GB2482353A

GB2482353A - Magnetic tack and tool

Info

Publication number: GB2482353A
Application number: GB1013388.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Mitchell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-07-26
Filing date: 2010-08-10
Publication date: 2012-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 2030-08-10
Also published as: GB201013388D0; GB201012468D0; GB2482353B

Abstract

A magnetic tack includes a head and a pointed shaft. The head comprises a flat plate and having a projection. The head may additionally comprise a hook. A tool adapted for the installation and removal of the tack includes a magnet adapted to engage the tack to aid installation of the tack, and a claw having a rebate adapted to engage the projection of the head of the tack to aid removal of the tack.

Description

I have included my original description and drawings from my patent application GB0822044.4 as they are applicable to this patent application as the function of the tacks and fixing devices are essentially the same. I also enclose an amended abstract from application GB0822044.4.

On building projects the problem of keeping the inside of the building clean and tidy is exasperated by trailing cables along the floor. These trailing cables make sweeping the floor more difficult and interferes with moving equipment and mobile scaffolds: as well as being a trip hazard.

My idea will solve this problem by keeping the cables off the floor. On projects keeping the cables off the floor has always been tiresome and inconvenient. Step ladders are always required and either mechanical fixings or inflexible cable ties. My idea along with my fixings will negate step ladders and the need for most if not all mechanical fixings, and my fixings will be re-useable.

I have three drawings to help explain the principals of my system, none are to scale. Drawing 1 shows my Magnetic Tack. Drawing 2 shows my Flat Plate and my Quick Fixing. Drawing 3 shows my Fixing Device that is also used in recovering the fixings.

My system will keep the cables of the floor with the minimum of fuss. Essentially I will manufacture re-useable ferrous metal fixings for fixing to timber or board materials (drawing No 2, Quick Fixing) with tapered edges to allow my Magnetic Fixing Device (drawing No3) access to prise the Quick Fixing from a ceiling. The Quick Fixing will remain on my Fixing Device for recovery. The Quick Fixing will be secured to the board or timber ceilings using my magnetic Fixing Device attached to an appropriate pole; by means of tapping the pole with a hammer. The Quick Fixing can also be hammered into walls. I may have to manufacture my own poles incorporating the Magnetic Fixing Device as a head. This would negate the need for step ladders. Alternatively the Flat Plate (drawing No 2) can be glued or mechanically fixed in the case of fixing to concrete or brick walls or ceilings.

Attached to my fixings would be a magnetic swivel hook (I have sourced these swivel hooks from a manufacture) from which cables or cables attached to wires or strong string can be suspended. This will keep all cables as close to the ceilings as wished. The swivel hooks will state the magnitude to which they have been safely tested, which will have a safety factor built in.

The Magnetic Tack (drawing No 1) is simply a re-useable tack fixed to ceilings with my Fixing Device.

This will be particularly useful for hanging decorations to ceilings, removing the need for step ladders and moving furniture. The magnetic tacks will be completely re-useable and easy to recover as they will remain attached to the Fixing Device for retrieval.

The following are modifications to my original patent application GB 0822044.4 (publication number GB2465982), and it is these modifications and an additional magnetic tack (Drawing No7( that I am applying for a patent. These modifications will help the devices to interlock which will aid collecting the magnetic tack, and extraction of the tacks (a.&b.onDrawinNo4&5( protect decorated surfaces such as walls, ceilings/soffits. I also propose to fix a hook (conDrawinNo4&No7(0 the tacks with a flexible or where necessary a rigid attachment (for cable management purposes) which will negate the magnetic swivel hook on my patent description GB0822044.4 paragraph 5 above. The hook on Drawing No 4 & 7( may be attached to a chain to make it readily accessible by hand. Hook (c. on Drawing No 4 & 7( will not be necessary and therefore not included when the tack (b. on Drawing No 5( is being used for hanging decorations which must be attached through the pin (m) prior to fixing the tack to the ceiling.

When the tack is being utilised for hanging decorations it may receive a decorative finish, and a removable protective collar (don Drawing No4&5)) made from compressible material to protect ceiling finishes. As with my first patent application the tacks (a&b.on DrawingNo4&5) will be made of magnetic material for easy placing and retrieval of the tacks', and placed and retrieved by a modified version of my fixing device (f. on Drawing No's 4,5 & 6) as represented on Drawing No3 of patent application GB0822044.4, due to their magnetic properties.

The magnetic tack on drawing No 7 will have a magnet fixed by a screw to the tack and a hook or hooks for carrying power cables. The magnetic tack is for attaching to structural steel, metal ceiling tiles or rib decking on the underside of concrete floors. The magnetic tack is placed and retrieved using the fixing device (f) attached to an extendable pole. When placing the magnetic tack to metal ceilings or high steel surfaces it is simply positioned on the fixing device (f) and offered up to the surface where it will attach itself magnetically then swiftly remove the fixing device. The power cables should be hung on the hook prior to placing the magnetic tack. The magnetic tack is retrieved by the method described below or by a sharp downward pull on the pole when the fixing device (f) is being used for extracting the tack (as shown on Drawing No4) breaking the magnetic contact.

I further propose introduce two methods of interlocking the devices (e & g. on Drawing No's 5 & 4) again dependant on circumstances. The first method (eon Drawing No5( illustrates a decorative tack circumstance where the interlocking method (e. on Drawing No 5) is close to the centre of the tack to make extraction as close to the perpendicular as possible thus reducing the pressure on the protective collar (d. on Drawing No's 4&5( and therefore the ceiling finish, on the opposite side of the tack from which the magnetic fixing device is being applied to extract the tack ihe second method Drawing No 4) illustrates a cable management circumstance with the magnetic tack (Drawing No 7) and tack (a) and hook (c( to carry power cables. Where tack (a) is being used on finished surfaces then a larger compressible protective collar may be utilised to offer greater protection.

I have produced four drawings to illustrate how this will be achieved (none are to scale).

Drawing No 4 & 5 illustrates how the devices will interlock and aid extraction by arresting slippage of the fixing device, and holding the fulcrum edge (h( position in place. When the fulcrum edge (h( is turned on the ceiling this causes rebate (i. on Drawing No 6) and the grove (J. on Drawing No 6) on the fixing device to grip the corresponding shoulder (k. on Drawing No 4,5 & 7) and raised ridge (I. on Drawing No 4 & 7) on the tacks Drawing No 4 shows two raised ridges, but the magnetic tack and tack (a) could have as many as four i.e. one on each side, or only one raised edge on a single side. Drawing No 6 represents the magnetic fixing device with a magnet fixed by a screw making the magnet re-moveable. The rebate of the fixing device presses down on the shoulder (k. on Drawing No 4 & 7 of the magnetic tack and tack (a) and simultaneously interlocks grove on the fixing device with the raised ridge (I.onDrawinNo4&7(0 the tacks when in operation Drawing No 5 shows the fixing device rebate (i. on Drawing No 6) that will interlock with the shoulder (k. on Drawing No 5) on the tack (b(, and illustrates how the fulcrum edge (hon Drawing No4( may have a curve or be angled. Both tacks' (a & b( will have a round, square or twist nail/pin of optimum lengths to penetrate the surface that they are being fixed to.

Claims

Claims.1. The tacks will be made from metal.
2. The tacks will have shoulders (k on drawing No 4,5 & 7) to interlock with a corresponding rebate (ion drawing No 6) at the tip of the fixing device (fon drawing No 6).
3. The tack will have a flat flange (non Drawing No 5)
4. The magnetic tack (drawing No 7) and tack will have a slopping flange (0. on Drawing No 4 & 7)
5. The magnetic tack and tack (a) will have raised ridges (Ion drawing No 4&7( on the slopping flange to interlock with a corresponding grove (jon drawing No 6) on the fixing device
6. The fixing device will have an imbedded or re-moveable magnet
7. The fixing device will have a rebate and a grove at the opposite end from the fulcrum ed e (h on drawing No 6)
8. The fulcrum edge will have an optimum angle or curve to facilitate extraction and minimise damage to finished surfaces.
9. The fixing device will taper from the fulcrum edge decreasing to the tip and slope to fit the slopping flange between the tip and angle (p) (on drawing No 4).
10. All tacks will be re-useable.
11. The slopping flange (o on drawings No 4& 7) and the angle (p) (on drawing No 41will be set at the optimum angle to aid extraction and minimise damage to finished surfaces.
12. The protective be removable and made from compressible material.
13. The magnetic tack and tack (a) will be able to carry more than one hook (con drawings No4&7(.
14. The hook can be attached to a chain which in turn is attached to the magnetic tack and tack (a).
15. The magnetic fixing device will have an internal thread (as illustrated on drawing No 3) for attaching to a wooden or extendable pole.
16. The wooden or extendable pole will be attached to the magnetic fixing device by a threaded end on the pole that will screw into the magnetic fixing device to reach high ceiling/soffit surfaces.
17. The pin (mon Drawing No's 4& 5) will be round, square or twisted as required to fix to different surfaces.