Patent Publication Number: US-6665972-B2

Title: Refrigerator artwork organizer

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to magnetic organizers and display units. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The refrigerator has become a family display area for photographs, schoolwork, and children&#39;s artwork. The most common method for securing these items to the refrigerator is with small magnets. However, the magnets are often not sufficient to hold more than one sheet of paper. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,562 (the &#39;562 patent) discloses a “Magnetic Display Holder” having a frame containing magnets which attach to a metal surface. The &#39;562 patent discloses an apparatus for framing pictures and securing them to a metal surface. However, a need exists beyond the &#39;562 patent for an apparatus that can be secured to a metal surface and that can also accommodate a plurality of pictures and provide storage for other pictures or items. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The Refrigerator Artwork Organizer disclosed is an apparatus for storing and displaying pictures by attaching the apparatus to a flat metal surface. In the preferred embodiment, the Refrigerator Artwork Organizer consists of a first holder with a first viewer to display up to a 8.5″×11″ piece of paper. Behind the first viewer is a storage container for papers or pictures which not being viewed. Atop the storage container is a second holder. The second holder accommodates up to a 4″×6″ photograph or piece of paper and displays it through the second viewer at the same time as the picture is displayed in the first holder. A magnetic backing is adhered to the back of the Refrigerator Artwork Organizer to magnetically secure the Refrigerator Artwork Organizer and its contents to a flat metal surface, such as a refrigerator, filing cabinet, or door. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the Refrigerator Artwork Organizer is unitary in construction and made of clear plastic or a similar material. In an alternative embodiment, the Refrigerator Artwork Organizer is made of wood and glass or clear plastic and its components are adhered together. However, different materials and configurations are available and may be determined by those skilled in the art. In other alternative embodiments, the dimensions of the picture and second holder may be altered to accommodate different sized pictures and photographs. The size of the first holder and second holder depend on the application and should be determined by those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a frontal prospective view of the Refrigerator Artwork Organizer showing the first holder, storage, and the second holder. 
     FIG. 2 is a rear prospective view of the Refrigerator Artwork Organizer showing the magnetic backing. 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the Refrigerator Artwork Organizer showing the first holder, the storage, the second holder, and the magnetic backing. 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the Refrigerator Artwork Organizer showing the first holder slot, the second holder slot, and the storage slot. 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the Refrigerator Artwork Organizer showing the first holder, storage, and magnetic backing. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As seen in FIG. 1, organizer  100  comprises first holder  110 , storage  120 , and second holder  130 . First holder  110  is rectangular in shape and contains first holder slot  112  and first viewer  114 . First holder slot  112  is a rectangular slot in first holder  110  that will allow a 8.5″×11″ piece of paper to be fully inserted into first holder  110 . First viewer  114  is a rectangular area in the frontal face of first holder  110  that is clear plastic and large enough to allow viewing of a picture or piece of paper inserted into first holder slot  112 . 
     Storage  120  is fixedly joined to the back of first holder  110  by unitary construction. Storage  120  is rectangular in shape and contains storage slot  122 , which is a rectangular slot that can accommodate at least one 8.5″×11″ piece of paper. 
     Second holder  130  is fixedly joined to the top of storage  120  by unitary construction. Second holder  130  is rectangular in shape and contains second holder slot  132  and second viewer  134 . Second holder slot  132  is a rectangular slot in second holder  130  that will allow a 4″×6″ piece of paper or photograph to be fully inserted into second holder  130 . Second viewer  134  is a rectangular area in the frontal face of second holder  130  that is clear plastic and large enough to allow viewing of a picture or piece of paper inserted into second holder slot  132 . 
     Magnetic backing  140  is made of a magnetic material that will secure organizer  100  to a flat metal surface, such as a refrigerator, filing cabinet, or door. Magnetic backing  140  is adhered to the back of storage  120  and second holder  130  by an appropriate adhesive as determined by those skilled in the art. The magnetic properties of magnetic backing  140  are sufficient to support the weight of organizer  100  and the contents contained therein.