Magnetic coupler and various embodiments thereof

• US 6,305,656 B1
• Filed: 12/03/1999
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Dash-It USA Incorporated
• Inventors: Wemyss, Roy D.
• Primary Examiner(s): KING, ANITA M
• Application Number:
  US09/454,984
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 248/311.2, 248/206.5, 248/346.11, 248/447.1, 248/205.2, 248/205.3, 248/346.03, 248/310, 248/349.1, 248/683, 248/309.4, 220/628, 220/592.17, 206/5, 206/565
• US Class Current: 248/309.4
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 2200/106 Permanent
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/0216 for one glass or cup
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 23/03 Underlays for glasses or drinking-vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/102 storable or foldable in a non-use position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/103 detachable
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0229 for displays, e.g. cathodic tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones

Abstract

A magnetic coupler having various holding device embodiments to be quickly magnetically coupled and uncoupled with an industrial strength magnetic base that is fixedly attached to a desired nonferrous surface, such as a dashboard of an automobile. The magnetic base includes a nonferrous low or soft durometer shell that encases the magnet. Preferably, the shell'"'"'s outer surface is textured, which provides friction for superior magnetic coupling with a ferrous disk. If the device to be held is relatively heavy or has a high profile, the holding device/object to be held includes a support collar assembly that is fixedly attached to an external portion of the holding device. If the device to be held is light or has a low profile, a ferrous disk having a surface area of not less than {fraction (1/10)}^th the area of the surface area of the device surface to be magnetically coupled with the magnetic base is adhered to the device surface, unless the device has sufficient ferrous content to magnetically couple with the magnetic base. The holding device can be quickly coupled and uncoupled with the magnetic base in either the high profile or low profile embodiments. The high profile holding devices include a beverage cup holder, a clip, a clipboard, a paper/key/coin tray, an envelope holder, and a radar detector base. The low profile holding devices or devices to be held include a hand held computer, a calculator, a cellular phone, and an eyeglass holder.

Claims

1. A magnetic coupler comprising:

a magnetic base having an industrial strength magnet where at least the upper portion of the magnet is encased in a low durometer nonferrous shell, said shell including an external surface of a size and shape to engage with a

corresponding surface of a holding device, said magnetic base including a lower portion being fixedly-attached to a desired surface;

the holding device being of a size and shape to hold at least one personal object;

said holding device including an external surface having a ferrous disk of a size and shape to quickly magnetically couple and quickly uncouple the external surface of the holding device via the ferrous disk with the external surface of the magnetic base, wherein the external surface of the holding device further includes a support collar assembly that is fixedly attached to and external of the external surface of the holding device, said support collar assembly includes at least one side wall fixedly attached to the external surface of the holding device, and a lip that projects inwardly of the side wall to form a ledge within the collar assembly, wherein the lip and the side wall below the lip define an opening, and wherein said opening is of a size and shape to mate with the upper portion of the magnetic base;

wherein said ferrous disk is of a size and shape to be positioned within the collar assembly with the ferrous disk seated en the ledge within the confines of the side wall between the external surface of the holding device and the ledge;

wherein the holding device may be quickly and securely coupled to the fixedly-attached magnetic base by placing the opening of the support collar assembly over the upper portion of the magnetic base, thereby magnetically coupling the ferrous disk to the magnet within the magnetic base; and

wherein the holding device may be quickly uncoupled from the fixedly-attached magnetic base by tilting a portion of the holding device connected to the support collar assembly toward the desired surface to which the magnetic base is adhered, thus, breaking the magnetic bond between the ferrous disk held adjacent the holding device and the magnet in the magnetic base.

2. The magnetic coupler according to claim 1 wherein the external surface of the shell is textured.

3. The magnetic coupler according to claim 1 wherein the shell of the magnetic base has a substantially circular periphery and a frusto-conical upper portion and the support collar assembly is a substantially cylindrical ring with an annular lip projecting inwardly of the ring of a size and shape to substantially correspond to the shape of the shell of the magnetic base.

4. The magnetic coupler according to claim 1 wherein the external surface of the holding device includes an annular ring of a size to encase the ferrous disk and to which said annular ring, the side wall and lip of the support collar assembly is adhered.

5. The magnetic coupler according to claim 1 wherein the holding device includes a cup having a substantially cylindrical side wall and a planar bottom wall defining an opening of a size and shape to receive a beverage container, and wherein the support collar assembly is fixedly attached to the planar bottom wall.

6. The magnetic coupler according to claim 5 wherein an upper portion of the cylindrical side wall flares outwardly of the opening of the cup.

7. The magnetic coupler according to claim 6 wherein the cup further includes at least one internal longitudinal rib that extends inwardly of the substantially cylindrical side wall.

8. The magnetic coupler according to claim 7 wherein the cup further includes a plurality of longitudinally oriented spaced apart grooves on the outside surface of the substantially cylindrical side wall.

9. The magnetic coupler according to claim 5 wherein the cup further includes at least one internal longitudinal rib that extends inwardly of the substantially cylindrical side wall.

10. The magnetic coupler according to claim 9 wherein the cup further includes a plurality of longitudinally oriented spaced apart grooves on the outside surface of the substantially cylindrical side wall.

11. The magnetic coupler according to claim 5 wherein the cup further includes a plurality of longitudinally oriented spaced apart grooves on the outside surface of the substantially cylindrical side wall.

12. The magnetic coupler according to claim 5 wherein the cylindrical side wall extends past the planar bottom wall terminating in substantially the same plane as the side wall of the collar assembly.

13. The magnetic coupler according to claim 5 wherein the cup further includes at least one internal laterally-oriented rib that extends inwardly of the substantially cylindrical side wall.

14. The magnetic coupler according to claim 1, wherein the holding device is a clip having an upper portion and a lower portion and a flexible connector portion that flexibly connects an end of the upper portion to an end of the lower portion such that the upper portion is substantially aligned with the lower portion to define an open end between the upper portion and the lower portion that is of a size and shape to receive papers, and wherein said lower portion is fixedly attached to the support collar assembly.

15. The magnetic coupler according to claim 1 wherein the holding device is a clipboard.

16. The magnetic coupler according claim 1 wherein the holding device is a base member that includes a hingedly-fixed upwardly extending portion having a planar surface, said planar surface is of a size and shape to adhere to an electronic device, and wherein said base member is adhered to the support collar assembly such that the hingedly-fixed upwardly extending portion'"'"'s planar surface is oppositely situated from the support collar assembly.

17. The magnetic coupler according to claim 16 wherein the electronic device is adherable to the base member'"'"'s planar surface through one of the following:

hook and loop fasteners or a layer of adhesive.

18. The magnetic coupler according to claim 1 wherein the holding device is a tray having a substantially planar bottom wall with at least one side wall defining an opening by and between the bottom wall and the at least one side wall, said opening being of a size and shape to receive notepaper, notepads with removable adhesive, keys, and coins.

19. The magnetic coupler according to claim 18 wherein the at least one side wall includes a partial outwardly flared portion to gain easier access to the tray'"'"'s contents.

20. The magnetic coupler according to claim 18 wherein the tray includes spaced apart and oppositely opposing side walls to form an essentially rectangle shaped tray, and wherein at least one small abutment is mounted atop of the adjoining side walls at the inherent right angles.

21. The magnetic coupler according to claim 1 wherein the tray further includes a ledge fixedly connected to an external portion of the side wall, said ledge being of a size and shape to hold a writing instrument, said ledge including an abutment in order to keep the writing instrument from lateral movement.

22. The magnetic coupler according to claim 1 wherein the holding device is an eyeglass holder.

23. The magnetic coupler according to claim 1 wherein the holding device is a base member having at least two upwardly extending portions defining a slot between the two extending portions, and wherein said slot is of a size and shape to hold at least one letter.

24. The magnetic coupler according to claim 1 wherein the holding device is a tissue box holder.

25. The magnetic coupler according to claim 1 wherein the holding device includes a support base having a pair of spaced apart and oppositely situated, upwardly extending side walls, said support base and side walls define an opening of a size and shape to receive and hold a personal electronic device.

26. The magnetic coupler according to claim 25 wherein the side walls form abutments to receive and hold corresponding sidewalls of the personal electronic device.

27. The magnetic coupler according to claim 25 wherein the side walls are positioned to receive and hold the personal electronic device in an upwardly angled position.

28. The magnetic coupler according to claim 25 wherein the personal electronic device is one of the following:

a hand held computer, a cellular phone, a MP3 recorder, a calculator, or a remote control unit.

29. The magnetic coupler according to claim 1 wherein the thickness of the ferrous disk is in the range of 30/1000″

to 70/1000″

.

30. The magnetic coupler according to claim 1 wherein the magnet is at least a 2.0 Gauss magnet.

31. A magnetic coupler comprising:

a magnetic base having an industrial strength magnet where at least the upper portion of the magnet is encased in a low durometer nonferrous shell, said shell including an external surface of a size arid shape to engage with a corresponding surface of a holding device, said magnetic base including a lower portion being fixedly-attached to a desired surface;

the holding device being of a size and shape to hold at least one personal object;

said holding device including an external surface having a ferrous disk of a size and shape to quickly magnetically couple and quickly uncouple the external surface of the holding device via the ferrous disk with the external surface of the magnetic base, wherein the magnetic base further includes a planar ferrous disk that is positioned underneath the magnet with the shell encasing the magnet and a least the periphery of the planar ferrous disk.

32. The magnetic coupler according to claim 31 wherein the holding device include a cup having a substantially cylindrical side wall and a planar bottom wall defining an opening of a size and shape to receive a beverage container.

33. The magnetic coupler according to claim 31 wherein the holding device is a clipboard.

34. The magnetic coupler according to claim 31 wherein the holding device is a base member that includes a hingedly-fixed upwardly extending portion having a planar surface, said planar surface is of a size and shape to adhere to an electronic device.

35. The magnetic coupler according to claim 31 wherein the holding device is a tray having a substantially planar bottom wall with at least one side wall defining an opening by and between the bottom wall and the at least one side wall, said opening being of a size and shape to receive notepaper, notepads with removable adhesive, keys, and coins.

36. The magnetic coupler according to claim 31 wherein the holding device is an eyeglass holder.

37. The magnetic coupler according to claim 31 wherein the holding device is a base member having at least two upwardly extending portions defining a slot between the two extending portions, and wherein said slot is of a size and shape to hold at least one letter.

38. The magnetic coupler according to claim 31 wherein the holding device is a tissue box holder.

39. The magnetic coupler according to claim 31 wherein the holding device includes a support base having a pair of spaced apart and oppositely situated, upwardly extending side walls, said support base and side walls define an opening of a size and shape to receive and hold a personal electronic device.

40. The magnetic coupler according to claim 39 wherein the personal electronic device is one of the following:

a hand held computer, a cellular phone, an MP3 recorder, a calculator, or a remote control unit.

41. A magnetic coupler kit comprising:

a magnetic base having an industrial strength magnet where at least the upper portion of the magnet is encased in a low durometer nonferrous shell, said shell including an external surface of a size and shape capable of engaging a corresponding surface of a holding device, said magnet including a lower portion being capable of being fixedly-attached to a desired surface;

said magnetic base further including a planar first ferrous disk that is positioned underneath the magnet with the shell encasing the magnet and at least the periphery of the ferrous disk, and wherein said ferrous disk includes a removable protective film layer that sandwiches a layer of adhesive between the ferrous disk and the protective film layer;

and a ferrous disk assembly having a second ferrous disk removably adhered to a lower planar surface of the first ferrous disk and a second removable protection film layer on the opposite planar surface from the first ferrous disk, said second protection film layer sandwiches a second layer of the adhesive between the second ferrous disk and the second protective film layer.