Patent ID: 7965160

Claim:
A magnetically actuated apparatus for controlling an electric circuit that is mountable to first and second support members, the apparatus comprising: a sensor arranged to be secured to the first support member having at least one magnetizable contact arranged for movement between a setting condition and a non-setting condition in response to an applied magnetic field to control electric current to the electric circuit, the at least one contact defining a contact axis, the distance between the at least one contact and the applied magnetic field at which there is a change in the setting and non-setting conditions defining a gap of a given value, a magnetic actuator secured to the second support member, the magnetic actuator having a substantially continuous magnetic actuation field of a given magnitude and direction that is greater than the magnitude and direction of a magnetic field of like polarity of one of the at least two aligned alike magnetic fields set forth below, wherein said substantially continuous magnetic actuation field is formed by a magnetizable member magnetized by at least two aligned, alike magnetic fields associated with said magnetizable member thereby forming an elongated magnetic field that simulates multiple, aligned magnetic fields along one side of said magnetizable member, whereby said substantially continuous magnetic actuation field exhibits an increased value of the gap over that of the at least one aligned magnetic field to thereby allow the first and second support members to be displaced relative to one another in a given direction for a given magnitude, that is greater than the displacement obtainable by the first and second support members using a single magnet having a field corresponding to the one of the at least two aligned magnetic fields without a change in the setting or non-setting condition of the at least one contact.