US2557398A - Magnetic holder for display cards - Google Patents

Description

June 19, 1951 TEETQR 2,557,398

MAGNETIC HOLDER FOR DISPLAY CARDS Filed Dec. 29, 1945 FIG. I

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Afforne Patented June 19, 1951 I UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE MAGNETIC HOLDER FOR DISPLAY CARDS Macy 0. Teetor, New Castle, Ind. Application December 29, 1945, Serial No. 638,106

This invention relates to a holding device for display cards and the like and more particularly to a holding device that is adapted to retain display cards or the like in a vertical or slightly angular display position by magnetic means.

Heretofore, there have been employed various means or structures for holding display cards and the like in vertical position which either were more or less makeshift in character or of an elaborate nature. Those of the makeshirt type comprisedL unsightly wood blocks, heavy weights, or, other miscellaneous objects not specifically designed for such purposes and wholly unsuited for window display purposes. The display card holders of v the more elaborate type, however, comprised relatively large ornamental frames and structures, and while such elaborate holders performed their intended function with some degree of satisfaction, their size, specialized structural natures and expense nevertheless rendered them commercially undesirable.

It therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved holding device for display cards and the like that is adapted to support such articles in proper display position by magnetic means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved supporting means for display cards and the like that is relatively small in size, of inexpensive and simplified construction and at the same time has substantially universal application to display cards of all shapes, sizes and dimensions.

A further object is to provide a holder for display cards and the like by which such articles may be readily placed in approximately vertical display position and supported therein against inadvertent displacement.

- Other and further objects and advantages will become apparent as the description progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a card holding device comprising a preferred embodiment of the present invention and illustrated in operable card supporting position;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of one of the magnetic holding units comprising an element of the improved card holding device; and

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the card and a magnetic holding unit as viewed from the right in Fig. 1.

Generally, the display card holding device illustrated in the accompanying drawing comprises a pair of magnetic supporting units I and II 3 Claims. (Cl. 40-10) that are carried on a fiat metal plate I2 and between which a card I3 may be supported in proper vertical position for display purposes. The fiat metal plate I2 which may be composed of a metal having a high magnetic attraction, has a thin felt pad I4 secured on its under side to prevent injury to any surface upon which the improved display card holder may be placed. The metal plate I2 is rectangular in shape and is of sufficient breadth and width to prevent any rocking or tilting movement in any direction which might result under the influence of large or topheavy cards or as a result of an inadvertent striking of the card.

The holding units I 0 and I I may be of identical construction and each comprises a solid one quarter sphere or body portion I6 composed of plastic or other suitable material into which has been molded a permanent U magnet I I. As shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing,

the magnet I! is disposed crosswise of the one quarter sphere IS in spaced and substantially parallel relationship to the vertical face thereof and its north and south pole faces project to and are flush with the bottom surface thereof where they are exposed for intimate engagement with the upper surface of the metal plate I2. The bottom surface of each one quarter sphere I 6 is fiat from edge to edge and together with the fiat exposed pole faces of each magnet I1 present flat bearing surfaces which permit a wide overall bearing contact between the holding units I6 and II and the flat surface of the metal plate I2, and hence a close intimate engagement between the pole faces of the magnet I1 and the plate I2 to insure the maximum degree of magnetic attraction.

Secured to the vertical faces of each one quarter sphere I6 by cement or other suitable means is a thin fiat plate I8 which also may be composed of plastic or other suitable material. The lower edge of each plate I8 is flush with the lower surface of each one quarter sphere I6 so as to facilitate the intimate bearing contact between the units I I] and II and. the flat plate I2. As shown in Fig. 1, the vertical faces of the one quarter spheres I6 are disposed at right angles to the metal plate I2 so that the plastic plates I8, when secured to those faces, will also assume vertical positions at right angles to the metal plate 52. As a result, the outer faces of the plastic plates I8, when placed in opposed relation as shown in Fig. 1, are parallel with respect to each other from top to bottom and from side to side so as to be equidistant at all points and capable of firmly holding a card I3 in intimate engagement therebetween without the formation of any angular space which would tend to permit rocking or tilting of the card I3. Should the vertical face of one of the one quarter spheres I6 be disposed out of the perpendicular with respect to the plate I2, the vertical face of the other one quarter sphere may be formed at a complemental angle so that when the plastic plates I8 are secured thereto, their opposed vertical faces, while each is disposed out of the perpendicular, nevertheless are parallel to each other and capable of holding the card I3 firmly therebetween as above described.

The plastic plates I8 are substantially rectangular in shape and are of sufficient height and width to be considerably larger in area than the vertical faces of the one quarter spheres I6 and to present a larger bearing surface for supporting engagement with the display card I3.

When it is desired to mount a card I3 in a store window, for instance, for display purposes, the metal plate I2 may first be placed in proper position on the horizontal surface of the display area. Then, the magnetic holding unit I may be placed with its bottom surface in engagement with the metal plate I2 at a point centrally located with respect to the side edges thereof but slightly to the rear of the transverse center line thereof. The supporting unit It! will be retained thereafter in the foregoing position because of the magnetic attraction that is set up between the exposed pole faces of the magnet I1 and the metal plate I2, and it will resist thereafter any inadvertent application of moderate force tending toward displacement thereof. The display card I3 may then be placed in upright position With its lower edge resting on the plate I2 and with one of its sides against the vertical face of the plate I8"'of the unit It], after which the unit Il may finally be brought against the card I3 with its lower surface also in intimate engagement with the plate I2 and moved into opposed relationship with respect to the unit II! so that the card 53 is firmly held in proper vertical position between the two plastic plates I8. In this final assembled position shown in Fig. 1, the units Id and I I are definitely and securely held by magnetic attraction down in position on the plate I2 against inadvertent horizontal and vertical movement and serve to maintain the card I3 in proper displayposition at all times against the natural tendency of the card I3 to tip forwardly or backwardly.

It is apparent that the improved card holding device described above not only serves to properly hold a display card in proper upright position at all times, but also possesses other inherent advantages. The one quarter spheres It with the magnets I'I molded therein and their plastic plates I8 may be readily and inexpensively produced in a Wide variety of attractive colors and assembled together with a minimum of labor requirements. Also, while the units Ill and II possess relatively great holding power through the attraction of their magnets 11 for the metal plate I2, they nevertheless are light in weight, as is the thin metal plate I-2, so as to permit effortless handling thereof as contrasted with lead, glass or other types of Weights that have heretofore been employed. Ease of handling also arises from the fact that units In and I I are capable of retaining themselves on the metal plate I2 during transportation thereof, thus eliminating the difficulty of carrying a group of disassembled elements and the danger of loss or separation of the elements during periods of non-use. It is also apparent that the metal plate I2 serves as a keeper for the magnet I! at all times during periods of use and non-use so as to greatly lengthen the eificient operable life of the magnetic units I0 and II.

Further, the card holding spheres, because of their magnetic attraction for the metal plate, are capable of effectively clamping in upright display position cards of any thickness or any number of cards, such as an entire card file which may be temporarily removed from a card drawer or file.

Although there has been shown in the drawing and described above one preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. For instance, it is apparent that a rigid vertical plate permanently secured to the metal plate I2, or some other abutting member, could be substituted for the magnetic unit I0, so that the card I 3 could be held in vertical position between such a plate or member and the magnetic unit I I. It is intended, therefore, by the following claims to include within the scope of the invention all variations and modifications by which the results of the invention may be obtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalent means.

I claim:

1. A holding device for supporting a display card or the like in substantially vertical position comprising a flat magnetic metal plate and a plurality of supporting units adapted to be carried by and retained in position on the surface of said plate by magnetic attraction and to maintain a card or the like in substantially vertical position therebetween, each of said units comprising a body portion having a fiat substantially vertical face and a substantially flat .bot-.

' porting a card or the like. 7

2. A holding device for supporting a display card or the like in upright position comprising a fiat magnetic metal plate and a plurality of supporting units adapted to be carried by and retained in position on the surface of said plate by magnetic attraction and to support a card or the like therebetween, each of said units comprising a body portion having a magnet at its lower portion with its magnetic poles spaced apart in a plane parallel with said metal plate and adapted to magnetically attract said metal plate, and a flat upright bearing member secured to said body portion and adapted to bear against a card or the like for support thereof, said bearing member being of substantially greater extent than said body portion Whereby to provide an enlarged bearing area for intimately contacting and firmly retaining a card or the like.

3. A holding device for supporting a display card or the like in substantially vertical position comprising a flat magnetic metal plate and a plurality of supporting units adapted to be carried by and retained in position on the surface of said plate by magnetic attraction and to maintain a card or the like in substantially vertical position therebetween, each of said units comprising a body portion having a flat substantially vertical face and a substantially flat bottom face for engagement with said metal plate, a magnet at the bottom of said body portion having it magnetic poles spaced apart in exposed fiush relationship with said bottom face, and a flat surfaced outwardly extending bearing plate secured to the vertical face of said body portion for bearing engagement against a card or the like for support thereof, said bearing plate having substantially greater lateral dimensions than said vertical face of said body portion whereby to provide an enlarged bearing area for engaging and supporting a card or the REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 93,931 Westcott Aug. 17, 1809 1,624,741 Leppke et a1. Apr. 12, 1927 15 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 8,624 Great Britain May 24, 1889 428,287 Great Britain May 7, 1935

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