Enclosures and corresponding magnetic joints

Abstract

Enclosures and corresponding magnetic joints. An apparatus includes an enclosure. The enclosure includes a magnetic panel joint formed by: an alignment bore disposed in one of the first end face and the second end face, an alignment dowel disposed in the other of the first end face and the second end face, a face magnet disposed in one of the first end face and the second end face, a face ferromagnetic segment disposed in the other of the first end face and the second end face, and a shield that extends from the second panel and is received in the first pocket, when the first panel and the second panel are removably secured to one another.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a first panel including a first pocket and a first end face;   a second panel including a second end face; and   a magnetic panel joint removably securing the first panel to the second panel, the magnetic panel joint comprising:
 an alignment bore disposed in one of the first end face and the second end face; 
 an alignment dowel disposed in the other of the first end face and the second end face; 
 a face magnet disposed in one of the first end face and the second end face; 
 a face ferromagnetic segment disposed in the other of the first end face and the second end face; and 
 a shield that extends from the second panel and is received in the first pocket, when the first panel and the second panel are removably secured to one another. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first panel further comprises a receptacle in the first pocket. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a magnet in the receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the shield comprises a ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the alignment bore is aligned with the receptacle. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second panel includes a second pocket and the shield is received in the second pocket, when the first panel and the second panel are removably secured to one another. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein a surface defining the first pocket and a surface defining the second pocket are not plated. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein a depth of the first pocket is greater than a depth of the second pocket. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a conductive plating on a surface defining the first pocket and a conductive plating on a surface defining the second pocket. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein an interaction between the conductive plating on the surface defining first pocket, the conductive plating on the surface defining the second pocket, and the shield form an electrical coupling. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment dowel comprises a ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of alignment bores and a plurality of alignment dowels. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of face magnets and a plurality of face ferromagnetic segments. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the face magnet comprises one of a small magnet and a ferrous striker plate. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the face magnet is substantially flush with an end face of one of the first panel and the second panel. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein exterior surfaces of the first panel and the second panel are substantially flush or otherwise visually contiguous when the first panel and the second panel are removably secured together by the magnetic panel joint. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus, comprising:
 an enclosure, comprising:
 a first panel including a first pocket and a first end face; 
 a second panel including a second end face; and 
 a magnetic panel joint removably securing the first panel to the second panel, the magnetic panel joint comprising:
 an alignment bore disposed in one of the first end face and the second end face; 
 an alignment dowel disposed in the other of the first end face and the second end face; 
 a face magnet disposed in one of the first end face and the second end face; 
 a face ferromagnetic segment disposed in the other of the first end face and the second end face; and 
 
   a shield that extends from the second panel and is received in the first pocket, when the first panel and the second panel are removably secured to one another.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the first panel is a U-shaped panel and the second panel is a U-shaped panel. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a system comprising a user interface, a cartridge receptacle, and an enclosure comprising a magnetic panel joint formed by:   a first panel having an end portion defining a pocket having an end opening;   a magnet carried by the first panel adjacent the pocket;   a second panel; and   a ferromagnetic shield having a first shield portion and a second shield portion, the first shield portion carried by the second panel, the second shield portion extending from the end face of the second panel,   wherein the second shield portion of the ferromagnetic shield is receivable within the pocket of the first panel via the end opening to form a magnetic lap joint.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the magnetic lap joint deters the ingress and egress of light between the first panel and the second panel. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the second panel has an end portion including an end face and defining a pocket terminating at the end face and wherein the first shield portion is disposed within the pocket of the second panel and coupled therein. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the magnetic joint deters radiative emissions from between the first panel and the second panel. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the shield comprises a material that is conductive. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the user interface comprises a touch screen.