Magnetic fastener system

Abstract

A magnetic fastener system has a magnetic encapsulation structure which has a first cap, a second cap, and at least one magnet. The first cap mates with the second cap and a magnet is positioned in a cavity formed therebetween. The first cap and second cap are sealed to create a watertight cavity. A laser welded junction may be formed between the first cap and the second cap to seal the first cap and the second cap to create the watertight cavity. The magnetic encapsulation structure may be positioned at least partially within a cavity of at least one mount having a shelf positioned along a perimeter of the cavity, where the magnetic encapsulation structure is movable between a retracted position and an extended position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A magnetic fastener system comprising:
 a magnetic encapsulation structure having:
 a first cap; 
 a second cap; and 
 at least one magnet, wherein the first cap mates with the second cap, 
   wherein the magnet is positioned in a cavity formed therebetween, and wherein the first cap and second cap are sealed to create a watertight cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The magnetic fastener system of  claim 1 , further comprising a laser welded junction formed between the first cap and the second cap, wherein the laser welded junction seals the first cap and the second cap to create the watertight cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The magnetic fastener system of  claim 1 , wherein the first cap and the second cap are formed from stainless steel. 
     
     
         4 . The magnetic fastener system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet is positionable within the cavity in at least two configurations, wherein a first configuration has a north pole of the at least one magnet in contact with the first cap, and a second configuration has a south pole of the at least one magnet in contact with the first cap. 
     
     
         5 . The magnetic fastener system of  claim 1 , wherein the first cap, the second cap, and the at least one magnet have a central aperture, the central aperture having a chamfered region sized to conform to a head of a fastener when the fastener is positioned through the central aperture, wherein the at least one magnet is positioned directly lateral to the chamfered region. 
     
     
         6 . The magnetic fastener system of  claim 1 , further comprising a mount having a cavity, wherein the magnetic encapsulation structure is positioned at least partially within the cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The magnetic fastener system of  claim 6 , wherein the mount has a shelf positioned along a perimeter of the cavity, wherein the magnetic encapsulation structure is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. 
     
     
         8 . The magnetic fastener system of  claim 7 , wherein the magnetic encapsulation structure has a flange contactable with the shelf, wherein in the extended position, the flange is in contact with the shelf, and in the retracted position, the flange is not in contact with the shelf. 
     
     
         9 . The magnetic fastener system of  claim 8 , wherein the mount has an upper ceiling positioned over the cavity, wherein in the retracted position, the magnetic encapsulation structure is in contact with the upper ceiling. 
     
     
         10 . The magnetic fastener system of  claim 9 , wherein in the extended position, a space is positioned between the upper ceiling of the mount and the magnetic encapsulation structure. 
     
     
         11 . The magnetic fastener system of  claim 6 , wherein the mount is connectable to at least one of: a cooler, a cutting board, a cushion, a tumbler, a tumbler sleeve, a flooring structure, or a decking structure using at least one fastener, wherein the at least one fastener is at least one of: a threaded fastener, a friction-snap fastener, an adhesive fastener, or a magnetic fastener. 
     
     
         12 . The magnetic fastener system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second caps protects the at least one magnet from damage without substantially decreasing a magnetic holding force exerted from the at least one magnet through the at least one of the first or second cap. 
     
     
         13 . The magnetic fastener system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one friction-snap fastener positioned extending from an exterior surface of one of the first cap or second cap, wherein the at least one friction-snap fastener has a bore formed therein, wherein at least a portion of the sidewall of the bore is threaded. 
     
     
         14 . A magnetic fastener system comprising:
 a first fastener structure;   at least one magnet positioned at least partially within the first fastener structure;   at least one cap in contact with the first fastener structure, wherein the at least one cap is sealed to the first fastener structure to fully encapsulate the magnet;   a laser welded junction formed between the first fastener structure and the at least one cap, wherein the laser welded junction seals the first fastener structure to the at least one cap to create a watertight cavity in which the at least one magnet is positioned; and   a second fastener structure, wherein the first fastener structure is magnetically connectable to the second fastener structure.   
     
     
         15 . The magnetic fastener system of  claim 14 , further comprising a mount having a cavity, wherein the first fastener structure is positioned at least partially within the cavity, and wherein the first fastener structure is movable between a retracted position and an extended position within the mount. 
     
     
         16 . The magnetic fastener system of  claim 15 , wherein the mount is connectable to one of: a cooler, a cutting board, a cushion, a tumbler, a tumbler sleeve, a flooring structure, or a decking structure using at least one fastener, wherein the at least one fastener is at least one of: a threaded fastener, a friction-snap fastener, an adhesive fastener, or a magnetic fastener. 
     
     
         17 . The magnetic fastener system of  claim 16 , wherein the second fastener structure further comprises one of: the cooler, the cutting board, the cushion, the tumbler, the tumbler sleeve, the flooring structure, or the decking structure. 
     
     
         18 . The magnetic fastener system of  claim 16 , wherein the cutting board is removably connectable to an upper rim of a bucket. 
     
     
         19 . The magnetic fastener system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one magnet is positionable within the watertight cavity in at least two configurations, wherein a first configuration has a north pole of the at least one magnet in contact with the at least one cap, and a second configuration has a south pole of the at least one magnet in contact with the at least one cap. 
     
     
         20 . A method of manufacturing magnetic encapsulation structure comprising:
 positioning at least one magnet in a cavity formed between a first cap and a second cap; and   sealing the first cap to the second cap to create a watertight cavity by laser welding the first cap to the second cap, wherein photons within a laser welding light beam are unaffected by a magnetic field of the at least one magnet.