Magnetic hinge

• US 20070157432A1
• Filed: 01/11/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Glenn Weinstein
• Original Assignee: Glenn Weinstein
• Inventors: Weinstein, Glenn
• Application Number:
  US11/330,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20070157432A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/320
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/00 Additional features or accessories of hinges edge protecting devices E06B3/88
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/46 Magnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors

Abstract

A hinge apparatus having a barrel region that include at least two magnets. The magnets are positioned within the barrel region to generate a continuously repulsive force relative to each other such that the weight of the door is supported at least partially by the magnetic forces generated by the magnets.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a hinge having a barrel region defining an axis around which said hinge pivots, said barrel region including at least two magnets, wherein said at least two magnets are positioned within the barrel region to produce a continuously repulsive magnetic force relative to each other along said axis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said magnets are annular.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said magnets comprise knuckles in the barrel region.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a recess disposed in a knuckle and adapted to accommodate at least one of said at least two magnets.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further including an alignment pin disposed through said magnets.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said magnets are disposed such that said repulsive magnetic force generated thereby is load-bearing.

7. An apparatus for hinging two objects together, comprising:

a first leaf coupled to at least one knuckle,

a second leaf coupled to at least one knuckle,

a magnet disposed upon at least two of said knuckles, said magnets disposed such that polarity of a first magnet is opposite to that of a second magnet such that the magnetic force generated thereby is continuously repulsive; and

an alignment means disposed within an opening in said knuckles.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least one of said magnets is annular.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said magnets comprise knuckles.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said alignment means are axially disposed through at least one of said magnets.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said alignment means comprises an alignment pin.

12. A hinge apparatus, comprising:

a door-mounting leaf coupled to at least two knuckles,

a jamb-mounting leaf coupled to at least two knuckles, said knuckles of said door-mounting leaf and said jamb-mounting leaf being adapted to define a barrel with a center space devoid of knuckles when said knuckles are interposed, and wherein a knuckle from the door-mounting leaf is positioned above said center space and a knuckle from the jamb-mounting leaf is positioned below said center space,

a magnet disposed upon a bottom of said knuckle above the center space and a magnet disposed upon a top of said knuckle below said center space, said magnets disposed such that a continuously repulsive magnetic force exists therebetween; and

at least two alignment means disposed through an opening in said knuckles and extending axially therethrough.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said at least two alignment means are located at a bottom and a top of said barrel and pass entirely through one knuckle and partially through a second knuckle.