Magnetic Attachment for Portable Items

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for a method to removably attach and detach portable items to prevent loss, facilitate organization, and reduce time and cost associated with misplaced items, especially in scenarios where item misplacement can lead to hazards or inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

The method employs lightweight, non-electric magnetically attractable components that can be inserted into portable items to form detachable magnetic assemblies, allowing for easy attachment and detachment, and can include features like global positioning system transmitters for tracking and printed messages for co-branding and advertising.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If magnetically attractable components are inserted into portable items to enable attachment and detachment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of attachment and detachmentVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical attachment mechanisms (such as clips, buttons, or zippers) with a magnetic field-based attachment system. Magnetically attractable components are inserted into portable items, enabling attachment and detachment through magnetic attraction and repulsion forces, thereby simplifying user interaction while eliminating complex mechanical structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes changes in magnetic field parameters (strength, direction, polarity) to control the attachment and detachment of portable items. By adjusting the magnetic field parameters, the system achieves easy attachment when items are close together and easy detachment when separated, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If magnetically attractable components are used to keep items together, then the reliability is improved, but the weight of the moving object increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of lossVSAvoidweight of portable items

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs lightweight magnetically attractable materials with optimized magnetic properties to achieve the necessary attachment force while minimizing weight. By carefully selecting materials and adjusting magnetic field strength parameters, the system provides reliable item retention without significantly increasing the weight of portable items.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of time

If multiple portable items are kept attached together, then the loss of time is reduced, but the volume of the moving object increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime to locate itemsVSAvoidvolume occupied by attached items

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple portable items into a compact attached assembly using magnetic attraction forces. Items are drawn together and held in close proximity, forming a space-efficient bundle that reduces the overall volume occupied while preventing items from becoming separated or lost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution effectively keeps items together, preventing loss, enhancing organization, and enabling tracking, while reducing the need for frequent replacements and promoting co-branding opportunities, with the added safety benefit of keeping hazardous items out of reach of children.

Implementation Method 1

A first magnetically attractable component with a first face may be removably inserted into a first portable item... A second magnetically attractable component with a second face may be removably inserted into a second portable item... allowing the first magnetically attractable item to magnetically engage the second magnetically attractable item

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic attraction: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentUS8739386B2Method for magnetically attaching and detaching portable items

Publication Date: 2014.06.03 THE DUAL MAGNETIC INTERLOCKING PIN SYST

AI summary

A method for removably attaching portable items which are usable with each other. The method comprises the steps of removably inserting a first magnetically attractable component into a first portable item, thereby forming a first magnetically attractable item; removably inserting a second magnetically attractable component into a second portable item, thereby forming a second magnetically attractable item; allowing the first magnetically attractable item to magnetically engage the second magnetically attractable item, thereby forming a detachable magnetic assembly, wherein the detachable magnetic assembly can magnetically engage a magnetic surface, enabling the detachable magnetic assembly to be removably secured to the magnetic surface, and enabling one of the first or second portable items to be removed from the detachable magnetic assembly while maintaining the other first or second portable item in engagement with the magnetic surface.