Patent Application
20090294316
This invention relates to magnetic button systems. More particularly, this invention relates to providing magnetic buttons, methods of making such magnetic buttons, providing unitary sheets of printed magnetic material from which magnetic buttons may be cut, methods of packaging magnetic buttons for retail presentation, and kits relating to the retail presentation of magnetic buttons.
A primary object and feature of the present invention is to provide magnetic buttons.
It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide flexible high-energy-magnetic buttons.
It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide flexible high-energy-magnetic buttons having a thickness of less than about 15 mils.
It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide methods of making such magnetic buttons.
Still a further object and feature of the present invention is to provide methods of making unitary sheets of printed magnetic material from which magnetic buttons may be cut to maximize the manufacturing efficiency of making magnetic buttons.
Yet another object and feature of the present invention is to provide methods of packaging magnetic buttons for retail presentation to maximize the display of the magnetic buttons to consumers.
Still another object and feature of the present invention is to provide kits relating to the retail presentation of magnetic buttons where the kits comprise a bundle of magnetic buttons sharing a motif or common theme.
Still another object and feature of the present invention is to provide kits relating to the retail presentation of magnetic buttons where the kits prevent substantial rotation of the magnetic buttons so that such shared motif is presented to the consumer to maximize potential sales.
A further primary object and feature of the present invention is to provide such systems, buttons, and methods that are efficient, inexpensive, and handy. Other objects and features of this invention will become apparent with reference to the following descriptions.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment hereof, this invention provides a method, relating to sales relating to small pictorial magnets, comprising the steps of: providing at least one sheet of printable magnetic sheet material; printing on such at least one printable magnetic sheet a plurality of small pictures, each such small picture having at least one picture border relating to subject matter of such picture; and cutting through each such at least one printable magnetic sheet adjacent each such at least one picture border; wherein at least one large plurality of small pictorial magnets are provided, each such small pictorial magnets having a pictorial side and a magnetic side; packaging at least one small plurality of such small pictorial magnets in at least one package having at least one window surface providing viewability of the pictorial side of such at least once small plurality of such small pictorial magnets; wherein such at least one window surface is structured and arranged to provide each such packaged small plurality from exposing such magnetic side to viewability through such window surface.
Moreover, it provides such a method wherein each such package contains at least three of such small pictorial magnets. Additionally, it provides such a method wherein each such package contains at least six of such small pictorial magnets. Also, it provides such a method wherein each such at least one package comprises at least one hanger structured and arranged to assist hanging such at least one package. In addition, it provides such a method wherein each such small plurality of such small pictorial magnets comprises a common theme. And, it provides such a method wherein such common theme comprises a sports theme. Further, it provides such a method wherein such sports theme comprises at least two sports balls.
Even further, it provides such a method wherein such at least two sports balls comprise the same sport. Moreover, it provides such a method wherein such at least two sports balls comprise a plurality of different sports. Additionally, it provides such a method wherein each such small pictorial magnet comprises a thickness below about 15 mils.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment hereof, this invention provides a magnetic button packaging system, relating to packaged pictorial flexible magnets, comprising: a plurality of small pictorial flexible magnets, each such small pictorial flexible magnets having a pictorial side and a magnetic side; and at least one package having at least one window surface providing viewability of such pictorial side of at least one of such plurality of small pictorial flexible magnets; wherein at least one packaged plurality of small pictorial flexible magnets is provided; and wherein such at least one window surface is structured and arranged to prevent each such packaged plurality of small pictorial flexible magnets from exposing such magnetic side to viewability through such at least one window surface.
Also, it provides such a magnetic button packaging system wherein such at least one package comprises at least one hanger structured and arranged to assist hanging such at least one package. In addition, it provides such a magnetic button packaging system wherein such at least one package comprises at least one indicia display to display printed indicia. And, it provides such a magnetic button packaging system wherein such at least one small plurality of such small pictorial magnets comprises at least three pictorial magnets. Further, it provides such a magnetic button packaging system wherein such at least three pictorial magnets comprises at least 6 pictorial magnets. Even further, it provides such a magnetic button packaging system wherein such at least one package comprises a single package comprising a single polybag. Moreover, it provides such a magnetic button packaging system further comprising at least one header card structured and arranged to display printed indicia.
Additionally, it provides such a magnetic button packaging system further comprising at least one header card structured and arranged to display printed indicia. Also, it provides such a magnetic button packaging system wherein such at least one header card comprises at least one hanger structured and arranged to assist hanging such at least one package. In addition, it provides such a magnetic button packaging system wherein each such small plurality of such small pictorial magnets comprises a common theme. And, it provides such a magnetic button packaging system wherein such common theme comprises a sports theme. Further, it provides such a magnetic button packaging system wherein such sports theme comprises at least two sports balls. Even further, it provides such a magnetic button packaging system wherein such at least two sports balls comprise the same sport. Even further, it provides such a magnetic button packaging system wherein such at least two sports balls comprise a plurality of different sports. Even further, it provides such a magnetic button packaging system wherein each such small pictorial magnet comprises a thickness below about 15 mils.
Even further, it provides such a magnetic button packaging system wherein each such small pictorial magnet comprises a thickness below about 15 mils. Even further, it provides such a magnetic button packaging system wherein each such small pictorial magnet comprises a thickness below about 15 mils.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment hereof, this invention provides each and every novel feature, element, combination, step and/or method disclosed or suggested by this patent application.
Magnetic button system 100 preferably comprises at least one magnetic button 105, preferably a plurality of magnetic buttons, preferably at least three and alternately preferably, six magnetic buttons 105, alternately preferably, larger pluralities of magnetic buttons, as further described in reference to
Magnetic buttons 105 preferably comprise a face portion 108 (first side) and a rear magnetic portion 112 (second side). Magnetic buttons 105 are preferably made available for retail sale by containing a respective plurality of magnetic buttons 105 in a magnetic button package 110, as shown. Preferably faced portion 108 comprises at least one picture, preferably comprising at least one theme, preferably a sports theme, as shown.
Magnetic button package 110 preferably comprises at least one polybag 115, preferably a plastic bag having at least a viewing window 118 for viewing the contents of the polybag 115, as shown. Preferably, viewing window 118 comprises at least a transparent front portion so potential purchasers may view the contents of magnetic button package 110. Preferably about six magnetic buttons 105 are stacked face portion 108 (first side) to rear magnetic portion 112 (second side) and placed within magnetic button package 110 with the face portion 108 (first side) facing viewing window 118, as shown.
Magnetic button package 110 preferably comprises at least one header card 120, as shown. Header card 120 preferably comprises a printed card 122, preferably paper, that functions both as a back portion 124 of magnetic button package 110 and a top portion 126 of magnetic button package 110, preferably as shown. Header card 120 is preferably fastened to polybag 115 with at least one fastener 128, as shown. Preferably, at least two of fastener 128 fasten header card 120 to polybag 115, as shown. Fastener 128 is preferably at least one staple 130, as shown. Upon reading this specification, those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other header card arrangements such as, for example, smaller header card, multiple header cards, other fastening arrangements, etc., may suffice.
Magnetic buttons 105 are preferably placed within polybag 115; preferably polybag 115 is tightly wrapped around magnetic buttons 105, as shown. Alternately preferably, polybag 115 is sized such that magnetic buttons 105 are restricted from flipping such that the face portion 108 (first side) is viewable through viewing window 118 and rear magnetic portion 112 (second side) does not show through such viewing window 118. Upon reading this specification, those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other viewing window arrangements such as, for example, a window that allows physical contact with the magnetic button, multiple windows, an entirely clear package, etc., may suffice.
Further, upon reading this specification, those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other face portion/magnetic arrangements such as, for example, dual face portions, dual magnetic sides, etc., may suffice.
In the preferred embodiment illustrated, magnetic button package 110 comprises preferred overall dimensions (for an essentially circular magnetic button), of about 2 inches in thickness, of about 5 inches in length and about 3 inches in width. The size of the magnetic button, including the thickness, may vary depending on the design or integrated decoration of the magnetic button. Preferably, the magnetic button is made from a high energy, flexible magnetic material having a thickness of about 15 mils, alternately preferably less than about one-tenth of one inch (1 mil=0.001 inch). The dimensions of the associated package are preferably adjusted according to the size of the magnetic button, as indicated. Upon reading this specification, those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other packaging arrangements such as, for example, circular packaging, rectangular packaging, other-shaped packaging, etc., may suffice.
Header card 120 (shown in
A portion of polybag 115 is preferably fastened to header card 120, as shown. The viewing window 118 of polybag 115 has preferred dimensions of about 2⅞ inches in length by about 3 inches in width. Overall preferred dimensions for polybag 115 are about 4¼ inch in length by about 3 inches in length. Upon reading this specification, those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other dimensions such as, for example, greater or smaller, etc., may suffice.
It is noted that the above dimensions of magnetic button package 110 assists to restrict the rotation of magnetic button 105 placed within polybag 115. Polybag 115 and packaging interact together to restrict the rotation of the substantially flat magnetic button structure within the polybag 115, as shown. Preferably, header card 120 comprises at least one hanging means 130, generally comprising at least one aperture 134 having a shape adapted to preferably assist hanging polybag 115 on a hook, as shown. Hanging means 130 preferably assists hanging magnetic button system 100 in a retail environment, preferably near a checkout aisle in a store. Those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that upon reading this specification and by their understanding the art of hangers as described herein, methods of hanging the magnetic button package will be understood by those knowledgeable in such art.
Magnetic button system 100 preferably comprises manufacturing process 200, a portion of which is shown in
In manufacturing process 200, a roll of printable material 204 (which alternately preferably may be unprinted and then printed on at a later time) is preferably placed on printed material holder 210 and fed into assembler 220, as shown. Preferably, high-energy flexible magnetic material 202 (also preferably magnetizable sheet material) is fed into assembler 220 from magnetizable sheet material holder 215, as shown. Assembler 220 “rolls” printed material (preferably in roll form) from printed material holder 210 into assembler 220, as shown. The continuous sheet of now printed-on-one-side high-energy flexible magnetic material 208 is preferably either rolled into a roll of product for future cutting or transferred to the cutting process. Preferably, flexible magnetic material 208 is next divided into individual printed magnetic buttons 105, using at least one cutter, preferably die cutter 207, to cut through the assembled magnetic sheet adjacent each picture border 209, as shown in
Preferably, high-energy flexible magnetic material 202 comprises a thinner more cost-effective sheet material, highly preferably thicknesses below about 15 mils. Upon reading this specification, those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other magnetic material arrangements such as, for example, thicknesses above 15 mil, etc., may suffice.
Preferably, printed flexible magnetic material 208 comprises substantially planar sheet of high-energy sheet magnetizer being substantially flexible magnetizable material having at least one pre-printed side 206 and at least one substantially unprinted side 218.
Flexible magnetic sheet materials 202 preferably combine a fine magnetizable material within a flexible binder. The magnetizable material preferably comprises a pulverized ceramic ferrite in a thermoplastic binder. Exposure of the resulting material to a magnetic field produces a magnetic “imprint” within the compound, thus generating a substantially permanent magnet, preferably exhibiting its own measurable magnetic field.
Achieving useful flux densities in thinner flexible magnetic sheet materials is difficult due to the decreased volume of magnetic materials within the cross-section. The preferred arrangements of high-energy sheet printed flexible magnetic material 202 are preferably exposed to regions of high magnetic field intensity. The technique is particularly effective in producing thin flexible magnetic sheet materials exhibiting enhanced magnetic pull strength (approaching flux densities typically associated thicker sheets). In addition, the preferred structures and arrangements allows printed flexible magnetic material 208 to be magnetized without physical contact between structures of a high-energy sheet magnetizer and the surface of pre-printed side 206. This preferred aspect of making flexible magnetic material 202 greatly reduces cost associated with product loss due to damage of the printed surface during the magnetization process.
Magnetic button system 100 preferably comprises at least one flexible magnetic sheet 300 comprising printed magnetic material (material may also be magnetizable meaning that the unitary sheet may be magnetized after printing and assembly as discussed in
In a preferred method of providing small pictorial magnets for sale, the present invention provides such a method comprising the above-described steps of: providing at least one sheet of printable magnetic sheet material; printing on such printable magnetic sheet a plurality of small pictures, each such small picture having at least one picture border relating to subject matter of such picture; and cutting through each such printable magnetic sheet adjacent each picture border; wherein a large plurality of small pictorial magnets are provided (each such small pictorial magnet having a pictorial side and a magnetic side); packaging at least one subset of the large plurality of small pictorial magnets (preferably comprising such small pictorial magnets) in at least one package having at least one window surface providing viewability of the pictorial side of at least one magnet of the subset of such small pictorial magnets; wherein such window surface is structured and arranged to prevent shifting of the individual magnets to expose to view such magnetic side through such window surface. Preferably, such flexible magnet comprises high-energy printable magnetic sheet material having a thickness below about 15 mils.
In one preferred arrangement of the present alternate embodiment, each magnetic button 105A preferably comprises a flexible magnetic sheet having a face portion 108 (first side) and a rear magnetic portion 112 (second side), as shown. Faced portion 108 of this preferred arrangement preferably comprises at least one picture, preferably comprising at least one theme, preferably a sports theme. In another preferred arrangement of the present alternate embodiment, each magnetic button 105A preferably comprises an unprinted magnet. Suitable unprinted magnets preferably include flexible magnets, alternately preferably ceramic magnets, alternately preferably neodymium rare earth magnets, etc.
In both arrangements of the preferred alternate embodiment, magnetic buttons 105A are preferably made available for retail sale by packaging a respective plurality of magnetic buttons 105A in a stacked arrangement within tube 402, as shown. In such preferred stacked arrangement, opposing substantially circular faces of such plurality of substantially circular magnets are substantially aligned and in face-to-face contact when in such at least one stacked arrangement
Alternate magnetic button package 400 preferably functions as both as retail packaging and a post-purchase storage device for the consumer. Tube 402 preferably comprises bottom cap 404 and a removable top cap 406, as shown. Top cap 406 preferably covers an upper opening 410 providing access to interior compartment 412 of tube 402. An aperture-containing tab 408 projects outwardly from top cap 406 and is preferably used to facilitate the hanging display and storage of alternate magnetic button package 400 at a consumer purchase site.
Tube 402 is preferably constructed of a substantially clear material to preferably form a viewing window 118 so that a consumer can see the product inside the packaging. This preferred arrangement preferably provides a side view of the flat circular magnets stacked within the hollow cylindrical package.
An application of clear shrink-wrap material 414 is preferably used to retain top cap 406 to tube 402 during shipment and handling, before it is sold. Once shrink-wrap material 414 is removed (the shrink-wrap preferably comprises perforations 430 for easy removal), the end consumer can easily install and remove the top cap 406 to access interior compartment 412 and the plurality of magnets stored therein.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, alternate magnetic button package 400 is sized to contain about thirty individual magnetic buttons 105. Upon reading this specification, those with ordinary skill in the art will now appreciate that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as intended use, user preference, etc., other tube arrangements such as, for example, providing tubes to hold alternate numbers of button-type magnets, alternate round button-type magnets, alternate flexible magnets, ceramic magnets, neodymium rare-earth magnets, non-circular magnets, etc., may suffice. In addition, those with ordinary skill in the art will further appreciate that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as intended use, user preference, etc., other cap arrangements such as, for example, forming caps to accommodate non-circular tubes/magnets, color-coding caps base on package content, proving instructive indicia, etc., may suffice.
Although applicant has described applicant's preferred embodiments of this invention, it will be understood that the broadest scope of this invention includes modifications such as diverse shapes, sizes, and materials. Such scope is limited only by the below claims as read in connection with the above specification. Further, many other advantages of applicant's invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the above descriptions and the below claims.
The present application is related to and claims priority from prior U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/057,636, filed May 30, 2008, entitled “MAGNETIC BUTTON SYSTEMS”, and is related to and claims priority from prior U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/087,780, filed Aug. 11, 2008, entitled “MAGNETIC BUTTON SYSTEMS”, the contents of both of which are incorporated herein by this reference and are not admitted to be prior art with respect to the present invention by the mention in this cross-reference section.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61057636 | May 2008 | US | |
| 61087780 | Aug 2008 | US |
