Magnet positioning apparatus for positioning a magnet into a subsurface region

#The present invention generally relates to a magnet positioning apparatus and more particularly, to a magnet positioning apparatus for precisely positioning a magnet through a hole in a surface and into a subsurface region thereof so that a top surface of the magnet is at a predetermined angle to and a predetermined height from the surface adjacent to the hole in which the magnet is positioned.

#The positioning of a magnet or magnets through a hole in a surface and into a subsurface region can be a difficult and often time consuming task if it is necessary to position the magnet with some degree of accuracy. Conventionally, magnets have often been positioned into subsurface regions by hand since few devices have previously been known for use in accurately positioning a magnet or magnets through a hole into a subsurface region. In positioning of a magnet by hand, the precision and the accuracy of the position of the magnet cannot be ensured. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a magnet positioning apparatus which is simple in design and construction, yet which allows quick, easy and precise positioning a magnet or magnets through a hole in a surface and into a subsurface region thereof so that a top surface of the magnet is at a predetermined angle to and a predetermined distance from that portion of the surface which is adjacent to the hole in which the magnet is to be positioned.

#Accurate magnet positioning is of concern, for example, in the field of cabinets where the cabinet hardware is held to the outer surface of the cabinet via a magnet embedded beneath the outer surface of the cabinet.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the magnet positioning apparatus of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the main body portion of the first embodiment of the magnet positioning apparatus of FIG. 1 showing a variation in the number of adjustment members.

#FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a magnet holding member of the first embodiment of the magnet positioning apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

#The magnet positioning apparatus 1 of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing figures. FIGS. 1-12 illustrate first and second embodiments of a magnet positioning apparatus 1 and variations thereof for use in positioning a magnet (or magnets) through a hole in a road surface and into a subsurface region therebelow. FIG. 13 illustrates a magnet positioning apparatus 1' for use in positioning a magnet beneath the surface of a cabinet, for example, a door, drawer, etc., in order for the magnet to be used in securing the hardware to the cabinet and for keeping the cabinet in a closed state. FIG. 14 illustrates a magnet positioning apparatus 1" for positioning a magnet through a hole in a curved surface and into a subsurface region therebelow. Although only three specific uses for the magnet positioning apparatus of the present invention will be described herein, it is to be understood that many other uses of the magnet positioning apparatus of the present invention are possible and the invention is not limited to the uses described.

#Referring to FIG. 1, the magnet positioning apparatus 1 of the present invention is shown for use in precisely positioning a magnet M (or magnets M.sub.1 -M.sub.n) through a hole H (as seen in FIGS. 7-10) which has been drilled into a road surface RS so that the upper surface M.sub.us of the magnet M is at a predetermined angle .theta. (most likely parallel to the upper surface, but not always) and a predetermined distance d in relation to the portion of the road surface RS that is closely adjacent to the hole H into which the magnet M is positioned.

#The magnet positioning apparatus 1 includes a main body portion 2 made up of a hollow cylindrical member 3 and a plurality of arms A.sub.1 -A.sub.n. Although the first embodiment of the magnet positioning apparatus 1 of the present invention has a main body portion 2 which includes a hollow cylindrical member 3, it should be noted that the main body portion 2 may be of any shape and configuration necessary to perform the function of securing a magnet M thereto for positioning of the magnet M through the hole H and into a subsurface region below the road surface RS. Indeed, FIG. 11 shows a plate-shaped main body portion 2' and FIG. 14 shows a main body portion 2" having a lower curved surface which corresponds in shape to the curved surface of the substrate.