GB2366832A

GB2366832A - Magnetic fastener

Info

Publication number: GB2366832A
Application number: GB0022353A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Gibson Dawson
Original assignee: METAL MERLIN Ltd; VICTOR IGNITION Ltd
Current assignee: METAL MERLIN Ltd; VICTOR IGNITION Ltd
Priority date: 2000-09-13
Filing date: 2000-09-13
Publication date: 2002-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 2020-09-13
Also published as: GB2366832B; GB0022353D0

Abstract

A magnetic fastener comprising a magnet retaining member 12, the retaining member having fixing means eg 14 attached thereto and a permanent magnet member 20. The fixing means can be a screw-thread as shown on a spike or external flutes or serrations. The retaining member can be surface-mounted or secured in a bore by interference fit or adhesive.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> MAGNETIC FASTENERS The present invention relates to magnetic fasteners for holding articles and/or for fastening articles together. Magnetic strips which are fixable to walls, for example, for holding kitchen knives, for example, are well known. However, such magnetic fasteners do not allow for varied placement and holding of awkwardly shaped articles. Neither do known magnetic fasteners provide for fastening of articles together in the sense of constructing a complex article from component parts.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a magnetic fastener, the fastener comprising a magnet retaining member, the retaining member having fixing means attached thereto and a permanent magnet member.

The magnet retaining member may be in the form of a cup into which the permanent magnet is fixed. The cup may be made of any suitable material including, for example, steel, aluminium, brass and wood. Where appropriate the retaining member may be treated to make it more corrosion resistant and/or to give a more pleasing finish, e.g. nickel plating of steel.

The magnet retaining member has or includes fixing means attached thereto or incorporated thereon to enable the

device to be attached in or to a surface for example or incorporated into an article which is to be attached to another article for example. The fixing means may be a screw thread on the cup, for example, which may then screw into the head of a wood screw for example in the manner of so-called mirror fixing screws.

In another embodiment the fixing means may be a spike or nail-type projection which may be driven into a surface for example. In yet another embodiment the fixing means may be flutes or serrations in the outer surface of the magnet retaining member, which features cause the device to be retained by friction or interference in an article in the manner of a dowel used to join one panel of a piece of furniture for example to another panel.

The magnet retaining member may be provided with adhesive fixing means such as adhesive foam tape for example to fix the device to a surface.

The magnet itself may be any that is suitable. In one preferred embodiment the magnet may be a neodymium-iron- boron magnet comprising: 2 parts Nd-14 parts Fe-1 part B. The magnet may be in the form of a small cylinder of about l0mm diameter and 5mm length. Such magnet materials are extremely powerful. However, other materials and dimensions may be employed as appropriate.

An advantage of the present invention is that the devices may be fixed to a wall for example in any desired array or pattern so as to be able to correspond to the shape of

an article such as a tool, for example; which needs to be removably held or stored in a position for future use. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit for the assembly of a piece of furniture, the kit including magnetic fasteners according to the first aspect.

In order that the present invention may be more fully understood, examples will now be described by way of illustration only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows a cross section of a first embodiment of a device according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a view of a second embodiment of a device according to the present invention; Figure 3 shows a perspective view showing two articles being joined by use of the device in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a schematic view of wood or synthetic wood panels being joined by the device of Figure 2; and Figure 5 which shows a third embodiment of a device according to the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings and where the same features are denoted by common reference numerals.

A first embodiment of a device according to the present invention is shown at 10 in Figure 1 and comprises a magnet retaining member 12 in the form of a circular nickel plated steel cup, the cup having a short, threaded fixing member 14 integrally machined therewith. Held within the hollow portion 16 of the cup is a press-fitted Nd-Fe-B magnet 20. In the embodiment shown, the device 10 may be affixed to wall (not shown), for example, by means of a wood screw 20 having a threaded hole 22 corresponding to the fixing member 14. Thus the device may be fixed in any array or pattern, including 3- dimensional patterns, so as to hold an awkwardly shaped tool, for example, for storage pending use. The use of a wood screw enables the device to be fixed to brick and other building materials by wall plugs and other known means. By the use of individual magnetic fasteners as described with reference to Figure 1, maximum density of tool storage, for example, could be achieved on a given area.

The screw member 14 may be replaced by a nail or spike and the device driven directly into wood for example. An example of a device 30 according to this second embodiment is shown in Figure 2.

The device of Figure 2 is shown in Figures 3 and 4 being used to connect panels of wood (or chipboard or 1DF etc), a single joint being illustrated in Figure 3. A hole 32 of about twice the depth of the magnet retaining member 12 and magnet 20 is drilled in the article 34. A device 30 as shown in Figure 2 is located at the bottom of the

hole and held in place by the spike 36 being driven into the wood by a punch or similar. The second article 40 has a second device 30 as shown in Figure 2 fixed to its surface and the articles are held together by entering the cup/magnet portion 12/20 on the article 40 into the hole 32 such that the faces of the magnets 20 are either touching or are within a short distance (less than a few mm) of each other. The magnet faces in proximity to each other are N/S faces.

Figure 4 shows schematic view of a plurality of joints formed according to that shown in Figure 3 being used in the assembly of a set of shelves.

Figure 5 shows a third embodiment 50 of a device according to the present invention. The device comprises a "dowel-like" retaining member 52 having a fluted outer surface 54 or some other surface formation which grips or has an interference fit with a hole (see holes 32 of Figures 3 and 4 for example) in which it is to be received. The member 52 can be metal or a hardwood for example, the magnet 20 being glued therein for example. Furniture constructed using the devices shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5 has the advantage that tools such as screwdrivers, angle irons, brackets, screws and the like do not need to be used and assembly is simple and quick. Furthermore, since there are no through holes for receiving screws, no unsightly screw cap covers are needed which spoil the appearance of a surface.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A magnetic fastener, the fastener comprising a magnet retaining member, the retaining member having fixing means attached thereto and a permanent magnet member.
2. A magnetic fastener according to claim 1 wherein the magnet retaining member may be in the form of a cup into which the permanent magnet is fixed.
3. A magnetic fastener according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the retaining member is made of any suitable material including: steel, aluminium, brass, plastic and wood.
4. A magnetic fastener according to any one preceding claim wherein the retaining member is treated to make it more corrosion resistant and/or to give a more pleasing finish.
5. A magnetic fastener according to claim 4 wherein the retaining member is nickel plated steel.
6. A magnetic fastener according to any one preceding claim wherein the fixing means is selected from: a screw thread; a spike or nail; flutes; serrations; interference fit with a co-operating hole; and adhesive means.
7. A magnetic fastener according to any one preceding claim wherein the magnet is a neodymium- iron -boron magnet.
8. A magnetic fastener according to claim 7 wherein the magnet comprises: 2 parts Nd-14 parts Fe-1 part B.
9. A magnetic fastener according to any one preceding claim wherein the magnet has a cylindrical shape.

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10. A magnetic fastener according to claim 9 wherein the magnet is of about lomm diameter and 5mm length.
11. A magnetic fastener according to claim 1 in combination with a wood screw.
12. A furniture kit having included therein a magnetic fastener according to any one of preceding claims 1 to 10.
13. A magnetic fastener substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying description and Figure 1; or Figure 2; or Figures 2 to 4; or Figure 5 of the drawings.