Academic accomplishment preservation device

Abstract

A display plaque for a dissertation, thesis, or the like. The display plaque has a storage medium, such as a disk, with an electronic copy of the dissertation/thesis. The display plaque may additionally include other items relating to the academic institution where the dissertation/thesis was submitted, a degree obtained from the institution, and/or the author of the dissertation/thesis. This may include a diploma, image of the institution, and/or text identifying the author, institution, year of graduation, etc.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to devices for the preservation of academic accomplishments and, in particular, to a display plaque for a dissertation, thesis, or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is a common desire on the part of individuals who have completed an academic degree or received an academic honor to have a display plaque that contains a record of that accomplishment. To memorialize the receipt of a degree, the memento typically consists of a matted and framed, or laminated, diploma. Academic awards may be formed into their own engraved plaque, or may also comprise a certificate that is suitably preserved and displayed.

Some academic degrees, including specifically PhD's and some master's degrees, require the completion of a dissertation, thesis, or similar product. That product can itself be a source of great pride to a graduate. Presently, a dissertation or thesis would typically be found in a bound volume on a book shelf, where it is not readily visible in the manner that a display plaque would be.

A need therefore exists for a display plaque that includes a version of a dissertation or thesis. The present invention satisfies this need and provides other, related, advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a display plaque is disclosed. The display plaque comprises, in combination: a plaque surface; a storage medium containing one of a dissertation and thesis; wherein the storage medium is coupled to the plaque surface; and text identifying a title of the one of a dissertation and thesis located on one of the plaque surface and the storage medium; wherein the plaque surface, with the storage medium coupled thereto, is adapted to being displayed.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a display plaque is disclosed. The display plaque comprises, in combination: a plaque surface; a storage medium containing one of a dissertation and thesis; wherein the storage medium is coupled to the plaque surface; text identifying a title of the one of a dissertation and thesis located on one of the plaque surface and the storage medium; wherein the plaque surface, with the storage medium coupled thereto, is adapted to being displayed; and a diploma from an academic institution where the one of a dissertation aid thesis was submitted, coupled to the plaque surface; wherein the plaque surface has displayed thereon a primary color relating to an academic institution where the one of a dissertation and thesis was submitted.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, a display plaque is disclosed. The display plaque comprises, in combination: a plaque surface; a storage medium containing one of a dissertation and thesis; wherein the storage medium is coupled to the plaque surface; text identifying a title of the one of a dissertation and thesis located on one of the plaque surface and the storage medium; wherein the plaque surface, with the storage medium coupled thereto, is adapted to being displayed; a diploma from an academic institution where the one of a dissertation and thesis was submitted, coupled to the plaque surface; and an image displayed on the plaque surface of an academic institution where the one of a dissertation and thesis was submitted; wherein the plaque surface has displayed thereon a primary color relating to an academic institution where the one of a dissertation and thesis was submitted; wherein the plaque surface has displayed thereon a secondary color relating to an academic institution where the one of a dissertation and thesis was submitted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a display plaque consistent with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a display plaque consistent with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a display plaque consistent with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a display plaque consistent with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring first to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a display plaque 10 (“plaque 10”) is disclosed. The plaque 10 includes an underlying plaque surface 12 that may be formed form any desired material, including for example any material of a type commonly used for the display of diplomas or the like. The surface 12 may be, for example, comprised of cardboard, which may be secured to a frame (not shown) formed from wood, metal, plastic, or the like. The surface 12 may itself be formed from wood or other strong material, particularly where the plaque 10 is formed through a lamination rather than a matting process.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the plaque 10 has displayed thereon a storage medium 14 containing an electronic copy of a dissertation, thesis, or similar word product submitted as part of the completion of the requirements for obtaining an academic degree. In this embodiment, the storage medium 14 is a compact disk, though other non-volatile media may be provided, such as a DVD, flash memory drive, or the like. It is preferred that the storage medium 14 be removably coupled to the plaque 10, so that it may be removed therefrom and the information contained thereon accessed electronically.

As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, a plate 16 containing text identifying the title of the dissertation/thesis is provided on the plaque 10. Alternatively or additionally, such text may be provided on the storage medium 14.

In this embodiment, a diploma 18 is also located on the plaque 10. The diploma 18 may be an actual, official diploma received from an academic institution, or it may be a facsimile thereof. Also in this embodiment, a picture, sketch or other image 20 of the academic institution is provided on the plaque 10.

It may additionally be desired, as shown in FIG. 1, to display one or two (or perhaps more) colors associated with the academic institution on the plaque 10. This may be accomplished as part of a matting process, where, for example, a primary color 22 is located on a foreground matte, and a secondary color 24 is located on a border matte. Of course, it would be possible to display such colors without utilizing a matting process, for example by applying a color directly to a surface of plaque 10.

Referring now to FIG. 2, another embodiment of a display plaque consistent with an embodiment of the present invention is shown, identified herein as plaque 100. The plaque 100 includes an underlying plaque surface 112, like that of plaque surface 12 described above; a storage medium 114, like storage medium 14 described above; a plate 116, like plate 16 described above; a diploma 118, like diploma 118 described above; and primary and secondary colors 122 and 124, like primary and secondary colors 22 and 24 described above. FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment in which the image 20 is not provided.

Referring now to FIG. 3, another embodiment of a display plaque consistent with an embodiment of the present invention is shown, identified herein as plaque 200. The plaque 200 includes an underlying plaque surface 212, like that of plaque surface 12 described above; a storage medium 214, like storage medium 14 described above; and primary and secondary colors 222 and 224, like primary and secondary colors 22 and 24 described above. This embodiment further includes a plate 216. However, in this embodiment, information other than the title of the dissertation/thesis may be provided. Because a diploma is not provided in this embodiment, it is preferred to include on plate 216 the name of the graduate, the name of the academic institution, and the date of graduation.

Referring now to FIG. 4, another embodiment of a display plaque consistent with an embodiment of the present invention is shown, identified herein as plaque 300. The plaque 300 includes an underlying plaque surface 312, like that of plaque surface 12 described above; a storage medium 314, like storage medium 14 described above; and primary color 222, like primary color 22 described above. This embodiment further includes a plate 316, which may alternatively and/or additionally contain text like that on plate 16 or plate 216 described above.

It should be noted that multiple variations are possible on the various combinations shown in FIGS. 1-4, without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. For example, it may be desired to provide a plaque having neither primary nor secondary colors relating to the academic institution—or perhaps having more than two colors associated with such institution. The text on the plate may be varied as desired, and it may be desired to provide multiple plates. Text may be provided without the need for a plate at all, for example by printing it directly on the plaque surface, on a matt, on a frame, or otherwise.

Preferably, the plaque is adapted to be displayed in a desired manner. For example, it may be preferred to provide on a rear side (not shown) of a plaque hardware sufficient to permit a hanging of a plaque on a wall. It may, alternatively, be desired to display the plaque by placing it on a display stand. It may also be desired to provide a plaque that is free-standing, for example to be displayed on a desk or other flat surface.

Claims

1. A display plaque comprising, in combination:

a plaque surface;

a storage medium containing one of a dissertation and thesis;

wherein the storage medium is coupled to the plaque surface; and

text identifying a title of the one of a dissertation and thesis located on one of the plaque surface and the storage medium;

wherein the plaque surface, with the storage medium coupled thereto, is adapted to being displayed.

2. The display plaque of claim 1, further comprising an image displayed on the plaque surface of an academic institution where the one of a dissertation and thesis was submitted.

3. The display plaque of claim 1 further comprising a diploma from an academic institution where the one of a dissertation and thesis was submitted coupled to the plaque surface.

4. The display plaque of claim 2 further comprising a diploma from the academic institution where the one of a dissertation and thesis was submitted coupled to the plaque surface.

5. The display plaque of claim 1 wherein the plaque surface has displayed thereon a primary color relating to an academic institution where the one of a dissertation and thesis was submitted.

6. The display plaque of claim 5 wherein the plaque surface has displayed thereon a secondary color relating to an academic institution where the one of a dissertation and thesis was submitted.

7. The display plaque of claim 6 wherein the primary color is located on a matte located on the plaque surface and wherein the secondary color is located on a border located on the plaque surface.

8. The display plaque of claim 1 wherein the storage medium is a disk.

9. A display plaque comprising, in combination:

a plaque surface;

a storage medium containing one of a dissertation and thesis;

wherein the storage medium is coupled to the plaque surface;

text identifying a title of the one of a dissertation and thesis located on one of the plaque surface and the storage medium;

wherein the plaque surface, with the storage medium coupled thereto, is adapted to being displayed; and

a diploma from an academic institution where the one of a dissertation and thesis was submitted, coupled to the plaque surface;

wherein the plaque surface has displayed thereon a primary color relating to an academic institution where the one of a dissertation and thesis was submitted.

10. The display plaque of claim 9, further comprising an image displayed on the plaque surface of an academic institution where the one of a dissertation and thesis was submitted.

11. The display plaque of claim 9 wherein the plaque surface has displayed thereon a secondary color relating to an academic institution where the one of a dissertation and thesis was submitted.

12. The display plaque of claim 11 wherein the primary color is located on a matte located on the plaque surface and wherein the secondary color is located on a border located on the plaque surface.

13. The display plaque of claim 9 wherein the storage medium is a disk.

14. A display plaque comprising, in combination:

a plaque surface;

a storage medium containing one of a dissertation and thesis;

wherein the storage medium is coupled to the plaque surface;

text identifying a title of the one of a dissertation and thesis located on one of the plaque surface and the storage medium;

wherein the plaque surface, with the storage medium coupled thereto, is adapted to being displayed;

a diploma from an academic institution where the one of a dissertation and thesis was submitted, coupled to the plaque surface; and

an image displayed on the plaque surface of an academic institution where the one of a dissertation and thesis was submitted;

wherein the plaque surface has displayed thereon a primary color relating to an academic institution where the one of a dissertation and thesis was submitted;

wherein the plaque surface has displayed thereon a secondary color relating to an academic institution where the one of a dissertation and thesis was submitted.

15. The display plaque of claim 14 wherein the primary color is located on a matte located on the plaque surface and wherein the secondary color is located on a border located on the plaque surface.

16. The display plaque of claim 14 wherein the storage medium is a disk.