GB2467920A - Push button magnetic hold and release fastener - Google Patents

Abstract

A push button mechanism 2 and magnet 1 with controlled movement assembly which in use holds a door/lid 5 in place magnetically after being pushed closed from the outside and released by a second push on the outside of the door/lid. Preferably the magnet is guided for movement in a metal bracket in the same direction as the push button 2; the bracket 3 limits the movement of the magnet such that the maximum extension of the push button in the released state exceeds movement of the magnet and subsequently completely disengages the magnet from the lid when the push-push mechanism 2 is pushed for the second time.

Description

Title: Push button magnetic hold and release connector.

Background:

This invention relates to an assembly that comprises of a magnetic device that works alongside a traditional push button mechanism and a metallic part attached to a lid/door. The assembly both holds in place the lid/door after it has been pushed shut and releases the lid/door after it has been pushed again in the same direction, Having no protruding parts on the inside of the lid/door.

While developing a power/data box to be fitted in to a conference table we produce, we researched push catches and magnetic push catches found on the market. We required a product that allowed the lid that is held in place to be opened by pushing down on the lid/door exterior surface and closed again by the same technique. It was important to us that there be no protruding parts inside the lid as we intended to apply a veneer to the interior surface Our research led us to examine, test and reject examples currently found on the market. This rejection was due to the examples being designed to either not release completely the lid when pushed, or involved attaching protruding parts to the inside of the lid.

This prompted us to design our own push button magnetic hold and release connector that worked with a traditional push button mechanism, releasing the door completely when the push button was activated from the outside, with no protruding parts inside the lid.

Statement of invention:

Existing magnetic push catches work using a push button with a magnet attached to the end and a small metallic part attached to the lid/door. This mechanism works in two stages consisting of two pushes that can be repeated one after the other. The first push compresses the push button element completely, when the pressure is released from it, it returns to a small length at which point the lid/door is closed. The second push compresses again the push element completely, then when the pressure is released the push element pushes back to a longer length opening the lid/door enough for fingers to grip the lid/door edge, but the lid/door is not released. The user must then manually pull the door to disconnect the magnet attached to the push button from the metal part attached to the door.

We needed a mechanism that released completely the lid/door.

We found traditional push catches achieved this but relied on protruding parts attached to the inside of the lid/door. This invention has no protruding parts attached to the interior of the lid/door.

To achieve this our invention separates the push button and the magnet, allowing both to move independently but restricting the length of the movement of the magnet to a shorter length of movement to that of the push button. The magnet can move the equal distance between the compressed push button and its minimum expanded position but as the push button is compressed again and moves to its maximum expansion position the magnet is restricted and the push button element moves further than this point which in turn disconnects the magnet from the metal insert attached to the lid/door therefore releases the lid/door.

Advantages: This invention improves upon the traditional push catch release systems by having no protruding parts attached to the inside surface of the lid/door.

This invention improves upon the traditional magnetic push catches as when the push catch is activated by pushing the outside of the lid/door, the lid/door is completely released and disconnected from the magnet that holds the lid/door in place. Allowing the lid/door to swing freely away from the mechanism.

Introduction to drawings:

-Figure 1 shows box with open lid.

-Figure 2 shows exploded components of invention -Figure 3 shows box with compressed lid -Figure 4 shows box with closed lid -Figure 5 shows box with compressed lid -Figure 6 shows box with released lid -Figure 7 shows magnet assembly, push button and lid with magnet in down position.

-Figure 8 shows magnet assembly, push button and lid with magnet in up position.

-Figure 9 shows side view of invention with indication of movement of push button and magnet.

01 Magnet 02 Push button 03 Main bracket 04 Metal insert Lid 06 Hinge 07 Box 08 Hinge 09 Guide hole for magnet Guide hole for push button 11 Magnet support bracket

Detailed description:

Embodiments of this invention as described below are by way of example only, the invention is not limited to these embodiments illustrated in the drawings. The drawings are not to scale and certain details omitted are not necessary for the understanding of the present invention, such as certain techniques of fabrication and assembly.

The invention of the push button magnetic hold and release connector in relation to box with lid is shown in illustrations fig 1 as an embodiment on a box with lid, it should be recognised that this invention could also be used on a wide variety of applications such as exterior and interior doors, furniture doors, electronic consumables with hinged parts, automotive compartments, industrial doors and lids, medical doors and lids.

The invention of the magnetic push catch release is shown in detail in fig 7 and fig 8. Fig 7 shows the lid lifted in a released position, the magnet is in the down position and the push button is in its maximum length position. Fig 8 shows the lid in the closed position, the magnet is in its up position contacting the metal insert and holding the lid in place magnetically, while the push button is in its short extension length.

The components of this invention are shown in fig 2 by way of an exploded drawing.

Fig 3,4,5,6 shows the various positions this invention goes through in use to open and close the lid.

Fig 4 shows a closed lid, when pressure is placed on top of the lid, the lid is compressed as fig 5. When the pressure is released the lid opens and is released as fig 6. When pressure is placed on the lid from an open position as fig 6, the lid is pushed to a compressed state as fig 3, when the pressure is released the lid returns to a closed state as fig 4. This process can be repeated constantly.

At the moment when the pressure is released from a compressed state as fig 3 after being in an open position as fig 6, the push button pushes the lid up and stops in a closed position as fig 4.

When the lid is in the compressed position as fig 3 the magnet is at its lowest position and is attached magnetically to the metal insert in the lid. When the pressure causing the push button to be compressed is released, the push button pushes the lid up to the closed position as fig 4, as the lid moves to the closed position as fig 4, the magnet travels through its movement following the lid and remains magnetically attached to the metal insert in the lid. This is the maximum length of movement for the magnet.

When the lid is compressed as fig 5 and the pressure released the push button pushes against the lid, this moves the lid and the magnet follows the movement of the lid until its limit of movement but as the push button continues its movement further the force of the push catch breaks the connection between the magnet and metal insert, the magnet drops to its bottom position and the lid is released.

Fig 7 shows a detail of the box with the lid open. The magnet is in its down position and the push button is in its maximum extension position.

Fig 8 shows a detail of the box with the lid closed. The magnet is in its top position connecting to the metal insert and holding the lid in position and the push button is in its minimum extended position.

Fig 9 shows a side view of an embodiment of this invention. Fig 9 shows the relative controlled movement of the magnet inside the support bracket and the relative movement of the push button. At position a' in fig 9, the push magnet is in its compressed state, at this point the magnet is at its lowest position. At position b' in fig 9, the push button is at its minimum extension while the magnet is at its highest position. At position c' in fig 9, the push button is at its highest position, the magnet cannot reach this position as it is restricted and cannot move higher than position b'.

Claims (5)

1. Claims: 1. A push button mechanism and a magnet with controlled movement assembly designed to hold a door/lid in place magnetically after being pushed closed from the outside and released by pushing again on the outside of the lid/door.
2. 2. The magnet according to claim 1, is held in a metal bracket that allows it move in the same direction as the movement of the push button.
3. 3. The movement of the magnet according to claim 2, is the same length as the movement of the push button between its compressed state and its lower position.
4. 4. The push button according to claim 3 has a maximum extension that exceeds the movement of the magnet.
5. 5. The lid according to claim 1, if not metallic, has a metal insert that the magnet connects to.