Patent · US Active

Magnetic fastener and hinged device using same

US10672548B2 · kind B2 · utility

7Cited by
17References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 28, 2017
Grant dateJun 2, 2020
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 28, 2037

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF16B2200/83
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus having a fast drop-off in attraction force between magnets is provided. The apparatus includes a first magnet array having a plurality of magnets with different magnetic field orientations fixedly positioned in a first housing. The apparatus also includes an adjacent magnet assembly relative to the first magnet array and provided in a second housing that includes second and third magnet arrays, each having a plurality of magnets with different magnetic field orientations. The apparatus includes an activation mechanism configured to move the adjacent magnet assembly from at least a first relative position to a second relative position. The adjacent magnet assembly in the second relative position has a second magnetic attraction force with the first magnet array that is substantially reduced as compared to a first magnetic attraction force with the first magnet array in the first relative position. The magnet arrays may define a magnetic fastener controlling opening and/or closing of portions of a device.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.