Display and storage apparatus

• US 5,351,813 A
• Filed: 09/30/1993
• Issued: 10/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bruce Golovan
• Original Assignee: Bruce Golovan
• Inventors: Golovan, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): ACKUN, JACOB K
• Application Number:
  US08/130,153
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 206/449, 206/806, 206/818, 206/425, 206/466, 206/45.34, 150/113, 190/110, 383/38, 383/39, 383/40, 383/11, 383/106
• US Class Current: 220/483
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/18 Ticket-holders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/17 using adhesives, suction or magnetism A47G1/168 takes precedence; suction cups for attaching purposes, equivalent means using adhesives F16B47/00
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 7/065 made of transparent material
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/02 Signs, plates, panels or boards using readily-detachable elements bearing or forming symbols
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/12 the elements being secured or adapted to be secured by self-adhesion, moisture, suction, slow-drying adhesive or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/806 Suspension
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/818 Magnet

Abstract

A holding apparatus for holding relatively small items comprised of a generally flexible planar base, attachment means for attaching the base to a vertical surface such as a refrigerator door or the like, at least one storage and/or display compartment, and at least one fastener for releasably attaching the compartments to the base. The holding and/or display apparatus allows a user to detach and carry along the detachable compartment to a desired destination. In addition, the apparatus may be utilized for organizing and/or visibly displaying relatively light weight and thin materials such as appointment cards, theatrical tickets, photographs, sketches, etc. without puncturing or affecting the integrity of the material.

Claims

1. A holding apparatus comprising:

a generally thin planar flexible base having front and back opposed surface;

at least one magnetic strip for attaching the base to a surface disposed in a generally vertical plane, the magnetic strip being generally thin and fixedly attached to the back surface of the base;

at least one generally thin transparent plastic compartment for holding or displaying objects, wherein said compartment is releasably attached to the front surface of said base and wherein said compartment has a front portion, a back portion, and an inner compartmental space having an opening formed by said front and back portions for receiving objects;

a notch formed in the front portion along the opening and provided with a protective strip; and

,

compartment attachment means for releasably attaching the compartment to the front surface of the base, the compartment attachment means including at least one engaging portion and at least one corresponding receiving portion, and wherein the engaging portion is fixedly attached to the front surface of the base and the receiving portion is fixedly attached to the back portion of the compartment in corresponding relation to the notch.

2. The holding apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base is formed of lightweight transparent plastic.

3. The holding apparatus of claim 1 wherein the compartment attachment means comprises a plurality of snap fasteners.

4. The holding apparatus of claim 1 wherein the compartment attachment means comprises a plurality of hook and loop fasteners.

5. A holding apparatus comprising:

a generally thin planar flexible base having front and back opposed surface;

at least one magnetic strip for attaching the base to a surface disposed in a generally vertical plane, the magnetic strip being generally thin and fixedly attached to the back surface of the base;

at least one generally thin transparent plastic compartment for holding or displaying objects, wherein said compartment is releasably attached to the front surface of said base and wherein said compartment has a front portion, a back portion, and an inner compartmental space having an opening formed by said front and back portions for receiving objects;

a notch formed in the front portion along the opening and provided with a protective strip; and

compartment attachment means for releasably attaching the compartment to the front surface of the base, the compartment attachment means including at least one receiving portion and at least one corresponding engaging portion, and wherein the receiving portion is fixedly attached to the front surface of the base and the engaging portion is fixedly attached to the back portion of the compartment in corresponding relation to the notch.

6. The holding apparatus of claim 5 wherein the base is formed of lightweight transparent plastic.

7. The holding apparatus of claim 5 wherein the compartment attachment means comprises a plurality of snap fasteners.

8. The holding apparatus of claim 5 wherein the compartment attachment means comprises a plurality of hook and loop fasteners.

9. A holding apparatus comprising:

a generally thin planar flexible base having front and back opposed surfaces, the front surface including a first area and a second area;

at least one magnetic strip for attaching the base to a surface disposed in a generally vertical plane, the magnetic strip being generally thin and fixedly connected to the back surface of the base;

at least one generally thin transparent plastic first compartment for holding or displaying objects, wherein the first compartment is fixedly connected to the first area of the front surface of the base;

at least one generally thin transparent plastic second compartment for holding or displaying objects, wherein the second compartment is releasably attached to the second area and wherein the second compartment has opposed front and back portions and an inner compartmental space having an opening formed by said front and back portions for receiving objects;

a notch formed in the front portion along the opening and provided with a protective strip and,

compartment attachment means for releasably attaching the second compartment to the second area of the front surface of the base, the compartment attachment means including at least one engaging portion and at least one corresponding receiving portion, wherein the engaging portion is fixedly attached to the second area of the front surface of the base and the receiving portion is fixedly attached to the back portion of the second compartment in corresponding relation to the notch.

10. The holding apparatus of claim 9 wherein the base is formed of lightweight transparent plastic.

11. The holding apparatus of claim 9 wherein the compartment attachment means comprises a plurality of snap fasteners.

12. The holding apparatus of claim 9 wherein the compartment attachment means comprises a plurality of hook and loop fasteners.

13. A holding apparatus comprising:

a generally thin planar flexible base having front and back opposed surfaces, the front surface including a first area and a second area;

at least one magnetic strip for attaching the base to a surface disposed in a generally vertical plane, the magnetic strip being generally thin and fixedly connected to the back surface of the base;

at least one generally thin transparent plastic first compartment for holding or displaying objects, wherein the first compartment is fixedly connected to the first area of the front surface of the base;

at least one generally transparent plastic second compartment for holding or displaying objects, wherein the second compartment is releasably attached to the second area and wherein the second compartment has opposed front and back portions and an inner compartmental space having an opening formed by said front and back portions for receiving objects;

a notch formed in the front portion along the opening and provided with a protective strip; and

,

compartment attachment means for releasably attaching the second compartment to the second area of the front surface of the base, the compartment attachment means including at least one receiving portion and at least one corresponding engaging portion, wherein the receiving portion is fixedly attached to the second area of the front surface of the base and the engaging portion is fixedly attached to the back portion of the second compartment in corresponding relation to the notch.

14. The holding apparatus of claim 13 wherein the base is formed of lightweight transparent plastic.

15. The holding apparatus of claim 13 wherein the compartment attachment means comprises a plurality of snap fasteners.

16. The holding apparatus of claim 13 wherein the compartment attachment means comprises a plurality of hook and loop fasteners.