Abstract:
A system and method for displaying matchbooks and/or matchboxes without causing damage to the matchbooks and/or matchboxes, or to the matches therein, wherein the use of magnets and a piece of ferromagnetic material that allows for visually pleasing arrangement and rearrangement, and for removal and replacement of matchbooks and/or matchboxes.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to display systems, and more specifically, to a system and method for displaying matchbooks and matchboxes. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    As with many other kinds of collections, a matchbook and/or matchbox collector may often wish to display various matchbooks and/or matchboxes from his or her collection for inspection by an appraiser or other enthusiasts or simply for his or her own enjoyment. 
         [0005]    One way in which matchbooks and/or matchboxes have been displayed is pinned to a board, such as a corkboard. This method of displaying the matchbooks and/or matchboxes allow a collector to arrange the matchbooks and/or matchboxes in a visually appealing manner,i and allows the collector to rearrange, add, or remove individual matchbooks and/or matchboxes as he or she desires. 
         [0006]    Unfortunately, however, this method of displaying matchbooks and/or matchboxes necessarily involves physical damage to the matchbooks and/or matchboxes displayed. This damage may reduce the value of the matchbooks and/or matchboxes, and may make them less appealing and/or collectable. 
         [0007]    Another way in which matchbooks and/or matchboxes have been displayed is pressed flat and stored within a sheet of protective plastic. Typically each sheet holds a plurality of individual matchbooks and/or matchboxes, and a plurality of sheets may be stored in a binder, such as a three ring binder. This method of display allows inspection of the matchbooks and/or matchboxes with minimal physical damage thereto, but does not allow for convenient display of the matchbooks and/or matchboxes because only one protective sheet may be viewed at a time. Furthermore, arranging and rearranging the matchbooks and/or matchboxes is time consuming due to the necessary removal and insertion within the protective plastic sheet. 
         [0008]    It is desirable, therefore, to provide a matchbook and/or matchbox display system and method that allows for open display of matchbooks and/or matchboxes wherein simple and convenient arrangement and rearrangement is facilitated within an aesthetically appealing display and wherein physical damage to the matchbooks and/or matchboxes is avoided displayed. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Briefly described, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the recognized need for such a device by providing a matchcase display comprising a matchcase, a magnet, and a piece of ferromagnetic material, wherein the matchcase is removably retained proximate the piece of ferromagnetic material by the magnet. 
         [0010]    According to its major aspects and broadly stated, the present invention in its preferred form is a magnetic matchcase display. 
         [0011]    According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the matchcases may be selectively arranged, rearranged, added, and/or removed. 
         [0012]    According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the matchcases may be displayed vertically, such as on a wall. 
         [0013]    According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the matchcases may be displayed without causing physical damage to the matchcase. 
         [0014]    According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, both matchbooks and matchboxes may be simultaneously displayed in a freeform arrangement. 
         [0015]    According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the present invention overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the recognized need for such a device by providing a method of displaying a matchcase comprising the step of retaining a matchcase for display proximate a piece of ferromagnetic material using a magnet. 
         [0016]    According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the matchcase is securely retained against the piece of ferromagnetic material due to the selective placement of the magnet within the matchcase. 
         [0017]    According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the matchcase may be displayed without requiring removal of the matches. 
         [0018]    According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the relative placement of the magnet and the ferromagnetic material can be switched. 
         [0019]    According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, a collectable set of matchcases may be provided with respective magnets placed therein and an associated ferromagnetic display of the matchcases is user selectable. 
         [0020]    According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, a matchcase may be offered in conjunction with a magnet insert and ferromagnetic display member for receiving the matchcase removably thereon. 
         [0021]    These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reading the following Detailed Description and Claims in light of the accompanying drawing Figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    Accordingly, the present invention will be understood best through consideration of, and reference to, the following Figures, viewed in conjunction with the Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment referring thereto, in which like reference numbers throughout the various Figures designate like structure and in which: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a side cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a side cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0027]    It is to be noted that the drawings presented are intended solely for the purpose of illustration and that they are, therefore, neither desired nor intended to limit the invention to any or all of the exact details shown, except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the claimed invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    In describing preferred embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the Figures, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The invention, however, is not intended to be limited to such specific terminology, and it will be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
         [0029]    It will be understood by one skilled in the art that matches are distributed in various types of packaging, including matchbooks and matchboxes. As used herein, the term matchcase is intended to include matchbooks, matchboxes, and other types of packaged matches, and/or packages for other articles which mimic designs used for distributing matches, such as, for exemplary purposes only, toothpicks, sewing kits, or other suitably packaged items. Thus, the term matchcase is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure of the invention, or the claimed invention, to any specific structural arrangement. 
         [0030]    Now referring to the figures, in that form of the preferred embodiment of the present invention chosen for purposes of illustration,  FIGS. 1 and 2  show display  100 , including matchbook  10  preferably displayed on ferromagnetic plate  30  using magnet  20 . Matchbook  20  preferably includes comb  15  of matches  19 , which may optionally be attached to cover  11  by staple  17 , or other suitable fastener or adhesive. Cover  11  may include striker  13  used for igniting matches  19 . 
         [0031]    Magnet  20  is preferably disposed proximate an interior surface  11   a  of cover  11 , and is preferably sized such that magnet  20  does not extend beyond a perimeter of cover  11 . Magnet  20  is preferably not glued or fastened to interior surface  11   a  or to any other part of matchbook  10 . Thus, magnet  20  is preferably placed in between comb  15  and interior surface  11   a  and is preferably retained there by friction. If front  11   b  of matchbook  10  is to be displayed, then magnet  20  is preferably disposed between comb  15  and interior surface  11   a  of back  11   c . Alternatively, if back  11   c  is to be displayed, then magnet  20  is preferably disposed between comb  15  and interior surface  11   a  of front  11   b . Placing magnet  20  as described above preferably reduces a distance between magnet  20  and ferromagnetic plate  30  in order to increase an attractive force therebetween. When magnet  20  is so placed, matchbook  10  is preferably retained against ferromagnetic plate  30  with sufficient force to prevent unwanted movement of matchbook  10  over or relative to ferromagnetic plate  30 , even when ferromagnetic plate  30  is vertically disposed, such as when mounted on a wall. Matchbook  10  may, however, preferably be manually removed and/or rearranged over ferromagnetic plate  30 , thereby allowing a collector to create a visually pleasing display of matchcases. 
         [0032]    Ferromagnetic plate  30  may optionally include frame  35  disposed therearound, such as a picture frame, to create a desired visual effect and presentation style. Furthermore, ferromagnetic plate  30  may optionally include a covering, such as a fabric, plastic, laminate or other similar surface treatment, or a paint, lacquer, or other surface coating. The coating or covering may optionally provide a desired visual effect, such as matte or glossy finish, color, etc., and may optionally provide functional characteristics, such as high-friction or water-resistance. 
         [0033]    Now referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in display  200 , matchbox  50  is shown displayed on magnet  70  by ferromagnetic plate  60 . Matchbox  50  preferably includes drawer  55  disposed within cover  51  containing a plurality of matches  59 . Cover  51  preferably includes interior surface  51   a , front  51   b , and back  51   c , and may optionally include striker  53 . Ferromagnetic plate  60  is preferably disposed proximate interior surface  51   a  and proximate a top of drawer  55 , the top being the open side. If matches  59  are disposed within drawer  55 , then ferromagnetic plate  60  is preferably disposed on top of matches  59 . Thus, when matchbox  50  is retained on magnet  70 , ferromagnetic plate  60  is separated from magnet  70  only by cover  51 , and not also by drawer  55 . Thus, if front  51   b  is to be displayed, then ferromagnetic plate  60  is preferably disposed on top of matches  59  and adjacent to interior surface  51   a  of back  51   c ; with drawer  55  oriented with its bottom toward front  51   b  and its top oriented toward back  51   c . Alternatively, if back  51   c  is to be displayed, then ferromagnetic plate  60  is preferably disposed on top of matches  59  and adjacent to interior surface  51   a  of front  51   b ; with drawer  55  oriented with its bottom toward back  51   c  and its top oriented toward back  51   c . The arrangement of ferromagnetic plate  60  described above provides improved magnetic attraction between ferromagnetic plate  60  and magnet  70 , and preferably retains matchbox  50  against magnet  70  with sufficient force to prevent unwanted movement between matchbox  50  and magnet  70 , even when magnet  70  is oriented vertically, such as when displayed on a wall. Matchbox may preferably be removed and rearranged over magnet  70 , thereby allowing a collector to create a visually appealing display. Further, ferromagnetic plate  60  may be removed from matchbox  50  in order to allow use of matches  59 , and then may be replaced for continued display. 
         [0034]    Having thus described the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that these disclosures are exemplary only and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments as described and illustrated herein, but is only limited by the following claims.