Patent Publication Number: US-2007113454-A1

Title: Customizable magnetic display system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      a. Field of the Invention  
      This invention generally relates to the artistic display of photographs and other small items, and more specifically to a magnetic display system for the creative, three-dimensional presentation of cards, photographs, artwork, and other items utilizing magnetic means to retain the items to be displayed.  
      b. Background Art  
      There are a variety of three-dimensional, collage-type display systems known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,067 to Woronow et al., uses a plurality of backing members fixed in overlapping and adjoining relationships to form a unitary three-dimensional collage. Photographs are then permanently adhered to the backing members.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 3,722,122 to Sesto, uses a plurality of frame members and clips to create a variety of overlapping, three-dimensional displays. Photographs are inserted into the frames as in a typical picture frame arrangement. Both of these display systems allow for a single hanging point on the wall, which is an improvement over simply individually hanging numerous pictures. In addition, a three-dimensional look can be achieved which is desirable from an artistic standpoint. In the case of the Woronow et al. patent, the photographs are permanently adhered to the backing members. There is no way to update the photographs or add additional photographs to the display. The Sesto patent does allow for the photographs to be removed and new ones added. Additionally, the frame can be disassembled and rebuilt into new configurations, including the addition of more frame members and hence more photographs. This process would be somewhat laborious and would require additional frame materials.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 4,123,862 to Dyer et al., describes a decorative display assembly kit that allows for a wide variety of three-dimensional designs. Photographs are adhered to a backing, which are overlapped and adhered to other photographs. The entire finished design is attached to a frame, which can be hung on a wall. The process of building the design, one photograph at a time, would be intricate and time consuming. The finished product, like with the Womow et al. patent, would be permanent.  
      Various types of picture frames and mounting devices have been developed using magnetic means to retain the picture or object to be displayed. The use of magnets allows photographs and other displayed objects to be easily removed or added to the display. U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,083 to Vampatella et al., describes a quick change multi-picture frame apparatus. Essentially, the invention is a large rectangular box that has been subdivided into equal sized compartments by the use of dividers. In the middle of each compartment is mounted a magnetically attractive element. Photographs are mounted in sub-frames which have a magnet attached to the back, and then are inserted into each compartment. The result is a two-dimensional display of photographs that can be easily removed and replaced with newer photographs. In this type of display, the frame functions merely to hold the photographs by magnetic means. The frame itself does not contribute artistically to the display as a whole. Additionally, photographs must be placed into the various compartments. U.S. Pat. No. 3,965,599 to Ebner, describes a display system for the interchangeable presentation of art prints or other substantially flat display objects, and for the storage of a number of such prints not being displayed. A large box acts as a display surface for prints that are magnetically attached to the box. Additional prints can be stored inside the box. With ease, the currently displayed print can be exchanged or replaced by one of the stored frames. In this particular design, one print is typically displayed at a time. Both of these inventions emphasize the ability to quickly change photographs in the display by utilizing magnetic elements.  
      None of these references disclose a truly customizable, three-dimensional display system for personal photographs, cards, and other small objects. Existing three-dimensional designs are typically permanent and static. Magnetic displays, while being relatively customizable, fail to achieve the three-dimensional, artistic quality of the more permanent designs. With the current popularity of digital cameras, there is now, more than ever, a need for an inexpensive, readily available system for displaying the results of our photographic endeavors.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention concerns a customizable display system that allows a plurality of display items to be removably connected to a frame in a variety of configurations. The display system primarily comprises a frame having a display surface and a back surface. The display surface has at least one substantially continuous surface composed, at least in part of a magnetic material. A display item for mounting on the frame has a front surface and a rear surface. The rear surface is composed, at least in part, of a magnetic material adapted to removably attach the display item to the frame. The display item may be attached at multiple points along the substantially continuous surface of the frame. At least one of the magnetic materials comprising the frame and the display item is a magnet.  
      In the display system of the present invention, the frame itself contributes significantly to the overall artistic impression of the display. The display system also provides for the overlapping of display items, creating a three-dimensional arrangement of photographs and other display items. The display system accepts photographs and other display items of various sizes and shapes for mounting to or placement on the frame. Further, the display system is substantially customizable, allowing the user to arrange photographs and other display items in any way desirable.  
      The foregoing and other aspects, features, details, utilities, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from reading the following description and claims, and from reviewing the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of a frame for a customizable magnetic display system according to the present invention with no display items attached.  
       FIG. 2  is a rear isometric view of the frame of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the frame of  FIG. 1  viewed along section line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a display item for use with a frame according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view in partial cross-section of a display item of  FIG. 4  viewed along section line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 .  
       FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a customizable magnetic display system comprising the frame of  FIG. 1 , with display items, such as the display item of  FIG. 4 , attached. One of the display items  40   d  is shown in a partial cut-away view.  
       FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of the customizable magnetic display system of  FIG. 6  with an additional display item  40   c  attached to the frame.  
       FIG. 8  is an isometric view of a variation of a frame for a customizable magnetic display system according to the present invention with no display items attached.  
       FIG. 9  is an isometric view of a second variation of a frame for a customizable magnetic display system according to the present invention with examples of possible display items shown in phantom.  
       FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the frame of  FIG. 9  with no display items attached.  
       FIG. 11  is an isometric view of a third variation of a frame for a customizable magnetic display system according to the present invention with no display items attached. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       FIGS. 1-11  illustrate several variations of a customizable magnetic display system according to the present invention comprising a frame designed to hold a variety of display items in a variety of configurations. The display system comprises at least one magnet (e.g., a permanent magnet or an electromagnet) for removably connecting at least one display item to the frame. The display system further comprises at least one other magnetic material to which the at least one magnet is able to be removably attached to hold the display item at least temporarily to the frame. For the purposes of the present invention, the term “magnetic material” is defined to comprise one or more of a magnet, a ferromagnetic material, and/or a paramagnetic material. Thus, the magnetic material comprises a material such as a permanent magnet, iron, steel, stainless steel, or the like that is attracted to a magnet (or at least one pole of a magnet). The at least one magnet may be incorporated with the frame, with the display item, and/or may comprise an intermediate connector (e.g., a magnetic spacer) disposed between the frame and the display item. The remaining elements may comprise another magnetic material that may be used in combination with the at least one magnet to removably connect the display item to the frame. Multiple magnets may be used in the system (i.e., at the frame, at the display item, and/or disposed between the frame and the display item) as long as the poles of the magnets are oriented to attract each other (e.g., a north pole of a first magnet being oriented toward a south pole of a second magnet) rather than to repel each other. The frame, display item, and/or a connecting spacer disposed between the frame and the display item may further comprise a diamagnetic material inset with a magnetic material (e.g., a wooden frame having an inset, affixed, painted, or otherwise attached magnetic material that may be used to removably connect the frame and the display item).  
       FIGS. 1-3  illustrate one possible design of a frame  26  for a customizable magnetic display system  10  according to the present invention. As described above, the frame  20  comprises a magnetic material, for example, a magnet of varying size&#39;s and types; a ferromagnetic material; and/or a paramagnetic material, for example, steel, stainless steel, or iron; or a substrate, for example, wood or plastic, inset with a magnetic material; or any material coated with a paint comprising such a magnetic material. One exemplary magnetic material may comprise a neodymium iron boron magnet. Such a magnetic material is very strong and a small neodymium iron boron magnet can support a comparatively large mass display item.  
      As shown in  FIG. 1 , for example, the frame  20  comprises a display surface  22  along a front surface of the frame  20 . The display surface  22  in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , for example, comprises substantially the entire front surface of the frame  20 . This front display surface  22  of the frame  20  allows one or more display items  40  (see  FIG. 4 ) to be removably connected to the frame  20  at multiple points along the display surface  22 , or even at substantially any point along the display surface  22 . The display surface  22  of the frame  20  may be a continuous surface as shown in  FIG. 1  or may be composed of a plurality of discreet but connected display surfaces (see, e.g.,  FIG. 11 ) comprising a plurality of discrete magnetic material components that extends across only a portion of the front surface of the frame  20 . The display surface  22  allows the display items  40  to be removably connected, either continuously or discontinuously, to the frame  20  at a plurality of positions or points across the display surface  22  of the frame  20 .  
      Attached to the backside of the frame  20 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , are mounting brackets  24 , which allow the frame  20  to be hung (e.g., on a wall). Alternatively, the frame  20  may be directly mounted, such as via holes in the frame  20 . If used, the mounting brackets  24  may comprise any bracket, such as picture frame brackets, offset canvas clips, or any bracket suitable for allowing the frame  20  to be hung on a wall. Alternatively, the mounting brackets may comprise eyehooks or similar means for stringing wire between two or more points to hang the frame  20  on a picture hook fixed to a wall. One or more stabilizing spacers  30  may also be attached to the backside of frame  20  to stabilize the frame  20  against the wall. The stabilizing spacers  30  may be comprised of metal, rubber, wood, styrofoam, magnets, or any other material useful for stabilizing the frame  20  against the wall. The mounting brackets  24  and/or stabilizing spacers  30  may be arranged in any pattern to secure and stabilize the frame  20  against a wall. Utilizing mounting brackets  24  and stabilizing spacers  30  of the same height allows the frame  20  to be spaced apart from the wall a distance equal to the height of the mounting brackets  24  and stabilizing spacers  30 . This offset distance from the wall provides the customizable magnetic display system  10  with a first level of three-dimensionality.  
       FIG. 3  provides a top plan view of the frame  20  in cross-section showing the mounting brackets  24  and stabilizing spacers  30 . By utilizing mounting brackets with mounting holes  26  (see  FIG. 2 ), the frame  20  can be hung vertically, horizontally, or at any desired angle. The mounting holes  26  may also be provided directly in the frame  20  to also allow the frame  20  to be directly mounted to a surface (e.g., on a wall) at any desired angle.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment of a display item  40 , comprising a photograph  42  laminated to a hardboard base  41 .  FIG. 5  is a top plan view in cross-section of the display item  40  showing a magnet  44  inserted into the back side of the display item  40 . The magnet  44  can be held in place by commercially available glue or other adhesive. Although  FIG. 5  only shows a single magnet  44  inserted into the display item  40 , any number of magnets (or other magnetic materials) of varying sizes and shapes could be inserted into the display item  40  to hold the display item  40  on the frame. In addition, the magnets  44  may be located anywhere on the back side of display item  40 . The magnet  44  may also be countersunk into the back side of the display item  40  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ), may be partially inserted into the back side of the display item  40 , or may be attached directly to the back side of display item  40  without being inserted into it. Thus, the distance the back side of the display item  40  is spaced apart from the display surface  22  of the frame  20  may be controlled to adjust the three-dimensionality of the overall display system  10 . Further, if the frame  20  comprises a magnet  44  and/or an intervening magnet  44  is disposed between the frame  20  and the display item  40 , the display item  40  may comprise a magnetic material other than a magnet to attach the display item  40  to the frame  20 . For example, a metal material may be countersunk in, partially inserted in, or attached to the back of the display item  40 . Alternatively, the display item  40  itself may comprise such a material.  
       FIG. 6  illustrates the frame  20  with multiple display items magnetically attached to the frame  20 . Display item  40   e  is attached directly to the frame  20  utilizing a magnet  44  inserted into the back side of the display item  40   e , such as shown in  FIG. 5 . Display items  40   a ,  40   b , and  40   d  utilize one or more additional magnets  44  as spacers to raise the display items  40   a ,  40   b , and  40   d  above the display surface  22  of the frame  20 . This use of stacked magnets as spacers allows the display items to overlap (e.g., display items  40   a ,  40   b , and  40   c  overlap display item  40   e ) and thus provides a three-dimensional effect to the display system  10 . It is important to note that any combination of at least one magnet with at least one other magnetic material that may be used to secure a display item to a frame is within the scope of the present invention.  
       FIG. 7  is a side view of the display system shown in  FIG. 6  with an additional display item  40   c  added to the arrangement shown in  FIG. 6  to complete the display. Display item  40 ( c ) utilizes two additional magnets  44  as spacers to provide yet another level of three-dimensionality. Alternatively, a single spacer (i.e., comprising a magnetic material) that is longer or shorter than the individual magnetic spacers  44  shown in  FIG. 7  may be used to provide the additional three-dimensionality. However, for simplicity, it may be preferable to provide a single-sized magnetic spacer and let a user decide whether to double, triple, etc. the spacers to provide for offsetting the display items different distances from the frame  20 . For example, where a standard display item comprises a photograph or other image laminated onto a hardboard base  41  that is ⅜″ thick, magnetic spacers having a length of ½″ allow the display items  40  to easily overlap one another by adding one additional magnetic spacer for each level of display item. For example, where a first display item  40   e  is removably connected directly to the frame  20 , a second display item  40   d  may overlap the first display item  40   e  by using a single magnetic spacer  44  having a length of ½″ to removably connect the second display item  40   d  to the frame  20 . Further, a third display item  40   c  may be removably connected to the frame  20  with two such magnetic spacers  44  placed end-to-end (see  FIG. 6 ) and thus may extend far enough from the frame  20  to be raised above (and overlap if desired) both the first and second display items  40   e  and  40   d , respectively.  
       FIG. 8  shows a second variation of a frame  120  designed in the shape of an undulating waveform. Display items can be magnetically attached to the frame  120  of  FIG. 8  in the same manner as described above with respect to  FIGS. 1-7 . The size, number, and type of display items attached to the frame  120  is determined by the user and is limited only by the size of the display items relative to the size of the frame. By attaching many display items and overlapping the display items at various levels through the use of different sizes, shapes, and types of display items, the frame may be completely hidden when viewed from the front. Fewer display items, spaced further apart, would allow the frame to be seen between the display items. In either case, the display as a whole will generally mimic the basic artistic shape of the frame. Display items can be added, taken away, or rearranged with ease, making the display system  10  of the present invention a truly customizable, three-dimensional system.  
       FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate a third variation of a frame  220  for a customizable magnetic display system  10  designed to hold one prominent display item  240   a  in the middle of the frame surrounded by a variety of complimentary display items  240   b  and  240   c . A shelf  222  is attached to the frame  220  to allow for the placement and display of more bulky, three-dimensional, and/or non-planar items. One exemplary thematic use for this embodiment may be sports memoprabilia display. A sports team photograph  240   a  may be displayed in the center of the frame  220 . Surrounding this central display item may be, for example, action photographs  240   b  of the team members. A ribbon  240   c  maybe magnetically attached to the frame  220 . A trophy  204  may be placed on the shelf  222  to complete the display. A second exemplary thematic use for this embodiment may be a chronological pictorial record displaying class photographs of a child from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Each year, a new school photograph of the child could be added to the display. The existing display items could be rearranged to accommodate each annual photograph. The complete display, for example, may have photographs of the child from kindergarten through eleventh grade, with a senior picture located in the middle. A high school diploma or graduation cap, for example, may be placed on the shelf.  
       FIG. 11  illustrates a fourth variation of a frame  320  for a customizable magnetic display system with arced sections designed to emulate a rainbow. For example, the frame  320  could be made of six arced bands of magnetic material, each powder coated to match a color of the rainbow. Powder coating is a commercially available process used to paint or color the surface of metal and magnetic materials. Two shelves  322  allow for the display of non-planar objects and hold the bands of the frame  320  in their proper place. Alternatively, the bands of the frame may be held together by other frame members, for example, one of more welded straps, and the shelves  322  could be magnetically attached to the frame  320  and movably positioned at any location on the frame  320 . This particular design may be used, for example, in a child&#39;s room. Exemplary display items may include photographs of friends, report cards, school papers, baseball trading cards, and stuffed animals. Display items may be added, taken away, or re-arranged on a regular basis.  
      A customizable magnetic display system according to the present invention may provide one or more of the following unique features or advantages. First, the frame of the customizable magnetic display system contributes significantly to the artistic impression of the display as a whole. The frame functions to provide more flexibility than a mere means for holding photographs in a predetermined arrangement. Even when the frame is completely obscured by overlapping display items, the shape of the frame is conveyed in the general shape of the final display. Second, the frame design can be customized for an individual&#39;s specific needs or space requirements in an infinite number of frame designs. Although, for example, four exemplary variations of frame designs are disclosed herein, any number of frame designs according to the present invention are possible. Third, the use of at least one magnet as a fastening means along with at least one other magnetic material allows display items to be added or removed from the frame with ease. This provides a vast improvement over the permanent nature of most collage-type display systems. Fourth, the use of at least one magnet as a fastening means along with at least one other magnetic material allows a user to creatively arrange the display items on the frame. Any single frame design could potentially result in hundreds of unique final display arrangements. Fifth, the total cost of such a customizable magnetic display system, for example, with frame and display items, provides considerable cost savings when compared to equivalent static framed collage displays with custom matting and cover glass. Sixth, by utilizing mounting brackets, the frame can be hung vertically, horizontally, or at any desired angle.  
      Although multiple embodiments of this invention have been described above with a certain degree of particularity, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention. For example, replacement or rearrangement of particular magnets and other magnetic materials may be done without affecting the usefulness of the present invention. All directional references (e.g., upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader&#39;s understanding of the present invention, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the invention. Joinder references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, fastened, and fixed) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As such, joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.