EP2271233A2

EP2271233A2 - Mechanical-magnetic connecting structure

Info

Publication number: EP2271233A2
Application number: EP09733323A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Joachim Fiedler
Original assignee: Fidlock GmbH
Current assignee: Fidlock GmbH
Priority date: 2008-04-15
Filing date: 2009-04-15
Publication date: 2011-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 2029-04-15
Also published as: US8495803B2; WO2009127196A2; ATE552745T1; WO2009127196A3; DE102008019063B4; DE102008019063A1; EP2271233B1; EP2271233B8; CN102036578A; CN102036578B; US20110030174A1

Abstract

A mechanical-magnetic connecting structure for releasably connecting a first element with a second element is provided. The connecting structure consists of a module A which is firmly connected with the first element or is rotatably arranged in the first element, and a module B which is firmly connected with the second element or is rotatably arranged in the second element. The module A is rotatably guided in module B. In module A at least one magnet and in module B at least one armature or second magnet is arranged and the shape, location and polarity of the magnets or of the magnet and the armature are designed such that when rotating module A relative to module B, the magnets or magnet and armature move from a closed position with maximum magnetic attraction into an open position with weakened magnetic attraction or a magnetic repulsion of module A and module B is obtained.

Description

Mechanical-magnetic connection construction

The invention relates to a mechanical-magnetic connection construction, d. H. a mechanical lock that closes by means of magnetic force support and is used in particular as a closure on bags, rucksacks and similar items, this list is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Such a connection construction is described in the document WO 2008/006357. This magnetic closure consists of a two-part magnet system, so that the two closure halves tighten and mechanically lock each other from a predetermined minimum distance. In this mechanical locking the magnetic force presses a locking piece against a resilient and thus evasive locking element. The locking piece and the resilient locking element overlap or undercut in the latched state. To open the shutter, the locking piece is moved relative to the locking element until a disengaged position is reached, in which the two elements are no longer engaged, d. H. the mechanical lock releases. During this displacement, the magnet system is simultaneously brought into a position in which the magnetic attraction force is either considerably weakened, or a repulsive force is applied, which opens the closure. The magnetic system contributes only insignificantly to the stability and strength of the closure, but only serves to make the closure close and open haptically.

The load capacity of the closure is determined by the mechanical interlock and depends essentially on how large the overlap area or the undercut surface of the interlock is. The larger the overlapping area or the undercut area, the greater the mechanical stability of the locking mechanism. when all components of the closure are adequately constructed. For several reasons, the possibilities of making the overlapping area or the undercut area as large as possible are limited, which is explained below:

It is a specific feature of a latching latch closure according to the prior art described in WO 2008/006357 that this only has the required stability and load capacity when the resilient element is dimensioned sufficiently strong, which unavoidably also requires a stronger spring force. However, so that the latching process by itself, d. H. can be exclusively borrowed by magnetic force, a magnet adapted to the spring force is required. In other words, the resilient element must be mechanically stable enough to ensure the desired locking function. However, this requires a sufficiently strong magnet. Thus, there are two exclusive requirements for the magnet: the magnet must be strong enough to overcome the spring force, and the magnet should be as small and light as possible in order to reduce costs and weight.

There are still a second problem with the closures known from the prior art WO 2008/006357, which results in the case of a rotary closure from the following facts: The most common magnet system has two magnetic poles per magnet element and is opened to move from an attracting position approx 120 ° rotated in an at least partially repelling position. In this position, the magnetic repulsion force helps to open the shutter. However, in order for the closure to open by itself, the mechanical locking must be disengaged.

In other words, there is only a predetermined angular range available for the lock. This angular range can not be increased because of the maximum available 360 degrees, a predetermined angle range is required in which the locking elements must be disengaged. However, the available angular range of the closed state is still much smaller, since the opening should only take place when the magnets have reached a position in which they repel at least partially, to the desired pleasant opening haptics of the closure receive. Since only in the angular range of the closed state, the overlap or the undercut may occur, there is thus an objective limit for the enlargement of the overlap or the undercut surface by means of an increase in the angular range.

If the overlapping or the undercut surface is to be increased, it is possible to increase the diameter of the rotary closure. A closure with a larger diameter can, for. B. be undesirable on a handbag.

Another way to increase the overlap or undercut area is to increase the depth of the overlap or undercut in the radial direction. However, this measure likewise encounters a limit which results from this design measure itself and from the special properties of the magnetic force, which is explained below:

When contraction of the closure halves, the parts snapping into each other touch each other by the locking piece presses a predetermined path against the resilient and thus evasive locking element until it comes to snap. This way is the greater, the further the locking element must be pushed away in the radial direction, ie, it is a proportionally increasing pressure force to overcome the also proportionally increasing spring force of the locking element required. However, it is known that magnetic forces have a nonlinear course and grow strongly only at close range. However, since the magnetic force to contract the shutter automatically and thus overcome the spring force, it is necessary to select a particularly strong magnet to overcome a long spring travel, which already overcomes the initial spring force at a greater distance. However, this leads to the demand for a larger, heavier and more expensive magnet. In addition, the magnetic force in the close range, ie in the snapped state is higher than needed. This in turn requires a higher force when opening, but what z. B. is undesirable in handbags, as these closures should have a pleasantly soft feel. It is the object of the invention to improve a generic mechanical-magnetic connection construction for releasably connecting a first element to a second element so that its clamping force is increased without increasing the mechanical locking elements and the magnets.

This is achieved with a mechanical-magnetic connection construction according to claim 1, said connection structure comprising a module A fixedly connected to said first element or rotatably arranged in said first element and comprising a module B fixedly connected to said second element. is arranged rotatably or in the second element. The module A is rotatably guided in module B. In module A at least one magnet and in module B at least one armature or second magnet is arranged. The shape, location and polarity of the magnets or magnet and armature are such that upon rotation of module A 51 relative to module B 52, the magnets or magnet and armature will move from a maximum magnetic attraction closed position can reach an open position with weakened magnetic attraction. Or instead of the weakened magnetic attraction, a magnetic repulsion between module A and module B is formed. Furthermore, a positive locking is provided which exists between two engagement sections on the module A and module B, d. H. When the modules are pulled together by the magnetic force, the two engagement portions come into operative connection and lock.

According to the invention, the engagement portion, which is arranged on the module B on a Federver- locking element, formed helically and the mating engagement portion on the module A is also formed helical. Module A and module B close without rotation in such a way that the screw-shaped engagement section is positively locked by means of the magnetic attraction with the helical engagement section. Module A and module B are to be opened such that upon rotation of the modules and the concomitant rotation of the magnets from the closed position into the open position, the helical engagement sections are screwed out of engagement. The use of helical engagement portions allows for a significant increase in the undercut or overlap area of the engaged elements. Thus, all the above-described disadvantages of the prior art are eliminated, which will be explained in more detail in the embodiments.

According to claim 2 of the helical engaging portion has several courses. Thus, an even larger undercut or overlap surface is created, resulting in an even higher mechanical strength of the closure. On the other hand, it is possible to build closures with a predetermined load capacity significantly smaller.

According to claim 3, the helical spring engaging portion consists of separate segments. Since the resilient elements are each individually smaller than comparable constructions of the prior art, they can also be structurally designed differently than large spring elements. In particular, it is possible to use elastic materials. In addition, the use of multiple independent segments provides high reliability, even if one segment should fail.

According to claim 4, the helical engaging portion of spaced, resilient pins which are arranged on a helical line side by side and having similar advantages as those mentioned for claim 3.

The invention will be explained in more detail below on the basis of a comparative example from the prior art and exemplary embodiments of the invention in conjunction with appended drawings:

FIGS. 1a-c show a comparative example from the prior art with the aid of which the invention is explained.

Figs. 2a-d show the invention in different views. Fig. 3a, 3b show a comparison of the invention with the prior art.

Figures 4a, 4b show a comparison of the invention with the prior art.

Figures 5a-5c show the functional details of the opening process.

FIGS. 6a-6b show a further embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6c shows a specific application of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows the essential functional elements of a magnetic closure according to the prior art according to the document WO 2008/006357, which is hereby incorporated into the present application. An operating part 70 equipped with magnets is inserted into the lower part 71 in the direction of the arrow. In the lower part 71, a spring locking element 9 with spring locking pieces 9a, 9a 'is arranged. The spring locking pieces 9a, 9a 'protrude in the assembled state through the openings 72. The actuating part 70 has locking pieces 5 and 5' and release gaps 6 and 6 ', on, wherein 6' is not visible in this figure. When the operating member 70 is inserted in the arrow direction in the lower part 71, the actuating member 70 rotates by magnetic force in the position shown in which attract the recognizable in Fig. 1b magnets. The two locking pieces press 5 and 5 'on the spring locking pieces 9a, 9a' until the shutter snaps. To open, the actuating member 70 is rotated in the direction of the arrow to the left or right until the spring locking pieces 9a, 9a 'in the Freigabelü- bridges 6 and 6' are. By this rotation, a rotation of the magnets takes place at the same time to each other, which then get into a repulsion position, so that the shutter pops up by itself.

Fig. 1b shows the closure according to the prior art in the moment in which the spring locking pieces 9a, 9a 'with the locking pieces 5 and 5' have contact. In this position, the spring locking pieces 9a, 9a 'are not yet pushed aside in the radial direction Y by a predetermined distance, and the magnets face each other at a distance X. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the angle of the chamfer on the locking piece and on Federverriegelungsstück only limited changeable, if the function is to be maintained. The relationships between the distance X and the size of the displacement in the direction Y are explained with reference to the following figures.

1c shows in plan view the spring locking pieces 9a, 9a ', which are locked behind the locking pieces 5 and 5'. Here, the hatched undercut surfaces 50, 51 can be seen. It can be seen that in this prior art, the width of the spring locking pieces 9a, 9a 'can not be widened, if it should be ensured that the closure at a rotation between 100 -130 ° is at least partially poled to repulsion. Thus, the undercut area can not be increased.

FIGS. 2a-d show a closure according to the invention according to PA1. In the module A (51) are magnets 4a, b, which can be rotated to the magnets 8a, b in the module B (52) from a closed position with maximum magnetic attraction in an open position with magnetic repulsion.

In the perspective views of Fig. 2a, b are the helically rising locking pieces with 5, 5 ', 5 "and the spring locking pieces with 9a, 9a', 9a" designated. The locking pieces and the spring locking elements are bevelled on the sides that meet on closing, so that when closing the spring locking element is pushed aside. After locking, the closure can be released by unscrewing module A and module B.

In the sectional drawing 2c, the shutter is drawn at the moment when closing, in which the spring locking element and the locking piece first make contact and the magnets 4a, b and 8a, b are spaced apart by the distance X. This is discussed in more detail in the description of Fig. 3a, b. FIG. 2 d shows a plan view of the closure with contour lines of the hidden lines. Here, the undercut surface 50, 50 ', 50 "is hatched It can be seen that each spring locking element can be approximately 120 ° angular width and thus cover the three spring locking elements approximately 360 °, whereby the undercut surface can be made substantially larger, which is explained below: With Fig 3a, the invention is compared with the prior art 3b. It will be appreciated that the undercut area resulting from the three surfaces 50, 50 'and 50 "is evidently already significantly larger than the undercut area in Figure 3b resulting from the surfaces 50 and 50'.

The distances X of the magnets in the prior art 4b and the closure 4a according to the invention are now compared in FIGS. 4a, 4b. It can be seen that in the invention, the distance X between the magnets 4a, b and 8a, b is substantially smaller than in the prior art of Fig. 4b. The cause is the low undercut depth 60.

It is obvious that in the closure according to the invention weaker and / or smaller magnets can be used, which leads to a high potential for savings.

For further explanation, FIGS. 5a to 5c show the functional details of the opening process:

5a shows the technical non-real representation, in which it can be seen that when opening the tapered sides of the locking piece and spring locking element collide. Depending on the dimensioning of the magnet system and the spring elasticity of the spring locking element used, this collision can produce two different effects:

In Fig 5b is shown how open at a relatively hard elasticity and / or a weak magnet upper and lower part of the closure following the thread.

In Fig. 5c it is shown how with relatively soft spring locking elements and / or strong magnets, the spring locking elements are pushed aside during opening and so the positive connection is canceled prematurely.

Often there is a mixed form between Fig. 5b and Fig. 5c, by first a little at the beginning of opening rotation, the spring locking element. pressed and biased other and at a predetermined angle of rotation, the bevels of the locking piece and the spring locking element drive the upper and lower parts apart. In both cases, however, the shutter must be turned so that it is completely opened until the threads are completely disengaged.

It is clear to the person skilled in the art that various embodiments of the invention according to claim 1 are likewise according to the invention:

- The module A is firmly connected to a first element and at the same time the module B is firmly connected to a second element and to open the first and second elements are rotated against each other. For example, a permanently connected to a mobile phone module A can be removed by turning the phone from a holder rotate, the module B is firmly connected to the holder. (Embodiment of Figure 2a-d) - The module A is rotatably arranged in a second element and the module B is fixedly connected to a second element. For example, in the embodiment as a closure for a bag, the module A can be rotatably arranged in the pocket cover via a hand rotary handle and the module B be firmly connected to the lower part of the bag. (Embodiment of Figure 6c, wherein the reference numeral 103, the first element, 106, the module A, 104, the second element and 105, the module B).

It is also possible to arrange module A and module B both rotatably in each case in a first and a second module. Then module A and module B are rotated by one operating handle against each other. This is particularly useful if the position of the operating handles should not be determined from the outset for an object accessible from all sides.

When dimensioning the invention, it should be noted that the closure has a tendency to unscrew under load. Therefore, magnet systems must be used which cause a return torque in the closed position at maximum attraction, such. As a rectangular magnet and a rectangular armature or a second magnet. Furthermore, the thread geometry and the friction between the locking piece and the spring locking element must be taken into account. An advantageous development according to claim 5 benefits precisely this tendency that the screw has the effort to unscrew under load by itself for an automatic emergency release from a certain load. Here, the helical engagement sections have such a strong thread pitch that opens when automatically exceeding a certain load, the shutter.

FIGS. 13-15 show an exemplary embodiment of such a development of the invention according to PA5, in each case in side view and sectional view in three different movement phases. In this embodiment, the thread pitch of the helical engaging portions (5, 5 ', 9a, 9a') and the shape, position, polarity and strength of the magnets (4a, 4b, 8a, 8b) in module A (51) and module B ( 52) is selected so that when exceeding a predetermined load FL, the shutter opens.

FIGS. 13-15 show a closure consisting of plug 51 with eyelet 51b to which, for example, a cable is fastened. An application of the invention to PA5 is an emergency release between a kite and a harness strapped to a person surfing on a surfboard, where an emergency release is required above a certain tensile load of approximately 80kg, In case of a fall the dragons can not pull the person underwater and the person drowns.

13 shows the closing phase in which, by means of the magnetic force of the opposing magnets 4a, 4b and 8a, 8b, the helical engagement sections 5, 5 'and 9a, 9a' engage on plug 51 and spring ring 9.

FIG. 14 shows the lock after locking.

FIG. 15 shows how the plug 51 was turned out of the housing 52 a little way by the acting load FL. The spring ring must be held against rotation by a suitable design measure, z. B. a projection on the housing 52 which engages in the opening slot in the spring ring 9

The emergency unlocking function will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17.

In the case of the closure according to the invention, magnets or magnet and armature are arranged in module A and module B such that, when module A is rotated relative to module B, they are weakened or counterpoled in their reciprocal attraction. For twisting, a force dependent on the shape, position, polarity and magnetic force of the magnets is necessary. This force can change depending on the shape, location, polarity of the magnets with increasing rotation. It is assumed for the sake of simplification of the consideration that in the initial range of rotation approximately a constant initial torque FM TO is overcome. In Fig. 16, the initial torque in a magnet system is shown by four magnets 4a, 4b and 8a, 8b which are rotated from a mutual attraction position to a position of at least partial repulsion. Decisive for the operation of the emergency unlocking is mainly this initial torque, since after a partial successful screwing opening so the magnets are separated a piece and lose both in their attractive effect as fasting effect quickly losing strength.

17 shows the embodiment in the rest position (right) and partially screwed open position (left). If no magnets were arranged in the plug 51 and housing 52, a loading force F _L would unscrew the plug screw, if one neglects a friction between the plug and spring ring in the threads. The load FL causes a torque F ₀ . The steeper the thread, the greater is this torque, ie the easier it is for the plug to turn out of the housing in a screwing manner under load.

In order to ensure an opening when exceeding a predetermined load FL ZU, or to ensure the locking until reaching the load F _L , must the initial magnetic torque F _M equal to the resulting torque FD be selected when exceeding the load FL, ie the thread pitch and shape, position, polarity and strength of the magnets must be selected according to the application.

6a shows a locking device in a perspective view, wherein only the rotary member and the spring locking element are shown.

The ring-shaped spring locking element 9 is further developed in this case such that the helical spring locking piece 9a is split by interruptions into a plurality of segments 9ai... 9aβ. The advantages of this development are the combination of the high undercut surface with a very soft spring constant of the spring locking element, which allows a very easy snapping, but the latch remains stable. The soft spring constant of the spring locking element 9 designed as a ring is formed by the interruptions between the segments 9a1... 9a8, since in each case a slight deformation in the desired direction is possible there.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that there are a variety of equivalent solutions for resilient helical engagement portions, e.g. B. is according to claim 3 in each segment 9i ... 9s own spring 9bi ... 9bs and a separate schirublinienförmi- ges spring locking piece 9ai ... 9as arranged and the individual elements are not connected to each other, as shown in Figure 6b but together form a helical spring engaging portion.

A juxtaposition of resilient pins in the form of a helical line according to claim 4 is functionally the same effect.

6c shows a magnetic-mechanical connection device, in which the coupling element 106, depending on the rotation, either comes into attraction to the lower part 102 or in attraction to the upper part 105, wherein it is rotated by means of a winch 101. The dividing line 107 separates the parts of the upper assembly from those of the lower assembly. This application of the invention may, for. B. as a coupling device between a trolley and a bag standing thereon be used, it is important that when putting the bag on the trolley, the coupling elements find themselves safe by the magnetic attraction and engage and after removing the bag, the coupling elements are withdrawn, so they see when depositing the bag on the floor not be damaged.

The present invention is especially stable connection of the two assemblies is determined by the form-fit connection of the spring the locking member 9 described above with the manner of segments divided, coil-Federverriege- lung pieces 9 ai ... 9a ₈ and reaches the rotary member 106 with the helically rising locking pieces 5, 5 '.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show an embodiment according to the invention as claimed in claim 1. As the magnet system, two rectangular magnets are selected. The spring locking element is designed as a spring ring 9 with the helical engagement portions 9a and 9a '. The spring ring is held in the housing 52. The plug 51 with attachment eye 51b can be plugged into the housing and rotated in the housing. In the plug and housing two rectangular magnets 4 and 8 are arranged. In the closed state according to FIG. 7, the rectangles completely overlap, there is maximum attraction. After an actuation, a rotation by 90 °, according to FIG. 8, the rectangles only partially overlap. The magnetic attraction has thus been weakened and this required a force that has overcome the magnetic return torque FD. In the actuated state according to FIG. 8, the thread has been disengaged by a rotation through 90 °. The skilled person will appreciate that the magnet system and the number and angular width of the threads must be coordinated. In the present example, 4 threads a 90 ° angular width would be structurally possible for a maximum tumbler. Drawn, however, are only two threads a 90 °. Here then the undercut area is correspondingly smaller. The spring ring must be held against rotation by a suitable design measure, z. B. a projection on the housing 52 which engages in the opening slot in the spring ring 9

9-12 show an embodiment according to claim 7. FIG. 12 shows a perspective exploded view of the most important individual parts. In the housing 52 two magnets 4a and 4b are arranged. In the plug 51 two magnets 8a and 8b are arranged. In the housing, the spring locking element 9 is mounted. On the spring locking element and the plug helical engaging portions 9a, 9a 'and 5,5' on the conical surfaces 161, 162 are arranged.

9 shows a sectional view of the closure in the closed state, in which the helical engagement sections 9a, 9a 'and 5, 5' are locked into one another and offer maximum undercut area and thus maximum closure load capacity.

10 shows a sectional view of the point at which the plug and the housing are spaced apart by the distance x and the helical engagement sections have first contact. At this point, the magnetic force must now be greater than the spring force of the spring locking element 9, which is now pushed aside laterally by the chamfers on the engaging portions. The present embodiment offers the advantage that a plurality of engagement portions can latch over each other and thus provide a large undercut surface, although the distance x is minimally small. Thus, this embodiment has a particularly good ratio of mechanical strength and magnet size and can be made particularly inexpensive.

11 shows the position of the section A-A in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10.

Claims

claims

A mechanical-magnetic connection structure for detachably connecting a first element to a second element, wherein the connection structure consists of a module A (51) fixedly connected to the first element or rotatably arranged in the first element, and a module B (52 ) which is fixedly connected to the second element or rotatably arranged in the second element,

and wherein the module A (51) is rotatably guided in module B (52), and wherein in module A (51) at least one magnet (4a, 4b) and in module B (52) at least one armature or second magnet ( 8a, 8b) and the shape, position and polarity of the magnets or of the magnet and of the armature are such that upon rotation of module A (51) relative to module B (52) the magnets (4a, 4b, 8a, 8b) or magnet and armature pass from a closed position with maximum magnetic attraction into an open position with weakened magnetic attraction or a magnetic repulsion of module A (51) and module B arises,

- And wherein a positive locking between two engaging portions (9a, 5) on the module A and module B is, which is characterized in that o the engaging portion (9a), which is arranged on the module B on a spring locking element (9) formed helically and o the mating engagement portion (5) on the module A is also helical, - wherein module A and B close without rotation such that the schraubli- nienförmige engaging portion (9a) by means of magnetic attraction with the helical engaging portion (5) form fit latched and

wherein module A and module B are to be opened in such a way that when the modules are rotated and the associated rotation of the magnets of the closed position in the open position, the helical engagement portions are screwed out of engagement.

2. Mechanical-magnetic connection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the helical engaging portion has a plurality of gears.

3. Mechanical-magnetic connection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring locking element consists of several individual segments, each with a helical engagement portion and a spring element.

4. Mechanical-magnetic connection construction according to claim 1, characterized in that the helical engagement portion of the spring locking element consists of a plurality of resilient pins arranged on a helix.

5. Mechanical-magnetic connection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the thread pitch of the helical engagement sections and shape, location, polarity and strength of the magnets in module A and module B are selected so that when exceeding a predetermined load FL the shutter opens.

6. A mechanical-magnetic connection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the helical engaging portion has a plurality of passages which overlap one another so that a plurality of engaging portions engage one another.

7. A mechanical-magnetic connection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the helical engaging portion has a plurality of passages which overlap one another so that a plurality of engagement portions engage one another and the engagement portions lie on conical, interlocking surfaces.