| Impact guard system for devices -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Impact guard system for devicesUSPTO Application #: 20070040081Title: Impact guard system for devices Abstract: An impact guard system comprises an impact guard positioned adjacent a first product surface or positioned on a second surface to reduce the amount of impact on the first product surface and second surface when the first product surface and second product surfaces contact each other. (end of abstract) Agent: Darcell Walker - Houston, TX, US Inventor: Dan L. Dietz USPTO Applicaton #: 20070040081 - Class: 248206500 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Supports, Brackets, Specially Mounted Or Attached, By Magnet The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070040081. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of and is related to and claims priority from utility patent application Ser. No. 11/208,494 filed on Aug. 22, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to impact guards incorporated into products to reduce the shock to a product segment caused as a result of one product segment striking another product segment during normal product operations. In particular, this invention relates to impact guards incorporated into magnetic products to reduce the shock to a magnet caused as a result of the magnet striking another magnet, a magnetic surface or a surface such as a metal, plastic or wooden surface during the normal operation of a product incorporating. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Many mechanical devices have moving parts that contact each other during normal operations of the product. Depending on the intensity of the impact of the parts, a device part may break or be damaged by the contacting or striking of the parts. Some products that contain magnets as part of the their operations have a substantial number of parts that contact each other which could lead to the magnets breaking as a result of the impact. [0004] Magnets are an essential component of many products in our society. Magnets are incorporated into products such as television sets, industrial turbines, computer hard drives, and metal recycling equipment. The applications for magnets range from tasks in one's home to industrial jobs in enormous plants. Although magnets are incorporated into a large variety products, many of the products use magnets to attract non-magnetic objects (metal objects) to the magnet. However, in some more recent products, magnets are used to attract other magnets. [0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,787 describes the use of magnets in an eyeglass clasp for maintaining eyeglasses on a clothing material. The clasp comprises at least one magnetic means engaged with the eyeglasses temple bars that align with each other but not with the eyeglasses frame body midpoint when the temple bars are closed. The magnets are in attractive magnetic communication when the temple bars are closed. Pivoting one of the temple bars into the closed position uses the clasp. The frame body and closed temple bar are then positioned on one side of a clothing material. The second temple bar is then pivoted into the closed position such that it is on the other side of the clothing material. With the temple bars closed, the magnets are in attractive magnetic communication and impart a gripping force on the article of clothing. The gripping force substantially prevents relative movement between the temple bars and the clothing material. [0006] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/208,494 provides a magnetic spring clip device that is attachable to a writing instrument, lighting instrument, a combination illuminating writing instrument or any other similar type device. The invention further provides a magnetic spring clip system that enables a person to better secure various types of instruments to the person's clothing. The magnetic spring clip comprises a clip base that attaches to the instrument. This base further comprises a pivot point to enable the spring clip to rotate between open and closed positions to engage the clothing article. The pivot point comprises a hinge that also attaches a clip shaft to the clip base. A clip magnet attaches to the clip shaft. The magnetic force of the magnetic attaches to the external surface of the instrument pinning a portion of the article of clothing between the magnet and the surface of the instrument and therefore securing the instrument via the magnetic spring clip to the clothing article. The ability of the clip shaft and clip magnet to pivot between open and closed provides an opening through which clothing is inserted. As mentioned in the closed position the magnet clamps against the clothing and thereby secures the instrument to the clothing article. [0007] Another related patent application Ser. No. 10/907,734 describes a writing instrument having an elongated body housing and having an engagement surface that is magnetic and magnetizable. This instrument includes a rigid clip supported by the elongated body and a clip magnet supported by the clip and positioned on the clip sufficient to line up with and engage the engagement surface. [0008] When products use magnets, the impact of a magnet striking or contacting another magnet or magnetic surface could cause the magnet to break or could cause other damage to the magnet. In most cases the damage would cause the magnet to fail. In any case, damage to the magnet would require the replacement of that magnet. [0009] Various types of magnets are incorporated into magnetic products. Many of these magnets are coated with a material to prevent chipping and breaking. One type of magnet is the Samarium Cobalt magnet. These magnets are composed of samarium cobalt and iron. In general, the elements of these magnets are melted together and milled into a powder that is dry-pressed to shape in the presences of a magnetic field. Samarium magnets are small in size but very strong magnetically. However, these magnets are very brittle. These magnets are very prone to chipping and cracking. [0010] The Alnico magnet is made primarily from aluminum, nickel, cobalt, copper, iron and sometimes titanium. This type of magnet is brittle and chip or break if dropped on a hard surface. The Neodymium magnet (Neodymium Iron Baron--Nd--Fe--B) magnet is extremely strong for their size. Neodymium magnets are very brittle, but very strong magnetically. Also these magnets are prone to chipping and cracking. Ceramic magnets are composed of strontium carbonate and iron oxide. The ceramic magnet material is extremely brittle and can chip or break if dropped on a hard surface or if allowed to "jump at" an attracting object. [0011] As discussed, many of the magnets and magnetic coatings used in magnet products are brittle and easily broken. There remains a need for a device or system that can eliminate or substantially reduce the amount of impact to the magnet in a magnetic product during the operations of the magnetic product. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a system of impact guards to reduce the impact on product surfaces when one product surface contacts another product surface. [0013] It is a second objective of the present invention to provide impact guards as part of a magnetic product to reduce the amount of the impact to a magnet when the magnet contacts another magnet, a magnetic surface or a metal object as part of the normal operation of the magnetic product. [0014] It is a third objective of the present invention to provide a magnetic product having an impact guard adjacent a magnet contained within the magnetic product [0015] It is a fourth objective of the present invention to provide impact guards as part of magnetic products such that the impact guards are positioned adjacent a magnet and contacts another magnet, magnetic surface or metal object prior to the magnet contacting another magnetic, magnetic surface or metal object and thereby creating a minimum clearance between the magnet and other magnet or magnetic surface. [0016] It is a fifth objective of the present invention to provide a magnet impact guard system wherein impact guards are positioned on a first surface whereby the impact guards contact another surface prior to the first surface such as a metal, plastic or wooden surface contacting the other surface and thereby creating a minimum clearance between the surfaces. [0017] The present invention provides one or more impact guards between segments of a product that contact each other as part of the normal product operations. The impact guard is positioned such that when the product segments come together, an impact guard attached to one segment contacts the other segment before the other segment and absorbs the impact of that segment. As a result, the impact of the two segments contacting each other is reduced thereby reducing the possibility of segment breakage or damage. [0018] One embodiment of the present invention provides a magnet impact guard system in which impact guards are positioned adjacent a first magnet or positioned on a magnetic surface to reduce the amount of impact on the first magnet and other magnet or magnetic surface when the first magnet is drawn to a second magnet or magnetic surface as part of the normal operation of the product containing the first magnet [0019] The configuration of the impact guards can vary from one guard positioned adjacent a magnet or magnetic surface to plurality of impact guards positioned at various location on the surface of a magnet. The impact guards are of a size such that contact of the guards with another surface forms a clearance that reduces the impact but does effect the operation of and attraction force of the magnet. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Continue reading... Full patent description for Impact guard system for devices Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Impact guard system for devices patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Impact guard system for devices or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Interchangeable snap-in device mounting apparatus Next Patent Application: Cable fixer for an electronic device Industry Class: Supports ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Impact guard system for devices patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.71103 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Accenture , Agouron Pharmaceuticals , Amgen , AT&T , Bausch & Lomb , Callaway Golf |
||
