Magnetic lock device

Details Magnetic lock device Magnetic lock device

1999-12-28

2001-04-10

Donovan, Lincoln (Department: 2832)

Electricity: magnetically operated switches, magnets, and electr

Permanent magnet-actuated switches

Plural magnets

C024S303000, C292S251500

Reexamination Certificate

active

06215381

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a magnetic lock device including two separate elements that arc capable of being detachably coupled together by attracting each other magnetically under the magnetic interaction of two permanent magnets, and more particularly to a magnetic lock device that may be used with an article, such as bags, that usually includes two integral parts, such as a flap and a body, for detachably coupling those two parts together, and may also be used with clothing or clothes that usually require the regular or frequent washing or cleaning treatment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In the prior art, there is a conventional magnetic lock device that takes advantage of the magnetic attracting action of a permanent magnet, and is used with an article such as a bag, for example, for detachably coupling the body and flap of the bag. It is known that this device performs well for the above purpose. The conventional magnetic lock device is known in different types and constructions. Typically and basically, it has the construction that is described below.
The magnetic lock device essentially includes a first element and a second element that are capable of being detachably coupled together by utilizing the magnetic interaction between a permanent magnets and a ferromagnetic plate. Specifically, for one part, the first element includes an annular permanent magnet having a center bore through it, and a first ferromagnetic disk-like plate disposed to make contact with the non-attracting side of the annular permanent magnet that is located on the side opposite the attracting side of the magnet, and a first ferromagnetic projecting member extending from the center of the first ferromagnetic disk-like plate and through the said center bore of the permanent magnet toward the attracting side of the annular permanent magnet. The annular permanent magnet and the first ferromagnetic disk-like plate having the first ferromagnetic projecting member are packaged as a single unit within a non-magnetic covering. The first element thus formed acts as the attracting unit.
For the other part, the second clement, which acts as the unit to be attracted by the first element or attracting unit, includes a second ferromagnetic disk-like plate that is to be attached to the attracting side of the annular permanent magnet of the first element. As the annular permanent magnet and the first ferromagnetic disk-like plate comprising the first element arc packaged by the non-magnetic covering, when the second ferromagnetic disk-like plate of the second element is attached to the attracting side of the annular permanent magnet of the first element by and under the magnetic force of the annular permanent magnet, the upper horizontal part of the non-magnetic covering, which covers the attracting side of the annular permanent magnet, is sandwiched between the second ferromagnetic disk-like plate and the annular permanent magnet.
The second ferromagnetic disk-like plate of the second element can be attached to the annular permanent magnet of the first clement by and under the magnetic force of the annular permanent magnet, also the second ferromagnetic disk-like plate can be detached from the annular permanent against the magnetic force of the annular permanent magnet.
The second ferromagnetic disk-like plate of the second element has a second ferromagnetic projecting member which extends from the center of the second ferromagnetic disk-like plate, and, when the second ferromagnetic disk-like plate of the second element is attached to the annular permanent magnet of the first element, extends through the center bore of the annular permanent magnet toward the first ferromagnetic disk-like plate of the first element.
The second ferromagnetic projecting member on the second element can engage the first ferromagnetic projecting member on the first ferromagnetic disk-like plate through the center bore of the permanent magnet when the second ferromagnetic disk-like plate is attached to the annular permanent magnet. Thus, the first and second elements may be coupled together magnetically under the action of the permanent magnet, which is enclosed in the first element, as they are brought closer to each other, so that a magnetic circuit can be concluded through the first and second ferromagnetic projecting members, the first and second ferromagnetic disk-like plates, and the annular permanent magnet. This permits the first and second elements to be coupled securely.
When the first and second elements are to be detached, this may be accomplished simply by moving them laterally relative to each other with a certain angle with regard to the interface between the first and second elements as coupled, and thus disconnecting the path of the magnetic circuit principally formed by the first and second ferromagnetic projecting members.
This device is of a compact size, and provides powerful magnetic attracting force that can keep them locked securely. Attaching and detaching the two elements may be accomplished very easily. The magnetic lock device described above is disclosed in Japanese patent application No. H2 (1990)-205503, for example.
It should be noted, however, that according to the conventional magnetic lock device described above, there is a gap between the outer peripheral wall of the first ferromagnetic projecting member and the inner peripheral wall of the center bore of the permanent magnet. The space formed by the gap may easily introduce particles such as dust, particularly ferromagnetic particles like iron. Those ferromagnetic particles may create a short magnetic circuit between the inner peripheral wall of the center bore of the permanent magnet and the outer peripheral wall of the first ferromagnetic projecting member. When this situation occurs, the magnetic circuit formed by the first and second ferromagnetic projecting members, the first and second ferromagnetic plates and the permanent magnet may become weaker, which may reduce the magnetic interaction between the first and second elements when they are coupled. Therefore, in the conventional magnetic lock device as before described, it is necessary to take care that any particle can not enter into the gap between the inner peripheral wall of the center bore of the annular permanent magnet and the outer peripheral wall of the first ferromagnetic projecting member.
But when the conventional magnetic lock device is used with clothing or clothes that may usually require the regular or frequent washing or cleaning treatment or that may often be put on the ground or make contact with other various objects, it is likely that particles such as dust, particularly ferromagnetic particles like iron, will enter the gap or space between the inner peripheral wall of the center bore of the permanent magnet and the outer peripheral wall of the first ferromagnetic projecting member. For this reason, the conventional magnetic lock device has principally been used with bags, rather than clothing or clothes.
It should also be noted that the conventional magnetic lock device includes the first and second ferromagnetic plates that are made of iron that may easily gather rust when exposed to water or moisture. This is another reason why the conventional device has not been used with the clothing or clothes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a new magnetic lock device which can eliminate the problems associated with the conventional magnetic lock device as described above. According to the present invention, a magnetic lock device includes a first element and a second element that are capable of being detachably coupled, and each of the first and second elements has an annular permanent magnet enclosed therein such that one permanent magnet and the other permanent magnet have the opposed polarities on the side facing opposite each other, wherein each of the first and second elements may entirely be covered with any suitable non-magnetic, synthetic resin film, sheet, covering and casing or may entirely have a coating of the no

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