Abstract:
A headliner pinning assembly for repairing or providing supplemental decoration to the headliner of a vehicle. The headliner pinning assembly includes a first pin member having a head portion and a spike portion extending outwardly from the head portion, a second pin member having a coiled medial portion and a pair of opposite ends extending outwardly from the coiled medial portion, and a washer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to headliner pins and more particularly pertains to a new headliner pinning assembly for repairing or providing supplemental decoration to the headliner of a vehicle. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of headliner pins is known in the prior art. More specifically, headliner pins heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,571; U.S. Pat. No. 772,280; U.S. Pat. No. 1,980,758; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 344,692; U.S. Pat. No. 3,995,821; U.S. Pat. No. 1,435,134; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,517. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new headliner pinning assembly. The inventive device includes a first pin member having a head portion and a spike portion extending outwardly from the head portion, a second pin member having a coiled medial portion and a pair of opposite ends extending outwardly from the coiled medial portion, and a washer. 
     In these respects, the headliner pinning assembly according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of repairing or providing supplemental decoration to the headliner of a vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of headliner pins now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new headliner pinning assembly construction wherein the same can be utilized for repairing or providing supplemental decoration to the headliner of a vehicle. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new headliner pinning assembly apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the headliner pins mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new headliner pinning assembly which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art headliner pins, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a first pin member having a head portion and a spike portion extending outwardly from the head portion, a second pin member having a coiled medial portion and a pair of opposite ends extending outwardly from the coiled medial portion, and a washer. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new headliner pinning assembly apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the headliner pins mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new headliner pinning assembly which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art headliner pins, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new headliner pinning assembly that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new headliner pinning assembly that is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new headliner pinning assembly which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such headliner pinning assembly economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new headliner pinning assembly which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new headliner pinning assembly for repairing or providing supplemental decoration to the headliner of a vehicle. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new headliner pinning assembly which includes a first pin member having a head portion and a spike portion extending outwardly from the head portion, a second pin member having a coiled medial portion and a pair of opposite ends extending outwardly from the coiled medial portion, and a washer. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new headliner pinning assembly that provides a first pin member and a second pin member for inserting through the headliner into a foam backing to stabilize the first pin member relative to the headliner. A connecting washer is coupled to a spike portion of the first pin member to couple the first pin member to the second pin member. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new headliner pinning assembly that provides a first pin member that has a decorative head portion for enhancing the appearance of the headliner. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the second pin member of a new headliner pinning assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the first pin member and the washer of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of first pin members according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the present invention in use. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new headliner pinning assembly embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the headliner pinning assembly  10  generally comprises a first pin member  12 , a second pin member  22 , and a washer  32 . The first pin member  12  includes a head portion  14  and a spike portion  16 . The second pin member  22  includes a medial portion  24  and a pair of opposite end portions  26  and  28  extending outwardly from the medial portion  24 . The medial portion  24  forms a loop  25 . The spike portion  16  is insertable through the loop  25 . The washer  32  is designed for coupling to the spike portion  16  of the first pin member  12  such that the second pin member  22  is engaged to the first pin member  12  between the head portion  14  and the washer  32 . 
     The opposite end portions  26  and  28  of the second pin member  22  are adapted for inserting through a headliner  2  and into a foam backing  4  adjacent the headliner  2 . Thus, the first pin member  12  is held in a static position relative to the headliner  2 . 
     The opposite end portions  26  and  28  of the second pin member  22  are coplanar with the loop  25  such that the opposite end portions  26  and  28  extend generally orthogonally away from the spike portion  16  of the first pin member  12 . Thus, the opposite end portions  26  and  28  extend into the foam backing  4  at an acute angle relative to an outer surface  6  of the foam backing  4  to strengthen the attachment of the first pin member as opposed to prior art pins that rely on insertion transverse to the outer surface  6 . 
     In an embodiment, the head portion  14  of the first pin member  12  includes a decorative configuration for enhancing the appearance of the headliner  2 . Various decorative configurations may be employed including stars, flowers and geometric shapes. 
     The washer  32  is generally a planar disc  34  that includes an outer perimeter edge  36 , an inner perimeter edge  38  and a hollow center  39 . Ideally, the spike portion  16  of the first pin member  12  has a diameter greater than a diameter of the inner perimeter edge  38  so that the inner perimeter edge  38  frictionally engages the spike portion  16  when the spike portion  16  is inserted through the hollow center  38  of the washer  32 . 
     In an embodiment, a plurality of slits  37  extend from the inner perimeter edge  38  for facilitating engagement of the inner perimeter edge  38  of the washer  32  to the spike portion  16  of the first pin member  12 . 
     The head portion  14  of the first pin member  12  includes a central portion  18 . The central portion  18  ideally has a diameter greater than a diameter of the outer perimeter edge  36  of the washer  32  so that the washer  32  is concealed by the head portion  14  when the opposite end portions  26  and  28  of the second pin member  22  are inserted into the headliner  2  and the foam backing  4  such that the washer  32  is positioned between the head portion  14  and the headliner  2 . 
     The diameter of the central portion  18  of the head portion  14  of the first pin member  12  is also ideally greater than a diameter of the loop  25  whereby the loop  25  is concealed by the head portion  14  when the opposite end portions  26  and  28  of the second pin member  22  are inserted into the headliner  2  and the foam backing  4  such that the loop  25  is positioned between the head portion  14  and the headliner  2 . 
     In an embodiment, the distal end  17  of the spike portion  16  is blunt for preventing damage to the headliner  2  when the distal end  17  of the spike portion  16  abuts the headliner  2 . 
     The head portion  14  of the first pin member  12  also includes a planar lower surface  15  for abutting the loop  25  of the second pin member  22 . 
     Distal ends  27  and  29  of each of the opposite end portions  26  and  28  are pointed for facilitating insertion of the opposite end portions  26  and  28  into the headliner  2  and the foam backing  4 . 
     In use, a desired decorative first pin member is selected and coupled to an associated second pin member by inserting the spike portion through the loop and attaching the spike portion to a washer. The opposite end portions of the second pin member are then inserted into the headliner and foam backing such that the opposite ends extend along a length of the foam backing just below the outer surface of the foam backing. Thus, the first pin member is securely fastened to the headliner and is visible to provide decoration as well as repair to loose headliners. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.