Decorative apparatus for displaying items

Abstract

A decorative apparatus for displaying items in internal cavities includes a housing that is at least partially transparent with opposing top and bottom members and sidewall members defining a hollow region therebetween. The decorative apparatus also includes a plurality of dividers within the hollow region separating the region into a plurality of internal cavities. The housing further includes a removable member, configured to provide access to each of the internal cavities, so that decorative objects within the internal cavities can be easily changed or rearranged. A method for decorating an apparatus includes placing objects within the hollow region through a housing access provided by removing a removable housing member and replacing the removable housing member.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A decorative apparatus for displaying items, the apparatus comprising: 
 a housing defining a hollow region, the housing including: 
 opposing top and bottom members; and  
 sidewalls perpendicular to the top and bottom surfaces;  
   a removable member allowing access to the hollow region;    a plurality of dividers extending within the hollow region defining a plurality of hollow cavities within the hollow region; and    wherein the housing is at least partially transparent.    
     
     
         2 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a handle extending outwardly from the housing.  
     
     
         3 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the handle is integrally formed into the housing.  
     
     
         4 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the handle is integrally formed into the housing sidewall members.  
     
     
         5 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the housing has an outer periphery and the handle extends continuously around the housing outer periphery.  
     
     
         6 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the outer periphery is defined by a periphery of the top member and wherein the top member is recessed with respect to the handle.  
     
     
         7 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the housing top and bottom members are substantially planar.  
     
     
         8 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the housing sidewall members are integrally formed into the housing top member.  
     
     
         9 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the housing is rectangular shaped.  
     
     
         10 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the housing is circular shaped.  
     
     
         11 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the hollow region has a thickness of at least about one-half inch.  
     
     
         12 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of dividers are removable.  
     
     
         13 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the housing further comprises grooves for receiving the removable dividers.  
     
     
         14 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the dividers are integrally formed into the housing top member.  
     
     
         15 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the dividers are equally spaced throughout the hollow region.  
     
     
         16 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the dividers are arranged parallel to each other.  
     
     
         17 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the removable member allows simultaneous access to all hollow cavities within the hollow region.  
     
     
         18 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the removable member is the housing bottom member.  
     
     
         19 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the removable member is a housing sidewall member, wherein the plurality of hollow cavities are accessible when the housing sidewall member is removed.  
     
     
         20 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the removable member is removable without special tools.  
     
     
         21 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the removable member has locking protrusions that engage the housing and wherein the protrusions assist in attaching the removable member to the housing.  
     
     
         22 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the removable member has gripping protrusions wherein the gripping protrusions assist in removing the removable member from the housing.  
     
     
         23 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the removable member is releasably secured to the housing with fasteners.  
     
     
         24 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the housing is made of a material having a high heat resistance.  
     
     
         25 . A system for decorating an apparatus for displaying items in internal cavities, the system comprising: 
 a decorative apparatus comprising a housing having opposing top and bottom members and perpendicular sidewall members defining a hollow region therebetween, wherein the housing is at least partially transparent;    dividers located within the hollow region to divide the hollow region into a plurality of internal cavities; and    a removable housing member configured to provide access to the internal cavities.    
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the removable housing member is the housing bottom member.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the dividers are removable.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the apparatus includes a handle extending from the housing.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 25  wherein at least the housing top member is made of a heat resistant material.  
     
     
         30 . A method for decorating an apparatus, the apparatus comprising a housing with opposing top and bottom members and sidewall members coupling the top and bottom members, the housing defining a hollow region and having access to the hollow region through a removable housing member, the method comprising the steps of: 
 removing the removable housing member to gain access to the hollow region;    placing objects within the hollow region; and    replacing the removable housing member.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the step of placing objects within the hollow region comprises placing objects in a plurality of internal cavities within the hollow region.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising the step of allowing objects within the hollow region to fall out of the housing after removing the removable member and before the step of placing objects within the hollow region.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the step of removing the removable housing member comprises removing the housing bottom member and the step of replacing the removable housing member comprises replacing the housing bottom member.  
     
     
         34 . A decorative apparatus for displaying items, the apparatus comprising: 
 a housing having a hollow region, wherein the hollow region is defined by opposing top and bottom members and sidewall members coupling the top and bottom members;    at least one divider located within the hollow region to divide the hollow region into a plurality of internal cavities; and    means for providing access to each of the plurality of internal cavities.    
     
     
         35 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 34  wherein the means for providing access comprises a removable housing member.  
     
     
         36 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the removable housing member is either the bottom member or a sidewall member.  
     
     
         37 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 34  wherein the apparatus is made from a heat resistant material.  
     
     
         38 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 34  wherein a handle extends outwardly from the housing.  
     
     
         39 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 34  wherein the apparatus is a tray.  
     
     
         40 . The decorative apparatus of  claim 34  wherein the apparatus is a trivet.