GB2301711A

GB2301711A - Magnetic holding devices

Info

Publication number: GB2301711A
Application number: GB9510860A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Philip Moakes
Original assignee: AVONDYKE HOLDINGS Ltd
Current assignee: AVONDYKE HOLDINGS Ltd
Priority date: 1995-05-30
Filing date: 1995-05-30
Publication date: 1996-12-11
Also published as: GB9510860D0

Abstract

The device comprises a frame of which at least a portion is made from a magnetic material. The frame is for use in surrounding and securing pictures or photographs to an element made of a ferro-magnetic material, such as a refrigerator door. The frame provides an aperture through which the picture or photograph may be viewed. A method of manufacturing at least one frame from a sheet of magnetic material comprises the step of providing the sheet of magnetic material with a series of concentric cut-lines. The cut-lines define a series of concentric frames within the sheet.

Description

A MAGNETIC DEVICE The present invention relates to a magnetic device and more particularly to a magnetic device for mounting photographs or pictures. The invention relates especially to a device for framing and securing photographs and pictures between the device and an element made of a ferromagnetic material.

At present, photographs and pictures may be attached to an element made of a ferro-magnetic material, such as a refrigerator, by the use of small magnets known as "fridge magnets". These are usually pieces of a flexible magnetic material which sandwich a small part of the picture between the refrigerator and the pieces of magnetic material. The remainder of the photograph or picture, not in contact with a fridge magnet, is often blown around. This may result in bending of the photograph or picture.

Alternatively, photographs or pictures may be attached to a surface of a refrigerator using adhesive tape or the like. However, this may cause damage to the photograph or picture and also to the surface of the refrigerator.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for securing photographs and pictures to an element made of a ferro-magnetic material, without damaging the photograph or picture, and without damaging the outer surface of the element itself.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a magnetic device comprising a frame of which at least a portion is made from a magnetic material, for use in surrounding and securing pictures or photographs to an element made of a ferro-magnetic material, the frame defining an aperture through which the picture or photograph may be viewed.

Preferably, the frame and the aperture are substantially rectangular.

Alternatively the frame is made at least partly from a flexible magnetic material.

Conveniently the entire frame is made from a magnetic material.

Advantageously, the aperture is divided by at least one additional strip of material to provide a frame having two apertures.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a sheet of magnetic material provided with concentric cut-lines defining a series of concentric frames, the frames being for use in surrounding and securing pictures or photographs to an element made of a ferro-magnetic material.

Preferably the cut-lines are perforated.

Alternatively the cut-lines penetrate a predetermined depth of the magnetic sheet.

Conveniently the cut-lines completely penetrate the magnetic sheet with discontinuities forming interconnecting bridges.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing at least one frame from a sheet of magnetic material comprising the step of providing the sheet of magnetic material with a series of concentric cut-lines which cutlines define a series of concentric frames within the sheet.

Alternatively the method further comprises the step of tearing the sheet along the cut-lines to separate the frames from one another.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a magnetic device embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a refrigerator, and shows the magnetic device of Figure 1 in use; Figure 3 shows a plurality of devices embodying the present invention formed from one sheet of a magnetic material; Figure 4 shows another device embodying the present invention with a scalloped outer edge; and Figure 5 shows a further device embodying the present invention with multiple apertures.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a magnetic device embodying the present invention consists of a rectangular frame. The frame is made from a substantially rectangular sheet of a magnetic material. The magnetic material is formed from a flexible sheet of rubber or plastic material containing small particles of metal which have been exposed to a magnetic field in order to magnetise the material.

The frame has a perimeter comprising two parallel longitudinal sides and two parallel lateral sides. The inner edges of the frame define an aperture. The sides of the aperture are parallel with and evenly spaced from the perimeter of the device, resulting in a frame of uniform width.

In use, a picture or photograph is secured to an element made of a ferro-magnetic material, such as a refrigerator, by placing the picture or photograph against the refrigerator so that the underside of the picture or photograph contacts the outer surface of the refrigerator, and then placing the magnetic device against, and aligned with, the picture or photograph such that the magnetic device is attracted towards the refrigerator, and in doing so, holds the picture or photograph against the refrigerator. Thus, the picture or photograph may be viewed through the aperture.

To remove the picture or photograph, the magnetic device is peeled away from the outer surface of the refrigerator. The picture or photograph may be peeled away from the refrigerator with the magnetic device. Once the magnetic device is separated from the refrigerator by a predetermined distance there is no longer any magnetic attraction. It is to be understood that the picture or photograph will separate automatically from the magnetic device. Another picture or photograph may be placed against the outer surface of the refrigerator and the magnetic device may be re-used to secure this other picture or photograph to the refrigerator.

Referring to Figure 3, a further embodiment of the present invention is an arrangement of a plurality of frames formed from one sheet of magnetic material. The sheet is stamped or perforated with concentric rectangular cut lines. Each cut-line substantially penetrates the sheet of magnetic material. Thus, each cut-line may consist of a series of small perforations, or may be uniform but penetrate the magnetic sheet only to a predetermined depth. Alternatively, the cut-lines may completely penetrate the magnetic sheet but have discontinuities which form small inter-connecting bridges at pre-determined positions. The successive cut-lines defined successively smaller rectangular frames. The inner edge of the largest frame defines the outer edge of the subsequent frame enclosed therein, and so on.

Accordingly, a large proportion of the available material is used, little being wasted. The individual frames may be separated from each other by tearing the material remaining in the cut-lines which interconnect the frames. Thus a series of frames of different sizes are obtained from a single sheet of magnetic material.

Referring to Figure 4, in a further embodiment of the present invention the inner edges of the frame are substantially straight whilst the outer edges are scalloped or shaped in some other way to produce an irregular edge.

It is envisaged that both the inner edges and outer edges may be cut into a variety of shapes. For example, the frame and aperture may be substantially circular.

Referring to Figure 5, in another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a frame with two apertures.

It is envisaged that the frame may be provided with a decorative outer surface by lamination or by providing a coating, to produce frames of an eye appealing nature. In alternative embodiments the frame may be made of a laminate of layers of flexible material, only one layer being a layer of magnetic material.

Claims

1. A magnetic device comprising a frame of which at least a portion is made from a magnetic material, for use in surrounding and securing pictures or photographs to an element made of a ferro-magnetic material, the frame defining an aperture through which the picture or photograph may be viewed.

2. A magnetic device according to Claim 1, wherein the frame and the aperture are substantially rectangular.

3. A magnetic device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the frame is at least partly made from a flexible magnetic material.

4. A magnetic device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the entire frame is made from a magnetic material.

5. A magnetic device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the aperture is divided by at least one additional strip of material, to provide a frame having two apertures.

6. A sheet of magnetic material, provided with concentric cut-lines defining a series of concentric frames according to Claim 1.

7. A sheet of magnetic material provided with concentric cut-lines defining a series of concentric frames, the frames being for use in surrounding and securing pictures or photographs to an element made of a ferro-magnetic material.

8. A sheet of magnetic material according to Claim 6 or 7, wherein the cut-lines are perforated.

9. A sheet according to Claim 6 or 7 wherein the cutlines penetrate a predetermined depth of the magnetic sheet.

10. A sheet according to Claim 6 or 7 wherein the cutlines completely penetrate the magnetic sheet with discontinuities forming interconnecting bridges.

11. A method of manufacturing at least one frame from a sheet of magnetic material comprising the step of providing the sheet of magnetic material with a series of concentric cut-lines, which cut-lines define a series of concentric frames within the sheet.

12. A method according to Claim 10, further comprising the step of tearing the sheet along the cut-lines to separate the frames from one another.

13. A magnetic device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

14. A sheet of magnetic material substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 3.

15. A method of manufacturing a magnetic device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.