MAGNETIC DISPLAY DEVICE
A display device including a display case for displaying an item, and a frame disposed around a perimeter edge of the display case, the frame comprising at least one magnetic frame element. In an exemplary embodiment, multiple display devices are arranged to form a modular display device. In another exemplary embodiment, multiple display devices may be arranged in a modular display device album.
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The present invention relates to display devices, and in particular to display devices that can be releaseably attached to one another to provide a modular display system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDisplay devices, such as, for example, photo frames, compact disc holders, and other such devices for holding and displaying various items such as stamps, advertising products, coins, a clock, or LCD temperature displays are usually stand-alone items, and if available in modular form, often requires a number mechanical steps to engage or disengage the display device from an adjacent display device. For example, in the case of adding a photo to a photo album, one must either insert the photo into a sleeve of a photo album page, or add another page to the album that will hold the photo. This task is often more time-consuming than expected, since the photo must be aligned with other photos on the album page or the added page must be mechanically fastened to the other pages.
Accordingly, there is a need for a modular display device system that allows for quick and easy addition or removal of individual display devices while also having the capability to temporarily or permanently store such display devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises: a display case for displaying an item; and a frame disposed around a perimeter edge of the display case, the frame comprising at least one magnetic frame element.
In at least one embodiment, the display case comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and the at least one magnetic frame element is disposed around one of the first and second sides of the display case.
In at least one embodiment, the at least one magnetic frame element comprises a first magnetic frame element and a second magnetic frame element.
In at least one embodiment, the first magnetic frame element is disposed around the first side of the display case and the second magnetic frame element is disposed around the second side of the display case.
In at least one embodiment, the at least one magnetic frame element comprises: a housing having an opening; and a magnet disposed within the opening.
In at least one embodiment, the at least one magnetic frame element has an outer surface and a magnet attached to the outer surface.
In at least one embodiment, the at least one magnetic frame element is made of a magnetic material.
In at least one embodiment, the at least one magnetic frame element comprises a groove that mates with the perimeter edge of the display case.
In at least one embodiment, the display case is a photo display case.
In at least one embodiment, the display case is a compact disc display case.
A modular display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises: a plurality of display units, each display unit comprising: a display case for displaying an item, the display case having a display face; and a frame disposed around a perimeter edge of the display case, the frame comprising at least one magnetic frame element.
In at least one embodiment, the magnetic frame element of a first one of the plurality of display device units comprises a first magnet and the magnetic frame element of a second one of the plurality of display device units comprises a second magnet, so that the first magnetic display device unit is attached to the second magnetic display device unit by the magnetic attraction between the first magnet and the second magnet, and the first magnetic display device unit is rotatable relative to the second magnetic display device unit about an imaginary axis extending through center-points of the first and second magnets.
In at least one embodiment, the magnetic frame element of a first one of the plurality of magnetic display device units comprises at least one first magnet and the magnetic frame element of a second one of the plurality of magnetic display device units comprises at least one second magnet, so that the first magnetic display unit and the second magnetic display unit are attached to one another by the magnetic attraction between the at least one first magnet and the at least one second magnet and movable relative to one another to at least one of the following configurations: 1) a first configuration wherein the display face of the first magnetic display unit is generally co-planar with the display face of the second magnetic display unit and the first and second magnets have opposite magnetic orientations; and 2) a second configuration wherein the display face of the first magnetic display unit is superposed over the display face of the second magnetic display unit and the first and second magnets have the same magnetic orientation.
In at least one embodiment, the at least one first magnet comprises a plurality of first magnets and the at least one second magnet comprises a plurality of second magnets, and in the first configuration the plurality of first magnets and the plurality of second magnets form a plurality of essentially superposed pairs of magnets, and the first magnetic display unit and the second magnetic display unit are movable relative to one another to a third configuration wherein the display face of the first magnetic display unit is generally co-planar with the display face of the second magnetic display unit, the first and second magnets have opposite magnetic orientations and the first and second magnets of the superposed pairs of magnets are essentially not superposed.
In at least one embodiment, the at least one first magnet comprises a plurality of first magnets and the at least one second magnet comprises a plurality of second magnets, and in the second configuration the plurality of first magnets and the plurality of second magnets form a plurality of essentially superposed pairs of magnets, and the first magnetic display unit and the second magnetic display unit are movable relative to one another to a third configuration wherein the display face of the first magnetic display unit is at least partially superposed over the display face of the second magnetic display unit, the first and second magnets have the same magnetic orientation and the first and second magnets of the superposed pairs of magnets are essentially not superposed.
In at least one embodiment, the magnetic frame element of a first one of the plurality of magnetic display device units comprises at least one first magnet and the magnetic frame element of a second one of the plurality of magnetic display device units is made of a magnetizable material, so that the first magnetic display unit and the second magnetic display unit are attached to one another by the magnetic attraction between the at least one first magnet and the magnetizable material and movable relative to one another to at least one of the following configurations: 1) a first configuration wherein the display face of the first magnetic display unit is generally co-planar with the display face of the second magnetic display unit; and 2) a second configuration wherein the display face of the first magnetic display unit is superposed over the display face of the second magnetic display unit.
In at least one embodiment, the magnetic frame element of a first one of the plurality of display units comprises at least one magnet and the magnetic frame element of a second one of the plurality of display units is made of a magnetizable material, so that the first display unit and the second display unit are attached to one another by the magnetic attraction between the at least one first magnet and the magnetizable material and movable relative to one another.
In at least one embodiment, the magnetic frame element of the second display unit comprises a groove, and the at least one magnet is slideable within the groove so that the first display unit and the second display unit are movable relative to one another.
In at least one embodiment, the modular display further comprises a rack for holding the plurality of display units.
In at least one embodiment, the rack is made of a magnetizable material.
In at least one embodiment, at least one of the plurality of display units comprises a side wall that is angled outwardly relative to its display face.
In at least one embodiment, at least one of the plurality of display units comprises a support rod that is moveable in contact with another one of the plurality of display units to hold the at least one display unit in position relative to the another one of the display units.
In at least one embodiment, at least one of the plurality of display units comprises a bottom surface made of a friction-causing material.
A display album according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises: a plurality of display device units, each display device unit comprising: a display case for displaying an item, the display case having a display face; and a frame disposed around a perimeter edge of the display case, the frame comprising at least one magnetic frame element; and an album cover that houses the plurality of display device units.
In at least one embodiment, the album cover comprises: a front cover section; a back cover section; a fold that separates the front cover section from the back cover section; and a sleeve disposed around the front cover section, the sleeve being slideable relative to the front cover section so as to adjust storage capacity of the display album.
In at least one embodiment, the magnetic frame element of a first one of the plurality of display device units comprises at least one first magnet and the magnetic frame element of a second one of the plurality of magnetic display device units comprises at least one second magnet, so that the first magnetic display unit and the second magnetic display unit are attached to one another by the magnetic attraction between the at least one first magnet and the at least one second magnet and movable relative to one another to at least one of the following configurations: 1) a first configuration wherein the display face of the first display device unit is generally co-planar with the display face of the second display device unit and the first and second magnets have opposite magnetic orientations; and 2) a second configuration wherein the display face of the first display device unit is superposed over the display face of the second display device unit and the first and second magnets have the same magnetic orientation.
In at least one embodiment, the first display device unit comprises a back face opposite to the display face of the first display device unit, the back face comprises a first attachment mechanism, the display face of the second display device unit comprises a second attachment mechanism, and the first attachment mechanism engages with the second attachment mechanism to attach the first display unit to the second display unit in the second configuration.
In at least one embodiment, the first attachment mechanism comprises a hole and the second attachment mechanism comprises a peg.
These and other features of this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of this invention.
Various exemplary embodiments of this invention will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein:
The frame 24 includes a number of frame elements 26 disposed around the perimeter edges of the display case 22. As shown in
The second display unit 30 preferably has the same structure as the first display unit 20, including a display case 32, a frame 34, frame elements 36 and magnets 37. Thus, a magnetic frame element of the first display unit 20 may be disposed adjacent a magnetic frame element of the second display unit 30, resulting in magnetic attraction between the corresponding magnets 36, 37. As shown in
In the present embodiment, the magnet 227, 237 is disposed at one end of a magnetic frame element and the magnet 237, 239 is disposed at an opposite end of the magnetic frame element. As shown in
As shown in
First major surfaces of the magnets 426, 436 are preferably co-planar with their corresponding display faces 423, 433 and opposite second major surfaces of the magnets 426, 436 are preferably co-planar with their corresponding opposite faces 450, 460. Also, the first exposed major surfaces of the magnets 426, 436 preferably have the same magnetic orientation and the second exposed major surfaces of the magnets 426, 436 preferably have the same magnetic orientations. In this regard, the second display unit 430 may be disposed over the first display unit 420 so that the magnets 426, 436 form a plurality of magnetically attracted and superposed pairs. The magnets 426, 436 in each superposed pair of magnets have the same magnetic orientation (resulting in their exposed faces having opposite magnetic orientations when in face to face relation to one another) so that the display units 420, 430 are magnetically attracted to one another when the second display unit 430 is disposed over the first display unit 420. As shown in
Each modular display unit 510 includes a display face 514 and an opposite face 516. The display face 514 of each modular display unit 510 may include a first attachment mechanism 518 that mates with a corresponding second attachment mechanism 520 included on the opposite face 516 of an immediately adjacent modular display unit 510. For example, as shown in
The modular display album 500 also includes a cover, generally designated by reference number 540. The cover 540 may be made of any suitable material, and preferably a flexible material, such as, for example, polypropylene. The cover 540 includes a front cover section 542 and a back cover section 544, with an integral fold 546 formed in the cover 540 between the front cover section 542 and the back cover section 544. The cover 540 also includes a sleeve 548 slideably disposed around the front cover section 542. As shown in
Alternatively, the modular display units 510 may be arranged on a rack. For example, as shown in
While this invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A display device comprising:
- a display case for displaying an item; and
- a frame disposed around a perimeter edge of the display case, the frame comprising at least one magnetic frame element.
2. The display case of claim 1, wherein the display case comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and the at least one magnetic frame element is disposed around one of the first and second sides of the display case.
3. The display device of claim 2, wherein the at least one magnetic frame element comprises a first magnetic frame element and a second magnetic frame element.
4. The display device of claim 3, wherein the first magnetic frame element is disposed around the first side of the display case and the second magnetic frame element is disposed around the second side of the display case.
5. The display device of claim 1, wherein the at lease one magnetic frame element comprises:
- a housing having an opening; and
- a magnet disposed within the opening.
6. The display device of claim 1, wherein the at least one magnetic frame element has an outer surface and a magnet attached to the outer surface.
7. The display device of claim 1, wherein the at least one magnetic frame element is made of a magnetic material.
8. The display device of claim 1, wherein the display case is a photo display case or a compact disc case.
9. A modular display device, comprising:
- a plurality of display units, each display unit comprising: a display case for displaying an item, the display case having a display face; and a frame disposed around a perimeter edge of the display case, the frame comprising at least one magnetic frame element.
10. The modular display device of claim 9, wherein the magnetic frame element of a first one of the plurality of display units comprises a first magnet and the magnetic frame element of a second one of the plurality of display units comprises a second magnet, so that the first display unit is attached to the second display unit by the magnetic attraction between the first magnet and the second magnet, and the first display unit is rotatable relative to the second display unit about an imaginary axis extending through the first and second magnets.
11. The modular display device of claim 19, wherein the magnetic frame element of a first one of the plurality of display units comprises at least one first magnet and the magnetic frame element of a second one of the plurality of display units comprises at least one second magnet, so that the first display unit and the second display unit are attached to one another by the magnetic attraction between the at least one first magnet and the at least one second magnet and movable relative to one another to at least one of the following configurations:
- 1) a first configuration wherein the display face of the first display unit is generally co-planar with the display face of the second display unit and the first and second magnets have opposite magnetic orientations; and
- 2) a second configuration wherein the display face of the first display unit is superposed over the display face of the second display unit and the first and second magnets have the same magnetic orientation.
12. The modular display device of claim 11, wherein the at least one first magnet comprises a plurality of first magnets and the at least one second magnet comprises a plurality of second magnets, and in the first configuration the plurality of first magnets and the plurality of second magnets form a plurality of essentially superposed pairs of magnets, and the first display unit and the second display unit are movable relative to one another to a third configuration wherein the display face of the first display unit is generally co-planar with the display face of the second display unit, the first and second magnets have opposite magnetic orientations and the first and second magnets of the superposed pairs of magnets are essentially not superposed.
13. The modular display device of claim 11, wherein the at least one first magnet comprises a plurality of first magnets and the at least one second magnet comprises a plurality of second magnets, and in the second configuration the plurality of first magnets and the plurality of second magnets form a plurality of essentially superposed pairs of magnets, and the first magnetic display unit and the second magnetic display unit are movable relative to one another to a third configuration wherein the display face of the first display unit is at least partially superposed over the display face of the second display unit, the first and second magnets have the same magnetic orientation and the first and second magnets of the superposed pairs of magnets are essentially not superposed.
14. The modular display device of claim 9, wherein the magnetic frame element of a first one of the plurality of display units comprises at least one magnet and the magnetic frame element of a second one of the plurality of display units is made of a magnetizable material, so that the first display unit and the second display unit are attached to one another by the magnetic attraction between the at least one first magnet and the magnetizable material and movable relative to one another.
15. The modular display device of claim 14, wherein the magnetic frame element of the second display unit comprises a groove, and the at least one magnet is slideable within the groove so that the first display unit and the second display unit are movable relative to one another.
16. The modular display device of claim 9, further comprising a rack for holding the plurality of display units.
17. The modular display device of claim 16, wherein the rack is made of a magnetizable material.
18. The modular display device of claim 9, wherein at least one of the plurality of display units comprises a side wall that is angled outwardly relative to its display face.
19. The modular display device of claim 9, wherein at least one of the plurality of display units comprises a support rod that is moveable in contact with another one of the plurality of display units to hold the at least one display unit in position relative to the another one of the display units.
20. The modular display device of claim 9, wherein at least one of the plurality of display units comprises a bottom surface made of a friction-causing material
21. A display album comprising:
- a plurality of display device units, each display device unit comprising: a display case for displaying an item, the display case having a display face; and a frame disposed around a perimeter edge of the display case, the frame comprising at least one magnetic frame element; and
- an album cover that houses the plurality of display device units.
22. The display album of claim 21, wherein the album cover comprises:
- a front cover section;
- a back cover section;
- a fold formed in the album cover that separates the front cover section from the back cover section; and
- a sleeve disposed around the front cover section, the sleeve being slideable relative to the front cover section so as to adjust storage capacity of the display album.
23. The display album of claim 21, wherein the magnetic frame element of a first one of the plurality of display device units comprises at least one first magnet and the magnetic frame element of a second one of the plurality of magnetic display device units comprises at least one second magnet, so that the first magnetic display unit and the second magnetic display unit are attached to one another by the magnetic attraction between the at least one first magnet and the at least one second magnet and movable relative to one another to at least one of the following configurations:
- 1) a first configuration wherein the display face of the first display device unit is generally co-planar with the display face of the second display device unit and the first and second magnets have opposite magnetic orientations; and
- 2) a second configuration wherein the display face of the first display device unit is superposed over the display face of the second display device unit and the first and second magnets have the same magnetic orientation.
24. The display album of claim 23, wherein the first display device unit comprises a back face opposite to the display face of the first display device unit, the back face comprises a first attachment mechanism, the display face of the second display device unit comprises a second attachment mechanism, and the first attachment mechanism engages with the second attachment mechanism to attach the first display unit to the second display unit in the second configuration.
25. The display album of claim 24, wherein the first attachment mechanism comprises a hole and the second attachment mechanism comprises a peg.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 19, 2007
Publication Date: Apr 23, 2009
Applicant: CONCEPT WORKSHOP WORLDWIDE, LLC (New York, NY)
Inventor: Stewart Seidler (Central)
Application Number: 11/875,688
International Classification: A47G 1/06 (20060101);