MAGNETIC PINS

• US 20160093975A1
• Filed: 09/30/2015
• Published: 03/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Katiyar, Vivek, Kamei, Ibuki, Stephens, Gregory N.
• Application Number:
  US14/870,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20160093975A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 1/147 Alloys characterised by their composition treatment thereof for enhancing their electromagnetic properties C21D8/12
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0252 PM holding devices H01F7/021, H01F7/0215, H01F7/0226 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/08 with armatures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/30 End pieces held in contact by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2407 characterized by the resilient means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/28 Coupling parts carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts and secured only to wire or cable

Abstract

Connectors that may provide an improved reliability by having a reduced tendency for damage to their contacts and may have a reduced size and complexity. One example may provide a magnetic connector having a magnetic pin. The magnetic pin may have a plunger that may remain protected in a barrel and housing when the magnetic connector is not engaged with a corresponding connector. When the magnetic connector is engaged with a corresponding connector, the plunger may be magnetically attracted to a corresponding contact on the corresponding connector and may emerge from the barrel or housing to make an electrical connection between the plunger and the corresponding contact.

Claims

1. A magnetic pin comprising:

a barrel having a front opening, the front opening having a lip, the lip having a top surface at a front of the barrel and a bottom surface below the top surface;

a plunger housed in the barrel, the plunger having a tip extending from a top surface of a base; and

a spring coiled around the tip of the plunger and between the bottom surface of the lip of the barrel and the top of the base of the plunger.

2. The magnetic pin of claim 1 wherein the spring is a compression spring.

3. The magnetic pin of claim 2 wherein the plunger is formed of a magnetic material.

4. The magnetic pin of claim 2 wherein the plunger is formed of a ferromagnetic material.

5. The magnetic pin of claim 2 wherein the plunger comprises a rare-earth magnet.

6. The magnetic pin of claim 5 wherein the rare-earth magnet is covered in a conductive sheath.

7. The magnetic pin of claim 1 wherein the spring is gold-plated.

8. A magnetic pin comprising:

a barrel having a front opening, the front opening having a lip, the lip having a top surface at a front of the barrel and a bottom surface below the top surface;

a plunger housed in the barrel, the plunger having a tip extending from a top surface of a base; and

an elastic structure around the tip of the plunger and between the bottom surface of the lip of the barrel and the top of the base of the plunger.

9. The magnetic pin of claim 8 wherein the elastic structure is an O-ring.

10. The magnetic pin of claim 8 wherein the elastic structure is a C-shaped toroid.

11. The magnetic pin of claim 8 wherein the elastic structure is an I-shaped toroid.

12. The magnetic pin of claim 8 wherein the elastic structure is formed of an elastomer.

13. The magnetic pin of claim 8 wherein the plunger comprises a rare-earth magnet.

14. The magnetic pin of claim 13 wherein the rare-earth magnet is covered in a conductive sheath.

15. A magnetic connector comprising:

a housing having a number of passages;

a plurality of magnetic pins each disposed in a passage in the housing, each magnetic pin comprising;

a barrel having a front opening, the front opening having a lip, the lip having a top surface at a front of the barrel and a bottom surface below the top surface;

a plunger housed in the barrel, the plunger having a tip extending from a top surface of a base; and

a spring coiled around the tip of the plunger and between the bottom surface of the lip of the barrel and the top of the base of the plunger.

16. The magnetic connector of claim 15 wherein the spring is a compression spring.

17. The magnetic connector of claim 15 wherein the plunger comprises a rare-earth magnet.

18. The magnetic connector of claim 17 wherein the rare-earth magnet is covered in a conductive sheath.

19. The magnetic connector of claim 15 wherein the magnetic connector is an insert.

20. The magnetic connector of claim 15 wherein the magnetic connector is a receptacle.