A vehicle door safety assembly includes an electromagnet that is coupled to an outer wall of a vehicle. The electromagnet produces a magnetic field when the electromagnet is turned on. An attachment is coupled to a door of the vehicle and the attachment is comprised of a magnetic material. The attachment abuts the electromagnet when the door is fully opened. Moreover, the electromagnet magnetically engages the attachment such that the door is retained in an open position. A release button is integrated into the door and the electromagnet is turned off when the release button is depressed thereby facilitating the door to be positioned in a closed position.

A retractable curved door assembly includes a spring-loaded roller assembly having a reel structure configured to rotate about an axis of rotation thereof, a rail extending away from the spring-loaded roller assembly in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the reel structure with at least a portion of the rail curving about an axis arranged parallel to the axis of rotation of the reel structure, a door end structure slidably engaging the rail, a flexible screen coupled to the reel structure and to the door end structure, and a tension element coupled to the reel structure and the door end structure. A greater tensile force is applied to the tension element than to the flexible screen when the door end structure is slid along the rail in a direction away from the spring-loaded roller assembly to prevent buckling of the flexible screen.

A retractable curved door assembly includes a spring-loaded roller assembly having a reel structure configured to rotate about an axis of rotation thereof, a rail extending away from the spring-loaded roller assembly in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the reel structure with at least a portion of the rail curving about an axis arranged parallel to the axis of rotation of the reel structure, a door end structure slidably engaging the rail, a flexible screen coupled to the reel structure and to the door end structure, and a tension element coupled to the reel structure and the door end structure. A greater tensile force is applied to the tension element than to the flexible screen when the door end structure is slid along the rail in a direction away from the spring-loaded roller assembly to prevent buckling of the flexible screen.

A method of controlling opening resistance in an electronic device includes maintaining the electronic device in a closed state via a resistive force, wherein the resistive force is applied by at least one of: a hinge of the electronic device, and magnets of the electronic device. The method further includes using a sensor on an underside of the electronic device to detect a force applied to a first portion of the electronic device and determining that the force corresponds to a user initiating opening of the electronic device. In accordance with the determination, the method further includes reducing the resistive force to assist the user in opening the electronic device.

A sliding door handle and strike assembly includes a locking member for engaging the strike to prevent the door from opening. The locking member is biased to an unlocked position, until it is moved into a locking position, in which magnetic co-operation acts to hold the locking member in the locking position.

A magnetic safety gate latch assembly and method of operation. The assembly includes: a pool latch tube, a user-actuated lid coupled to the top end of the pool latch tube; a rotatable shaft within the pool latch tube, an upper end of the shaft rigidly coupled to the lid, and a lower end of the shaft including a shaped base. The assembly further includes a magnet housing that at least partially encloses the shaped base and includes an aperture to cooperatively engage with the shaped base. The assembly further includes a bottom cover coupled to the lower end of the pool latch tube and enclosing the magnet housing, the bottom cover including an aperture facing a latch pin housing, the aperture positioned to expose a magnet. The assembly further includes a ferromagnetic latch pin and housing, and a magnetic latch pin guide slidably enclosing the latch pin.

A magnetic safety gate latch assembly and method of operation. The assembly includes: a pool latch tube, a user-actuated lid coupled to the top end of the pool latch tube; a rotatable shaft within the pool latch tube, an upper end of the shaft rigidly coupled to the lid, and a lower end of the shaft including a shaped base. The assembly further includes a magnet housing that at least partially encloses the shaped base and includes an aperture to cooperatively engage with the shaped base. The assembly further includes a bottom cover coupled to the lower end of the pool latch tube and enclosing the magnet housing, the bottom cover including an aperture facing a latch pin housing, the aperture positioned to expose a magnet. The assembly further includes a ferromagnetic latch pin and housing, and a magnetic latch pin guide slidably enclosing the latch pin.

A novel magnetic fastener is realized that utilizes a pair of multipole magnets rotatable relative to each other, allowing the holding force to be selected for ease of operation, namely closing and opening. Each multipole magnet includes a striped pattern of alternating polarity (north and south poles), with the striped patterns having the same pole spacing or pitch. When the stripes of alternating north and south poles are oriented lengthwise, the stripes of the south poles can judiciously align with the stripes of the north poles from the other magnet, creating a strong magnetic force between them to form a fastener. However, when the striped pattern of alternating north and south poles are oriented substantially orthogonal, the stripes are mutually being alternating attracted and repelled, allowing the magnets to be easily separated to effect opening.

A novel magnetic fastener is realized that utilizes a pair of multipole magnets rotatable relative to each other, allowing the holding force to be selected for ease of operation, namely closing and opening. Each multipole magnet includes a striped pattern of alternating polarity (north and south poles), with the striped patterns having the same pole spacing or pitch. When the stripes of alternating north and south poles are oriented lengthwise, the stripes of the south poles can judiciously align with the stripes of the north poles from the other magnet, creating a strong magnetic force between them to form a fastener. However, when the striped pattern of alternating north and south poles are oriented substantially orthogonal, the stripes are mutually being alternating attracted and repelled, allowing the magnets to be easily separated to effect opening.

A vehicle interior component is disclosed. The component may comprise a cover movable relative to a base between closed and open positions and a latch mechanism comprising a magnet arrangement for movement within the cover for engaged and disengaged states. The magnet arrangement may maintain the disengaged state after the cover is released from the base. A magnet of the base may retain the engaged state, a magnet may retain the disengaged state. The magnet arrangement may be concealed within the cover; a magnet arrangement may be concealed within the base. The base may comprise a first magnet on a sidewall and a second magnet on another sidewall; the cover may comprise a first magnet to engage the first magnet of the base and a second magnet to engage the second magnet of the base. The component may comprise a trim component, console, floor console, center console, or compartment.