Magnet activated security system

{
  "publication_number": "US8341988B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Magnet activated security system",
  "abstract": "A locking device for securing a structure comprising an inner body having an inner surface for attachment to the structure, an outer cover located circumferentially about the inner body, the outer cover freely rotating around the inner body in its securing configuration and a key for insertion into an opening in the outer body. First and second magnets are located in spaced apart first and second cavities within the key such that the magnets are oriented with the south pole of the first magnet and the north pole of the second magnet facing in the same direction. The magnets act on a pin within the body of the lock such that, in a first embodiment, when the key is removed from the lock body the pin is magnetically held away from contact with the inner body resulting in a free turning, locked configuration. When the key is inserted into the locking device the pin relocates to a second position causing the inner and outer body to move simultaneously so that rotational force applied to the outer cover is transmitted to the inner body placing the locking device in an unlocked configuration.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A device for securing a structure that includes a mating element comprising: a) an inner body having an inner surface adapted for attachment to a mating element, b) an outer cover located circumferentially about the inner body, the outer cover adapted to freely rotate around the inner body and a central longitudinal axis through the outer cover, the inner body and the mating element, c) a key having an outer shape configured for insertion into a like shaped opening in the outer cover, said key having first and second magnets located in first and second holes in a moveable frame, the frame positioned within a cavity in the key, the first and second holes spaced apart in relationship to each other, such that upon positioning of the key in the opening in the outer cover said first and second magnets are oriented with the south pole of the first magnet and the north pole of the second magnet facing the top of the inner body such that the south pole of the first magnet is adjacent the south pole of a longitudinally moveable magnet and the north pole of the second magnet is adjacent the north pole of the longitudinally moveable magnet such that the first and second magnets function to repel the longitudinally moveable magnet, and d) the longitudinally moveable magnetic comprising one or more magnets located in a central opening within the outer cover such that i. in the absence of the key inserted in the opening in the outer body, the longitudinally moveable magnet is in a first position held away from contact with the inner body by attraction to a magnetic plate within a surface of the cover adjacent to the longitudinally moveable magnet, and ii. with the key inserted into the opening in the outer body the longitudinally moveable magnet relocates to a second position spaced from the magnetic plate with a portion of the longitudinally moveable magnet residing in a bore in the top of the inner body, the outer cover, inner body, key and longitudinally moveable magnet in operative connection such that when the longitudinally moveable magnet is in the first position the outer cover rotates freely around the inner body and with the longitudinally moveable magnet in the second position the outer cover is operatively connected to the inner body such that a rotational force applied to the outer cover is transmitted to the inner body so as to rotate the inner body in relationship to the mating element.",
    "2. The device of claim 1 wherein the mating element is a threaded connection.",
    "3. The device of claim 1 wherein the frame has a multisided periphery, each side being equal in length.",
    "4. The device of claim 3 wherein the cavities has an eight sided periphery sized to receive the eight-sided frame.",
    "5. The device of claim 1 wherein frame and the cavity have a matching multisided periphery, each side thereof being equal in length and sized so the frame fits into the cavity.",
    "6. The device of claim 5 wherein the frame has an eight-sided periphery.",
    "7. The device of claim 1 wherein the key comprises a frame for receiving the first and second magnets, and a cavity for receiving the frame, the frame and cavity having the same multi-sided periphery, each side being equal in length, such that the first and second magnets can be placed in the holes and the frame can be placed in the cavity in multiple different orientations equal to the number of sides so as to provide multiple different combinations of orientation of the north and south poles of the magnets within the frame.",
    "8. The device of claim 1 wherein the key comprises a frame for receiving the first and second magnets, and a cavity for receiving the frame, the frame and cavity each having the same eight-sided periphery, each side being equal in length, such that the first and second magnets can be placed in the holes and the frame can be placed in the cavity in eight different orientations so as to provide eight different combinations of orientation of the north and south poles of the magnets within the frame."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Benefit is claimed of Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/309,082, filed Mar. 1, 2010.\n\nThe present disclosure generally relates to locks, and more particularly, to a security device for engaging a threaded element to prevent unauthorized access thereto, regardless OF whether the threaded element is a port of, or a control for, a fluid passageway, a controller, an access device or any other similar or like configured device or assembly.\n\nConventional locking devices for threaded elements have several disadvantages. One prominent disadvantage is that conventional locking devices attempt to rigidly secure the threaded element. However, this subjects the locking device to abuse and malfeasance because tools or other implements may be used to gain leverage or other advantage on the locking device. As a result, such conventional locking devices can often be easily defeated and removed by the application of brute force.\n\nTherefore, there exists a need in the art for a security device for threaded elements that overcomes the disadvantages of the conventional devices, is inexpensive to manufacture and is easy to assemble and operate.\n\nCertain embodiments are shown in the drawings. However, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings.\n\nFIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a security device incorporating features of the invention attached to a threaded element showing the key removed from the security device.",
  "cpc": [
    "E05B 47/0038",
    "E05B 13/101",
    "E05B 47/0045",
    "F16B 2200/83",
    "F16B 41/005",
    "F16K 35/06",
    "F16K 35/16",
    "Y10T 70/5615",
    "Y10T 70/7057",
    "Y10T 70/7729",
    "Y10T 70/7757",
    "Y10T 70/7904"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E05B 47/00"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Mark Nickeas",
    "Martin Nickeas"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2011-02-28",
  "publication_date": "2013-01-01",
  "grant_date": "2013-01-01",
  "priority_date": "2010-03-01",
  "application_number": "US-201113037201-A",
  "family_id": "43984756",
  "cited_by_count": 5,
  "citations": [
    "US3995460A",
    "US4133194A",
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    "US4223799A",
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    "DE4022634A1",
    "US5072750A",
    "US5291766A",
    "US5205312A",
    "US6089253A",
    "US6840071B2",
    "US7080533B2",
    "US6802338B1"
  ]
}