Apple Inc.
Magnetic closures

Abstract:

An item may be provided with a body that forms an enclosure. The body may have a body portion that opens and closes along a seam. An elongated magnetic fastener may run along the seam. The magnetic fastener may have first and second strips of elastomeric material on opposing sides of the seam. Magnetic interlocking elements may be partially embedded in the first and second elastomeric strips. The fastener may be formed by injecting uncured elastomeric material having unmagnetized magnetic particles into a mold. While in the mold, a magnetic field may be applied to magnetize the magnetic particles and to align the magnetic particles into magnetized structures. After forming the magnetized structures within the elastomeric material, the elastomeric material may be cured. Once removed from the mold, portions of the elastomeric material may be removed to expose the magnetized structures, which may subsequently be shaped into interlocking fastener elements.