Bearing-like device using magnetic force to actively aid or enhance turning or spinning movement

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to bearings and other similar devices for passively facilitating and actively aiding or enhancing rotational or other movement. More particularly, the present invention concerns a bearing-like device using magnetic force to both passively facilitate and actively aid or enhance a turning, spinning, or other movement of an attached shaft or other member, wherein the device comprises a conical male component spirally wrapped in magnetic material outwardly presenting a magnetic pole of a particular orientation and received within a correspondingly shaped female component including magnetic material outwardly presenting a magnetic pole of the same particular orientation, such that the male component is both magnetically repelled apart from the female component and magnetically induced to turn or spin relative to the female component.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

#A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

#FIG. 2 is an isometric view from above of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1;

#Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, a bearing-like device 10 is shown constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The device 10 is operable to use magnetic force to both passively facilitate and actively aid or enhance a turning, spinning, or other movement of an attached shaft 12 or other member. It should be noted that, as used herein, the term “turning” denotes circular movement of less than one complete 360° revolution; whereas the term “spinning” denotes circular movement of at least one complete 360° revolution.

#In a preferred embodiment, the device 10 broadly comprises a male component 20 and a female component 30. The shaft 12 and the male and female components 20,30 of the device 10 define and share an axis of motion 14 about which the turning or spinning movement occurs.

#In the illustrated embodiment, the male component 20 is operable to turn or spin due to magnetic interaction with the substantially stationary female component 30. In an alternative embodiment, however, the male component 20 remains substantially stationary and the female component 30 turns or spins relative thereto. The male component 20 includes a male body 22 and a first magnetic component 24. The male body 22 is operable to support the first magnetic component 24 in its proper position and orientation. The male body 22 is shaped substantially similar to a truncated cone having an approximately 33.33° external taper, and is constructed from a non-magnetic material, such as, for example, wood, plastic, or aluminum, or any other suitable material. Furthermore, as desired or required, the male body 22 may be substantially solid or may provide only a shell or skeletal framework for supporting the first magnetic component 24. Additionally, though the device 10 may be made to different sizes, as illustrated and described herein the male body 22 is approximately eight inches in length and tapers at 33.33° from a top 27 which is eight inches in diameter to a truncated bottom 28 which is two inches in diameter.