Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/729,700, filed Nov. 26, 2012, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    1. Technical Field 
         [0004]    The present disclosure generally relates to a new and unique sports memorabilia item, and more specifically to a small-scale locker and related sports equipment/items commonly stored in a standard-sized locker. 
         [0005]    2. Related Art 
         [0006]    Sports fans of all levels (i.e., professional, college, amateur) enjoy representing their team by wearing team-related apparel, such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, shorts, or the like, as well as replica or authentic jerseys, hats, sweaters, etc. Indeed, the term “fan” is short for “fanatic,” and thus, when an individual is a “fan” of a particular team, that individual exhibits an elevated level of a passion and excitement for a particular team. For instance, an individual may be a fan of a local sports team, his alma mater (high school or college), or a team associated with a particular player. 
         [0007]    In addition to wearing sports-related apparel, sports fans enjoy collecting sports memorabilia, such as game balls, autographed items, game day programs, game worn items, sports cards, and the like, as a means of representing their loyalty to a particular team, player or event (i.e., the Super Bowl). Along these lines, there is a national enthusiasm for sports collectibles, and consequently, the sports memorabilia market is a booming industry. Some estimate that the sports memorabilia market is a multi-billion dollar global market, with over 5 billion dollars a year generated world-wide, and approximately 1 billion being attributable to sales in the United States. 
         [0008]    Many fans are proud of their devotion to their team, and thus, fans will oftentimes prominently display their sports memorabilia in their home, as well as at their place of employment. For instance, items such as helmets, autographed photos, game balls, game day programs, and the like are commonly put on display by sports fans. 
         [0009]    In many cases, the sports memorabilia displayed by the sports fan tends to be larger in size, and thus, requires a considerable amount of space for display. For instance, a helmet or framed jersey typically requires generous amounts of space on a large shelf or wall for displaying that item. While this may be suitable for larger rooms, there are smaller spaces which typically cannot accommodate such large items, such as a desk, small shelf, mantle, etc. Therefore, smaller sports memorabilia items are desired for smaller, more confined spaces. Furthermore, smaller items tend to also be more desirable for children, as the smaller items tend to be more suitably scaled to children&#39;s furniture. 
         [0010]    In addition to being used by fans to show pride in their team, sports collectibles are also used by professional sports teams as an attraction for drawing fans to the ballparks and arenas. In particular, with the advent of flat-screen, high-definition television, many fans prefer to watch the game in the comfort of their home, rather than at the stadium/arena. Thus, many professional sports teams offer collectibles to enhance the game day experience and incentivize fans to watch the game at the stadium/arena. 
         [0011]    One of the more popular collectible giveaways offered by sports teams in recent years is bobblehead dolls. Along these lines, many major league baseball teams host several “bobblehead” nights each year to draw fans to the ballpark. For instance, the LOS ANGELES DODGERS sold a ten-game “bobblehead ticket plan,” which was one of the team&#39;s best sellers in 2012. 
         [0012]    Although sports memorabilia giveaways, such as bobbleheads, are currently popular and are effective in drawing fans to the ballpark, sports fans are always seeking out new sports collectible items. Consequently, professional sports teams are also continually seeking for new and unique promotional items which may be used as incentives for bringing fans to the ballpark/arena. 
         [0013]    Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a new sports collectible, which is preferably sized and configured to be easily displayed by fans on a wide range of display surfaces, such as a desk, shelf, or the like, as well as being configured to be easily handed out to fans visiting the ballpark. Various aspects of the present invention are directed toward addressing these needs, as will be discussed in more detail below. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0014]    Various aspects of the present invention are directed toward a small-scale/miniaturized display locker sized and configured to be a scaled version of a professional, collegiate or other sports locker where an athlete would display or store his/her uniform and equipment. The scaled nature of the display locker allows a fan of the corresponding team or player to show his/her support by placing the display locker on a desk, shelf, credenza or mounting on a wall. 
         [0015]    According to one embodiment, the small-scale locker includes a rear wall and a peripheral wall coupled to a peripheral portion of the rear wall. The rear wall and the peripheral wall collectively define a small-scale locker cavity. A shelf is coupled to the peripheral wall and divides the locker cavity into first and second cavity sections. A first magnetic connector is coupled to the peripheral wall and is sized and configured to magnetically engage with a corresponding magnetic connector of an adjacent small-scale locker. 
         [0016]    The small-scale locker may additionally comprise an indicia element coupled to an outer surface of the peripheral wall. A nameplate may also be coupled to the shelf. The small-scale locker may further include a hanging rod coupled to the peripheral wall and extending through the small-scale locker cavity. 
         [0017]    The rear wall, peripheral wall and shelf may be fabricated from wood. The peripheral wall may define a quadrangular configuration having a longitudinal dimension defining a height and a latitudinal dimension defining a width. The height may be less than 25 inches and the width may be less than 15 inches. The height may also be less than 1.5 inches and the width may also be less than 1 inch. 
         [0018]    The first magnetic connector may be recessed within a bore formed in the peripheral wall. The first magnetic connector may include an exposed surface substantially flush with an outer surface of the peripheral wall. The small-scale locker may further include a second magnetic connector coupled to the peripheral wall. The first magnetic connector and second magnetic connector may be arranged in opposed relation to each other. 
         [0019]    The presently contemplated embodiments will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which: 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  is an upper perspective view of a plurality of small-scale lockers detachably coupled to each other and arranged in a row; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is an upper perspective view of a small-scale locker; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the small-scale locker depicted in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the small-scale locker depicted in  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the small-scale locker depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
       [0026]    Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and the detailed description to indicate the same elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein the drawings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention only, and are not for purposes of limiting the same, there is depicted a small-scale locker  10  which is a scaled version of a professional, collegiate, or amateur sports locker commonly used by an athlete for displaying or storing the uniform and equipment used for their team or individual sports participation. The locker  10  is configured to display small-scale or miniaturized equipment items of professional, collegiate, high school, club or other sports looker rooms including baseball, football, basketball, hockey, soccer, auto racing, motorcycle racing, and track and field. The small-scale locker  10  and the contents displayed therein are intended to emulate full sized lockers used in locker rooms of a corresponding team. 
         [0028]    In this regard, the small-scale locker  10  may be used as a new and unique sports collectible for filling a need in the sports memorabilia industry for smaller sports memorabilia items. Along these lines, the small-scale locker  10  is suitably sized and configured for display in smaller display areas, such as a desk, small shelf, children&#39;s room, etc. Furthermore, the small-scale nature of the locker  10  allows the locker  10  to be easily used by a professional sports team as a giveaway/handout or similar promotional item to lure fans to their home stadium. 
         [0029]    According to one embodiment, and referring now specifically to  FIG. 2 , the small-scale locker includes a rear wall  12  having an inner face  14  and an opposing outer face  16 . The locker  10  additionally includes a peripheral wall  18  coupled to a peripheral portion of the rear wall  12 . The peripheral wall  18  preferably defines a closed perimeter around the rear wall  12 . 
         [0030]    In the exemplary embodiment, the peripheral wall  18  defines a generally rectangular configuration including a pair of opposed vertical members  20 ,  22  and a pair of opposed horizontal members  24 ,  26 . The rear wall  12  and the peripheral wall  18  collectively define a small-scale locker cavity  28  for displaying the equipment or uniform  15 , as will be described in more detail below. 
         [0031]    The locker  10  is specifically sized and configured to represent a significantly smaller scale version of a conventional full sized locker. Along these lines, the locker  10  defines a height (H), width (W), and depth (D) (see  FIG. 4 ) that is much smaller than the corresponding full sized version of the locker. The height (H) of the locker  10  is defined by the corresponding outer surfaces  30 ,  32  of the horizontal members  24 ,  26 . The outer surfaces  30 ,  32  are those surfaces of the horizontal members  24 ,  26  that face away from the locker cavity  28 . In this regard, each horizontal member  24 ,  26  includes an opposing inner surface which faces inwardly toward the locker cavity  28 . The width (W) is defined as the distance between the corresponding surfaces  33 ,  34  of the vertical members  20 ,  22 . The outer surfaces  33 ,  34  face away from the locker cavity  28 , while each vertical member  20 ,  22  also includes an opposing inner surface which faces inwardly toward the locker cavity  28 . The depth (D) is defined as the distance between the forward face  36  (see  FIG. 3 ) of the peripheral wall  18  and the outer face  16  of the rear wall  12 . The forward face  36  of the peripheral wall  18  is that face which faces away from the rear wall  12 . 
         [0032]    The locker  10  may be manufactured in different sizes and configurations. In one embodiment, the height (H) may be less than 25 inches and preferably approximately 24 inches, the width (W) may be less than 15 inches and preferably approximately 14.4 inches, and the depth (D) may be less than 10 inches, and preferably approximately 8 inches. In another embodiment, the locker  10  may be configured such that the height (H) is less than 1.5 inches, and preferably approximately 1.25 inches, the width (W) is less than 1 inch, and preferably approximately 0.75 inches, and the depth (D) is less than 0.5 inches, and preferably approximately 0.42 inches. 
         [0033]    According to one embodiment, the locker  10  includes a shelf  38  coupled to the peripheral wall  18  and dividing the locker cavity  28  into first and second cavity sections  28   a ,  28   b . In the exemplary embodiment, the shelf  38  is arranged in a generally horizontal position (e.g., parallel to the pair of horizontal members  24 ,  26 ), and thus divides the locker cavity  28  into upper and lower sections  28   a ,  28   b . The shelf  38  is dimensioned such that the shelf extends substantially between opposed inner surfaces of the vertical members  20 ,  22  and defines a depth that allows the shelf to extend substantially between the inner face  14  of the rear wall  12  and the forward face  36  of the peripheral wall  18 . The shelf  38  may be coupled to the peripheral wall  18  via screws, rivets, nails, brackets, adhesives or other mechanical fasteners known by those skilled in the art. The shelf  38 , the peripheral wall  18 , and/or the rear wall  12  may include slots, bores, or other cutouts to facilitate engagement between the shelf  38  and the peripheral wall  18  and/or the rear wall  12 . 
         [0034]    The rear wall  12 , peripheral wall  18  and shelf  38  may be fabricated from a material which emulates the look of a corresponding full size locker. Many professional lockers are currently constructed from wood, and thus one embodiment of the small-scaled locker  10  includes a rear wall  12 , a peripheral wall  18  and shelf  38  that are also fabricated from wood. The wood may include veneers adhered to an internal core panel to produce a desired aesthetic look. It is also contemplated that the rear wall  12 , peripheral wall  18  and shelf  38  may be fabricated from a moldable material or other materials known in the art. 
         [0035]    One particular implementation of the locker  10  includes a name plate  40  coupled to a forward face of the shelf  38 . It is also contemplated that the name plate  40  may alternatively be coupled to the peripheral wall  18  or rear wall  12  without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The name plate  40  may depict the name of a favorite player, or the name of the user, the name of an event (i.e., Super Bowl, Final Four, etc.) which may be engraved, printed or otherwise formed on the name plate  40 . 
         [0036]    Various implementations of the locker additionally include an indicia element  42  for displaying a team logo, phrase, or other depiction. In the exemplary embodiment, the indicia element  42  is coupled to the upper outer surface  30  of the peripheral wall  18 , although it is understood that the indicia element  42  may be connected to other surfaces of the peripheral wall  18  and/or the rear wall  12 . 
         [0037]    The locker  10  may further include a hanging rod  44  which extends through the locker cavity  28  for displaying a uniform or other equipment  15 . The uniform/equipment  15  may be fabricated from a textile and/or a more rigid material, such as ABS plastic. In the exemplary embodiment, the hanging rod  44  extends between opposing inner surfaces of the vertical members  20 ,  22  and is substantially parallel to the pair of horizontal members  24 ,  26 . The hanging rod  44  is specifically configured and adapted to allow a hanger  46  to hang therefrom for hanging a uniform, equipment, or the like. Although the exemplary embodiment depicted in the figures includes a hanging rod  44  and hanger  46 , it is understood that other embodiments of the present invention do not include the hanging rod  44  or hanger  46 . 
         [0038]    According to one aspect of the invention, the locker  10  is configured for use with one or more adjacent lockers to form a row of lockers as is commonly the case in a full sized locker room. As such, the small-scale locker  10  may include one or more connectors for effectuating selective and detachable engagement between adjacent lockers  10 . According to one embodiment, the locker  10  includes a pair of magnetic connectors  48 , 50  coupled to opposed portions of the peripheral wall  18 , wherein the magnetic connectors  48 ,  50  are configured to effectuate selective detachable engagement between adjacent lockers  10 . 
         [0039]    In the exemplary embodiment, each vertical member  20 ,  22  includes a bore  52 ,  54  extending into the vertical member  20 ,  22  from the corresponding outer surface  32 ,  34  thereof. The bore  52 ,  54  preferably defines a configuration which is complementary in shape and size to the corresponding magnetic connector  48 ,  50 . In the depicted embodiment, the magnetic connectors  48 ,  50  define circular discs which are received within corresponding circular bores  52 ,  54  formed within the vertical members  20 ,  22 . The bores  52 ,  54  and the magnetic connectors  48 ,  50  are preferably sized and configured such that when the magnetic connectors  48 ,  50  are received within the corresponding bores  52 ,  54 , the exposed outer surfaces of the respective magnetic connectors are flush with the associated outer surfaces  32 ,  34  or the corresponding vertical member  20 ,  22 . 
         [0040]    The magnetic connectors  48 ,  50  are positioned on the lockers  10  such that when one locker  10  is placed adjacent another locker  10 , the magnets on the adjacent lockers are magnetically attracted to one another, which causes the lockers to be effectively coupled to each other. Furthermore, since the magnetic connectors  48 ,  50  are preferably formed in substantially the same location on each locker  10 , the magnetic connection between the lockers  10  causes the lockers  10  to be aligned, as they would be in a full sized locker room. 
         [0041]    Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention pertains to a small-scale version of a conventional full-sized locker, it is also contemplated that various aspects of the invention may also pertain to small-scale versions of other sports related constructions, such as horse stalls, pit stalls, garages, or other sports relates structures known in the art. 
         [0042]    This disclosure provides exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited by these exemplary embodiments. Numerous variations, whether explicitly provided for by the specification or implied by the specification, such as variations in structure, dimension, type of material and manufacturing process may be implemented by one of skill in the art in view of this disclosure.

Technology Category: b