GB2313085A

GB2313085A - Tool for locating and removing fasteners

Info

Publication number: GB2313085A
Application number: GB9709931A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Doherty
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-05-18
Filing date: 1997-05-16
Publication date: 1997-11-19
Also published as: GB9610452D0; GB9709931D0

Abstract

A tool for facilitating the location of a fastener 12, of the type having a head and a shaft in a surface, comprises a body 14 accommodating a plurality of fasteners 12 and defining an open end 17 such that the shaft 32 of a fastener in a first position extends from the body 14. A bolt 18 in the body 14 supports the fastener 12 in the first position such that a user, gripping the body 14, may push the fastener shaft 32 into a surface. The bolt 18 may then be moved in the body to advance a further fastener to occupy the first position. The tool may also be used to remove fasteners from a surface.

Description

DEVICE FOR USE IN LOCATING OR REMOVING FASTENERS This invention relates to a device for facilitating the location of fasteners in surfaces and also to a device for facilitating the removal of fasteners from surfaces.

Paper and the like is often fastened to a surface using drawing pins, that is short pins with flat heads that may be pushed into the surface with the thumb. This is normally a straightforward operation but may be difficult if the surface is inaccessible, for example when attaching Christmas decorations to a ceiling. Removal of drawings pins from surfaces tends to be more difficult, requiring the head of the pin to be gripped by the finger nails or prised from the surface using a implement such as a knife.

It is among the objects of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a device which obviates or mitigates these disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for facilitating the location of a fastener having a head and a shaft in a surface, the device comprising: a body for receiving a plurality of fasteners and defining an open end such that the shaft of a fastener in a first position may extend therefrom; means for supporting a fastener in said first position such that a user, gripping the body, may push the fastener shaft into a surface; and means for advancing a further fastener to occupy said first position.

Preferably, the body is elongate such that a user, holding the body at the end opposite the open end, may locate fasteners in surfaces which would otherwise be beyond their reach. Most preferably, the body is tubular.

Preferably also, the fastener supporting means and the fastener advancing means are provided by a single member which is moveable relative to the body to advance the further fastener and may be fixed relative to the body to support a fastener in the first position. Most preferably, the member is in the form of a bolt or the like slidable in the body and which may be held in one of a plurality of positions to permit a line of fasteners to be advanced through and supported in the body. The bolt may define a screw thread engaging a corresponding thread on a rotatable advancing member which is axially fixed relative to the body.

Preferably also, the open end of the body includes means for releasably retaining a fastener in said first position, such that the fastener will not fall from the open end but may be removed from the body on the fastener engaging a surface. A removable cover may be provided for location over the open end of the body.

Preferably also, the device is provided in combination with a plurality of fasteners, each fastener head having a recessed surface to accommodate the shaft of an adjacent fastener in the body, and the heads being of complementary shape to a fastener receiving portion of the body.

The other end of the body may be open and communicate with a fastener receiving portion of the body, said other end including means for gripping the head of a fastener to permit the device to be utilised to remove fasteners from surfaces. The gripping means may be in the form of deflectable fingers or teeth.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for facilitating removal of a fastener having a head and a shaft from a surface, the device comprising a body for receiving a plurality of fasteners and defining an open end; and means associated with said open end for gripping the head of a fastener such that a user, gripping the body, may pull a fastener from a surface.

These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view of a device in accordance with a further aspect of the present invention; and Figure 4 is an exploded view of the device of Figure 3.

Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings illustrate a device 10 for facilitating the location of fasteners 12 in surfaces, and also for facilitating the removal of fasteners 12 from surfaces. The device comprises a tubular body 14 which accommodates a plurality of fasteners 12. The ends of the body 16, 17 are open to allow fasteners 12 to be received in the body 14 and also to be removed from the body 14.

Slidable within the body is a cylindrical bolt 18 including a radially extending pin 20 which may be latched in a toothed slot 22 which extends part way along the body 14.

The bolt 18 is retained within the body 18 by a removable end cap 24. A somewhat similar end cap 26 is located over the opposite end of the body and serves to locate a slotted tapering collar 28 defining gripping fingers 29.

The device 10 is provided in combination with a plurality of fasteners 12, each fastener comprising a head 30 and shaft 32. The head 30 is generally cylindrical but has a concave side wall 34 and a concave end wall 36.

In use, the bolt 18 is moved to the end of the slot 22, the end cap 24 removed, and a number of fasteners 12 located in the body 14, with their shafts 32 directed towards the open end 17. The fasteners 12 may be packed closely together, the concave end walls 36 accommodating the shafts 32 of adjacent fasteners. The end cap 24, which is formed of a resilient material, is then replaced on the body end 17, with the shaft 32 of the outermost fastener 12 extending therethrough. The end cap defines an opening of similar diameter to a fastener head 30, such that the end cap 24 tends to retain the fasteners 12 within the body 14.

The bolt 18 is then positioned in the slot 22 such that the fasteners 12 are prevented from moving longitudinally into the body 14. By gripping the body 14, a user may then locate the outermost fastener 12 in a surface, simply by pushing the body end 17 towards the surface. The fastener shaft 32 will engage the surface, and when the device 10 is pulled back the fastener 12 will be pulled through the end cap 24 and remain in the surface. The bolt 18 is then moved further up the slot 22 to advance the next fastener 12 such that the fastener shaft is ready to be located in the surface.

To remove fasteners 12 from a surface, the body 14 is reversed, such that the open end 16 is directed towards the surface. The end cap 26 is then pushed over the fastener head 30, such that the collar fingers 29 engage the fastener head side wall 34. When the device 10 is pulled from the surface, the fastener head 30 is gripped by the collar 28 and removed from the surface. If further fasteners are to be removed from the surface, the exercise is repeated, with the fasteners 12 being pushed further into the body 14 as additional fasteners are removed.

Reference is now made to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, which illustrate a alternative form of device 110 for facilitating the location of fasteners 12. The device comprises a tubular body 114 which accommodates a plurality of fasteners 12. The ends of the body 116, 117 are open to allow fasteners 12 to be received in the body 114 and also to be removed from the body 114. Slidable within the body is a cylindrical bolt 118 including a radially extending pin 120 which travels along an axial slot 122 which extends part way along the body 114. Movement of the bolt 118 within the body 114 is controlled by a threaded rod 50 provided with a user grip 52 extending beyond one end of the body, the bolt 118 defining an internal thread for engaging the rod 50. An end cap 124 is located over the opposite end of the body and serves to locate a slotted tapering collar 128 defining gripping fingers 129.

The device 110 is provided in combination with a plurality of fasteners 12 similar to those described above with reference to the first embodiment.

In use, the bolt 118 is retracted, by rotating the threaded rod 50, such that the bolt end is adjacent the inner end of the slot 122, the pin 120 preventing the bolt 118 from rotating relative to the body 114. The end cap 124 is then removed and a number of fasteners 12 located in the body 114, with the fastener shafts 32 directed towards the body open end 117. The end cap 124 is then replaced on the body end 117, with the shaft 32 of the outermost fastener 12 extending therethrough. The end cap 124 defines an opening of similar diameter to a fastener head 30, such that the end cap 124 tends to retain the fasteners 12 within the body 114. The bolt 118 is then advanced towards the body open end 117, by rotation of the rod 50, such that the fasteners 12 are prevented from moving longitudinally into the body 114. By gripping the body 114, a user may then locate the outermost fastener 12 in a surface, simply by pushing the body end 117 towards the surface. The fastener shaft 32 will engage the surface, and when the device 110 is pulled back the fastener 12 will be pulled through the end cap 124 and remain in the surface. The bolt 118 is then advanced by further rotation of the rod 50 to advance the next fastener 12 such that the fastener shaft is ready to be located in the surface.

When not in use, an end cover 54 is fitted to the end cap 124 to cover the shaft 32 of the outermost fastener 12 and to ensure that the fasteners 12 remain in the body 114.

The end cover 54 and cap 124 are preferably shaped to resemble a cartoon figure of the like.

It will be clear to those of skill in the art that the above-described embodiments are merely exemplary of the present invention, and that various modifications and improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for facilitating the location of a fastener having a head and a shaft in a surface, the device comprising: a body for receiving a plurality of fasteners and defining an open end such that the shaft of a fastener in a first position may extend therefrom; means for supporting a fastener in said first position such that a user, gripping the body, may push the fastener shaft into a surface; and means for advancing a further fastener to occupy said first position.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the body is elongate.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the body is tubular.

4. The device of any of the preceding claims, wherein the fastener supporting means and the fastener advancing means are provided by a single member which is moveable relative to the body to advance the further fastener and may be fixed relative to the body to support a fastener in the first position.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the member is in the form of a bolt or the like slidable in the body and which may be held in one of a plurality of positions to permit a line of fasteners to be advanced through and supported in the body.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the bolt defines a screw thread engaging a corresponding thread on a rotatable advancing member which is axially fixed relative to the body.

7. The device of any of the preceding claims, wherein the open end of the body includes means for releasably retaining a fastener in said first position, such that the fastener will not fall from the open end but may be removed from the body on the fastener engaging a surface.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein a removable cover is provided for location over the open end of the body.

9. The device of any of the preceding claims, wherein the device is provided in combination with a plurality of fasteners, each fastener head having a recessed surface to accommodate the shaft of an adjacent fastener in the body, and the heads being of complementary shape to a fastener receiving portion of the body.

10. The device of any of the preceding claims, wherein the other end of the body is open and communicates with a fastener receiving portion of the body, said other end including means for gripping the head of a fastener to permit the device to be utilised to remove fasteners from surfaces.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the gripping means is in the form of deflectable fingers or teeth.

12. A device for facilitating removal of a fastener having a head and a shaft from a surface, the device comprising a body for receiving a plurality of fasteners and defining an open end; and means associated with said open end for gripping the head of a fastener such that a user, gripping the body, may pull a fastener from a surface.

13. A device for facilitating the location of a fastener in a surface substantially as described herein and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A device for facilitating removal of a fastener from a surface substantially as described herein and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.