With Magnet Patents (Class 359/903)
  • Patent number: 9869864
    Abstract: An assembly and method for installing a viewing window into a single hole in a panel of an enclosure from a single side. A viewing window assembly comprises actuators and attachment members configurable to allow the attachment members to pass through a hole in a panel from a front side. Upon actuation of the actuators, the attachment members may engage one or both of the back surface of the panel and the inner edge of the hole therein in order to secure the window assembly to the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Fluke Corporation
    Inventors: Gary J. Gunell, Richard Maday, Justin M. Sheard, Betsy Brest, Timothy J. Kesti
  • Patent number: 9757013
    Abstract: An optics tube for an endoscope including a magnet arrangement which extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the optics tube. A rod lens including a rod-shaped lens unit made of a rod-shaped lens element or a plurality of lens elements cemented to one another, wherein, on one side on the circumferential face thereof, the lens unit includes a magnet arrangement. The invention also relates to a combination of an optics tube and a rod lens, and to an endoscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Walter Vogel
  • Patent number: 9042719
    Abstract: Provided herein are devices and system to magnetically, rotably secure a lens filter to a camera. Generally the devices and systems comprise a magnet assembly and a lens filter assembly threadably engageable. Also provided are magnetic lens filter systems comprising the engaged magnet and lens filter assemblies and an attachment assembly securable around a camera lens and magnetically attachable to the magnet comprising the magnetic lens filter, magnetic adapter assembly or magnetic adapter. Further provided are camera systems comprising the magnetic lens filter systems rotatably affixed thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Inventor: Ye Xu
  • Patent number: 8746918
    Abstract: A telescopic flashlight that includes a universally adjustable mirror unit for reflecting the light of the lighting unit over a universal range, which mirror unit is readily and easily attached and detached from the distal end of the flashlight apparatus via a metallic mounting collar that is magnetically retained by means of an annular magnet affixed to the distal end of the apparatus, which mounting collar itself is rotatable relative to the distal end of the flashlight apparatus in order to provide two of the three degrees of freedom on motion of the mirror proper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Rubino
  • Patent number: 8162494
    Abstract: A structure such as an electronically deformable mirror contains a deformable membrane, an array of actuators located facing the membrane, each actuator being arranged to actuate local displacement of the membrane perpendicular to its surface. The actuators and the membrane are connected via an array of actuating connections. The actuating connections substantially transmit movement perpendicular to the second surface, but leave planar displacement and/or local rotation of the second surface substantially free. Preferably, the actuators contain an array of soft magnetic islands on a soft magnetic base plane, with actuator coils running around the islands and a system of sort magnetic walls on the base plane to separate the coils. The walls support a soft magnetic resilient surface that extend over of the islands and serve to drive the actuating connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Roger Franciscus Mattheus Maria Hamelinck, Petrus Carolus Johannes Nicolaas Rosielle, Jakobus Pieter Kappelhof
  • Patent number: 8033987
    Abstract: The invention relates to a medical instrument consisting of at least two instrument parts, which is provided with a coupling for releasably connecting the two instrument parts, wherein the coupling having a locking element which may be moved between a released and a locked position, as well as at least one magnet element which produces a magnetic restoring force which retains the locking element in the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Lehmann, Markus Lienhart
  • Patent number: 7736022
    Abstract: For lighting equipment for illumination of theatre and show stages and platforms there is designed an equipment for change of rotary gobos comprising a carrier disc supporting interchangeable segments with the gobos. The individual segments (2) are attached at the carrier disc (1) by central holding means, each segment (2) being provided with means for setting the segment (2) on the carrier disc (1). Each segment (2) is provided with a lamella (3) for attachment by the magnetic holding means. The magnetic holding means comprise a magnet (24) in attracted to a ferrous plate (23) attached to the carrier disc (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Inventor: Pavel Jurik
  • Patent number: 7422337
    Abstract: Two identical sides, include convex mirror 61, mirror-backing 62 and main-frame 21. Sides are attached together and to frame-backing 30 by three hinges 70. Three adjustable length legs 80 with swivel, magnetic feet 90 in main-frames 21 near corners. Front, centerline view provides reflections, right and left, 90 degrees to centerline, through 40 degree arcs backward. Mirrors are centered at rear of vehicle's trunk-lid so as visible through the inside rear-view mirror. Driver can thus easily and safely see critical areas which may otherwise be unobservable. This includes seeing around vehicles parked on either side. In highway driving, these mirrors allow a driver to clearly see “blind-spots” in the rear-view mirror. Risk of losing attention to the road and positive steering by turning around to look, is thus avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Inventor: David Eugene Fetherston
  • Patent number: 7284869
    Abstract: A rear light viewing assembly and method includes a panel that has a top side and a bottom side. A magnet is attached to the bottom side of the panel. An arm is removably attached to and extends upwardly from the top side. The arm has an upper end and a lower end. A mirror is attached to the upper end of the arm so that a mirrored surface of the mirror faces away from the upper end. The panel is attached to a trunk of the vehicle. The mirror is orientated so that an image of the rear lights is reflected from the mirror to a rear view mirror of the vehicle. The rear lights are actuated and viewed by the rear view mirror to determine if they are illuminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Inventor: Michael C. Weaver
  • Patent number: 7222997
    Abstract: Lighting apparatus includes an effect wheel which is mounted on a rotation mechanism. The rotation mechanism is mounted on a mechanism which moves the effect wheel from a position outside of the light path to a position in which the effect wheel intersects the light path to provide a continuous wheel effect. The translation mechanism can move the effect wheel between positions in which the effect wheel crosses the light path in a horizontal direction and in a vertical direction, respectively. The apparatus allows a continuous wheel effect to be added to a multi-purpose luminaire and also allows the direction of travel of the continuous wheel effect across the illuminated field to be continuously varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Martin Professional A/S
    Inventors: Niels Jorgen Rasmussen, Mads Glavind
  • Patent number: 6984051
    Abstract: A multifaceted reflecting mirror is provided with a plurality of reflecting mirror elements 10 and a base plate 13 for magnet, each of the plurality of reflecting mirror elements 10 comprising a reflecting surface 19 and a magnetic film 17 formed on a bottom surface. The respective reflecting mirror elements 10 can be positioned highly accurately on the base plate 13 by using a positioning guide 15. The maintenance operation is easily performed as well, because the respective reflecting mirror elements 10 are detachable. When the multifaceted reflecting mirror is used in combination with another multifaceted reflecting mirror for an illumination optical system of a reflection type exposure apparatus which uses, as an exposure light beam, a light beam having a short wavelength such as soft X-ray, it is possible to illuminate an exposure area on a substrate with the light beam having an extremely uniform illumination intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hideo Takino
  • Patent number: 6926416
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-view mirror having a mirror frame including an inwardly disposed center and two outwardly disposed mirror mounting elements attached to the frame on opposite sides of the center. The multi-view mirror includes a first mirror having an outward edge pivotally mounted to one of the mounting elements of the frame and an inward edge disposed inwardly of the outward edge near the center of the frame and a second mirror having an outward edge pivotally mounted to one of the mounting elements of the frame and an inward edge disposed inwardly of the outward edge near the center of the frame. The first mirror and second mirror are angularly positionable relative to the frame wherein at least one of the first and second mirrors are pivoted about one of the mounting elements to form a generally angled mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Inventor: Bradley Sawyer
  • Patent number: 6499851
    Abstract: A trailer back-up mirror which can be-removably attached to the frame of a boat, camper, recreational vehicle or other trailer for facilitating alignment of the hitch ball on a towing vehicle with the trailer hitch as the vehicle is backed toward the trailer, in order to couple the trailer hitch to the hitch ball. In a preferred embodiment the trailer back-up mirror is characterized by a support shaft which is magnetically and removably attached to the trailer frame. An adjusting shaft is adjustably extendible from the support shaft and a flexible gooseneck shaft extension projects from the extending end of the adjusting shaft. A rectangular mirror mount plate terminates the shaft extension and a flat mirror and convex mirror are mounted on the mirror mount plate. In use, the gooseneck shaft extension is initially adjusted to position the mirror mount plate such that the trailer hitch and hitch ball appear in the convex mirror, and the trailer hitch appears in the flat mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Inventors: Louis S. Kelly, Glen E. Kelly
  • Patent number: 6322222
    Abstract: A pair of folding orthogonal mirrors is disclosed, including first and second plates, each provided on a face thereof with a surface mirror; hinges, attached to the first and second plates to movably join the two together, so that the plates are movable from an unfolded position, in which the surface mirrors on each of the plates are arranged orthogonally, to a folded position, in which the surface mirrors on each of the plates face one another. The pair of folding orthogonal mirrors is provided with a magnet assembly, attached to the first and second plates, for maintaining the plates in the unfolded position by magnetic attraction; and include means for adjusting the angle between the surface mirrors in the unfolded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Inventor: Shigeki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6082869
    Abstract: The present invention 10 discloses a safety mirror 10 designed to be attached to the outside of an outwardly opening door 14 and to be viewed from the inside of the door by the user 12 looking through the fireproof door window 18. The safety mirror 10 has a housing 42 open 43 on its lateral sides having two generally vertically positioned convex mirrors 48 mounted therein being oppositely disposed so that the viewer 12 can see to the left 38 and to the right 40 for traffic moving toward or away from the path of the outwardly opening door 14. The housing 42 of the device has a flange 44 about its periphery and has fastening means 47 for attachment to the outside of the door 14. The device also has an LED 50 mounted in its housing which is viewable from the front of the device or from either side of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Inventor: Jon M Draheim
  • Patent number: 5793522
    Abstract: Observation window, especially for checking the temperature of objects using infrared thermography, including a parallel-faced transparent insert made of a single crystal suitable for radiation to pass through without being substantially modified and/or attenuated, which radiation, whose wavelength may range from the visible to the relatively far infrared emanates from an object whose temperature is to be monitored, housed in a screened cabinet provided with a door or panel against which the window is arranged, wherein the insert is fitted into a support which surrounds it at its periphery and is immobilized with respect to the support, this support being applied in a sealed manner against an aperture made in the door and then locked in position by means which are only accessible from inside the cabinet, the support comprising an external protective cover capable of pivoting about a pin connecting it to this support, so as to reveal the insert and allow observation through it of the object to be monitored by
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Comet
    Inventor: Michel Brun
  • Patent number: 5706143
    Abstract: A magnetically actuated optical focusing device is provided. The focusing device comprises a housing with an optical component being displaceably and rotatably arranged therein. The optical component is ferromagnetically coupled, via an internal magnet arranged thereon, to an external magnet arranged outside of the housing, the external magnet being fixed to a focusing ring which is rotatably mounted on the housing. When the focusing ring is rotated, the ferromagnetic attraction between the magnets is sufficient to drive the internal magnet through a helical channel defined on the internal surface of the housing, thus causing the optical component to be longitudinally displaced within the housing. The helical channel exerts sufficient restraining force on the inner magnet so that the inner magnet remains in a particular position along the channel even if the ferromagnetic coupling between the magnets is broken down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Richard Wolf GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus-Peter Hipp
  • Patent number: 5673143
    Abstract: A thermal imaging device (10) provides for its use with a variety of accessory telescopic lenses (12). Each of the accessory telescopic lenses (12) and the thermal imaging device (10) include cooperating physical features allowing the lenses (12) to be mated with the device (10) in a single relative position. Each lens (12) also carries a uniquely positioned magnet (176), and the thermal imaging device (10) includes a plurality of magnetically-responsive sensors (178) responding to the magnets (176) of the various lenses (12) to identify which (if any) of the accessory lens (12) is installed on the device (10). Some of the accessory lenses (12) also include a variable-power feature. These variable-power lenses (12) have an additional magnet (182) moving between an effective position and an ineffective position in response to a user-selected power setting for the lens (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics
    Inventors: Richard Chin, Gary Mladjan, Stephen Shaffer, Conrad Stenton
  • Patent number: 5587795
    Abstract: A portable substrate transmittance meter includes a remote transmitter and a remoter receiver for measuring a light transmittance of a substrate that does not have an edge available for sliding a base meter thereover, for example a fixed window on a vehicle. The remote transmitter is releasably attached to one side of the window with a donut shaped magnet resting thereagainst. The remote transmitter includes a light transmitter for emitting a predetermined light signal through a center of the donut shaped magnets and on through the fixed window. The remote receiver is place on the other side of the fixed window opposite the remote transmitter. Donut shaped magnets of the remote receiver cause the remote receiver to attract towards the remote transmitter in proper alignment therewith. A light receiver of the remote receiver receives the transmitted light for effecting a transmittance measurement of the fixed window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Inventor: Robert D. Williams
  • Patent number: 5359992
    Abstract: An endoscope coupler includes a sealed chamber and a lens assembly longitudinally movable within the chamber for focusing an image to be received by a video camera. Spaced permanent drive magnets located exteriorly of the chamber are magnetically coupled with respective permanent driven magnets secured to the lens assembly in the chamber for moving the lens assembly simultaneously with movement of the drive magnets. A focusing ring is rotatable but not longitudinally movable about the chamber and translates the drive magnets and, therefore, the driven magnets and lens assembly longitudinally in response to focusing ring rotation. Frictional retaining rings disposed between the chamber and the focusing ring resist movement of the focusing ring to provide enhanced tactile response when the focusing ring is manually moved by an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Linvatec Corporation
    Inventors: Koichiro Hori, Dennis Arsenault
  • Patent number: 5309289
    Abstract: An optical target system is provided for facilitating a vehicle operator's effecting alignment of the respective hitch assembly components of a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle. The system includes first and second targets that are removably positionable in referencing relationship to respective ones of the hitch assembly components and a viewing mirror that is removably positionable on the towed vehicle to provide the vehicle operator positioned in the towing vehicle with a reflected view of the two targets. Each of the two targets includes a longitudinal guidance element that is disposed in alignment with the longitudinal axis of its respective vehicle and a transverse guidance element that is transversely oriented to the respective longitudinal guidance element and located above the hitch assembly component to provide a visual reference to a vertical axis extending through those components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Inventor: Brady G. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5306467
    Abstract: A magnetic slide loading is used with automated cell counting equipment or manual optical microscopes to measure the number of cells in a fluid biological sample. A slide having a defined volume region holds the sample for measurement. A cover slip is placed over the defined volume region creating an enclosed volume. An actuable holder clamp is placed over the slide securing it as well as the cover slip in position by virtue of magnets secured to the bottom of the device exerting a magnetic force upon the holder clamp such that it is attracted toward the slide forcing the cover slip to flatten, thereby removing any defects or distortions from the volume. This action ensures that the volume has a uniform depth allowing accurate measurement of cell concentration within the biological sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Hamilton-Thorn Research
    Inventors: Diarmaid H. Douglas-Hamilton, Thomas Kenny
  • Patent number: 5056902
    Abstract: A lens surrounded by a protective chamber is focused by utilizing a magnetic field to adjust the position of the lens within the chamber. By using a magnetic field to adjust the lens position, it is not necessary to pass a mechanical device through the surface of the chamber, thereby allowing the chamber to be completely sealed to prevent contaminants from contacting the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew Dyonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Randal B. Chinnock, Norman J. Dionne
  • Patent number: 5039215
    Abstract: The optical device is preferably used for a telescope, and has a pair of reflectors attached to a front end of a cylindrical section, so that objects can be searched or traced. The optical device has a first reflector provided in front of an object lens, which is provided at a front end of a rotatable cylindrical section. The first reflector reflects the light in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the object lens. A second reflector provided is close to the first reflector and the second reflector reflects the reflected light from the first reflector in parallel to the optical axis of the object lens. The first reflector can be rotated in a plane which is positioned between the first reflector and the second reflector and which is perpendicular to the optical axis of the object lens, and the second reflector can be independently rotated on the optical axis thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignees: Yugen Kaisha Bunda Denki, Kabushiki Kaisha Kambayashi Seisakusho
    Inventor: Kaneo Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 5037184
    Abstract: Oppositely polarized magnets are secured to a deformable mirror and a corresponding actuator. They rely on magnetic attraction to maintain the connection between the actuator and mirror. A reverse magnetic field is imposed when the actuator is to be removed for repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Mark A. Ealey