Magnetic display device

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.

Display 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.

A 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.