Display plaque including three dimensional objects

Abstract

A display plaque includes a panel, a three dimensional object, and a plate where the three dimensional object is attached to the panel and the plate has an opening sized to allow the plate to be placed over the three dimensional object so as to create a narrow gap between the edge of the opening of the plate and the perimeter lower wall of the three dimensional object. The plate is placed over the three dimensional object and attached to the panel to create the display plaque. The three dimensional object can be a motorcycle gas tank cut along its length and attached to the panel using a flange that fits within a recess cut in the panel.

1 . A display plaque comprising: 
 a. a panel having a front surface and at least one recess in the front surface;    b. a three dimensional object including at least one flange received within the at least one recess; and    c. a primary plate mounted to the front surface of the panel to cover at least a portion of the at least one recess and having an opening through which the three dimensional object extends.    
   
   
       2 . The display plaque of  claim 1 , wherein the intersection of the three dimensional object and the front surface of the panel defines an effective perimeter; wherein the opening in the primary plate follows substantially all contours of the effective perimeter and is of a size slightly larger than the effective perimeter; and wherein primary plate covers substantially all of the at least one flange.  
   
   
       3 . The display plaque of  claim 1 , wherein the opening includes an edge that substantially completely surrounds the three dimensional object, and wherein the spacing between the edge and the three dimensional object does not exceed about ⅜ of an inch.  
   
   
       4 . The display of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flange is mounted to the panel by being trapped within the at least one recess by the primary plate.  
   
   
       5 . The display plaque of  claim 1 , wherein the three dimensional object has a length of at least 12 inches, a height of at least 6 inches, and protrudes at least 5 inches from the front surface of the panel.  
   
   
       6 . The display plaque of  claim 1 , wherein the three dimensional object includes a portion of a motorcycle gas tank.  
   
   
       7 . The display plaque of  claim 1 , wherein the three dimensional object includes a portion of a motorcycle gas tank cut away along a plane of symmetry.  
   
   
       8 . A display plaque comprising: 
 a. a panel having a front surface and at least one recess in the front surface;    b. a three dimensional object including at least one flange received within the at least one recess; and    c. a primary plate mounted to the front surface of the panel and having an opening through which the three dimensional object extends.    
   
   
       9 . The display plaque of  claim 8 , wherein the intersection of the three dimensional object and the front surface of the panel defines an effective perimeter; wherein the opening in the primary plate follows substantially all contours of the effective perimeter and is of a size slightly larger than the effective perimeter.  
   
   
       10 . The display plaque of  claim 8 , wherein the opening includes an edge that substantially completely surrounds the three dimensional object, and wherein the spacing between the edge and the three dimensional object does not exceed about ⅜ of an inch.  
   
   
       11 . The display plaque of  claim 8 , wherein the three dimensional object has a length of at least 12 inches, a height of at least 6 inches, and protrudes at least 5 inches from the front surface of the panel.  
   
   
       12 . The display plaque of  claim 8 , wherein the three dimensional object includes a portion of a motorcycle gas tank.  
   
   
       13 . The display plaque of  claim 8 , wherein the three dimensional object includes a portion of a motorcycle gas tank cut away along a plane of symmetry.  
   
   
       14 . The display plaque of  claim 8 , further comprising an alignment tool adapted to be temporarily mounted to the panel and to define a desired mounting point aligned in a selected manner with the primary plate; and an additional plate having a portion received by the alignment tool to position the additional plate in the desired mounting point.  
   
   
       15 . A method of producing a display plaque, the method comprising: 
 a. providing a panel having at least one recess;    b. providing a three dimensional object having at least one flange;    c. positioning the at least one flange in the at least one recess of the panel;    d. providing a primary plate having an opening sized to permit a portion of the three dimensional object to extend through the opening;    e. mounting the primary plate to the panel with a portion of the three dimensional object extending through the opening; and    f. hiding the at least one flange from view with one of the three dimensional object and the primary plate.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising mounting the flange to the panel with a connector prior to step (e).  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein step (e) includes covering at least a portion of the at least one recess with the primary plate; and wherein step (f) includes hiding substantially all of the at least one flange with the primary plate.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising defining an effective perimeter at the intersection of the three dimensional object and a surface of the panel; wherein step (d) includes forming the opening to have an edge that follows substantially all contours of the effective perimeter; and wherein step (e) includes positioning the opening around the three dimensional object such that the edge of the opening is spaced not more than ⅜ of an inch from the three dimensional object.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing a secondary plaque; providing an alignment tool; temporarily affixing the alignment tool to the panel; at least partially positioning the secondary plaque within a portion of the alignment tool; mounting the secondary plaque to the panel; and removing the alignment tool from the panel.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein step (b) includes providing a portion of a motorcycle gas tank.