GB2077383A - Drawing pin - Google Patents

Abstract

A drawing pin is made easier to extract by hand by forming its head 1 with a preferably integral tab 2 which projects at an angle, away from the surface into which the pin is inserted and has a rib 3 or other fulcrum, close to the root of tab 2 which bears against the surface of the receiving material in which the pin is embedded. To extract the pin, pressure is applied to the tab 2 which, by pivoting about the fulcrum 3, serves to lever the pin out of the receiving material. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Drawing pin This invention concerns drawing pins (sometimes known also as "thumb tacks".

Conventional drawing pins usually comprise a tack having a point on one end and, on the other end, a relatively thin disc-like head which enables the pin to be pressed into wood or like receiving material (e.g. for securing a paper sheet or the like thereto) by application of thumb pressure by way of the head.

Fixing of such drawing pins can usually be effected easily enough by thumb pressure, so that no tools are involved. Subsequent removal thereof, however, is a different matter. As a general rule, if a pin has been pushed properly home, it will usually be nearly impossible to remove it again without the use of a suitable implement, such as a knife or screwdriver, which is introduced between the receiving material and the other edge of the head of the drawing pin and then twisted to lever the pin out of the receiving material. Apart from the need for finding a suitable implement, such removal includes a risk of spoiling the surface of the receiving material.

An object of the present invention is to provide a form of drawing pin which is so constructed that it can be extracted from receiving material by hand and without the need for using any separate tool, simply by the application of pressure, so that the operation of pin extraction is as simple as pin insertion.

With this object in view, the present invention provides a drawing pin comprising a shank having a point on one end and, at the other end, a disclike head, characterised by the provision of extractor means enabling the pin to be extracted from receiving material, said extractor means comprising a tab projecting at the side of the head remote from the shank and having a fulcrum so disposed for abutment against the receiving material that pressure on the top applies a leverlike extracting action upon said head.

The tab is conveniently integral with the head, which may be in the form of a flat disc, and the fulcrum may be provided by a rib or protrusion extending across the tab adjacent its root where it connects with the head.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view, from above, of a preferred embodiment of the drawing pin of the invention; Fig. 2 is an underneath plan of the pin of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic part-sectional side elevation showing the pin of Figs. 1 and 2 pressed into receiving material, to enable its manner of extraction to be understood.

The illustrated preferred embodiment of the drawing pin of the invention comprises a shank 4 which is pointed at one end and has at its other end, a thin flat metal disc forming a head 1 of the pin. The shank 4 and head 1 may be united in any conventional manner.

Formed integrally with the head 1 is extractor means provided by a tongue-like tab 2 which projects from the head 1 to the side of the latter remote from the shank 4. The root end of this tab 2 connects with the head 1 at the arcuate outer edge of the latter and as can be seen the tab extends at an oblique angle to the plane of the head 1.

Provided across the tab 2, adjacent its root end is a rib or bead 3 which, when the pin is pressed into receiving material as shown in Fig. 1, confronts the surface of the receiving material.

When it is required to remove the pin, it is only necessary for pressure (e.g. thumb pressure) to be applied to the projecting part of the tab 3. When this is done, the rib or bead 3 acts as a fulcrum so that a levering action is applied to the head 1, serving to extract the pin. Accordingly, the extractor arrangement enables the pin easily to be extracted without the need for using any tool for the purpose.

The invention is not confined to the precise details of the foregoing example, and variations may be made thereto. Thus, for instance it is not essentiai for the extractor means to be formed integrally with the head of the drawing pin. It could be provided, for instance, by an equivalent levering arrangement which is attached to or connected to the shank of the pin, or by a secondary disc which fits beneath the head of the pin and has therethrough a hole through which the shank of the pin projects.

1. A drawing pin comprising a shank having a point on one end and, at the other end, a disc-like head, characterised by the provision of extractor means enabling the pin to be extracted from receiving material, said extractor means comprising a tab projecting at the side of the head remote from the shank and having a fulcrum so disposed for abutment against the receiving material that pressure on the tab applies a leverlike extracting action upon said head.

2. A drawing pin as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tab is integral with the head.

3. A drawing pin as claimed in claim 2 wherein the fulcrum is provided by a rib extending across the tab adjacent its root where it joins with the head.

4. A drawing pin as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the head is in the form of a flat disc.

5. A drawing pin substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Drawing pin This invention concerns drawing pins (sometimes known also as "thumb tacks". Conventional drawing pins usually comprise a tack having a point on one end and, on the other end, a relatively thin disc-like head which enables the pin to be pressed into wood or like receiving material (e.g. for securing a paper sheet or the like thereto) by application of thumb pressure by way of the head. Fixing of such drawing pins can usually be effected easily enough by thumb pressure, so that no tools are involved. Subsequent removal thereof, however, is a different matter. As a general rule, if a pin has been pushed properly home, it will usually be nearly impossible to remove it again without the use of a suitable implement, such as a knife or screwdriver, which is introduced between the receiving material and the other edge of the head of the drawing pin and then twisted to lever the pin out of the receiving material. Apart from the need for finding a suitable implement, such removal includes a risk of spoiling the surface of the receiving material. An object of the present invention is to provide a form of drawing pin which is so constructed that it can be extracted from receiving material by hand and without the need for using any separate tool, simply by the application of pressure, so that the operation of pin extraction is as simple as pin insertion. With this object in view, the present invention provides a drawing pin comprising a shank having a point on one end and, at the other end, a disclike head, characterised by the provision of extractor means enabling the pin to be extracted from receiving material, said extractor means comprising a tab projecting at the side of the head remote from the shank and having a fulcrum so disposed for abutment against the receiving material that pressure on the top applies a leverlike extracting action upon said head. The tab is conveniently integral with the head, which may be in the form of a flat disc, and the fulcrum may be provided by a rib or protrusion extending across the tab adjacent its root where it connects with the head. The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view, from above, of a preferred embodiment of the drawing pin of the invention; Fig. 2 is an underneath plan of the pin of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic part-sectional side elevation showing the pin of Figs. 1 and 2 pressed into receiving material, to enable its manner of extraction to be understood. The illustrated preferred embodiment of the drawing pin of the invention comprises a shank 4 which is pointed at one end and has at its other end, a thin flat metal disc forming a head 1 of the pin. The shank 4 and head 1 may be united in any conventional manner. Formed integrally with the head 1 is extractor means provided by a tongue-like tab 2 which projects from the head 1 to the side of the latter remote from the shank 4. The root end of this tab 2 connects with the head 1 at the arcuate outer edge of the latter and as can be seen the tab extends at an oblique angle to the plane of the head 1. Provided across the tab 2, adjacent its root end is a rib or bead 3 which, when the pin is pressed into receiving material as shown in Fig. 1, confronts the surface of the receiving material. When it is required to remove the pin, it is only necessary for pressure (e.g. thumb pressure) to be applied to the projecting part of the tab 3. When this is done, the rib or bead 3 acts as a fulcrum so that a levering action is applied to the head 1, serving to extract the pin. Accordingly, the extractor arrangement enables the pin easily to be extracted without the need for using any tool for the purpose. The invention is not confined to the precise details of the foregoing example, and variations may be made thereto. Thus, for instance it is not essentiai for the extractor means to be formed integrally with the head of the drawing pin. It could be provided, for instance, by an equivalent levering arrangement which is attached to or connected to the shank of the pin, or by a secondary disc which fits beneath the head of the pin and has therethrough a hole through which the shank of the pin projects. CLAIMS

1. A drawing pin comprising a shank having a point on one end and, at the other end, a disc-like head, characterised by the provision of extractor means enabling the pin to be extracted from receiving material, said extractor means comprising a tab projecting at the side of the head remote from the shank and having a fulcrum so disposed for abutment against the receiving material that pressure on the tab applies a leverlike extracting action upon said head.

2. A drawing pin as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tab is integral with the head.

3. A drawing pin as claimed in claim 2 wherein the fulcrum is provided by a rib extending across the tab adjacent its root where it joins with the head.

4. A drawing pin as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the head is in the form of a flat disc.

5. A drawing pin substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.