Magnetic-backed clock award

Abstract

A magnetic-backed plaque having a clock on its front side is used as an award plaque or promotional plaque. A back side of the magnetic-backed plaque includes recessed areas for retaining a battery and for accommodating a nail or a hook for attaching the plaque to a non-magnet attracting surface. The plaque also includes a magnetic sheet attached to the back side of the panel member so that the magnetic sheet covers at least half of the back side of the panel member.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of, and priority to, provisional application Serial No. 60/302,014, filed Jun. 29, 2001, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a magnetic-backed plaque, and more particularly, to a magnetic-backed plaque having a clock on its front for use as an award plaque or promotional plaque.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Many types of award plaques, including those with clocks, exist in the prior art. However, such clock containing award plaques are typically configured with means for hanging the plaque on a wall or support means for supporting the plaque on the top of a flat surface, such as a desk.

[0004] Decorative plaques and pictures containing clocks are also well known in the art and are typically hung on wall surfaces with picture hangers or picture wire. Examples of such clock containing pictures can be seen in many design patents including Pat. Nos. Des. 358, Des. 994, Des. 209, Des. 977, Des. 208, Des. 932, and Des. 191,712.

[0005] Companies have used promotional items as gifts to promote their goods and services for years. Recently, collectibles in the car racing and motorsport industry have become very popular. Usually, such collectibles are purchased by those individuals who have an active interest in repairing and/or refurbishing cars. Further, those areas where cars and other types of motor vehicles are repaired and refurbished typically contain metal areas and metal items such as metal storage racks, metal counters, metal tool boxes and the like. Therefore, it would be advantageous to collectors of such collectibles, especially those containing clocks, to be able to easily display their collectibles in their metal containing work areas.

[0006] Accordingly, there is a need for a magnetic-backed promotional clock award or plaque that can be securely displayed and easily removed in work areas that contain lots of magnet attracting material, such as metal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, a magnetic-backed plaque having a workable clock is presented. For example, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the magnetic-backed plaque having a clock includes a panel member having a front side and a back side, a clock located on the front side of the panel, means for powering the clock, such as a battery, located on the back side of the panel, and a magnetic sheet attached to the back side of the panel member to enable the plaque to be displayed by securing the magnetic sheet to a magnet attracting material.

[0008] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the means for powering the clock, such as a battery, is retained within a recessed area located on the back side of the panel member. Further, the magnetic-backed clock award or promotional plaque of the present invention may also include another recessed are for accommodating a nail or hook so that the award or promotional plaque may be hung on a non-magnet attracting wall or vertical surface.

[0009] In still another aspect of the present invention, the magnetic sheet preferably comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive located on the back side of the magnetic sheet for attaching the magnetic sheet to the back of the panel member. In yet another aspect of the present invention, the magnetic sheet covers at least one half of the back side of the panel member to enable the clock containing award or promotional plaque to be securely attached to a magnet attracting surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Additional aspects of the present invention should become evident upon reviewing the non-limiting embodiments described in the specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals designate like elements, and:

[0011] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the magnetic-backed clock award or promotional plaque of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of one embodiment of the magnetic-backed clock award or promotional plaque of the present invention; and

[0013] FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of another embodiment of the magnetic-backed clock award or promotional plaque of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The following descriptions are of exemplary embodiments of the invention only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description is intended to provide a convenient illustration for implementing various embodiments of the invention. As will become apparent, various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, though not specifically described, many shapes and orientations of the panel member and alternative shapes and orientations of the magnetic sheet should be understood to fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0015] In general, the magnetic-backed clock award or promotional plaque 10 of the present invention includes a plaque member or panel member 12 having a front side 14 and a back side 16 (See FIG. 2), a clock 18 located on front side 14 of panel member 12, means for powering clock 18, such as battery 20 (See FIG. 2), located on back side 16 of panel member 12, and a magnetic member or sheet 22 (See FIG. 2) attached to back side 16 of panel member 12. Front side 14 of panel member 12 preferably includes a design 24.

[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates a rear elevational view of one embodiment of the magnetic-backed clock award or promotional plaque 10 of the present invention. Back side 16 of panel member 12 includes a recessed area 26 for retaining the means for powering clock 18. The means for powering clock 18 may further include a housing 28 for housing battery 20. Back side 16 may also include another recessed area 30 for accommodating a nail or hook for displaying magnetic-backed clock award or promotional plaque 10 on a non-magnet attracting material such as wood or drywall.

[0017] Magnetic sheet 22 comprises a front side 32 and a back side that is attached to back side 16 of panel member 12. Magnetic sheet 22 preferably comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive back for attachment to back side 16 of panel member 12. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, magnetic sheet 22 covers almost all of back side 16 of panel member 12 with the exception of recessed areas 26 and 30. Openings are die cut in magnetic sheet 22 to match recessed areas 26 and 30.

[0018] A rear elevational view of another embodiment of magnetic-backed clock award or promotional plaque 10 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3. The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 includes a size of magnetic sheet 22 which covers a little over one half of back side 16 of panel member 12. Magnetic sheet 22 is not die cut in that it does not cover any of recessed openings 26 and 30 located on back side 16 of panel member 12.

[0019] Magnetic sheet 22 preferably covers at least one half of back side 16 of panel member 12 I order to ensure that magnetic-backed clock award or promotional plaque 10 is adequately secured to a magnet attracting surface. Further, panel member 12 is preferably comprised of a sturdy, wear resistant material such as wood or polyethylene and front side 14 containing design 24 preferably includes a protective coating covering front side 14 of panel member 12.

[0020] It should be appreciated that many alterations of the magnetic-backed clock award or promotional item embodiments described herein may be made. For example, as previously mentioned above, panel member 12 and magnetic sheet 22 may be configured in a variety of shapes and sizes.

[0021] Lastly, various aspects of the invention have been described in illustrative embodiments. Of course, many combinations and modifications of the above-described structures, arrangements, proportions, elements, materials and components, used in the practice of the invention, in addition to those not specifically described, may be varied and particularly adapted to specific environments and operating requirements without departing from those principals.

Claims

1. An award plaque comprising:

a panel member having a front side and a back side;

a clock located on the front side of said panel member;

means for powering said clock located on the back side of said panel member; and

a magnetic member attached to the back side of said panel member wherein said magnetic member covers more than one half of the back side of said panel member.

2. The award plaque of claim 1 further comprising at least one recessed area located on the back side of said panel member for accommodating a nail or a hook.

3. The award plaque of claim 1 wherein said powering means is located within a recessed area located on the back side of said panel member so that said plaque can be attached in a flush position to a magnet attracting surface.

4. The award plaque of claim 1 further comprising a printed design located on the front side of said panel member.

5. The award plaque of claim 1 wherein said magnetic member comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive back wherein said pressure sensitive adhesive back is attached to the back side of said panel member.

6. The award plaque of claim 1 wherein said powering means comprises a battery.

7. A promotional magnetic-backed plaque comprising:

a plaque member having a front side and a back side;

at least one recessed area located on the back side of said plaque;

a clock located on the front side of said plaque member;

means for powering said clock positioned in said at least one recessed area; and

a magnetic sheet attached to, and covering, at least one half of the back side of said plaque member.

8. The promotional plaque of claim 7 further comprising a recessed area located on the back side of said plaque member for accommodating a nail or a hook.

9. The promotional plaque of claim 7 further comprising a printed design located on the front side of said plaque member.

10. The promotional plaque of claim 7 wherein said magnetic sheet comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive back wherein said pressure sensitive adhesive back is attached to the back side of said plaque member.

11. The promotional plaque of claim 7 wherein said powering means comprises a battery.