Magnetic tool cleaner

Abstract

An apparatus and method for cleaning metal debris from a magnetic tool (some tools of which have magnetic properties) is disclosed. For one embodiment, the magnetic cleaner comprises a magnetic element suitably sized to interface with a surface of a tool associated with metal debris. A housing comprising a magnetic interface constructed of magnetically transparent material surrounds the magnetic element wherein the remainder of the housing is optionally constructed from material that forms a magnetic barrier. The magnetic element may be movably associated with the housing allowing the magnetic element to be associated/disassociated with the housing magnetic interface.

1 . An apparatus for cleaning metal debris from a surface of a magnetic tool, said apparatus comprising:
 a housing having a generally cylindrical shape with a first end and an opposing second end;   wherein the first end of said housing is constructed at least partially of magnetically transparent material;   a magnetic element disposed within said housing at a position away from said first end and wherein said magnetic element is movably associated with said housing and wherein said magnetic element creates a magnetic field stronger than the magnetic field defined at a tool-surface of a magnetic tool;   a resilient element in mechanical communication with said magnetic element, wherein said resilient element defines a bias force that tends to keep the magnetic element from associating with said first end;   a magnetic element mover associated with said housing and configured for moving said magnetic element toward said first end until said magnetic element is associated with said first end when a force greater than said bias force is applied to said magnetic element mover and wherein said resilient element disassociates the magnetic element from said first end when said force is less than said bias force; and   wherein the first end of said housing is configured for being associated with said tool-surface so that metal debris magnetically associated with said tool-surface will become magnetically associated with said magnetic element when said magnetic element is associated with said first end and said first end is associated with said tool-surface and wherein said debris remains associated with said magnetic element when the first end of said housing is removed from said tool-surface.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for cleaning metal debris from a surface of a magnetic tool as in  claim 1 , wherein said magnetic element is a permanent magnet. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus for cleaning metal debris from a surface of a magnetic tool as in  claim 2 , wherein said magnetic element mover comprises a plunger element having generally cylindrical shape defining a first plunger end and a second plunger end wherein the second plunger end is in mechanical communication with said magnetic element within said housing and the first plunger end extends through the second end of said housing to a point outside of said housing and wherein said plunger element is slideably associated with said housing and wherein said plunger is configured for being actuating when a force is applied to the first plunger end; 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus for cleaning metal debris from a surface of a magnetic tool as in  claim 3 , further comprising a magnetic barrier disposed within said housing, said magnetic barrier having a generally cylindrical shape and defining a first barrier end and a second barrier end wherein said magnetic barrier is suitably sized to at least partially enclose said magnetic element and wherein the first barrier end defines a self-sealing passage through which at least part of the magnetic element travels when the user presses said plunger and wherein the second barrier end is configured to receive said plunger; 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for cleaning metal debris from a surface of a magnetic tool as in  claim 4 , wherein said resilient element is a spring. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for cleaning metal debris from a surface of a magnetic tool as in  claim 1 , wherein the non-magnetically transparent portions of said housing define a magnetic barrier that attenuates the magnetic field impinging from the surface of said housing. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for cleaning metal debris from a surface of a magnetic tool as in  claim 1 , wherein said magnetic tool is a magnetic tip nut driver and wherein the magnetic tip defines a socket defining a polygonal shape having a perimeter larger than the polygonal shape defined by the head of a fastener and wherein said tool-surface is at least a portion of said magnetic tip and wherein said first end is configured to fit at least partially inside said socket. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for cleaning metal debris from a surface of a magnetic tool, said apparatus comprising:
 a housing defining a magnetic interface suitably sized to interface with a magnetic-tool-surface of a magnetic tool; and   a core disposed inside said housing wherein the core is suitably sized for associating with said magnetic interface and wherein at least a portion of said core extends through a coil of wire defining a first coil connection and a second coil connection;   a power source having a first terminal and a second terminal;   a switch having a first switch connection and a second switch connection;   wherein the first coil connection is electrically associated with the first switch connection and the first terminal of the power source is electrically associated with the second switch connection;   wherein the second coil connection is electrically associated with the second terminal of the power source;   wherein said switch comprises a switching element that electrically associates the first switch connection with the second switch connection when the switch is actuated by a user thereby causing a current to flow through said coil thereby magnetizing said core so that said debris becomes associated with said magnetic interface.   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for cleaning metal debris from a surface of a magnetic tool as in  claim 8 , wherein the magnetic interface portion of the housing is constructed at least partially of magnetically transparent material and wherein at least a portion of the remainder of the housing is constructed from a material that defines a magnetic barrier configured for attenuating magnetic fields. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for cleaning metal debris from a surface of a magnetic tool as in  claim 8 , wherein said housing is generally cylindrical in shape and wherein said core defines a generally cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for cleaning metal debris from a surface of a magnetic tool as in  claim 10 , wherein said core is composed of a ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for cleaning metal debris from a surface of a magnetic tool as in  claim 8 , wherein said switch is a normally open switch and further comprising a resilient element that biases said switch in the open state when no pressure is applied to said switch. 
     
     
         13 . A method of removing metal debris from a tool comprising the steps of:
 configuring a magnetic element with a magnetic interface appropriately sized to associate with a tool surface associated with metal debris;   associating the magnetic interface with said tool surface thereby forming a magnetic association between the metal debris and the magnetic element; and   disassociating the magnetic interface from the tool while maintaining the magnetic association between the metal debris and the magnetic element.   
     
     
         14 . A method of removing metal debris from a tool as in  claim 13 , enclosing the magnetic element in a protective housing having a housing interface comprised substantially of magnetically transparent material wherein the magnetic interface is associated with the housing interface. 
     
     
         15 . A method of removing metal debris from a tool as in  claim 14 , wherein the magnetic element is movably associated with said housing so that the magnetic element's magnetic interface can be associated and disassociated with the housing interface. 
     
     
         16 . A method of removing metal debris from a tool as in  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing a resilient element that defines a bias force that tends to disassociate the magnetic element's magnetic interface from the housing interface; and   providing a magnetic element mover configured for associating the magnetic element's magnetic interface with the housing interface when a user actuates said magnetic element mover.   
     
     
         17 . A method of removing metal debris from a tool as in  claim 13 , wherein said tool is a magnetic tip nut driver and wherein the magnetic tip defines a socket defining a polygonal shape having a perimeter larger than the polygonal shape defined by the head of a fastener and wherein said tool surface is at least a portion of said magnetic tip, said method further comprising the step of configuring said magnetic interface to fit at least partially inside said socket. 
     
     
         18 . A method of removing metal debris from a tool as in  claim 13 , wherein said magnetic element is a permanent magnetic. 
     
     
         19 . A method of removing metal debris from a tool as in  claim 13 , further comprising the step of forming the magnetic interface portion of the housing of at least partially magnetically transparent material and forming at least a portion of the remainder of the housing from a material that defines a magnetic barrier configured for attenuating magnetic fields.