Abstract:
A safety pin attachment which is capable of being releaseably locked about a conventional safety pin. The attachment has a male half and a female half which are adapted for mutual locking engagement. In one embodiment, the male half and the female half are injection molded adjacent each other and lying in the same plane, connected by a living hinge. The living hinge allows the two halves to be folded together until they are releaseably locked about the safety pin.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an attachment for a conventional safety pin. 
     A typical conventional safety pin has first and second wire limbs, the first wire limb having a cap at one end and the second wire limb having a pointed free end, and a coiled portion opposite the cap end of the first wire limb which provides a connection for the first and second wire limbs. The cap has a recess opening towards the first wire limb which is adapted to engage the free end of the second wire limb which is movable between an engaged and a non-engaged position. 
     The present invention contemplates an attachment for a safety pin which can be used to provide an additional gripping mass and also have identifying indicia to identify characteristics associated with items to which the safety pin is attached. 
     The problem with the conventional safety pin is that it is difficult to grasp due to the small diameter of the first and second wire limbs. For persons suffering from arthritis the problem is especially acute. Various attempts have been made to solve the problem. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,806,997 issued to Niwa discloses a safety pin having a non-slip plastic body. Niwa solves the aforementioned problem by providing a gripping mass which allows for easier handling of the safety pin. The safety pin designed by Niwa suffers from the drawback in that it cannot be used with a conventional safety pin. Niwa discloses attaching the gripping mass to an unconventional wire pin arrangement having a free arm with a pointed end and a mounting arm embedded in the gripping mass. Thus Niwa does not disclose an attachment for-a conventional safety pin but instead discloses a redesigned safety pin. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,030,166(Betters), 3,883,930(Bagnasco), and 4,071,927(Bagnasco) all disclose redesigned safety pins which have a larger gripping area than the conventional safety pin. 
     The attachment of the present invention can be used as an identification tag for the blind or sight impaired. The attachment is provided with projections which enable the blind to determine a given characteristic associated with the item to which it is attached. If desired, braille or other indicia can be used. One advantage of using the attachment as an identification tag is that if the safety pin to which it is attached ever breaks or rusts it can be applied to a new safety pin. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of this invention to provide an attachment for a safety pin which can be provided with identifying indicia to identify characteristics associated with items to which it is attached. 
     It is also an object of this invention to provide an attachment for a conventional safety pin which facilitates easier gripping and control thereof. 
     It is also an object of this invention to provide an attachment for a safety pin which can be used with different sized safety pins. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide an attachment for a safety pin which minimizes rotation or undesirable instability of the safety pin while fastening and unfastening the safety pin. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide an attachment for a safety pin which can be brought into locking engagement about the safety pin. 
     These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by providing a safety pin attachment which is capable of being releaseably locked about a conventional safety pin. The attachment has a male half and a female half which are adapted for mutual locking engagement. In one embodiment, the male half and the female half are injection molded adjacent each other and lying in the same plane, connected by a living hinge. The living hinge allows the two halves to be folded together until they are releaseably locked about the safety pin. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a side view of the attachment locked around a conventional safety pin, 
     FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the attachment at lines B--B, 
     FIG. 3(a) shows a cross section of the attachment laid open at lines A--A. 
     FIG. 3(b) shows a cross section of the attachment laid open at lines B--B. 
     FIG. 3(c) shows a cross section of the attachment laid open at lines C--C. 
     FIG. 4 shows a cross section of an alternative embodiment of the attachment at lines C--C. 
     FIG. 5(a) shows cross section A--A of an alternative embodiment of the attachment laid open. 
     FIG. 5(b) shows a cross section B--B of an alternative embodiment of the attachment laid open. 
     FIG. 5(c) shows cross section C--C of an alternative embodiment of the attachment laid open. 
     FIG. 6 shows a side view of the attachment with molded projections. 
     FIG. 7 shows a bottom view of the attachment with molded projections. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to FIG. 1 a side view of the attachment 10 of the present invention locked around a conventional safety pin 12 is shown. 
     The conventional safety pin 12 has first and second wire limbs 20 and 22 respectively. A coiled portion 24 connects limbs 20 and 22 and allows for movement of limb 22 relative to limb 20 as is well known. Cap 26 at the end of limb 20 has an opening 27 opposite limb 20 which is adapted for locking engagement with the free end 28 of limb 22. 
     The attachment 10 has a central portion 19 and a first end 32 which secures the coiled portion 24 of the safety pin 12. The other end 34 of the attachment 10 secures the cap 26 of the safety pin 12. It should be noted at this point that the term secure is not meant to denote a rigid locking engagement. The ends 32 and 34 allow for a very limited amount of relative movement of the pin 12, allowing one attachment to be used with several different sized safety pins 12 as will be explained later. The attachment 10 has an interiorly disposed void 35 the dimensions of which are indicated by lines 31 and 33. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, a cross section of the attachment 10 taken at lines B--B is shown. The attachment 10 has a male half 29 and a female half 37 which are capable of locking engagement via latch 30 which extends over to the female half 37. The attachment 10 is locked around the safety pin 12 when latch surface 36 abuts surface 38 of the female half 37. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3(a) cross section A--A of the attachment laid open is shown. This is essentially a cross section of end 34. Male half 29 and female half 37 are connected by a hinge 40 which has narrow portions 51 and 53. Hinge 40 and portions 51 and 53 comprise a living hinge arrangement as is known in the art. The attachment 10 can be molded with the living hinge flat or open as is shown here. The attachment 10 can also be molded around a safety pin 12 provided the molding technique allows for a reusable hinge arrangement. The attachment 10 can also be molded as two separate halves which can be locked together. 
     FIG. 3(b) shows cross section B--B which bisects a central portion 19 of the attachment 10 between points 17 and 18 as shown in FIG. 1. At this point, the male half 29 is relatively massive compared to the female half 37 due to transversally extending latch 30. FIG. 3(c) shows that at cross section C--C both male and female halfs are identical. 
     In operation, wire limb 20 of the safety pin 12 is placed within the void 35 of the attachment 10. The attachment 10 is then locked around the safety pin 12 by pressing together exterior surfaces 46 and 48 in the direction of arrows A1 and A2 until surfaces 36 and 38 of latch 30 meet. 
     As previously stated, the attachment 10 can be used with different sized safety pins 12. The range of sizes is not, of course, unlimited. In order for the attachment 10 to function properly, the cap 26 must be capable of engagement with end 34 of the attachment 10 while the coiled portion 24 is within the confines of end 32. Of course, wire limb 20 must fit within inner surfaces 42 and 44 of void 35 in order for the attachment to close. 
     It should be noted at this point that the attachment 10 can be made from injection molded plastic. Of course any other suitable material and manufacturing method can be used. 
     Referring now to FIG. 4 a cross section of the locking arrangement of an alternative embodiment is shown. The locking arrangement has a mushroom shaped projection 162 extending across the end (32, FIG. 1) which secures the coiled portion 24 of the safety pin 12. The projection 162 extends through the coiled portion 24 of the safety pin. Projection 162 is wider at the extreme end 164 so it can provide a &#34;snap-fit&#34; with aperture 170. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5(b), male 129 and female 137 halfs of the attachment 10 are identical through the central portion 19. FIG. 5(a) shows that the two embodiments are identical at section A--A. 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 show projections 200 which are used as identifying indicia. The projections 200 are conical in shape and are molded at the time the attachment 10 is made so that a unitary construction is obtained. Of course, if desired the projections 200 can be attached by any other feasible means. Also, any other identifying indicia can be applied including, but not limited to braille, raised lettering or the like. 
     Referring now to FIG. 7, 8 projections 200 are shown. 8 projections 200 can correspond to a characteristic of an item such as color or size. Any scheme can be used to identify the characteristics of the item, for instance the 8 projections 200 can be considered as either 8 projections 200 total or 4 projections 200 total. Also, the pattern shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is only exemplary, any number or arrangement of projections 200 can be used, limited by the surface area of the attachment 10.