Patent ID: 8458863

Claim:
A magnetic connector apparatus, comprising: a magnet housing; a magnet positioned within the magnet housing such that the magnet can rotate within the magnet housing, wherein the magnet is configured to be magnetically connected with a second magnet positioned within a second magnet housing of second magnetic connector apparatus without the magnet and the second magnet directly contacting one another; an inner retainer piece coupled with the magnet housing, wherein the inner retainer piece comprises a magnet housing receiver configured to engage the magnet housing to couple the magnet housing to the inner retainer piece; a first outer housing piece coupled with the inner retainer piece; and a second outer housing piece coupled with the inner retainer piece, wherein the first outer housing piece is positioned on an opposite side of the connector apparatus from the second outer housing piece such that the inner retainer piece is positioned in between the first outer housing piece and the second outer housing piece, and wherein the magnet housing is positioned to extend along at least a portion of an edge of the inner retainer piece, along at least a portion of a connection edge of the first outer housing piece, and along at least a portion of a connection edge of the second outer housing piece such that the magnetic connector apparatus is configured to be magnetically connected with the second magnetic connector apparatus along a connection edge of the magnetic connector apparatus defined at least in part by the first outer housing piece and the second outer housing piece.