Abstract
A push pin, which has a position in which the pin is stowed to avoid unintended pin pricks and a fully-deployed position, is disclosed. The push pin includes: a main body with a trough and a pin, a pin body rotatably coupled to the main body; and a tension member coupled between the main body and the pin body. The tension member biases the pin body toward a stowed position in which the pin of the pin body is stowed in the trough of the main body. With a thumb-actuated nub on the pin body, the user of the push pin pushes against the tension member to rotate the pin body into the fully-deployed position for use. The tension member is an elastic loop in some embodiments and a torsion spring in other embodiments.
Claims
1. A push pin, comprising: a main body having a trough; a pin body rotatably coupled to the main body; and a torsion spring coupled between the main body and the pin body, wherein: the pin body has a pin extending outwardly, two coaxial axles, and a thumb-actuated nub; the torsion spring biases the pin body toward a stowed position in which the pin of the pin body is stowed in the trough of the main body; the torsion spring has a first wire section, a second wire section, and a helical section; the helical section of the torsion spring is placed over one of the two coaxial axles; the main body has a cavity defined therein; the first wire section extends into the cavity; and the second wire section abuts the thumb-actuated nub.
2. The push pin of claim 1, wherein: the pin body rotates with respect to the main body about a rotation axis; the torsion spring has a helical portion with a centerline of the helical portion aligned with the rotation axis; the first wire of the torsion spring extends outwardly from the torsion spring and engages with the main body; and the second wire of the torsion spring extends outwardly from the torsion spring and abuts the pin body.
3. The push pin of claim 1, wherein: the pin body rotates with respect to the main body about a rotation axis; and the thumb actuated nub is offset from the rotation axis.
4. The push pin of claim 1, wherein: the pin body rotates with respect to the main body about a rotation axis; the main body has two cradles; the pin body has two axles extending outwardly therefrom with centerlines of the axles coaxial with the rotation axis and perpendicular with the pin of the pin body; and a first of the two axles engages with a first of the two cradles and a second of the two axles engages with a second of the two cradles.
5. A push pin, comprising: a main body having a trough; a pin body rotatably coupled to the main body; and a torsion spring coupled between the main body and the pin body, wherein: the pin body has a pin extending outwardly and a thumb-actuated nub; the torsion spring biases the pin body toward a stowed position in which the pin of the pin body is stowed in the trough of the main body; and a force applied to the thumb-actuated nub causes the pin body to rotate with respect to the main body and causes the torsion spring to unwind.
6. The push pin of claim 5, wherein: the pin body rotates with respect to the main body about a rotation axis; the main body has two cradles; the pin body further comprises two axles; the two axles of the pin body extend outwardly therefrom with centerlines of the axles coaxial with the rotation axis and perpendicular with the pin of the pin body; and a first of the two axles engages with a first of the two cradles and a second of the two axles engages with a second of the two cradles.
7. The push pin of claim 5, wherein: the pin body rotates with respect to the main body about a rotation axis; the torsion spring has a helical portion with a centerline of the helical portion aligned with the rotation axis; the torsion spring further includes a first end that extends outwardly from the torsion spring and engages with the main body; and the torsion spring further includes a second end that extends outwardly from the torsion spring and abuts the pin body.
8. The push pin of claim 5, wherein: the pin body rotates with respect to the main body about a rotation axis; and the thumb actuated-nub is offset from the rotation axis.
9. The push pin of claim 5, wherein the torsion spring biases the pin body toward a stowed position in which the pin of the pin body is stowed in the trough of the main body.
10. A push pin, comprising: a main body having: a head with a central axis, a trough that extends outwardly in a direction substantially perpendicular to the central axis, and two cradles defined therein; a pin body having: a pin, two axles, and a thumb-actuator nub; and a torsion spring having a helical portion, a first end, and a second end with the helical portion slipped over one of the two axles, wherein: the first end of the torsion spring engages with the main body; the second end of the torsion spring rests against the thumb-actuator nub; a first of the two axles snaps into a first of the cradles; a second of the two axles snaps into a second of the cradles; and the torsion spring biases the pin body toward a stowed position in which the pin of the pin body is stowed in the trough of the main body.
11. The push pin of claim 10, wherein: the main body has a cavity defined in an underside of the main body; and the first end of the torsion spring engages with the cavity.
12. The push pin of claim 10, wherein: the two axles are collinear along a rotation axis; and the thumb actuator nub is offset from the rotation axis.
13. The push pin of claim 10, wherein: the first end of the torsion spring is straight; and the second end of the torsion spring is hooked.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIGS. 1-8 illustrate prior art tacks and/or push pins;
(2) FIGS. 9-13 show a push pin according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in: isometric, plan, side, underside, and exploded views, respectively;
(3) FIGS. 14-16 illustrate the push pin of FIGS. 9-13 in three isometric views: a stowed position, a partially-deployed position, and a fully-deployed position, respectively;
(4) FIG. 17 shows the push pin of FIGS. 9-16 in cross section;
(5) FIGS. 18-20 show isometric views of a push pin according to an embodiment of the present disclosure completely exploded, partially assembled, and fully assembled positions, respectively;
(6) FIGS. 21-23 illustrate the push pin of FIGS. 18-20 in three isometric views: a stowed position, a partially-deployed position, and a fully-deployed position, respectively;
(7) FIG. 24 is an isometric, underside view of the push pin of FIGS. 18-23;
(8) FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of processes involved in manufacturing a push pin having an elastic loop;
(9) FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of processes involved in manufacturing a push pin having a torsion spring; and
(10) FIGS. 27-30 show an embodiment of the push pin in: an exploded isometric view, an assembled isometric view, a cross-sectional view, and a blow up of a portion of the cross-section view.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(11) As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, various features of the embodiments illustrated and described with reference to any one of the Figures may be combined with features illustrated in one or more other Figures to produce alternative embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. The combinations of features illustrated provide representative embodiments for typical applications. However, various combinations and modifications of the features consistent with the teachings of the present disclosure may be desired for particular applications or implementations. Those of ordinary skill in the art may recognize similar applications or implementations whether or not explicitly described or illustrated.
(12) Referring to FIG. 13, an exploded view is shown of a push pin assembly 100 that has a main body 102, a pin body 110, and an elastic loop 130. Main body 102 has a head 103, a trough 104, and an opening that forms a cradle 106. Main body 102 has openings on each side for cradles 106, with one side not visible in FIG. 13. Head 108 is shown as the standard handle from prior art configurations that might be grasped between a thumb and forefinger to either install or remove a push pin from a penetrable surface for mounting posters, pictures, art work, etc. Pin body 110 includes a tab, a thumb actuator nub 114, an axle 116, and pin 112. Axles 116 of pin body 110 engage with cradles 106 of main body 102. Elastic loop 130, as will be shown in other figures, loops around an element of main body 102 and an element of pin body 110. Tension in elastic loop 130 biases pin 112 of push pin assembly toward a stowed position, i.e., a position in which pin 112 is housed in trough 104, as will be seen in other views.
(13) In FIG. 9, push pin assembly 100 is shown in an isometric view and as assembled. In FIG. 9, pin 112 is in the fully-deployed position. The cradle of main body 102 is not separately called out as axle 116 of pin body 110 is engaged into the cradle. Elastic loop 130 is shown wrapped around trough 104.
(14) In FIG. 10, an end view of push pin assembly 100 is shown in which pin 112 is not visible because it is in its stowed position. Elastic loop 130 is shown wrapping around trough 104. In FIG. 12, a bottom view with pin 112 stowed in trough 104 is shown.
(15) A side view of push pin assembly 100 shows thumb actuator nub 114 extending out from main body 102 is shown in FIG. 11 with pin 112 fully deployed.
(16) In FIGS. 14, 15, and 16, push pin assembly 100 is shown in its stowed, partially deployed, and fully deployed configurations. In FIG. 14, force, as indicated by an arrow 140 has yet to be applied to cause pin body 110 to rotate. The pin of pin body 110 is not visible as it is stowed in trough 114. In FIG. 15, the force 140 on thumb actuator nub 114 has caused pin body 110 to rotate, as indicated by arrow 142, with respect to the main body (one part of which is head 103). With continued pushing on thumb actuator nub 114, illustrated as arrow 140, pin 112 becomes fully deployed, as shown in FIG. 16. Force (arrow 140) is continually applied to maintain pin 112 in its fully deployed position. In practice, push pin assembly 100 is then pressed into a penetrable surface (not shown). At that point, the penetrable surface causes acts against the spring tension of elastic loop 130 and maintains pin 112 in the deployed state with no further force being applied.
(17) A cross-sectional view of push pin assembly 100 is seen in FIG. 17. Main body 102 is shown with a cross hatch going from upper left to lower right. Pin body 110 has a cross hatch going from upper right to lower left. Elastic loop 130 is shown in the two places with a cross hatch that is much tighter than either of pin body 110 or main body 102.
(18) An alternative embodiment of a push pin 200 is shown in FIGS. 18-23. Referring to FIG. 18, push pin 200 is shown in an exploded view. A main body 202 has a head 203, a trough 204 extending out one side and two openings that serve as cradles 206. Push pin 200 also has a pin body 210 that has a thumb-actuated nub, two axles 216, and a pin 212. Push pin 200 has a torsion spring 230 with a helical section 232, a straight section 234 extending out one end of helical section 232, and a hook section 236 extending out the other end of helical section 232. In other embodiments, torsion spring 230 has straight sections extending from both ends, hook sections extending from both ends, and any other suitable combination. A central axis 238 of torsion spring 230 is also illustrated in FIG. 18. In FIG. 19, torsion spring 230 is assembled onto pin body 210 with the central axis 238 (not separately shown in FIG. 19) aligning with centerlines, or axis of rotation, of axles 216. In FIG. 20, push pin 200 is fully assembled with axles 216 snapped into cradles 206.
(19) In FIG. 21, push pin 200 is shown with head 203 pointing downward and in an isometric view to see the working parts of push pin 200. FIG. 21 shows the stowed position in which the pin (not visible) is stowed in trough 204. Thumb-actuated nub 214 is shown in its neutral position. Although when a force 240 is applied on 214, pin body 210 (not separately called out in FIG. 21) starts to rotate with respect to main body 202 (also not separately called out in FIG. 21). When force 240 is applied against torsion spring 230, torsion spring 230 unwinds and provides some resistance because torsion spring 230 wants to return to its neutral position; and pin body 210 rotates around a central axis 218. After some rotation of pin body 210, a partially deployed position is shown in FIG. 22, in which pin 212 is no longer stowed in trough 204, yet not fully deployed. A continuing force 240 application to thumb-actuated nub 214 causes the pin body 210 to get into the fully-deployed position, as shown in FIG. 23. A stop (not shown) prevents pin body 210 from rotating further than the fully-deployed position. In one embodiment, thumb-actuated nub 214 hits the stop. Any suitable combination of an element on pin body 210 and a corresponding element on main body 202 can be provided to serve as a stopping feature.
(20) In FIG. 22, a central axis 201 of head 203 is shown. Trough 20 extends out from pin body 210 in a direction substantially perpendicular to central axis 201.
(21) The pin body is allowed to rotate with respect to the main body between the stowed position, which the pin is hitting the bottom of the trough and to a fully-deployed position when a central axis of the pin is substantially collinear with an axis of the head of the main body. So that these two axes are collinear when the push pin is fully deployed, a stop is employed so that the pin body is prevented from rotating past the fully-deployed position. An additional view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 18-23 in FIG. 24 shows push pin 200 with pin 212 stowed in trough 204. Thumb-actuator nub 214 is shown displaced from a stop 238. When a force is applied to thumb-actuator nub 214 and the pin body rotates, thumb-actuator nub 214 will contact stop 238 to prevent further rotation. In such a manner, stop 238 prevents the pin body to over-rotate beyond the full-deployed position in which the central axis of pin 212 is substantially parallel with the central axis of head 203.
(22) Referring now to FIG. 25, a set of processes to manufacture a push pin are shown. In block 300, the main body of the push pin is molded. In block 302, the pin body of the push pin is molded over a pin. Block 300 and 302 can be performed in any order. Blocks 300 and 302 could apply to plastic, injection molding. In an alternative embodiment, the main body and/or the pin body are made of a metal and the pin might be molded with the pin body.
(23) In block 304, the two parts molded in blocks 300 and 302 are assembled by snapping axles of the pin body into the cradles of the main body. In blocks 306 and 308, the elastic loop is installed by engaging the loop over the trough of the main body and engaging over the pin of the pin body. Blocks 306 and 308 can be done in either order.
(24) Referring now to FIG. 26, assembly of an embodiment having a torsion spring is shown. Blocks 300 and 302 use the same processes as those described in regard to FIG. 25, although the molds are different between the two embodiments. In block 314, the torsion spring is installed over the axle of the pin body. In block 316, the main body of block 302 and the pin body with the torsion spring of block 314 are snapped together. The end of the torsion spring with a straight end (element 234 of FIG. 19) of the torsion spring engaging with a cavity defined within the main body during the assembly. Referring back to FIG. 19, it can be seen that hook portion 236 of torsion spring 230 sits against one side of thumb actuator nub 214. When pin body 210 rotates with respect to the main body 202 in a direction as shown by arrow 242, the torsion spring unwinds. Hook portion 236 is pushed by thumb-actuator nub 214 while straight portion 234 remains captive within the cavity (not visible) inside of head 203. The torsion spring is biased to return to its neutral position and thus unless a force is applied to cause pin body to rotate in the direction of arrow 242, pin body moves toward the stowed position.
(25) In a slight variation, a push pin 400 is shown exploded in FIG. 27. Push pin 400 has a pin body 410 and a main body 402. Pin body 410 has a pin 412. Main body 402 includes a trough 404 into which pin 412 can be stowed. Main body 402 has a head 403, cradles 406. Pin body has with a torsion spring 430 slid over one of the two axles 416. Pin body further includes a thumb-actuator nub 414. Torsion spring has an end 434 that is bent. Main body 402 has cradles 406 provided for axles 416. Push pin 400 is shown assembled and in the state with the pin stowed in FIG. 28. Push pin 400 is show in cross section in FIG. 29 in which the hook 434 of torsion spring 430 is inserted into cavity 450. In FIG. 30, a blow up of a portion of FIG. 28 is shown so that hook 434 of torsion spring 430 and cavity 450 are more easily viewed.
(26) While the best mode has been described in detail with respect to particular embodiments, those familiar with the art will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments within the scope of the following claims. While various embodiments may have been described as providing advantages or being preferred over other embodiments with respect to one or more desired characteristics, as one skilled in the art is aware, one or more characteristics may be compromised to achieve desired system attributes, which depend on the specific application and implementation. These attributes include, but are not limited to: cost, strength, durability, life cycle cost, marketability, appearance, packaging, size, serviceability, weight, manufacturability, ease of assembly, etc. The embodiments described herein that are characterized as less desirable than other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more characteristics are not outside the scope of the disclosure and may be desirable for particular applications.
