US Patent 7469869 Two-piece magnetic holder

A two-piece magnetic holder for holding a non-magnetic sheet onto a magnetically attractive surface includes an upper half and a lower half joined at a releasable hinge. The lower half is adapted for magnetic retention onto a magnetically attractive surface while the upper half selectively pivots relative to the lower half to allow gripping and releasing of an object from between portions of the upper and lower halves. A first magnet member is disposed in the lower half of the holder for magnetically coupling the two-piece holder to the magnetically attractive surface while a second magnet member is disposed in the upper half of the holder for magnetically coupling the first end of the upper half to the lower half. The upper half has a curvilinear body that defines a first end and a second end. In a closed or object gripping state, the first end of the upper half is magnetically attracted to the first end of the lower half, while the second end of the upper half is spaced from the second end of the lower half. In an open or object placement mode, the first end of the upper half is spaced from the first end of the lower half. The upper half is magnetically biased into the closed or object gripping position.