Magnetic lockset

A system configured for use with a closure assembly comprising a doorframe and a door movably mounted to the doorframe, the system comprising:

• a lockset, comprising:
• a mortise case configured for mounting in one of the door or the doorframe;
• a carriage movably mounted in the mortise case;
• a lockset magnet assembly mounted to the carriage for movement along a movement axis between a coupling position and a decoupling position;
• a latch coupled with the carriage for movement between a latching position and an unlatching position;
• a manual actuator movably mounted to the mortise case and engaged with the carriage, wherein actuation of the manual actuator causes the carriage to move the latch between the latching position and the unlatching position while moving the lockset magnet assembly from the coupling position to the decoupling position;
• and
• a strikebox, comprising:
• a housing configured for mounting in the other of the door or the doorframe;
• and
• a strikebox magnet assembly mounted in the housing;
• wherein, with the lockset magnet assembly in the coupling position, magnetic attraction between the lockset magnet assembly and the strikebox magnet assembly urges the lockset and the strikebox toward one another;
• and
• wherein, with the lockset magnet assembly in the decoupling position, magnetic repulsion between the lockset magnet assembly and the strikebox magnet assembly urges the lockset and the strikebox away from one another.

A method, comprising:

• mounting a lockset to a door having an open position and a closed position, the lockset including a lockset magnet assembly having a first lockset magnet mounted to a carriage, and the lockset including a manual actuator operable to move the carriage and the first lockset magnet between a coupling position and a decoupling position;
• and
• mounting a strikebox comprising a strikebox magnet assembly including a first strikebox magnet to a doorframe associated with the door such that the first lockset magnet is operable to magnetically interact with the first strikebox magnet when the door is in the closed position;
• wherein, with the door in the closed position and the lockset magnet assembly in the coupling position, the first lockset magnet is aligned with the first strikebox magnet such that magnetic attraction between the first lockset magnet and the first strikebox magnet generates a closing force urging the door to remain in the closed position;
• wherein, with the door in the closed position and the lockset magnet assembly in the decoupling position, the first lockset magnet is moved from alignment with the first strikebox magnet;
• wherein actuation of the manual actuator drives the carriage and the first lockset magnet from the coupling position to the decoupling position;
• and
• wherein in response to actuation of the manual actuator, driving a latch coupled to the carriage from a latching position in which the latch engages the strikebox to an unlatching position in which the latch disengages the strikebox.

A method, comprising:

• mounting a lockset to a door having an open position and a closed position, the lockset including a lockset magnet assembly having a first lockset magnet and a manual actuator operable to move the lockset magnet assembly between a coupling position and a decoupling position, the first lockset magnet having a first pole and a second pole of an opposite polarity as the first pole;
• and
• mounting a strikebox comprising a strikebox magnet assembly including a first strikebox magnet to a doorframe associated with the door, the first strikebox magnet having a first pole and a second pole of an opposite polarity as the first pole, wherein the first lockset magnet is operable to magnetically interact with the first strikebox magnet when the door is in the closed position;
• wherein, with the door in the closed position and the lockset magnet assembly in the coupling position, the first pole of the first lockset magnet is aligned with the second pole of the first strikebox magnet having an opposite polarity relative to the first pole of the first lockset magnet such that magnetic attraction between the first lockset magnet and the first strikebox magnet generates a closing force urging the door to remain in the closed position;
• wherein, with the door in the closed position and the lockset magnet assembly in the decoupling position, the first pole of the first lockset magnet is moved from alignment with the second pole of the first strikebox magnet;
• wherein actuation of the manual actuator drives the lockset magnet assembly from the coupling position to the decoupling position;
• and
• wherein in response to actuation of the manual actuator, driving a latch of the lockset from a latching position in which the latch engages the strikebox to an unlatching position in which the latch disengages the strikebox;
• and
• wherein, with the door in the closed position and the lockset magnet assembly in the decoupling position, the first pole of the first lockset magnet is not aligned with the second pole of the first strikebox magnet, and the closing force generated by the magnetic attraction between the first lockset magnet and the first strikebox magnet is removed.

A lockset configured for mounting in a sliding door which slides along an axis between an open positon and a closed position, the lockset comprising:

• a mortise case configured for mounting within the door, the mortise case including a faceplate defining a reference plane;
• a magnet assembly movably mounted in the mortise case adjacent the faceplate, the magnet assembly comprising a first plurality of magnets, wherein each magnet of the first plurality of magnets has a first pole and a second pole of an opposite polarity as the first pole, wherein the first plurality of magnets includes a first magnet and a second magnet, wherein the first pole of the first magnet faces the reference plane, wherein the second pole of the second magnet faces the reference plane;
• a third magnet positioned at a fixed location opposite the magnet assembly relative to the reference plane, wherein the third magnet has a magnetic pole that faces the reference plane;
• a manual actuator movably mounted to the mortise case, wherein the manual actuator is operably coupled with the magnet assembly such that actuation of the manual actuator moves the magnet assembly from a first position to a second position;
• and
• a latch movably mounted in the mortise case for movement between a latching position and an unlatching position, wherein the manual actuator is operably connected with the latch such that actuation of the manual actuator moves the latch from the latching position to the unlatching position;
• wherein, with the magnet assembly is in the first position, the first pole of the first magnet is aligned with the magnetic pole of the third magnet, the first pole of the first magnet having a polarity opposite the magnetic pole of the third magnet such that the sliding door is urged toward the closed position by magnetic attraction;
• and
• wherein, with the magnet assembly is in the second position, the second pole of the second magnet is aligned with the magnetic pole of the third magnet, the second pole of the second magnet having a polarity like the magnetic pole of the third magnet such that the sliding door is urged toward the open position by magnetic repulsion.