US Patent 11246383 Magnetic zipper

New forms of fasteners are disclosed. Some such fasteners include a new form of zipper with magnetic actuation, initiated by bringing one end of a linear array of magnets into closer proximity with another end of a linear array of magnets. Some such fasteners include structural locking, driven by magnetic force. Some such fasteners include elastic subunits incorporated in a common semi-flexible substrate. The techniques set forth are applicable to a wide variety of applications, incorporating many different materials. For example, in some contexts, some fastening techniques allow rapid closing of articles, such as gym bags or sports apparel, with minimum effort, leading to an extraordinary custom-fit to a user's preferences.