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Refrigerator magnet with clipping action

a refrigerator magnet and clipping technology, applied in the field of magnetic devices, can solve the problems of weak magnets that reduce the risk of scratching, difficult to remove, and inability to secure string or wire from which to hang thick and/or relatively heavy objects such as picture frames, headphones and mp3 players, and achieve the effect of enhancing the aesthetic beauty of the device and being durable enough

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-08-23
AMRON SCOTT L
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016] In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic device is dimensioned and arranged to be used as a solid one-piece magnetic clip with no internal moving parts. The magnetic device includes two neodymium disc magnets attached to a steel plate. The magnets and steel plate are housed within a silicone rubber over-molding. The magnetic device appears as though it is a one-sided magnetic clip with no coil or visible hinge mechanism. It performs a spring-like clipping action without a single coil or spring component. The device can be wholly attached to, and detached from, a magnetically attractive surface with ease as the back of the device curves inward to provide the user with an elevated edge or lip for easy removal from a flat surface. The aesthetic beauty of the device is enhanced by the visual effect created by the seemingly floating flat shape. Its soft durable silicone housing

Problems solved by technology

Furthermore, typical refrigerator magnets comprise one or more exposed magnetic components that can scratch, smudge and damage photographs and the magnetically attractive surfaces to which they are attached.
Flat, and often flexible, refrigerator magnets that reduce the risk of scratching are weak and difficult to remove as they generally possess low profiles that offer little in the way of leverage or grip.
Refrig

Method used

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  • Refrigerator magnet with clipping action
  • Refrigerator magnet with clipping action
  • Refrigerator magnet with clipping action

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third embodiment

[0053]FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C illustrate the front, back and side of a magnetic device 300 constructed according to the present invention which comprises two discrete neodymium disc magnets 311 and 312 attached to a steel plate 310 and sandwiched between one thermoformed sheet of styrene 324 and one flat sheet of styrene 320. The flat sheet of styrene 320 possesses a cut-out user press point reference 302 which exposes the layer of steel 310 within. The magnets 311 and 312 sit in protruding bulges of the thermoformed sheet of styrene 224. FIG. 15 illustrates the assembly of the device 300. This embodiment of the present invention operates similarly to the device 100 described above.

[0054]FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate the back and side views of the magnetic device 300 and further includes rubberized (i.e., TPS over-mold) contact points 330, 332 for improved non-slip grip. A rubber ring 334 is additionally wrapped around the perimeter of the magnetic device 300 to prevent the top edge ...

fourth embodiment

[0055]FIGS. 17A, 17B, 17C illustrate the back, side, and front views of a magnetic device 400 constructed according to the present invention, which comprises two discrete neodymium disc magnets 411 and 412 sandwiched between one thermoformed sheet of styrene 424 and one flat sheet of styrene 420. The flat sheet of styrene 420 possesses a cut-out user press point reference 402. The magnets 411 and 412 sit in protruding bulges of the thermoformed sheet of styrene 424. FIG. 18 illustrates the assembly of the device 400. This, the third preferred embodiment of the present invention also operates similarly to the magnetic device 100 described above.

[0056]FIGS. 19A, 19B, 19C illustrate the back, side, and front views of a device 500 similar to the device 400, except that a bottom thermoformed sheet of styrene 424 is replaced by an injection molded piece of rubber 524. The top flat sheet of styrene 520 is made approximately 2 mm thick for purposes of rigidity. A cut-out in the flat top she...

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Abstract

A magnetic device is provided for holding paper memos, documents, notices, notes, photos and similar non-magnetic thin sheet materials against a flat or rounded, usually vertically oriented, magnetically attractive surface such as a refrigerator door. It comprises two neodymium disc magnets attached to a steel plate. The entire assembly is encapsulated in silicone rubber. The steel plate serves as a rigid structural splint. The steel plate also serves to focus the magnetic fields of the two magnets, thereby increasing the device's magnetic strength without increasing the size of the magnets.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 748,918 which was filed on Dec. 8, 2005.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a magnetic device, commonly referred to as a refrigerator magnet, which is used to hold paper memos, documents, notices, notes, photos, exams, letters, postcards, recipes, poetry, pamphlets, greeting cards and similar non-magnetic thin sheet materials against flat or rounded, usually vertically oriented, magnetically attractive surfaces such as those found on refrigerators, stoves, file cabinets, metal lamps, memo boards, magnetic dry-ease message boards, magnetic bulletin boards, automotive bodies, submarine walls, steel structures, metal window frames, metal doors, and vending machines. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] A refrigerator magnet is typically made of a single unit that is held onto a magnetically attracti...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): A47G1/17
CPCB42F1/04H01F41/026H01F7/0252G09F7/04
Inventor AMRON, SCOTT L.
Owner AMRON SCOTT L
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