Magnetic closure with mutual interlock for bags, knapsacks, items of clothing and the like

• US 6,505,385 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2001
• Issued: 01/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SAMA SpA
• Original Assignee: SAMA SpA
• Inventors: Grunberger, Erico
• Primary Examiner(s): SANDY, ROBERT JOHN
• Application Number:
  US09/895,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20020000024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 243/03, 246/16, 245/88, 24/661, 243/26, 243/07, 242/98, 24/16.PB, 245/721, 231/2, 232/2, 335/285, 63/31, 63/3
• US Class Current: 24/303
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2588 combined with one buckle element rotating or pivoting
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2592 fastening by sliding in the main plane or a plane parallel to the main plane of the buckle A44B11/2503, A44B11/2584 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A44D 2203/00 Fastening by use of magnets
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/1069 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/32 having magnetic fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45 Separable-fastener or required component thereof [e.g., projection and cavity to complete interlock]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45534 having connected leading edge and separated trailing arms

Abstract

A magnetic closure with mutual interlock for bags, knapsacks, items of clothing and the like, comprising a female element and a male element with regions for accommodating magnetic elements for mutual coupling. A particularity consists in that there are provided, on the female element, guiding means for coupling to the male element and, on the male element, mechanical engagement elements which are adapted to contrast the mutual sliding of the male element and the female element.

Claims

1. A magnetic closure with mutual interlock for knapsack, luggage and clothing items, comprising:

a female element;

a male element;

said female and male elements being adapted for connection to flaps of said items;

magnetic means for mutual coupling of said female and male elements;

accommodation regions provided at said female and, respectively, male elements for accommodating said magnetic means;

guiding means provided at said female element for guidingly receiving said male element; and

mechanical engagement means for providing mutual engagement between said female and male elements so as to contrast sliding movement of said male element with respect to said female element, said guiding means allowing a mutual sliding of the female and male elements, with a subsequent auto-centering of said magnetic means, said mutual sliding starting from a position wherein the axes of the female and male element are offset and ending in a position wherein said axes come to be coincident.

2. A magnetic closure with mutual interlock for knapsack, luggage and clothing items, comprising:

a female element;

a male element;

said female and male elements being adapted for connection to flaps of said items;

magnetic means for mutual coupling of said female and male elements;

accommodation regions provided at said female and, respectively, male elements for accommodating said magnetic means;

guiding means, provided at each one of said female and male elements, for guiding the mutual coupling of said elements; and

mechanical engagement means for providing mutual engagement between said female and male elements so as to contrast sliding movement of said male element with respect to said female element, said guiding means allowing a mutual sliding of the female and male elements, with a subsequent auto-centering of said magnetic means.

3. The magnetic closure of claim 2, wherein said accommodation regions comprise coupling surfaces made of nonferromagnetic material, said coupling surfaces being located so as to close said accommodation regions and provide contact regions between said female and male elements.

4. The magnetic closure of claim 2, wherein said guiding means are constituted by mutually spaced side walls which are formed at said female element and are laterally adjacent to the accommodation region thereof;

and wherein a protrusion is provided which is formed on a free end of said male element, said protrusion being insertable between said side walls.

5. The magnetic closure of claim 4, wherein said protrusion has a V-shaped configuration which facilitates insertion between said side walls.

6. The magnetic closure of claim 5, wherein said mechanical engagement means are constituted by a tooth which is formed by said protrusion, and by an abutment formed by said female element, said protrusion being locatable, upon closing of the closure, in engaging relationship with said abutment.

7. The magnetic closure of claim 6, wherein said magnetic means generate a magnetic flex having a flux direction thereof, and said tooth constitutes a retention element for preventing separation of said female and male elements, along a path which lies substantially at right angles to the direction of the magnetic flux.

8. The magnetic closure of claim 7, comprising on said protrusion a projection, said projection forming a push up region to be pushed in order to mutually space the accommodation regions of said male and female elements.

9. The magnetic closure of claim 2, comprising a container provided with a flange, said container internally accommodating said magnetic means and being hermetically coupleable to said male and female elements.

10. The magnetic closure of claim 2, wherein said female element and said male element are made of nonmagnetic metallic material, and said regions for accommodating said magnetic means comprise a recess provided with an axial protrusion;

a dome made of nonferromagnetic material for retaining said magnetic means, a central hole located at said dome, with said protrusion being coupleable by riveting into said central hole.

11. The magnetic closure of claim 10, wherein said magnetic means are toroidal, the closure further comprising:

a U-shaped bracket made of ferromagnetic material which internally supports said magnetic means and engages a bottom part of said recess, said bracket having a hole for passage of said protrusion and including arms thereof with free ends being arranged toward said dome.

12. The magnetic closure of claim 10, comprising plastic straps forming sewing regions for said female and said male elements, and tangs, provided at each one of said female and male elements, and having through openings enabling overmolding of a respective said plastic strap.

13. The magnetic closure of claim 2, wherein said guiding means are constituted by lateral recesses formed in said male element and respectively in said female element, and wherein said mechanical engagement means are provided at each one of said female and male elements and are constituted by pawl-like teeth each of which is located laterally adjacent to a respective said recess so that each one of said teeth is insertable upon coupling in said recess of the other coupled element.

14. The magnetic closure of claim 13, comprising in a central portion of said female and respectively of said male element, a respective grip tab, said grip tabs being operable for allowing mutual disengagement of said elements.