Magnetic lock and key assembly

A magnetic key assembly, comprising:

• a collet configured to connect to a magnetic lock assembly;
• a rod supported within the collet and being translatable in a longitudinal axial direction between an actuated position and a non-actuated position;
• a key magnet being translatable within the collet due to movement of the rod between the actuated position and the non-actuated position, the key magnet having a longitudinal axial end opposite the rod, and the longitudinal axial end being defined by a key magnet north pole and a key magnet south pole;
• wherein connecting the collet to the magnetic lock assembly and positioning the key magnet near a lock magnet of the magnetic lock assembly having an end defined by a lock magnet north pole and a lock magnet south pole automatically magnetically attractively aligns the key magnet and the lock magnet and attracts the lock magnet toward the key magnet to unlock the magnetic lock assembly.

A magnetic lock assembly, comprising:

• a lock body defining a chamber having a first end and an opposite second end;
• a plunger disposed within the chamber and being translatable in a longitudinal axial direction between a locked position and an unlocked position;
• a resilient member urging the plunger toward the locked position;
• a detent being extendable when the plunger is in the locked position and retractable when the plunger is in the unlocked position;
• a lock magnet being translatable with the plunger as the plunger moves between the locked position and the unlocked position, the lock magnet having a longitudinal axial end proximate the second end of the chamber, and the longitudinal axial end being defined by a lock magnet north pole and a lock magnet south pole;
• wherein positioning a key magnet having an end defined by a key magnet north pole and a key magnet south pole proximate the second end of the chamber automatically magnetically attractively aligns the key magnet and the lock magnet about the longitudinal axial direction, attracts the lock magnet toward the key magnet, and moves the plunger to the unlocked position such that the detent may retract;
• wherein the lock magnet further includes an outer circumferential surface adjacent the longitudinal axial end;
• and
• wherein the lock magnet has an annular shape including the outer circumferential surface and the longitudinal axial end.

A magnetic lock assembly, comprising:

• a lock body defining a chamber having a first end and an opposite second end;
• a plunger disposed within the chamber and being translatable in a longitudinal axial direction between a locked position and an unlocked position;
• a resilient member urging the plunger toward the locked position;
• a detent being extendable when the plunger is in the locked position and retractable when the plunger is in the unlocked position;
• a lock magnet being translatable with the plunger as the plunger moves between the locked position and the unlocked position, the lock magnet having a longitudinal axial end proximate the second end of the chamber, and the longitudinal axial end being defined by a lock magnet north pole and a lock magnet south pole;
• wherein positioning a key magnet having an end defined by a key magnet north pole and a key magnet south pole proximate the second end of the chamber automatically magnetically attractively aligns the key magnet and the lock magnet about the longitudinal axial direction, attracts the lock magnet toward the key magnet, and moves the plunger to the unlocked position such that the detent may retract;
• and
• wherein the lock magnet has an annular shape defined by a first semi-annular lock magnet section connected to a second semi-annular lock magnet section, the first semi-annular lock magnet section including the lock magnet north pole and the second semi-annular lock magnet section including the lock magnet south pole.