US20080229639A1

US20080229639A1 - Magnetic children's art frame

Info

Publication number: US20080229639A1
Application number: US11/726,118
Authority: US
Inventors: Mark S. Barkley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-03-21
Filing date: 2007-03-21
Publication date: 2008-09-25

Abstract

An apparatus for displaying a child's art work on a magnetic surface. The apparatus comprising a frame member having each of a predetermined shape, a predetermined thickness and a predetermined size viewing area for displaying such children's art work, the frame member being formed from a flexible magnetic material.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to an art frame, and, more particularly, the present invention relates to a magnetic art frame for displaying a child's art creations on metallic surfaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Children are always bringing home art work that they have done in school. Parents generally have a great desire to display this art work because they are proud of what their children have done. Children also are very desirous of seeing their creations displayed at home.
These art creations are generally displayed on the refrigerator since this is an item that is generally seen by everyone who walks into the kitchen. Many times these papers that are brought home from school are secured by simple refrigerator magnets and generally these only hold a portion of the paper. In most case these papers with art work are poorly secured with the assortment of business ad magnets or other such magnets which usually require more that one magnet to hold the paper and even then the paper is not secured tightly.
Thus, it would be advantageous if there were a means available for displaying such art work that the child would enjoy seeing and one that would secure the art work to the metallic surface very securely.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus for displaying a child's art work on a magnetic surface. The apparatus comprising a frame member having each of a predetermined shape, a predetermined thickness and a predetermined size viewing area for displaying such children's art work, such frame member being formed from a flexible magnetic material.
In another aspect the present invention provides an apparatus for displaying a child's art work on a metallic surface. The apparatus comprises a frame member having each of a predetermined shape and a predetermined size viewing area for displaying such children's art work and at least one magnet member disposed on a back surface of said frame member for holding such frame member having the children's art work disposed therein on such metallic surface.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for displaying a child's art work on a metallic surface.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus wherein the apparatus is frame member being formed of a flexible magnetic material.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus wherein the flexible magnetic material is a one piece construction.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus wherein the apparatus has a viewing area that is 7½ inches by 10 inches.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a frame member wherein there are predetermined characters disposed on a front surface thereof.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a frame member wherein such predetermined characters are selected from animals, cartoon characters, sports equipment, race cars, fire engines or combinations thereof.
These and various other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent after a full reading of the following detailed description, particularly, when read in conjunction with the attached drawings as described below and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus according to an alternate embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a view of the back of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 displayed on the door of a refrigerator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identical components which have identical functions have been designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings.
In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus, generally designated 10, for displaying a child's art work on a magnetic surface. The apparatus 10 comprises a frame member 2 having each of a predetermined shape, a predetermined thickness and a predetermined size viewing area 4 for displaying such children's art work, the frame member 2 being formed from a flexible magnetic material.
It is presently preferred that such flexible magnetic material for such frame member 2 is a one piece construction.
The predetermined size of the viewing area 4 is substantially 7½ by 10 inches. This size is selected since the common size that is used for the majority of the art work done by children in school is 8½ by 11 and this allows enough of the paper to be secured and held in place by the magnetic frame.
It is also preferred that the front surface of the frame member 2 has predetermined characters 6 recognizable by most children disposed on such front surface. Such predetermined characters include animals, cartoon characters, sport equipment, race cars, fire engines and combination thereof. For girls, it is possible that the front surface have kittens or puppies or some cartoon characters while for boys such front surface may have sports equipment, race cars, fire engines or cartoons. These are just suggestions since the items suggested for boys may be equally applicable for girls and vice versa. These characters 6 can be applied to the front surface of the flexible frame 2 material by screen printing.
The flexible magnetic material that is used to form the frame 2 is magnetic sheeting in which the frame member 2 could just be stamped out of this material. The predetermined thickness of such sheeting material is substantially 0.020 inches.
The children's art work is pinched/held in place between the frame member 2 and the magnetic surface. Such magnetic surface can be one of a refrigerator, metal cabinets, a dishwasher or a stove or all of these could be used to display the art work.
In another aspect the present invention provides an apparatus, generally designated 20, for displaying a child's art work on a metallic surface. The apparatus 20 comprises a frame member 12 having each of a predetermined shape and a predetermined size viewing area 24 for displaying such children's art work and at least one magnet member 26 disposed on a back surface of the frame, member 12 for holding the frame member 12 having the children's art work disposed therein on such metallic surface. It is presently preferred that such at least one magnetic member 26 covers an entire back surface of the outer portion of the frame member 12 as is seen in FIG. 3.
It is also within the scope of the invention that such frame member 12 further includes a clear covering disposed within the frame member 12 for covering the predetermined size viewing area 24. Such predetermined size viewing area 24 is substantially 7½ by 10 inches.
It is also preferred that the front surface of the frame member 22 have predetermined characters 6 recognizable by most children disposed thereon. These predetermined characters include animals, cartoon characters, sport equipment, race cars, fire engines and combination thereof.
While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments of the present invention has been described in detail above, it should be understood that various other adaptations and/or modifications of the invention can be made by those persons who are particularly skilled in the art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for displaying a child's art work on a magnetic surface, said apparatus comprising a frame member having each of a predetermined shape, a predetermined thickness and a predetermined size viewing area for displaying such children's art work, said frame member being formed from a flexible magnetic material.

2. The apparatus, according to claim 1 wherein said flexible magnetic material is one piece.

3. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined size viewing area is substantially 7½ by 10 inches.

4. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein a front surface of said frame member has predetermined characters recognizable by most children disposed on said front surface of said frame member.

5. The apparatus, according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined characters include animals, cartoon characters, sport equipment, race cars, fire engines and combination thereof.

6. The apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein said predetermined characters are animals.

7. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said flexible magnetic material is magnetic sheeting.

8. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined thickness of said frame member is substantially 0.020 inches.

9. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said children's art work is held between said frame ember and said magnetic surface.

10. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic surface is one of a refrigerator, metal cabinets, a dishwasher and a stove.

11. An apparatus for displaying a child's art work on a metallic surface, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a frame member having each of a predetermined shape and a predetermined size viewing area for displaying such children's art work; and

(b) at least one magnet member disposed on a back surface of said frame member for holding said frame member having said children's art work disposed therein on such metallic surface.

12. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said at least one magnet covers an entire back surface of an outer portion of said frame member.

13. The apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein said frame member further includes a clear covering disposed within said frame member for covering said predetermined size viewing area.

14. The apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein said predetermined size viewing area is substantially 7½ by 10 inches.

15. The apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein a front surface of said frame member has predetermined characters recognizable by most children disposed on said front surface of said frame member.

16. The apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein said predetermined characters include animals, cartoon characters, sport equipment, race cars, fire engines and combination thereof.

17. The apparatus, according to claim 16, wherein said predetermined characters are animals.