Trophy Interlocking Connector

Abstract

The present invention to provide a trophy assembly that can be assembled quickly and easily by using a connection insert in the base and optionally in top attachments that eliminates the need for the threaded rods and associated hardware of conventional trophy assemblies. It consists of a tubular column having molded or extruded ribs positioned longitudinally and circumferentially around the inside surface that are slotted to engage clips in a base connection (or top) insert; abuse (or top) connector insert (mounting ring) that is generally circular and cylindrical, dimensioned such that the outer cylindrical sidewall is substantially equal to the diameter of a recess cut into the trophy base The connection insert has interference members that project outwardly from that cylindrical surface to provide an interference fit with the sidewall of recess when the insert is pressed into the recess in the base. It is also methods of assembling trophies using the assembly above described.

1 . A trophy assembly comprising a base, a hollow tubular column, and an connection insert receivable into a recess in the base, wherein
 the column has a first column end, an opposed second column end and a longitudinally extending central axis and an interior column surface having a plurality of inwardly and longitudinally extending ribs affixed to interior column surface and being configured and dimensioned to be received within connection insert;   the base has an upper surface and a lower surface, with the recess being formed into its upper surface,   the base recess having an annular surface and a bottom surface spaced from the base upper surface, the annular surface being generally normal to the base upper side and extending from the base upper surface to the recess bottom surface; and wherein   the connection insert comprises a mounting ring and a column-retaining clip, the mounting ring comprising an annular ring including a lower portion having an external annular surface dimensioned to be inserted as a press fit into the base recess and an internal annular surface of the ring to receive insertion of one end of the tubular column;   the column-retaining clip comprises a sloped unsupported end and a lower stop;   the column ribs each have a slot lying in a plane that is generally normal to central axis and proximal the first column end, the slots being configured and dimensioned such that the column retaining clips engage the slots when the first column end is placed over the column-retaining clip and rotated;   the stop is configured and dimensioned to engage at least one of the ribs substantially upon column-retaining stop contact the slots; and   whereby the base and the column are joined, the lower stop resists over-rotation.   
     
     
         2 . A trophy assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the connection inserts further comprises;
 at least one radially deflectable pressure tab extending radially inwardly of the internal ring surface, such that insertion of the tubular column within the ring will deflect pressure tab radially outwardly, the pressure tab or tabs having a support portion and an unsupported end portion extending generally radially outwardly of the support portion and being dimensioned such that, when a tubular column is inserted, the unsupported ends are deflected to extend outwardly of ring external annular surface to contact the base recess wall surface to effect an interference fit between pressure tabs and base recess annular surface, whereby a rigid fit is provided between the base recess and the ring and its inserted tubular column.   
     
     
         3 . The trophy of  claim 2  further comprising a plurality of pressure bars spaced circumferentially about the insert mounting ring. 
     
     
         4 . The trophy assembly of  claim 1  wherein there is a slot cut into at least one sidewall of the base recess and a mating projection attached to the sidewall ring of the connection insert that fits into the recess slot so that the insert can only be inserted into the recess with the insert projection fitted into the base slot, thus ensuring correct and consistent orientation of the insert into the base. 
     
     
         5 . The trophy assembly of  claim 1  wherein the mounting ring has an upper portion comprising a flange extending radially outwardly of said ring lower portion and dimensioned to engage the portion of said base upper surface surrounding said base recess to prevent further axial insertion of said base recess. 
     
     
         6 . The trophy assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the column-retaining clips has a cut-out section in its underside and is configured and dimensioned such that upon rotation of column, the column-retaining clip with the cutout section is deflected by one of ribs, and is released after passing the rib slot on the engaged column rib when the column is rotated, and thus resists reverse rotation. 
     
     
         7 . The trophy assembly of  claim 6  further comprises an aperture extending through the base lower surface and the recess bottom surface, the aperture being positioned to provide access to a column-retaining clip with a cutout section from below the base through the aperture, whereby a release probe may be inserted through the aperture from below the base lower surface and into the recess to engage and deflect upwardly the column-retaining chip,
 whereby the column may be released from connection insert and base by inserting probe, and rotating the column. 
 
     
     
         8 . The trophy assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the underside surface of the column-retaining clip with a cutout section includes a probe recess for receiving the probe, whereby, when the release probe is inserted through the base it will fit into the probe recess of the column-retaining clip with a cutout section thereby ensuring proper location of the probe. 
     
     
         9 . The trophy assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a figure or figurine, wherein figure or figurine has an connection insert attached to the underside thereof, and the connection insert has clips that are configured and dimensioned to engage at least one of column rib slots when the figure is placed over the column second end and rotated, whereby the column upper end and the figure are joined. 
     
     
         10 . The trophy assembly of  claim 9  further comprising a trophy top structure having a recess to accept a connection insert, or having the clip portion of a connection insert without the side bars or tabs attached to its underside to enable attachment to the top of the column or having a lid with a recess on its underside to accept a connection insert, or having the clip portion of a connection insert without the side bars or tabs attached to its underside to enable attachment to the top of the column. 
     
     
         11 . The trophy assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a column lid, wherein the column lid has a connection insert without the side bars or tabs affixed to the underside thereof, and the connection insert has a clip configured and dimensioned to engage at least one of column ribs when the lid is placed over column second end and rotated, whereby the column upper end and the lid are joined. 
     
     
         12 . The trophy assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the lid has means for attaching other structures thereto. 
     
     
         13 . A method assembling a trophy having a base with a recessed opening in the top side, a tubular column having ribs disposed longitudinally on the inside surface with slots cut into the ribs at a position proximate the column end, comprising;
 inserting a connection insert into a recessed opening in the trophy base;   inserting the column lower section into the connection insert, the recess and column diameter being configured and dimensioned such that when the column is inserted it forms a compression fit of the insert into the recess; and   rotating the column to engage slots in the column ribs with spring clips in the connection insert.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising providing a top structure having a top connection insert attached to the underside thereof, the connection insert having clips orientated in an opposite direction from the connection insert of the base insert,
 inserting the top of the column into the top connection insert; and 
 rotating the column to engage slots in the column top and bottom sections to engage clips in the base and top connection inserts. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the connection insert comprises;
 at least one radially deflectable pressure tab extending radially inwardly of the internal ring surface, such that insertion of a tubular column within the connection insert will deflect the pressure tab radially outwardly, wherein 
 the pressure tab have a support portion and an unsupported end extending generally radially outwardly of the support portion and being dimensioned such that, when a tubular column is inserted, the unsupported ends are deflected to extend outwardly of ring external annular surface to contact the base recess wall surface to effect an interference fit between engaging element and base recess annular surface, whereby a rigid fit is provided between the base recess and the ring and its inserted tubular column. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein there is a slot cut into at least on sidewall of the base recess and a mating projection attached to the sidewall ring of the connection insert that fits into the recess slot so that the insert can only be inserted into the recess with the insert projection fitted into the base slot, thus ensuring correct and consistent orientation of the insert into the base.