초록 ▼

A magnetic fastener (10) for fastening a first flap (12) of material to a second flap (14) of material. A magnet (26) is attached to one of the flaps (12, 14) while a magnetic element (28) is attached to the other flap (14, 12). The natural magnetic attraction between the magnet (26) and the magneti

A magnetic fastener (10) for fastening a first flap (12) of material to a second flap (14) of material. A magnet (26) is attached to one of the flaps (12, 14) while a magnetic element (28) is attached to the other flap (14, 12). The natural magnetic attraction between the magnet (26) and the magnetic element (28) keeps the flaps (12, 14) fastened together. A handle (30), preferably embodied as a button (32), is attached to the first flap (12) and interconnected to either the magnet (26) or the magnetic element (28) for allowing the magnetic fastener (10) to be easily opened and closed.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A magnetic fastener (10) comprising: a first flap (12) of material having an inside ( 16) and an exterior (18); a second flap (14) of material having an outside ( 20) and an interior (22); a magnetic assembly (24) having a first portion ( 56) including at least two first aper

What is claimed is: 1. A magnetic fastener (10) comprising: a first flap (12) of material having an inside ( 16) and an exterior (18); a second flap (14) of material having an outside ( 20) and an interior (22); a magnetic assembly (24) having a first portion ( 56) including at least two first apertures disposed therein and attached to said first flap (12) and a second portion (58) including at least two second apertures disposed therein and attached to said second flap (14) for interconnecting said first flap ( 12) to said second flap (14); a first thread (38) passing through said first apertures for attaching said first portion (56) to said inside ( 16) of said first flap (12); a second thread (44) passing through said second apertures for attaching said second portion (58) to said outside (20) of said second flap (14); and a handle (30) attached to said exterior (18) of said first flap (12) and directly interconnected with said first portion (56) of said magnetic assembly (24) for allowing a person to grasp said handle (30) and operate said magnetic assembly (24). 2. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first portion (56) of said magnetic assembly ( 24) is further defined as a magnet (26) forming a magnetic field and attached to said inside (16) of said first flap ( 12) by said first thread (38). 3. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 2 wherein said magnet (26) is a permanent magnet which forms said magnetic field. 4. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 2 wherein said magnet (26) includes a coating for preventing corrosion of said magnet (26). 5. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 2 wherein said second portion (58) is further defined as a magnetic element (28) formed of a magnetically attractive material and attached to said outside (20) of said second flap (14) by said second thread (44) for receiving said magnet (26). 6. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 5 wherein said at least two first apertures are further defined as at least two magnet apertures (36) with said first thread (38) passing through said magnet apertures (36). 7. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 6 wherein said handle (30) is further defined as a button (32) . 8. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 7 wherein said button (32) includes at least two button apertures (40) for receiving said first thread (38) and attaching said button (32) to said exterior (18) of said first flap (12). 9. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 8 wherein said button apertures (40) align with said magnet apertures (36) for allowing said first thread (38) to pass through both of said button apertures (40) and said magnet apertures (36). 10. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 7 wherein said button (32) includes a loop (46) for receiving said first thread (38) and attaching said button (32) to said exterior (18) of said first flap (12). 11. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 5 wherein said at least two second apertures are further defined as at least two magnetic element apertures (42) with said second thread (44) passing through said magnetic element apertures (42). 12. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 5 wherein said magnetic element (28) is formed of a metal. 13. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 7 wherein said button (32) is formed of a non-magnetic material. 14. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 13 wherein said button (32) is formed of plastic. 15. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first portion (56) of said magnetic assembly ( 24) is defined as a magnetic element (28) formed of a magnetically attractive material and attached to said inside (16) of said first flap (12) for receiving said second portion ( 58). 16. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 15 wherein said magnetic element (28) is formed of a metal. 17. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 15 wherein said second portion (58) of said magnetic assembly ( 24) is further defined as a magnet (26) attached to said outside (20) of said second flap (14). 18. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 17 wherein said at least two second portion apertures are further defined as at least two magnet apertures (36) and said second thread ( 44) passes through said magnet apertures (36) for attaching said magnet (26) to said outside (20) of said second flap (14). 19. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 17 wherein said magnet (26) is a permanent magnet which forms said magnetic field. 20. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 17 wherein said magnet (26) includes a coating for preventing corrosion of said magnet (26). 21. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 15 wherein said at least two first portion apertures are further defined as at least two magnetic element apertures (42). 22. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 21 wherein said handle (30) is further defined as a button (32) . 23. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 22 wherein said button (32) is formed of a non-magnetic material. 24. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 23 wherein said button (32) is formed of plastic. 25. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 22 wherein said button (32) includes at least two button apertures (40) for receiving said first thread (38) and attaching said button (32) to said exterior (18) of said first flap (12). 26. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 25 wherein said button apertures (40) align with said magnetic element apertures (42) for allowing said first thread (38) to pass through both of said button apertures (40) and said magnetic element apertures (42). 27. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 22 said button (32) includes a loop (46) for receiving said first thread (38) and attaching said button (32) to said exterior (18) of said first flap (12). 28. A magnetic fastener (10) comprising: a first flap (12) of material having an inside ( 16) and an exterior (18); a second flap (14) of material having an outside ( 20) and an interior (22); a magnetic assembly (24) having a magnetic element ( 28) attached to said first flap (12) and a magnet (26) attached to said second flap (14) for interconnecting said first flap (12) to said second flap (14); a handle (30) attached to said exterior (18) of said first flap (12) and directly interconnected with said magnetic element (28) for allowing a person to grasp said handle (30) and operate said magnetic assembly (24); said magnetic element (28) including a peripheral wall portion (48) and a planer wall portion (50) defining a cavity (52) for receiving said magnet (26); and said magnetic element (28) further including a flange portion (54) extending outwardly from said peripheral wall portion (48) for making contact with said magnet (26) so said magnet (26) can be guided into said cavity (52). 29. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 28 wherein said magnetic element (28) further includes at least one tab (49) protruding inward from said peripheral wall portion ( 48) to further secure said magnet (26) in said cavity ( 52). 30. A magnetic fastener (10) comprising: a first flap (12) of material having an inside ( 16) and an exterior (18); a second flap (14) of material having an outside ( 20) and an interior (22); a magnetic assembly (24) having a first portion ( 56) attached to said first flap (12) and a second portion ( 58) attached to said second flap (14) for interconnecting said first flap (12) to said second flap (14); a button (32) attached to said exterior (18) of said first flap (12) and directly interconnected with said first portion (56) of said magnetic assembly (24) for allowing a person to grasp said button (32) and operate said magnetic assembly (24); and a buttonhole stitch (34) on said first flap (12) for creating the appearance of a standard button-to-buttonhole assembly. 31. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 30 wherein said first portion (56) of said magnetic assembly ( 24) is further defined as a magnet (26) forming a magnetic field and attached to said inside (16) of said first flap ( 12) and said second portion (58) is further defined as a magnetic element (28) formed of a magnetically attractive material and attached to said outside (20) of said second flap (14) for receiving said magnet (26). 32. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 30 wherein said first portion (56) of said magnetic assembly ( 24) is defined as a magnetic element (28) formed of a magnetically attractive material and attached to said inside (16) of said first flap (12) for receiving said second portion ( 58) and said second portion (58) of said magnetic assembly ( 24) is further defined as a magnet (26) attached to said outside (20) of said second flap (14). 33. A magnetic fastener (10) comprising: a first flap (12) of material having an inside ( 16) and an exterior (18); a second flap (14) of material having an outside ( 20) and an interior (22); a magnetic assembly (24) having a magnet (26) attached to said first flap (12) and a magnetic element (28) attached to said second flap (14) for interconnecting said first flap (12) to said second flap (14); a handle (30) attached to said exterior (18) of said first flap (12) and directly interconnected with said magnet (26) for allowing a person to grasp said handle (30) and operate said magnetic assembly (24); said magnetic element (28) including a peripheral wall portion (48) and a planer wall portion (50) defining a cavity (52) for receiving said magnet (26); and said magnetic element (28) further including a flange portion (54) extending outwardly from said peripheral wall portion (48) for contacting said magnet (26) during operation of said magnetic fastener such that said magnet (26) can be guided into said cavity (52). 34. A magnetic fastener (10) as set forth in claim 33 wherein said magnetic element (28) further includes at least one tab (49) protruding inward from said peripheral wall portion ( 48) to further secure said magnet (26) in said cavity ( 52).