US4748834A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Key made of magnetic material
Assignee: Lowe and Fletcher Ltd
•
Filing: 1983-03-25
•
Granted: 1988-06-07
•
Expires: 2003-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A key comprising an elongated body made of magnetic material and having a handle at one end. A pair of like magnetic poles are located in the elongated body at positions which are spaced apart angularly around the longitudinal axis of the body but are not spaced apart along the axis.
Inventors
- 👤 Leslie V. Herriott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:25
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01F; H01F13/00; H01F13/003; E; E05; E05B; E05B47/00; E05B47/0038; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/70; Y10T70/7441; Y10T70/778; Y10T70/7791; Y10T70/7904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A key comprising an elongated body of magnetic material defining an axis and a handle adjacent to one end of and connected with the body wherein there is on a surface of the body a plurality of distinct magnetic poles, two of said poles are spaced along the axis from a third of said poles, said two poles are spaced from each other angularly about said axis but are not spaced from each other along the axis and wherein all of said distinct magnetic poles have like magnetic polarity and a region of unlike magnetic polarity extends around the entirety of all of the distinct poles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A key comprising an elongated body of magnetic material defining an axis and a handle adjacent to one end of and connected with the body wherein there is on a surface of the body a plurality of distinct magnetic poles, two of said poles are spaced along the axis from a third of said poles, said two poles are spaced from each other angularly about said axis but are not spaced from each other along the axis and wherein all of said distinct magnetic poles have like magnetic polarity and a region of unlike magnetic polarity extends around the entirety of all of the distinct poles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A key according to claim 1 wherein each of said distinct magnetic poles subtends at the axis of said body an angle of approximately 90°.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A key according to claim 1 further comprising a sheath of non-magnetic material covering said body, wherein the sheath has a closed end and wherein an opposite end portion of the sheath is united with the handle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A key according to claim 1 which has a lug projecting relative to said body in a direction transverse to the length of said body for cooperation with a lock when the key is used to establish a predetermined positional relation between the key and a formation of the lock.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A key according to claim 1 wherein said handle is formed of a plastics material molded onto the body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
125 words
A key comprising an elongated body of magnetic material having a longitudinal axis and a handle adjacent to one end of and connected with the body, wherein there is on a surface of the body a pair of like magnetic poles having respective positions which are spaced apart angularly around said axis but are not spaced apart along the axis, wherein said poles face in respective directions which are inclined to each other at an angle substantially less than 180° and substantially greater than 0° and wherein all of the magnetic poles on said surface of the body have like magnetic polarity and each of said poles is entirely surrounded by an area of opposite magnetic polarity which is common to all of the poles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
125 words
A key comprising an elongated body of magnetic material having a longitudinal axis and a handle adjacent to one end of and connected with the body, wherein there is on a surface of the body a pair of like magnetic poles having respective positions which are spaced apart angularly around said axis but are not spaced apart along the axis, wherein said poles face in respective directions which are inclined to each other at an angle substantially less than 180° and substantially greater than 0° and wherein all of the magnetic poles on said surface of the body have like magnetic polarity and each of said poles is entirely surrounded by an area of opposite magnetic polarity which is common to all of the poles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A key according to claim 6 wherein said body has six sides extending longitudinally of the body and each of said magnetic poles lies on a respective one of said sides and between the ends of the body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A key according to claim 6 wherein said body has six sides extending longitudinally of the body, each of said magnetic poles lies on a respective one of said sides and wherein at least one of said poles is spaced from the ends of the body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR636858A
Cited
US2121301A
Cited
US2966789A
Cited
FR1427075A
Cited
US3506939A
Cited
CH459368A
Cited
US3654782A
Cited
US3421348A
Cited
US3393541A
Cited
FR1512239A
Cited
US3408837A
Cited
US3873892A
Cited
US3753183A
Cited
DE2330014A1
Cited
US3942345A
Cited
US3969644A
Cited
US3898599A
Cited
DE2653799A1
Cited
US4022038A
Cited
US4073166A
Cited
DE2706919A1
Cited
US4333327A
Cited
DE2717200A1
Cited
GB1588811A
Cited
DE2948068A1
Cited
SU918412A1
Cited
US4416127A
Cited
US4562711A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-06-07 | 1991-12-07 | 1992-06-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-06-07 | 1995-12-07 | 1996-06-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-06-07 | 1999-12-07 | 2000-06-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |