GB2503953A

GB2503953A - A door with magnetic hinges which can be opened from two opposite edges

Info

Publication number: GB2503953A
Application number: GB201212594A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan Stephen Prestwich
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-07-14
Filing date: 2012-07-14
Publication date: 2014-01-15
Also published as: GB201212594D0

Abstract

The lid or door 1, used for covering a distribution box in a table, consists of four magnet assemblies, and an opening within which the lid is held. The magnet assemblies are arranged with two on a first edge and two on an opposing second edge so the door may open from either direction where a set of two opposing magnet assemblies acts as a hinge. Preferably each magnet assembly consists of a fixed magnet 2 in the lid coaxially aligned with a moving magnet 3 within a frame about the opening. The moving magnet may have a housing 4 which allows movement in an axial direction towards the fixed magnet when the lid is closed, and has an adjustable nut 5 so that it contacts the fixed magnet. When the lid is opened the moving magnet may retract being attracted to a metal plate 6 within the housing.

Description

Title: Double side opening magnetic hinged lid.

Background

This invention relates to a lid, held magnetically in place between two members on two of its opposing sides by 2 magnets per side, approximately positioned in the corners that connect to adjacent magnets held by the supporting members.

The two sides that do not have magnets on can be lifted individually, disconnecting 2 of the nearest magnets and allowing the lid to hinge on the two remaining connected n1agnets The lid can be lifted to open and lowered to close the lid. As the lid lowers the two magnets that were disconnected, reconnect and support the lid to be held again magnetically.

While developing a new conference table, we researched different ways people on opposite sides of a table could connect their electronic equipment to power and data sockets in a table.

We found that the most economical way of achieving this was to use only one power and data socket that everyone could access around the table. This made us reaftse the need for a lid that could be opened from two opposing sides.

We researched the market and found no appropriate product for our tables.

This prompted us to design our own lid and hinge assembly that opened from two opposing sides allowing one hinge side to be disconnected while the opposing remained connected and acted. as a hinge. This also allowes the lid to be lowered using the two connected magnets as a hinge to a point where the other two magnets connect and support the lid.

While developing this we found that for the magnetic hinge to work the adjacent magnets needed to touch to hold the lid in position correctly. This created a problem that as the lid was closing, if it was slightly off centre it would make the magnets collide on their outer edges. To avoid this we created a system whereby one of the connecting magnets retracted when the lid was lifted and disconnecting the magnet.

We achieved a system toallow the magnet to retract when disconnected by having a metal plate at the opposite side of the magnet than that which the connecting magnet was on. With this invention, when the lid is lifted the magnets first disconnect and one of the now disconnected magnets is attracted magnetically to a metal plate on its opposite side making it retract provention collision when the lid is lowered: When the lid is lowered the retracted magnet disconnects to the metal plate and reconnects to the magnet on the hinge as this force is greater.

Statement of invention:

When researching existing hinges for our lid, we found many hinges that worked by only..* aflowing a lid, to be opened. on. one side only.

We needed the lid to be opened from both sides.

Our hinge design allows the lid to be opened from both sides by allowing the hinge on one side at a time to be disconnected from its magnetic connection by lifting the side to be disconnected. This opposite magnet in turn acts as a hinge allowing the lid to be opened. This action works exactly the same from both sides allowing the lid to therefore be opened form two sides.

The working viability of the hinge is made possible with lateral moving magnets on either the lid or the supporting sides or both. When the magnets are disconnected one or all move away from the opposing magnet as they are magnetically pulled to a metal plate to allow a gap or tolerance for the lid as it then closes, preventing collision of the magnets.

Advantages: This ihventioh improves ona traditional lid hinge by being able to be opened form two opposing sides in a controlled manor.

This invention allows the lid to be opened and closed without collision of the hinge parts.

This invention has no protruding parts inside the supporting walls.

Introduction to drawings:

-Figure 1 shows box mounted in a table open.

-Figure 2 shows box open.

-Figure 3 shows box mounted in a table open.

-Figure 4 shows box mounted in a table closed.

-Figure 5 shows box mounted in a table open.

-Figure 6 shows side view of box with lid opening right.

-Figure 7 shows side view of box with lid closed.

-Figure 8 shows side view of box with lid opening left. 2.

-Figure 10 shows exploded components of invention.

-Figure 11 shows section through box with magnets engaged.

-Figure 12 shows section through box with magnets disconnected.

01 Lid 02 Lid magnet 03 Cup magnet 04 magnet housing Nut 06 Metal plate 07 screw

Detailed description:

Embodiments of this invention as described below are by way of example only, the invention is not limited to these embodiments illustrated in the drawings. The drawings are not to scale and certain details omitted are not necessary for the understanding of the present invention, such as certain techniques of fabrication and assembly.

The invention of the bi side lid in relation to a box mounted within a tabletop with lid is shown in fig 1 as an embodiment on a box with lid within a tabletop, it should be recognised that this invention could also be used on a wide variety of applications such as exterior and. interior doors, furniture doors, electronic consumables with hinged parts, automotive compartments, industrial doors and lids, medical doors and lids.

The invention of the bi side lid is demonstrated in fig 3, fig 4 and fig 5, this demonstrates that the lid can be opened from two opposing sides. Fig 6, fig 7 and fig 8 show section drawings of the invention in a side view. Fig 7 shows the lid closed, all magnets connected and the lid being held in place. Fig 6 shows the lid opened, the lid rotating around the axis of the connected magnets on the right hand side while the magnets on the left hand side have been disconnected thus opening the lid. Fig 8 shows the lid opened from the opposite side, the magnets or the left hand. side connected and allowing the lid to rotate and open while the magnets on the right hand side are now disconnected.

The components of this invention are shown in fig 10 by way of an exploded drawing, the components in the circle are repeated 4 times in each corner. An assembly of all the parts of fig 10 can be seen in an embodiment of a box assembled in fig 2.

Fig 6,7,8 show positions the lid can be placed in. Fig 7 shows the lid closed and being held in place by aft magnets. When the lid is lifted from the left hand side the magnets on the left hand side disconnect due to the force of the lift action, the lid then opens by rotating around the remaining magnets on the right hand side which stay connected as illustrated in fig 6. When the lid is lifted from the right hand side the magnets on the right hand side disconnect due to the force of the lift action, the lid then opens by rotating around the remaining magnets on the left hand side which stay connected as illustrated in fig 8.

Fig 11 and Fig 12 show the retracting nature of the cup magnet. Fig 11 shows the cup magnet fully extended and connecting to the lid magnet thus holding the lid in place. In fig 11, c' represents a space between the lid and the magnet housing, This space prevents collision between the two parts when the lid is being lowered to a closed position of lid. In fig 11 "b' represents space that the cup magnet can move into to create a clearance at c'. In fig 11 a represents a space for the cup magnet to move into to create a clearance at c'. Fig 12 shows the cup magnet in full retracted position allowing a clearance at c'. In fig 11 b' is at least as big as a', c' is at least as big as a.

Fig 11 and fig 12 show how the cup magnet retracts in to the magnet housing when the lid is lifted. When the lid is closed as in fig 11 we see that the cup magnet is attracted to the magnet in the lid, The cup magnet moves to connect to the magnet and therefore holds it in place. When the lid is lifted as in fig 12,. the magnetic attracflqn to the magnet in the lid i remqved anø the cup magnet is attracted to the metal plate. When the lid is lifted and the cup magnet is attracted to the metal plate it moves to connect to the metal plate and leaves the space clear at c'.

Claims

Claims: 1. A lid or door held in place magnetically within: an opening on two opposing sides and by two magnet assemblies per side that can be lifted from either side that does not contain magnets thus opening the lid or door.
2. The magnet assembly according to claim 1, consists of one fixed magnet in the lid and one magnet with controlled movement within a housing attached the opening within which the lid is held.
3. The magnet with controlled movement within a housing according to claim 2. moves in a direction towards or away from the fixed magnet in the lid when the lid is closed.
4. The magnet with controlled movement according to claim 3, has a movement that allows it to make contact with the magnet fitted in the lid but not more, and retract completely inside its housing when the lid is lifted at the point of these magnets.
5. The magnet with controlled movement according to claim 4, when the lid is lifted becomes attracted magnetically to the metal plate attached to the magnet housing at the opposite side from the lid.
6. When the magnet according to claim 5 becomes attracted to the metal plate, the magnet moves to connect to the metal plate and at this point is retracted inside the housing.