The present invention relates to a support for decorations of any type (ribbon or medal) for the army, police, civil guard, etc., which is made up of modules that can be coupled together.

In the military/police/civilian world, as decorations are awarded to personnel, it becomes more difficult to correctly align them. At first, one or two decorations are placed individually and, if done so carefully, they are more or less aligned; but by the third one it is difficult to achieve the desired alignment. Therefore, multiple pins/mounting bars are currently used with the decorations held by the person concerned, in the different modalities (pins, medals and miniature medals). These multiple pins/mounting bars comprise several supports, one per decoration ribbon, perfectly aligned and spaced apart, so that the decoration ribbons are perfectly positioned.

A problem arises when, if a multiple pin is already arranged for a specific number of decorations, another decoration is awarded, since said pin/mounting bar has a limited number of openings for a limited number of decorations. Moreover, the decorations are not placed according to the order in which they are received but rather according to greater or lesser importance/category, meaning that they cannot be placed after previous decorations, in accordance with the regulations. This implies that every time a new decoration is awarded, a new pin must be ordered, with the consequent cost, which increases as the capacity increases. This means that on many occasions (especially when many decorations are held) the person concerned does not even wear them, due to the cost and hassle of the order.

The support for decorations of the invention includes or encompasses at least one module comprising:

• a plate formally and dimensionally suitable for attaching a decoration ribbon, and
• a base, connected to said plate, and incorporating means for detachable connection to other modules,
• further comprising means for attaching the assembly or support formed by one or more modules to a garment.

The support can be used with ribbon decorations (usable on the service dress uniform and on the full dress uniform) or with medal decorations, either full size or miniature; the ribbon decorations being placed directly on the plate, and the medal decorations being hung from the plate by its ribbon. The ribbons will be affixed to the corresponding plate, for example with cyanoacrylate glue.

In this way, the number of modules required at any given time can be scalably coupled, eliminating the aforementioned problem.

Moreover, the support of the invention has the following additional advantages:

• All of its parts can be reused.
• It allows for the total exchange of parts, without exception.
• It can be assembled without the use of tools.
• It is very light.
• It is very inexpensive.

• Figure 1 shows a perspective view representing the front portion of a module of the support of the invention.
• Figure 2 shows a perspective view representing the rear portion of a module of the support of the invention.
• Figure 3a shows the connection of two modules by means of a clip that is inserted into openings in the rear portion of the modules, configuring a versatile tongue-and-groove joint.
• Figure 3b shows a view similar to that of Fig. 3a, wherein the module has upper and lower front crossbars that connect the lateral branches of the base to generate a kind of frame for the decoration ribbon.
• Figure 4 shows two variant embodiments of the clips for connecting two modules horizontally or vertically and three modules vertically, respectively.
• Figure 5 shows a view of a terminal for attaching the support to a garment.
• Figures 6 and 7 respectively show a front and rear perspective view of a support provided for four ribbon decorations on an upper line and another decoration on a lower line.
• Figures 8 and 9 respectively show a rear view of a support formed by the connection of modules configuring an upper line of four decorations and a lower line of three decorations, and of another support formed by the connection of modules configuring five lines of four decorations and a lower line of two decorations.
• Figures 10 and 10a show a view of a module for a miniature medal decoration, in front and rear view, respectively.
• Figure 11 shows means for attaching safety pins arranged in terminals.
• Figures 12 and 13 respectively show a front and rear perspective view of a support provided for four decorations on a large medal line.
• Figures 14 and 15 respectively show a front and rear perspective view of a support provided for seven decorations on a miniature medal line.

The support (1) for decorations (2) of the invention comprises at least one module (3) comprising (see Fig. 3a and 3b):

• a plate (30) formally and dimensionally suitable for attaching a decoration ribbon (20) (see Fig. 1), and
• a base (31) (return to Fig. 3a and 3b), connected to said plate (30), and comprising means for detachable connection to other modules (3),
• further comprising means for attaching the assembly or support (1) formed by one or more modules (3) to a garment not shown.

In the preferred example of the invention shown in the figures, the base (31) comprises a generally U-shaped part, the plate (30) being connected to the lateral branches (32) thereof, since it is a very simple and robust embodiment that uses very little material. This variant can be used, for example, for ribbon decorations, or for large medal decorations, having a suitable width for the width of the ribbon (20).

In certain variants (see figures), the generally U-shaped part may further comprise upper and lower front crossbars (38) that connect the lateral branches (32), to generate a kind of frame for the decoration ribbon.

Moreover, it is preferred that the means for detachable connection to other modules (3) comprise tongue-and-groove joints, since in addition to connecting them, it allows them to be hidden. Said tongue-and-groove joints ideally comprise (see Figs. 2, 7, 13 and 15) openings (40, 41) formed in the area of the central branch (33) of the base (31) and clips (5) formally and dimensionally suitable for fitting into said openings (40, 41). The central branch (33) will have sufficient thickness to accommodate said openings (40, 41) and, as mentioned above, in this way the connections, in addition to being detachable, remain hidden.

It has been envisaged that the clips (5) preferably comprise a double dovetail shape (6) (see Fig. 4) for connecting two or three modules (3) horizontally or vertically, as shown in Fig. 7. This shape ensures good lateral retention and allows for tongue-and-groove mounting. For this configuration of the clips (5), the openings would comprise two lateral openings (40) with a dovetail shape (6) in plan layout for connecting two modules (3) horizontally (see also Fig. 2). Since they are placed in only one line, miniature medal decorations can only have these two lateral openings (40), as shown in Fig. 10, 10a and 15. In any case, to close the end lateral openings (40) of the end modules, the possible arrangement of terminals (8) with a dovetail shape (6) has been envisaged.

Furthermore, for decorations that are placed in one or more rows, the openings could comprise, complementarily or individually, a central opening (41) with a superimposed double dovetail shape (7) (configuring a kind of Star of David with open upper and lower vertices) for connecting two modules (3) vertically, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. For this last option, the clips (5) may comprise a double dovetail shape (6) with a central knot having a superimposed double dovetail shape (7) (see Fig. 4) which allows three modules (3) to be connected vertically, as shown in Fig. 9. This superimposed double dovetail would not be necessary on full size medal decorations.

In either case, it is preferred that the dovetails (6) or the superimposed dovetails (7), as well as the openings (40, 41), have a cross-section that increases in depth, to retain the tongue-and-groove joint in this direction.

As for the means for attaching the assembly or support (1) formed by one or more modules (3) to a garment, they comprise (see Fig. 5 and 7) pins (80) with a retainer (81) (by pressure or threading, for example), safety pins (100) or the like, arranged on the clips (5) and/or on the terminals (8).

Preferably, the modules (3), clips and/or terminals are made of plastic (ABS), and they may comprise a metal coating (ideally gold), not shown, for example made in an electrolytic bath, at least on the visible parts.

It is important to note that the assemblies described are merely examples and the manner of assembly will depend on the person who assembles it as well as their tastes and preferences, there being different ways to assemble the connecting parts for one same medal configuration.

Having sufficiently described the nature of the invention, it is indicated that the description of the same and of the preferred embodiment thereof should be interpreted in a non-limiting manner, and that it encompasses all the possible variant embodiments that may be deduced from the contents of the present specification and the claims.