26 , such as the thickness of a wire coat hanger, may be contoured to follow the shape of the curvature of the interior of the ball  12  and inserted beneath the concave molds  22  against the inner surface of the ball  16  for the purpose of propping or holding the upper half of the ball  12  open for display. The ball  12  is attached to a circular, square or otherwise shaped base  28  which may be constructed from wood, plastic, Styrofoam and the like, with a flat bottom for stability and is hollow or indented in the center to provide stability for the round ball  12 . 
         [0010]    The ball  12  may be attached to the base  28  with glue, rubber cement, or any suitable adhesive compound. The base unit  28  may be covered with paint or decorative fabric  24  which complements the appearance of the ball  12  and interior fabric  24 , or may be left in its original state without further embellishment.  FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 , depict a basketball  12  illustration of a sports ball gift display for the purpose of illustration, but any sports ball, i.e. soccer ball  30 , football  32 , volleyball, etc., may be utilized in accordance with the invention. 
         [0011]      FIG. 5  illustrates the device  10  in the form of a soccer ball  30  bank, wherein the process of manufacturing the device  10  is the same as in  FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 , with the exception that the sports ball illustrated, commonly known as a soccer ball  30 , is used to depict one of a variety of different forms of this invention. The coin bank version of the sports ball gift display shall be equipped with a small locking mechanism  36  which may be adhered to the outer surface  14  of the invention for security purposes. The coin bank version of this invention requires a coin slot  38  with dimensions of approximately one and one-quarter inches in length and one-quarter inch wide to be cut through both the outer cover of the ball  14  and the upper fitted mold  22  located within the device  10  which will allow coins and paper money to pass through into the bank. The coin slot  38  should be trimmed with ribbon  20  or fabric  24  which is adhered to the outer surface of the ball  14  to provide a finished appearance where the device  10  was altered. As previously stated, any sports ball, i.e. a basketball, football, volleyball, etc., may be used to create this coin bank in accordance with the invention. 
         [0012]      FIG. 6  illustrates a sports ball, commonly referred to as a football  32 , as it may be used to create a football gift display which may be used for food service to serve dips, salsas, etc., as well as a table centerpiece with or without the purpose of serving food. The football  32  gift display is manufactured in accordance with the same process described for  FIG. 1  with the exception of the interior concave molds  22  which will be formed in an oval shape in order to resemble the shape of an inflated football  32  on the exterior. The base  28  used for the football  32  gift display may be of any size and shape, but a rectangular shaped base, covered in green material or fabric  24  and embellished with white lines and numbers resembling the markings commonly seen on a football field complements the theme of the football  32  gift display suitably. Included within the device  10  shall be a form fitted bowl, set of bowls or a specially designed tray  40  manufactured from “food safe” materials which shall serve as the containers for holding foods within the sports ball, i.e. chips, dips, salsas, sauces, and the like. The form fitted bowl or tray  40  shall fit within the confines of the interior mold.  22  which is placed within the lower half of the bisected sports ball and may or may not encompass a “lip” around the edge to protect the material  24  which is adhered to the mold  22  from becoming soiled during food service. Each sports ball device  10  utilized for the purpose of food service may have an inner bowl, set of bowls or tray  40  having different dimensions, sizes and shapes in order to accommodate the different dimensions, sizes and shapes of the sports balls utilized therein. The specifications of any and all sports balls utilized in the manufacturing of this invention include, but are not limited to universally recognized standard versions or “regulation size” versions of the sports balls. Sports balls of any size, shape and dimensions may be utilized, including smaller versions of the sports balls and large or jumbo versions as well. Accordingly, any type of ball may be used in the manufacturing of this invention, even if it is not commonly referred to as a sports ball, i.e. a beach ball.  FIG. 7  illustrates a basketball  12  which has been inverted so that the outer rubber cover  14  is on the inside of the sphere and the inner inflatable bladder  16  becomes the outside surface of the device W. The technique of inverting the sports ball, i.e. a basketball, produces a smooth, paintable outer surface for the ball so that the ball may be transformed into a larger version or a sports ball that is generally known to be more miniature in size, i.e. a baseball, softball, tennis ball golf ball, etc., allowing it enough area within to hold and display gifts and sundries.  FIG. 7  depicts the technique of inverting a basketball  12  and painting the rubber bladder  16  white to resemble a large version of a sports ball commonly referred to as a baseball. Stitching may then be added using paint, yarn or other materials that will create the appearance of realistic stitching on the painted surface of the ball in a formation customary to the stitching commonly found on a regulation baseball. The stitching may also be designed to resemble the stitching commonly found on a regulation softball to create a softball gift/display set.  FIG. 7  illustrates an inverted basketball  12 , but any sports ball incorporated into this invention, i.e. a soccer ball or volleyball, may be inverted to create a larger version of a smaller ball so long as the inner inflatable bladder  16  of the ball being inverted has a smooth and paintable surface. The device  10  in  FIG. 7  is then manufactured according to the same process described in  FIG. 1 , with the exception that the ball must be bisected around the circumference while keeping the ball in the position of having the valve stem  18  at the bottom or underside of the ball. The ball in an inverted state will allow the internal valve stem  18  to protrude on the outer surface which detracts from the appearance of the device  10  unless the valve stem  18  is hidden on the underside of the ball inside the base  28 . Because this version of the device  10  does not allow for the use of the valve stem  18  as a hinge, there must be an area of approximately 3 inches of the outer rubber cover  14  which remains uncut and intact along the circumference line which serves as the hinge for this particular design. Preformed inserts made of plastic or other suitable materials may then be placed into the fabric  24  covered mold  22  located in the bottom half of the device  10  to allow for the insertion of floral arrangements within the device  10 . 
         [0013]    Another version of the gift display, may include small hooks attached to the concave molds  22  in the interior of the device  10  which provide for the hanging of necklaces, bracelets and jewelry, allowing the sports ball gill set/display to be utilized for jewelry display and storage. With respect to the description above, it should be acknowledged that there are multiple variations of each version of this invention; including but not limited to size, shape, and mode of operation, which may optimize the functionality of the invention and will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. As modifications to this invention may prove optimal to its function, the construction of this device  10  should not be limited to the exact description expressed in this document. Suitable modifications may be applied to enhance the functionality of the invention, so long as modifications are within the scope of the invention.