Display devices, accessories therefore and methods

Abstract

A display article comprising one of a magnetic and magnet attractive material disposed such that the material defines an area, a substrate for the material, the substrate optionally being permeable to a pushpin, the material allowing a magnet or magnet attractive material to be secured thereto, the material be integrally secured to the substrate so as to form a composite article whereby an item to be displayed can be secured to the composite article by a magnet or magnet attractive material and optionally by a pushpin. The composite article is suitable for use as a display surface, allowing securement of articles to be displayed by a magnet or optionally by pushpin. The composite article may be used as wallpaper or a wall covering, for example.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A display article comprising:
 one of a magnetic and magnet attractive material disposed such that the material defines an area;   a substrate for the material, the material allowing a magnet or magnet attractive material to be secured thereto, the material being integrally secured to the substrate so as to form a composite article whereby an item to be displayed can be secured to the composite article by a magnet or magnet attractive material.   
     
     
         2 . The display article of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is permeable to a pushpin, whereby an item to be displayed can be secured to the composite article by at least one of a pushpin and a magnet or magnet attractive material. 
     
     
         3 . The display article of  claim 2 , wherein the one of a magnet and magnet attractive material comprises a ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
         4 . The display article of  claim 2 , wherein the one of a magnet and magnet attractive material comprises a magnetic material. 
     
     
         5 . The display article of  claim 2 , wherein the one of a magnet and magnet attractive material comprises a metallic apertured material. 
     
     
         6 . The display article of  claim 2 , wherein the one of a magnet and magnet attractive material comprises a particulate magnetic or magnet attractive material disposed on the substrate. 
     
     
         7 . The display article of  claim 6 , wherein the particulate magnetic or magnet attractive material is disposed in a binder. 
     
     
         8 . The display article of  claim 7 , wherein the substrate comprises one of a woven and nonwoven material. 
     
     
         9 . The display article of  claim 8 , wherein the substrate comprises a first thin flexible sheet. 
     
     
         10 . The display article of  claim 9 , further comprising a second thin flexible sheet disposed on the magnetic or magnet attractive material whereby the magnetic or magnet attractive material is laminated between the first and second thin flexible sheets. 
     
     
         11 . The display article of  claim 10 , wherein the display article is useful as a wall covering. 
     
     
         12 . The display article of  claim 2 , wherein the one of a magnetic and magnet attractive material is disposed on the surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         13 . The display article of  claim 2 , wherein the one of a magnetic and magnet attractive material is disposed such that it is even with the surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         14 . The display article of  claim 2 , wherein the one of a magnetic and magnet attractive material is embedded in the substrate. 
     
     
         15 . The display article of  claim 2 , wherein the one of a magnetic and magnet attractive material is embedded in the substrate below the surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         16 . The display article of  claim 14 , wherein the one of a magnetic and magnet attractive materials is a magnetic or magnet attractive particulate embedded in the substrate. 
     
     
         17 . The display article of  claim 14 , wherein the one of a magnetic and magnet attractive material comprises one of a wire mesh, apertured plate, screen, strands of material and flakes of material. 
     
     
         18 . The display article of  claim 14 , wherein the one of a magnetic and magnet attractive material is visible in the substrate. 
     
     
         19 . The display article of  claim 14 , wherein the one of a magnetic and magnet attractive material is not visible in the substrate. 
     
     
         20 . The display article of  claim 2 , wherein the one of a magnetic and magnet attractive material comprises strands of magnetic or magnet attractive material woven into a fabric. 
     
     
         21 . The display article of  claim 20 , wherein the substrate comprises a resin or gel material. 
     
     
         22 . A magnet comprising:
 a magnet;   an adhesive disposed on at least one surface of the magnet; whereby the magnet may be adhered with the adhesive to a nonmagnetic or nonmagnet attractive object to allow the object to be secured to a magnet attractive surface.   
     
     
         23 . The magnet of  claim 22 , wherein the adhesive comprises an adhesive releasably attached to a substrate. 
     
     
         24 . The magnet of  claim 23 , wherein the substrate comprises a sheet of material. 
     
     
         25 . The magnet of  claim 24 , further comprising a plurality of magnets releasably attached by adhesive to said sheet of material. 
     
     
         26 . A method of covering a surface area comprising:
 providing a first thin flexible sheet of material;   providing one of a magnetic and magnet attractive material in or on the first sheet of material, thereby to form a composite article;   covering the surface area with the composite article.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further wherein the one of a magnetic and magnet attractive material comprises a layer on the first sheet, and further comprising the step of providing a second thin sheet of flexible material on the one of a magnetic and magnet attractive layer, thereby defining the composite article as an at least three layer composite article. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising displaying an object on the composite article by securing the object to the composite article by applying a pushpin through the object, through the composite article and through the surface area into a structure defining the surface area. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising displaying an object on the composite article by securing the object to the composite article with one of a magnet and magnet attractive device. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the surface area comprises a wall, ceiling or floor of a building structure. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising electromagnetically shielding by covering the surface area with the composite article. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the surface area comprises a wall, ceiling or floor of a building structure and a volume defined at least in part by said surface area is shielded from electromagnetic radiation by said composite article. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the one of a magnetic and magnet attractive material is one of continuous or discontinuous. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the composite article has an acoustic insulation characteristic. 
     
     
         35 . A covering material for a surface area comprising:
 a first thin flexible sheet of material; and   one of a magnetic and magnet attractive material in or on the first sheet of material, thereby to form a composite article, which composite article can be used to cover the surface area of an object.   
     
     
         36 . The covering material of  claim 35 , further wherein the one of a magnetic and magnet attractive material comprises a layer on the first sheet, and further comprising a second thin sheet of flexible material on the one of a magnetic and magnet attractive layer, thereby defining the composite article as an at least three layer composite article. 
     
     
         37 . The covering material of  claim 35 , further wherein an object can be displayed on the composite article by securing the object to the composite article by applying a pushpin through the object, through the composite article and through the surface area into a structure defining the surface area. 
     
     
         38 . The covering material of  claim 35 , further wherein an object can be displayed on the composite article by securing the object to the composite article with one of a magnetic and magnet attractive device. 
     
     
         39 . The covering material of  claim 35 , wherein the surface area comprises a wall, ceiling or floor of a building structure. 
     
     
         40 . The covering material of  claim 35 , further wherein the covering material provides electromagnetic shielding. 
     
     
         41 . The covering material of  claim 35 , wherein the surface area comprises a wall, ceiling or floor of a building structure and a volume defined at least in part by said surface area is shielded from electromagnetic radiation by said composite article. 
     
     
         42 . The covering material of  claim 35 , wherein the one of a magnetic and magnet attractive material is one of continuous or discontinuous. 
     
     
         43 . The covering material of  claim 35 , wherein the composite article has an acoustic insulation characteristic. 
     
     
         44 . A material for covering a surface comprising:
 a fluid; and   a magnet attractive material dispersed in the fluid.   
     
     
         45 . The material of  claim 44 , wherein the fluid is a paint. 
     
     
         46 . The material of  claim 44 , wherein the magnet attractive material comprises ferromagnetic particles. 
     
     
         47 . A method for covering a surface comprising:
 applying a fluid to the surface; and   the fluid having a magnet attractive material dispersed therein.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein applying a fluid comprises applying a paint to the surface. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the magnet attractive material comprises ferromagnetic particles.