Abstract:
A magnetic fastener includes manually separable male and female assemblies, the female assembly including a movable lock member freely slidably positioned thereon and a lock release button movably mounted thereto. The fastener also includes a male assembly including a magnetic member, the male assembly being engageable with the lock release button. The movable lock member has an opening formed therein within which a portion of the male assembly is positionable such that, in a locked position, the movable member is shiftable to a position in proximity with the magnetic member and, upon engagement of the release button with the male assembly, the movable member is shiftable to a position spaced from the magnetic member. A method of fastening the fastener is also described. The location of the magnetic member and movable metal lock member are capable of being switched such that the magnetic member is slidable in a direction towards the metal lock member which is fixed in position within the male assembly.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is directed to a magnetic fastener which includes manually separable male and female assemblies of a type which may be used with the closure flap of a handbag. The magnetic fastener serves to utilize attractive forces between a permanent magnet and one assembly in a ferromagnetic member and the other assembly so as to provide a magnetic, mechanically locked engagement therebetween. The locking engagement between the permanent magnet and the ferromagnetic member may then be manually released upon actuation of a lock release button. 
     2. Discussion of the Background 
     The fastener of the present invention comprises a variation of a general type of magnetic fastener such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,021,891; 4,453,294; and 5,274,889, and more particularly, is an improvement of the magnetic type slide fasteners shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,199,138; 5,253,394; 5,377,392; 5,515,581 and 5,572,772, the disclosure of each of the above-noted patents being incorporated herein by reference. The magnetic fasteners described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,021,891; 4,453,294 and 5,274,889 include cooperating female and male member assemblies. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The magnetic fastener of the present invention provides for a manually operable lock release button which serves to quickly and efficiently permit release of locking engagement between a male and female assembly. The female assembly includes a movable lock member freely slidably positioned therein and a lock release button movably mounted to the female assembly. The male assembly includes a magnetic member, the male member being engageable with the lock release button. The movable lock member has an opening provided therein with which a portion of the male assembly is positionable such that, in a locked position, the movable member is shiftable to a position in proximity with the ferromagnetic member and, upon engagement of the release button with the male assembly, the movable member is shiftable to a position spaced from the magnetic member so as to release locking engagement. The position of the magnetic member and the lock member are capable of being exchangeable, if desired. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a lock release button and lock member each of which is provided with cam surfaces that are spaced apart in the unlocked position and are in contact with one another in the locked position. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to utilize a female assembly which includes a housing within which a lock release button is movable in a first direction while the lock member is movable in a second direction transverse to the direction of movement of the lock release button. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a method fastening a fastener having the female assembly and male assembly and which includes the steps of positioning a lock member in the female assembly so as to be freely slidable therein, positioning the lock release button so as to be spaced from the lock member in the locked position of the fastener and to be in contact with the lock member in the unlocked position of the fastener and engaging the male assembly with the female assembly so as to slide the lock member from being in proximity with the magnetic member in the locked position of the fastener and to be spaced from the magnetic member in the unlocked position of the fastener. In the alternative, the position of the magnetic member and the lock member are exchangeable. 
     As a particularly advantageous aspect of the present invention, in addition to providing increased security of closure, a minimum number of easily manufactured and assembled parts is utilized, thereby resulting in a low cost magnetic fastener. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the principle components of the magnetic fasteners shown in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the locked condition of the fastener; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the fastener in an unlocked position upon downward movement of the lock release button having occurred; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the second embodiment of the present invention which utilizes a spring loaded top, first and second washers and a magnetic pin member; 
     FIG. 5 illustrates the open position of the fastener in the second embodiment; and 
     FIG. 6 further illustrates the opening position of the second embodiment wherein the spring loaded cover is pressed downwardly so as to permit the first washer to force the second washer to be aligned and properly centered with respect to the magnetic pin and to permit opening of the fastener. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention and shows the male portion in an extended position. 
     FIG. 8 shows the male member of FIG. 7 when in a retracted position. 
     FIG. 9 shows details of the female member of the third embodiment. 
     FIG. 10 shows the interrelationship of the male and female members in a locked position. 
     FIG. 11 shows the interrelationship of the male and female members in an unlocked position. 
     FIG. 12 shows the male member when retracted in the housing thereof. 
     FIG. 13 is an exploded view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 14 is an exploded view of the fourth embodiment showing the unlocked or open position. 
     FIG. 15 is an exploded view of the third embodiment showing the locked or closed position. 
     FIG. 16 illustrates the male member when assembled with the pin extended. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Reference is now made to FIGS. 1-3 which respectively show an exploded view of the present invention, the locked condition of the fastener and the unlocked condition of the fastener. 
     As can be appreciated from the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, a female assembly  1  and male assembly  2  are provided. The female assembly includes an upper housing  4  which is provided with a set ring  6 , a mounting flange  8  and a lower set ring  10 . Positionable within the upper housing  4  is a lock release button  12  which is movable up and down within the housing due, for example, to a spring, which may be positioned beneath the lock release button  12  so as to make the lock button movable in an upward direction as illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
     The female assembly  1  also is provided with a ferromagnetic lock ring  16  which is movable laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the female assembly  1  and male assembly  2 . Lock release button  12  is provided with a lower cam face  14  which is engageable with a corresponding upper cam face  18  provided on the lock ring  16 . Located beneath the lock ring  16  is a lower housing retention washer  20  which supports the lock ring  16  in position, a lower surface portion of the washer  20  being engageable with the lower set ring  10  of the housing  4 . 
     As can thus be appreciated, housing  4  is formed with an upper housing portion within which the lock release button  12  is positioned and a lower housing portion within which retention washer  20  is positioned. The housing  4  may be made of plastic or metal and may also be provided with a lower housing mounting flange  22  so as to help secure a flap portion of a bag, for example, between mounting flange  8  and mounting flange  22 , such as the opening and closing flap portion of a woman&#39;s purse. It is also understandable to one of ordinary skill in the art that the lower portion of the washer  20  may be provided with prongs or grommets (not shown) which are attachable to the flap portion of the purse and secure the female assembly to this portion of the purse. In such case, flange  8  would not be needed. 
     Opposite the female assembly  1  is positioned the male assembly  2 , the male assembly including an upwardly extending member  23 , a base  24 , an upwardly extending flange  26 , a non-ferromagnetic member or filler  28  and a magnet  30 . The flange may be rounded or tapered and such flange can be hollow or solid. A locking lip portion  32  is provided at the upper portion of an opening in member or filler  28  within which the magnet  30  is positioned. A mounting grommet  34  downwardly extends from the male part and slips through an opening provided in a corresponding grommet mounting washer  36  to help secure the same to a portion of the purse opposite the closing flap. Base  24  and member  26  can be made of plastic, if desired. 
     As would be understandable to one of ordinary skill, it would be possible for lock ring  16  to be a magnet instead of being made of steel and that magnet  30  be a steel member instead of being a magnet. In such instance, the lock ring would be attracted to the steel member to secure the same in a locked position and be released when the lock release button is moved downwardly. 
     FIG. 2 serves to illustrate the fastener of the present invention when in an unlocked position wherein the lock release button  12  is spaced from the lock ring  16  whereas, in FIG. 3, the lock release button has been pushed downwardly and serves to cause lateral movement of the lock ring  16  such that the cam face  18  of lock ring  16  is shifted out of engagement with locking lip  32  of male assembly  2 . In other words, downward depression of the lock release button  12  permits spacing of an internal wall portion of the lock ring  16  away from the magnet  30  so as to permit upward lifting of the housing  4  and to thus permit lifting of the flap of the purse away from male assembly  2 . While housing  4 , button  12  and base  24  are cylindrically shaped in this figure, they can be of any shape including being square shaped, etc. as long as such are similarly shaped so as to be cooperable together in operation. 
     FIGS. 4-6 serve to describe details of a second embodiment of the present invention wherein in FIG. 4, the locked position is shown with respect to a top  38 , a first washer  40 , a second washer  42  and a pin  44  having a magnet positioned therein. The washer  42  is shiftable upon being engaged with washer  40  so as to become concentric with respect to the longitudinal axis of the pin. The open position of this embodiment is shown in FIG. 6 wherein the top  38  is pressed downward, washer  40  engages washer  42  so as to laterally shift washer  42  so as to become aligned with a center portion of the pin member  44  such that the washer  42  becomes disengaged from the pin member and permits opening of the fastener shown therein. The pin is provided with a locking lip in a manner similar to that illustrated in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-3. 
     FIGS. 7-12 show the third embodiment of the present invention which utilizes a retractable male member mounted within a housing. More particularly, the male member of this assembly is shown in cross section in FIGS. 7 and 8, which illustrate a housing  105  in the form of a crimp ring within which locking pin  123  is moveable in an upward direction so as to be extended from the housing  125 . Also shown therein is the cam surface  121  of the locking pin  123  as well as magnet  130 . The base portion of the male member comprises a housing  124  which has upwardly extended therefrom a housing shaft wall  125 . Reference number  126  represents the locking pin slide wall while reference number  127  represents the attachment legs for the male member. As shown in FIG. 8, a locking pin receiving portion  107  is provided. 
     FIG. 9 serves to illustrate the female assembly of the third embodiment and includes a housing  104 , a lock ring  116  having a lock ring lip  117 . Release button  112  includes a cam surface  114 . Also illustrated is a receiving hole  134  for receiving the male member and a first attachment plate  132 . Reference number  122  indicates a second attachment plate while number  136  indicates the leather to which the female part is secured. Reference number  127  indicates attachment prongs. As can thus be appreciated, upon downward movement of the release button  112 , cam surface  114  engages cam surface  106  of the locking ring and forces the same to move in a direction toward the housing  104  so as to thus become centered beneath the release button  112 . As illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the male member is thus shifted for the locked position shown in FIG. 10 to the unlocked position shown in FIG. 11 due to movement of the lock ring  116  from a locked position in proximity with the magnet  130  to an unlocked position spaced from the magnet. FIG. 12 also illustrates the manner in which the male member can be retracted into a lowermost position within the housing shaft wall  125 . It can thus be appreciated, when the male part is inserted into the female member, the locking pin  123  is drawn into the hole formed in the center of the lock ring  116 . Locking ring lip  117  is pulled into the recess  107  at this time. Upon downward depression of release button  112 , the locking ring  117  is shifted to the right as shown in FIG. 11 so as to no longer engage with the male member and become spaced from the magnet. Thus, FIG. 11 serves to illustrate the unlocked position of the overall assembly due to downward displacement of the release button  112 . 
     As shown in the additional embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 13-15, showing exploded views thereof, the female assembly may comprises a three piece assembly which includes a top piece  202  having an inner cam surface  203  and a notch  204  formed thereon along the outer periphery of the top piece. A central member  206  having a central opening  209  is provided with it being noted that the central member may be a washer made of steel, iron or similar material with an outer cam surface  207  that is tapered. A cup  208  having an upper aperture  210  and a lower aperture  212  formed therein is also illustrated in FIG.  13 . An inwardly extending notch  214  is formed on the inner surface of cup  208  and is engageable with the notch  204  located on the outer circumferential surface of top piece  202  to limit upward movement of the top piece  202  within cup  208  once the top piece has been snap fitted within the cup. Top piece  202  is upwardly biased by a spring (not shown) positioned between base  220  and the cup  208  and which also surrounds the outer edge of member  206  so as to upwardly bias top piece  202 . 
     The male assembly includes a pin member  216  having a recess or notch  218  formed therein which is similar in nature to the male assembly  2  shown in FIG.  1  and which may have a base  220  and a magnet  216  positioned within the recess or notch  218  to which the metal washer is magnetically attracted and upwardly biased by an additional spring (not shown) if necessary. As would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, in the alternative, as in the first embodiment, the washer may instead be magnetic with the male assembly being provided with a steel or iron insert positioned within the recess or notch  218 . 
     Due to locking engagement between the edge of central opening  209  of member  206  and the notch  218 , the male assembly is normally in locking engagement with the female assembly. In an unlocking operation, it is noted that the spring upwardly biases the top piece  202  away from central member  206  but movement of top piece  202  in an upward direction is limited by engagement of notch  204  of the top piece  206  with notch  214  of the cup. By manually pushing the top piece  202  downwardly, the inner cam surface  203  engages an outermost portion of cam surface  207  so as to make slide member  206  slide towards center of cup  208  and become concentric therewith. Upon this action being accomplished, disengagement between notch  218  and an inner radial surface of central opening  209  of the slide member  206  occurs so as to thus unlock the female assembly from the male assembly in a manner similar to that described in the first embodiment. It is noted that the top piece  202  of the cup  208  and base member could, for example, be made of plastic or any other less costly material and need not be made of metal. 
     As can be appreciated from a review of FIGS. 13-16, each of FIGS. 13-15 show exploded views of the above-noted components whereas FIG. 16 shows the location of the pin member  216  when positioned within a cylindrical hollow portion of the base member and upwardly biased by a spring (not shown) located within such hollow portion. The pin can be moved downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 14 when the magnetic fastener is in an open position, as compared with the closed position illustrated in FIG.  15 . 
     While the present invention has been disclosed with reference to the specific preferred embodiments and the particulars thereof, it is to be understood that obvious variations of the same would be understandable to one of ordinary skill in the art. These variations of the present invention are considered to be part of the disclosure set forth hereinabove.