Patent Publication Number: US-2007108072-A1

Title: Magnetic fastener pad

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      This invention relates to devices that hold fasteners and other work-related items for convenient access for use by an individual in a working or hobby environment.  
      2. Relation to Prior Art  
      Conventionally, fasteners such as nails, screws, bolts, nuts, washers, thimbles, pins, needles, spacers and small tools are held in containers, in pockets, in an individual&#39;s hand and often in a worker&#39;s mouth for convenient access for use by the individual. Access from containers and pockets is not as convenient as it could be. Hand-holding impairs agility and dexterity of the individual. Mouth-holding is dangerous and unsanitary.  
      There is no magnetic fastener pad known for holding fasteners and other work-related items for convenient access for use by an individual in a working environment as taught by this invention. Construction workers, carpenters, plumbers, mechanics, machinists, designers, architects, teachers and other individuals can benefit greatly from use of this invention.  
      An advisory caution, however, is that it should not be used in close proximity to computers, pacemakers and other electronic equipment which the invention&#39;s magnetic flux can harm.  
      Related but different prior art is known to include the following:  
                                       DOCUMENT NUMBER   INVENTOR   DISCLOSURE DATE                  U.S. Pat. No. 6,925,793 B1   Cole et al.   Aug. 9, 2005       U.S. Pat. No. 6,938,765 B2   Awad   Sep. 6, 2005       U.S. Pat. No. 6,571,940 B2   Newman   Jun. 3, 2003                  
 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Objects of patentable novelty and utility taught by this invention are to provide a a magnetic fastener pad which:  
      is light and easy to use;  
      can be attached quickly and easily to clothing or worker instrument holders such as tool belts and tool jackets or aprons;  
      can be positioned quickly and easily on flat surfaces such as a table, a machine, a floor or a shelf;  
      is versatile for holding a wide variety of fasteners, items and tools;  
      can be adapted for holding specific items and classes of items;  
      increases safety and agility by freeing a hand otherwise required to hold or to access fasteners and other worker items;  
      decreases fatigue by ease of access to the fasteners and other worker items;  
      decreases labor time by preventing dropping and pickup of the fasteners and other worker items; and  
      allows climbing ladders with both hands instead of using one hand to hold the fasteners and other worker items.  
      This invention accomplishes these and other objectives with a magnetic fastener pad having magnetic pull to a pad face structured predeterminedly for supporting magnetic retention of predetermined items on the pad face. The magnetic fastener pad includes a pad attachment structured predeterminedly for positioning the fastener pad on individual clothing, on a worker belt, on a worker apron, and on a generally horizontal surface selectively. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
      This invention is described by appended claims in relation to description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the following drawings which are explained briefly as follows:  
       FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the invention having a generally flat surface of polymer containing magnetized particles for holding relatively small items that include small nails, pins, needles, washers, fastener nuts and small fastener items;  
       FIG. 2  is a partially cutaway side view of the  FIG. 1  illustration;  
       FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of an embodiment having a plurality of magnetized units arrayed for providing holding spaces for extensions of relatively larger fastener components and small-to-medium tools;  
       FIG. 4  is a partially cutaway side view of the  FIG. 3  illustration and showing an attachment member, a representative clamp and a belt loop on a back surface;  
       FIG. 5  is a partially cutaway side view of the  FIG. 4  embodiment with a prop in the attachment member and without a belt loop;  
       FIG. 6  is a partially cutaway side view of an embodiment with a first pad face having a magnetized-polymer face and a second pad face having the plurality of magnetized units joined by a flexible hinge and standing on a horizontal surface;  
       FIG. 7  is a partially cutaway side view of the  FIG. 6  embodiment in a closed mode for hanging on a horizontal edge;  
       FIG. 8  is a partially cutaway side view of an embodiment with a plural holder face having a portion for holding small items with the magnetized-polymer face and a portion for holding medium-sized items with the plurality of magnetized units joined by a flexible hinge to a plural holder face having protrusions and indentations of magnetized polymer and magnetized units and standing on a horizontal surface;  
       FIG. 9  is a partially cutaway side view of the  FIG. 8  embodiment in an optionally separate or hinged mode;  
       FIG. 10  is a partially cutaway side view of an embodiment with metallic sheets having optionally smooth, rough and serrated surfaces on plural holder faces; and  
       FIG. 11  is a partially cutaway side view of the  FIG. 10  embodiment with the metallic sheets on optionally separate pad faces. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      A description of the preferred embodiment of this invention follows a list of numbered terms which designate its features with the same numbers on the drawings and in parentheses throughout the description and throughout the patent claims. 
       1 . Magnet      2 . Pad face      3 . Items      4 . Magnetic fastener pad      5 . Pad attachment      6 . Horizontal edge      7 . Horizontal surface      8 . Magnetized particles      9 . Polymer sheet      10 . Magnetized units      11 . Holder spaces      12 . Back surface      13 . Attachment member      14 . Clamp      15 . Prop      16 . First pad face      17 . Second pad face      18 . Hinge      19 . Protrusion      20 . Indentation      21 . Plural-holder face      22 . Small items      23 . Mid-sized items      24 . Belt loop      25 . Metallic sheet      26 . Serrated metal      27 . Orthogonal serrations      28 . Curved serrations      29 . Smooth-surfaced metal      30 . Rough-surfaced metal    

      Referring to the FIGS, a magnetic fastener pad ( 4 ) has at least one predetermined magnet ( 1 ) proximate at least one pad face ( 2 ). The magnet ( 1 ) and the pad face ( 2 ) are structured for cooperatively supporting magnetic retention of a predetermined class of items ( 3 ) on the magnetic fastener pad ( 4 ). The class of items ( 3 ) can include nails, screws, bolts, nuts, washers, pins, needles, spacers, fasteners generally, thimbles, scissors, plyers, wrenches, and tools designedly.  
      A pad attachment ( 5 ) is structured for positioning of the magnetic fastener pad ( 4 ) on a predetermined class of objects designedly. The class of objects includes individual clothing, a worker belt, a worker apron, a worker harness, a generally horizontal edge ( 6 ) and a generally horizontal surface ( 7 ). The generally horizontal edge ( 6 ) is intended to include an edge of clothing or an edge of a generally flat object. The generally horizontal surface ( 7 ) is intended to include a flat surface on a machine, a floor or any ambient horizontal surface that is appropriate for intended use conditions.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , and  6 - 9 , the magnet ( 1 ) can include a plurality of magnetized particles ( 8 ) dispersed designedly in the pad face ( 2 ).  
      The pad face ( 2 ) and the magnetized particles ( 8 ) can have designedly frictional resistance in addition to magnetic pull for deterrence of sliding travel of the class of items ( 3 ).  
      The pad face ( 2 ) can include a flexible polymer sheet ( 9 ) and the magnetized particles ( 8 ) can be designedly sized, concentrated, magnetically saturated and oriented in the flexible polymer sheet ( 9 ) for desired magnetic pull in a direction of the pad face ( 2 ).  
      Referring to  FIGS. 3-9 , the magnet ( 1 ) can include a plurality of magnetized units ( 10 ) dispersed designedly on the pad face ( 2 ). The plurality of magnetized units ( 10 ) can be sized, shaped, concentrated, magnetically saturated and oriented on the pad face ( 2 ) designedly for desired magnetic pull in a direction of the pad face ( 2 ).  
      The plurality of magnetized units ( 10 ) can be extended outwardly from the pad face ( 2 ) designedly for desired holder spaces ( 11 ) intermediate at least parts of the magnetized units ( 10 ).  
      The plurality of magnetized units ( 10 ) can be arrayed for forming predetermined holder spaces ( 11 ) which are holder channels for receiving item projections designedly. The item projections can include nail heads, screw heads and irregularities of the items ( 3 ) which otherwise could prevent item-surface contact with the magnetized units ( 10 ).  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1-5  and  9 , the magnetic fastener pad ( 4 ) can have a single pad face.  
      The single pad face can have a back surface ( 12 ). The pad attachment ( 5 ) can be positioned on the back surface ( 12 ).  
      Referring to  FIGS. 4-5 , the pad attachment ( 5 ) can be an attachment member ( 13 ) structured for containing an anchoring portion of a predetermined clamp ( 14 ) as shown in  FIG. 4 , for clamping the magnetic fastener pad ( 4 ) to the class of objects designedly. The clamp ( 14 ) illustrated is representative of clamps generally.  
      The pad attachment ( 5 ) can include the attachment member ( 13 ) structured for containing an anchoring portion of a predetermined prop ( 15 ), as shown in  FIG. 5 , for propping up the magnetic fastener pad ( 4 ) on the generally horizontal surface ( 7 ).  
      A belt loop ( 24 ) shown on the back surface ( 12 ) in  FIG. 4  is intended also as an attachment member ( 13 ).  
      Referring to  FIGS. 6-7 , the magnetic fastener pad ( 4 ) can include a first pad face ( 16 ) and a second pad face ( 17 ) hinged together by a hinge ( 18 ). The first pad face ( 16 ) and the second pad face ( 17 ) can be spreadable predeterminedly at the hinge ( 18 ) for attachment of the magnetic fastener pad ( 4 ).  
      The first pad face ( 16 ) can include a first-item face structured for holding a first selection of the items ( 3 ) and the second pad face ( 17 ) can include a second-item face structured for holding a second selection of the items ( 3 ) predeterminedly.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 8-9 , the pad face ( 2 ) can include a contoured face with at least a portion of the contoured face having at least one predetermined protrusion ( 19 ) and at least one predetermined indentation ( 20 ) for containing at least a portion of at least one of the predetermined items ( 3 ) on the pad face ( 2 ) and thereby arresting travel of the predetermined items ( 3 ) from reaction to external force.  
      The protrusion ( 19 ) can have at least one of the magnetized units ( 10 ) and the indentation ( 20 ) also can have at least one of the magnetized units ( 10 ).  
      Referring to  FIGS. 8-9  and as shown partly in  FIGS. 1-5 , the pad face ( 2 ) can include a plural-holder face ( 21 ) having a predetermined plurality of holder-design portions. The predetermined plurality of holder-design portions can be selected from a class of the holder-design portions that can include a small-item holder, a mid-sized-item holder and a large-sized-item holder in predetermined proportion to size of the plural-holder face ( 21 ). The plural-holder face ( 21 ) can include separate units optionally joined together by the hinge ( 18 ) and having the pad attachment ( 5 ), the attachment member ( 13 ), the clamp ( 14 ) and the belt loop ( 24 ) selectively.  
      The small-item holder can include the polymer sheet ( 10 ) having the magnetized particles ( 8 ) for holding small items ( 22 ) of a class of items that includes pins, needles, small nails, small fastener components and small tools retained by predeterminedly low magnetic pull for ease and convenience of finger-access on a predeterminedly flat and flexible surface.  
      The mid-sized-item holder can include the magnetized units ( 9 ) having the holder spaces ( 11 ) and channels for holding mid-sized items ( 23 ) of a class of items that includes medium-sized nails, medium-sized fastener components and medium-sized tools retained by predeterminedly medium magnetic pull for ease and convenience of finger-access on a predeterminedly channeled and rigid surface.  
      The large-sized-item holder can include the contoured face having the protrusion ( 19 ) and the indentation ( 20 ) for holding large-sized items of a class of items that includes large-sized nails, large-sized fastener components and large-sized tools retained by predeterminedly high magnetic pull for ease and convenience of hand-access on a predeterminedly contoured and rigid surface.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 10-11 , the magnet ( 1 ) can include at least one metallic sheet ( 25 ) on the pad face ( 2 ). The metallic sheet ( 25 ) can be predeterminedly smooth-surfaced metal ( 29 ) or rough-surfaced metal ( 30 ).  
      Optionally, the metallic sheet ( 25 ) can be serrated metal ( 26 ) having orthogonal serrations ( 27 ) and curved serrations ( 28 ) predeterminedly.  
      One or more variations of the metallic sheet ( 25 ) can be positioned on separate pad faces ( 2 ) or on plural holder faces ( 21 ) as shown.  
      Referring to the FIGS, the magnetic fastener pad ( 4 ) can include at least two ranges of sizes. The two ranges of sizes can include a light-to-medium size having dimensions of two-to-six inches wide and six-to-twelve inches long and a medium-to-large size having dimensions of six-to-fourteen inches wide and eighteen-to-forty-two inches long.  
      A new and useful magnetic fastener pad having been described, all such foreseeable modifications, adaptations, substitutions of equivalents, mathematical possibilities of combinations of parts, pluralities of parts, applications and forms thereof as described by the following claims and not precluded by prior art are included in this invention.