US3174714A

US3174714A - Permanent magnet hanger

Info

Publication number: US3174714A
Application number: US189644A
Authority: US
Inventors: Brndsby Thomas Roy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-05-25
Filing date: 1962-04-23
Publication date: 1965-03-23
Anticipated expiration: 1982-03-23

Description

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 23, 1962 INVENTOR. THOMAS ROY BRADSBY fzisninv AT TOP/V5) March 23, 1965 T. R. BRADSBY PERMANENT MAGNET HANGER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 23, 1962 g IN V ENTOR.

THOMAS R0) BRADSBV %MGZA7 TOR/V VS T. R. BRADSBY PERMANENT MAGNET HANGER Mardl 23, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 25, 1962 w 5 W m5 m W W o R M W M A M m w M k H/ mw mdb d [C m5 5 6 March 23, 1965 R. BRADSBY PERMANENT MAGNET HANGER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 23, 1962 INVENTOR. THO/14,4 S ROY B84055) AT TOP/V5 VS United States Patent f 3,174,714 PERMANENT MAGNET HANGER Thomas Roy Bradsby, San .iose, Calih, assignor to Howard W. Sheehan, San .1 ose, Calif. Filed Apr. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 189,644 10 Claims. (Q1. 248-309) This application is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 31,653, filed May 25, 1960, for Magnetic Picture Hanger, now Patent No. 3,031,799.

This invention relates to permanent magnet hangers for pictures and similar articles.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved magnetic hanger that is adapted to be imbedded in or mounted in wall structure or panels to cooperate with magnetic members attached to or imbedded in the articles to be supported, said magnetic hanger comprising an assembly of a plurality of individual permanent magnets that are stacked and arranged with respect to each other and held assembled by strips of magnetic material so as to make the maximum utilization of the mag netic field et up by the magnets.

Further details of this invention will be set forth in the specification, claims and drawings in which, briefly:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a wall provided with one of these magnetic hangers;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another sectional view taken through the wall structure of FIG. 1 with part of the wall structure broken away to expose the magnet assembly;

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a magnet assembly positioned in the wall of a trailer with a portion of the wall broken away to show the magnet assembly mounting structure;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional View taken through the trailer wall showing how the assembly of FIG. 4 is attached to the wall with part of the wall broken away so as to show the magnet assembly more fully;

FIG. 7 is a view or" a modified magnet of magnet assembly support;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the magnet assembly and support shown in FIG. 7 with the wall removed;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 99 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 9 showing a wide mounting bracket for the magnet assembly;

FIG. 11 is a detail view showing a modified form of magnet assembly in which the magnet wafers are assembled in pairs between the iron strips;

FIG. 12 is a detail view similar to FIG. 11 showing the magnet Wafers stacked four in a stack between the iron strips;

FIG. 13 is a view of an embodiment of this invention adapted for supporting window draperies;

FIG. 13a is a detail view of one end of the drapery support shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 14 is a view of an embodiment of this invention employed for supporting medicine chests;

FIG. 15 is a front view of the medicine chest shown in FIG. 14 with the magnetic support shown in broken lines;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along the line 1616 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a view of a display board for supporting articles such as merchandise that it is desired to display; and

FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along the line 1818 of P16. 17.

3,174,714 Patented Mar. 23, 1965 Referring to the drawing in detail, there is illustrated a magnetic hanger that is particularly adapted for sup porting articles on walls such as the walls of a room, trailer, or the like and display boards. The magnetic hanger is made up of a plurality of rows of magnets and each row comprises

individual magnets

19, 11, 12, 13 and 14 which are arranged between the

iron strips

15 and 16. Thus in FIG. 1, there are shown five rows each including magnets 1014 and each positioned between

iron strips

15 and 16. This assembly of magnets and iron strips is held together by means of a plurality of

long rivets

17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 which pass through suitable holes formed in the magnets and iron strips. The outer sides of the assembly are provided with

angleshaped members

22 and 23 which are also held on the assembly by means of the aforesaid rivets.

The

angle members

22 and 23 are attached to the magnet assembly so that the front faces of these members are substantially flush with the forward edges of the

iron strips

15 and 16 as shown in FIG. 2. The magnet assembly is positioned in a hole formed in the wall 26. This may be the inside wall of a room or it may be the inner wall of a trailer in which the wall structure consists of an inner wall or panel 26 and an outer aluminum siding 27 as shown in FIG. 6. The forward edges of the

iron strips

15 and 16 and the front faces of the

angle members

22 and 23 extend slightly beyond the front face of the wall 26 as shown. However, if desired, the front portions of the

angle members

22 and 23 may be positioned in recesses formed in the wall 26 so that the front faces of these angle members are substantially flush with the inside face of the wall and only the forward edge portions of the

iron strips

15 and 16 project slightly beyond the inner surface of the wall 26.

The magnets 10-14 may be made of ceramic material such as ferrites or they may comprise small wafers of alloys such as Alnico, Comol or Vicalloy as described on pages 66 and 67 of the May 9, 1946 issue, of the Iron Age. The magnet Waters 1644 are arranged between the

iron strip

15 and 16 so that these strips have the same magnetic polarity throughout the length thereof. Thus all of the lower magnets 1044 may be placed on the lower strip 15 with the south poles thereof against the strip 15 and with the north pole thereof against the strip 16. In this case, the next layer of magnets 16-14; would be arranged so that the north poles thereof would be lowermost and against the strip 15 so that when this strip 15 is positioned on the adjoining strip 16 both of these strips would have the same magnetic polarity as indicated on the right hand side of FIG. 1 of the drawing. This procedure is repeated in stacking the magnets and the strips with the result that the upper angle member 23 assumes the north polarity and the lower angle strip 22 assumes the south polarity.

This magnet assembly is positioned in the wall 26 so that it occupies a hole of suitable size formed in this wall and is clamped in this wall by means of the brackets 24 which are attached to the back side of the magnet assembly by means of the machine screws 25. Thus the arms extending from this bracket are brought up against the back surface of the wall 26 with the result that the wall is clamped between the

angle members

22 and 23 and the arms of the bracket 24 as shown in FIG. 2.

A similar magnet assembly is shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 except that in this case the

angle members

22 and 23 have been eliminated and an elongated bracket 28 has been provided for supporting the magnet assembly on the back wall of the wall 26. The bracket 23 is attached by means of suitable rivets to the brackets 24a which are attached to the magnet assembly by means of the rivets 17 and 21 for example. If desired, the brackets 3 24- and 24:; may be attached to the magnet assembly by means of long rivets similar to rivets 17-20.

In the form of this invention shown in'FIGS. 4-6 the arms of the brackets 24a are brought up against the back surfaces of the wall 26 so that the forward edges of the

iron strips

15 and 16 are properly aligned with the front face of the wall 26 or they may extend slightly in front of the front face of the wall 26. If desired, the spaces between the

iron strips

15 and 16 and above and below the uppermost and lowermost of these strips may be filled with material such as plastic Wood or the like so as to prevent dust and foreign matter accumulating in these cavities. The forward edges or faces of the

iron strips

15 and 16 may of course be left exposed and simply covered with a thin coat of paint, varnish, lacquer or the like. These surfaces of the

iron strips

15 and 16 form the magnetic pole faces with which the armatures of magnetic material attached to the pictures or other articles to be hung and supported by these magnets, make firm contact.

Since the iron strips 15 and '16 employed in the form of this invention shown in FIGS. 1-6 are separated by only one of the magnet elements such as the magnets -14 the strong magnetic field will not extend forward from the faces of these iron strips very far and it is of course desirable that the iron armature that is to be supported by these magnets either make contact with these iron strips or be separated therefrom only by means of a thin film such as a film of paint or wallpaper. Where it is desired to have this strong magnetic field extend forward from the iron strips and 16 so that several thicknesses of paper or cloth may be placed on these iron strips and a strong magnetic pulling power still be obtained through such several thicknessses then the magnet configurations shown in FIG. 11 or FIG. 12 is employed. The magnetic field extends well forward of the iron strips in these configurations as is shown by the dotted lines extending between the iron strips.

In FIG. 11 magnet elements 10!; and 10b are placed between the iron strips 15b and 150 and additional magnet elements ltlc and 10d are positioned between the iron strips 150 and 15d. This assembly is held together by means of a suitable rivet the same as in the configurations shown in FIGS. 1-6. Thus each of the magnet stacks shown in FIGS. 1-6 may be replaced by the magnet stack shown in FIG. 11 with the result that five stacks of magnets ltla-ltld would be placed between three

iron strips

15b, 15c and 15d. Such assembly is mounted in the wall '26 in the same manner as the assembly shown in FIGS.

1-6. On the other hand, if still stronger magnetic pull is desired, the four magnets 10a, 10b, 1G0 and 10d are stacked as shown in FIG. 12 between the iron strips 15a and 16a and the assembly held together by means of suitable rivets so .that the iron strip 15a assumes a south magnetic pole and the iron strip'16a assumes a north pole or vice versa. In this configuration, the magnetic field arches out well away from the magnets between these iron strips. Such stacks of magnets also may be used in place of the stacks of magnets used in the arrangements shown in FIGS. 1-6. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 11 the iron strips 15b and 15d may both assume the south magnetic polarity whereas the strip 15c may assume the north magnetic polarity if the magnets are stacked so as to produce this relationship On the a d telescoping members areprovid'ed withbrackets 32 and 33 respectively which are adapted to be attached by means of suitable screws to the

wall structures

34 and 35 respec .tively. The

parts

36 and 37 are punchedout 0f the elements 3% and 31 respectively and extend forward toward the wall 38 so that the proper spacing is provided between this wall and the magnet supportwhereby the forward face of the magnet assembly is properly located with respect to the front face of the wall. The magnet assemblies in FTGS. 7-9 are similar to the magnet assemblies previously described and comprise the permanent magnets lh-ld as shown in'FIGS. 'l-6, arranged between iron strips 15 and 16. 'However, in this case, the magnets may also be assembled as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. for the reasons previously described. The magnet assemblies shown in FIGS. 7-9 are provided with bracket members 4t) and 41 which are attached by means of rivets to the assemblies and these brackets are in turn attached to the support element 39 by rivets or the like.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 10, the supporting member consists of relatively wide supporting elements 30a and 31a which correspond to the

elements

30, 31 shown in FIGS. 7-9. The magnet assembly which is similar to that shown in FIGS. 1-6, 11 and 12 is supported on the element 30a by means of several brackets such as the brackets 44% and 45 which are attached by suitable rivets to the element Etta. These

brackets

44 and 45 are also provided with members that are adapted to engage the rear surface of the wall 38 and function to provide the desired spacing to the magnet assembly whereby the front faces of the

iron'strips

15 and 16 are disposed either in line with the front face of the wall 38 or slightly ahead of this front face.

The magnet assemblies shown in FIGS. 7-10 may be provided to the walls of rooms in dwellings and offices for the purpose of supporting drapes. Such an arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 13 in which the window drape may be supported by means of the member 5t over the Window 55 which is formed in the wall 56. The member '59 is provided with suitable inturned end portions which are of magnetic material so that these magnetic end portions are gripped by the permanent magnets positioned in the magnet assemblies 51 and 52 which are supported between the wall studs by the support members 53 and 54 respectively. These magnet assemblies and support therefor may be constructed as shown in FIGS. 7-10 except that the magnet assemblies are positioned on the bracket or supports 53 and 54 crosswise instead of lengthwise as shown in FIGS. 7-10 so that the drape supporting member 51) may be moved upward or downward over the length of the magnet assembly.

The magnet assemblies of this invention may also be employed for supporting medicine chests such as shown in FIGS. 14-16. In such cases, the magnet assembly such as that shown in FIGS. 7-10 is attached to the wall studs and the front faces of the iron strips 15 and 16 of the magnet assembly extend forward of the wall 61 a short distance. Thus the magnetic armature 62 which is attached to the back wall of the medicine cabinet 63 and which is provided with an upper hook portion 64 is firmly gripped by the magnet assembly and the hook portion 64 engages the upper iron strip 16. With this hook arrangement the cabinet'63 is prevented from sliding downward when it is loaded with various medicines etc.

This invention may also be employed for supporting i 72 is inserted inside so that several thicknesses of cloth are interposed between it and the magnet assembly 71. Yet the magnet assemblies provided herein produce the required magnetic attraction to support the article. In this case, the magnetic armature 72 is inserted inside inside of the shirt out of view. Likewise, if socks, handkerchiefs or other articles are to be displayed on the board 76, suitable magnetic armatures such as the armature '72 may be inserted therein and these articles also may be held on the board by the various magnetic assemblies.

Where groceries and canned goods are to be displayed suitable magnetic armatures may be attached to the containers by adhesive or the like or the container itself may be made of magnetic material. l

The magnet assemblies described and illustrated herein are adapted to be mounted in wall structure or in suitable panels as described, and suitable covering such as wall paper or paint may be applied over the front faces of the magnet assemblies and this covering may be flush with the front face of the wall or panel or it may bulge slightly to the front of the wall or panel. On the other hand, such covering may be dispensed with, and suitable non-mag netic filler such as plastic wood may be used between the magnets, iron strips and wall or panel structure so that only the front faces of the iron strips are exposed. Also suitable aluminium strips may be placed between the iron strips and the magnets so that these aluminum strips are fiush with the iron strips. These aluminum strips may be made in the form of a plate with suitable holes punched therein so that this plate fits over the whole assembly and hole in the wall or panel structure, and the iron strips fit into the holes in the panel.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the invention i capable of variation and modification from the form shown so that its scope should be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What I claim:

1. In a magnetic supporting device the combination of a panel having a decorative design on the front thereof, a plurality of permanent magnet assemblies, means for supporting said assemblies in holes in said panel so that the magnetic poles thereof set up a magnetic field over an area of the exposed front face of the panel where an article is to be supported, each of said permanent magnet assemblies comprising individual magnets each of a fiat configuration sandwiched between strips of magnetic material and attached thereto, said strips of magnetic material being spaced so that the magnetic field arched between these magnetic strips extends well to the front of the assembly, and a free magnetic armature adapted to be placed inside of an article of clothing to be displayed on the front of said panel so that a thickness of the cloth of said article exists between the magnetic armature and said magnet assembly and the article may be arranged to effect a predetermined display on the decorative design of said panel and held in this predetermined display by the magnetic attraction between said armature and at least one of said magnetic assemblies.

2. In a magnetic supporting device the combination of a panel having a decorative design on the front thereof, a plurality of permanent magnet assemblies, means for supporting said assemblies in holes formed in said panel so that the magnetic poles thereof set up a magnetic field over an area of the exposed front face of the panel where an article is to be supported, each of said permanent magnet assemblies comprising a plurality of individual magnets each of a flat configuration sandwiched between strips of magnetic material, means for holding said magnets and said strips assembled, said strips of magnetic material being spaced so that the magnetic field arched between these magnetic strips extends well to the front of the assembly, means including said last mentioned means for attaching said assembly to said display panel upon which articles of merchandise are to be displayed, and a magnetic armature adapted to be placed inside of an article of clothing to be displayed on the front of said panel so that a thickness of the cloth of said article exists between the magnetic armature and said magnet assembly and the article may be arranged to effect a predetermined display on the decorative design of said panel and held in this predetermined display by the magnetic attraction between said armature and at least one of said magnetic assemblies.

3. In a magnetic article supporting device adapted to be positioned in a wall so as to set up a magnetic field over an area of the exposed front face of the wall where an article is to be supported, the combination of a permanent magnet assembly, said assembly comprising a plurality of permanent magnets each of a flat configuration, and a plurality of strips of magnetic material, said permanent magnets being sandwiched between said strips so that said strips project forward from said mangets, means extending through said strips for clamping said magnets therebetween, means for attaching said assembly to wall structure, said wall structure having a hole formed therein for receiving said assembly, said means comprising bracket attaching means attached to said assembly, said brackets means being arched over the back of said assembly by said first mentioned means and having members engaging the back of said Wall structure to position of the front of said assembly with respect to the front surface of said wall structure.

4. In a magnetic article supporting device adapted to be positioned in a wall or panel so as to set up a magnetic field over an area of the exposed front face of the wall or panel where an article is to be supported, the combination of a wall structure a permanent magnet assembly, said assembly comprising a plurailty of permanent magnets each of a fiat configuration, and a plurality of strips of magnetic material, said permanent magnets being sandwiched between said strips so that said strips project forward from said magnets, said wall structure having a hole formed therein for receiving said assembly, means for attaching said assembly to said wall structure so that said strips project forward to the front of said wall structure, said means comprising bracket means attached to said assembly, said bracket means having means engaging the back of said wall structure to position of the front of said assembly with respect to the frOnt surface of said wall structure and a magnetic armature attached to the article to be supported, said armature having means for engaging the projecting part of one of said strips and being held in such engagement by the magnetic field of said assembly to prevent lateral movement in at least one direction of said armature with respect to said strips.

5. In a magnetic article supporting device adapted to be positioned in a wall so as to set up a magnetic iieid over an area of the exposed front face of the wall where an article such as a drape is to be supported, the combination of a wall structure, a member for supporting the drape, said member having magnetic armature portions, at least two permanent magnet assemblies, said assemblies each comprising a plurality of permanent magnets, strips of magnetic material, said permanent magnets being sandwiched between said strips so that said strips project forward from said magnets elongated means extending through said strips for clamping said magnets therebetween, said wall structure having holes formed therein for receiving said assemblies, supporting means for attaching said assemblies in said holes in said wall structure spaced substantially by the distance between said magnetic armature portions, said supporting means comprising bracket means attached to each said assembly by said elongated means.

6. In a magnetic supporting device the combination of a panel, a permanent magnet assembly positioned in a hole in said panel, said assembly comprising a plurality of elongated strips of magnetic material positioned in parallel spaced relation, a plurality of individual magnets 3 each of flat configuration sandwiched between said strips, said magnets being arranged in stacks that extend substantially at right angles across said strips and so that each of said strips is of one magnetic polarity throughout its length, elongated members of nonmagnetic material extending through each of said stacks for holding said stacks and strips assembled, angle shaped members attached by said elongated members to the outer ones of said strips parallel thereto, said angle shaped members each having a fiat surface extending over the portion of one side of said panel surrounding said assembly and a clamping member engaging the other side of said panel so that said panel is clamped between said fiat surfaces of said angle shaped members and said clamping member and means extending through said assembly and said clamping member for drawing said clamping member against said panel. 7

'7. In a magnetic supporting device the combination of a panel, a permanent magnet assembly positioned in a hole in said panel, said assembly comprising a plurality of elongated strips of magnetic material positioned in parallel spaced relation, a plurality of individual magnets each of flat configuration sandwiched between said strips, said magnets being arranged in stacks that extend substantially at right angles across said stripsand so that each of said strips is of one magnetic polarity throughout its length, elongated members of nonmagnetic material extending through each of said stacks for holding said stacks and strips assembled, spaced angle shaped members bridged over the back of said assembly and attached by said elongated members to the outer ones of said strips parallel thereto, said angle shaped members each having a .flat surface engaging a portion of one side of said panel surrounding said assembly when the front faces of said strips are substantially flush with the front surface of said panel.

8. In a magnetic supporting device the combination of a panel, a permanent magnet assembly positioned in a hole in said panel, said assembly comprising a plurality of elongated strips of magnetic material positioned in parallel spaced relation, a plurality of individual magnets each of flat configuration sandwiched between said strips,

said magnets being arranged in stacks that extend substantially at right angles across said strips and so that each of said strips is of one magnetic polarity throughout its length, elongated members of nonmagnetic material extending through each of said stacks for holding said stacks and strips, assembled spaced angle shaped members attached by said elongated members to the outer ones of said strips parallel'thereto, said angle shaped 7 members each having a flat surface extending over a portion of one side of said panel surrounding said assembly and means including said angle shaped members for sup- 8 porting said assembly in the hole in said panel with the front faces of said panel.

9. In a mangetic supporting device adapted to be positioned in a wall so as to set up. a magnetic field over an area of the exposed front face of said wall where an article is to be supported, the combination of a panel, a permanent magnet assembly, said assembly comprising a plurality of stacks of permanent magnets each of a fiat configuration, and a plurality of strips of magnetic material extending across said plurality of stacks so that said strips of magnetic material form the magnetic poles of the assembly, elongated members extending through said stacks holding said stacks of magnets and said strips assembled, brackets positioned on the back side of said magnet assembly, fiat side members attached to said magnet assembly, additional elongated members extending through said assembly and through said brackets clamping said brackets to said assembly and at the same time clamping said panel between said side members and said brackets.

10. In a magnet supporting device adapted to be positioned in a wall so as to set up a magnetic field over an exposed front face of the wall where an article is to be supported, the combination of a panel, a permanent magnet assembly, said assembly comprising a plurality of stacks of permanent magnets each with a flat configuration and a plurality of strips of magnetic material extending across said plurality of stacks so that said mag netic material form the magnetic poles of the assembly, elongated members extending through said stacks, holding said stacks of magnets and said strips assembled, means supporting said assembly so that faces of said strips protrude from the face of said panel, said supporting means comprising side members attached to the sides of said magnet assembly and brackets attached to the back of said magnet assembly, said side members and said brackets clamping said panel therebetween, thereby supporting said magnet assembly on said panel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,168,949 1/16 McKittrick et a1. 40142 X 1,829,776 11/31 Wright 248-27 X 1,898,282 2/32 Almcrantz 2203.8 2,414,653 1/47 Lookholder 317-159 2,641,793 6/53 Wilm 317-159 X 2,809,002 10/57 Rudolph 248205 2,948,407 8/60 Wiszuk 248206 X 2,954,257 9/60 Besuch et al. 294-655 2,962,252 11/60 Frank 248-226 3,031,799 5/62 Bradsby 248-206 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primar y Examiner.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A MAGNET SUPPORTING DEVICE THE COMBINATION OF A PANEL HAVING A DECORATIVE DESIGN ON THE FRONT THEREOF, A PLURALITY OF PERMANENT MAGNET ASSEMBLIES, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID ASSEMBLIES IN HOLES IN SAID PANEL SO THAT THE MAGNETIC POLES THEREOF SET UP A MAGNETIC FIELD OVER AN AREA OF THE EXPOSED FRONT FACE OF THE PANEL WHERE AN ARTICLE IS TO BE SUPPORTED, EACH OF SAID PERMANENT MAGNET ASSEMBLIES COMPRISING INDIVIDUAL MAGNETS EACH OF A FLAT CONFIGURATION SANDWICHED BETWEEN STRIPS OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL AND ATTACHED THERETO, SAID STRIPS OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL BEING SPACED SO THAT THE MAGNETIC FIELD ARCHED BETWEEN THESE MAGNETIC STRIPS EXTENDS WELL TO THE FRONT OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND A FREE MAGNETIC ARMATURE ADAPTED TO BE PLACED INSIDE OF AN ARTICLE OF CLOTHING TO BE DISPLAYED ON THE FRONT OF SAID PANEL SO THAT A THICKNESS OF THE CLOTH OF SAID ARTICLE EXISTS BETWEEN THE MAGNETIC ARMATURE AND SAID MAGNET ASSEMBLY AND THE ARTICLE MAY BE ARRANGED TO EFFECT A PREDETERMINED DISPLAY ON THE DECORATIVE DESIGN OF SAID PANEL AND HELD IN THIS PREDETERMINED DISPLAY BY THE MAGNETIC ATTRACTION BETWEEN SAID ARMATURE AND AT LEAST ONE OF SAID MAGNETIC ASSEMBLIES.