Patent ID: 7591207

Claim:
A device for manipulating a magnetic object, at least a portion of the magnetic object having a substantially prismatic shape with at least two side surfaces and an end surface, the device comprising: a head having a magnetic field and an axis of rotation, said head comprising a face contact surface oriented substantially orthogonal to said axis of rotation, and a magnetic extension piece oriented substantially parallel to said axis of rotation, said face contact surface configured to contact the end surface of the magnetic object and said magnetic extension piece configured to contact no more than two side surfaces of the at least two side surfaces of the magnetic object, said magnetic extension piece further comprising a first magnetic extension piece half with a first side contact surface configured to contact one side surface of said two side surfaces of the at least two side surfaces of the magnetic object and a second magnetic extension piece half with a second side contact surface configured to contact the other side surface of said two side surfaces of the at least two side surfaces of the magnetic object, said first and second magnetic extension piece halves are in a spaced relationship and said first and second side contact surfaces are in a non-coplanar relationship, said face contact surface and said magnetic extension piece serving to concentrate and shape said magnetic field into the magnetic object, said head further configured to be spatially open opposite from both said face contact surface and said magnetic extension piece so as to receive and contact the magnetic object; whereby, when the substantially prismatic shape of the magnetic object is placed in proximity to said face contact surface of said head, said magnetic field draws the magnetic object into contact with said face contact surface and said magnetic extension piece, the device thereby engaging the magnetic object and allowing for its manipulation.