Patent ID: 7766390

Claim:
An apparatus for securely holding and protecting a layout of elements, comprising: (a) a work surface defining an area adapted to receive elements loosely placed thereon in a particular arrangement; (b) a plurality of permanent magnets located under said work surface; and (c) an overlay having an area generally corresponding to the area of the work surface, said overlay comprising a pliable sheet containing metal filings; (d) wherein said permanent magnets are arranged under said work surface such that, when said overlay is positioned on said work surface in covering relation to said area of said work surface, said overlay and said work surface are releasably cohered together such that any loosely placed elements are retained on said work surface in the particular arrangement, (e) wherein said permanent magnets are disposed in a substrate formed from a plastic material, the substrate including a plurality of openings, each opening having one of the permanent magnets disposed therein.