Abstract:
A pin for decorating items comprising a plurality of limbs and a detachable cap. The pin comprises a first limb and a second limb. Each of the limbs comprises a distal end and a proximal end. A distal end of the first limb is attached to a distal end of the second limb. The proximal end of the first limb is removably secured to the cap independently of the second limb, and a proximal end of the second limb is removably secured to the cap independently of the first limb. At such time as the first and second limbs are both detached from the cap, decorative items and accessories may be threaded onto or removed from the first or second limbs. Following the threading of the accessories, both the first and second limbs may be independently reattached to the cap.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a safety pin with a detachable head or cap. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to safety pins, and, in particular, to safety pins of the well-known type capable of being moved between open and closed states. These safety pins comprise a first wire limb or back shank and a second wire limb or front shank, the first wire limb having a cap at one end and being connected at the other end through an integral loop or coil to the second wire limb. An end portion of the second wire limb remote from the connection with the first wire limb is releasably engaged with the cap when the pin is in its closed state and free from the cap when the pin is in its open state. The remote end portion of the second wire limb, when engaged with the cap, is disposed and retained in a recess in the cap opening towards the first wire limb. 
     Safety pins of the conventional type described above have become a staple of the hobby and craft industry. Typically, these safety pins are decorated by placing ornamental beads or other decorative items on the second wire limb. These pins are then worn or otherwise displayed as decorative accessories. 
     One problem with using conventional safety pins is that when they are removed there is the ever present problem of the beads or other decorative items falling off the free end of the second wire limb and becoming lost or damaged. A second problem with using safety pins of the conventional type for hobby and craft work is that the only way to alleviate the first problem is to somehow permanently affix the items to the pin. However, it is often desirable to change the design or look of a decorated pin. Where the decorative items are permanently attached to the safety pin, this is clearly impossible. 
     Alternatively, the safety pins can be decorated by prying open the loop or coil connecting the first and second wire limbs and threading the beads or other decorative items down the second wire limb and forcing them around the coil and onto the first wire limb. While pins decorated in this manner do not suffer from the problems described above, they have their own problems. These include the inability to use items or beads beyond a certain size depending on the size of the safety pin used, damage to beads or other decorative items when forcing them around the loop and the inability to quickly and easily remove the decorative beads or other decorative items. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore the general object present invention to provide a pin having a plurality of limbs and a detachable cap wherein each of the limbs are separately and removably attached to the cap. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a pin having a plurality of limbs and a detachable cap wherein a first limb of the pin is attached to the detachable cap by means of a standard recess embedded into the cap. A second limb comprises a threaded connector at the first end for being securely and removably attached to a threaded receiving means of the cap. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a pin having a plurality of limbs and a detachable cap, wherein a first limb of the pin is attached to the detachable caps by means of a standard recess embedded into the cap. A second limb comprises a spring mechanism for removably securing the second limb to the cap. 
     Furthermore, it is a further object of the invention to provide a method of making jewelry and other decorative accessories comprising the steps of removing a plurality of limbs of a pin from a cap, attaching decorative items to one or both of the limbs, and separately reattaching both of the limbs to the cap. 
     In accordance with the invention, these and other objectives are achieved by providing a pin comprising a first limb and a second limb, and a means for removably securing both the first and second limbs to a cap, as well as a means for carefully removing both the first and second limbs from the cap. At such time as one or both of said limbs are removed from the cap, decorative items may be threaded onto one or both of said limbs, after which both limbs are reattached and secured to the cap. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention may be more readily understood by reference to the following drawings (wherein like numbers refer to like parts) in conjunction with the description provided herein. The drawings are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. 
     FIG. 1 is an illustration of a conventional safety pin. 
     FIG. 2 is an illustration of the cap of a conventional safety pin and the manner in which it is permanently attached to the remainder of the safety pin. 
     FIG. 3 section on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 are illustrations of a safety pin with a removably attachable cap wherein the cap is attached using threaded connector. 
     FIG. 6 is an illustration of a safety pin with a detachable cap wherein the cap is snapped on using a butterfly shaped or coiled spring mechanism. 
     FIG. 7 is an illustration of a safety pin with a detachable cap wherein the cap is attached using a U-shaped spring. 
     FIG. 8 is an illustration of a safety pin with a detachable cap wherein the cap is attached using a spring biased clamp. 
     FIGS. 9a, 9b, 9c and 9d are illustrations of the first wire limb of a safety pin with a detachable cap showing the grooves or oppositely disposed recesses near the end of the first wire limb remote from the connection with the second wire limb that are used in conjunction with the spring mechanisms described herein to removably attach the cap. 
     FIG. 10 is an illustration of a safety pin with a detached cap wherein the cap can be irremovably attached using, e.g., glue. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     All of the problems associated with conventional safety pins are rendered moot by the present invention: a safety pin with a detachable head or cap at the end of the first wire limb remote from the connection with the Second wire limb. With the present invention, decorative beads or other items can be threaded onto the first wire limb after removing the cap and temporarily fixed there by reattaching the cap. 
     The safety pin shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 comprises a length of resilient wire bent to form a first limb 10 and a second limb 12, the limbs being spaced apart and approximately parallel with each other. The first limb 10 has a cap 14 at one end and is connected at the other end to the second limb 12 through the intermediary of a spring coil 16 integral with the limbs. An end portion 26 of the second limb 12 remote from the coil 16 is shaped to form a point and is releasably engageable with the cap 14. The pin is shown in its closed state, in which the end portion 26 of the second limb 12 is disposed in a recess 18 in the cap 14 defined by spaced wings 20, the recess 18 opening towards the first limb 10. The pin can also take up an open state (not shown) in which the end portion 26 of the second limb 12 is released from the recess 18, and the second limb 12 is urged by the coil 16 to a position somewhat further away from the first limb 10. The arrangement is such that the pin can be moved from its open state to its closed state first by movement of the second limb 12 towards the first limb 10 so that the end portion 26 of the second limb 12 lies to one or the other side of the cap 14 as desired, then by movement of the second limb so that the end portion 26 abuts a tongue 22 on the cap which tongue projects towards the recess 18 from a part of the cap 14 facing the recess 18, and finally by release of the first limb 10 so that the end portion 26 of the second limb 12 moves into the recess 18 owing to the resilience of the spring coil 16, the end portion 26 being guided into the recess by the tongue 22. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, in a conventional safety pin, the cap 14 is irremovably attached to an end portion 24 of the first limb 10 which extends into the cap 14 and is bent relative to the remainder of the first limb 10 to serve as an anchor for the cap 14. The cap 14 is simply formed around or otherwise permanently attached to the end portion 24 of the first limb 10 retained within the cap 14. 
     In the present invention on the other hand, the cap 14&#39; is removably attached to the first limb 10&#39;. Preferably, the cap 14&#39; is removably attached to the first limb 10&#39; using a nut and bolt like arrangement, i.e., a threaded connector. In one embodiment shown in FIG. 4, there is a threaded rod 28 extending from the cap 14&#39; opposite the recess 18 and coaxial with the first limb 10&#39; The end of the first limb 10&#39; remote from the coil 16, in turn, has a threaded receptacle 30 into which the threaded rod 28 is screwed. In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, the end of the first limb 10&#39; remote from the coil 16 is provided with threads 32 such that the cap 14&#39; can be screwed on by means of threaded receptacle 34 provided within the cap 14&#39; opposite the recess 18. 
     Alternatively, the cap 14&#39; can be removably attached to the first limb 10&#39; by any of the clasps, closures or locking mechanisms conventionally used in the field of jewelry and accessories for removably attaching decorative items. For example, in a number of alternative embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the first limb 10&#39; is provided with either a ramped annular groove 36 (FIG. 9a) or an unramped annular groove 38 (FIG. 9d) near the end remote from the coil 16 rather than with threads 32 or a threaded receptacle 30. Alternatively, the first limb 10&#39; can be provided with a pair of oppositely disposed unramped recesses 40 (FIG. 9c) or ramped recesses 42 (FIG. 9b). The cap 14&#39; is attached by means of a spring or spring-like mechanism which removably inserts into the annular groove 36, 38 or the oppositely disposed recesses 40, 42. 
     The spring or spring-like mechanism can be the well-known coiled or butterfly shaped spring 44 as shown in FIG. 6 or a generally U-shaped spring 46 as shown in FIG. 7. The coiled or butterfly shaped spring 44 has a generally flat base 48 integrally connected to a pair of oppositely facing closed coil extensions 50 extending from either side of the flat base 48. 
     The U-shaped spring has a generally flat base 52 integrally connected to a pair of oppositely facing L-shaped extensions 54 extending from either side of the flat base 52 which form the sides of the U. The L-shaped extensions 54 are sufficiently long to allow the ends of the L-shaped extensions 56 to flex outwardly. The distance 58 between the closed coil extensions 50 or the L-shaped extensions 54 is less than the diameter of the first limb 10&#39; The cap 14&#39; is attached by means of an opening 60 centrally located in the flat base 48, 52 into which the end of the first limb 10&#39; remote from the coil 16 is inserted. In this manner, the cap 14&#39; can be removably snapped into place or detached by simply applying sufficient tension between the cap 14&#39; and the first limb 10&#39; to deform the spring-like mechanism 44, 46 to such an extent that the first limb 10&#39; can be withdrawn or inserted therebetween. The cap 14&#39; is held in place by the closed coil extensions 50 or L-shaped extensions 54 which removably insert into the groove 36, 38 or the oppositely disposed recesses 40, 42. This is facilitated by providing tapered end 62 (FIGS. 9a-9d) as the end of the first limb 10&#39; remote from the connection with second limb 12. As the first limb 10&#39; is inserted into the spring like mechanism 44, 46, the tapered end 60 gradually widens the opening 58 until the groove 36, 38 or oppositely disposed recesses 40, 42 are reached, at which time the opening 58 is at its greatest. As the first limb 10&#39; is further inserted, the closed coil extensions 50 or the L-shaped extensions 54 snap into the groove 36, 38 or the oppositely disposed recesses 40, 42 to hold the cap 14&#39; on first limb 10&#39;. To remove the cap, the process is simply reversed. 
     In another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 8, the cap 14&#39; is provided with a closed end having an opening 74 and is removably attached using a spring biased clamp 64 which removably inserts into the annular groove 36, 38 or a pair of oppositely disposed recesses 40, 42. The spring biased clamp 64 has a pair of generally V-shaped clamp ends 66 integrally connected and operatively associated with wings or tabs 68. Each of the clamp end 66/tab 68 components is pivotally mounted on pin 70 to provide for an opening 72 between the clamp ends 66 of less than the diameter of first limb 10&#39;. Insertion and withdrawal of the first limb 10&#39; is accomplished by first squeezing the tabs 68 together such that the opening 72 between the clamp ends 66 is increased. The first limb 10&#39; is then inserted through opening 74 and the tabs 68, which are biased apart by a spring (not shown), are released to allow the clamp ends 66 to move into the groove 36, 38 or the oppositely disposed recesses 40, 42 to hold the cap 14&#39; in place. To remove the cap 14&#39;, the tabs 68 are again squeezed together allowing the first limb 10&#39; to be withdrawn. While the spring biased clamp 64 preferably is as described above, it is to be understood that any configuration or shape is acceptable so long as that when the tabs 68 are squeezed together the clamp ends 66 move apart to allow the insertion or withdrawal of the first limb 10&#39;. To remove the head, pressure is exerted against wings or tabs 68 causing the clamp ends 66 to withdraw from the annular groove 36, 38 or the oppositely disposed recesses 40, 42 to such an extent that the first limb 10&#39; can be withdrawn from the cap 14&#39;. 
     The design and manufacture of the above-described embodiments and as well as the incorporation of other clasps, closures, and locking mechanisms utilized in the jewelry and accessories fields into the cap 14&#39; and/or first limb 10&#39; of a safety pin are well within the ordinary skill of one in the art. 
     In yet another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 10, the end 76 of the first limb 10&#39; remote from the connection with the second limb 12 is unaltered, i.e., identical to the remainder of the first limb 10&#39;. The cap 14&#39; is removably attached to the first limb 10&#39; by applying a glue or other adhesive to either the end of the first limb 10&#39; remote from the connection with the second limb 12 or to the inner portion of the cap 14&#39; opposite recess 18 and inserting the first limb 10&#39; into the cap 14&#39;.