Magnetic storage container having a magnetically latching lid

Abstract

A magnetic storage container having a magnetically latching lid. The magnetic storage container incorporates magnet arrays into a cylindrically shaped container about its open and closed ends to attach the container's lid to its body and produce a strong magnetic attractive force for holding the container in place to any ferrous mounting surface. The container is intended to store or hide items in a multitude of discreet and useful locations.

Claims

1. A magnetic storage container comprising: A cylindrically shaped container body having one open end and one closed end and being constructed from a high strength and durable thermoplastic or other formable metal or composite material and having any desired diameter and length; Wherein the open end of the container extends into the cylinder to form a storage cavity; Wherein the surface around the opening to the storage cavity contains a plurality of an even number of permanent magnetics of any desired shape and size being spaced equidistant and of alternating North and South polarities; Wherein the surface around the opening to the storage cavity contains may contain an indention or slot to accept and hold a sealing gasket made of rubber or other flexible material; Wherein the closed end of the container contains around the perimeter of its circumference a plurality of an even number of permanent magnetics of any desired shape and size being spaced equidistant and of alternating North and South polarities; Wherein the closed end of the container contains a single disc magnet of any desired size located at its exact center and being mounted either within the interior of the container's storage cavity or within the exterior surface of the container. A cylindrically shaped container lid being made of the same material and circumference as that of the container body; Wherein the lid's top and bottom flat surfaces may be solid or have a shallow recess on one end being identical in circumference to that of the opening into magnetic container body's storage cavity; Wherein the lid contains on either or both of its end surfaces an identical arrangement and quantity of magnets as that contained within the open and closed ends of the container body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings where like designations denote like elements, and:

[0021] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a magnetic storage container body; and

[0022] FIG. 2. is an isometric view of a magnetic storage container lid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a magnetic storage container. In particular, disclosed is a cylindrical magnetic storage container having a complex magnetic array for securing the container to a ferrous surface and for attaching and securing ITS lid to both the open and closed ends of the container.

[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a magnetic storage container body 4. The magnetic storage container body 4 comprises a cylindrically shaped container constructed from a high strength and durable thermoplastic or other formable metal or composite material and having any desired diameter and length. The container body 4 contains a plurality of evenly numbered and spaced high strength neodymium rare earth magnets 1,2 of any desired shape and size around the cylinder's opening on the top 5 end and identically located around the circumference of its closed end on the bottom 6. The magnets are situated such that their outward facing surfaces lie flush with the surfaces of the open and closed ends 6, 7 of the container's body 4, and expose the polar ends of each magnet in an alternating sequence of North magnetic polarity 1 and South magnetic polarity 2. The magnetic container body also contains a single disc magnet 3 of any desired size being located at the exact center of the closed end of the container and being mounted either within the interior of the container's storage cavity or within the exterior surface of the container.

[0025] FIG. 2. illustrates a magnetic storage container lid 8. The magnetic storage container lid 8 comprises a cylindrically shaped cap being of the same circumference as that of the magnetic container body 4, and flush on its top and bottom surfaces, or having a shallow recess on one end that is identical in circumference to that of the internal opening in the magnetic container body 4. The magnetic container lid 8 possesses on either or both of its end surfaces an identical arrangement and quantity of magnets as that contained within the open and closed ends 6, 7 of the container body 4.

[0026] The combination of magnets 1-3 contained within the closed end of the container body 4 are intended to hold the container firmly and securely in place to any ferrous service.

[0027] The magnetic storage container's body 4 and lid 8 having an identical arrangement and quantity of magnets will cause the two components to experience a strong attractive force between them that pulls them together when placed in close proximity to one another. This attractive force firmly holds the lid 8 in place across the storage cavity's opening 5, sealing the container and locking in its contents. With the lid 8 being attached to the top of the container, it can be slightly rotated in either direction to offset the alignment of the magnets and generate a repulsion force between the container's lid 8 and body 4 that will push the two components apart and allow them to be easily separated.

[0028] An alternate embodiment of the invention may include a magnetic storage container body 4 having an indention or slot recessed into the surface of its open end to accept and hold a sealing gasket made of rubber or other flexible material that can be compressed when the container's lid 8 is attached to seal the opening to the storage cavity 5 to render it air tight and water proof.

[0029] The plurality of magnets contained within the open and closed ends 6, 7 of the container body 4 enable the container lid 8 to be attached to either end of the container body. Attaching the lid 8 to the open end of the body 6 covers the storage cavity 5 and holds contents in the container to prevent them from falling out. Attaching the lid to the closed 7 end of the container allows it to be conveniently stored when not in use to seal the containers cavity 5, and prevent it from being misplaced or lost. The plurality of magnets in both the open and closed ends 6, 7 of the container body 4 also enables multiple container bodies to be connected together to provide a modular storage system for keeping contents separated in individual compartments as a single continuous body or assembly.