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(11) | EP 0 242 164 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | A securing pin |
| (57) A securing pin, for example a tiepin having an anti-rotation and anti-falling mechanism,
comprises a platform (3) for securing a jewel (2), having a plurality of piercing
pins (4) integrally projecting therefrom and a pin-receiving means (6) detachably
engaged to the platform (1 and having a plurality of pin-receptacles (7) each receptacle
having a chuck member (10) disposed don the pin-receiving means (6), the number and
the positions of the pin ieceptacles corresponding to those of the pins (4) on the
insertion member (1), whereby the piatforrn and the pin-receiving means are detachably
coupled at a plurality of positions. |
[0001] This invention relates to securing pins particularly but not exclusively in the form of tiepins, stickpins, badges or the like in which securing pins a piercing pin projecting from a platform which may be decorated, is releasably engaged in a pin receptacle having a chuck mechanism. More specifically, but not exclusively, this invention relates to an anti-rotation and anti-falling mechanism for stickpins, badges or other like articles.
[0002] There is known a stickpin or tiepin comprising a platform including a jewel-holder seat that secures a jewel or like other ornament and a pin projecting from the back of the platform and a pin-receptacle including a pin-receiving member for the insertion of the pin, in which the pin of the platform is releasably attached to the pin-receiving member by a chuck mechanism of the pin receptacle.
[0003] The pin receptacle or gripper of the stick or tiepin of the above-mentioned type has generally been adapted such that a hollow pipe having a plurality of balls supported at the top end thereof is slidably fitted to the inside of a pin receiving or gripping member having a tapered inner wall, so that the pin inserted into the hollow pipe may be held between the balls, the movement of which is regulated by the tapered inner wall surface (for example, as disclosed by Ikeda in U.S. Patent No.3261067).
[0004] However, since only a single pin depends from the platform in the stickpin of this prior art, it tends to be detached readily due to the abrasion or the reduction in the accuracy of the pin, which often leads to a problem that the platform falls or slips out of the receiving member or gripper which itself is held by a chain and is lost together with a precious jewel or the like secured to the platform.
[0005] Further, in the case of using only one single pin for the holder seat, the pin would rotate around its axis in the inside of the pin receptacle so that the direction or the attitude of the jewel can not be maintained exactly and, in addition, the axial rotation of the pin accelerates the abrasion of the pin and balls to cause falling of the platform more readily.
[0006] According to the present invention there is provided a securing pin comprising a platform having a pin projecting rearwardly therefrom and pin-receiving means having a pin receptacle'for receiving and retaining said pin characterised in that the platform has a second pin projecting rearwardly therefrom parallel to and spaced from said first mentioned pin and in that the pin-receiving means comprises a second pin receptacle for receiving and retaining said second pin .
[0007] Preferably each pin receptacle comprises a pin-receiving member having a hole at its front end through which hole said pin can project, said hole opening to a hollow portion having a tapered inside surface diverging away from said hole towards an open rear end, and a chuck member in the form of a piston which extends through said open rear end so as to be reciprocatable in said hollow portion, said piston having an axial bore opening to its front end for receiving said pin and having means retaining a plurality of balls for engaging the tapered surface of the hollow portion and for engaging the pin when the pin is received in said axial bore.
[0008] .One embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail. The description makes reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows an enlarged side elevational view, partly in longitudinal section of a stickpin in accordance with the invention; and
Figure 2 shows a section taken along the line II-II of Figure 1.
[0009] Referring to the figures there is shown a securing pin, such as a tiepin or a stickpin, having an anti-rotation and anti-falling mechanism. The securing pin comprises an insertion member 1 having a platform 3 which in this example has a jewel 2 secured to it by pawls 2'. A pair of piercing pins 4,4 project parallel to each other from the back of the platform 3, each of the pins 4,4 being pointed at its tip 5 so as to be capable of piercing neckties, shirts, etc. The two pins 4,4 meet the back of the platform 3 at right angles and are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.
[0010] The mechanism also includes a pin-receiving means 6 made in this example of metal material and having a plurality of pin-receptacles 7,7 arranged in positions for co-operation with the pins 4,4 of the insertion member 1.
[0011] The pin-receptacles 7,7 comprise a connector 8 having two hollow pin-receiving members 9,9 secured thereto at positions corresponding to those of the pins 4,4 on the platform 3, and chuck members 10,10 slidably fitted into the hollow portions of the respective pin receiving members 9,9.
[0012] Each pin-receiving member 9 has an insertion hole 11 for the pin 4 formed at one end thereof, that is, on the side facing the pin 4 (left side in Figure 1) and a hollow portion 13 having a tapered wall surface 12 formed to the inside thereof, which surface diverges toward the rear side of the member 9 (right side in Figure 1). The pin-receiving member 9 is disposed at the right angle to the connector so as to align with the central axis of the associated pin 4 extending from the platform 3.
[0013] The chuck member 10, that is, the other constituent of the pin-receptacle 7 comprises a piston pipe 15 reciprocatable in the axial direction within the pin-receiving member 9 and having a pin bore 14 formed at the front end (left hand end in Figure 1) of a reduced diameter portion 15a thereof for receiving the pin 4, a ball retainer 15b formed at said front end of the reduced diameter portion 15a for loosely supporting in this example two balls 16 and an engaging portion 17, preferebly, in the form of a flange configuration formed at the other end of the pipe 15 for engagement with the rear end of the pin-receiving member 9. The chuck member 10 is assembled with the pin-receiving member 9 by the slidable engagement of the retainer 15b and the reduced diameter portion 15a into the hollow portion 13 of the pin-receiving member 9, in a reciprocating manner.
[0014] A coil spring 18 is mounted around the outer circumference of the reduced diameter portion 15a of the pipe 15 between the. retainer 15b and a flange at the rear end of the pin-receiving member 9, so that the chuck member 10 is resiliently urged toward the front of the inside (to the left in Figure 1) of the pin-receiving member 9.
[0015] The plurality of chuck members 10 corresponding to a plurality of pin-receiving member 9 may be disposed separately from each other, but it is desirable to integrate the rear portions of the plurality of chuck members 10, for example, at the flanged engagement 17 with a plate 19 as shown in Figure 1, so that a plurality of chuck members 10 can be operated slidably all together. The pin-receiving member 6 is engaged, for example, to a button of a skirt or the like by way of a chain member 20.
[0017] After the two pins 4,4 extending from the platform have pierced a necktie for example, the platform 3 and the pin-receiving means 6 are engaged with each other by aligning the two pins 4,4 on the platform 3 with the insertion holes 11,11 of the hollow pin-receiving members 9,9 which are disposed at positions on the pin-receiving means 6 which correspond to the axes of the pins 4.
[0018] Then, the respective pins 4,4 are inserted into the corresponding pin holes 14,14 of the chuck members 10,10 while pushing the latter rearwards along the tapered surfaces 12,12 of the pin-receiving members 9,9. Since the balls 16 are displaced along the tapered wall surface 12 to the greater diameter part of the hollow portion 13 as the chuck members are forced out, each of the pins 4,4 can be engaged smoothly into the pin hole 14 of the piston pipe 15 in this case. Then, the balls 16 in the chuck member 10 are displaced slidably by the resilient returning action of the spring 18 in the diameter-reducing direction (to the left in Figure 1) of the tapered wall surface 12 and the balls 16 hold the pin 4 tightly there-between. As a result, the pin 4 is secured in the pin-receptacle 7.
[0019] In the above-mentioned operation, since the pins 4,4 on the platform 3 and the corresponding pin-receptacles 7,7 of the pin-receiving means 6 are respectively disposed in plurality in the embodiment according to this invention, the platform 3 and the pin-receiving means 6 are joined at a plurality of positions. Accordingly, the platform 3 is retained against rotational movement to maintain the attitude of the jewel 2 in a predetermined direction. In addition, the platform 3 is prevented from falling out of the pin-receiving means 6 due to the action of the chuck members 10 disposed at two positions thereby avoiding the risk of losing a precious jewel or like adornment.
[0020] Furthermore, even if the chuck member at one position should become ineffective, it does not directly lead to the dropping of the jewel because the chuck member at the other position functions independently. Accordingly, a dual safety system is attained for avoiding the losing of the jewel or the like.
[0021] When the platform 3 is intended to be detached from the pin-receiving means 6, the chuck member 10 is released by pulling the flanged portion 17 thereof rearwardly (to the right in Figure 1) thereby causing the piston pipe 15 to move against the resiliency of the spring 18. In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawing where a plurality of chuck members 10,10 are integrally constructed by way of the connection plate 19, etc., the chuck members 10,10 disposed at a plurality of positions can be released all at once by one step of operation, thereby simplifying the operation.
[0022] While the invention has been described in conjunction with a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that various changes in the detail of constructions and the arrangement and combination of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0023] For instance, although the pins and pin receptacles are provided each at two positions in the illustrated embodiment, they can be situated at three or more positions in an optional arrangement.
[0024] Further, the balls of the chuck member for holding the pin therebetween may number more than two.
[0025] The securing pin disclosed serves to prevent a platform from being rotated and or falling out of the pin-receiving member by providing a plurality of engaging means for attachment and detachment between the platform and the pin-receiving and the pin-receiving means.
1. A securing pin comprising a platform (3) having a pin (4) projecting rearwardly
therefrom and pin-receiving means (6) having a pin receptacle (7) for receiving and
retaining said pin (4) characterised in that the platform (3) has a second pin (4)
projecting rearwardly therefrom parallel to and spaced from said first mentioned pin
and in that the pin-receiving means (6) comprises a second pin receptacle (7) for
receiving and retaining said second pin (4).
2. A securing pin as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the platform (3) has
one or more further pins extending rearwardly therefrom and parallel to and spaced
from said first two pins (4,4) and in that the pin-receiving means (6) is formed with
one or more further pin receptacles for receiving and retaining said one or more further
pins.
3. A securing pin as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that said pin
receptacles (7) are interconnected in positions corresponding to the positions of
the pins (4).
4. A securing pin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 characterised in that each
pin receptacle (7) comprises a pin-receiving member (9) having a hole (11) at its
front end through which hole said pin (4) can project, said hole (11) opening to a
hollow portion (13) having a tapered inside surface (12) diverging away from said
hole towards an open rear end, and a chuck member (10) in the form of a piston (15)
which extends through said open rear end so as to be reciprocatable in said hollow
portion (13), said piston (15) having an axial bore (14) opening to its front end
for receiving said pin (4) and having means retaining a plurality of balls (16) for
engaging the tapered surface (12) of the hollow portion (13) and for engaging the
pin (4) when the pin is received in said axial bore (14).
5. A securing pin as claimed in claim 4 characterised in that each piston (15) is
spring-loaded towards the narrow front end of said hollow portion (13).
6. A securing pin as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 in conjunction with claim 3 characterised
in that the interconnection of the pin receptacles (7) is effected by a plate (19)
connecting the chuck members (10).
7. A securing pin as claimed in claim 6 characterised in that a connector (8) interconnects
the pin receiving members (9).
3. A securing pin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 characterised in that the
front face of the platform (3) is decorated or provided with identification means.