MAGNETICALLY COUPLED DEVICE

• US 20100007449A1
• Filed: 09/24/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tait Towers Manufacturing, LLC
• Original Assignee: Tait Towers Incorporated
• Inventors: DAVIS, Adam, TAIT, Michael, FAIRORTH, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,816,806 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 335/286
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/096 Magnetic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/021 Construction of PM H01F7/0278 takes precedence; PM compositions H01F1/032
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0221 Mounting means for PM, supporting, coating, encapsulating PM
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0252 PM holding devices H01F7/021, H01F7/0215, H01F7/0226 take precedence

Abstract

Provided is a magnetically coupled device, a method of assembling the magnetically coupled system, and a method whereby positioning a first arrangement and a second arrangement prevents a magnetic field generated from within a first plurality of magnets and a second plurality of magnets from affecting a magnetically sensitive component.

Claims

1. A magnetically coupled system comprising a magnetically coupled device, the magnetically coupled device comprising:

a first arrangement having a first plurality of magnets disposed in a first housing, the first arrangement being attractable and alignable to a second arrangement having a second plurality of magnets disposed in a second housing; and

the first arrangement being configured to detachably engage the second arrangement in at least one predetermined orientation or position; and

wherein positioning of the first plurality of magnets and the second plurality of magnets substantially prevents a magnetic field generated from the first plurality of magnets and the second plurality of magnets from magnetically interfering with a magnetically sensitive device within a region that would otherwise be affected by the magnetic field.

2. The magnetically coupled system of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of magnets and the second plurality of magnets are disposed to provide alignment of the first arrangement and the second arrangement.

3. The magnetically coupled system of claim 2, wherein the alignment consists of one orientation.

4. The magnetically coupled system of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of magnets and the second plurality of magnets each include two sets of magnets, wherein a first set is in north-south-north orientation and a second set is in south-north-south orientation.

5. The magnetically coupled system of claim 1, wherein the magnetically sensitive device is selected from the group consisting of relays, wires, electrical instruments, inductors, transformers, and combinations thereof.

6. The magnetically coupled system of claim 1, further comprising features on a first mounting to mechanically engage the first plurality of magnets within the housing.

7. The magnetically coupled system of claim 1, wherein the first arrangement and the second arrangement are interlocking magnetic coupling members.

8. The magnetically coupled system of claim 1, wherein the device supports a weight of at least about 10 pounds, provides alignment, prevents rotation, and limits coupling to a unitary desired orientation.

9. The magnetically coupled system of claim 1, wherein the first housing and the second housing comprise a non-magnetic material.

10. The magnetically coupled system of claim 1, wherein the first housing and the second housing comprise a non-ferrous material.

11. The magnetically coupled system of claim 1, wherein the non-ferrous material has a predetermined thickness greater than a desired minimum thickness, the desired minimum thickness being an amount required to prevent a device from being affected by the magnetic field when the first housing and the second housing are engaged.

12. The magnetically coupled system of claim 1, wherein the first housing and the second housing are fabricated from a material having high magnetic permeability.

13. A method of assembling a display having a magnetically coupled device, the magnetically coupled device comprising a first arrangement having a first plurality of magnets and a second arrangement having a second plurality of magnets, the method comprising:

engaging the first arrangement and the second arrangement, the engaging being limited to a single orientation; and

positioning the first arrangement and the second arrangement to prevent a magnetic field generated from within the first plurality of magnets and the second plurality of magnets from affecting a magnetically sensitive component that would otherwise be affected by the magnetic field.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising operating the magnetically sensitive component.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first plurality of magnets and the second plurality of magnets each include two sets of magnets, wherein a first set is in north-south-north orientation and a second set is in south-north-south orientation.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the magnetically sensitive device is selected from the group consisting of relays, wires, electrical instruments, inductors, transformers, and combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising mechanically engaging the first plurality of magnets on a first mounting within the housing.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the first arrangement and the second arrangement are interlocking magnetic coupling members.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising supporting a weight of at least about 10 pounds.

20. A method of producing a magnetically coupled device, the magnetically coupled device comprising a first arrangement having a first plurality of magnets disposed in a first housing, the first arrangement being attractable and alignable to a second arrangement having a second plurality of magnets disposed in a second housing, the first arrangement being configured to detachably engage the second arrangement in at least one predetermined orientation or position, and wherein positioning of the first plurality of magnets and the second plurality of magnets substantially prevents a magnetic field generated from the first plurality of magnets and the second plurality of magnets from magnetically interfering with a magnetically sensitive device within a region that would otherwise be affected by the magnetic field, the method comprising:

determining a desired minimum thickness of a non-magnetic material, the desired minimum thickness being an amount of material required to prevent a device from being affected by the magnetic field when the first housing and the second housing are engaged; and

forming the first housing and the second housing to have a thickness greater than the desired minimum thickness.