# US 2020/0316485 A1 · Magnet holder and system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0316485 A1 - Document ID: US20200316485A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/372,842 - Filed: 2019-04-02 - Published: 2020-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-02 - Assignees: Tegu - Applicants: Tegu - Inventors: Christopher Harwood Haughey; Nathaniel Scott Lau - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200316485A1 ## CPC - A63H 17/264: {Coupling mechanisms (for model railway vehicles A63H19/18)} - E05C 19/16: Devices holding the wing by magnetic or electromagnetic attraction {(E05C17/56 takes precedence)} - F16B 21/073: {the socket having a resilient part on its inside} - F16B 21/084: {with a series of flexible ribs or fins extending laterally from the shank of the stud, pin or spigot, said ribs or fins deforming predominantly in a direction parallel to the direction of insertion of the shank} - A63H 19/18: Car coupling or uncoupling mechanisms - A63H 33/046: {comprising magnetic interaction means, e.g. holding together by magnetic attraction} - A63H 33/26: Magnetic or electric toys (electric drives A63H29/22 {; indoor games played with small balls using magnetic power A63F7/0088, A63F7/068}) - F16B 2200/83: Use of a magnetic material - H10P 72/1916: {characterised by sealing arrangements} - A63H: TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS - E05C: BOLTS OR FASTENING DEVICES FOR WINGS, SPECIALLY FOR DOORS OR WINDOWS (latching means for sideboard or tailgate structures for vehicles B62D, {B62D33/02}; fastening devices for constructional or engineering elements E04, F16B; locks, fastening devices structurally or operatively combined or having significant cooperation with locks E05B; means for operating or controlling wing fasteners in conjunction with mechanisms for moving the wing E05F) - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - H10P: GENERIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10 ## Abstract A magnet holder insert comprising a magnet and magnet holder housing designed with internal wall features capable of keeping the magnet properly positioned in the holder device, and external wall features capable of keeping the magnet holder device securely mounted in the finished part. The internal and external fastening elements of the magnet holder housing are designed in such a way as to promote rapid and secure assembly of both the magnet device and the finished part. The exposed surface of the magnet holder device can be configured with flat or dome shaped exposed contact surfaces, depending on how secure or flexible the magnetic joining feature is intended, capable of attaching to another magnet device or a material susceptible to magnetic attraction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A plastic magnet holder for holding a magnet and for insertion into an article, said magnet holder comprising: a housing having a top wall, a side wall or walls depending downwardly from said top wall defining an open interior in said housing, and an open bottom, such that a magnet can be inserted up into said interior of said housing; the interior surface of said side wall or walls including at least one retainer projecting inwardly into said interior of said housing at a distance below said top wall sufficient to accommodate a magnet located between said retainer or retainers and said top wall; said retainers projecting inwardly sufficiently far that a magnet has to be forced past said retainers in order to position it between said retainers and said top wall; the dimensions of said interior space of said housing being slightly greater than the dimensions of a magnet to be located therein, and each said retainer including a space to either side, such that air is allowed to escape from said interior of said housing past the perimeter of the magnet as it is forced over said retainers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The magnet holder of claim 1 in which there are at least two of said retainers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The magnet holder of claim 2 in which: said housing has a cylindrical side wall, for receiving a disk magnet in the interior of said housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The magnet holder of claim 1 in which: said housing has a cylindrical side wall, for receiving a disk magnet in the interior of said housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The magnet holder of claim 4 in which said top wall is sufficiently thin that a smaller magnet can be used to achieve the same attractive force of a larger magnet behind a thicker wall. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The magnet holder of claim 5 in which: the exterior of said cylindrical side wall comprise at least one reverse sloped retainer ring designed to allow said magnet holder to be press fit into a receiving hole in an article to be fitted with a magnet retained in said housing; said retainer ring including spaced gaps therein, such that as one pushes said housing into a tight fitting receiving cavity, air escapes through said gaps, and once said housing is inserted, it is difficult to pull it out because of the tight fit, said rings engaging the sidewalls of the cavity. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The magnet holder of claim 6 in which said cylindrical side wall comprises two to four and most preferably three of said reverse sloped retainer rings with said spaced gaps in each being aligned vertically with respect to one another. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The magnet holder of claim 7 in which each of said gaps in each said retainer ring is relatively narrow, said gaps occupying from about 10 to about 20% of the perimeter of each said ring. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The magnet holder of claim 8 in which at least one of said gaps on each side of said housing is formed as a flat in the otherwise circumferential perimeter of said ring. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The magnet holder of claim 1 in which: the exterior of said side wall or walls comprise at least one reverse sloped retainer ring designed to allow said magnet holder to be press fit into a receiving hole in an article to be fitted with a magnet retained in said housing; said retainer ring including spaced gaps therein, such that as one pushes said housing into a tight fitting receiving cavity, air escapes through said gaps, and once said housing is inserted, it is difficult to pull it out because of the tight fit, said rings engaging the sidewalls of the cavity. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The magnet holder of claim 10 in which said cylindrical side wall comprises two to four and most preferably three of said reverse sloped retainer rings with said spaced gaps in each being aligned vertically with respect to one another. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The magnet holder of claim 11 in which each of said gaps in each said retainer ring is relatively narrow, said gaps occupying from about 10 to about 20% of the perimeter of each said ring. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The magnet holder of claim 12 in which at least one of said gaps on each side of said housing is formed as a flat in the otherwise circumferential perimeter of said ring. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The magnet holder of claim 10 in which said top wall of said housing is sufficiently thin that a smaller magnet can be used to achieve the same attractive force of a larger magnet behind a thicker wall. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The magnet holder of claim 1 in which said top wall of said housing is sufficiently thin that a smaller magnet can be used to achieve the same attractive force of a larger magnet behind a thicker wall. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The magnet holder of claim 1 in which said retainers are dimples. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The magnet holder of claim 16 in which there are at least two of said dimples. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The magnet holder of claim 16 in which there are at least four of said dimples. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The magnet holder of claim 17 in which: said housing has a cylindrical side wall, for receiving a disk magnet in the interior of said housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The magnet holder of claim 1 wherein said top wall of said holder is convex and protrudes outwardly, whereby protrudes outwardly whereby two such holders of opposite polarity in separate articles can remain in direct magnetic contact and attachment with each other, even if the articles are not directly aligned. ### Claim 21 A magnet holder for holding a plastic magnet and for insertion into an article, said magnet holder comprising: a housing having a top wall, a side wall or walls depending downwardly from said top wall defining an open interior in said housing, and an open bottom, such that a magnet can be inserted up into said interior of said housing; the exterior of said side wall or walls comprise at least one reverse sloped retainer ring designed to allow said magnet holder to be press fit into a receiving hole in an article to be fitted with a magnet retained in said housing said retainer ring including spaced gaps therein, such that as one pushes said housing into a tight fitting receiving cavity, air escapes through said gaps, and once said housing is inserted, it is difficult to pull it out because of the tight fit, said rings engaging the sidewalls of the cavity. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The magnet holder of claim 21 in which said cylindrical side wall comprises two to four and most preferably three of said reverse sloped retainer rings with said spaced gaps in each being aligned vertically with respect to one another. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The magnet holder of claim 22 in which each of said gaps in each said retainer ring is relatively narrow, said gaps occupying from about 10 to about 20% of the perimeter of each said ring. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The magnet holder of claim 23 in which at least one of said gaps on each side of said housing is formed as a flat in the otherwise circumferential perimeter of said ring. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The magnet holder of claim 21 in which said top wall of said housing is sufficiently thin that a smaller magnet can be used to achieve the same attractive force of a larger magnet behind a thicker wall. ### Claim 26 A magnet bearing article comprising: a plastic magnet holder, a magnet retained within said holder, and a cavity having an opening to the exterior of said article, in which said holder and its retained magnet are located; said magnet holder comprising: a housing having a top wall located at said cavity opening, a side wall or walls depending downwardly from said top wall defining an open interior in said housing, and an open bottom, such that said magnet is inserted up into said interior of said housing; the interior surface of said side wall or walls of said housing including at least one retainer projecting inwardly into said interior of said housing at a distance below said top wall sufficient to accommodate said magnet between said retainer or retainers and said top wall; said retainers projecting inwardly sufficiently far that said magnet has to be forced past said retainers in order to position it between said retainers and said top wall; the dimensions of said interior space of said housing being slightly greater than the dimensions of said magnet, and each said retainer including a space to either side, such that air is allowed to escape from said interior of said housing past the perimeter of the magnet as it is forced over said retainers; the exterior of said side wall or walls of said magnet holder housing comprising at least one reverse sloped retainer ring designed to allow said magnet holder to be press fit into said receiving hole in said article; said receiving hole being dimensioned to provide a tight fit for said magnet holder; said retainer ring including spaced gaps therein, such that as one pushes said housing into said tight fitting receiving cavity, air escapes through said gaps, and once said housing is inserted, it is difficult to pull it out because of the tight fit with said rings engaging the sidewalls of said cavity. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The magnet bearing article of claim 26 in which said top wall of said magnet holder is sufficiently thin that it does not substantially interfere with the magnetic field of a magnet placed in said housing. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The magnet bearing article of claim 27 in which said inwardly projection retainers are dimples. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The magnet bearing article of claim 28 in which there are at least four of said dimples. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The magnet bearing article of claim 29 in which: said housing has a cylindrical side wall, for receiving a disk magnet in the interior of said housing. ### Claim 31 (depends on 26) The magnet bearing article of claim 26 in which said top wall of said holder in said article is convex and protrudes outwardly from the surface of said article, whereby two of said holders of opposite polarity in separate ones of said articles can remain in direct magnetic contact and attachment with each other, even if the articles are not directly aligned.