Magnetic holder for an object

Abstract

An object having a ferromagnetic part is supported by a holder having a stand and a permanent magnet carried on the stand. The magnet is set at such a height that by attraction of the ferromagnetic part by the magnet the object is held in a generally upright position underneath the magnet.

1 . In combination with an object having a ferromagnetic part, a holder comprising:
 a stand; and   a permanent magnet carried on the stand at a height such that by attraction of the ferromagnetic part by the magnet the object is held in a generally upright position underneath the magnet.   
   
   
       2 . The holder defined in  claim 1  wherein the stand includes:
 two elongated ferromagnetic bars, and   a base in which the bars can be seated.   
   
   
       3 . The holder defined in  claim 2  wherein the permanent magnet is generally spherical. 
   
   
       4 . The holder defined in  claim 2  wherein the base is formed with a plurality of upwardly open recesses in which ends of the bars can engage. 
   
   
       5 . The holder defined in  claim 4  wherein the recesses are an array of upwardly open blind holes. 
   
   
       6 . The holder defined in  claim 4  wherein the recess are an array of upwardly open generally parallel grooves. 
   
   
       7 . The holder defined in  claim 4 , further comprising a clip holding together the bars at a crossing of the bars. 
   
   
       8 . The holder defined in  claim 4  wherein the bars cross and the magnet is engaged with both of the bars generally where they cross. 
   
   
       9 . The holder defined in  claim 1  wherein the object is elongated and has one end provided with the ferromagnetic part. 
   
   
       10 . The holder defined in  claim 9  wherein the object is substantially nonmagnetically attractable except at the part. 
   
   
       11 . The holder defined in  claim 10  wherein the magnet is spaced above a lower face of the base by a distance equal to more than a length of the object, whereby the object is maintained upright without contacting the magnet.