Abstract:
A magnetic fastener ( 10 ) for fastening a first flap ( 12 ) of material to a second flap ( 14 ) of material. A magnet ( 26 ) is attached to one of the flaps ( 12, 14 ) while a magnetic element ( 28 ) is attached to the other flap ( 14, 12 ). The natural magnetic attraction between the magnet ( 26 ) and the magnetic element ( 28 ) keeps the flaps ( 12, 14 ) fastened together. A handle ( 30 ), preferably embodied as a button ( 32 ), is attached to the first flap ( 12 ) and interconnected to either the magnet ( 26 ) or the magnetic element ( 28 ) for allowing the magnetic fastener ( 10 ) to be easily opened and closed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The subject invention relates to fasteners that function by utilizing magnetism.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Numerous magnetic fasteners that include a magnet and a magnetic element are well known in the prior art. An example of such a magnetic fastener is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 2,397,931 to Robert Ellis.  
         [0005]     The Ellis patent discloses a magnet with two magnet apertures. The magnet is sewn onto a first flap using a first thread through the magnet apertures. Likewise, a magnetic element also includes two magnetic element apertures. The magnetic element is sewn onto a second flap opposite the magnet. The magnetic element includes a peripheral wall portion and a planer wall portion to define a cavity. When fastened, the magnet resides in the cavity. The natural magnetic attraction between the magnet and magnetic element keep the magnet and magnetic element fastened together.  
         [0006]     Although the Ellis patent appears to provide an effective magnetic fastener, a person with only gross motor skills would have difficulty in operating the fastener. Persons who lack fine motor skills often have difficulty with daily tasks that most people take for granted. Putting on and removing clothing is often extremely difficult for those with only gross motor coordination. Operating a normal button-to-buttonhole assembly, without assistance from another person, is sometimes impossible for these individuals. Accordingly, there remains an opportunity for a magnetic fastener that is easily operable by a person lacking fine motor skills.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES  
       [0007]     The invention provides a magnetic fastener to fasten a first flap of material to a second flap of material. The first flap of material has an inside and an exterior, while the second flap of material has an outside and an interior. A magnetic assembly includes a first portion attached to the first flap and a second portion attached to the second flap for interconnecting the first flap to the second flap.  
         [0008]     The magnetic fastener is characterized by a handle attached to the exterior of the first flap and interconnected to the first portion of the magnetic assembly for allowing a person to grasp on to the handle to easily operate the magnetic assembly.  
         [0009]     Accordingly, the magnetic fastener is easy to operate and especially useful for persons who lack fine motor coordination. Furthermore, when the magnetic fastener is used on an article of clothing and the handle is embodied as a button, the article of clothing has a standard looking appearance. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a person operating a magnetic fastener in accordance with the subject invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the magnetic fastener used on a sleeve of an article of clothing;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the magnetic fastener;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the magnetic fastener before a magnet and a magnetic element are latched together;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the magnetic fastener after the magnet and the magnetic element are latched together;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the magnetic fastener;  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the magnetic fastener; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the magnetic fastener. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, a magnetic fastener is shown at  10  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The magnetic fastener  10  includes a handle  30  making the fastener  10  easily operable by a person P with only gross motor skills. The magnetic fastener  10  has the outward appearance of a standard button-to-buttonhole assembly. As illustrated, the handle  30  may be embodied as a button  32 . Preferably, a buttonhole stitch  34  is added to give the magnetic fastener  10  the complete appearance of a standard button-to-buttonhole assembly. Wearing a garment that looks “normal” helps increase the feeling of self-worth of the person having only gross motor skills. It should be appreciated that the uses for the magnetic fastener  10  of the subject invention are not limited to clothing. Alternatively, the magnetic fastener  10  can also be used with handbags, purses, wallets, or any other suitable device. Those skilled in the art will recognize many other implementations of the magnetic fastener  10 .  
         [0020]      FIGS. 3, 4 , and  5  illustrate, in greater detail, a first embodiment of the magnetic fastener  10  to interconnect a first flap  12  of material to a second flap  14  of material. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the magnetic fastener  10  includes a magnetic assembly  24  which comprises a first portion  56  attached to the first flap  12  and a second portion  58  attached to the second flap  14 . The magnetic fastener  10  also includes the handle  30 .  
         [0021]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the first flap  12  of material has an inside  16  and an exterior  18 . The second flap  14  of material has an outside  20  and an interior  22 . The handle  30  is/attached to the exterior  18  of the first flap  12 . The magnetic assembly  24  interconnects the first flap  12  to the second flap  14 . In this first embodiment, the first portion  56  of the magnetic assembly  24  is further defined as a magnet  26  which forms a magnetic field, while the second portion  58  is further defined as a magnetic element  28 . The magnetic element  28  is formed of a magnetically attractive material and is attached to the outside  20  of the second flap  14 .  
         [0022]     The magnet  26  is preferably a permanent magnet and may be formed of any number of suitable materials. Ceramic, ferrite, alnico, cobalt, rare earth, neodymium, and other types of permanent magnets are acceptable for use as the magnet  26 . It is also preferred that the magnet  26  includes a coating to prevent corrosion of the magnet  26 . Depending on the type of permanent magnet utilized, the magnet  26  without a coating may be subjected to rust when the garment is washed or exposed to other sources of moisture. Preferably, the coating is a fluoropolymer resin, such as Teflon® manufactured by E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company of Wilmington, Del. Teflon® has excellent resistance to both corrosion and high temperatures, making it very suitable to withstand the standard machine washing and drying cycles the garment is likely to be exposed to. Those skilled in the art realize that other coatings, such as, but not limited to nickel, will also produce acceptable corrosion resistance.  
         [0023]     The magnetic element  28  is preferably formed of a magnetically attractive metal. Suitable metals include, but are not limited to, steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, tin, and any number of metal alloys known to those skilled in the art. The magnetic element  28  may also include a coating, such as, but not limited to, Teflon® or nickel.  
         [0024]     In the first embodiment, at least two magnetic element apertures  42  are disposed through the magnetic element  28  and at least two magnet apertures  36  are disposed through the magnet  26 . Additionally, at least two button apertures  40  are disposed through the button  32 . It is preferred that the button apertures  40  align with the magnet apertures  36 . This alignment allows a first thread  38  to pass through both the button apertures  40  and the magnet apertures  36  to secure them both to the first flap  12  of material. A second thread  44  passes through the magnetic element apertures  42  for attaching the magnetic element  28  to the outside  20  of the second flap  14 . Those skilled in the art will realize that other means of attaching the magnet  26  and magnetic element  28  to the first and second flaps  12 ,  14 , aside from apertures  36 ,  42  and threads  38 ,  44 , may also be implemented.  
         [0025]     It is preferred that the magnetic element  28  include a peripheral wall portion  48  and a planer wall portion  50  to define a cavity  52 . The magnet  26  is preferably disc-shaped and the cavity  52  is sized appropriately to receive the magnet  26 . A natural magnetic attraction causes the magnet  26  and the magnetic element  28  to clasp together. It is also preferred that the magnetic element  28  include at least one tab  49  which protrudes inward from the peripheral wall portion  48 . These tabs  49  assist in further securing the magnet  26  in the cavity  52  of the magnetic element  28 .  
         [0026]     It is further preferred that the magnetic element  28  include a flange portion  54  extending outwardly from the peripheral wall  48 . The flange portion  54  allows the magnet  26  to make initial contact with the magnetic element  28 . After contact is made, the magnet  26  is easily guided into the cavity  52 . Those skilled in the art will also realize that many other shapes and configurations of the magnet  26  and magnetic element  28  could also be implemented.  
         [0027]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , when the magnet  26  and magnetic element  28  are brought together, the first flap  12  of material becomes fastened to the second flap  14  of material.  
         [0028]     In a second embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the second portion  58  of the magnetic assembly  24  is the magnet  26  which is attached to the outside  20  of the second flap  14 . The first portion  56  is the magnetic element  28  which is attached to the inside  16  of the first flap  12 . Again, the button  32  includes button apertures  40  to receive the first thread  38  for attaching the button  32  to the exterior  18  of the first flap  12 . It is preferred that the button apertures  40  align with the magnetic element apertures  42  to also accommodate the first thread  38  passing through the magnetic element apertures  42  for attaching the magnetic element  28  to the inside  16  of the first flap  12 . The second thread  44  passes through the magnet apertures  36  for attaching the magnet to the outside  20  of the second flap  14 .  
         [0029]     In a third embodiment, shown in  FIG. 8 , the button  32  includes a loop  46 . The first thread  38  is received by the loop  46  for attaching the button  32  to the exterior  18  of the first flap  12 . The first thread  38  also attaches the magnetic element  28  to the inside  16  of the first flap  12 . The second thread  44  passes through the magnet apertures  36  for attaching the magnet to the outside  20  of the second flap  14 .  
         [0030]     Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described within the scope of the appended claims, wherein that which is prior art is antecedent to the novelty set forth in the “characterized by” clause. The novelty is meant to be particularly and distinctly recited in the “characterized by” clause whereas the antecedent recitations merely set forth the old and well-known combination in which the invention resides. These antecedent recitations should be interpreted to cover any combination in which the inventive novelty exercises its utility. In addition, the reference numerals in the claims are merely for convenience and are not to be read in any way as limiting.