Patent ID: 9362037
Filing Date: 2016-06-07
CPC Classification: B66B,E05F,E05Y,H01F,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A locking or coupling device, comprising: a first set and a second set of: a moveable support supporting the first set of the plurality of magnets and plurality of pole shoe members, the moveable support being moveable relative to the second set of the plurality magnets and plurality of pole shoe members to selectively change a relative orientation of the directions of magnetization between; (i) a first relative orientation wherein a flow of magnetic flux is primarily directed between the magnets through the pole shoe members and the magnetic flux remains essentially in a plane containing the magnets and the pole shoe members, so as to generally not provide magnetic coupling of objects outside the plane, and (ii) a second, different relative orientation wherein the flow of magnetic flux is primarily directed from the pole shoe members in a transverse direction away from the plane, thereby providing magnetic coupling of objects outside the plane.