MAGNETIC KEY FOR USE WITH A SECURITY DEVICE
First Claim
1. A key for unlocking a magnetically attractable locking mechanism contained within the interior of a security device, said key comprising:
- a housing;
a dipole magnet mounted within a chamber in the housing;
said magnet being movable between a retracted position where substantially all of the magnet is located within the housing; and
an extended position where at least a portion of the magnet projects outwardly from the housing; and
when the magnet is in the extended position and is brought into the proximity of the locking mechanism, a force field from the magnet moves the locking mechanism from a locked position to an unlocked position.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A key for unlocking a magnetically attractable locking mechanism retained within the interior of an anti-theft security device. The key comprises a housing which retains a dipole magnet therein. The dipole magnet is of a specifically designed cross-sectional shape configured to be complementary to a recess in the body of the security device. The shape of the magnet permits it to only enter the recess in one orientation and to bring only the appropriate one of the north or south magnetic poles into the proximity of the locking mechanism. The dipole magnet is movable in the housing between an extended position where at least a portion thereof protrudes from the housing, and a retracted position where the magnet is withdrawn entirely into the housing. The magnet is mounted on a spring-biased slide in the housing that is activated to move the magnet between the extended and retracted positions.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A key for unlocking a magnetically attractable locking mechanism contained within the interior of a security device, said key comprising:
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a housing; a dipole magnet mounted within a chamber in the housing;
said magnet being movable between a retracted position where substantially all of the magnet is located within the housing; and
an extended position where at least a portion of the magnet projects outwardly from the housing; and
when the magnet is in the extended position and is brought into the proximity of the locking mechanism, a force field from the magnet moves the locking mechanism from a locked position to an unlocked position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. In combination:
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a security device defining a chamber positioned inwardly from an exterior surface thereof; a magnetically attractable locking mechanism disposed in the chamber and being adapted to lock the security device to an object;
said locking mechanism being linearly movable within the chamber between a locked and an unlocked position;a recess extending inwardly into the device from the exterior surface thereof and orthogonally to said interior chamber and to the linear movement of the locking mechanism therein;
said recess being formed with a distinct cross-sectional shape and being separated from the chamber by an interior wall;a key comprising; a housing; a dipole magnet mounted within the housing and being movable between a retracted position where substantially all of the magnet is located within the housing, and an extended position where at least a portion of the magnet projects outwardly from the housing;
said dipole magnet having a cross-sectional shape complementary to that of the recess; and
when said magnet is in the extended position and inserted into the recess, it magnetically moves the locking mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position.
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Specification