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This application is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/973,151, filed Sep. 17, 2007, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a non-permanent method and structure enabling decorative features to be conveniently applied to metallic structures and, more particularly, to a non-permanent method and structure for temporarily decorating metallic lockers such as those found in schools.
2. Description of the Related Art
Lockers are a common structure found in schools, athletic rooms, and workplaces and are used to provide the users thereof the ability to store belongings so they are accessible as needed. They provide a personal storage place for belongings. Particularly in a school setting, lockers are frequently decorated by their user, both inside and out, to allow the user to “personalize” the space and set it off from the lockers of others. Photographs, artwork, and the like are frequently attached to the inside of the locker space, and attempts are sometimes made to decorate the exterior face of the locker in a unique way, as well.
Prior art methods of decorating the interior or exterior surfaces of lockers include using adhesive (e.g., tape or glue) to attach photographs, drawings, etc.; paint; and decorative magnets (commonly referred to as “refrigerator magnets”).
A problem exists because the custodian of the lockers (e.g., the school administration in the case of school lockers) typically does not want permanent, semi-permanent, or otherwise destructive alterations made to the lockers, since they represent a significant investment from a financial perspective, and because the lockers are often reassigned every year, or every few years, and one user may not want to have his or her locker decorated in the same manner as that of a previous user of the same locker. None of the above methods are optimal; in the case of adhesive, it is difficult to remove the adhesive when it is time to move the decorations, and the removal my damage the painted surface of the locker. In the case of paint, the paint is essentially permanent and thus cannot be removed without damaging the locker surface. Decorative magnets are small and do not provide much coverage of the locker surface. Further, the custodian of the lockers may find some of the decorations offensive or otherwise undesirable, and, as mentioned above, permanent, semi-permanent, or destructive alterations may be difficult or impossible to remove, adding to the maintenance costs incurred by the custodian.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a method and apparatus for enabling lockers and other metal structures to be decorated with temporary decorative covering that does not damage the surface of the locker or other metal structure when removed. Further, it would be desirable to have a method and apparatus for enabling lockers and other metal structures to be decorated with temporary decorative covering that provides essentially complete decorative coverage of a surface of the locker or other metal structure with a single decorative element.
The present invention is referred to herein as “magnetic wallpaper” and comprises at least one sheet of magnetic sheet material. The magnetic sheet material has a front side and a back side, and at least the front side is decorated entirely with a decorative pattern or other decorative element. The magnetic sheet material is sized to cover a predetermined portion of the structure, such as the exterior door, interior door, or left, right, or side interior walls. If the exterior walls of the locker, are exposed, then they can be covered as well. In a preferred embodiment, a single sheet covers an entire surface (interior door, exterior door, interior wall, exterior wall). Further, the sheets can be precut to cover each wall, or they can be cut to fit from a larger-sized sheet that is larger than the surface to be covered. It is understood that the entire surface need not be covered by each sheet.
FIG. 1 is an illustration showing multiple configurations for the magnetic decorative sheet material in accordance with the present invention, as well as an exploded view of the sheet material.
Referring to FIG. 1, the decorative magnetic sheet material of the present invention can be supplied in multiple sizes such as those illustrated by sheets 2, 4, and 6 of FIG. 1. Each sheet is configured to have a decorative design pattern formed thereon. In a preferred embodiment, the decorative design pattern can comprise a patterned paper material 10, attached to magnetic sheet material 14, using adhesive 12. The adhesive 12 can be any adhesive capable of adhering paper to the magnetic sheet material 14. It is understood that any material that can have a pattern formed thereon and which can be attached to the magnetic sheet using adhesive may be used for patterned material 10, including paper, vinyl, and the like.
The thickness of the magnetic sheet material 14 can be essentially any thickness, but it is preferable that it be of a thickness that makes it easily rollable and also cuttable using scissors.
The following dimensions and specifications are given for purpose of example and constitute dimensions and specifications that function in such a manner that the decorative magnetic sheet can be easily rolled and cuttable with scissors:
The magnetic wallpaper of the present invention is a non evasive way to decorate school lockers. It is 100% removable with no residue left behind on the locker surface. The magnetic wallpaper can be custom trimmed to fit virtually any size school locker. It sticks to lockers with no gluing or tape. Strong magnet holds up to everyday usage without tearing or falling off. If vinyl covering is used as the patterned paper material, it allows the magnet to form around corners while remaining adhered to the metal surface and will not tear.
The patterned paper material is printed with decorative patterns so that the magnetic wallpaper provides a decorative surface for the locker or other structure when it is placed thereon.
Although the present invention has been described with respect to a specific preferred embodiment thereof, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art and it is intended that the present invention encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.