Patent Publication Number: US-10327572-B2

Title: Detachable self-supporting display device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/365,702, filed Jul. 22, 2016, and entitled “DETACHABLE SELF-SUPPORTING DISPLAY DEVICE,” the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     INTRODUCTION 
     The present description describes a display device with a cover and a base that is connected by a magnet or similar temporary connecting device when in its closed position and, when detached and repositioned, presents itself as a self-supporting display device when positioned on top of a flat surface such as a table top. Furthermore, the cover of the device may be rotated relative to the base such that the base may support the cover by virtue of a magnetic connector, allowing a viewer to view the contents of a display area. 
     One aspect comprises a device comprising: (a) a base having a first top surface and a first bottom surface, a first magnetic component, and a first attachment component; (b) a cover having a second top surface and a second bottom surface, a first magnetic component, and a second attachment component, said second bottom surface configured to mate with said first top surface; wherein said first and second magnetic components are placed so as to hold the cover onto the base and to act as a swivel hinge, and wherein said first and second attachment components are configured to engage said base to said cover when said device is in an open position. 
     In various exemplary embodiments: (1) the first and second attachment components are slots that engage orthogonally; (2) the first and second attachment components are a peg and a hole; (3) the first and second attachment components are an edge and a slot; (4) the first and second attachment components comprise magnetically attachable materials; (5) the magnetically attachable materials comprise a north pole magnet and a south pole magnet; (6) the base is rotatable with respect to the cover via the magnetically attachable materials; (7) the first and second attachment components comprise hook-and-loop material; (8) the first and second attachment components comprise a semi-adhesive. 
     The above and other features, aspects, and advantages of specific embodiments will become evident to those skilled in the art from a reading of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  depict exemplary components of an exemplary embodiment of the display device. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  show an exemplary embodiment of the display device in fully closed position and an open position. 
         FIGS. 3A-3D  describe how a mechanical stabilizer secures an exemplary embodiment of the display device when it is closed. 
         FIGS. 4A-4D  describe how a magnetic stabilizer secures an exemplary embodiment of the display device when it is closed. 
         FIGS. 5A-5C  show the sequence of how the preferred embodiment may be converted to a self-supporting display device. 
         FIGS. 6A-6C  show how the alternative peg-and-hole version is converted to a self-supporting display device. 
         FIGS. 7A-7C  show how the alternative slot and top-edge version is converted to a self-supporting display device. 
         FIG. 8  shows a modification of the peg-and-hole version whereby the peg contains a small LED light. 
         FIGS. 9A-9C  shows various items that can be displayed in an exemplary embodiment of the device. 
         FIG. 10  shows how an exemplary embodiment of the device can be held as a handle. 
         FIGS. 11A-11B  show how the alternative magnetic method version is converted to a self-supporting display device. 
         FIGS. 12A-12B  show how the alternative friction material method version is converted to an exemplary embodiment of a self-supporting display device. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF SELECT EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     An embodiment of the device may be used as a mirror compact, though the device also may be used for other applications. Mirror compacts traditionally contain a cover and a base, and are connected by a mechanical hinge. The use of such devices are restricted by a solid hinge that prevents the mirror from rotating for optimal viewing. Furthermore, because a mechanical hinge requires a relatively straight edge for the hinge to function properly, the shape of the mirror compact is restricted to straightedge shapes such as rectangles. 
     An embodiment allows the user to detach the cover from the base and reposition it such that it is self-supporting when placed upon a relatively flat surface such as a table. Alternatively, the user can take advantage of the ability to rotate the magnetically coupled cover and base relative to each other such that the base and cover remain coupled, but allowing the user to expose the mirror for viewing while, simultaneously using either the cover or base as a handle. 
       FIG. 1A  shows the cover  10  with a south-facing magnet connector  11  embedded into a cover inner surface  15 . There is a cover display area  13  into which is places a mirror, photo, or clock. There is a cover stabilizer male component  14  and a cover slit  12 . 
       FIG. 1B  shows the base  20  with a north-facing magnet connector  21  embedded into a base inner surface  25 . There is a base display area  23  into which is places a mirror, photo, or clock. There is a base stabilizer female component  24  and a base slit  22 . 
       FIG. 2A  shows the display device in a fully closed position. The cover  10  and the base  20  are fully aligned and the south-facing magnet connector  11  magnetically engages the north-facing magnet connector  21 . The magnets are sufficiently strong such that the base and cover remain in a closed position until intentionally rotated or disengaged into an open position. It should be clear that the north- and south-facing magnet connectors are interchangeable as long as they can engage with each other and keep the display device closed while it is in a closed position. 
       FIG. 2B  shows the display device in an open position. In the present embodiment, the cover  10  is rotated relative to the base  20  about the axis formed by the south-facing magnet connector  11  and the north-facing magnet connector  21 . During the rotation, the magnet connectors continue to be magnetically coupled and only move relative to one another about the rotational plane. Thus, the magnet connectors act, in this case, as a form of swivel hinge. The cover and base of the display device may also be completely separated and reattached in the described open position. Furthermore, the south- and north-facing magnet connectors may be replaced with another temporary adhering method such as “Velcro” (hook-and-loop). In any case, the cover inner display area  13  and base inner display area  23  are now completely accessible to be viewed. 
       FIG. 3A  describes the essential components of the stabilizing feature of the display device, and preventing it from rotating about the south  11  and north  21 —facing magnets. The cover  10  and base  20  contain respectively a cover stabilizer male component  14  and a base component female component  24 , and south  11  and north  21 —facing magnet connectors.  FIG. 3B  shows the cover and base fully closed such that (as shown in the cross-sectional view  FIG. 3C ) the cover stabilizer male component  14  engages the base component female component  24 .  FIG. 3D  shows how these components align along the same stability axis  30 . 
       FIG. 4A  shows how the cover stabilizer male component  14  and the base component female component  24  (described in  FIG. 3A ) may be replaced respectively by an additional set of magnets, namely a cover stabilizer north-facing magnet  142  and a cover stabilizer south-facing magnet  242 .  FIG. 4B  shows the cover and base fully closed such that (as shown in  FIG. 3C ) the cover stabilizer north-facing magnet  142  engages the cover stabilizer south-facing magnet  242 .  FIG. 3D  shows how these components align along the same stability axis  30 . It is obvious that the north and south—facing magnets are interchangeable as long as they can engage with each other and stabilize the display device by preventing rotation of the cover relative to the base, while it is in a closed position. 
       FIGS. 5A-5C  show the feature that allows a user to disengage the cover from the base and set the display device upon a surface such as a table top. 
       FIG. 5A  shows the key components of this feature, namely a cover slit  12  and a base slit  22 . The display device is in a fully closed position and the slits are aligned with one another. 
       FIG. 5B  shows the display device with the cover and base fully detached. In this case the base display area  23  pointing forward and exposed to a viewer, and the cover slit  12  and base slit  22  positioned such that they may interlock with one another. 
       FIG. 5C  shows the base and cover of the display device in a detached and interlocked position, set on a table top and allowing the display device to be self-supporting by virtue of the cover slit and base slit being fully engaged. The base display area  23  is viewable by an observer. In this embodiment, the cover display area  15  is not viewable. That said, the viewer may interchange the base and cover such that the cover display area is viewable and the base display area is not viewable. The cover and base display areas may contain any number of items, including mirrors, photographs, or clocks, or any combination of these items. 
       FIG. 6A  shows the essential components of the alternative peg-and-hole method to set the display on top of a surface. The cover and base slits shown in  FIGS. 5A-5C  are replaced by a hole  50  in one end of the cover  10 , and a peg  51  built into a corresponding location on the base. As in the method described in  FIGS. 5A-5C , the device contains south  11  and north  21 —facing magnet connectors and cover  13  and base  23  display areas. 
       FIG. 6B  shows how the peg  51  is about to engage the hole  50 . 
       FIG. 6C  shows the peg  51  fully engaged with the hole  50 . The cover  10  and base  20  are set on top of a surface and self-supporting by virtue of the peg and hole being fully engaged. 
       FIG. 7A  shows the essential components of the alternative slot and top edge method to set the display on top of a surface. The cover and base slits shown in  FIGS. 5A-5C  are replaced by a slot  40  in one end of the cover  10 , and a top-edge  41  of one side of the base. As in the method described in  FIGS. 5A-5C , the device contains south  11  and north  21  facing magnet connectors and cover  13  and base  23  display areas. 
       FIG. 7B  shows how the top-edge  41  is about to engage the slot  40 . 
       FIG. 7C  shows the top edge  41  fully engaged with the slot  40 . The cover  10  and base  20  are set on top of a surface and self-supporting by virtue of the top-edge and slot being fully engaged. 
       FIG. 8  shows the device described in  FIGS. 6A-6C  where a small light source such as a LED bulb  60 , is attached to the peg  51 . This illuminates the item that is displayed or, I the display device is used as a mirror, the face of the user. 
       FIG. 9A-9C  show various items that can be displayed in the device. As  FIG. 9A  shows, the cover and base could hold a pair of mirrors  70 , one standard sized and the second mirror a magnifying mirror.  FIG. 9B  shows a clock  71  displayed in the base.  FIG. 9C  shows a photograph  72  displayed in the cover. 
       FIG. 10  shows how the unit when in an open position can be held as a handled mirror. In this case, the cover  10  and base  20 , have be rotated 180 degrees about the axis of the south-facing magnet connector and the north-facing magnet connector. The magnets are strong enough such that the base can be supported by the magnetic connection alone. In this case, the user can hold the cover section and support the base, thereby allowing the user to view the mirror  70  as he/she would a standard one-piece handled mirror. 
       FIG. 11A  illustrates the essential components of the alternative magnetic method for setting the display on top of a surface. The cover and base slits shown in  FIGS. 5A to 5C  are replaced by a first magnetic material  81  incorporated in the cover  10  and a second magnetic material  82  incorporated in the base  20 . The magnetic materials mentioned might comprise a pair of magnets whose orientations are such that the they are mutually attractive. Alternatively, one magnetic material can be a magnet and the other magnetic material could be a metallic material susceptible to magnetic attraction. The magnetic materials may be rubber magnets which, though relatively weak are sufficient to allow the cover and base to be stably connected on a surface. 
       FIG. 11B  shows a stably connected cover and base and displaying their contents. The first magnetic component  81  and now connected to the second magnetic component  82 . 
       FIG. 12A  illustrates certain components of the alternative magnetic method for setting the display on top of a surface. The cover and base slits shown in  FIGS. 5A-5C  are replaced by a friction material  91  incorporated in the cover  10 . The base  20  may or may not incorporate an additional friction material. Examples of suitable friction materials may include one or two semi-adhesives such as silicone imbued with an adhesive chemical. 
       FIG. 11B  shows a stably connected cover and base and displaying their contents. The friction material  91  is connected to the surface of the base  20 . 
     As will be clear from the above description and appended drawings, in various embodiments: (a) the cover and base may have edges that are not straight; (b) the base may be of a different shape from the cover; (c) the base may be of a different size from the cover; (d) the base or cover may have a mirror incorporated within; (e) the base or cover may display a photograph or picture; (f) the base or cover may contain a holding device; (g) the holding device may incorporate a door; (h) the base may be interchangeable with another base; and/or (i) the base or cover may incorporate more than one magnetic closure. 
     While this invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments outlined herein, many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention, as set forth herein, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.