Magnetic Patents (Class 213/75D)
  • Patent number: 5823371
    Abstract: A magnetically actuated coupler assembly for model railroad rolling stock is provided. The coupler assembly includes a drawbar having first and second ends. The first end includes an aperture defined therethrough adapted for mounting in a coupler pocket on model railroad rolling stock. The second end includes a coupler head. A coupler knuckle is pivotably mounted to the coupler head by a magnetically actuated pivot post. A first coil spring alignment pin is located on the second end of the drawbar. A second coil spring alignment pin is located on the coupler knuckle. A coil spring is mounted between the coupler head and the coupler knuckle on the first and second coil spring alignment pins for resiliently urging the coupler knuckle to a coupled position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Bachmann Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Lee Riley, Robert H. Staat
  • Patent number: 5775525
    Abstract: A magnetic coupling assembly for model railroad cars. The assembly comprises a retainer adapted for attachment to a car and magnet mounted on the retainer. The magnet may have a cylindrical shape with faces of opposite polarity, and it may be mounted on a pivot pin connected to the retainer, allowing the magnet to pivot freely about the pin. A kingpin may attach the assembly to a model railroad car between a truck assembly and the car body, or the coupling assembly may be integral with a truck assembly. A model railroad car may be mounted with one or more coupling assemblies. Adjacent cars are coupled when the magnets of their respective assemblies contact one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Inventor: Gilbert A. Brill
  • Patent number: 5681202
    Abstract: A magnetic coupling device of a toy vehicle comprises a magnetic element and a fastening element, by means of which the magnetic element is attached to the vehicle. The device also comprises a dome-shaped coupling surface which is arranged on the magnetic element to be kept, by magnetic power, in engagement with a coupling surface of a coupling device of another toy vehicle. The fastening element is connected to the magnetic element and movably mounted on the toy vehicle such that the magnetic element with the coupling surface arranged thereon is freely pivotable at least about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the direction of motion of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Brio, AB
    Inventor: Borje Sander
  • Patent number: 5048704
    Abstract: A detachably coupling device for a detachably coupling two bodies. The detachable coupling device on each of the bodies comprises a magnet movably mounted on the body and having a north pole and a south pole. The strength of the magnetic field existing between the magnets on the first body the second body may be selected to allow, preferably, manual detachable coupling of the two bodies. As the two bodies are placed closer together until the magnets are contiguous, the movement of the magnets will cause the magnets under the influence of the magnetic field to move until the north pole of one magnet is contiguous the south pole of the other magnet thereby coupling the two bodies together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Kawada Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tokuo Takahashi
  • Patent number: 4335820
    Abstract: A magnetically automated delayed uncoupling system consisting of a knuckle positioned magnet actuated coupler and a parallel outside-the-track magnetic force field which permits use of ferromagnetic train wheels without wobble and provides delayed uncoupling and coupling. The improved system is compatible with hook type couplers when used in combination therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1982
    Inventor: Robert E. Gramera
  • Patent number: 4195742
    Abstract: A coupler for toy and model railway cars includes a pivotable coupler member having a coupler knuckle adapted to engage a complementary knuckle on an adjacent car. The coupler member is mounted for pivoting movement between a lower position substantially parallel to a trackway and an upper position and is normally maintained in the lower position by magnetic attraction existing between two permanent magnets secured, respectively, to the coupler member and to a support. Cars may be uncoupled by providing a pole of an uncoupling magnet on the trackway to attract at least one pole of the coupler member magnet to torque the knuckle to the upper position and thereby effect uncoupling. The coupler knuckle includes a projection formed on its lower side which is adapted to engage and hold the adjacent complementary coupler knuckle when cars are being pulled in a normal running mode to prevent the knuckles from unintentionally disengaging when coupled cars pass over the uncoupling magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1980
    Assignee: Tomy Kogyo Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshihide Yumoto
  • Patent number: 3942648
    Abstract: This invention relates to a model railway system employing a novel uncoupling mechanism for couplers of the type which are coupled by having one coupler cam another upward so that it may then drop into the coupled relationship. Couplers of this type, equipped with suitable magnets, can be uncoupled mechanically or by magnetic repulsion or attraction. In accordance with the present invention a normally inactive uncoupling magnet, located at an uncoupling station, is rendered active, thereby to effect uncoupling by magnetic repulsion of one of the couplers. The couplers, after being thus disconnected, are displaced laterally in opposite directions by magnetic attraction and the raised coupler is then permitted to drop. The altered relationship is such that one coupler may push the other without recoupling. By this means a detached car or train section can be pushed to any desired location and left there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1976
    Inventors: Clarence K. Edwards, Lawrence D. Edwards