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US 12,133,592 B2Granted
Modular assembly with polymagnets
AssigneeN8madic, Inc.
InventorCharlene Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Modular units for forming structures, such as furniture assemblies or other structures. The modular units being interconnectable by magnetic connectors that have a cage with an end cap, and a bridge connected to the cage and spaced from the end cap to define a magnet void in the cage between the end cap and the bridge. A magnet is movably positioned within void, and a magnetic mass is coupled to the cage with the bridge is between the mass and the magnet. The magnet is movable in the cage void between a shielded position held against the bridge by a first magnetic attraction between the magnet and the mass, and a locked position held against the end cap by a second magnetic attraction that is greater than the first magnetic attraction.
Claims17
A modular interconnection system for assemblies, comprising:
- a first modular unit having a first surface and a first magnetic connector at the first surface;
- and
- a second modular unit having a second surface and a second magnetic connector at the second surface, wherein the first surface opposes and is positionable adjacent to the second surface, and wherein the first magnetic connector and the second magnetic connector are aligned and engageable to magnetically hold the first surface and the second surface together;
- wherein the first magnetic connector comprises:
- a cage with an end cap at a first end portion;
- a bridge fixedly connected to the cage, and spaced a first distance apart from the end cap to define a magnet void in the cage between the end cap and the bridge;
- a magnet movably positioned within the magnet void in the cage, wherein the magnetic void has a length that is less than a diameter of the magnet;
- and
- a mass fixedly coupled to a second portion of the cage spaced apart from the first end portion with the bridge being between the mass and the magnet;
- wherein the magnet is movable within the magnet void between a shielded position and a locked position, wherein the magnet in the shielded position is spaced away from the end cap and held against the bridge by a first magnetic attraction between the magnet and the mass, and wherein the magnet in the locked position is spaced apart from the bridge and positioned adjacent to the end cap by a second magnetic attraction with a second magnet of the second magnetic connector that has substantially the same construction as the first magnetic connector, wherein the second magnetic attraction is greater than the first magnetic attraction to cause the magnet to move from the shielded position to the locked position.
7 more elements
An interconnection module for use with assemblies, comprising:
- a modular unit having a surface;
- and
- a magnetic connector at the surface, the magnetic connector having:
- a cage with an end cap at a first end portion
- a bridge fixedly connected to the cage and spaced a first distance apart from the end cap to define a magnet void in the cage between the end cap and the bridge;
- a magnet movably positioned within the magnet void in the cage, wherein the magnetic void has a length that is less than a diameter of the magnet;
- and
- a mass fixedly coupled to a second portion of the cage spaced apart from the first end portion and the bridge is between the mass and the magnet;
- wherein the magnet is movable within the magnet void between a shielded position and a locked position, wherein the magnet in the shielded position is spaced away from the end cap and held against the bridge by a first magnetic attraction between the magnet and the mass, and wherein the magnet in the locked position is spaced apart from the bridge and positioned adjacent to the end cap by a second magnetic attraction from a location adjacent to a side of the end cap opposite the mass, wherein the second magnetic attraction is greater than the first magnetic attraction to cause the magnet to move from the shielded position to the locked position.
6 more elements
A method for constructing an assembly, comprising:
- providing a first modular unit having a first surface and a first magnetic connector adjacent to the first surface;
- providing a second modular unit having a second surface and a second magnetic connector adjacent to the second surface, wherein the first and the second magnetic connectors each include:
- a cage with an end cap at a first end portion;
- a bridge fixedly connected to the cage, and spaced a first distance apart from the end cap to define a magnet void in the cage between the end cap and the bridge;
- a magnet movably positioned within the magnet void in the cage, wherein the magnetic void has a length that is less than a diameter of the magnet;
- and
- a mass fixedly coupled to a second portion of the cage spaced apart from the first end portion with the bridge being between the mass and the magnet;
- wherein the magnet is movable within the magnet void between a shielded position and a locked position, wherein the magnet in the shielded position is spaced away from the end cap and held against the bridge by a first magnetic attraction between the magnet and the mass, and wherein the magnet in the locked position is spaced apart from the bridge and positioned adjacent to the end cap by a second magnetic attraction with a second magnet of the second magnetic connector that has substantially the same construction as the first magnetic connector, wherein the second magnetic attraction is greater than the first magnetic attraction to cause the magnet to move from the shielded position to the locked position
- positioning the first modular unit and the second modular unit with the first surface opposing the second surface, wherein the magnets in each of the first and second magnetic connectors is in the shielded position;
- aligning a centerline of the first magnetic connector with a centerline of the second magnetic connector;
- and
- moving the first modular unit toward the second modular unit, until each of the first and the second magnetic connectors are adjacent to each other to cause the magnets in the first and second magnetic connectors to move to the locked position.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.