Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to fasteners. More particularly, it relates to an attachment for a safety pin. 
     STATEMENT OF THE PRIOR ART 
     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 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 or other afflictions which limit manual dexterity, 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. No. 4,030,166 (Betters), U.S. Pat. No. 3,883,930 (Bagnasco), and U.S. Pat. No. 4,071,927 (Bagnasco) all disclose redesigned safety pins which have a larger gripping area than the conventional safety pin. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,851 issued to Joseph discloses a safety pin attachment which can be used with a conventional safety pin. Insertion of the safety pin into the attachment is facilitated by forming the attachment in two halves connected by a living hinge. The safety pin is then secured within the attachment by folding the halves about the first wire limb until the two halves “snap” together. While this arrangement is generally satisfactory for its intended purpose, it suffers from the drawback in that it cannot accommodate a wide range of safety pin sizes. In order to accommodate pins having a wide range of sizes, the attachment of the present invention has a single longitudinal center channel formed within a main body of unitary construction. A pair of transverse notches allow a needle nose pliers or other similar tool to be used to snap the safety pin into position. The contour of the inner surface of the single longitudinal channel allows for accommodation of safety pins having a wide range of sizes. At least one pair of upstanding, mutually opposing retainer members formed on opposite sides of the channel may be urged together in order to retain the first wire limb of the safety pin once it is placed in the channel. An adhesive may be used to permanently secure the attachment. 
     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a safety pin attachment having a contoured longitudinal center channel and at least three retainer members. The contour of the center channel allows for insertion of a wide range of safety pins therein. Once positioned within the center channel, the retainer members may be urged together about the stationary wire of the safety pin, and an adhesive may be used to permanently secure the attachment to the safety pin. The attachment provides a gripping mass for the safety pin thereby facilitating handling of the safety pin. The attachment may have identifying indicia such as letters or numbers, or may have indicia having a tactile characteristic such as braille or a series of raised portions. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved attachment for a safety pin. 
     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. 
     Finally, it is a general object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the attachment of the invention illustrating use of the attachment with a safety pin. 
     FIG. 2 shows a side sectional view of the attachment of the invention. 
     FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the attachment of the invention. 
     FIG. 4 shows a side view of the attachment of the invention. 
     FIG. 5 shows a front view of the attachment of the invention. 
     FIG. 6 shows a cross section of the attachment taken at line  2 - 2 ″. 
     FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an attachment having identifying indicia. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1-7, an attachment made in accordance with the concept of the present invention, and generally indicated by the numeral  10 , is shown. Referring particularly 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 or hinge  24  connects limbs  20  and  22  and allows for movement of limb  22  relative to limb  20 , with limb  22  biased so that the safety pin is open, unless it is latched closed, as is well known. Cap  26  at the end of limb  20  has an opening  27  opposite limb  20  which allows free end  28  of limb  22  to be secured within the cap  26 . The spring loaded hinge  24  ensures locking engagement of the free end  28  of limb  22  within the cap  26 . 
     The elongated main body  30  of the attachment  10  has a longitudinally extending contoured center channel  32  within which the limb  20  of the safety pin may be seated. The width of the center channel  32  is selected to stably secure a range of sizes of safety pins. Standard sizes of safety pins start at size 0 (about ⅞ inch in length), and increase in size incrementally (e.g. size 1, size 2, etc. each having correspondingly larger dimensions) and proportionately. Each attachment  10  of the present invention is designed to accommodate safety pins in a range of at least three sizes. It should be noted here that safety pins having the same overall length may not have the same diameter wire limbs  20 ,  22 . In particular, brass safety pins tend to have thicker diameter wire limbs  20 ,  22  than steel safety pins. Thus, the center channel  32  must be contoured to accommodate safety pins having different wire diameters. To facilitate the placement of safety pins having a variety of wire diameters within the channel  32 , the vertical walls of the primary retainer section  34 , as well as the interior surfaces of the first pair of opposing retainer elements  36  each have a plurality of features. 
     Primary retainer section  34  retains the coiled portion  24  of the safety pin  12 . As has been previously mentioned, safety pins are available in a wide range of wire diameters. Accordingly, the center channel  32 , particularly in the region of the retainer section  34  must be designed to ensure snug engagement regardless of wire diameter. If the safety pin  12  is situated too loosely within the center channel  32  it will tend to rotate relative to the attachment  10  thereby making the safety pin difficult for the user to manipulate. Among the features allowing for stably supporting the pin  12  is the raised portion  40  of interior wall  42  of the retainer section  34 . This raised portion  40  allows for snug engagement with a safety pin having a diameter approximately equal to the width W of the center channel  32 . For pins  12  having a width wider than W, raised portion  40  is compressed by wire limb  20 , the wire limb then urging both the raised portion  40  and the interior wall  42  outward without causing a substantial deformation of the retainer section  34 . It can be readily appreciated that the attachment  10  must be made of a material sufficiently compressible in order for the raised portion  40  to function properly, while still maintaining its overall shape with repeated use. In the preferred embodiment, the attachment  10  is made of high impact styrene A transverse arcuate shaped recess  44  extends across the top of the retainer section  34 . The recess  44  allows for placement of a tool such as a needle nosed pliers in order to position the safety pin  12  within the retainer section  34  as will be discussed in more detail later. 
     The first intermediate retainer section  48  extends from retainer section  34  and has a pair of opposing retainer members  50  with sloping exterior walls  52 . Mutually opposed arcuate sections  54  immediately adjacent transverse exterior wall  53  of retainer section  34  cooperate to form a substantially circular recess or space. This space serves to ease positioning of the pin  12  within the channel  32  by reducing the surface area of the interior walls  56  of retainer members  50 , thereby reducing the resistance encountered when attempting to push the wire limb  20  down into channel  32 . Insertion of limb  20  into channel  32  is further facilitated by chamfered top edges  58 . Retention of the wire limb within the center channel  32  is enhanced by inwardly sloping interior walls  60 . The second intermediate retainer section  64  has a substantially identical profile to retainer section  48  as can be seen in FIG.  6 . The fourth retainer section  68  includes a pair of opposing retainer members  70  spaced apart at a width slightly greater than width W. The slightly greater width allows for placement of the cap  26  within the center channel  32 . The interior walls  72  are vertical. To facilitate positioning the pin  12  within the channel  32  the spaces  76 ,  78  between retainer section  68  feature sidewalls  80 ,  82  having a reduced height. 
     Pin  12  is further secured within attachment  10  by pushing the wire limb  20  down into the center channel  32  with needle nose pliers or similar implement, utilizing spaces  76 ,  78  between members  48 , 64 .  70 . It should be noted space  76  has a lower elevation than  78 . This lower elevation is essential when installing a #1 steel or brass safety pin as the head  26  of the #1 safety pin has a mass that must be below the center line W so that safety pin limb  20  can be correctly seated into retainer  64 . If elevation of space  76  was the same as that of space  78  the head  26  of pin  12  keeps pin limb  20  from being pushed down into channel  32  completely and thereby not seating in between retainer walls of retainer  64 . 
     In operation, a safety pin is secured within the attachment by first placing the coiled end  24  of the pin  12  in retainer section  34 , utilizing a needle nose pliers or similar implement to push the coil end down into the retainer section  34  and channel  32 . Depression  44  facilitates proper insertion of the coiled end  24  as has been previously mentioned. The pin  12  is further secured within the attachment  10  by using the needle nose pliers to push wire limb  20  down into the center channel  32 , utilizing spaces  76 ,  78  between retainer members  70 ,  64 , and  48 . Ease of insertion is facilitated by chamfered top edges  58  as has been previously mentioned. Once the wire limb  20  is firmly seated within the center channel  32 , the needle nose pliers may be used to urge intermediate retainer members  48 ,  64  together. It should be noted that retention of the wire limb  20  is primarily accomplished by the sloping interior walls of retainer members  64  and  48 , in cooperation with retainer section  34 . If necessary, the pin  12  may be secured within the channel by use of an adhesive. It should be further recognized that since the attachment is designed to hold the safety pin by merely engaging wire  20  by the design of section  34  and sloping members  60  of intermediate members  48  and  64 , the attachment  10  allows the safety pin  12  to be removed at anytime. 
     With particular reference to FIG. 7 an attachment  100  having identifying indicia is shown. Projections  110  which are used as identifying indicia may have a generally rectangular base  112  and extend outwardly with a pronounced taper. The projections  110  may be molded at the time the attachment  100  is made so that a unitary construction is obtained. Of course, if desired the projections can be formed or 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. The projections  110  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 projections  110  can have different profiles or may vary in number. The attachment  100  is identical to the attachment  10  with the exception of the identifying indicia and thus functions in the manner described above. 
     From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims:

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