Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE: KIT FOR QUICK ATTACHING AND DISCONNECTING AN ITEM
FIELD
[0001] Blank
[0002] The present embodiments generally relate to a kit for enabling one
or more items to
be quickly attached or detached using an assembly with a magnet for providing
a
magnetic attraction strong enough to movably hold the magnet adjacent a first
outer
plate for a quick connect and disconnect.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Items that are small and compact in size are usually lost or
misplaced. Once lost or
misplaced, these items are not easily found and are usually replaced to avoid
the
consumer's time spent on trying to relocate these items.
[0004] A need exists for a kit and assembly which enables multiple items to
connect and
then quickly disconnect to provide an easy and efficient way for attaching and
detaching items while carrying them.
[0005] A further need exists for a kit and assembly to avoid having to
spend time looking
for lost or misplaced items and is cost efficient in not having to replace
these items.
[0006] The present embodiments meet these needs.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The detailed description will be better understood in conjunction
with the
accompanying drawings as follows:
[0008] Figures lA is an isometric view of the assembly that is completely
disassembled.
[0009] Figure 1B is an isometric view of the assembly in which the assembly
is partially
assembled.
[00010] Figure 1C is an isometric view of the assembly that is fully
assembled.
[00011] Figure 2 is a cut view of the assembly.
[00012] Figures 3A ¨ 3D are cut views of the assembly engaging an
engagement pin.
[00013] Figures 4A ¨ 4F show items being used with the assembly.
[00014] Figures 5A ¨ 5H show the engagement pin usable with the
interchangeable
accessory item.
[00015] Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the thin removable plate.
[00016] Figures 7A ¨ 7G show embodiments of the fastening means.
[00017] The present embodiments are detailed below with reference to the
listed Figure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[00018] Before explaining the present apparatus in detail, it is to be
understood that the
apparatus is not limited to the particular embodiments and that it can be
practiced or
carried out in various ways.
[00019] The present embodiments relate to a kit which comprises an assembly
and accessory
for attaching and detaching an item with a magnet for providing a magnetic
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attraction strong enough to movably hold the magnet adjacent a first outer
plate.
[00020] The kit further relates to an easy way of carrying items that
naturally would need to be kept
together, such as a cigarette pack and a lighter, to be held together
magnetically, in a
secure fashion.
[00021] The embodiments can also contemplate using security tags, such as
"RFID's" or radio
frequency identification tags and chips, in association with the magnetic
fastening means,
in combination with keys or other devices.
[00022] Referring now to the Figures, Figure 1A shows an isometric view of
the quick disconnect
assembly that is completely disassembled.
[00023] A quick disconnect assembly (6) for carrying a lightweight consumer
item has a chamber
(8), which can best be seen in Figure 1B, having an opening (9) in a top wall
(10).
[00024] The quick disconnect assembly (6) also has at least a bottom wall
(11), opposite the top
wall (10), and four side walls (14a ¨ 14d). In an embodiment it can be
contemplated that
there can be more than four side walls. In another embodiment it can be
contemplated that
there can be less than four side walls. In another embodiment, the side wall
can be
continuous and cylindrical in shape. It is also contemplated, that the side
walls and the
bottom wall can also be formed by a manufactured depression in an item.
[00025] The quick disconnect assembly (6) can have a magnetically
attractable inner plate (12)
fixed within the chamber (8) adjacent the bottom wall (11). The quick
disconnect
assembly (6) can also have a magnetically attractable outer plate (22a). The
quick
disconnect assembly (6) can also have a second outer plate (22b) disposed on a
side wall
opposite the outer plate.
1000261 The magnetically attractable outer plate (22a) can be secured to an
end of the side wall
(14d) opposite the magnetically attractable inner plate (12). The magnetically
attractable
outer plate (22a) can have a thickness and magnetic attraction strong enough
to hold a
magnet (17) adjacent the magnetically attractable outer plate (22a). It can be
contemplated
that more than one magnetically attractable outer plate can be used in the
quick disconnect
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assembly (6). It is also contemplated that the magnetically attractable outer
plate (22a) can
be secured to any of the side walls.
[00027] In an embodiment, a side wall can have at least a right side wall
with a right side wall top
and a left side wall with a left side wall top.
[00028] The magnet (17) can have a first magnet flat side (18) and a second
magnet flat side (19)
opposite the first magnet flat side, wherein the magnet can be slidably
disposed in the
chamber (8) for moving between top wall (10) and the magnetically attractable
inner plate
(12).
[00029] In an embodiment, the magnet can be a cylindrical-shaped magnet, a
cube-shaped magnet,
or another geometrical shaped magnet. The geometrical shape can depend on the
manufacturing of an item.
[00030] In another embodiment, the magnet can be a solid magnet and all
sides of the magnet can
be magnetic. The magnet can further be a rare earth metal magnet.
[00031] In this embodiment, rare earth metals can be such as neodymium iron
boron magnet graded
in strength from N24 to N54 which is a permanent magnet and further can
include the
following four classes: Neodymium Iron Boron (NdFeB or NIB), Samarium Cobalt
(SmCo), Alnico, Ceramic or Ferrite.
[00032] Additional magnets can be used, as there are 3 main types of
magnets: Permanent
Magnets, Temporary Magnets, and Electromagnets.
[00033] Figure 1B shows an isometric view of the quick disconnect assembly
in which the quick
disconnect assembly is shown partially assembled. The side walls (14a ¨ 14d)
and the
bottom wall (11) are shown connected with one another to form the chamber (8).
The
magnetically attractable outer plate (22a) can be secured to an end of the
side wall (14d)
opposite the magnetically attractable inner plate (12).
[00034] In an embodiment the chamber can be round or polygon in shape.
[00035] Figure 1C shows an isometric view of the quick disconnect assembly
that is fully
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assembled. The magnetically attractable inner plate (12) can be attached to
the bottom wall
(11) inside the chamber (8). The magnet (17) can be slidably disposed in the
chamber (8)
for moving between top wall (10) and the magnetically attractable inner plate
(12). The
top wall (10), having an opening (9), can be attached to the side walls (14a ¨
14d) opposite
the bottom wall (11).
[00036] Figure 2 shows a cut view of the quick disconnect assembly. The cut
view shows the
quick disconnect assembly cut through two of the side walls (14b and 14d). The
cut view
also shows the top wall (10) and bottom wall (11) opposite each other.
[00037] The magnetically attractable outer plate (22a) can be secured to a
side wall using a
fastening means (25).
[00038] In an embodiment, the fastening means can extend through the
magnetically attractable
outer plate and into the side wall. The fastening means can be an adhesive, a
fastener, such
as a screw or pin, an epoxy, other bonding materials, or combinations thereof.
[00039] An item can be a lighter, a flashlight, a keychain, a MP3 player,
an IpodTM, a cell phone, a
camera, a video recorder, a wallet, a cigarette case, eyeglass cases,
eyeglasses, sunglasses,
horse bridals, wake boards, ski boots, or items of the like.
[00040] The magnetically attractable inner plate (12) can be attached to
the bottom wall (11) inside
the chamber (8).
[00041] The magnet (17) is shown slidably disposed in the chamber (8) for
moving between top
wall (10) and the magnetically attractable inner plate (12).
[00042] A portion of the opening (9) is also shown in the top wall (10).
[00043] Figure 3A shows a cut view of the quick disconnect assembly. The
cut view shows the
quick disconnect assembly cut through two of the side walls (14b and 14d). The
cut view
also shows the top wall (10) and bottom wall (11) opposite each other.
[00044] The magnetically attractable inner plate (12) is shown attached to
the bottom wall
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(11) inside the chamber (8).
[00045] The magnet (17) is shown slidably disposed in the chamber (8) in a
first position (50)
adjacent to the top wall (10). The magnet (17) can be held in the first
position (50) by the
magnet's magnetic attraction to the magnetically attractable outer plate
(22a).
[00046] Figure 3A also shows a magnetic field (21), with a first magnetic
field size (70), in a
position that is attracted to the magnetically attractable outer plate (22a).
[00047] An engagement pin (30) with a pin head (32) and a pin stem (34) is
shown in a position
outside the magnetic field produced by the magnet (17). The engagement pin's
(30) pin
stem (34) has a diameter small enough to slidably move inside the chamber
through the
opening (9) in the top wall (10). The pin stem comprises a magnetically
attractable
material capable of moving the magnet (17).
[00048] In an embodiment, the pin stem can be cylindrical, conical, or
polygonal with at least one
pin stem flat face for engaging the first magnet flat side.
[00049] In an embodiment the pin stem and the pin head can be a two piece
unit that can be made
of a ferromagnetic material, such as steel, which can further be removably
attachable to
each other by threading, epoxy, bonding, welding, clamping, snapping, bolting,
or other
fastening means. In an additional embodiment the pin stem and the pin head can
be a one
piece unit that can be made of a ferromagnetic material. Additional magnetic
materials can
be used, such as iron and steel.
[00050] Figure 3B shows a cut view of the quick disconnect assembly. The
cut view shows the
quick disconnect assembly cut through two of the side walls (14b and 14d). The
cut view
also shows the top wall (10) and bottom wall (11) opposite each other.
[00051] The magnetically attractable inner plate (12) is shown attached to
the bottom wall (11)
inside the chamber (8).
[00052] The engagement pin (30) with a pin head (32) and a pin stem (34) is
shown in a
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magnetically attached position with the magnet (17). Once the engagement pin
(30)
is in a magnetically attached position with the magnet (17), the magnetic
field (21)
can change shape to a second magnetic field size (72).
[00053] The new shape of the magnetic field (21) changes the strength of
the magnet's
magnetic attraction to the magnetically attractable inner plate (12), and the
magnet
(17) moves to a second position (52) adjacent to the magnetically attractable
inner
plate (12) which can best be seen in Figure 1C.
[00054] Figure 3C shows a cut view of the quick disconnect assembly. The
cut view shows
the quick disconnect assembly cut through two of the side walls (14b and 14d).
The
cut view also shows the top wall (10) and bottom wall (11) opposite each
other.
[00055] The magnetically attractable inner plate (12) is shown attached to
the bottom wall
(11) inside the chamber (8).
[00056] The engagement pin's pin stem (34) is shown slidably disposed in
the chamber (8),
through opening (9) in the top wall (10), in a magnetically attracted position
attached to the magnet (17).
[00057] The pin head can have a diameter larger than the pin stem and can
be made from the
same material as the pin stem. In another embodiment, the pin stem and pin
head
can be made of different materials. Such materials can include but are not
limited to
plastics, metals, metal alloys, polymers, and wood for example.
[00058] The magnet (17) is shown slidably disposed in the chamber (8) in a
second position
(52) adjacent to the magnetically attractable inner plate (12). The magnet
(17) is
held in the second position (52) by the magnet's magnetic attraction to the
magnetically attractable inner plate (12).
[00059] Figure 3D shows a cut view of the assembly. The cut view shows the
quick
disconnect assembly cut through two of the side walls (14b and 14d). The cut
view
also shows the top wall (10) and bottom wall (11) opposite each other.
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[00060] The magnetically attractable inner plate (12) is shown attached to
the bottom wall
(11) inside the chamber (8).
[00061] When a force (60) pulls the engagement pin (30) with enough force
to break the
magnetic attraction between the magnet (17) and the magnetically attractable
inner
plate (12), the magnet (17) can then slide through the chamber until it makes
contact
with the top wall (10).
[00062] If the force (60) is still strong enough to break the magnetic
attraction between the
magnet (17) and the engagement pin (30), then the engagement pin's (30) pin
stem
(34) can exit the chamber (8) through the opening (9) in the top wall (10).
[00063] Once the engagement pin (30) has been removed from the magnetically
attracted
position attached to the magnet (17) the magnetic field (21) changes shape
back to
its first magnetic field size (70), and the magnet (17) can once again be held
in the
first position (50) by the magnets (17) magnetic attraction to the
magnetically
attractable outer plate (22).
[00064] Figure 4A ¨ 4F shows items (40) usable with the assembly. The uses
of the
assembly are not limited to only these representations.
[00065] KIT WITH PIN AND ACCESSORY ITEM
[00066] In an embodiment, the kit for attaching and disconnecting an item
comprises an
assembly with an engagement pin comprising a pin head and a pin stem. The kit
further comprises an interchangeable accessory item.
[00067] In an embodiment, the pin head and pin stem can be hollow. In other
embodiments
the pin stem can be solid and the pin head can be hollow. In a further
embodiment,
the pin head can have an adapter and in a further embodiment, the pin head can
have
an attachment.
[00068] The interchangeable accessory item can magnetically attach to the
assembly using
the magnet for a quick connect and disconnect. An interchangeable accessory
item
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can be a key ring, a carabineer, a float key ring, a piece of jewelry, a
bottle opener, a
lanyard, a suction cup, a cigar punch and combinations thereof
[00069] In this embodiment, fasteners can be used such as a multipurpose
clasp, a jeans
snap, a jeans clasp, a belt clip, a purse clip, a golf bag clip, and
combinations
thereof The fasteners useable in this embodiment can further comprise an
engagement pin to magnetically attach to the assembly using the magnet for a
quick
connect and disconnect.
[00070] One or more interchangeable accessory items can be attached to the
assembly at one
time, in this embodiment.
[00071] Figures 5A ¨ 5H show the engagement pin (30) being used with the
interchangeable
accessory item (55) connected to the item (40). These Figures further show the
engagement pin's pin head (32) and pin stem (34) in various positions of use
with
the item (40).
[00072] CIGARETTE PLAQUE
[00073] In an embodiment, the kit for attaching and disconnecting an item
comprises an
assembly with a thin removable plate. The thin removable plate can be inserted
into
an item and can magnetically attach to the assembly using the magnet for a
quick
connect and disconnect to the assembly.
[00074] The thin removable plate (65) which can have a length between about
2.0 inches to
about 6.0 inches and a thickness between about 0.25 inches to about 0.75
inches.
The plate can be made from stainless steel or another magnetic material that
can be
attractable to the magnet. In an additional embodiment the plate can be
perforated
with holes having different diameters enabling engagement with different size
clasps.
[00075] In additional embodiments, the thin removable plate can be bigger
or smaller than
the dimensions as described above.
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[00076] In another embodiment, the thin removable plate (65) which can have
a length no greater
than about 2.0 inches, a width no greater than about 2.0 inches and a
thickness between
about 0.125 inches to about 0.0625 inches for magnetically attracting to the
magnet
through at least one layer of material having a thickness no greater than 0.25
inches for
attaching to a second item (45). The at least one layer of material can
include, but is not
limited to fabric, cellophane, plastic, paper, cardboard, vinyl, latex,
combinations thereof.
[00077] Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the thin removable plate (65) being
used with a first
item (40) and a second item (45). The thin removable plate can be inserted
into the at least
one layer of material (67) as shown in this Figure.
[00078] The thin removable plate can further include a means of affixing on
one side of an item. A
means of fixing can be an adhesive, VeIcroTM, a suction cup, a snap, a buckle,
a clasp, a
clip and combinations thereof
[00079] In an embodiment, the thin removable plate can have a hollowed
portion, wherein the
surface is curved or rounded outward. The hollowed portion can further have
perforations,
or holes.
[00080] In an additional embodiment, the kit can comprise two thin
removable plates. One plate
can be solid, while the other plate can have a hollowed portion for a quick
connect and
disconnect of an item.
[00081] In additional embodiments, the thin removable plate can be bigger
or smaller then the
dimensions as described above.
[00082] In an embodiment, the thin removable plate can have a message, such
as an advertising
message, a slogan, or a logo, so as to provide the dual function of holding
and advertising
in one step, for the device.
[00083] KIT WITH FASTENING MEANS
[00084] In another embodiment, the kit for attaching and disconnecting an item
comprises an
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assembly and a fastening means. The fastening means can further comprises a
stem
having a diameter small enough to slidably move inside the chamber and the
stem
comprises a magnetically attractable material capable of moving the magnet
from a
position adjacent the magnetically attractable inner plate to a position
adjacent the
magnetically attractable outer plate.
[00085] The stem inside the chamber of the assembly enlarges the magnetic
field to a second
magnetic field size moving the magnet to engage the magnetically attractable
inner
plate and the fastening means can magnetically attach to the assembly using
the
magnet for a quick connect and disconnect to the assembly.
[00086] Fastening means as described in this embodiment can be, but is not
limited to a
multipurpose clasp, a jeans snap, a jeans clasp, a belt clip, a purse clip, a
golf bag
clip, and combinations thereof
[00087] Figures 7A ¨ 7G show embodiments of the fastening means (75) being
used with a
first item (40) and a second item (45). The embodiments of the fastening means
is
not limited to what is being represented in the Figures.
[00088] In another embodiment, the kit can include an assembly and a
flexible magnetic
piece for encircling an item. The flexible magnetic piece can be coated in
fabric,
foam, or any flexible material. In this embodiment, the assembly can attach
using
the magnet to the flexible magnetic piece for a quick connect and disconnect.
[00089] While these embodiments have been described with emphasis on the
embodiments,
it should be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the
embodiments might be practiced other than as specifically described herein.
