Patent Application
20160040461
Magnets have a number of applications in industrial and commercial goods. One such application is as a method of joining, locking, or aligning two components together. This is achieved by utilizing the attributes of magnetic fields produced by magnets. These magnetic fields cause magnets with opposing polarities facing each other to attract each other, while the same polarities facing each other repel. Such magnetic fields, regardless of polarity, also attract metallic objects. By utilizing the attractive nature of magnets, locking mechanisms can be built, either by using two magnets, or a magnet and a ferromagnetic material.
One example of such an application would be the magnetic lock on a power cord to a laptop computer, or the small magnets used to close and lock in place the cover for a notebook or tablet computer. In such an application small permanent magnets are used, usually small neodymium magnets, which while exerting a strong magnetic field in comparison to their small size, can be pulled away from each other with relative ease in a perpendicular motion by the user, and hence do not require any external tools or large strain to open.
For applications where a stronger lock or magnetic attractive force is required, usually an electromagnet is used. This is because permanent magnets would be too difficult to pull away from each other using human mechanical strength alone. Electromagnets in this case are much more practical, since a simple power button can release the locking mechanism by deactivating the magnetic field and hence attractive forces.
Conventional magnetic locks for electronic devices, such as those explained above, suffer from a number of deficiencies. One such deficiency is that conventional magnetic locks using small permanent magnets do not provide a strong lock or magnetic force due to their small size. A deficiency with conventional electromagnetic locks is that they require a power source and are usually heavier and more complicated to implement than permanent magnets and hence can be more expensive and impractical.
Embodiments of the invention significantly overcome such deficiencies by providing a locking mechanism using strong permanent magnets, often composed of rare earth metals, which can still be unlocked or detached using the conventional strength of a user. This magnetic lock can be used in applications where a low weight is desired, or where there is no available power source to power an electromagnet.
In one particular embodiment the locking mechanism is composed of two parts. A first part includes an internal cylindrical cavity with a first magnetic element (a permanent magnet or a piece of material that is attractable to a magnet) attached to the bottom. The second part includes a matching cylinder that fits into the cylindrical cavity with a second magnetic element attached to its bottom. At least one of the magnetic elements comprises a magnet. The magnetic elements are positioned in such a way that they have a strong attractive force when the cylinder is in one type of orientation within the cavity. This attraction is caused by the full alignment of the magnetic elements with each other. When a twisting motion is applied to the cylinder, the magnetic elements become misaligned. While still being in contact with each other, the lower surface area causes a much smaller attractive force, allowing the user to pull the two magnetic elements apart by pulling the cylinder from the cavity.
Note that each of the different features, techniques, configurations, etc. discussed in this disclosure can be executed independently or in combination. Accordingly, the present invention can be embodied and viewed in many different ways. Also, note that this summary section herein does not specify every embodiment and/or incrementally novel aspect of the present disclosure or claimed invention. Instead, this summary only provides a preliminary discussion of different embodiments and corresponding points of novelty over conventional techniques. For additional details, elements, and/or possible perspectives (permutations) of the invention, the reader is directed to the Detailed Description section and corresponding figures of the present disclosure as further discussed below.
The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
The embodiments set forth below represent the necessary information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention and illustrate the best mode of practicing embodiments of the invention. Upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying figures, those skilled in the art will understand the concepts of the invention and recognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressed herein. It should be understood that these concepts and applications fall within the scope of the disclosure and the accompanying claims.
The preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein; rather, this embodiment is provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The terminology used in the detailed description of the particular embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting of the invention. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.
In building such a magnetic lock, there are aspects that one needs to take into account. One aspect is the dimensions of the bar magnets. The bar magnets should be rectangular in shape and have a width to length ratio that is preferably between 2:1 and 5:1. Smaller ratios, such as that of squares 1:1, would not create the desired effect of lowering the magnetic forces upon a rotational movement along the center axis. Higher ratios, in turn, would still create the desired effect, however, since rare earth magnets are brittle, such “thin” magnets would be easier to break during assembly and transport
A second aspect for consideration is the orientation of the magnetic fields. When two bar magnets are used, the two magnets can have one of two field orientations. In one case, both bar magnets can have their north and south poles located on the flat surface of the magnet. In these cases, the magnets are placed in the cylinder in such a manner that the bottom magnet attached to the cylindrical cavity has the same magnetic orientation as the magnet placed at the bottom of the cylinder. This, in turn, ensures that the magnets attract each other. In such an orientation, there are two possible situations where the two magnets are fully aligned, both 180 degree rotation of the cylinder away from each other. Another version has the magnetic poles situated at the ends of each bar magnet. In this case, there is only one possible full alignment between the two bar magnets. This is useful if the position of the cylinder is desired to face a certain position when locked (magnets are aligned).
A third aspect to be considered is the placement of the magnetic elements within the cylinder. The two magnetic elements have to be located on the central axis of the cylinder, with the center of the magnetic elements aligned with this central axis. Without alignment, the magnetic forces would not align properly causing a weaker locking mechanism. This would also not allow for the misalignment property to function as intended.
Still another aspect for consideration is the fact that the magnetic elements cannot come into direct contact with each other if composed of rare earth metals. This arrangement requires a protective layer to be placed on top of the bottom, top or both magnetic elements to avoid the magnetic elements being damaged when the locking motion is being carried out. Such a protective layer can be achieved by a polycarbonate sticker, overcoming the brittle nature of rare earth magnets.
The magnetic elements can also be broken down into two or more magnetic elements to create the same desired magnetic field and hence the same locking outcome. Such an application is advantageous when the middle part of the axis is required for another component or when using individual smaller magnetic elements can save weight or reduce cost. For example, instead of having a bar magnet with one side with south polarity, one could have several coin magnets or other shaped magnets next to each other with a southern polarity facing up, representing a similar magnetic field.
The present invention is described below referencing a cylindrical insert, though it should be appreciated that any shaped insert (square, rectangular, octagonal, etc.) could be used. The lock uses an insert, which is required to direct the motion of the locking mechanism. Without it, the magnets will just misalign but there is no controlled direction for the release of the lock. The insert also provides more rotational torque to the user making it easier to misalign the magnets, even very strong permanent magnets. The cylindrical cavity along with the insert guides the users pulling motion. Further, the description describes the magnetic elements as being permanent magnets, though it should be appreciated that at least one of the magnetic elements must be a magnet, while the other magnetic element can be a magnet or can be a piece of material that is magnetically attractable.
Referring now to
When the insert 18 is inserted into the cylindrical opening 14 of the base 12 and the first magnetic element 16 of the base is aligned with the second magnetic element 20 of the insert 18 the insert 18 is locked within the cylindrical opening 14 of the base 12 and wherein when the insert 18 is rotated within the cylindrical opening 14 of the base to a position wherein the first magnetic element 16 and the second magnetic element 20 are not aligned with each other the insert 18 is removable from the cylindrical opening 14 of the base 12.
Referring now to
Another benefit is that when the user puts the insert in the cavity, there is a lower chance that the magnets will not lock with each other, attributed by a misalignment of the magnets. This is because, unlike the other arrangement (magnetic poles on the faces of the magnets), when the two magnets are 90 degrees separated, the north pole of one magnet will push the north pole of the other magnet while the south pole pulls. These forces combine to cause a twisting force for the bar magnet as seen in
Referring now to
Referring now to
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Unless otherwise stated, use of the word “substantially” may be construed to include a precise relationship, condition, arrangement, orientation, and/or other characteristic, and deviations thereof as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, to the extent that such deviations do not materially affect the disclosed methods and systems.
Throughout the entirety of the present disclosure, use of the articles “a” or “an” to modify a noun may be understood to be used for convenience and to include one, or more than one of the modified noun, unless otherwise specifically stated.
Elements, components, modules, and/or parts thereof that are described and/or otherwise portrayed through the figures to communicate with, be associated with, and/or be based on, something else, may be understood to so communicate, be associated with, and or be based on in a direct and/or indirect manner, unless otherwise stipulated herein.
Although the methods and systems have been described relative to a specific embodiment thereof, they are not so limited. Obviously many modifications and variations may become apparent in light of the above teachings. Many additional changes in the details, materials, and arrangement of parts, herein described and illustrated, may be made by those skilled in the art.
Having described preferred embodiments of the invention it will now become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments incorporating these concepts may be used. Accordingly, it is submitted that the invention should not be limited to the described embodiments but rather should be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/034,371, filed on Aug. 7, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62034371 | Aug 2014 | US |
