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US 8,525,471 B2Granted
Moveable magnet and panel assembly useful in a vehicle
AssigneeToyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
InventorsRoy Thorsell, Thomas A. Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A magnet and panel assembly including at least a first panel having a first surface and a second wherein the panel has a configuration such that a magnetic field can extend past the first surface; a first magnetic source located on or near the second surface of the first panel; one or more magnetic source securing features adapted to hold the magnetic source on or near the second surface of the first panel wherein the source securing features are adapted to allow the first magnetic source to articulate in the x and y directions along a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the first panel.
Claims20
A magnet and panel assembly comprising:
- a) at least a first panel having a first surface and a second surface wherein the first panel has a configuration such that a magnetic field can extend past the first surface;
- b) a first magnetic source located on or near the second surface of the first panel;
- c) one or more magnetic source securing features adapted to hold the first magnetic source on or near the second surface of the first panel wherein the one or more magnetic source securing features are adapted to allow the first magnetic source to articulate in an x and y directions along a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the first panel,
- wherein the first panel is part of an instrument panel, a console, sun visor, a headliner, compartment molded into a headliner, a glove box door, a door assembly, or a seat of a vehicle.
1 more element
A method of securing an object within a vehicle comprising:
- a) providing the object having a magnet or a part comprised of a ferrous containing metal;
- b) contacting the object with a first panel of an assembly having
- i) at least the first panel having a first surface and a second surface wherein the panel has a configuration such that a magnetic field can extend past the first surface;
- ii) a first magnetic source located on or near the second surface of the first panel;
- iii) one or more magnetic source securing features adapted to hold the magnetic source on or near the second surface of the first panel wherein the one or more magnetic source securing features are adapted to allow the first magnetic source to articulate in an x and y directions along a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the first panel,
- wherein the first panel is part of an instrument panel, a console, sun visor, a headliner, compartment molded into a headliner, a glove box door, a door assembly, a seat of the vehicle,
- in the vicinity of the magnetic field of one or more magnets;
- and
- c) allowing the object to be held in place by the one or more magnets.
6 more elements
A magnet and panel assembly comprising:
- a) at least a first panel having a first surface and a second surface wherein the first panel has a configuration such that a magnetic field can extend past the first surface;
- b) a first magnetic source located on or near the second surface of the first panel;
- c) one or more magnetic source securing features adapted to hold the first magnetic source on or near the second surface of the first panel wherein the one or more magnetic source securing features are adapted to allow the first magnetic source to articulate in an x and y directions along a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the first panel;
- wherein the magnetic source has sufficient strength and the assembly is arranged to allow an object having a magnet or a part comprised of ferrous containing metal to be held in place on the first surface of the first panel;
- wherein the object is an electronic device, a note pad, a clip board, a picture holder, a compact disk holder, or a waste receptacle.
2 more elements
A method of securing an object within a vehicle comprising:
- a) providing the object having a magnet or a part comprised of a ferrous containing metal;
- b) contacting the object with a first panel of an assembly having
- i) at least the first panel having a first surface and a second surface wherein the first panel has a configuration such that a magnetic field can extend past the first surface;
- ii) a first magnetic source located on or near the second surface of the first panel;
- iii) one or more magnetic source securing features adapted to hold the magnetic source on or near the second surface of the first panel wherein the one or more magnetic source securing features are adapted to allow the first magnetic source to articulate in an x and y directions along a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the first panel,
- in the vicinity of the magnetic field of one or more magnets;
- and
- c) allowing the object to be held in place by the one or more magnets, wherein the one or more magnets have sufficient strength and the assembly is arranged to allow the object having the magnet or the part comprised of ferrous containing metal to be held in place on the first surface of the first panel, wherein the object is an electronic device, a note pad, a clip board, a picture holder, a compact disk holder, or a waste receptacle.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.