Patent ID: 6298587
Filing Date: 2001-10-09
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
A pin screen capable of multiple orientations comprising:first and second spaced parallel axially aligned apertured conjoined plates adapted to receive and hold a plurality of pins inserted into apertures located on said first and second plates,spacer means holding said first and second plates apart,said apertures being aligned such that a pin inserted through said aligned apertures in each of said plates will be perpendicularly oriented to said plates,said apertures in each of said plates being aligned in rows,said rows being in one of a staggered and non-staggered pattern,a plurality of pins each having a shank each of said shanks, having a diameter, said apertures being larger than the diameter of said shanks of said pins,said shanks being inserted through the aligned apertures in said first and second plates,each of said shanks having a head on one end thereof,said heads of said shanks abutting against said first plate,an opposite end of said shanks of said pins protruding through said second plate, said opposite ends of each of said shanks of said pins having a cap,said heads and said caps being larger than the diameter of said apertures for preventing said pins from passing out of said plates,said first and second plates being spaced apart from each other by a distance of about three times to about ten times less than the total length of said pins,said spacing of said plates being sufficient to maintain said pins inserted through said aligned apertures in said first and second plates,said plates being adapted to allow selective displacement of said pins,said pins being capable of being displaced by pressing a three-dimensionally configured object against said pin caps and portions of said pin shanks projecting beyond said second apertured plate for displacing away from said first apertured plate, said pin heads of said pins, for causing the displaced pin caps to create a three dimensionally configured image of said object,said pins being composed of a material capable of attraction to a magnet,said pins being capable of being held in a displaced position by magnetic attraction of said shanks of said pins to magnetic strips which lie within the space between said two plates,said magnetic strips being equal in width to the spacing between said plates and of a thickness less than the total distance between the apertures of one row and an adjacent row and of a length whereby said strips project beyond the pin filled apertures of said rows,said magnetic strips contacting said shanks of said pins within the spacing of said plates wherein every two said adjacent rows of pins have their own said magnetic strip for said contact,said pins being capable of retaining said three-dimensionally configured image in any orientation of said conjoined plates,said pins being returnable to a position in which said pin heads are abutting against said first apertured plate by pressing said pin heads to abut against said first plate.