US 12,137,780 B2
Cases with multipole magnet hinges
Stephen J. Maguire, Grafton, MA (US)
Assigned to Bose Corporation, Framingham, MA (US)
Filed by Bose Corporation, Framingham, MA (US)
Filed on Dec. 20, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/556,150.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/127,191, filed on Dec. 18, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0192335 A1, Jun. 23, 2022
Int. Cl. A45C 13/00 (2006.01); A45C 11/00 (2006.01); A45C 13/10 (2006.01); H01F 7/02 (2006.01)
CPC A45C 11/00 (2013.01) [A45C 13/005 (2013.01); A45C 13/1069 (2013.01); H01F 7/0231 (2013.01); A45C 2011/001 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A case for a portable electronic device, the case comprising
a housing having a cavity to receive the electronic device;
a lid;
a hinge rotatably coupling the lid to the housing such that the lid is operable between an open position in which the cavity is exposed and a closed position in which the lid covers the cavity, the hinge comprising:
a first multipole magnet coupled to the lid such that the first multipole magnet rotates with the lid relative to the housing; and
a second multipole magnet coupled to the housing and arranged coaxially with the first multipole magnet and such that the first multipole magnet and the lid rotate relative to the second multipole magnet,
wherein due to an interaction between respective magnetic fields of the first and second multipole magnets, the lid is unstable between the open and closed positions, such that, between the open position and the closed position, the lid is biased toward either the open position or the closed position depending on an angle of orientation of the lid relative to the housing,
wherein the first and second multipole magnets each comprise a multipole ring magnet with at least four magnetic sections that are arranged in a radial array.