Patent attributes
A magnetically actuated locking mechanism includes a male section and a female section releasably coupled to the male section. The male section includes a male body, a projection extending from one end of the male body and including a transverse bore, and a locking element movable between an unlocked position wherein the locking element is received within the bore and a locked position wherein the locking element is partly extracted from the bore. A first magnet is embedded in the locking element. The female section includes a female body having a guide cavity dimensioned to receive the projection, and a transverse locking recess dimensioned to lockingly receive a part of the locking element as extracted. A second magnet is embedded in the female body adjacent to the locking recess. The first and second magnets have opposed polarities and are operatively associated with each other to magnetically urge the locking element from the unlocked position to the locked position when the locking element is aligned with the locking recess after the projection is inserted into the guide cavity.
