Magnetically attachable and detachable panel method

• US 7,843,296 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2009
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Correlated Magnetics Research, LLC
• Original Assignee: Cedar Ridge Research LLC
• Inventors: Richards, James Lee, Fullerton, Larry W., Roberts, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrera, Ramon M
• Application Number:
  US12/478,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20090250575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 335/285, 335302-306, 243/03, 310/80, 310/90.5, 310/103, 310/308, 310/309
• US Class Current: 335/306
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/04 the elements being secured or adapted to be secured by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0263 Closures, bags, bands, engagement devices with male and female parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/04 Means for releasing the attractive force
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/32 having magnetic fastener

Abstract

A method for a panel having a magnetic mounting that utilizes a plurality of magnets in a magnet structure that allows high magnetic force when the panel is installed and the magnet structure is aligned while permitting removal using relatively light force applied to misalign the magnet structure to allow removal. In one embodiment, the magnet structure can provide precision positioning of the panel to a position on the order of the width of a single component magnet of the magnet structure. In another embodiment, the magnet structure may be misaligned for removal by a rotation of the magnet structure. In a further embodiment, the misalignment may be achieved by a lateral shift of the magnet structure. The invention may be adapted to a wide variety of panels including but not limited to doors, window coverings, storm coverings, seasonal covering panels, baby gates, white boards, and green house panels.

Claims

1. A method for attaching a panel to a support and releasing said panel from said support comprising:

arranging a first plurality of magnetic field components according to a first magnetic field component pattern to produce a first magnet structure;

arranging a second plurality of magnetic field components according to a complementary magnetic field component pattern to generate a complementary magnet structure;

said first magnet structure and said complementary magnet structure having a unique alignment configuration, and said first magnet structure and said complementary magnet structure having a release configuration realized by movement of said first magnet structure or said complementary magnet structure from said alignment configuration to said release configuration;

attaching said first magnet structure to said panel;

attaching said complementary magnet structure to said support;

moving said panel to a proximal position relative to said support to allow alignment of said first magnet structure with said complementary magnet structure to attach said panel to said support by magnetic attraction of said first magnet structure to said complementary magnet structure; and

releasing said panel by moving said first magnet structure or said complementary magnet structure to said release configuration, further including the step of;

determining said first magnetic field component pattern based on a random or pseudorandom code, wherein the step of determining said first magnetic field component pattern includes the step of;

determining a spacing from each magnetic field component to another magnetic field component of said first magnetic field component pattern according to said random or pseudorandom code.

2. The detachable panel system according to claim 1, wherein said random or pseudorandom code is characterized by a spacing between a first pair of adjacent magnets differing from a spacing between a second pair of adjacent magnets.

3. A method for attaching and detaching a detachable panel comprising:

obtaining at least one coded magnet structure and at least one complementary magnet structure, said at least one coded magnet structure and said at least one complementary magnet structure having an operative attachment configuration and a release configuration, said at least one coded magnet structure attached in said attachment configuration to said at least one complementary magnet structure by magnetic attraction to a front surface of said at least one coded magnet structure;

said at least one coded magnet structure having a pressure sensitive adhesive on a back surface, said back surface opposite said front surface;

attaching said at least one complementary magnet structure to said detachable panel;

positioning said panel at a support for installation of said panel on said support;

pressing said panel to said support to adhere said pressure sensitive adhesive on said at least one coded magnet structure to said support;

moving said complementary magnet structure to said release configuration; and

separating said at least one complementary magnet structure from said at least one coded magnet structure.

4. The method of claim 3, further including the step of:

providing further attachment to affix said at least one coded magnet structure to said support after separating said at least one complementary magnet structure from said at least one coded magnet structure.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said at least one coded magnet structure comprises magnetic field components arranged according to a variable code.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said variable code is a random or pseudorandom code.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said random or pseudorandom code comprises at least one of the group:

a Barker code, an LFSR code, a Kasami code, a Gold code, Golomb ruler code, and a Costas array.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said random or pseudorandom code is a Barker code of length 7.

9. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of moving said complementary magnet structure to said release configuration includes:

moving said panel laterally.

10. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of moving said complementary magnet structure to said release configuration includes:

rotating said complementary magnet structure.