Magnetic closures are provided for a wide variety of different types of devices such as portable computers (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,366,440, 6,653,919 and 7,583,500), containers or cases in general (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,744,833, 5,996,831 and 6,336,567), and jewelry clasps (U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,298). A number of these devices not only provide magnetic latching in one relative position of permanent magnets, but in another position of permanent magnets provide repulsion to help separate different parts of a portable computer housing or container in general. While some of these devices can be effective both for latching and repulsion according to the invention a magnetic closure that can be used with elements of all types is provided that has several advantages over most prior art constructions.
The magnetic closure according to the invention uses a piece of ferromagnetic material (or a permanent magnet) and a first permanent magnet that are widely spaced from each other in a first element, and a slidable second permanent magnet in a second element which the first element is adapted to either be attracted to (latched together) or repulsed by (separated). The spacing of the ferromagnetic material and first permanent magnet allows a very precise operation of the latch and by orienting the permanent magnets in a particular manner the repelling action between them can be maximized. This allows ready and secure latching, and assisted opening, of a case where the first and second elements are housing portions of a container, such as a cosmetics case, particularly one where the housing portions are hinged together along a portion opposite the ferromagnetic material and magnets.
As used in the present specification and claims a “ferromagnetic material” is a material that is attracted to a magnet but not itself a permanent magnet. Non-limiting common examples include iron, nickel, cobalt, and many alloys of any of these metals including most steels. A “permanent magnet” is a piece of material having north and south poles that will attract ferromagnetic materials or opposite poles of other permanent magnets. Non-limiting examples of common permanent magnets include Neodymium Iron Boron (NdFeB or NIB), Samarium Cobalt (SmCo), Alnico, Ceramic, PANiCNQ (plastic magnet), and Ferrite. NIB and SmCo are known as rare earth magnets and are particularly strong and may not be suitable for environments where there are sensitive electronic components nearby that could be adversely affected by them.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a magnetic closure for first and second elements comprising: A first element having a magnetic component and a first permanent magnet. The magnetic component and the first permanent magnet are widely spaced from each other in a first dimension, and the first permanent magnet has N and S poles. A second permanent magnet having N and S poles mounted in a second element so that the second permanent magnet can slide substantially in the first dimension between a first position in which it operatively attracts the magnetic component and holds the first and second elements together, and a second position in which like poles of the first and second permanent magnets are positioned to repel each other to cause separation of the first and second elements adjacent the magnets.
The magnetic component may be selected from the group consisting essentially of a ferromagnetic material (e. g. in plate form) or a third permanent magnet having N and S poles and positioned so that at least one of the poles thereof is operatively aligned with an opposite pole of the second permanent magnet when in the first position. The third permanent magnet may extend substantially parallel to the second permanent magnet or substantially perpendicular to it, but preferably is substantially parallel so that both poles of both the second and third permanent magnets are aligned when the second permanent magnet is in its first position.
The magnetic closure may include a thin nonmagnetic material of the first element between the second magnet and the magnetic component. Also the first and second elements adjacent the first and second magnets and the magnetic component are preferably of non-magnetic material, such as plastic.
The first and second elements may comprise first and second housing members hinged together for pivotal movement about a pivot axis at a portion thereof substantially opposite the first and second permanent magnets. The housing members may form a cosmetics case and house cosmetic material between them.
Desirably, the first and second permanent magnets have their N and S poles spaced from each other in a second dimension, substantially transverse to the first dimension and to the pivot axis. Also desirably, in the second position of the second permanent magnet both poles of both the first and second permanent magnets are positioned to repel each other.
The magnetic component and the first permanent magnet are desirably spaced from each other in the first dimension approximately the breadth of the second permanent magnet in the first dimension.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a case comprising: A first housing member having a top surface and a bottom surface. A second housing member having a top surface and a bottom surface. A hinge operatively connecting the housing members together for pivotal movement about a pivot axis. A magnetic component and a first permanent magnet mounted in the first housing member and widely spaced from each other in a first dimension substantially parallel to the pivot axis, the first permanent magnet having N and S poles. A second permanent magnet having N and S poles mounted in the second housing member so that the second permanent magnet can slide substantially in the first dimension between a first position substantially overlaying the magnetic component and a second position substantially overlying the first permanent magnet. In this construction the first and second permanent magnets are positioned so that the poles of each are separated from each other in a second dimension substantially transverse to the first dimension and the pivot axis.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a magnetic closure for first and second elements, comprising: A first element having a ferromagnetic material plate and a first permanent magnet, the ferromagnetic material plate and the first permanent magnet spaced from each other in a first dimension, and the first permanent magnet having N and S poles. A second permanent magnet having N and S poles mounted in a second element so that the second permanent magnet can move substantially in the first dimension between a first position in which it is operatively associated with the ferromagnetic material plate and a second position in which it is operatively associated with the first permanent magnet. And, wherein the first and second permanent magnets have their N and S poles spaced from each other in a second dimension, substantially transverse to the first dimension. The first dimension is preferably linear, preferably the ferromagnetic material plate and the first permanent magnet are spaced from each other in the first dimension approximately the breadth of the second permanent magnet in the first dimension, and preferably the second permanent magnet is slidable in the linear first dimension.
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an advantageous magnetic closure for a wide variety of elements. This and other objects of the invention will become clear from an inspection of the detailed description of the drawings, and from the appended claims.
A magnetic closure according to the invention is shown generally by reference numeral 10 in
While the elements 11, 12 may comprise any types of structures, in the preferred embodiment illustrated elements 11, 12 are first and second housing members defining a container or case. The housing members 11, 12 may define a container of almost any type, including containers for electronic devices, art supplies, tools, and papers (e. g. a briefcase). In the preferred embodiment illustrated in
In the embodiment illustrated in
The space D is wide enough so that there is a clearly distinct separation between the latched and separated position of the elements 11, 12. The magnet 18 has a South pole 22 and a North pole 23 (
The second element 12 mounts a second permanent magnet 25, having S and N poles 26, 27, respectively (see
The ferromagnetic material component 17 may be any suitable ferromagnetic material including (but not limited to) iron, nickel, cobalt, and many alloys of any of these metals including most steels, and may have a wide variety of shapes, although a quadrate plate shape is preferred. The magnets 18, 25 may be of any permanent magnet material including (but not limited to) NIB, SmCo, Alnico, Ceramic, PANiCNQ, and Ferrite. The elements 11, 12—at least the portions thereof associated with the magnetic closure 11—are of nonmagnetic material, such as most plastics including (but not limited to) PVC, ABS, polyethylene and polypropylene, or nonmagnetic metals such as aluminum, or cellulosic materials (e. g. wood or cardboard). The space D is preferably approximately the breadth B (see
As seen in
As seen in
The embodiment of
The structure that provides for sliding movement of actuator 29 and magnet 25 within groove 30 in the dimension 20 can be any conventional or hereafter developed structure that facilitates that function. One exemplary—and only exemplary—structure is illustrated in
While the invention is described with respect to housing members comprising the elements 11, 12, a hinge 13 connecting elements 11, 12 together, and slidable movement of magnet 25, other modifications are possible within the scope of the broadest aspects of the invention. For example the elements 11, 12 may simply be polygonal plates or other generally flat elements; instead of a hinge 13 there could be another type of connection between elements 11, 12, or a plurality of magnetic closures 10 may be provided at widely spaced locations or edges; and instead of sliding movement between structures 17, 18 and 25 the structures 17, 18 may be placed along the arc of a circle (i. e .the first dimension is arcuate instead of linear) with its center at a point of rotation of the magnet 25 so that it is rotated between operative association with the structures 17, 18.
Therefore the invention is to be accorded the broadest interpretation possible to cover all equivalent devices, limited only by the prior art.