Magnetically sealable enlosure

Abstract

The present invention relates to a closure/sealing mechanism for a door and cabinet, or lid and container combination that uses a plurality of magnets in combination with a sealing member to create an air-tight or near air-tight environment. The sealing mechanism further considers two additional features including the use of a floating-hinge to provide an optimal seal alignment, and an embedded cam-handle mechanism that can be rotated and thereby used to open the container. It is envisioned that the closure/sealing mechanism may be used for containers such as humidors, coolers, refrigerators/freezers, and briefcases.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A sealing assembly comprising: 
 a plurality of magnets interconnected to a sidewall rim of a container and an edge of an opposing container lid;    a first seal interconnected to said sidewall rim of said container and having a first exposed seal surface, and a second seal interconnected to said edge of said opposing container lid and having a second exposed seal surface, one of either of said first exposed seal surface or said second exposed seal surface recessed relative to said sidewall rim of said container or said edge of said container lid.    
     
     
         2 . The seal assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of magnets are neodymium magnets.  
     
     
         3 . The seal assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a cam-handle assembly.  
     
     
         4 . The seal assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said seal comprises a closed-cell neoprene material.  
     
     
         5 . The seal assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a floating-hinge, wherein said floating-hinge attaches said container lid to said container.  
     
     
         6 . The seal assembly as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said floating-hinge comprises a spring and a shaft.  
     
     
         7 . The seal assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a portion of said plurality of magnets, and at least one of either of said first seal or said second seal is interconnected to an extruded plastic strip.  
     
     
         8 . A sealing assembly for a container and a lid, comprising: 
 at least a first magnet placed within the container and at least a second magnet placed within the lid, said first magnet aligned with said second magnet upon closure of the lid against the container, and said first magnet having a first exposed polarity opposite to a second exposed polarity of said second magnet;    a first strip of sealing material placed within the container and a second strip of sealing material placed within the lid, said first strip of sealing material placed such that it contacts said second strip of sealing material upon closure of the lid against the container; and    a floating-hinge attaching the lid to the container.    
     
     
         9 . The sealing assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising a cam-handle assembly.  
     
     
         10 . The sealing assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein either of said first magnet or said second magnet is a neodymium magnet.  
     
     
         11 . The sealing assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said first strip of sealing material includes a first exposed seal surface and said second strip of sealing material includes a second exposed seal surface, and wherein either of said first exposed seal surface or said second exposed seal surface is recessed.  
     
     
         12 . The sealing assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein either of said first strip of sealing material or said second strip of sealing material is closed cell neoprene.  
     
     
         13 . The sealing assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said floating-hinge comprises a spring and a shaft.  
     
     
         14 . A sealing assembly for a container and a lid, comprising: 
 at least a first magnet placed within the container and at least a second magnet placed within the lid, said first magnet aligned with said second magnet upon closure of the lid against the container, and said first magnet having a first exposed polarity opposite to a second exposed polarity of said second magnet;    a first strip of sealing material placed within the container and a second strip of sealing material placed within the lid, said first strip of sealing material placed such that it contacts said second strip of sealing material upon closure of the lid against the container; and    a cam-handle assembly used to open said door from said container.    
     
     
         15 . The sealing assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising a lip surrounding said joint.  
     
     
         16 . The sealing assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising means of locking said cam-handle assembly.  
     
     
         17 . The sealing assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising a floating-hinge assembly used to attach the lid to the container.  
     
     
         18 . The sealing assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein either of said first magnet or said second magnet is a neodymium magnet.  
     
     
         19 . The sealing assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said first strip of sealing material includes a first exposed seal surface and said second strip of sealing material includes a second exposed seal surface, and wherein either of said first exposed seal surface or said second exposed seal surface is recessed.  
     
     
         20 . The sealing assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein either of said first strip of sealing material or said second strip of sealing material is closed cell neoprene.