MECHANICAL MAGNETIC CONNECTOR STRUCTURE
First Claim
1. A mechanical-magnetic connector structure for releasably connecting a first element with a second element, the connector structure comprising:
- a first module attached to the first element, anda second module attached to the second element, the second module adapted to receive the first module therein, whereinthe first module includes a first magnet and the second module includes a second magnet,the first magnet is exposed in a plug-shaped portion of the first module, the plug-shaped portion having a smooth external surface with no physical retainer element formed thereon,the second magnet is exposed on a rear interior facing wall surface within a bore of the second module, the bore further having smooth side wall portions along the longitudinal axis of the second module for receiving the first module therein,the first and second magnets coming adapted to be brought into proximal, opposed facing relation with maximum magnetic attraction as the plug-shaped portion is magnetically sucked into the bore of the second module, wherein with the plug-shaped portion inserted in the bore of the second module, the opposed faces of the first and second magnets do not contact one another, andonly the magnetic attraction between the opposed facing spaced magnets and friction between the smooth side wall portions within the bore and the smooth external surface of the plug-shaped portion serve to secure the first module within the second module.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mechanical-magnetic connector structure for releasably connecting a first element with a second element is herein described. The connector structure includes a dongle attached to the first element, a receiver assembly attached to the second element and having a bore, and a rotating knob assembly attached to the receiver assembly and rotatable between an open and closed position to unlock or lock the dongle within the bore. With the rotating knob assembly rotated to the closed position, the dongle no longer is completely concentric within the bore, such that a user is prevented from applying any offset, angled, or indirect pull force on the dongle in an effort to remove it. The dongle can only be removed if completely concentric within the bore and the rotating knob assembly has been rotated to the open position.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A mechanical-magnetic connector structure for releasably connecting a first element with a second element, the connector structure comprising:
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a first module attached to the first element, and a second module attached to the second element, the second module adapted to receive the first module therein, wherein the first module includes a first magnet and the second module includes a second magnet, the first magnet is exposed in a plug-shaped portion of the first module, the plug-shaped portion having a smooth external surface with no physical retainer element formed thereon, the second magnet is exposed on a rear interior facing wall surface within a bore of the second module, the bore further having smooth side wall portions along the longitudinal axis of the second module for receiving the first module therein, the first and second magnets coming adapted to be brought into proximal, opposed facing relation with maximum magnetic attraction as the plug-shaped portion is magnetically sucked into the bore of the second module, wherein with the plug-shaped portion inserted in the bore of the second module, the opposed faces of the first and second magnets do not contact one another, and only the magnetic attraction between the opposed facing spaced magnets and friction between the smooth side wall portions within the bore and the smooth external surface of the plug-shaped portion serve to secure the first module within the second module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9)
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6. (canceled)
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10. (canceled)
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11. A mechanical-magnetic connector structure for releasably connecting a first element with a second element, the connector structure comprising:
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a dongle attached to the first element, a receiver assembly attached to the second element and having a bore for receiving the dongle therein, and a rotating knob assembly attached to the receiver assembly and rotatable between an open and closed position to unlock or lock the dongle within the bore, wherein with the rotating knob assembly rotated to the closed position, a wall portion of the knob assembly blocks removal of the dongle out of the bore, any offset, angled, or indirect pull force exerted by the user on the dongle in an effort to remove it from the bore will not remove the dongle, the dongle being removable out of the bore only if the dongle is completely concentric within the bore and the rotating knob assembly has been rotated to the open position, permitting a user to overcome pull forces between the magnets as the dongle is removed directly straight out of the bore. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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19. (canceled)
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25. A mechanical-magnetic connector structure for releasably connecting a first element with a second element, the connector structure comprising:
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an elongate first module attached to the first element, the first module having a smooth external surface with no physical retainer element formed thereon and including a first magnet thereon, and a hollow second module attached to the second element and adapted to receive the first module within a bore thereof, the bore further including smooth side wall portions along the longitudinal axis of the second module, the second module further including a second magnet within the bore, the first module freely rotatable within the bore, the first and second magnets being brought into proximal opposed facing relation to one another as the first module is magnetically sucked into the bore but do not come into physical contact each other, wherein each of the first and second magnets exhibits a pull force of less than five (5) pounds, wherein the first module can only be removed from the second module if it is both completely concentric in the bore and is pulled directly straight out from the bore. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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26-27. -27. (canceled)
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29-31. -31. (canceled)
Specification