CN201094867Y - Magnetic connector device - Google Patents

Abstract

A magnetic connector device provides a plurality of magnetic connector bodies in a plurality of different forms for magnetically connecting two or more bodies together along mutually facing, longitudinally elongated, linear peripheral edges, each linear peripheral edge having at least one specifically configured, longitudinally elongated, cylindrical magnet supported adjacent thereto, for rotating the magnet adjacent the peripheral edge of each connector body so as to orient the magnet poles of the two facing connector bodies so as to magnetically attract each other along the mutually facing, linear peripheral edges of the magnetic connector bodies.

Description

Magnetic connector device

technical field

The utility model relates to a layout of magnetic connectors, in particular to a layout of magnetic connectors utilizing magnets rotatably held in magnet housing pockets of a plurality of connector bodies for mutual magnetic attraction, when the connectors move toward each other and When forming a magnetically attractive connection with each other, each respective magnet is rotatable within its pocket, as required by proper orientation and alignment of the respective opposite poles of the respective magnets.

Background technique

Such magnetic connector arrangements have been provided heretofore, for example by Ogikubo US Patent No. 5347253, Shiraishi US Patent No. 5746638 and my own previous US Patent No. 6749480 published on June 15, 2004. The layout and description of the structure represented. Each of these references presents a different configuration of magnetic connectors for joining together a plurality of block-type bodies into face-to-face abutment forming selected panel sidewalls of each body member.

In the first reference, Ogikubo provides a connector body arranged to contain a rotatable spherical magnet inside it so as to facilitate substantially universal rotation of the spherical magnet body on any diameter axis passing through the magnet, The orientation of the opposite north and south poles for the magnets is as desired for proper magnetic attraction of a corresponding magnet of a second body member. The second reference can be seen as the same as above, Shiraishi provides a plurality of complex magnetically attractive, block-like hollow bodies with an internal disk-shaped magnet structure associated with each side wall of the block body for A plurality of such block bodies are mutually attracted together into opposing, face-to-face adjacency forming selected side panels of the multi-sided magnetic tile. The last equivalent reference above, my earlier U.S. patent, also provides a more complex arrangement for rotatably supporting a magnetic body with opposite poles at its opposite longitudinal ends for use in In a slot layout in which the magnets are universally rotated, the magnet layout is positioned to be substantially centered on one or more side walls of the multi-sided block-shaped body, and is used to magnetically connect multiple block-shaped bodies together to become face-to-face .

In each of these magnetically attractable block-type body layouts, the magnetic connector structure requires a configuration in which the polar orientation rotation of the magnets requires a size equal to or greater than that required for securing together in a magnetic connection. Dimension provided by mutual magnetic attraction between face-to-face oriented poles of separate magnetic bodies.

As given, although these various connector magnet configurations may well be adapted to be associated with the panels forming the multi-sided mass type magnet connector body so as to magnetically bond together into mutually aligned, sidewall The face-to-face position of the side walls, but they do not provide a magnetic connector body or connector magnet structure that can magnetically connect multiple magnetic connector bodies into a The side-to-side state of the facing, rectilinear perimeters of the connector bodies.

Contents of the invention

The basic concept of the present invention is to provide a plurality of magnetic connector bodies for magnetic coupling together on their mutually facing, rectilinear peripheral edge surfaces, each connector body having at least one outer, longitudinally extending, facing rectilinear peripheral edge surfaces having at least one magnet pocket disposed adjacent thereto to rotatably support a longitudinally elongated cylindrical magnet having its opposite poles, the opposite The poles occupy opposite half cylinders through which the magnets pass the length, and the magnet pockets are disposed adjacent the rectilinear peripheral edge surfaces so as to align the plurality of connector bodies on mutually facing, rectilinear peripheral edge surfaces adjacent to the connector bodies Connect together magnetically.

The principal purpose of the present invention is achieved thanks to the foregoing basic concept; namely, to provide a magnetic connector arrangement which provides a rectilinear peripheral edge along which a plurality of magnetic connector bodies face each other. The edge surfaces are joined together thereby overcoming the limitations and disadvantages of existing magnetic connector arrangements which only join multi-sided, block-type joint bodies together into a plane in which the joint bodies are aligned The state where the side walls face each other.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a magnetic connector arrangement comprising: at least two magnetic connector bodies, each arranged for magnetic connection to each other along rectilinear peripheral edges of said connector bodies facing each other, each said magnetic connector bodies comprising at least one outer, facing, longitudinally extending rectilinear peripheral edge; each said connector body having at least one magnet pocket positioned adjacent said magnetic connector body Each of said at least one outer, facing, longitudinally extending rectilinear peripheral edge; and a longitudinally extending cylindrical magnet located in each of said at least one magnet pockets of each said body member, each of said Said magnets are arranged such that their two opposite poles respectively occupy two opposite half cylinders of said cylindrical magnet over the entire longitudinal length of said cylindrical magnet, each magnet being supported in a magnet pocket for winding Rotated by a longitudinally extending axis of the diametrical centerline of the longitudinal length of the magnet, the longitudinally extending axis extends substantially parallel to the longitudinally extending rectilinear peripheral edge of the connector body.

Another object and advantage of the present invention is to provide a magnetic connector arrangement of the kind described which provides a connector magnet arrangement which provides a longitudinal direction of the attractive surface between facing magnets. The elongated linear dimension, while requiring a smaller cross-sectional diameter dimension, is used for relative rotation of the respective magnets in order to align the poles of the magnets for mutual magnetic attraction to each other accordingly.

Another object and advantage of the present invention is to provide a magnetic connector device of the kind described wherein the magnetic connector body can be provided in many different shapes and forms including but not limited to block type bodies, rings A type body and a flat type body, which are arranged for magnetic connection to each other along their respective facing linear peripheral edges.

Another object and advantage of the present invention is to provide a magnetic connector device of the kind described which provides a magnetic connector body which is particularly suitable for use in magnetic puzzles and games, toy buildings and construction structures , and art sculpting and design tools, among many other uses.

Another object and advantage of the present invention is to provide a magnetic connector device of the described kind which utilizes a very simplified connector magnet structure for ease of economical manufacture and reliability and durability in use sex.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description, together with the accompanying drawings of various preferred embodiments.

Description of drawings

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view of a first basic embodiment of the magnetic connector device of the present invention, which in use secures opposite leading edges of an adjacent pair of fabrics arranged so that when in a complete Magnetically secures when pulled in closed state.

Fig. 2 is a slightly enlarged side view of the area enclosed by the dotted line in Fig. 1 which is equivalent to that in Fig. 2 .

3 is a perspective view of a separate connector body of the connector device of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

4 is a cross-sectional view through the connector body of FIG. 3 taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3 .

Figures 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views similar to Figure 4 but showing a different, alternative inner magnet pocket configuration configured to support cylindrical magnets for free movement within a straight-legged magnet pocket of a connector body. turn.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are cross-sectional views generally similar to Figure 4, but showing a different, alternative outer configuration of the straight legs of the connector body.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the magnet connector assembly of the present invention, providing the connector body formed as a ring with three peripheral, magnet-containing straight legs, These straight legs are joined together at an angle in an end-to-end connection and form a peripheral straight edge of the connector body.

Figure 11 is a top plan view of another embodiment of a connector body in the form of a ring having four peripheral magnet-containing straight legs forming peripheral straight faces of the connector body the edge of.

Figure 12 is a top plan view of another embodiment of a connector body in the form of a ring having eight peripheral magnet-containing straight legs forming peripheral straight faces of the connector body the edge of.

13 is a top plan view of a plurality of the connector bodies of FIG. 10 magnetically secured together in a flat, side-to-side configuration along mutually facing peripheral straight legs of the connector bodies.

Figure 14 is a top plan view of a shortened section of a connector body having four peripheral straight legs, and showing that the straight legs can each contain more than one magnet receiving pocket along the elongated straight legs Separately spaced longitudinally.

Figure 15 is a partial top plan view of another embodiment of a connector body layout.

16 is a side view of a plurality of connector bodies 10b of FIG. 11 magnetically coupled together to form a three-dimensional tapered assembly of rings.

Fig. 17 is a top plan view of another embodiment of a connector body of the present invention provided in the form of a plate member having four magnet receiving pockets disposed adjacent the peripheral linear edge of the plate body.

Figure 18 is a partial side view of a constriction of a plurality of the panels of Figure 17 joined together in an edge-to-edge arrangement as shown.

Detailed ways

A magnetic connector device embodying the features of the present invention is shown here in a number of different illustrative embodiments, each of which utilizes specific, substantially substantial structural elements of the present invention, which will be described in Details below. 1-3 show a first embodiment of the magnetic connector device of the present invention, which connector device includes at least two magnetic connector bodies 10 (a pair is shown here), so as to be adjacent to each other, The facing straight peripheral edges are magnetically attracted to each other. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing in detail a single connector body of the first embodiment, while Figures 1 and 2 are schematic representations of a pair of connector body members 10 forming a connector device in a working environment, wherein , the two magnetic connector bodies are secured to a pair of fabric faces P, P' adjacent their free ends, whereby when the fabric is closed, the facing ends of the fabric faces are relatively pulled together.

As will become apparent from the following detailed description and various illustrations of the preferred embodiment, the magnetic connector apparatus of the present invention provides magnetic connector bodies 10, 10a-f, although they may take widely varying forms and layouts are provided, but each is provided with at least one longitudinally extending, peripheral magnet-containing, rectilinear peripheral facing edge of at least one connector body so as to be face-to-face with a corresponding rectilinear peripheral edge of another connector body, thereby It is convenient for a plurality of connector bodies to be mutually magnetically attracted and connected together along the mutually facing, straight peripheral edges of the respective connector bodies.

In this regard, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each connector body 10 of this first embodiment provides a single longitudinally elongated straight leg 12, shown here as a longitudinally elongated straight leg 12. It is in the form of an elongated tubular member having a substantially hollow portion centered at the two longitudinal ends of the leg members. The hollow portion is configured as a longitudinally elongated magnet receiving pocket 14 configured to receive and hold a specially configured, longitudinally elongated, cylindrical magnet 16 for winding therein through the length of the cylindrical magnet. The longitudinally extending axis of the diametrical centerline rotates. As shown in each of the accompanying drawings herein, the central axis of rotation is aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal extension of the longitudinally elongated straight leg 12, and immediately adjacent to the straight peripheral edge of the leg, so as to provide a longitudinal extension of the connector body. Slender, straight peripheral edge, as shown. Also as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the magnet pocket 14 shown in this particular embodiment of the invention is arranged to occupy a substantial portion of the length of the straight leg 13 . However, as shown in other embodiments of the present invention, the magnet pockets may alternatively be configured to occupy a relatively small portion of the length of the associated leg and include the provision of a plurality of separate The longitudinally spaced magnet housing pockets 14 are discussed below.

As shown, the magnet pocket 14 is configured to receive a longitudinally elongated cylindrical magnet body 16 and hold it in such a manner that the magnet in the pocket can rotate substantially freely and unrestrainedly while also constraining the magnet's longitudinal orientation on the leg members 12. reign. In this regard, many other magnet pocket arrangements may be provided to support the cylindrical magnet 16 for free rotation, as shown in the various illustrative inner magnet pocket configurations 14, 14a-e shown in FIGS. 4-9. like that.

FIG. 4 shows that a magnet receiving pocket 14 may be formed with a substantially smooth cylindrical inner surface having a length and diameter slightly greater than the corresponding outer length and diameter of the magnet 16 contained therein for rotation. diameter. Figure 5 shows that a magnet receiving pocket 14a may include inwardly extending protrusions 18 configured to constrain the magnets rotating therebetween to provide a reduced contact area bearing surface. Figures 6-9 show that the inner surface configuration of a magnet receiving bag can alternatively be provided in other geometrical cross-sectional shapes, such as a square cross-section 14b, 14c (Figs. 6, 7), a triangular cross-section 14d (Fig. 8), and multiple walls Section 14e (FIG. 9) is thus arranged to provide rotatably constrained cylindrical magnet 16 by a plurality of planar confining walls as shown. Alternatively, any other pocket configuration that allows free, substantially unconstrained and restricted rotation of the magnet within the magnet pocket may be employed, as may be desired.

Figures 4-9 also show that the outer surface of the straight leg 12 of the connector body can also be configured to have virtually any desired outer cross-sectional configuration, as may be required or desired for a variety of connector bodies. In this regard, a longitudinally elongated straight leg 12 may have a uniform cylindrical peripheral surface 12a as shown in FIGS. 4-6, or the legs may have an outer surface formed by three or more peripheral rectilinear edges. configurations, such as shown by the square tube configuration 12b of FIG. 7 , the triangular tube configuration 12c of FIG. 8 , and the octagonal tube configuration 12d of FIG. 9 . As will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, regardless of the particular outer surface configuration of the longitudinally elongated rectilinear peripheral legs, each leg provides at least one longitudinally extending, outer rectilinear peripheral edge of the connector body to communicate with the A corresponding straight peripheral edge surface of a peripheral straight leg of the other magnetic connector body magnetically coupled together is disposed face-to-face.

Crucial to the present invention is the specific desired configuration of the specific magnet bodies 16 contained in the aforementioned magnet pockets 14 disposed adjacent to each peripheral line of each connector body 10 Face-to-face edges, which will now be explained. Here, and as briefly discussed previously, the magnet 16 is specifically provided in the form of a longitudinally elongated cylinder having a selected longitudinal length dimension that is larger than its selected uniform diameter dimension, The magnet body is arranged so as to provide rotatable accommodation in a specific, corresponding magnet pocket 14 in the straight leg 12 of the hitherto described connector body.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 4, the opposite north poles N and south poles S of the magnets are specified and arranged substantially to occupy the opposing half-cylinders of the cylindrical magnet body through its entire entire length, as defined by An imaginary plane 10 divides the magnet along a longitudinal centerline extending lengthwise, through the center diameter of the magnet body, and effectively divides the body into two opposite, substantially equal overall lengths, having opposite The semi-cylindrical poles, as clearly shown in the vertical and horizontal sections through the magnets shown in Figures 2 and 4, respectively.

Thus, as will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, as the straight legs 12 of the two magnetic connector bodies 10 move toward each other and come into face-to-face, proximate positioning as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the magnets 16 are free to rotate within their respective magnet pockets 14, thereby positioning the north and south poles of the magnets in relative positions of magnetic attraction to each other, as best shown in FIG. In this position, the full length of the facing rectilinear surface area of each magnet is utilized in the magnetic connection, while magnet rotation for polar alignment is about the diametrical axis of the magnets. This provides the maximum area of linear attraction surfaces between the magnets, while also allowing the leg and connector body to only require a minimum cross-sectional size for the magnet body to rotate within the magnet pocket of the leg in order to engage with another connector The magnet polarity of the body is aligned. It is this specific and unique magnet configuration and peripheral edge arrangement that allows multiple magnet bodies to be magnetically connected together along the facing straight peripheral edges of the connector bodies.

Figures 1 and 2 show an example of a first embodiment (Figure 3) of the connector device of the present invention attached in use to the edge portions of a pair of fabric panels P, P'. Here, a pair of magnetic connector bodies 10 each having a single straight leg 12 are positioned in a vertically extending state on a pair of fabric faces P, P' adjacent their leading end edges, the connector bodies being positioned as The fabric faces are arranged facing each other in their closed position shown. The connectors 10 can be attached to the fabric in any manner that may be desired, such as by confining them in pockets (not shown) in the fabric, thermally bonding the connector body to the fabric, or by any other Appropriate method of attachment. Likewise, the body may be formed with a protruding tab (not shown) or other structure for other fastening to the fabric, such as rivets or other fastening means, as will be appreciated.

It will be apparent that the magnets 16 of each connector body will move in their respective positions in the straight legs 12 as the fabric faces move from their open, separated positions to their closed, leading-edge abutting positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 . Rotation within the bag 14 is restricted as required to orient their respective north and south poles into a facing, mutually magnetically attractive position, with their respective opposite magnetic poles facing each other, as shown in FIG. 2 . This arrangement provides a magnetic connection of the leading edges of the fabric to ensure complete closure against passage of light between them and to allow their separation when the fabric is opened and pulling to open the fabric overcomes the magnetic attraction of the particular magnetic coupling arrangement. As will be apparent, in this embodiment the positioning and attachment of the respective magnetic connector bodies relative to the leading edge of the fabric can be selected as desired, for example the fabric is arranged to slightly overlap each other in the fully closed state. situation.

Additional illustrative embodiments of the present invention utilizing the novel magnetic connector arrangement are shown in Figures 10, 11, 12 and 14, wherein it can be seen that the connector body may also comprise more than one Examples 1-3 relate to separate straight peripheral legs. This is shown in a number of additional illustrative embodiments of different annular magnetic connector bodies 10a-10d.

Figure 10 shows a magnetic connector body 10a having three straight magnet receiving legs 12 fixed in an end-to-end state, and the longitudinal extension of each straight leg is arranged relative to the longitudinal extension of the leg connected to its end The lines extend at an angle and the three legs are joined together to form a substantially triangular ring-shaped connector body 10a formed by peripheral straight legs. Figures 11 and 12 show connector bodies 10b, 10c respectively having four and eight rectilinear peripheral legs 12 connected together in end-to-end angled extensions to form a ring-shaped connector body.

14 is a plan view of a shortened section of a four straight-legged annular connector body 10d showing that each rectilinear peripheral leg 12 of a connector body may incorporate more than one longitudinally spaced apart connector body if needed or desired. Magnet housing bag 14 and associated magnet 16 . Such an arrangement may be advantageous for a number of reasons, such as in the case of large-sized connector bodies, or to reduce the possibility of relative twisting or other relative movement of the connector bodies of the connections, or for multiple magnetic Other needs, purposes or benefits in joining side-to-side surfaces of connector bodies to one another.

Furthermore, although connector bodies 10a-10d are shown here as occupying only a single plane and forming a connector body in the form of a ring, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from FIG. Angularly in other planes or on axes intersecting the planes of other connecting legs, additionally extending in end-to-end connection, thereby forming a block-type connector body 10e, or the connector body occupying more than one single plane, arranged as For magnetic attachment along its straight peripheral edge, this is evident.

Figure 13 shows a plurality of ring-shaped connector bodies integrated, represented here by the example connector body 10a of Figure 10, in an illustrative example of a magnetic guessing game formed by the connector device of the present invention In a peripheral edge-to-edge connection state. FIG. 16 shows that the ring connector body represented by the body 10b of FIG. 11 can also be arranged in different, selectable peripheral edge-to-edge connection states in a guessing game layout.

As shown in Figures 10-12 and 14, in the illustrative embodiments of the multi-leg ring-type connector body formed by a plurality of end-contacting peripheral straight legs, the central region between the peripheral straight legs 12 is defined in these embodiments. The center is shown hollow and open to form a centrally open annular connector body. Although straight leg connector bodies of the present invention have been described heretofore and are shown here in various annular forms having peripheral straight legs forming an annular body with a hollow open interior therebetween Alternatively, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the interior space between the peripheral straight legs of the connector body may also be occupied by panels or other layouts that may be required of the connector body.

In this regard, FIGS. 17 and 18 show this arrangement in the form of another embodiment of a multi-leg connector body 10f, generally similar to the four-leg ring connector body 10b of FIG. Form a flat member, which in this example is formed with four magnet pockets containing magnets, which are disposed adjacent to the four outer, facing, longitudinally extending linear peripheral edges of the magnetic connector panel body, as as best shown in Figure 17. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the panel body can also be provided in a form other than four peripheral edges, as shown by the various plan views of FIGS. ontology. FIG. 18 shows an example of a plurality of magnetic connector panel bodies 10f configured for peripheral edge-to-edge magnetic connection along the facing peripheral linear edge surfaces of adjacent connector panel pieces. In this way, the magnetic connector panel body and the magnetic connector ring body and other forms of the magnetic connector body included in the present invention can be provided as a magnetic connector sheet as an example for magnetic puzzles and puzzles. Games and for toy construction and art sculpting tools etc. for creative play, educational and many other valuable uses, functions and purposes.

According to the foregoing parts, those skilled in the art can make many different changes in the size, shape, quantity and arrangement of the foregoing parts in addition to those previously described or mentioned without departing from the spirit of the present invention. This is evident from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims (6)

1. magnetic coupling device comprises: at least two magnetic coupling bodies and are arranged in the magnet of each described connector body, it is characterized in that,

A) each of described at least two magnetic coupling bodies all is arranged for the mutual aspectant straight peripheral edge magnetic connection each other along all described connector bodies, each described magnetic coupling body comprises straight peripheral edge at least one outside, aspectant, longitudinal extension

B) each described connector body all has at least one magnet bag, and this magnet bag is positioned to adjacent to straight peripheral edge each described at least one outside of described magnetic coupling body, aspectant, longitudinal extension, and

C) the described magnet that is arranged in each described connector body is the cylinder-shaped magnet of a longitudinal extension, it is arranged in each described at least one magnet bag of each described body member, each described magnet is arranged to make its two opposite magnetic pole to occupy two relative semicolumns of described cylinder-shaped magnet respectively on the entire longitudinal length of described cylinder-shaped magnet, each magnet all props up and is held in the magnet bag, be used for therein rotating around the longitudinal extending axis of the diameter center line of the described longitudinal length by described magnet, described longitudinal extending axis be basically parallel to described connector body described longitudinal extension the straight peripheral edge and extend.

2. magnetic coupling device as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, in described at least two connector bodies at least one comprises straight peripheral edge a plurality of described outsides, aspectant, longitudinal extension, and each straight peripheral edge all has at least one the magnet bag that is positioned to be adjacent.

3. magnetic coupling device as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, each described magnet connector body comprise at least one periphery, vertical straight leg elongated, that hold magnet, each leg provides the straight peripheral edge at least one described outside, aspectant, longitudinal extension of described magnetic coupling body.

4. magnetic coupling device as claimed in claim 3, it is characterized in that, in described at least two magnetic coupling bodies at least one comprise at least two described peripheries, vertical straight leg elongated, that hold magnet, these legs are permanently connected together at aspectant vertical end, the straight leg that is used for described connection is longitudinal extension relative to each other angledly, and each in the straight leg of described at least two angled connections all provides straight peripheral face-to-face, longitudinal extension a edge of described magnetic coupling body.

5. magnetic coupling device as claimed in claim 4, it is characterized in that, described at least one magnetic coupling body comprise at least three peripheries, vertical straight leg elongated, that hold magnet, they connect longitudinally, under the end-to-end state, the straight leg that is used for each connection is longitudinal extension relative to each other angledly, thereby form the magnetic coupling of leg more than an annular body, and each described straight line leg provides a straight line peripheral edge of described annular body.

6. magnetic coupling device as claimed in claim 1, it is characterized in that, in described at least two magnetic coupling bodies at least one comprises a dull and stereotyped connector body, and this flat board connector body has a plurality of described outsides, aspectant, longitudinal extension, straight peripheral edge.

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