Magnetic object holder

1. A method for forming a device for releasably attaching an object to a ferromagnetic surface, comprising:

providing a flexible sleeve defining an interior space in which the object is removably receivable;

positioning a magnet between the flexible sleeve and a heat-activated adhesive patch; and

applying heat and pressure to the patch to fuse the patch to the flexible sleeve around the magnet.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the flexible sleeve is formed from a sheet of flexible material having two opposing ends secured together along a seam; and

the magnet is positioned against the seam.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the two opposing ends of the sheet do not overlap when secured together.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the patch covers substantially all of the seam not covered by the magnet when the patch is fused to the flexible sleeve.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the magnet is two magnets.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising placing a heat-resistant compressible pad in the interior space before applying heat and pressure to the patch.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the pressure is sufficient to compress the magnet into the pad such that the magnet and a periphery of the patch surrounding the magnet is embedded in the flexible sleeve.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the pressure is sufficient to compress the pad such that decompression of the pad upon removal of the pressure causes the patch to stretch around the magnet.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the pad is thicker than a material from which the flexible sleeve is formed.

10. The method of claim 2 , wherein positioning the magnet comprises adhering a first side of the magnet to the patch.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein positioning the magnet comprises adhering a second side of the magnet to the flexible sleeve.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the patch includes a carrier film fixed to one side of the patch;

the film extends beyond a perimeter of the patch; and

positioning the magnet comprises:

adhering a first side of the magnet to a side of the patch opposite the film, and

positioning a second side of the magnet against the flexible sleeve using the film.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising adhering the film to the flexible sleeve around the patch before applying heat and pressure to the patch so that the film holds the patch and underlying magnet in place during the application of heat and pressure.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patch is formed from heat transfer vinyl.

15. A method for forming a device for releasably attaching an object to a ferromagnetic surface, comprising:

providing a rectangular sheet of flexible material having two opposing ends;

securing the two ends together along a seam to form a flexible sleeve defining an interior space in which the object is removably receivable; and

securing at least one magnet over the seam with at least one heat-activated adhesive patch.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one patch is one patch which covers more of the seam than the at least one magnet when the patch is fused to the flexible sleeve.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one is one patch which covers substantially all of the seam not covered by the at least one magnet when the patch is fused to the flexible sleeve.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein securing the at least one magnet over the seam comprises applying heat and pressure to the at least one patch to fuse the patch to the flexible sleeve around the at least one magnet.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising adhering the at least one magnet to the at least one patch before fusing the at least one patch to the sleeve around the at least one magnet.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising adhering the at least one magnet to the seam before fusing the at least one patch to the sleeve around the at least one magnet.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the two opposing ends of the sheet do not overlap when secured together.

22. The method of claim 15 , further comprising placing a heat-resistant compressible pad in the interior space before securing the at least one magnet over the seam.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the pressure is sufficient to compress the magnet into the pad such that the magnet and a periphery of the at least one patch surrounding the at least one magnet is embedded in the flexible sleeve.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein:

the pad decompresses upon removal of the pressure; and

decompression of the pad causes the at least one patch to tighten around the at least one magnet.

25. A method for forming a device for releasably attaching an object to a ferromagnetic surface, consisting of:

providing a flexible sleeve formed from a sheet of flexible material having two opposing ends secured together along a seam such that the two opposing ends do not overlap;

positioning at least one magnet against the seam; and

fusing a heat-activated adhesive patch to the flexible sleeve around the at least one magnet.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the patch covers substantially all of the seam not covered by the at least one magnet when fused to the flexible sleeve.

27. The method of claim 25 , wherein the at least one magnet is two magnets.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the patch covers substantially all of the seam not covered by the two magnets when fused to the flexible sleeve around the magnets.

29. The method of claim 25 , wherein fusing is heating the patch while applying pressure to the patch sufficient to compress the at least one magnet into the flexible sleeve such that the at least one magnet and a periphery of the patch surrounding the at least one magnet is embedded in the flexible sleeve.

30. The method of claim 25 , wherein the magnet is adhered to the patch before the patch is fused to the flexible sleeve around the at least one magnet.