Twist type mounting device

A twist-type mounting deviced comprising a stem handle which has one or more protruding ridges encircling the stem and an elongated, corkscrew-shaped pointed pin axially extending from the center of one end of the stem handle. One or more of the protruding ridges may be crenelated or reeded to facilitate finger twisting.

BACKGROUND 
1. Field of Invention 
This invention relates to a mounting device which, when installed manually 
with pressure into a soft penetrable surface such as the cloth facing of 
an office partition will serve to mount, support, and display for ready 
reference various office accessories such as clipboards, data sheets, work 
schedules, calendars, and other such commonly used items either by 
piercing said office accessories to attach to cloth directly or by 
attaching the mounting device to the cloth surface and then suspending the 
accessory from said mounting device by means of spring clips, hooks, or 
other suspending means. 
This invention relates to the subject of my disclosure statement #222167 
and #222180 dated Mar. 14, 1989. 
2. Description of Prior Art 
In order to maximize office space many offices are designed utilizing cloth 
faced portable partitions. These offices are usually rather small and 
allow enough space for only a small desk and file cabinet. People 
occupying these offices find a great need to have various items of 
reference close at hand. The cloth walls of these partitions could furnish 
excellent means for displaying whatever is needed for ready reference. 
Unfortunately, there is no all-purpose mounting device made today that can 
be utilized for the aforementioned purpose. The ordinary thumbtack or push 
pin does not serve the purpose because neither one will remain attached to 
the cloth and instead will fall out when any object is suspended from it 
or fastened to the cloth by it. 
Another type of fastener available is the twist pin which is used in the 
upholstery trade to attach doilies to the armrests of upholstered chairs. 
However, like the thumbtack, this pin has a flat head which is too narrow 
to accomodate a suspended object. 
Another available device is a bar suspended from a pressure clip which 
grips the top frame of the partition. Hooks can be attached to the 
suspended bar, but these are used for coat hangers rather than for 
reference items. 
Another available device is a bar to which is attached a cork board. The 
vertical height of the bar can be adjusted by fasteners at each end 
attached to the vertical frame of the partition. Thumbtacks or push pins 
can then be used, utilizing the cork board as a supporting wall for the 
tacks. This item involves a much greater expense than my invention and may 
be quite awkward to adjust or to move when necessary since everything 
attached to it would be moved at the same time, or all attached objects 
would first have to be removed before moving it to a different location. 
Most office personnel, then, would find it much more desirable and 
economical to have an inexpensive, simple mounting device which could be 
kept at hand in adequate quantities and distributed as desired to all 
personnel to mount reference materials. 
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
Accordingly I claim the following as my objects and advantages of the 
invention: to provide a convenient, inexpensive mounting device by which 
various papers, printed items, calendars, data sheets, work schedules, and 
other items usually posted in office areas can be firmly mounted to 
cloth-faced office partitions or other soft penetrable surfaces for ready 
reference. In addition I claim the following additional objects and 
advantages: to provide a mounting device from which various office 
accessories such as clip boards, spring clips, and containers to hold such 
items as paper clips, keys, eyeglasses, and other items can be hung for 
convenient use. 
The objectives and features of the invention will become more readily 
apparent from the following detailed descriptions and the accompanying 
drawings.

DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS 
10 Holding element 
11 Stem handle 
12 Enlarged skirt ridge 
13 Enlarged ridge in center of stem handle 
14 Crenelated ridge 
15 Enlarged ridge not crenelated 
16 Soft soundproofing layer 
17 Cloth side of partition 
18 Hard board or metal backing of partition 
19 Spring clip 
20 Enlarged ridge on quadrilateral embodiment 
21 Enlarged skirt ridge on quadrilateral embodiment 
DESCRIPTION OF MOUNTING DEVICE 
FIG. 1 shows the mounting device according to the preferred embodiment of 
the invention. The Device comprises a stem (11) to which an elongated 
corkscrew-shaped pointed pin (10) is permanently attached. Said mounting 
device when twisted by fingers and accompanied simultaneously by manual 
pressure directed into the cloth panel (17) will penetrate into the soft 
soundproofing layer (16) and attach itself firmly to the panel. The end of 
the stem (11) furthest from the pin holding element (10) has a protruding 
crenelated ridge (14) encircling the entire circumference to facilitate 
the twisting motion. An additional ridge (13) is located between the two 
ridges (12 and 14). The crenelated ridge (14) and the center ridge (13) 
distinguish this type fastener and differentiate this fastener from the 
ordinary familiar twist pin or push pin. 
FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 are other shapes which may be used for the same type 
mounting device. 
FIG. 2 shows a device in which both flange-like ridges 13 and 15 are 
smooth. 
FIG. 3 shows the device without a middle ridge 13; it has only the ridge 12 
and the ridge 15. 
FIG. 4 shows the device having a quadrilateral cross-section. 
FIG. 5 shows in cross-section how the mounting device of FIG. 1 is attached 
to the cloth surface 17 of the partition which consists of a cloth face 
17, a soft center layer 16, and a hard board or metal backing 18. 
FIG. 6 shows a spring clip 19 suspended from the stem 11 of the mounting 
device of FIG. 3. 
Note that the mounting device as illustrated has a section of the stem 11 
between the ridges 15 and 13, and between the skirt ridge 12 and the 
ridges 15 or 13. 
The invention thus provides a twist-type mounting device that can be 
installed on a soft penetrable panel with a manual twist and push. The 
mounting device can be removed again without damage to the soft panel with 
a reverse twist and pull. 
While the above description contains several specificities they are not to 
be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention but merely as 
exemplifications of preferred embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the 
art will envision many other possible variations within its scope. For 
example, skilled artisans will readily be able to change the dimensions 
and shapes of the various embodiments. They will also be able to make the 
mounting device of materials such as plastic, wood, or metal. Accordingly, 
the scope of the invention is determined by the appended claims and their 
legal equivalents and not by the examples which have been given.