Magnetic attachment apparatus

• US 7,699,277 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2007
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zoo Med Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zoo Med Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Bagnall, Gary Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver; J. Allen
• Assistant Examiner(s): EPPS, TODD MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/681,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20080210835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 248/206.5, 248/683, 248/309.4, 248/226.11, 248/226.12, 248/228.6, 248/228.7, 248/230.6, 248/230.7, 248/74.1, 248/74.2, 248/229.15, 248/229.16, 248/229.25, 248/231.7, 248/231.81, 248/316.7, 248/229.26, 119/200, 119/230, 119/233, 119/245
• US Class Current: 248/206.5
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 63/006 Accessories for aquaria or terraria
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/127 and extending away from the attachment surface
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/13 and engaging it by snap action F16L3/1203 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0252 PM holding devices H01F7/021, H01F7/0215, H01F7/0226 take precedence

Abstract

Provided is, among other things, an attachment apparatus that includes an attachment base, a magnet attached to a first side of the attachment base and a clip structure extending from a second side of the attachment base, the second side being opposite the first side. The clip structure, in turn, includes first and second arms which can be resiliently spread apart in order to receive an item and then released in order to close around the item.

Claims

1. An attachment apparatus for an aquarium, comprising:

(a) an attachment base;

(b) a magnet attached to a first side of the attachment base; and

(c) a removable semi-circular resilient clip structure extending from, and attached to, a threaded female section of a second side of the attachment base, the second side being opposite the first side, wherein the resilient clip structure removably attaches to the attachment base using threaded sections attached to the clip structure, the threaded sections of the clip structure mate with the threaded female section located on the second side of the attachment base, and the clip structure includes separate and non-pivoted first and second arms which can be spread apart in order to receive an item and then released in order to close around the item, and

(d) a magnetic backing component having a first side that includes a grip and a second side having a flat magnetic surface, the flat magnetic surface of the backing component having an opposite magnetic pole than the flat outer surface of the magnet, wherein the magnet and the magnetic backing component are magnetically coupled to each other such that (i) an assembly that includes the magnet, attachment base and clip structure is attached to an inner wall of a glass enclosure, and (ii) the magnetic backing component is attached to an outer wall of the glass enclosure.

2. The attachment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second clip structure with a threaded section having at least one of a different size or a different shape than the clip structure, and wherein the second clip structure also can be removably attached to the threaded female section of the attachment base, such that said attachment apparatus has different interchangeable clip structures for different purposes.

3. The attachment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the clip structure and the second clip structure attach to the attachment base using mated threaded surfaces.

4. The attachment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnet has an inner surface attached to the attachment base and a flat outer surface.

5. The attachment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second arms of the clip structure together define a shape that is at least approximately semicircular.

6. The attachment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second arms have end tips that flare outwardly.