Granted Patent B2

US 8,525,626 · App. 12/363,006 · Granted Sep 3, 2013

Abstract

Claims (49)

1. A magnetic coupling member comprising:

a housing; and

a first arrangement of a plurality of magnets housed within the housing; and

wherein the first arrangement magnets are selectively arranged and disposed to provide alignment and detachable engagement with a corresponding arrangement of a second plurality of magnets;

wherein at least two of the first plurality of magnets are arranged in a position to receive repulsive forces from at most three of the corresponding arrangement of the second plurality of magnets and to receive attractive forces from at most one of the corresponding arrangement of the second plurality of magnets during engagement; wherein the arrangement of the magnets permits the magnetic coupling member to attach to a corresponding structure in one specific position;

wherein the first plurality of magnets and the second plurality of magnets are separated by the housing and are not in direct physical contact during the engagement; and

wherein the magnetic coupling member is rigid and attached to an architectural support structure.

2. The magnetic coupling member in claim 1 , further comprising an interlocking feature or an interlocking opening configured to engage a corresponding structure; wherein the interlocking feature is configured to engage a corresponding interlocking recess thereby permitting the interlocking magnetic coupling member and the corresponding structure to be physically mated.

3. The magnetic coupling member in claim 1 , wherein the second arrangement of magnets comprises a second magnetic coupling member.

4. The magnetic coupling member in claim 1 , wherein the second arrangement of magnets includes a magnetically attracted material.

5. The magnetic coupling member in claim 1 , wherein the magnetic coupling member consists of at least one selected from the group consisting of a fastener opening, a fastener access opening, through-openings, and a support opening.

6. The magnetic coupling member in claim 1 , wherein the magnetic coupling member comprises a through-opening configured to permit a wire to be inserted through the through-opening thereby providing a source of electricity to a corresponding structure.

7. The magnetic coupling member in claim 1 , wherein the housing is machined or cast and comprised of polymeric material.

8. The magnetic coupling member in claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a connecting surface and an opposing surface; and

wherein the first arrangement magnets are selectively arranged and disposed between the connecting surface and the opposing surface of the housing to provide alignment and detachable engagement on the connecting surface with a corresponding arrangement of a second plurality of magnets selectively arranged and disposed between a second connecting surface and an opposing second surface of a second housing.

9. The magnetic coupling member in claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a plurality of recesses configured to house the plurality of magnets.

10. A magnetic coupling member comprising:

a housing; and

a first arrangement of a plurality of magnets housed within the housing; and

wherein the first arrangement magnets are selectively arranged and disposed to provide alignment and detachable engagement with a corresponding arrangement of a second plurality of magnets;

wherein the first arrangement of magnets consists of two parallel sets of magnets, wherein a first set is in north-south-north orientation and a second set is in south-north-south orientation;

wherein the first plurality of magnets and the second plurality of magnets are separated by the housing and are not in direct physical contact during the engagement; and

wherein the magnetic coupling member is rigid and attached to an architectural support structure.

11. A method of assembling structures comprising:

providing a magnetic coupling member; wherein the magnetic coupling member comprises a first arrangement of a plurality magnets selectively arranged and disposed to provide alignment and detachable engagement with a corresponding arrangement of a second plurality of magnets;

wherein at least two of the first plurality of magnets are arranged in a position to receive repulsive forces from at most three of the corresponding arrangement of the second plurality of magnets and to receive attractive forces from at most one of the corresponding arrangement of the second plurality of magnets during engagement; wherein the arrangement of the magnets permits the magnetic coupling member to attach to a corresponding structure in one specific position;

providing a corresponding structure having a second arrangement of magnets; and

engaging the magnetic coupling member and the corresponding structure together; wherein at least two of the first arrangement of magnets are arranged in a position to receive repulsive forces from only three of the corresponding arrangement of the second plurality of magnets during the engagement, wherein the first arrangement of magnets and second arrangement are separated by at least one housing; and

wherein the corresponding structure is rigid and an architectural support structure.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first arrangement of magnets consists of two sets of magnets, wherein a first set is in north-south-north orientation and a second set is in south-north-south orientation.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising inserting a wire through a through-opening thereby providing a source of electricity to the corresponding structure.

14. An attachment system comprising:

a first housing comprising a first arrangement of magnets; and

a second housing comprising a second arrangement of magnets, detachably engageable to the first housing; and

wherein the first housing is selectively arranged and disposed to provide alignment and detachable engagement with the second housing;

wherein at least two of the first plurality of magnets are arranged in a position to receive repulsive forces from at most three of the corresponding arrangement of the second plurality of magnets and to receive attractive forces from at most one of the corresponding arrangement of the second plurality of magnets during engagement; wherein the arrangement of the magnets permits the magnetic coupling member to attach to a corresponding structure in one specific position;

wherein the first arrangement of magnets and the second arrangement of magnets are separated by the first housing and the second housing and are not in direct physical contact during the engagement; and

wherein the attachment system is rigid and attached to an architectural support structure.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the architectural support structure is attached to a housing selecting from the group consisting of the first housing, the second housing and combinations thereof.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the architectural support structure includes a component of a ceiling affixed to a housing selecting from the group consisting of the first housing, the second housing and combinations thereof.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the architectural support structure includes a component of scaffolding affixed to a housing selecting from the group consisting of the first housing, the second housing and combinations thereof.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the architectural support structure includes a theatrical set affixed to a housing selecting from the group consisting of the first housing, the second housing and combinations thereof.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the architectural support structure includes a covering affixed to a housing selecting from the group consisting of the first housing, the second housing and combinations thereof.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first housing comprises a first connecting surface and a first opposing surface; and

the second housing comprises a second connecting surface and a second opposing surface; and

wherein the first arrangement of magnets are arranged between the first connecting surface and the first opposing surface of the first housing; and

the second arrangement of magnets are arranged between the second connecting surface and the second opposing surface of the second housing; and

wherein the second housing is detachably engageable to the first housing via the first connecting surface engaging the second connecting surface.

21. The system of claim 14 , wherein the detachable engagement of the first housing with the second housing provides alignment in a specific position and specific orientation which prevents linear sliding or adjustability of the first housing relative to the second housing.

Assignments (12)