Convertible force latching system
AssigneeIDEAL Industries, Inc.
InventorsJia Yong Li, Brian Robert Peterson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A convertible force latching system includes two complementary connector bodies. Each connector body has a first mating face under which two series of magnets oriented alternating directions. A moving portion of the latching system allows the connector bodies and the magnets within to alter their alignment by the interaction of a user along a predetermined motion path. In a first arrangement, the series of magnets are aligned with such that the magnets of one connector body are attracted to the magnets of the other connector body. When the user actuation shifts the moving portion, the second arrangement positions the series of magnets such that they are aligned such that the magnets of one connector body are repelled to the magnets of the other connector body.
Claims20
A latching system comprising:
- a first connector body comprising:
- at least one first magnet having a first pole oriented closer to a first mating surface of the first connector body than a second pole of the first magnet, and
- at least one second magnet having a third pole of the second magnet oriented closer to the first mating surface than a fourth pole of the second magnet;
- a second connector body comprising at least one third magnet having a fifth pole of the third magnet oriented closer to a second mating surface of the second connector body than a sixth pole of the third magnet;
- and
- wherein:
- the first connector body or the second connector body comprises a latch portion configured to directly receive a rotational user interaction, wherein the first connector body or the second connector body is configured to move between a first position and a second position in response to the rotational user interaction,
- the at least one first magnet and the at least one third magnet are configured to align and attract one another while the first connector body or the second connector body is in the first position, and
- the at least one second magnet and the at least one third magnet are configured to align and repel one another while the first connector body or the second connector body is in the second position.
A latching system comprising:
- a first connector body comprising:
- at least one first magnet having a first pole oriented closer to a first mating surface of the first connector body than a second pole of the first magnet, and
- at least one second magnet having a third pole of the second magnet oriented closer to the first mating surface than a fourth pole of the second magnet;
- a second connector body comprising at least one third magnet having a fifth pole of the third magnet oriented closer to a second mating surface of the second connector body than a sixth pole of the third magnet;
- and
- wherein:
- the first connector body or the second connector body comprises a latch portion configured to move the first connector body or the second connector body between a first position and a second position,
- the latch portion extends at least partially around a circumferential exterior of the first connector body or the second connector body,
- the at least one first magnet and the at least one third magnet are configured to align and attract one another while the first connector body or the second connector body is in the first position, and
- the at least one second magnet and the at least one third magnet are configured to align and repel one another while the first connector body or the second connector body is in the second position.
A latching apparatus comprising:
- a first connector body comprising a latch portion comprising at least one first magnet having a first pole oriented closer to a mating surface of the first connector body than a second pole of the magnet;
- wherein:
- the latch portion rotates around the first connector body and is configured to directly receive a rotational user interaction, wherein the first connector body is configured to move between a first position and a second position in response to rotational movement of the latch portion along a predetermined motion path,
- the at least one first magnet is configured to align with and attract at least one second magnet of a second connector body while the connector body is in the first position, and
- the at least one first magnet is configured to misalign with the at least one second magnet while the first connector body is in the second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.