Semi-releasable magnetic tool

A semi-releasable magnetic angle gauge comprising:

• first and second plates, said plates being magnetizable, said plates being disposed in generally spaced apart, registered, parallel relationship to one another, and each said plate having peripheral edges, substantially all of the edges in said first plate being in substantial registry with the corresponding edges in said second plate, at least two of said edges in said first plate extending at about right angles to one another, and at least two of said edges in said first plate extending at an acute angle to one another;
• a magnet, said magnet being mounted between said plates, said magnet being moveable between a strongly engaged position where said plates are strongly magnetized and a weakly engaged position where said plates are weakly magnetized;
• and
• an actuator, said actuator being operatively associated with said magnet and accessible through at least one of said plates, said actuator being adapted to move said magnet between said strongly and weakly engaged positions.

A semi-releasable magnetic tool comprising:

• first and second plates, said plates being magnetizable, said plates being disposed in generally spaced apart, registered, parallel relationship to one another, and each said plate having peripheral edges, at least two of the peripheral edges of said first plate extending generally parallel to the corresponding edges of said second plate;
• a generally non-magnetizable spacer member positioned between said plates;
• a permanent magnet having a width, a length and a thickness, said permanent magnet being rotatably disposed between said plates, said permanent magnet being rotatably moveable between an strongly engaged position where said plates are strongly magnetized and a weakly engaged position where said plates are weakly magnetized, said permanent magnet having a longitudinal axis, said longitudinal axis extending generally parallel to said plates and along said length, said permanent magnet being mounted for rotation approximately about said longitudinal axis, said width being at least approximately twice said thickness;
• said permanent magnet including longitudinally extending margins, said longitudinally extending margins being spaced apart by about said width, extending generally parallel to said longitudinal axis, and spaced from said plates by a distance, whereby said rotation of said permanent magnet changes said distance between said longitudinally extending margins and said plates between a maximum distance and a minimum distance, said parallel plates being partially magnetized at said maximum distance and fully magnetized at said minimum distance, said maximum distance being at least about twice said minimum distance;
• and
• an actuator, said actuator being operatively associated with said permanent magnet and adapted to move said permanent magnet between said strongly and weakly engaged positions.

A method of attaching a semi-releasable magnetic tool to a magnetizable workpiece wherein said semi-releasable magnetic tool includes first and second pole plates, said pole plates being magnetizable, each of said pole plates being bounded by peripheral edges and having generally the same planform, said pole plates being spaced apart and disposed in substantial registry with one another;

• a generally non-magnetizable spacer member positioned between said pole plates and spaced inwardly from said peripheral edges;
• a magnetic switch mounted between said pole plates, said switch being switchably associated with a magnetic element, said magnetic element being adapted to magnetizing said pole plates, said magnetic element being switchably moveable toward and away from said pole plates, said magnetic element having a width, a length and a thickness, said magnet being rotatably disposed between said plates, said magnet having a longitudinal axis, said longitudinal axis extending generally parallel to said magnetizable plates and along said length, said magnet being mounted for rotation approximately about said longitudinal axis, said width being at least approximately twice said thickness, said magnetic element being mounted within said generally non-magnetizable spacer, said generally non-magnetizable spacer member having a thickness that is at least approximately as great as said width, said method of attaching comprising:
• switchably moving said magnetic element away from said pole plates;
• placing said peripheral edges at a desired location on said magnetizable workpiece;
• and
• switchably moving said magnetic element toward said pole plates.

A semi-releasable magnetic tool comprising:

• first and second plates, said plates being magnetizable, said plates being disposed in generally spaced apart, registered, parallel relationship to one another, and each said plate having peripheral edges, at least two of the peripheral edges of said first plate extending generally parallel to the corresponding edges of said second plate;
• a generally non-magnetizable spacer member positioned between said plates;
• a permanent magnet having a width, a length and a thickness, said permanent magnet being rotatably disposed between said plates, said permanent magnet being rotatably moveable between an strongly engaged position where said plates are strongly magnetized and a weakly engaged position where said plates are weakly magnetized, said permanent magnet having a longitudinal axis, said longitudinal axis extending generally parallel to said plates and along said length, said permanent magnet being mounted for rotation approximately about said longitudinal axis, said width being at least approximately twice said thickness;
• said permanent magnet including longitudinally extending margins, said longitudinally extending margins being spaced apart by about said width, extending generally parallel to said longitudinal axis, and spaced from said plates by a distance, whereby said rotation of said permanent magnet changes said distance between said longitudinally extending margins and said plates between a maximum distance and a minimum distance, said parallel plates being partially magnetized at said maximum distance and fully magnetized at said minimum distance, said maximum and minimum distances being about the same for each of said longitudinal margins;
• and
• an actuator, said actuator being operatively associated with said permanent magnet and adapted to move said permanent magnet between said strongly and weakly engaged positions.

A semi-releasable magnetic tool comprising:

• first and second plates, said plates being magnetizable, said plates being disposed in generally spaced apart, registered, parallel relationship to one another, and each said plate having peripheral edges, at least two of the peripheral edges of said first plate extending generally parallel to the corresponding edges of said second plate;
• a generally non-magnetizable spacer member positioned between said plates;
• a permanent magnet having a width, a length and a thickness, said permanent magnet being rotatably disposed between said plates, said permanent magnet being rotatably moveable between an strongly engaged position where said plates are strongly magnetized and a weakly engaged position where said plates are weakly magnetized, said permanent magnet having a longitudinal axis, said longitudinal axis extending generally parallel to said plates and along said length, said permanent magnet being mounted for rotation approximately about said longitudinal axis, said width being at least approximately twice said thickness;
• said permanent magnet including two longitudinally extending margins, said longitudinally extending margins being spaced apart by about said width, extending generally parallel to said longitudinal axis, and spaced from said plates by a distance, whereby said rotation of said permanent magnet changes said distance between said longitudinally extending margins and said plates between a maximum distance and a minimum distance, said parallel plates being partially magnetized at said maximum distance and fully magnetized at said minimum distance;
• and
• an actuator, said actuator being operatively associated with said permanent magnet and adapted to move said permanent magnet between said strongly and weakly engaged positions.

A semi-releasable magnetic tool comprising:

• first and second plates, said plates being magnetizable, said plates being disposed in generally spaced apart, registered, parallel relationship to one another, and each said plate having peripheral edges, at least two of the peripheral edges of said first plate extending generally parallel to the corresponding edges of said second plate, each of said plates having a maximum span between said peripheral edges;
• a generally non-magnetizable spacer member positioned between said plates;
• a permanent magnet having a width, a length and a thickness, said permanent magnet being rotatably disposed between said plates, said permanent magnet being rotatably moveable between an strongly engaged position where said plates are strongly magnetized and a weakly engaged position where said plates are weakly magnetized, said permanent magnet having a longitudinal axis, said longitudinal axis extending generally parallel to said plates and along said length, said longitudinal axis being aligned generally with said maximum span, said permanent magnet being mounted for rotation approximately about said longitudinal axis, said width being at least approximately twice said thickness;
• said permanent magnet including longitudinally extending margins, said longitudinally extending margins being spaced apart by about said width, extending generally parallel to said longitudinal axis, and spaced from said plates by a distance, whereby said rotation of said permanent magnet changes said distance between said longitudinally extending margins and said plates between a maximum distance and a minimum distance, said parallel plates being partially magnetized at said maximum distance and fully magnetized at said minimum distance;
• and
• an actuator, said actuator being operatively associated with said permanent magnet and adapted to move said permanent magnet between said strongly and weakly engaged positions.