GB2032670A

GB2032670A - Magnetic display device

Info

Publication number: GB2032670A
Application number: GB7842052A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: HODGSON MYERS ASS Ltd
Current assignee: HODGSON MYERS ASS Ltd
Priority date: 1978-10-26
Filing date: 1978-10-26
Publication date: 1980-05-08

Abstract

The device comprises two backboard members 1 hinged together to form a portable folder, the backboard members being of laminated construction including an outer covering layer 3, an inner layer 6 of plastics sheet material providing a writing surface, and between said outer and inner layers a sheet 5 of ferromagnetic material, optionally together with a layer of stiffening material 4; and magnetic shapes 7, 8, 9 for magnetic adhesion to said writing surface, each said magnetic shape being covered with plastics sheet material to provide further writing surface. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to magnetic display devices This invention relates to magnetic display devices. Magnetic display devices are known having a back-board or base-board including a ferromagnetic sheet and magnetised shapes which may be placed on the back-board and will adhere thereto magnetically to build up a temporary display thereon. The present invention relates to such magnetic display devices.

The present invention provides, according to one form thereof, a magnetic display device comprising two back-board members hinged together to form a portable folder, the backboard members being of laminated construction including an outer covering layer, a sheet of ferromagnetic material and an inside layer of plastics sheet material providing a writing surface for felt-tip ink pens, wax crayon or like writing instruments, together with a plurality of magnetic shapes for magnetic adhesion to the folder inner surfaces, the shapes also being covered with a plastics sheet material to provide a similar writing surface as the folder inner surfaces.

Conveniently, the laminated construction of the folder members provides a layer of stiffening material, such as cardboard, between the covering layer and the ferromagnetic sheet and the inner sheet is either of opaque white plastics sheet or a transparent laminate backed with white material (which may be printed), so as both to provide a writing surface and to conceal the ferromagnetic sheet beneath.

Preferably, the said magnetic shapes are hexagonal, so that they form a cluster in the manner of a honeycomb.

Another form of the invention provides a kit of parts comprising a folder as above-described, a number of hexagonal magnetic shapes sufficient in number to cover a considerable area of the folding surfaces, a colour pen or pens for writing on the folder and shape writing surfaces and an eraser for cleaning the said writing surfaces.

A particular embodiment of this form of the invention includes written instructions for the use of the kit for a specified purpose.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing the sole figure of which is a plan view of one back-board of a folder according to the invention with three hexagonal shapes shown thereon.

In the drawing, a back-board or base-board member, of which a part only is shown at 1, is hinged to a similar member, in any convenient manner not shown, to form a portable folder. The member 1 is of laminated construction as shown by the upturned edge 2 and the peeled-back layers shown at the lower, right-hand corner of the member 1. In the embodiment shown, the member 1 comprises an outer covering layer 3, also shown at the edge 2 and 3', which in this particular example is simulated leather vinyl plastics sheet. Beneath, is a stiffening sheet 4 and 4' of cardboard adjacent the ferromagnetic sheet layer 5 and 5'. A writing surface is provided by an inner sheet material which forms the inner fold surface. The hinged member is of identical laminated construction.

Shown placed upon the member 1, in clustered relationship to one another and adhering magnetically to the surface of sheet 6 thereof, are three hexagonal magnetic shapes 7,8 and 9. These may be of any convenient size in relation to the size of the folder but, typically, are of 2 cm length sides for an A.4 size folder. These shapes are also of laminated construction. The middle layer is the magnetic layer of ferromagnetic powder loaded, natural or synthetic rubber sheet. The magnetic material is magnetised to form successive opposite magnetic poles in both orthagonal directions of the rubber sheet surface. When placed upon or close to a ferromagnetic surface, specifically that of the member 1, the shapes adhere thereto magnetically.

In the drawing, the shape 7 is peeled back to show the laminated construction and the central magnetised layer is shown at 11. The top layer 1 2 is of opaque white plastics sheet material which provides a writing surface similar to that of the folder layer 6.

A bottom covering is also provided by plastics sheet material 10, since it is otherwise found that the surface of the magnetised rubber sheet progressively abrades and impairs the writing surface 6 of the folder, as the magnetic shapes are moved about thereupon.

The writing surface 6 of the folder is particularly suitable for spirit-soluble ink, felt-tipped marking pens and a written "A" is shown on the folder surface at 1 3. Similarly, letters "C" and "D" are written or printed upon the shapes 8 and 9 at 1 4 and 15, respectively.

It will be appreciated that any number of shapes such as 7, 8 and 9 can be assembled in one or more groups upon one or both inner surfaces of the folder in any pattern which is meaningful to the user. The shapes can be marked with suitable descriptive wording; individual shapes, or groups thereof can be moved about the folder face to indicate interrelationships of such groups and such interrelationships can be written upon the writing surface 6.

The folder, with shapes assembled, may be carried about, the shapes tending to retain their positions on the folder surfaces by magnetic adhesion thereto, so that they may be later re-examined.

Further, the patterned surface of the folder and shapes thereupon is very suitable for photocopying and for projection by an episcope type optical projector.

Finally, the surfaces of both the folder and the magnetic shapes may be wiped clean and the shapes removed from the folder for subsequent reuse.

A particular form of the invention comprises a kit of parts including a folder as abovedescribed, a number of magnetic shapes sufficient to cover the area of approximately one side of the folder, a number of spiritsoluble ink pens of different colours for marking and cleaning pads for removing ink marks from the folder and magnetic shape writing surfaces. Included with this kit are written instructions for the use of the kit according to a logical method as an aid to demonstrating, to the user and to others, the interrelationships of particular concepts and thus as an aid to reasoning and to decision-making. The pens may contain water soluble ink or be drywipe ink pens, instead of being spirit-soluble ink pens.

Claims

1. A magnetic display device, comprising two back-board members hinged together to form a portable folder, the back-board members being of laminated construction including an outer covering layer, a plastics layer of plastics sheet material providing a writing surface, and between said outer layer and said plastics layer a sheet of ferromagnetic material; and magnetic shapes for magnetic adhesion to said writing surface, each said magnetic shape being covered with plastics sheet material to provide further writing surface.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer covering layer is simulated leather vinyl plastics sheet.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said laminated construction includes between said outer layer and said sheet of ferromagnetic material a layer of stiffening material.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said stiffening material is cardboard.

5. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said plastics layer is opaque white plastics sheet.

6. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said plastics layer is transparent laminate backed with opaque white material.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said opaque white material is printed.

8. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said magnetic shapes are hexagonal shapes so they can cluster in the manner of a honeycomb.

9. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said magnetic shapes are of laminated construction including a top layer, an intermediate layer, and a bottom layer, said top layer providing a said further writing surface, said intermediate layer being magnetic.

1 0. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said top layer is opaque white plastics sheet.

11. A device as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein said intermediate layer is a magnetic layer of ferromagnetic powder loaded, natural or synthetic rubber sheet.

12. A device as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein said intermediate layer is magnetised to form successive opposite magnetic poles in both orthogonal directions of the surface of that layer.

1 3. A device as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein said bottom layer is plastics sheet.

14. A device as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

1 5. A kit of parts comprising a magnetic display device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14; and at least one writing instrument for writing on said writing surfaces.

1 6. A kit as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one said writing instrument is a felt-tip pen or wax crayon.

1 7. A kit as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one said writing instrument is a spiritsoluble ink pen, a water-soluble ink pen, or a dry-wipe ink pen.

1 8. A kit as claimed in any one of claims 1 5 to 17, comprising at least one eraser for cleaning said writing surfaces.

19. A kit as claimed in any one of claims 1 5 to 18, comprising instruction for the use of said kit.

20. A kit as claimed in claim 15, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

21. A kit of parts, comprising a magnetic display device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein there are sufficient said magnetic shapes so as to be able to cover a considerable area of said writing surface of the back-board members; a colour-pen or pens for writing on said writing surfaces; and an eraser for cleaning said writing surfaces.