Patent Abstract:
A magnet retention clip for assembling modular wall panels includes a magnet holder, prongs insertable into the wall panel and stabilizers outwardly of the magnet holder.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present regular United States Patent Application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/735,074, filed on Nov. 9, 2005. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to fastener devices or retention clips used for holding an item for attachment to a mating structure, and, more particularly, the invention pertains to a holding clip used for retaining a magnet and anchoring the magnet in a panel. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Office furniture manufacturers provide various types of panel systems for use in office cubicles and other commercial or business environments. Individual panels are connected one to another to define separate work spaces. Work areas defined by panel systems are moved easily, allowing efficient office reconfiguration as changes are desired. Work areas can be defined, expanded and reconfigured without expensive remodeling or reconstruction by relocating the various panels, or by using more panels or fewer panels as required. Panel systems have achieved wide acceptance and use. 
     It is known to use various types of assembly constructions for the panels used in office environments. The panels can be secured in place in many different ways. Various materials with sound absorption and flame retardant properties have been used and are under consideration, as well as materials providing direct office utility such as for pinups and postings. One such material is a pressed fiberglass panel that is cut to a desired size and wrapped in fabric to provide an aesthetically pleasing surface. Due to the low structural strength of pressed fiberglass panels, various methods have been investigated for mounting the pressed fiberglass panels to various frame designs, some having achieved greater success than others. The fibrous, irregular fiber network of pressed fiberglass panels can present challenges in achieving the desired attachment. Physical fasteners can distort the layers of pressed fiberglass panels, reducing the integrity of the panel 
     One solution has been to provide the wall panel with a metal frame and to hang the top portion of the pressed fiberglass panel from the frame, or to securely attach the panel to the frame to take up most of the weight of the panel. A magnet is attached to the fiberglass panels for connecting the bottom of the panel to the metal frame by magnetic attraction. The panels are then wrapped in fabric to provide the desired color, appearance or other cosmetic surface. 
     One known manner of securing a magnet to a fiberglass panel on the bottom portion of the panel assembly is through the use of adhesives. However, adhesives present some problems and difficulties. The magnets may not always be securely fastened, and the application of glue adds undesirable assembly costs. The use of glue is messy and labor intensive. The use of glue can delay final assembly, in that an appropriate cure time must be available before the panel is handled in a manner that could loosen the adhesive attachment. Accordingly, the panels can be only partly assembled, then held for the adhesive to cure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a molded plastic part that has a cavity to accept and retain a magnet while being configured for anchoring in the fibrous panel. 
     In one aspect thereof, the present invention provides a magnet retention clip with a magnet holder defining a cavity configured for receiving and holding a magnet therein. The cavity has an exposure opening and an assembly opening. At least one deflectable retention arm at least partly obstructs the assembly opening. A probe extends from the magnet holder, and first and second stabilizers are at opposite sides of the magnet holder, substantially normal to the probe. 
     In another aspect thereof, the present invention provides a magnet and retention clip assembly with a magnet holder defining a cavity having an exposure opening in a face of the holder and an assembly opening for receiving a magnet. At least one deflectable retention arm at least partly obstructs the assembly opening. A probe extends outwardly from the magnet holder. First and second stabilizers at opposite sides of the magnet holder are substantially normal to the probe. A stepped magnet is disposed in the cavity and has a base and a projection from the base. The projection is narrower than the base, leaving an exposed surface of the base outwardly of the projection. The projection is exposed in the exposure opening. 
     In a still further aspect thereof, the present invention provides a wall panel assembly with a panel frame having at least a metal component, a panel of fibrous material and a magnet retention clip including a magnet holder defining a cavity having an exposure opening. A probe extends from the magnet holder and is embedded in the fibrous material. First and second stabilizers are at opposite sides of the magnet holder, substantially normal to the probe. The stabilizers are in contact with the fibrous material. A magnet is disposed in the cavity and has a portion exposed in the exposure opening. The magnet is assembled to the metal component. 
     An advantage of the present invention is providing a low cost component that secures a magnet and engages compressed fibrous panels, such as compressed fiberglass panels. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is providing an anchoring device that seats easily into a fiberglass panel. 
     Still another advantage of the present invention is providing a magnet clip for anchoring in fibrous panels that is easy to assemble both manually and robotically. 
     Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings in which like numerals are used to designate like features. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an assembled magnet and magnet retention clip in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the magnet retention clip shown in  FIG. 1 , the cross-section having been taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the magnet retention clip shown in  FIG. 1 , but without a magnet installed therein; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a magnet used in the magnetic retention clip shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another embodiment for a magnet retention clip of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the clip shown in  FIG. 5 , but illustrating the side opposite the side shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment for a magnet retention clip of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view of the clip shown in  FIG. 7 , but illustrating the side opposite the side shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a magnet for the retention clip shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 ; and 
         FIG. 10  is a fragmentary perspective view of a wall panel assembly having a magnetic retention clip in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use herein of “including”, “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof, as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now more specifically to the drawings and to  FIGS. 1-3  in particular, a magnet retention clip  20  of the present invention is shown. Magnet retention clip  20  includes a magnet holder  22 , probes  24  and  26 , and stabilizers  28  and  30 . Magnet retention clip  20 , including magnet holder  22 , probes  24 ,  26  and stabilizers  28 ,  30  can be a monolithic body of plastic, such as nylon, formed by injection molding or the like. 
     Magnet holder  22  forms a rectangular slot or cavity  32  having an assembly opening  34  and a closed end  36 . Channels  38 ,  40  are formed along opposite sides of cavity  32 , extending from assembly opening  34  to closed end  36 . Accordingly, channels  38  and  40  are open at assembly opening  34  and closed at closed end  36 . Assembly opening  34  provides assembly access to cavity  32  and channels  38 ,  40 . Cavity  32  is open or exposed also at an exposure opening  42  in a face of holder  22 . Cavity  32  has a bottom  44  opposite to exposure opening  42 . A deflectable arm  46  is provided in bottom  44  and includes a lip  48  projecting above the surface of bottom  44  and into cavity  32 , thereby obstructing assembly opening  34 . Magnet holder  22  is configured to receive and retain a magnet  50  therein. 
     Magnet  50  has a stepped configuration, with a larger base  52  and a smaller projection  54 . The peripheral edge of base  52 , as best seen in  FIG. 4 , extends outwardly beyond projection  54 , and portions thereof on opposite sides of projection  54  are received in channels  38 ,  40  in the completed assembly. Projection  54  extends to and is exposed at exposure opening  42 . 
     Probes  24 ,  26  are rod-shaped projections from magnet holder  22 . Distal ends  56 ,  58  respectively thereof are tapered or pointed to facilitate insertion into a fiberglass mat, such as the aforementioned pressed fiberglass panels. 
     Stabilizers  28 ,  30  comprise outwardly projecting wings from magnet holder  22 . Stabilizers  28 ,  30  inhibit rotation of the installed holder  20 . 
     Magnet  50  is inserted into magnet holder  22  by deflecting arm  46  downwardly and sliding base  52  into channels  38 ,  40 . As base  52  passes beyond lip  48 , arm  46  rebounds to its non-deflected position, and lip  48  overlies the outer end edge portion of base  52 , to hold magnet  50  in cavity  32 . The assembly of magnet retention clip  20  and magnet  50  can then be embedded in a compressed fiberglass panel  60  to secure the fiberglass panel  60  relative to a metal frame  62  for a wall panel assembly  64 . As seen in the drawings, magnet holder  22  and stabilizers  28 ,  30  present a flat edge on a side of retention clip  20  opposite to probes  24 ,  26  for fitting against frame  62 . 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate another embodiment of the present invention. A magnetic retention clip  120  includes a magnet holder  122 , probes  124 ,  126  and stabilizers  128 ,  130 . Again, clip  120  can be manufactured by injection molding of various plastics such as nylon, or formed in any other convenient and efficient manner. Probes  124 ,  126  are similar to probes  24  and  26  described previously, and stabilizers  128 ,  130  are similar to stabilizers  28 ,  30  described previously herein. 
     Holder  122  defines a rectangular cavity  132  having an assembly opening  134  at an assembly face of holder  122  and an exposure opening  136  at an exposure face of holder  122 . At exposure opening  136  a flange  138  is formed in cavity  132  whereby exposure opening  136  is smaller than assembly opening  134 . At assembly opening  134 , deflectable retention arms  140 ,  142  are provided. Arms  140 ,  142  are outwardly deflectable to allow magnet  50  to be inserted therebetween. To facilitate the outward deflection, distal ends  144 ,  146  of arms  140 ,  142  are smoothly curved with inwardly directed faces  148 ,  150  thereof being angled to facilitate spreading as magnet  50  is forced therebetween. Inwardly directed  152   154  are provided at faces  148 ,  150   
     Magnet  50  is installed in retention clip  120  by inserting magnet  50  through assembly opening  134 , leading with projection  54 . Arms  140 ,  142  are deflected outwardly as magnet  50  engages angular distal end faces  148 ,  150  and is pushed there between. As base  52  of magnet  50  passes lips  152 ,  154 , arms  140 ,  142  rebound inwardly. Lips  152 ,  154  overlap the then exposed bottom surface of base  52  and hold magnet  50  in cavity  132 . Projection  54  of magnet  50  extends into exposure opening  42 , with the peripheral edge portion of base  52  outwardly of projection  54  engaged against an inner surface of flange  138 . 
       FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9  illustrate yet another embodiment of the present invention that has advantages for both manual and robotic assembly. As with clips  20  and  120 , a magnet retention clip  220  can be manufactured by injection molding of various plastics such as nylon, or formed in any other convenient and efficient manner. Magnet retention clip  220  includes a magnet holder  222 , probes  224  and  226  and stabilizers  228  and  230 . Probes  224 ,  226  are similar to probes  24 ,  26  and  124 ,  126  described previously herein. So also, stabilizers  228  and  230  are similar to stabilizers  28 ,  30  and  128 ,  130  described previously herein. 
     Magnet holder  222  is similar to magnet holder  122 , defining a cavity  232  having an assembly opening  234  at an assembly face of holder  222  and an exposure opening  236  at an exposure face of holder  222 . A flange  238  is formed in cavity  232  whereby exposure opening  236  is smaller than assembly opening  234 . Magnet holder  222  differs from magnet holder  122  in that cavity  232  is round, whereas cavity  132  is rectangular. Arms  240 ,  242  similar to arms  140 ,  142  are provided at opposite sides of assembly opening  234  and are similarly shaped at distal ends  244 ,  246  having inwardly directed angular faces  248 ,  250  to facilitate deflection upon insertion of a suitable magnet  252 . 
     A round magnet  252  is used for clip  220 . Magnet  252  has a stepped configuration, with a larger base  254  and a smaller projection  256 . The peripheral edge of base  254 , as best seen in  FIG. 9 , extends outwardly beyond projection  256 , and is received against the inner surface of flange  238  in the completed assembly. Projection  256  extends to and is exposed at first open face  234 . Magnet  252  is inserted into cavity  232  by deflecting arms  240 ,  242  outwardly as magnet  252  is inserted into cavity  232  through assembly opening  234 , and a manner similar to that described above for the insertion of magnet  50  into cavity  132  of magnet holder  122 . However, the embodiment illustrated with respect to clip  220  facilitates assembly in that the insertion of magnet  252  having a round periphery into a round cavity  232  does not require the same orientation adjustment as does the insertion of magnet  50  having a rectangular periphery into a rectangular cavity  32  or  132 . Accordingly, assembly manually and robotically is facilitated. 
     Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It is understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art. 
     Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5