Appliance safety apparatus, systems, and methods

• US 8,016,330 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2010
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Correlated Magnetics Research, LLC
• Original Assignee: Correlation Partners LLC
• Inventors: Fullerton, Larry W., Roberts, Mark D., Richards, James L
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrera, Ramon M
• Application Number:
  US12/896,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20110018659A1
• Time in Patent Office: 347 Days
• Field of Search: 335/285, 335/306, 292/251.5
• US Class Current: 292/251.5
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 13/003 Methods and devices for magnetising permanent magnets permanent magnets H01F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0242 Magnetic drives, magnetic coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0284 using a trimmable or adjustable magnetic circuit, e.g. for a symmetric dipole or quadrupole magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 15/03 having permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 49/10 of the permanent-magnet type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/11 Magnetic

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method for locking objects together comprises at least one pair of correlated magnets. First and second correlated magnetic field structures comprising the pair of correlated magnets are capable of being aligned such that an attractive force secures or locks two objects together. The apparatus, system, and method can be used to lock appliance and cabinet doors, drawers, covers for electrical outlets and light switches, and the like.

Claims

1. A correlated magnet lock comprising:

a first correlated magnet securely attachable to a first location on a first object and

a second correlated magnet that is complementary to said first correlated magnet and securely attachable to either a second location on said first object or a second object,

said first correlated magnet being capable of being aligned with said second correlated magnet such that said first and second correlated magnets produce an attractive force that secures said first location on said first object either to said second location on said first object or to said second object, said attractive force being a peak spatial force of a spatial force function, said spatial force function corresponding to a code modulo defined by a code, said code modulo defining said peak spatial force and a plurality of off peak spatial forces, said plurality of off peak spatial forces having a largest off peak spatial force, said largest off peak spatial force being less than half of the peak spatial force.

2. The correlated magnet lock of claim 1, wherein:

the correlated magnet lock is configured to lock a door of an appliance or cabinet;

said first correlated magnet is securely attachable to a first door of said appliance or cabinet;

said second correlated magnet is securely attachable to a compartment portion or a second door of said appliance or cabinet; and

said first correlated magnet is configured to be alignable with said second correlated magnet such that an attractive force is produced that locks said first door to said compartment portion or second door.

3. The correlated magnet lock of claim 2, further comprising a turning mechanism adapted to be applied to said first or said second correlated magnet to decorrelate said first or said second correlated magnet and thereby enabling said first door to be opened.

4. The correlated magnet lock of claim 2, wherein said first and second correlated magnets are attachable to said first door and said second door or compartment with an adhesive or said first and second correlated magnets are integratable into said first door and said second door or compartment.

5. The correlated magnet lock of claim 2, wherein said first and/or said second correlated magnet are attachable to said first door and/or said second door or compartment indirectly by a strap, a latch or a locking mechanism.

6. The correlated magnet lock of claim 1, wherein:

the correlated magnetic lock is an appliance door lock;

said first correlated magnet is securely attachable to a compartment section of an appliance;

said second correlated magnet is integrated with a door overlapping member adapted to protrude over said door to secure said door to said compartment portion of said appliance; and

aligning said first correlated magnet with said second correlated magnet produces an attractive force that secures said door to said compartment.

7. The correlated magnet appliance door lock of claim 6, further comprising a turning mechanism adapted to be applied to said first or said second correlated magnet to decorrelate said first or said second correlated magnet enabling said door to be unlatched and opened.

8. The correlated magnet appliance door lock of claim 6, wherein said door overlapping member is adapted to rotate such that said second correlated magnet decorrelates from said first correlated magnet and thereby enabling said door to be opened.

9. The correlated magnet appliance door lock of claim 6, wherein said first correlated magnet is attachable to said compartment with an adhesive or is integrated into said compartment.

10. The correlated magnet lock of claim 6, wherein said first and/or said second correlated magnet are attachable to said door and/or said compartment indirectly by a strap, a latch or a locking mechanism.

11. The correlated magnet appliance door lock of claim 6, wherein said door overlapping member fully detaches from said first correlated magnet upon rotation and decorrelation of said second correlated magnet from said first correlated magnet.

12. The correlated magnet lock of claim 1, wherein:

the correlated magnetic lock is configured to prevent the opening of a drawer;

said first correlated magnet is securely attachable to a face of said drawer;

said second correlated magnet is securely attachable to a frame containing said drawer; and

wherein said first correlated magnet is configured to be alignable with said second correlated magnet such that the opening of said drawer is prevented.

13. The correlated magnet lock of claim 12, further comprising a turning mechanism adapted to be applied to said first or said second correlated magnet to decorrelate said first or said second correlated magnet enabling said drawer to be opened.

14. The correlated magnet lock of claim 12, wherein said first and second correlated magnets are attachable to said drawer face and said drawer frame with an adhesive or are integrable into said drawer face and said drawer frame.

15. The correlated magnet lock of claim 12, wherein said first and/or said second correlated magnet is attachable to said drawer and/or said frame indirectly by a strap, a latch or a locking mechanism.

23. The correlated magnet lock of claim 1, wherein:

the correlated magnetic lock is configured to lock a cover for an electrical outlet or an electrical switch into a position such that said cover covers said electrical outlet or electrical switch;

said first correlated magnet is securely attachable to said cover; and

said second correlated magnet is securely attachable to a structure associated with said electrical outlet or electrical switch.

24. The correlated magnet lock of claim 23, further comprising a turning mechanism adapted to be applied to said first or said second correlated magnet to decorrelate said first or said second correlated magnet and thereby enabling said lock to be opened.

25. The correlated magnet lock of claim 23, wherein said first and second correlated magnets are attachable to said cover and said structure with an adhesive or said first and second correlated magnets are integratable into said cover and said structure.

26. The correlated magnet lock of claim 23, wherein said first and/or said second correlated magnet are attachable to said cover and/or said structure indirectly by a strap, a latch or a locking mechanism.

27. The correlated magnet lock of claim 23, wherein said cover comprises a non-conductive insert comprising a plurality of prongs protruding from a substantially flat portion perpendicular to said prongs, said prongs formed to fit into a dimension of a predetermined electrical outlet.

16. A method of locking a first object to a second object comprising the steps of:

a) securing a first correlated magnet to said first object;

b) securing a second correlated magnet that is complementary to said first correlated magnet to said second object; and

c) aligning said first correlated magnet with said second correlated magnet such that an attractive force is produced between said first and second correlated magnets and thereby securing said first object to said second object, said attractive force being a peak spatial force of a spatial force function, said spatial force function corresponding to a code modulo defined by a code, said code modulo defining said peak spatial force and a plurality of off peak spatial forces, said plurality of off peak spatial forces having a largest off peak spatial force, said largest off peak spatial force being less than half of the peak spatial force.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein:

said first object is an appliance or cabinet door;

said second object is a compartment portion of said appliance or cabinet door; and

aligning said first correlated magnet with said second correlated magnet produces an attractive force between said first and second correlated magnets that secures said appliance or cabinet door to said compartment.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising applying a turning mechanism to said first or said second correlated magnet to decorrelate said first or said second correlated magnet enabling said appliance or cabinet door to be opened.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising attaching said first and/or second correlated magnets to said door and/or said compartment with an adhesive or a latching mechanism.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising integrating said first and second correlated magnets into said door and said compartment.

21. A child proof locking system, comprising:

a compartment portion of an appliance or cabinet comprising a first correlated magnet; and

a door covering at least a portion of said compartment portion, said door comprising a second correlated magnet that is complementary to said first correlated magnet;

wherein said first correlated magnet is configured to be alignable with said second correlated magnet so as to produce an attractive force that secures said door to said compartment, said attractive force being a peak spatial force of a spatial force function, said spatial force function corresponding to a code modulo defined by a code, said code modulo defining said peak spatial force and a plurality of off peak spatial forces, said plurality of off peak spatial forces having a largest off peak spatial force, said largest off peak spatial force being less than half of the peak spatial force.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising a turning mechanism adapted to be applied to said first and/or said second correlated magnet to decorrelate said first and said second correlated magnets and thereby enabling said door to be opened from said compartment.