Floating desk item displays

Abstract

A display apparatus for suspending common office items in apparent defiance of gravity includes a base, capable of stable resting on a flat surface, and a cantilever support member fixedly attached to said base with a distal end hovering substantially above the top portion of the base. At least one first permanent magnet is fixedly attached to the distal end of this cantilever support member. A holder device shaped for supporting one or more common office items is connected at an uppermost point to at least one second permanent magnet fixedly attached to the holder device such that the polarity of end facing up toward the first permanent magnet is opposite that of first permanent magnet. A substantially inconspicuous tether filament is fixedly attached to the base at one end and to the holder device with the other end.

1 . A display apparatus for suspending common office items in apparent defiance of gravity comprising:
 a base capable of stable resting on a flat substantially horizontal surface;   a cantilever support member fixedly attached to said base with a distal end hovering over top portion of said base;   at least one first permanent magnet fixedly attached to said distal end of said cantilever support member;   a holder device shaped for supporting at least one said common office items;   at least one second permanent magnet fixedly attached to said holder device such that polarity of end facing up toward said first permanent magnet is opposite that of first permanent magnet; and   a substantially inconspicuous tether filament fixedly attached at one end to said base and at other end to said holder device.   
   
   
       2 . The display apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said common office item are themselves not magnetic. 
   
   
       3 . The display apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said cantilever support member is a substantially rigid rod arcuately shaped in a question mark pattern. 
   
   
       4 . The display apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said holder device is shaped and sized to retain business cards. 
   
   
       5 . The display apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said holder device is a tray capable of holding one of pens and paper clips. 
   
   
       6 . The display apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said permanent magnets are Neodymium type. 
   
   
       7 . The display apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said permanent magnets are positioned to be not visibly apparent when said display items are in said holder. 
   
   
       8 . The display apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said base and said cantilever support member are one continuous bent rod. 
   
   
       9 . A photograph display apparatus giving an appearance of defying gravity comprising:
 a) a base with substantially vertical sidearms separated by a predetermined distance;   b) a substantially transparent planar two-layer photograph holder;   c) a magnetic attraction means attached to distal end of one of said vertical sidearms;   d) a magnetically attractable means fixedly attached to center of edge of said transparent photograph holder adjacent said magnetic attraction means; and   e) a substantially inconspicuous tether filament having one end secured to distal end of said vertical sidearm not connected to said magnetic attraction means, wherein other end of said tether filament is secured to center of edge of said transparent photograph holder about 180 degrees from said magnetically attractable means.   
   
   
       10 . The photograph display apparatus, according to  claim 9 , wherein said magnetically attractable means are at least two permanent magnets with opposite polarity facing said magnetic attraction means attached to said distal end. 
   
   
       11 . The photograph display apparatus, according to  claim 9 , wherein said magnetic attraction means is at least two permanent magnets side-by-side rotatably attached to one of said vertical sidearms. 
   
   
       12 . The photograph display apparatus, according to  claim 9 , wherein said magnetic attraction means is a rectangular magnet. 
   
   
       13 . The photograph display apparatus, according to  claim 9 , wherein said magnetically attractable means is a rectangular ferrous metal bar. 
   
   
       14 . The photograph display apparatus, according to  claim 9 , wherein said predetermined distance of separation is between about 2 inches and 18 inches.