Abstract:
A magnetic fastening system for connecting a first member against a second member. The system includes a first flexible magnet longitudinally associated with at least a portion of an edge of the first member and a second flexible magnet longitudinally associated with at least a portion of an edge of the second member. The first and second flexible magnets are aligned to attract one another as the first and second members are moved into their connected position to then pull the first and second members into connecting contact.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to closure mechanisms and more specifically to the use of linear magnets for closing and sealing storage enclosures. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   There are an almost unlimited number of storage enclosures used in different applications. One of the most common types of enclosure is the pocket or pouch found on everything from garments to backpacks, purses, luggage and golf bags. The closure mechanisms for these pockets and pouches are numerous, the most common including zippers, Velcro™, dome fasteners, buttons, clasps, rivets, buckles and tie downs. All of these are useful but all suffer from disadvantages. 
   Zippers for example can bind or break and can pinch the surrounding fabric to become stuck. Velcro can clog and it is not uncommon for the Velcro to separate from the underlying substrate. Buttons, clasps, dome fasteners and the like must be fastened one at a time, they do not seal against dirt, wind, moisture and weather and they can break off. Moreover, none of the prior art fasteners is self closing. Even Velcro requires the application of a compressive force to make a seal and the force must be applied along the complete length of the Velcro to ensure all parts of the closure are equally secured. 
   What is required therefore is a closure mechanism that can be simply and inexpensively applied to numerous types of storage enclosures and which is substantially self closing along its entire length, reliable and easy to use and sufficiently flexible that it can be used over a wide variety of different products and applications. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a magnetic closure system for pouches, pockets and bags and which is also useful for more rigid enclosures. 
   According to the present invention then, there is provided a magnetic fastening system for connecting a first member to a second member, comprising a first flexible magnet longitudinally associated with at least a portion of an edge of said first member; a second flexible magnet longitudinally associated with at least a portion of an edge of said second member; said first and second flexible magnets being aligned to attract one another as said first and second members are moved into a connected position and to then pull said first and second members into compressive contact. 
   According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a magnetic closure system for a storage device having a storage space, an aperture for providing access to and from said storage space and a closure member for opening and closing said aperture; said aperture having a first peripheral edge; said closure member having a second peripheral edge; a first flexible magnet linearly disposed along at least a portion of said first peripheral edge; a second flexible magnet linearly disposed along at least a portion of said second peripheral edge; wherein said first and second magnets are arranged to magnetically attract one another and then magnetically contact one another as said closure member is moved from an open position thereof to a closed position in which said aperture is closed. 
   According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a method of providing closure between a receptacle having an opening therein for access to and from the receptacle&#39;s interior space and a closure member for opening and closing said receptacle&#39;s opening, comprising the steps of securing a first flexible magnet at least partially around the opening into said receptacle; securing a second flexible magnet on said closure member in opposing relationship to said first flexible magnet, wherein said first and second magnets attract one another and then magnetically contact one another to hold said closure member in compressive contact with said opening. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail and will be better understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a golf bag having numerous pockets including pockets incorporating the magnetic closure system of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one of the pockets for the golf bag of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a more detailed view of the pocket of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the magnetic closure system taken along the line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 5 ; and 
       FIG. 5  is another view of the pocket of  FIG. 2  when closed by the magnetic closure system. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The following description of the applicant&#39;s magnetic closure system is made with reference to pockets on a golf bag. It will be appreciated that this is but a single example of the almost unlimited number of applications for the present system not only for pockets and pouches, but for rigid or semi-rigid containers, as well as for closures for garments and even as a substitute for Velcro enclosures used on footwear and the like. Almost anything that requires a closure mechanism can make use of the magnetic closure system described below. 
   With reference to  FIG. 1 , golf bag  10  includes numerous pockets  12  on its front and side surfaces, some of which  14  are conventionally closed by zippers  15 , and others  20  of which use the present magnetic closure system  25 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 2 , pocket  20  includes a pouch  21  and a closure flap  31  that closes an opening  26  providing ingress and egress for the pouch. Flap  31  conforms in shape and size to the shape and size of opening  26  to completely seal pouch  21  when the flap is in its closed position. Flap  31  is flexibly and/or hingedly connected to golf bag  10  such as by means of a stitched seam  30 . It will be appreciated in this regard that apart from the magnetic closure system itself, the construction of the golf bag itself, the pockets, pouches, closure flaps and other components of the bag are conventional and are manufactured in accordance with methods and technologies and using materials well known in the art. Accordingly, a detailed description of those aspects of the bag that will be well known to persons skilled in the art is being omitted. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 , the magnetic closure system itself consists of at least first and second magnets such as linear magnetic strips  40  and  50 . The strips are preferably flexible and are sewn into the respective peripheral edges  22  and  32  of opening  26  and flap  31 . Strips  40  and  50  are commercially available in different sizes and cross sectional shapes. The ones used by the applicant are either round or rectangular in cross sectional shape and are approximately ⅛ inch in diameter/width. The shape and diameter of the strips is not critical but complementing shapes are preferred for an even and uniform seal between them. For heavier duty applications, larger and more powerful strips may be preferred. Strips  40  and  50  are preferably continuous, but they can also consist of discrete segments or even “buttons” spaced closely enough that the segments/buttons behave like a continuous, linear strip. 
   Magnetic strips  40  and  50  are connected to peripheral edges  22  and  32  by any suitable means. In one embodiment constructed by the applicant, the strips are enclosed within flexible sleeves such as fabric sleeves  35  that cover the strips along their length and that are themselves connected to the peripheral edges such as by means of stitching, glue or ultrasonic welds. 
   Strips  40  and  50  are arranged to be in magnetic contact with one another when the flap is closed along their entire length around the peripheral edges of the flap and pouch, or at least around as much of the peripheral edges that is to be sealed together. The attraction between the strips holds the flap firmly and conformably in its closed position to completely (or partially, if preferred) close the pocket. In this regard, “magnetic contact” means that strips  40  and  50  will normally abut one another through their respective sleeves  35 , but includes being close enough to each other that the magnetic force between them is sufficiently strong to hold the flap firmly closed. 
   In a preferred embodiment, outwardly adjacent magnetic strips  40  and  50  are opposed, flexible longitudinally extending seals  41  and  51  respectively. These seals can be in the nature of nylon, silicone, rubber, felt, plastic, vinyl, fabric or any other suitable piping and they are connected to peripheral edges  22  and  32  such as by means of stitching, adhesive or any other suitable means. Or, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the seals can be integral to flap  31  and the peripheral edge  22  of opening  26 . In this regard, the seals can be extensions of the flap and the pocket wall that extend outwardly relative to magnetic strips  40  and  50 . These seals are positioned so that they lie closely adjacent or preferably actually abut one another when flap  31  is closed to aesthetically cover magnetic strips  40  and  50  and to provide some additional closure or sealing against moisture, dirt, weather and the like. In  FIG. 4 , magnetic strips  40  and  50  and seals  41  and  51  are shown slightly separated for illustration purposes, but in actual use, the magnets and seals will more ideally compressively abut one another for an effective closure of pocket  20 . 
   Flap  31  is provided with means to open it such as a single sewn on tab  27  that the user can grasp to pull the flap open. Pulling on the tab peels the two magnetic strips apart starting from the tab and moving away from it on opposite sides towards seam  30 . The flap can be opened as little or as much as required for access to pouch  21 . 
   If the flap is a floppy piece of fabric without any tendency to naturally return to its closed position, it may be necessary to move the flap in the direction of opening  26  until the magnets engage each other to pull the flap closed from there. Most flaps however especially on golf bags and the like, have at least some rigidity and a tendency to move towards their closed position. This tendency can be increased somewhat if seam  30  is curved which, when combined with the flap&#39;s natural rigidity, tends to actually bias the flap towards its closed position. If the flap is of this nature, closure is effected simply by releasing tab  27 . The flap will almost “jump” into its fully closed and sealed position due to the attraction between magnetic strips  40  and  50 . The closure is instantaneous and precisely aligned without the need to manipulate zippers, buttons or the like or to apply sealing pressure such as would be needed to effectively close Velcro along the entire length of the closure. 
   Decorative piping  60  can be added adjacent seals  41  and  51  for a more finished look. 
   As will be appreciated, the same closure mechanism described above with respect to a pocket on a golf bag can be used, for example, to seal lunch bags, totes, backpacks, coolers and virtually any other kind of storage enclosure that can be made more useful or convenient by making it easier to open and close. It will be further appreciated that the closure mechanism can be used on containers or in other applications where the lid or closure member is completely separable from the enclosing compartment. An example would be a storage box having a removable lid. The lid and the enclosing compartment would be provided with magnetic strips along their mating edges for closure purposes. 
   The above described embodiments of the present invention are meant to be illustrative of preferred embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Various modifications, which would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. The only limitations to the scope of the present invention are set forth in the following claims appended hereto.