# US 2021/0340794 A1 · Magnetic Latch and Vehicle Container and System

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- Number: US 2021/0340794 A1
- Document ID: US20210340794A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/322,917
- Filed: 2021-05-18
- Published: 2021-11-04
- Earliest claimed: 2009-05-13
- Assignees: Termax Corporation
- Applicants: Termax LLC
- Inventors: Daniel James Dickinson; David Friesorger; Shawn Willis
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210340794A1

## CPC

- B60R 7/04: in driver or passenger space {, e.g. using racks (B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence)}
- E05B 47/0038: {using permanent magnets}
- E05B 77/40: Lock elements covered by silencing layers, e.g. coatings
- E05B 83/30: for glove compartments
- E05B 83/32: for console boxes, e.g. between passenger seats
- E05C 19/16: Devices holding the wing by magnetic or electromagnetic attraction {(E05C17/56 takes precedence)}
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- 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)

## Abstract

A magnetic latch for a lid and the bin of a container in a vehicle comprises at least one overmolded magnet detachably connected to a lid. A metal portion is magnetically attracted with the overmolded magnet. At least one overmolded magnet is connected to a bin having a magnetic attraction with the lid overmolded magnet to magnetically open and close the lid and the bin of the container. The overmold on the magnet encloses the magnet with vibration dampening material such as rubber. The metal portion may be a second at least one overmolded magnet second. The container may be a center console, glove box, ash tray, trunk, sun roof shade, cover. Spears, clips, prongs other suitable fasteners may be formed on one side of the overmold to allow insertion and attachment to a corresponding hole on the lid.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A magnetic latch for a lid and bin in a container of a vehicle comprising:
a lid latch comprising:
a lid magnetic holder;
a magnetic material attached to the lid magnetic holder;
a lid fastener attached to the lid magnetic holder for attachment to the lid;
a bin latch comprising:
a bin magnetic holder;
a magnetic material attached to the bin magnetic holder; and
a bin fastener attached to the bin magnetic holder for attachment to the bin;
wherein the lid latch and bin latch comprise vibration dampening material to magnetically open and close the lid and the bin of the container.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A magnetic latch of claim 1 wherein the magnetic material is at least one of: a magnet or metal having a magnetic attraction with the magnet.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A magnetic latch of claim 1 wherein:
the magnetic material attached to the lid magnetic holder is a lid magnet; and
the magnetic material attached to the bin magnetic holder is a bin magnet.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A magnetic latch of claim 3 wherein:
the lid magnetic holder and the lid fastener is a lid overmolded magnet; and
the bin magnetic holder and the bin fastener is a bin overmolded magnet.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The magnetic latch of claim 4 further comprising:
spears formed on a side of the lid overmolded magnet opposite the lid magnet to attach to a corresponding hole on the lid; and
spears formed on a side of the bin overmolded magnet opposite the bin magnet to attach to a corresponding hole on the bin.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The magnetic latch of claim 4 wherein:
the overmold comprises of at least one of: Polypropylene, glass fill, acetal, plastic, vinyl, rubber, plastisol, plastic, acetal, polyacetal, polyoxymethylene, nylon, fiberglass and carbon fiber and Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and
the metal comprises at least one of: steel, a steel alloy, iron, and a magnetic material.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

A magnetic latch of claim 3 wherein:
the lid magnetic holder further comprises:
a lid carrier comprising:
a lid prong extending from the lid carrier, the lid prong comprising a side wing to spring outwardly into a lid slot;
and the lid carrier and the lid magnet are overmolded;
the bin magnetic holder further comprises:
a bin carrier comprising:
a bin prong extending from the bin carrier, the bin prong comprising a side wing to spring outwardly into a bin slot; and the bin carrier and the bin magnet are overmolded.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

A magnetic latch of claim 3 wherein:
the lid magnetic holder further comprises a lid carrier having a lid rib, and the lid carrier and the lid magnet are overmolded;
the bin magnetic holder further comprises a bin carrier having a bin rib, and the bin carrier and the bin magnet are overmolded;
the lid fastener is a lid clip and the bin fastener is a bin clip;
the lid clip is inserted and attached to the lid rib; and
the bin clip is inserted and attached to the bin rib.

### Claim 9 (depends on 3)

The magnetic latch of claim 3 wherein the magnetic poles on the lid magnet are aligned with the magnetic poles on the bin magnet.

### Claim 10 (depends on 3)

The magnetic latch of claim 3, wherein the magnetic poles on the lid magnet are aligned North to South and the magnetic poles on the bin magnet are aligned South to North.

### Claim 11 (depends on 3)

The magnetic latch of claim 3 wherein the lid magnet is attached to the lid magnetic holder, and the bin magnet is attached to the bin magnetic holder via at least one of: glue, heat welding, ultrasonic welding, over-molding, mechanically fastened, metal clip, plastic clip, press fit and spears pressed into corresponding holes on the bin and lid.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The magnetic latch of claim 1 wherein the vibration dampening material is rubber.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The magnetic latch of claim 1 wherein the container is at least one of: center console, glove box, ash tray, trunk, optical glasses storage, fuse box, sun roof shade or cover.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The magnetic latch of claim 1 wherein the lid latch and bin latch maintains a substantially zero gap between the lid and the bin.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The magnetic latch of claim 1 wherein the lid latch and bin latch, or wear material is in contact when closed.

### Claim 16

A magnetic latch for a lid and bin in a vehicle comprising:
at least one lid overmolded magnet connected to the lid;
at least one bin overmolded magnet connected to the bin having a magnetic attraction with the lid overmolded magnet; and
wherein the overmolded magnet comprise vibration dampening material to magnetically open and close the lid and the bin of the container.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The magnetic latch of claim 16 wherein at least one of: a layer of lid and rib overmolded material, or a wear material, reduces in thickness over a prescribed period of time to maintain a substantial magnetic force corresponding with magnet aging.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The magnetic latch of claim 16 wherein:
the at least one lid overmolded magnet comprises:
a lid carrier;
a lid fastener attached to the lid carrier, the lid fastener for attachment to a lid slot;
a lid magnet overmolded to the carrier;
the at least one bin overmolded magnet comprises:
a bin carrier;
a bin fastener attached to the bin carrier, the bin fastener for attachment to a bin slot; and
a bin magnet overmolded to the carrier.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The magnetic latch of claim 18 wherein the lid fastener is a metal clip attached to a rib on a side of the lid carrier opposite the lid magnet, and the bin fastener is a metal clip attached to a rib on a side of the bin carrier opposite the bin magnet.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The magnetic latch of claim 18 wherein:
the lid fastener is a plastic prong extending from the lid carrier on a side opposite the lid magnet,
the plastic lid prong comprising a side wing to spring outwardly into a lid slot;
the lid carrier and the lid magnet are overmolded;
the bin fastener is a plastic prong extending from the bin carrier on a side opposite the lid magnet,
the plastic bin prong comprising a side wing to spring outwardly into a bin slot;
the bin carrier and the bin magnet are overmolded.

### Claim 21

A magnetic latch and storage assembly for a vehicle comprising:
a bin having a storage cavity configured to attach to a vehicle chassis;
a lid hinged to the bin and configured to open and close;
a magnetic latch attached to the lid and configured to open and close comprising:
at least one lid overmolded magnet connected to the lid;
at least one bin overmolded magnet connected to the bin having a magnetic attraction with the lid overmolded magnet; and
wherein the overmolded magnet comprise vibration dampening material to magnetically open and close the lid and the bin of the container.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The magnetic latch assembly of claim 21 wherein:
the at least one lid overmolded magnet comprises:
a lid carrier;
a lid fastener attached to the lid carrier, the lid fastener for attachment to a lid slot;
a lid magnet overmolded to the carrier;
the at least one bin overmolded magnet comprises:
a bin carrier;
a bin fastener attached to the bin carrier, the bin fastener for attachment to a bin slot; and
a bin magnet overmolded to the carrier.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

A magnetic latch assembly of claim 21 wherein:
the lid fastener is a plastic prong extending from the lid carrier on a side opposite the lid magnet, the plastic lid prong comprising a side wing to spring outwardly into a lid slot;
the lid carrier and the lid magnet are overmolded;
the bin fastener is a plastic prong extending from the bin carrier on a side opposite the lid magnet, the plastic bin prong comprising a side wing to spring outwardly into a bin slot;
the bin carrier and the bin magnet are overmolded