Connection mechanism

• US 9,062,695 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2013
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Otter Products LLC
• Inventors: Witter, Kevin W., Fitzgerald, John P., Robinson, Jonathan Shea, Center, Adam D., Holmes, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): GUSHI, ROSS N
• Application Number:
  US14/078,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20140077044A1
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 704/13, 248/309.4, 439/38, 439/39
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 1/00 Devices for securing together, or preventing relative movement between, constructional elements or machine parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/12 with locking-pins or split-pins thrust into holes
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/83 Use of a magnetic material
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0642 the plates being arranged one on top of the other and in full close contact with each other
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/004 using magnets
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0263 Closures, bags, bands, engagement devices with male and female parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/38 having concentrically or coaxially arranged contacts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/32 having magnetic fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/598 Transversely sliding pin

Abstract

A connection mechanism between two components may use one or more metallic pins that are magnetically extended when the components are engaged, and a sloped groove that retracts and unlocks the pins when the components are rotated. The components are locked in place by the pins during engagement. Disengagement may be performed by rotating the two components with respect to each other. The connection mechanism may include one or more magnets mounted on either or both components. The magnets may be arranged to attract the components when the components are in the locking orientation and to repel the components when the components are rotated to an unlocked position. The connection mechanism may include electrical connections between the components.

Claims

1. A connection mechanism comprising:

a first component adapted to mechanically lock to a second component when the connection mechanism is in a locked position, the first component comprising one or more pins, the one or more pins being magnetically attractive, wherein the one or more pins are adapted to extend from the first component when the connection mechanism is in the locked position, and wherein the one or more pins are adapted to retract into the first component when the connection mechanism is in an unlocked position;

the second component comprising an engagement face and one or more slots disposed in the engagement face, the one or more slots comprising a first slot, the second component further comprising a first magnet positioned near the first slot, wherein the first magnet is adapted to magnetically attract a first pin of the one or more pins thereby causing the first pin to extend into the first slot as the connection mechanism transitions from the unlocked position to the locked position, wherein the first pin extended into the first slot mechanically resists the first component from being separated from the second component when the connection mechanism is in the locked position.

2. The connection mechanism of claim 1, wherein the second component further comprises a lip formed by the first slot, wherein the lip engages the first pin and mechanically restricts the first component and the second component from being pulled apart when the connection mechanism is in the locked position.

3. The connection mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first slot comprises a sloped groove that forces the first pin to retract into the first component when the connection mechanism transitions from the locked position to the unlocked position as the first component is rotated relative to a primary axis of the second component.

4. The connection mechanism of claim 1 further comprising an electrical connection between the first component and the second component when the connection mechanism is in a locked position, wherein the electrical connection is provided by a first electrical contact on the first component mating with a second electrical contact on the second component.

5. The connection mechanism of claim 4, wherein the first electrical contact comprises a plurality of concentric electrical contacts proximate a first mating surface of the first component, wherein the second electrical contact comprises a plurality of spring loaded electrical contacts proximate a second mating surface of the second component, wherein the plurality of spring loaded contacts are adapted to slide along the plurality of concentric electrical contacts as the first component is rotated relative to the primary axis of the second component.

6. The connection mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first component further comprises a first plurality of magnets proximate a first mating surface, wherein the second component further comprises a second plurality of magnets proximate a second mating surface, wherein the first plurality of magnets in the first component are adapted to attract the second plurality of magnets and thereby draw the first mating surface of the first component against the second mating surface of the second component when the connection mechanism is in the locked position, and wherein the first plurality of magnets is adapted to repel the second plurality of magnets and thereby repel the first mating surface of the first component from the second mating surface of the second component when the connection mechanism is rotated from the locked position to the unlocked position.

7. The connection mechanism of claim 1, wherein the connection mechanism is adapted to pass a gas or a liquid between the first component and the second component when the connection mechanism is in the locked position.

8. The connection mechanism of claim 1, wherein the connection mechanism is adapted to pass light between the first component and the second component when the connection mechanism is in the locked position.

9. The connection mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first component comprises a first engagement face, the first engagement face comprising a cylindrical surface having a centerline that is aligned with a primary axis of the first component, the first pin being disposed in a first hole in the first component, the first hole arranged perpendicular to the primary axis of the first component.

10. A mechanical coupler for mounting a mobile phone, the mechanical coupler comprising:

a first component adapted to mechanically lock to a second component when the mechanical coupler is in a locked position, the first component comprising one or more pins, the one or more pins being magnetically attractive, wherein the one or more pins are adapted to extend from the first component when the mechanical coupler is in the locked position, and wherein the one or more pins are adapted to retract into the first component when the mechanical coupler is in an unlocked position;

the second component comprising an engagement face and one or more slots disposed in the engagement face, the one or more slots comprising a first slot, the second component further comprising a first magnet positioned near the first slot, wherein the first magnet is adapted to magnetically attract a first pin of the one or more pins thereby causing the first pin to extend into the first slot as the mechanical coupler transitions from the unlocked position to the locked position, wherein the first pin extended into the first slot mechanically resists the first component from being separated from the second component when the mechanical coupler is in the locked position.

11. The mechanical coupler of claim 10, wherein the first component is mounted to a mobile phone case, the mobile phone case being adapted to receive a mobile phone.

12. The mechanical coupler of claim 11, wherein the second component is mounted to a stand.

13. The mechanical coupler of claim 12, wherein the mechanical coupler provides an electrical power connection between the first component and the second component.

14. The mechanical coupler of claim 12, wherein the mechanical coupler provides an electrical signal connection between the first component and the second component.

15. The mechanical coupler of claim 10, wherein the mechanical coupler is adapted to mount a mobile phone to a holder.

16. The mechanical coupler of claim 15, wherein the holder is adapted to mount to a bicycle handlebar.

17. The mechanical coupler of claim 15, wherein the holder is adapted to mount to an automotive dashboard.

18. A connection mechanism for providing electrical power to a mobile phone, the connection mechanism comprising:

a first component adapted to mechanically lock to a second component when the connection mechanism is in a locked position, the first component comprising one or more pins, wherein the one or more pins are adapted to extend from the first component when the connection mechanism is in the locked position, and wherein the one or more pins are adapted to retract into the first component when the connection mechanism is in an unlocked position;

the second component comprising an engagement face and one or more slots disposed in the engagement face, the one or more slots comprising a first slot, the second component further comprising a first magnet positioned near the first slot, wherein the first magnet is adapted to magnetically attract a first pin of the one or more pins thereby causing the first pin to extend into the first slot as the connection mechanism transitions from the unlocked position to the locked position, wherein the first pin extended into the first slot mechanically resists the first component from being separated from the second component when the connection mechanism is in the locked position,

wherein an electrical connection is provided between the first component and the second component when the connection mechanism is in the locked position, wherein the electrical connection is provided by a first electrical contact on the first component mating with a second electrical contact on the second component when the connection mechanism in in the locked position.

19. The connection mechanism of claim 18, wherein the electrical connection provides an electrical power connection between the first component and the second component.

20. The connection mechanism of claim 18, wherein the electrical connection provides an electrical signal connection between the first component and the second component.