Magnetically attractive display device

• US 4,242,823 A
• Filed: 08/30/1977
• Issued: 01/06/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John Bruno
• Original Assignee: John Bruno
• Inventors: Bruno, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Contreras, Wenceslao J.
• Application Number:
  US05/829,149
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 40/600, 40/621, 40/154, 40/158, 248/206 A, 335/303, 335/285
• US Class Current: 40/621
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/04 the elements being secured or adapted to be secured by magnetic means

Abstract

A lightweight magnetically attractive display device includes a relatively thin sheet-like intermediate layer which is adapted to be magnetically attractive at spaced intervals and which is supported in a generally planar configuration, and an outer face sheet adapted to be attached to the device in front of and adjacent the intermediate layer so that magnetized indicia characters can be removably attached to the device, against the outer layer, by the magnetic attraction between the intermediate layer and the magnetic portions on the indicia characters. As preferably embodied, the intermediate layer comprises a lightweight mesh screen made of magnetically attractive material. Alternatively, the intermediate layer may comprise a plurality of closely spaced magnetically attractive strands or a sheet of lightweight material having magnetically attractive particles dispersed therein. Advantageously, the outer face sheet is generally translucent to enable light to pass therethrough for highlighting the message formed by the indicia characters, which are preferably opaque. Also advantageously, two intermediate layers may be supported from a frame, with two translucent outer face sheets attached to the frame adjacent each of the intermediate layers, and an illumination source can be positioned within the space between the two intermediate layers for illuminating the messages attached to the two sides of the device.

Claims

1. A lightweight display device for supporting magnetized indicia characters, which comprises:

a generally sheet-like first member being magnetically attractive at spaced intervals, said first member comprising a woven mesh screen of strands of magnetically attractive material, said woven mesh screen being formed from two sets of closely spaced parallel strands of said material, which sets extend essentially perpendicular to each other;

a frame member adapted to maintain the strands of said woven mesh screen in a generally planar configuration;

a substantially lightweight generally sheet-like second member adapted to provide at least a background for said magnetized indicia characters, said second member being held in a generally flat configuration adjacent said first member by said frame member and said second member being sufficiently flexible to be held directly against said first member between said magnetized indicia characters and said first member without requiring additional fastener means; and

a generally lightweight, sheet-like backing member attached to said device adjacent said first member on the opposite side thereof from said second member, such that magnetized indicia characters may be removably attached in desired positions against said second member by magnetic attraction between said first member and the magnetized indicia characters and said second member is held adjacent said first member only by said frame member and the magnetic attraction between said indicia characters and said first member.

2. A display device according to claim 1 wherein said outer member is generally translucent.

3. A display device accorrding to claim 2 wherein adjacent strands of said screen are spaced about 150 inch apart.

4. A display device according to claim 1 wherein both said second member and said backing member are generally translucent.

5. A display device according to claim 1, wherein said second member and said backing member are made of essentially the same material such that said indicia characters can be attached to both sides of said display device.

6. A display device according to claim 5, wherein said second member and said backing member are essentially opaque.

7. A lightweight display device for supporting megnetized indicia characters, which comprises:

a generally sheet-like first member being magnetically attractive at spaced intervals;

frame means for maintaining said first member in a generally flat configuration;

a substantially lightweight generally sheet-like second member adapted to provide at least a background for said magnetized indicia characters, said second member being held in a generally flat configuration adjacent said first member by said frame means, and said second member being sufficiently flexible to be held directly against said first member between said magnetized indicia characters and said first member without requiring additional fastener means; and

a generally lightweight sheet-like backing member attached to said device by said frame means adjacent said first member on the opposite side of said first member from said second member, such that magnetized indicia characters may be removably attached in desired positions against said second layer by magnetic attraction between said first member and the magnetized indicia characters and said second member is held adjacent said first member only by said frame means and the magnetic attraction between said indicia characters and said first member.

8. A display device according to claim 7, wherein said second member and said backing member are made of essentially the same material such that said indicia characters can be attached to both sides of said display device.

9. A display device according to claim 8, wherein said second member and said backing member are essentially opaque.

10. A lightweight display device for supporting magnetized indicia characters, which comprises:

a generally sheet-like first member being magnetically attractive at spaced intervals, said first member comprising a screen made from a plurality of relatively closely spaced parallel strands of magnetically attractive material;

a frame member adapted to maintain said strands in a generally planar configuration, said frame comprising a pair of correspondingly proportioned frame elements bonded together with said strands sandwiched therebetween, said frame elements being made from stiffened paper, cardboard or the like;

a substantially lightweight generally sheet-like second member adapted to provide at least a background for said magnetized indicia characters, said second member being held in a generally flat configuration adjacent said first member between said frame elements, and said second member being sufficiently flexible to be held directly against said first member between said magnetized indicia characters and said first member without requiring additional fastener means, such that magnetized indicia characters may be removably attached in desired positions against said second layer by magnetic attraction between said first member and the magnetized indicia characters and said second member is held adjacent said first member only by said frame member and the magnetic attraction between said indicia characters and said first member.