Self-aligning connector
First Claim
1. A device comprising:
- a housing having a generally flat cuboid shape including a convex sidewall portion;
a self-aligning connector at the convex sidewall portion of the housing, the self-aligning connector comprising a cylindrical magnet oriented with its axis substantially parallel to the convex sidewall portion, the cylindrical magnet for magnetically engaging a magnet of an other connector so as to align and connect the self-aligning connector with the other connector,wherein the convex sidewall portion of the housing has a semicircular profile that is substantially coextensive with a semicylindrical half of the cylindrical magnet, andwherein the other connector is at a convex sidewall portion of an object, wherein the convex sidewall portion of the object has a semicircular profile, and wherein, upon physical connection of the self-aligning connector with the other connector, the device is pivotable more than 270 degrees about the convex sidewall portion of the object without breaking the physical connection between the self-aligning connector and the other connector.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device may comprise a housing having a straight rounded edge. A self-aligning connector at the straight rounded edge may comprise a cylindrical magnet oriented with its axis substantially parallel to the straight rounded edge. The cylindrical magnet is for magnetically engaging a magnet of another connector so as to align and connect the self-aligning connector with the other connector. The self-aligning connector may comprise mounting structure configured to mount the cylindrical magnet at the straight rounded edge of the housing with the axis of the cylindrical magnet being substantially parallel to the straight rounded edge of the housing. The device may include two such self-aligning connectors, spaced apart from one another, along a single straight rounded edge of the device housing.
38 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a housing having a generally flat cuboid shape including a convex sidewall portion; a self-aligning connector at the convex sidewall portion of the housing, the self-aligning connector comprising a cylindrical magnet oriented with its axis substantially parallel to the convex sidewall portion, the cylindrical magnet for magnetically engaging a magnet of an other connector so as to align and connect the self-aligning connector with the other connector, wherein the convex sidewall portion of the housing has a semicircular profile that is substantially coextensive with a semicylindrical half of the cylindrical magnet, and wherein the other connector is at a convex sidewall portion of an object, wherein the convex sidewall portion of the object has a semicircular profile, and wherein, upon physical connection of the self-aligning connector with the other connector, the device is pivotable more than 270 degrees about the convex sidewall portion of the object without breaking the physical connection between the self-aligning connector and the other connector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A device comprising:
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a housing having a generally cuboid shape including a rounded corner adjoining two perpendicular faces; a self-aligning connector at the rounded corner of the housing, the self-aligning connector comprising a cylindrical magnet oriented with its axis substantially parallel to the rounded corner, the cylindrical magnet for magnetically engaging a magnet of an other connector so as to align and connect the self-aligning connector with the other connector, wherein the rounded corner of the housing has a quarter-circular profile that is substantially coextensive with a quarter-cylindrical section of the cylindrical magnet, and wherein the other connector is at a rounded corner of an object, wherein the rounded corner of the object has a quarter-circular profile, and wherein, upon physical connection of the self-aligning connector with the other connector, the device is pivotable by 180 degrees about the rounded corner of the object without breaking the physical connection between the self-aligning connector and the other connector.
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8. A self-aligning connector for use in a device housing having a generally flat cuboid shape including a convex sidewall portion, the self-aligning connector comprising:
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a cylindrical magnet for magnetically engaging a magnet of an other connector so as to align and connect the self-aligning connector with the other connector; and mounting structure configured to mount the cylindrical magnet at the convex sidewall portion of the device housing with an axis of the cylindrical magnet being substantially parallel to the convex sidewall portion of the device housing, wherein the cylindrical magnet has a diametric magnetic orientation and wherein the mounting structure is configured to allow the cylindrical magnet to rotate along its axis with respect to the device housing. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A device comprising:
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a housing having a generally flat cuboid shape including a convex sidewall portion; a self-aligning connector at the convex sidewall portion of the housing, the self-aligning connector comprising a magnetic cylinder oriented with its axis substantially parallel to the convex sidewall portion, the magnetic cylinder for magnetically engaging a magnet of an other connector so as to align and connect the self-aligning connector with the other connector, wherein the convex sidewall portion of the housing has a semicircular profile that is substantially coextensive with a semicylindrical half of the magnetic cylinder, and wherein the other connector is at a convex sidewall portion of an object, wherein the convex sidewall portion of the object has a semicircular profile, and wherein, upon physical connection of the self-aligning connector with the other connector, the device is pivotable more than 270 degrees about the convex sidewall portion of the object without breaking the physical connection between the self-aligning connector and the other connector. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A self-aligning connector for use in a device housing having a generally flat cuboid shape including a convex sidewall portion, the self-aligning connector comprising:
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a magnetic cylinder for magnetically engaging a magnet of an other connector so as to align and connect the self-aligning connector with the other connector; and mounting structure configured to mount the magnetic cylinder at the convex sidewall portion of the device housing with an axis of the magnetic cylinder being substantially parallel to the convex sidewall portion of the device housing, wherein the magnetic cylinder has a diametric magnetic orientation and wherein the mounting structure is configured to allow the magnetic cylinder to rotate along its axis with respect to the device housing. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification