Magnetic bumper apparatus for vehicle closure

A method for constraining a vehicle closure relative to a vehicle closure interface defined by a vehicle and configured to receive the closure, wherein the closure is movably attached to the vehicle and configured for opening and closing with respect to the closure interface, the method comprising:

• providing a magnetic bumper apparatus including a first magnetic member and a second magnetic member, wherein:
• the first magnetic member defines a first plurality of spatially modulated magnetic fields (SMMF) in a first pattern;
• the second magnetic member is operatively attached to the closure interface and defines a second plurality of spatially modulated magnetic fields (SMMF) in a second pattern;
• the first and second patterns are arranged such that:
• each one of the first plurality of SMMF corresponds to a respective one of the second plurality of SMMF to form a plurality of corresponding pairs of SMMF;
• the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member in magnetic proximity to each other are configured to provide a cumulative SMMF attractive force and a cumulative SMMF repulsive force;
• wherein the cumulative SMMF attractive force and the cumulative SMMF repulsive force are defined by the plurality of corresponding pairs of SMMF;
• the cumulative SMMF attractive force and the cumulative SMMF repulsive force at magnetic equilibrium define a separation reference, an alignment reference, and an equilibrium distance relative to the first and second magnetic member such that at magnetic equilibrium the first and second magnetic members are not in contact and are separated by the equilibrium distance;
• one of the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member includes a bumper element;
• operatively attaching the first magnetic member to one of the closure and the closure interface;
• operatively attaching the second magnetic member to the other of the closure and the closure interface and with respect to the first magnetic member;
• wherein operatively attaching the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member includes:
• aligning the separation reference and the alignment reference with respect to a first datum defined by the closure interface and a second datum defined by the closure interface;
• and
• constraining the closure to the closure interface when the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member are in magnetic proximity to each other, wherein constraining the closure to the closure interface defines at least one of a clearance gap and an offset between the closure and the closure interface.

A vehicle including a closure movably attached to the vehicle and configured for opening and closing with respect to a closure interface defined by the vehicle and configured to receive the closure, the vehicle further comprising:

• a first magnetic bumper apparatus including a first magnetic member and a second magnetic member, wherein:
• the first magnetic member is operatively attached to the closure and defines a first plurality of spatially modulated magnetic fields (SMMF) in a first pattern;
• the second magnetic member is operatively attached to the closure interface and defines a second plurality of spatially modulated magnetic fields (SMMF) in a second pattern;
• the first and second patterns are arranged such that each one of the first plurality of SMMF corresponds to a respective one of the second plurality of SMMF to form a first plurality of corresponding pairs of SMMF;
• the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member in magnetic proximity to each other are configured to provide a cumulative SMMF attractive force and a cumulative SMMF repulsive force;
• the cumulative SMMF attractive force and the cumulative SMMF repulsive force are defined by the first plurality of corresponding pairs of SMMF;
• the cumulative SMMF attractive force and the cumulative SMMF repulsive force at magnetic equilibrium define a separation reference, an alignment reference, and an equilibrium distance relative to the first and second magnetic member such that at magnetic equilibrium the first and second magnetic members are not in contact and are separated by the equilibrium distance;
• the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member in magnetic proximity to each other constrain the closure to the closure interface to define at least one of a clearance gap and an offset between the closure and the closure interface;
• and
• a non-magnetic bumper is interposed between the first and second magnetic members and configured to prevent contact between the closure and the closure interface when the first and second magnetic members are in magnetic proximity and magnetic non-equilibrium.