Magnetic attachment system

• US 8,779,877 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2012
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Correlated Magnetics Research, LLC
• Original Assignee: Correlated Magnetics Research, LLC
• Inventors: Fullerton, Larry W., Roberts, Mark D., Richards, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRERA, RAMON M
• Application Number:
  US13/470,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20120284969A1
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 335/285, 335/306, 243/03
• US Class Current: 335/285
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 18/00 Testing or calibrating apparatus or arrangements provided for in groups G01D1/00 - G01D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 1/01 of inorganic materials H01F1/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 13/003 Methods and devices for magnetising permanent magnets permanent magnets H01F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/02 Permanent magnets [PM]
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/021 Construction of PM H01F7/0278 takes precedence; PM compositions H01F1/032
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0242 Magnetic drives, magnetic coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0247 Orientating, locating, transporting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0252 PM holding devices H01F7/021, H01F7/0215, H01F7/0226 take precedence
• 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 24/32 having magnetic fastener

Abstract

An improved magnetic attachment is disclosed including a mechanical constraining mechanism and a magnetic structure comprising a plurality of magnetic sources in a polarity pattern. The magnetic structure has an interface boundary when magnetically interfacing with a complementary magnetic structure. The mechanical constraining mechanism constrains the relative motion of the magnetic structure to one or more degrees of freedom.

Claims

1. A magnetic attachment system, comprising:

a plurality of first magnetic structures associated with a plurality of first objects, each first magnetic structure of said plurality of first magnetic structures comprising a plurality of magnetic sources having a corresponding polarity pattern of a plurality of polarity patterns, each first object of said plurality of first objects being configured to move linearly within a corresponding channel of a plurality of channels inside a second object, said linear movement being perpendicular to an interface boundary for interfacing said plurality of first magnetic structures with a plurality of second magnetic structures associated with a cover, each second magnetic structure of said plurality of second magnetic structures being complementary to a corresponding first magnetic structure of said plurality of first magnetic structures; and

a plurality of springs associated with said plurality of first objects, said plurality of springs, said plurality of first magnetic structures, and said plurality of second magnetic structures controlling said linear movement of said plurality of first objects.

2. The magnetic attachment system of claim 1, further comprising:

a hinge associated with at least one of said cover or said second object, said hinge enabling rotatable movement of said cover relative to said second object.

3. The magnetic attachment system of claim 1, wherein a movement of said plurality of first magnetic structures corresponds to a movement of said plurality of second magnetic structures.

4. A magnetic attachment system, comprising:

a plurality of first magnetic structures associated with a cover, each first magnetic structure of said plurality of first magnetic structures comprising a plurality of magnetic sources having a corresponding polarity pattern of a plurality of polarity patterns, said plurality of first magnetic structures being configured to interface along an interface boundary with a plurality of second magnetic structures associated with a plurality of first objects, each of said plurality of first objects being configured to move linearly within a corresponding channel of a plurality of channels inside a second object, said linear movement being perpendicular to said interface boundary, said linear movement enabling attachment of said plurality of first magnetic structures and said plurality of second magnetic structures, each second magnetic structure of said plurality of second magnetic structures being complementary to a corresponding first magnetic structure of said plurality of first magnetic structures; and

a hinge associated with said first object, said hinge enabling rotatable movement of said cover relative to said second object.

5. The magnetic attachment system of claim 4, further comprising:

at least one spring for controlling movement of at least one second magnetic structure of said plurality of second magnetic structures.

6. The magnetic attachment system of claim 4, wherein a movement of said plurality of first magnetic structures corresponds to a movement of said plurality of second magnetic structures.

7. The magnetic attachment system of claim 4, wherein said second object is a base.