Magnetic connector apparatus

• US 20060139134A1
• Filed: 06/14/2005
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gymworld Inc.
• Original Assignee: Larry Dean Hunts
• Inventors: Hunts, Larry Dean
• Granted Patent: US 7,154,363 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 335/205
• CPC Class Codes: A47H 2201/01 Magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0242 Magnetic drives, magnetic coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/32 having magnetic fastener

Abstract

A magnetic connector apparatus provides a plurality of magnetic connector bodies in various different forms for magnetic connection of two or more bodies together along mutually-confronting, longitudinally-elongated, linear peripheral border edges, each linear peripheral border edge having at least one particularly-configured longitudinally elongated, cylindrical magnet supported adjacent thereto for rotation of the magnet adjacent said peripheral edge of each connector body for orientation of the magnetic polarity of magnets of confronting connector bodies for mutual magnetic attraction along, mutually confronting, linear peripheral border edges of magnetic connector bodies.

Claims

1. A magnetic connector apparatus, comprising:

a) at least two magnetic connector bodies each arranged for magnetic connection one to another along mutually confronting linear outer peripheral border edges of the connector bodies, each said magnetic connector body including at least one outer, confronting, longitudinally extending, linear peripheral border edge,

b) each said connector body having at least one magnet pocket positioned adjacent each said at least one outer confronting, longitudinally extending linear, peripheral border edge of the magnetic connector body, and

c) a longitudinally extending, cylindrical magnet in each said at least one magnet pocket of each said body member, each said magnet arranged with opposite magnetic poles occupying opposite diametric halves of the cylindrical magnet throughout its entire longitudinal length, each magnet supported in a magnet pocket for rotation therein about the longitudinally-extending axis of the diametric center line through the longitudinal length of the magnet, said axis of rotation extending substantially parallel to said longitudinally extending, linear peripheral border edge of the connector body.

2. The magnetic connector apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said at least two connector bodies includes a plurality of said outer, confronting, longitudinally extending, linear peripheral border edges each having at least one magnet pocket positioned adjacent thereto.

3. The magnetic connector apparatus of claim 1 wherein each said magnetic connector body includes at least one peripheral, longitudinally-elongated, linear magnet pocket-containing leg, each leg providing at least one said outer, confronting, longitudinally-extending, linear peripheral border edge of the magnetic connector body.

4. The magnetic connector apparatus of claim 3 wherein at least one of said at least two magnetic connector bodies includes at least two said longitudinally elongated, magnet-containing peripheral linear legs fixedly connected together at confronting longitudinal ends for longitudinal extension of the connected linear legs angularly relative to each other, each of at the least two angularly-connected linear legs providing a confronting, longitudinally extending, linear peripheral border edge of the magnetic connector body.

5. The magnetic connector apparatus of claim 4 wherein said at least one magnetic connector body includes at least three longitudinally-elongated, magnet containing peripheral linear legs connected in longitudinal, end-to-end condition for longitudinal extension of each connected linear leg angularly relative to the other to form a multi-leg magnetic connector ring body with each said linear peripheral leg providing an outer peripheral linear border edge of said ring body.

6. The magnetic connector apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said at least two magnetic connector bodies comprises a flat connector panel body having a plurality of said outer, confronting, longitudinally-extending, linear peripheral panel border edges.