Abstract:
The disclosure relates to the use of magnets, which may be permanent magnets or electromagnets, to align and physically connect two adjacent audio components, or similar electronic components. Alternatively, a groove or similar mechanical aligning configuration may be used in combination with the magnetic configuration.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for connecting two pieces of related audio gear, or similar electronic devices, using magnetism. This allows indexing of the relative position of the devices while allowing easy repositioning of the devices in relation to one another. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In the field of audio or similar electronic components, typically the components are attached together mechanically using external fasteners, such as screws or hooks. Alternatively, complex tooling may be used as a fastening system which does not require external fasteners. However, using tooling a mechanical fasteners may result in difficulties in indexing the products to one another in order to achieve the best ergonomics or appearance. Moreover, such mechanical implementations may wear after repeated insertions and extractions and may result in inaccurate positioning and indexing. 
     Apple computers use a magnetic device to attach a power cable to certain laptop computers. Similarly, magnets are used to secure electrical connections in U.S. Pat. No. 6,561,815 to Schmidt and Published Application No. 2004/0209489 A1 to Clapper. 
     Finally, some toy trains use magnetic couplers to attach the train cars together. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for attaching audio or similar electronic components, while eliminating or reducing the use of external fasteners. 
     This and other objects are attained by using magnetic connections between audio or similar electronic components. This allows control surfaces, audio interfaces and other device to attach to one another easily while eliminating or reducing the use of external fasteners. Magnets of opposed polarity are used in each component or device whereby the attraction of the magnets is sufficient to override any other magnetic attraction between the components or devices, such as from a magnet to a steel interior structure. Another embodiment provides at least one magnet in one component or device which is attracted to a ferrous plate in another component or device, relying upon a mechanical indexing structure (such as, but not limited to, a nipple to dimple structure) whereby the magnets apply the attracting force while the mechanical indexing structure aligns the components or devices. In this embodiment, the indexing may be overridden by simply not aligning the mechanical indexing structure, thereby providing the benefits of magnetic attraction and the creation of a connected structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings and claims, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic of a first embodiment of the present invention with two pairs of opposed magnets for the connection of two devices or components. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic of the second embodiment of the present invention with opposed magnets on both ends of the two devices or components, illustrating how successive components or devices may be interchangeably connected. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic of a third embodiment of the present invention, with mechanical indexing structures on both components and at least one magnet on one component, being attracted to a metal (ferrous) plate of another component. 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, one sees that  FIG. 1  is a schematic of the first embodiment of the present invention. More specifically,  FIG. 1  shows the respective abutting ends  101 ,  201  of the exterior cases of electronic components  100  and  200  which are to be positioned against each other. Electronic components  100 ,  200  may be audio components, such as, but not limited to, power amplifiers, pre-amplifiers, integrated amplifiers, radio tuners, CD or DVD players or other audio sources or sound processors. Furthermore, electronic components  100 ,  200  may be audio/visual recording devices or scientific instruments, but are not limited thereto. 
     Component  100  includes magnet  10  outwardly presenting a positive pole on an upper portion of end  101  of component  100  and further includes magnet  12  outwardly presenting a negative pole on a lower portion of end  101  of component  100 . Likewise, component  200  includes magnet  14  outwardly presenting a negative pole on an upper portion of end  201  of component  200  and further includes magnet  16  outwardly presenting a positive pole on a lower portion of end  201  of component  200 . Therefore, the respective ends  101 ,  201  of components  100 ,  200  can abut so that magnet  10  is aligned with and adjacent to magnet  14  thereby resulting in magnetic attraction between the two. Likewise, magnet  12  is aligned with and adjacent to magnet  16  thereby resulting in magnetic attraction between the two. The resulting magnetic attraction further results in the desired alignment of components  100 ,  200  with each other. It should be noted that the magnets  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  are shown for ease of simplicity of illustration on the illustrated planar faces, but actually present the poles on the ends  101 ,  201 . 
     Moreover, magnets  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  can be implemented as neodymium or similar permanent magnets. Magnets  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  can likewise be implemented as electromagnets 
       FIG. 2  illustrates how components  100 ,  200  can mount magnets on both ends of the components  100 ,  200 . Component  100  includes magnets  10 ,  12  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Further, component  100  includes magnet  18  outwardly presenting a negative pole on an upper edge of end  102  of component  100  and further includes magnet  20  outwardly presenting a positive pole on a lower edge of end  102  of component  100  thereby allowing similar components to be aligned to the left of component  100 . Likewise, component  200  includes magnets  14 ,  16  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Further, component  200  includes magnet  22  outwardly presenting a positive pole on an upper edge of end  202  of component  200  and further includes magnet  24  outwardly presenting a negative pole on a lower edge of end  202  of component  200 . Component  300  is configured similarly or substantially identically with component  200  so that magnets  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32  correspond to magnets  14 ,  16 ,  22 ,  24 , respectively. Therefore, the respective ends  202 ,  301  of components  200 ,  300  can abut so that magnet  22  is aligned with and adjacent to magnet  26  thereby resulting in magnetic attraction between the two. Likewise, magnets  30 ,  32  on side  302  of component  300  can be aligned with and adjacent to magnets on an end of a further successive component (not shown). 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , component  100  includes a ferrous or metal plate  38  imbedded inwardly adjacent from end  101 . End  101  further includes spacer plates  40 ,  42  spaced apart thereby forming a gap or aligning groove  44  therebetween. Component  200  is configured as shown in  FIG. 1 , and further includes a protruding boss plate  46  configured and arranged to fit or mate into aligning groove  44 . Therefore, when components  100 ,  200  are aligned with each other, magnets  14 ,  16  are magnetically attracted to ferrous or metal plate  38  while boss plate  46  assures mechanical alignment by fitting into groove  44 . 
     This provides for alignment of the various components. Moreover, the use of electromagnets in this embodiment is particularly attractive as the connection between two successive components  100 ,  200  depends upon the magnetism in a single component  100 , and the magnetism can be turned off by use of a single switch (not shown). 
     Thus the several aforementioned objects and advantages are most effectively attained. Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described in detail herein, it should be understood that this invention is in no sense limited thereby and its scope is to be determined by that of the appended claims.