Decorative interchangeable hardware fixture

Abstract

A hardware fixture for doors, cabinets, drawers or other fixtures, has an interchangeable decorative or informational attachment. The hardware fixture includes a knob or pull body receiving the attachment, which can be shaped as a disc. The surface of the body may be recessed or surrounded by a rim that protects an edge of the decorative member against inadvertent dislodgment. The body includes a magnet or ferrous portion and the interchangeable decorative attachment similarly includes a magnet or ferrous portion that is attracted to the body. The magnetic surfaces abut only part way across the central portion of the knob body. The decorative attachment can be dislodged when desired by tipping it. Downward pressure on the decorative member over a gap with the knob lifts the opposite edge of the decorative attachment such that it can be grasped.

1 . A hardware fixture adapted to be mounted to a panel and for pulling said panel, said hardware fixture comprising: 
 a knob body adapted to be mounted to said panel and including a peripheral non-magnetic portion and a central portion including a magnetic surface, and    an attachment receivable on said magnetic surface and within said central portion, including a metallic surface releasably attachable to said magnetic surface, and an outwardly facing accent surface bearing an indicia or decoration.    
   
   
       2 . The hardware fixture as in  claim 1 , wherein said magnetic surface is recessed with respect to said peripheral non-magnetic portion.  
   
   
       3 . The hardware fixture as in  claim 1 , wherein said outwardly facing accent surface is formed of at least one of ceramic, plastic, porcelain and wood.  
   
   
       4 . The hardware fixture as in  claim 1 , wherein said panel comprises a door.  
   
   
       5 . The hardware fixture as in  claim 1 , wherein said panel is one of a portion of a drawer and a cabinet door.  
   
   
       6 . The hardware fixture as in  claim 1 , wherein said magnetic surface is one of concave and convex and is conterminously attachable to said metallic surface.  
   
   
       7 . The hardware fixture as in  claim 1 , wherein said magnetic surface is substantially parallel to said panel.  
   
   
       8 . The hardware fixture as in  claim 1 , wherein said central portion further comprises a further portion which is non-magnetic and said attachment is releasable when pressure is applied to said attachment at a section of said attachment facing said further portion.  
   
   
       9 . The hardware fixture as in  claim 8 , wherein said further portion is recessed below said magnetic surface and wherein said attachment is pivotable about an edge formed at an intersection between said magnetic surface and said further portion, when said pressure is applied.  
   
   
       10 . The hardware fixture as in  claim 9 , wherein said further portion peripherally surrounds said magnetic surface.  
   
   
       11 . The hardware fixture as in  claim 1 , further comprising said attachment including a protuberance extending from said metallic surface and wherein said central portion includes a notch therein for receiving said protuberance and for thereby preventing said attachment from translational motion with respect to said knob body.  
   
   
       12 . The hardware fixture as in  claim 1 , wherein said accent surface includes thereon at least one of a design, a color, a symbol and a letter.  
   
   
       13 . The hardware fixture as in  claim 1 , wherein said accent surface includes thereon a seasonal design, color, or symbol.  
   
   
       14 . The hardware fixture as in  claim 1 , wherein said accent surface includes thereon a design comprising a pattern formed of different colors.  
   
   
       15 . The hardware fixture as in  claim 1 , wherein said attachment is interchangeable with a further attachment bearing a further, different accent surface.  
   
   
       16 . The hardware fixture as in  claim 1 , wherein said indicia or decoration is indicative of contents of a retaining area disposed behind said panel, said retaining area being one of a drawer and a cabinet.  
   
   
       17 . The hardware fixture as in  claim 1 , further comprising a further attachment magnetically receivable within said central portion contemporaneously with said attachment.  
   
   
       18 . The hardware fixture as in  claim 17 , wherein said central portion includes a further magnetic surface and said further attachment is releasably attached to said further magnetic surface.  
   
   
       19 . The hardware fixture as in  claim 1 , wherein said accent surface bears at least one of a design, a color, a symbol and a letter and said attachment is interchangeable with a further attachment having a different accent surface.  
   
   
       20 . A hardware fixture adapted to be mounted to a panel and for pulling said panel, said hardware fixture comprising: 
 a knob body adapted to be mounted to said panel and including a recessed portion including a magnetic surface, and    an attachment receivable on said magnetic surface and within said recessed portion, including a facing metallic surface releasably attachable to said magnetic surface, and including an opposed accent surface bearing an indicia or decoration.    
   
   
       21 . The hardware fixture as in  claim 20 , wherein said recessed portion is substantially parallel to said panel and faces substantially opposite said panel.  
   
   
       22 . The hardware fixture as in  claim 20 , wherein said recessed portion is recessed below a peripherally extending lip and said facing metallic surface is conterminously attachable to said magnetic surface.  
   
   
       23 . The hardware fixture as in  claim 20 , further comprising said recessed portion further including a non-metallic portion and wherein said attachment is releasable when pressure is applied to said attachment at a section of said attachment facing said non-metallic portion.  
   
   
       24 . A hardware fixture adapted to be mounted to one of furniture and a fixture, said hardware fixture comprising: 
 a knob body adapted to be mounted to a panel and including a peripheral non-magnetic portion and a central portion including a magnetic surface; and    an interchangeable attachment receivable on said magnetic surface and within said central portion, including a facing metallic surface releasably attachable to said magnetic surface, and an outwardly facing accent surface bearing an indicia or decoration, said interchangeable attachment interchangeable with a further said attachment.    
   
   
       25 . A method for changing the appearance of a hardware fixture, comprising: 
 providing a knob body mounted on a panel and including a central portion including a magnetic surface and a further portion that is non-magnetic;    releasably attaching an attachment to said central portion, said attachment including a metallic surface that attaches to said magnetic surface, and an opposed, outwardly facing accent surface bearing at least one of an indicia and a decoration;    applying pressure to said attachment over said further portion thereby causing said attachment to become disengaged from said magnetic surface; and    magnetically coupling a further attachment with a further accent surface, to said central portion by positioning a facing metallic surface of said further attachment against said magnetic surface.    
   
   
       26 . The method as in  claim 25 , wherein said further portion is recessed below said magnetic surface and wherein said applying pressure urges said attachment to pivot about an edge formed at an intersection between said magnetic surface and said further surface.  
   
   
       27 . The method as in  claim 25 , wherein said providing a knob body comprises permanently affixing said knob body to said panel.  
   
   
       28 . The method as in  claim 25 , wherein said magnetic surface is recessed with respect to a peripheral non-magnetic portion that surrounds said central portion said panel comprises a door, a cabinet door or a drawer panel, and said central portion is substantially planar and parallel to said panel.