Multi-Prong Push Pin Apparatus

• US 20090047098A1
• Filed: 08/13/2007
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Timothy Alan Darling
• Original Assignee: Timothy Alan Darling
• Inventors: Darling, Timothy Alan
• Application Number:
  US11/838,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20090047098A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 411/457
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 15/02 with specially-shaped heads, e.g. with enlarged surfaces ornaments for furniture A47B95/04; removable ornamental heads for nails A47G3/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0685 Joining sheets or plates to strips or bars F16B5/0692 takes precedence

Abstract

A pushpin and method of use for the pushpin for inserting into a surface and remaining adjacent to the surface, the pushpin includes a body having a body longitudinal axis, the body also including a first end portion and a second end portion, the body also having a middle portion disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion wherein the middle portion is sized and configured for manual grasping. Further included in the pushpin are at least three tines, each of the tines includes a proximal end portion and an opposing distal end portion with a lengthwise axis spanning therebetween, wherein each tine proximal end portion is adjacent to the second end portion, wherein each lengthwise axis is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and each of the tines are positioned substantially equidistant to one another.

Claims

1. A pushpin for inserting into a surface and remaining adjacent to the surface, comprising:

(a) a body having a body longitudinal axis, said body also including a first end portion and a second end portion, said body also has a middle portion disposed between said first end portion and said second end portion wherein said middle portion is sized and configured for manual grasping; and

(b) at least three tines, each said tine including a proximal end portion and an opposing distal end portion with a lengthwise axis spanning therebetween, wherein each said tine proximal end portion is adjacent to said second end portion, wherein each said lengthwise axis is substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis and each of said tines are positioned substantially equidistant to one another.

2. A pushpin according to claim 1 wherein said tines are positioned in a manner that operationally provides omni-directional lateral stability.

3. A pushpin according to claim 1 wherein a span between said tine proximal end portion and said tine distal end portion is about two (2) times the distance between said body first end portion and said body second end portion.

4. A pushpin according to claim 1 wherein first end portion is sized and configured to accommodate a means of force for inserting said tines into the surface.

5. A pushpin according to claim 1 wherein said tines each include a rounded distal end portion, wherein said rounded distal end portion is operational to help reduce injury from the tine distal end portion.

6. A pushpin according to claim 1 wherein said body has an aperture therethrough, wherein said aperture includes a longwise axis that is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, wherein operationally said aperture substantially retains a longitudinal element relative to the surface when said pushpin tines are inserted into the surface.

7. A pushpin according to claim 1 wherein said body is constructed of materials selected from the group consisting essentially of plastic, carbon fiber, and fiber glass.

8. A pushpin according to claim 1 wherein said body is constructed of materials selected from the group consisting essentially of aluminum, steel, and, titanium.

9. A pushpin according to claim 1 wherein said middle portion is a necked configuration in-between said first end portion and said second end portion, wherein said necked configuration is operational for a more ergometric manual grasping.

10. A pushpin according to claim 1 wherein said second end portion includes a face that is sized and configured to match the surface when said pushpin tines are inserted into the surface.

11. A pushpin for inserting into a surface and remaining adjacent to the surface, comprising:

(a) a base having a transverse axis, said base having a first end planar portion and a second end planar portion;

(b) at least three flexible fingers each having a primary end portion and an opposing secondary end portion with an elongated axis spanning therebetween, said primary end portion is adjacent to said base second end planar portion, wherein each said elongated axis being substantially equidistant from one another in a substantially perpendicular plane taken through all of said elongated axes, said fingers having a free state and a manually compressed state, wherein in said free state each said elongated axis forms an acute angle with said transverse axis and in said compressed state each said elongated axis is substantially parallel to said transverse axis; and

(c) at least three tines, each said tine including a proximal end portion and an opposing distal end portion with a lengthwise axis spanning therebetween, wherein at least one said tine proximal end portion is adjacent to each said flexible finger secondary end portion resulting in said elongated axis and said lengthwise axis being substantially parallel for each given flexible finger and tine combination.

12. A pushpin according to claim 11 wherein said tines are positioned in a manner that provides for omni-directional lateral stability substantially parallel to the surface when said pushpin in experiencing an insertion force to have said tines pierce into the surface.

13. A pushpin according to claim 11 wherein said first end planar portion is sized and configured to accommodate a means of force for inserting said tines into the surface.

14. A pushpin according to claim 11 wherein each said tine distal end portion has a rounded configuration, wherein said rounded configuration is operational to help reduce injury from the said tine distal end portion.

15. A pushpin according to claim 11 wherein said flexible fingers are constructed of materials selected from the group consisting essentially of plastic, carbon fiber, and fiber glass.

16. A pushpin according to claim 11 wherein said base and fingers form an aperture therethrough, wherein said aperture includes a longwise axis that is substantially perpendicular to said base transverse axis in both said finger compressed state and said finger free state, wherein operationally said aperture substantially retains a longitudinal element relative to the surface when said pushpin tines are inserted into the surface.

17. A method for using a pushpin, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a pushpin that includes a base having a transverse axis, said base having a first end planar portion and a second end planar portion, said pushpin also includes at least three flexible fingers each having a primary end portion and an opposing secondary end portion with an elongated axis spanning therebetween, said primary end portion is adjacent to said base second end planar portion, wherein each said elongated axis being substantially equidistant from one another in a substantially perpendicular plane taken through all of said elongated axes, said fingers having a free state and a manually compressed state, wherein in said free state each said elongated axis forms an acute angle with said transverse axis and in said compressed state each said elongated axis is substantially parallel to said transverse axis, and at least three tines, each said tine including a proximal end portion and an opposing distal end portion with a lengthwise axis spanning therebetween, wherein at least one said tine proximal end portion is adjacent to each said flexible finger secondary end portion resulting in said elongated axis and said lengthwise axis being substantially parallel for each given flexible finger and tine combination, in addition, said base and fingers form an aperture therethrough, wherein said aperture includes a longwise axis that is substantially perpendicular to said base transverse axis in both said finger compressed state and said finger free state, wherein operationally said aperture substantially retains a longitudinal element relative to the surface when said pushpin tines are inserted into the surface;

(b) grasping manually said pushpin adjacent to said fingers;

(c) compressing said flexible fingers of the pushpin until said fingers are adjacent to one another placing said fingers into said compressed state;

(d) inserting said pushpin tines into the surface while said fingers remain in said compressed state; and

(e) releasing manually said pushpin fingers, allowing said fingers to move into said free state, wherein said tines further are operational to anchor said pushpin into the surface.

18. A method for using a pushpin according to claim 17, further including a step of piercing an article with said tines, wherein the article is positioned therebetween said fingers and the surface before said pushpin pierces the surface, being operational for said pushpin to help secure the article to the surface.

19. A method for using a pushpin according to claim 17, further comprising a step of feeding a longitudinal element through said aperture, wherein said pushpin helps retain the longitudinal element to the surface.

20. A method for using a pushpin according to claim 17, further comprising a step of repeating said steps (b) and (c) and then adding a step of removing said pushpin from the surface while retaining said compressed state.