# US 8,540,292 B2 · Reversible magnetic door stop/latch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,292 B2 - Document ID: US8540292B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/647,941 - Filed: 2009-12-28 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2002-12-03 - Applicants: Edward B. Ferguson - Inventors: Edward B. Ferguson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540292B2 ## CPC - E05F 5/06: Buffers {or stops limiting opening of swinging wings, e.g. floor or wall stops}(E05F5/02 takes precedence) - E05C 17/56: by magnetic or electromagnetic attraction {or operated by electric or electromagnetic means (for closed wings E05C19/16)}; (operation of locks or fasteners by electric or magnetic means E05B47/00) - E05C 19/16: Devices holding the wing by magnetic or electromagnetic attraction {(E05C17/56 takes precedence)} - E05B 63/0065: {Operating modes; Transformable to different operating modes} - Y10T 24/32: having magnetic fastener - Y10T 292/11: Magnetic - E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING - 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) - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A magnetic door stop/latch contains a first magnet mounted on or within a door and a second magnet mounted on or within a structure opposing the door, such as a wall, door jamb, door frame or baseboard. When the door is moving towards the opposing structure, the magnetic door stop may used to prevent the door from slamming into the opposing structure by virtue of the repulsive forces of the magnets. The magnetic door stop may be switched from repulsive configuration to an attractive configuration that holds the door in position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A magnetic latch for releasably securing a pair of relatively movable components one to the other, and operable between a secured condition and a released condition, comprising: a first magnet housed in a rotatable mounting, the first magnet having a longitudinal axis extending between a first end having a first polarity and a second end located opposite the first end and having a second polarity, a second magnet housed in a second mounting, the second magnet having a second longitudinal axis extending between a first end having a first polarity and a second end located opposite the first end and having a second polarity, the longitudinal axis of the second magnet being co-axial with the longitudinal axis of the first magnet, such that the first end of the first magnet having a first polarity is in a facing relationship with the end of the second magnet having a polarity attractive to the first polarity of the first end of the first magnet to secure the pair of relatively movable components in the secured position, wherein to release the pair of relatively movable components one from the other, the first end of the first magnet housed in the rotatable mounting is rotated about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first magnet to bring the first end of the first magnet out of attractive condition with the end of the second magnet; and wherein, in operation, the second magnet does not move within the second mounting in which it is housed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The magnetic latch of claim 1 further comprising a knob assembly attached to the rotatable mounting in which the first magnet is housed. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The magnetic latch of claim 2, wherein the knob assembly is attached to the rotatable mounting by a post. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The magnetic latch of claim 3, wherein the post is positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first magnet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The magnetic latch of claim 4, wherein the post is co-axial with the axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first magnet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The magnetic latch of claim 2, wherein the knob assembly comprises a bushing. ### Claim 7 A magnetic latch for releasably securing a pair of relatively movable components one to the other, and operable between a secured condition and a released condition, comprising: a first magnet housed in a rotatable mounting, the first magnet having a first pole with a first polarity and a second pole located opposite the first pole and having a second polarity opposite the first polarity; a second magnet housed in a second mounting, tie second magnet having a first pole with a first polarity and a second pole located opposite the first pole and having a second polarity opposite the first polarity; wherein when the pair of relatively movable components are in the secured condition, the first and second poles of the first magnet and the first and second poles of the second magnet are all aligned in a common axis, and when the pair of relatively movable components are in the released condition, the first and second poles of the first magnet are rotated about an axis perpendicular to the common axis out of alignment with the first and second poles of the second magnet; and wherein, in operations the second magnet does rot move within the second mounting, in which it is housed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The magnetic latch of claim 7 further comprising a knob assembly having a bushing attached to the rotatable mounting in which the first magnet is housed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The magnetic latch of claim 8, wherein the knob assembly is attached to the rotatable mounting by a post. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The magnetic latch of claim 9, wherein the knob assembly is mounted perpendicular to the common axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The magnetic latch of claim 8, wherein the knob assembly comprises a bushing. ### Claim 12 A magnetic latch for a pair of relatively movable components one to the other, comprising: a first magnet housed in a rotatable mounting, the first magnet having a first pole with a first polarity and a second pole located opposite the first pole and having a second polarity opposite the first polarity, and a second magnet housed in a non-rotatable mounting, the second magnet having a first pole with a first polarity and a second pole located opposite the first pole and having a second polarity opposite the first polarity, the first rotatable mounting and the non-rotatable mounting positioned within a common plane, such that the first and second poles of the first magnet housed within the rotatable mounting are rotatable within the common plane in which the rotatable mounting and non-rotatable mounting are positioned; wherein, in operation, the second magnet does not move within the non-rotatable mounting in which it is housed. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The magnetic latch of claim 12 further comprising a knob assembly attached to the rotatable mounting in which the first magnet is housed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The magnetic latch of claim 13, wherein the knob assembly is attached to the rotatable mounting by a post. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The magnetic latch of claim 12, wherein the knob assembly comprises a bushing.