Magnetic closure system

1. A magnetic closure system, comprising:

first and second opposing bodies;

wherein each body has a profile with peaks, troughs and side surfaces between the peaks and troughs;

wherein each side surface slopes outwardly and away from a respective one of the peaks to a respective one of the troughs;

a separate permanent magnet disposed on or in each of the sloping side surfaces of each body, with the poles of each magnet being outwardly facing; and

wherein the peaks of each body are received by the troughs of the other body, such that the magnets of one body are attracted to the magnets of the other body to keep the bodies in contact until the bodies are manually pulled apart.

2. The magnetic closure system of claim 1 , wherein the peaks, troughs and sloping surfaces are flat, such that the profile of each body defines a repeating trapezoidal pattern.

3. The magnetic closure system of claim 2 , wherein:

the magnets are bodies with longitudinal axes and poles at each end; and

the longitudinal axes are perpendicular to the sloping side surfaces.

4. The magnetic closure system of claim 2 , wherein:

the peaks and troughs define spaced-apart parallel lines; and

the flat sloping surfaces form an angle of 45 degrees relative to the parallel lines.

5. The magnetic closure system of claim 1 , wherein the peaks and troughs are pointed, such that the profile of each body defines a repeating triangular pattern.

6. The magnetic closure system of claim 1 , wherein the peaks, troughs and sloping surfaces are curved and smooth, such that the profile of each body defines a continuous wavy pattern.

7. The magnetic closure system of claim 1 , wherein each body includes a tab extension adapted for attachment to a flexible material or fabric, such that the opposing bodies form a magnetic zipper.

8. The magnetic closure system of claim 1 , wherein the bodies are elongated strips comprised of separate blocks, each block having two divergent sloping surfaces.

9. The magnetic closure system of claim 8 , wherein each block includes a tab extension adapted for attachment to a flexible material or fabric, such that the opposing blocks form a magnetic zipper.

10. The magnetic closure system of claim 8 , wherein:

each trough has a length with a midpoint; and

the bodies are separated into blocks at the midpoint of each trough.

11. The magnetic closure system of claim 1 , wherein the outwardly facing poles of the magnets on the first body are the same but opposite to the outwardly facing poles of the magnets on the second body.

12. The magnetic closure system of claim 1 , wherein the outwardly facing poles of the magnets on both bodies form a random pattern that discourages misalignment upon closure.

13. The magnetic closure system of claim 1 , wherein the bodies are rigid or semi-rigid strips.

14. The magnetic closure system of claim 1 , wherein the bodies are flexible strips.

15. The magnetic closure system of claim 1 , wherein the magnets are mounted upon or embedded into the sloping surfaces.

16. The magnetic closure system of claim 1 , wherein the outwardly facing poles of the magnets are flush with the sloping surfaces.

17. The magnetic closure system of claim 1 , wherein the magnets are embedded within the bodies such that the magnets are not visible.

18. The magnetic closure system of claim 1 , wherein the peaks of the bodies are spaced apart at a distance in the range of 0.5 to 2 inches.

19. The magnetic closure system of claim 1 , further including an article of clothing to which the bodies are attached to form a magnetic zipper structure.

20. The magnetic closure system of claim 19 , wherein:

the article of clothing is a shirt, jacket or coat;

magnetic zipper structure has a top and a bottom portion; and

at least the bottom portion has an extra set of magnets to assist in maintaining the magnetic zipper structure in a closed configuration.

21. The magnetic closure system of claim 1 , wherein:

the magnets are bodies with longitudinal axes and poles at each end; and

the longitudinal axes are perpendicular to the sloping side surfaces.