Magic pins with ultra-grip

Abstract

Regarding pins used in connection with suturing, in particular, we provide pins having an easy-to-grip head to facilitate the use of the pins. [Solution] The pin comprises (a) a pin shaft having a tip, and (b) an elongated pin head attached to the distal end of the pin shaft having a pin head length, wherein the elongated pin head is characterized by an elongated tapered ribbed structure having a plurality of ribs that define a rib profile extending from the outer end of the distal elongated pin head of the pin shaft to the inner end of the proximal elongated pin head of the pin shaft, the rib profile having a characteristic outer end dimension that is larger than the characteristic inner end dimension of the proximal rib profile of the pin shaft, and the elongated pin head is further characterized by a plurality of outwardly projecting gripping rings arranged at a distance from the outer end of the pin head toward the inner end of the pin head.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Claim of Priority This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 145,696, filed Feb. 4, 2021, with the same title, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to pins used in connection with suturing, and more particularly to pins having an easy-to-grasp head to facilitate the use of the pins.

Background Art

[0003] Pins with improved heads for suture applications are known in the art. For example, in U.S. Design Patent No. D860,633, pins having an elongated tapered ribbed head are disclosed. The inventor was attempting to improve the inventor's conventional pin design disclosed in U.S. Design Patent No. D860,633 when the inventor discovered that seamstresses intended to benefit from the present invention had numerous problems with that conventional design. The seamstresses evaluated the conventional design as difficult to pick up, hold, manipulate, and control, especially when attempting to penetrate a tougher material such as denim. Accordingly, the inventor provided several preliminary designs to be evaluated for possible solutions to the problems stated by the seamstresses. This design was only one of several submitted for evaluation. The response was quite surprising, and rather than a design that the inventor felt had a much higher likelihood of being highly evaluated when evaluated, the panelists were very impressed by the design presented currently. They concluded that in particular, control was improved with respect to the tougher materials, and that the design was generally easy to pick up, hold, manipulate, and control, but most notably so with respect to tough materials such as denim.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] According to the present invention, a pin having an elongated, tapered, ribbed head with multiple protruding rings near the proximal end of the pin shaft is extremely easy to manipulate while making garments, especially when using tough fabrics.

[0005] According to the present invention, a pin is provided, and the pin is, (a) A pin shaft having a tip, (b) comprising an elongated pinhead attached to the distal end of a pin shaft having a pinhead length, The elongated pinhead is characterized by an elongated tapered ribbed structure having multiple ribs that define a rib profile extending from the distal outer end of the elongated pinhead to the proximal inner end of the elongated pinhead of the pin shaft, the rib profile having a characteristic outer end dimension that is larger than the characteristic inner end dimension of the proximal rib profile of the pin shaft, and the elongated pinhead is further characterized by multiple outwardly projecting gripping rings that are spaced apart from the outer end of the pinhead toward the inner end of the pinhead.

[0006] Further features, advantages, and embodiments will become apparent in the following discussion and attached drawings.

[0007] The present invention is described in detail below in relation to the attached drawings, in which similar figures indicate similar parts. It can be done. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of the pin of the present invention, which has an elongated tapered ribbed head with a protruding ring. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a side view of the pin. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is an enlarged side view of an elongated tapered ribbed head with a protruding ring. [Figure 4] Figures 1, 2, and 3 are schematic diagrams showing the rib profiles and characteristic dimensions. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Referring to the drawing, a pin 10 is shown comprising (a) a pin shaft 12 having a tip 14, and (b) an elongated pin head 16 attached to the distal end 18 of the pin shaft having a pin head length.

[0010] The elongated pinhead 16 is characterized by an elongated tapered ribbed structure 22 having a plurality of ribs 24 that define a rib profile 26 extending from the distal outer end 20 of the elongated pinhead 28 of the pin shaft 18 to the proximal inner end 28 of the elongated pinhead 26, the rib profile 26 having a characteristic outer end dimension 29 that is larger than the characteristic inner end dimension 30 of the proximal rib profile of the pin shaft, and the elongated pinhead 16 is further characterized by a plurality of outwardly projecting gripping rings 32, 34, 36 that are spaced apart from the outer end 20 of the pinhead toward the inner end 28 of the pinhead.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the pinhead 16 has an overall conical shape as shown, and thereafter the rib profile is also overall conical. Thus, the multiple outwardly projecting gripping rings are located closer to the pin shaft than the outer end 20 of the pinhead 16.

[0012] Typically, the characteristic outer end dimension 29 of the pinhead profile is approximately 2.5 mm to 4 mm; however, in a preferred embodiment, the multiple ribs define an intermediate profile 44 between the outer end of the pinhead and the first gripping ring of the multiple gripping rings. Along the intermediate profile 44, the multiple ribs have a characteristic intermediate profile dimension 46 of approximately 1.5 mm to 3 mm, however, the characteristic intermediate profile dimension is smaller than the characteristic outer end dimension 29 of the pinhead profile.

[0013] Multiple outwardly protruding gripping rings typically have characteristic gripping ring dimensions 48 ranging from 2.5 mm to 4 mm, however, these characteristic gripping ring dimensions are larger than the characteristic intermediate profile dimensions 46.

[0014] Generally, the pinhead has an axial dimension 50 of approximately 11 mm to 15 mm, which refers to the length along the central axis 52 of the pin, while the intermediate profile 44 has an axial dimension 45 of approximately 5 mm to 9 mm (along the central axis 52).

[0015] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the rib profile 26 is characterized by a distinctive profile dimension that gradually decreases over the length of the pinhead from the outer end to the inner end, as schematically shown in Figure 4, and the pinhead 16 has three outwardly projecting gripping rings proximal to the shaft 12.

[0016] Figure 4 schematically shows the various relative dimensions requested. Characteristic profile length, characteristic gripping ring dimension, and similar refer to the maximum linear dimension of the pinhead cross-section at a given location along that length. In the case of the cylindrical structure shown, the characteristic dimension is simply the diameter of the circle in its cross-section. For other shapes, the longest linear dimension of the cross-section is the characteristic dimension.

[0017] The pin of the present invention may also be described as a pin for use in suturing having an elongated cylindrical body, the elongated cylindrical body having a pointed tip at a first penetration end and a bulbous gripping / stopping expansion portion located at a second opposite end of the elongated cylindrical body, the elongated cylindrical body having a diameter of at least about 0.25 mm to about 1.5 mm, the bulbous gripping / stopping expansion portion having a push-in portion at its most distal end from the tip, the push-in portion having a diameter of about 2 mm to about 5 mm. The device has a convex cap with a diameter, and a plurality of generally convex gripping rings surrounding the elongated cylindrical body formed within the bulb-shaped gripping / stopping expansion portion, wherein at least two of the gripping rings are spaced approximately 4 mm to 15 mm apart from the convex cap of the push-in portion, the diameter of the gripping rings is at least 0.35 mm larger than the diameter of the adjacent portion of the bulb-shaped gripping / stopping expansion portion, and is spaced at least approximately 2.25 mm apart from the next adjacent gripping ring.

[0018] Summary of Embodiments As Embodiment No. 1, a pin is provided, and the pin is, (a) A pin shaft having a tip, (b) comprising an elongated pinhead attached to the distal end of a pin shaft having a pinhead length, The elongated pinhead is characterized by an elongated tapered ribbed structure having multiple ribs that define a rib profile extending from the distal outer end of the elongated pinhead to the proximal inner end of the elongated pinhead of the pin shaft, the rib profile having a characteristic outer end dimension that is larger than the characteristic inner end dimension of the proximal rib profile of the pin shaft, and the elongated pinhead is further characterized by multiple outwardly projecting gripping rings that are spaced apart from the outer end of the pinhead toward the inner end of the pinhead.

[0019] Embodiment No. 2 is a pin according to Embodiment No. 1, wherein the pinhead has an overall conical shape.

[0020] Embodiment No. 3 is the pin according to Embodiment No. 1 or No. 2, in which a plurality of outwardly protruding gripping rings are located closer to the pin shaft than the outer end of the pin head.

[0021] Embodiment No. 4 is the pin according to any one of Embodiments No. 1 to No. 3, in which the characteristic outer end dimension of the pin head profile is about 2.5 mm to 4 mm.

[0022] Embodiment No. 5 is the pin according to any one of Embodiments No. 1 to No. 4, in which a plurality of ribs define an intermediate profile between the outer end of the pin head and the first gripping ring of the plurality of gripping rings, and the plurality of ribs have a characteristic intermediate profile dimension of about 1.5 mm to about 3 mm, provided that the characteristic intermediate profile dimension is smaller than the characteristic outer end dimension of the pin head profile.

[0023] Embodiment No. 6 is the pin according to any one of Embodiments No. 1 to No. 5, in which a plurality of outwardly protruding gripping rings have a characteristic gripping ring dimension of 2.5 mm to 4 mm, provided that the characteristic gripping ring dimension is larger than the characteristic intermediate profile dimension 46.

[0024] Embodiment No. 7 is the pin according to any one of Embodiments No. 1 to No. 6, in which the pin head has an axial dimension of about 11 mm to 15 mm.

[0025] Embodiment No. 8 is the pin according to any one of Embodiments No. 1 to No. 7, in which the intermediate profile has an axial dimension of about 5 mm to 9 mm.

[0026] Embodiment No. 9 is the pin according to any one of Embodiments No. 1 to No. 8, in which the rib profile is characterized by a characteristic profile dimension that gradually decreases over the length of the pin head from the outer end to the inner end.

[0027] Embodiment No. 10 is a pin according to any one of Embodiments No. 1 to No. 9, having three outwardly protruding gripping rings.

[0028] Embodiment No. 11 is a pin for use in suturing, having an elongated cylindrical body, the elongated cylindrical body having a pointed tip at a first penetration end and a bulbous gripping / stopping expansion portion located at the second opposite end of the elongated cylindrical body, the elongated cylindrical body having a diameter of at least about 0.25 mm to about 1.5 mm, and the bulbous gripping / stopping expansion portion having a push-in portion at the distal end from the tip, the push-in portion having a diameter of about 2 mm to about 5 mm The device has a convex cap and a plurality of generally convex gripping rings surrounding the elongated cylindrical body formed within the bulb-shaped gripping / stopping expansion portion, wherein at least two of the gripping rings are spaced approximately 4 mm to 15 mm apart from the convex cap of the push-in portion, the diameter of the gripping rings is at least 0.35 mm larger than the diameter of the adjacent portion of the bulb-shaped gripping / stopping expansion portion, and is spaced at least approximately 2.25 mm apart from the next adjacent gripping ring.

Claims

1. It's a pin, (a) A pin shaft having a tip, (b) an elongated pinhead attached to the distal end of the pin shaft having a pinhead length, The elongated pinhead is characterized by an elongated tapered ribbed structure having a plurality of ribs defining a rib profile extending from the distal outer end of the elongated pinhead to the proximal inner end of the elongated pinhead on the pin shaft, the rib profile having a characteristic outer end dimension that is larger than the characteristic inner end dimension of the rib profile proximal to the pin shaft, and the elongated pinhead is further characterized by a plurality of outwardly projecting gripping rings positioned at a distance from the outer end of the pinhead toward the inner end of the pinhead, the pin.

2. The pin according to claim 1, wherein the pinhead has an overall conical shape.

3. The pin according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of outwardly protruding gripping rings are located closer to the pin shaft than the outer end of the pin head.

4. The pin according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic outer end dimension of the pinhead profile is approximately 2.5 mm to 4 mm.

5. The pin according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of ribs define an intermediate profile between the outer end of the pinhead and the first gripping ring of the plurality of gripping rings, and the plurality of ribs have characteristic intermediate profile dimensions of about 1.5 mm to about 3 mm, provided that the characteristic intermediate profile dimensions are smaller than the characteristic outer end dimensions of the pinhead profile.

6. The pin according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of outwardly protruding gripping rings have characteristic gripping ring dimensions of 2.5 mm to 4 mm, provided that the characteristic gripping ring dimensions are larger than the characteristic intermediate profile dimensions.

7. The pin head has an axial dimension of approximately 11 mm to 15 mm, as described in claim 1.

8. The pin according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate profile has an axial dimension of approximately 5 mm to 9 mm.

9. The pin according to claim 1, wherein the rib profile is characterized by a characteristic profile dimension that gradually decreases over the length of the pin head from the outer end to the inner end of the pin head.

10. The pin according to claim 1, having three outwardly protruding gripping rings.

11. A pin for use in suturing, having an elongated cylindrical body, wherein the elongated cylindrical body has a pointed tip at a first penetration end and a bulbous gripping / stopping expansion portion located at the second opposite end of the elongated cylindrical body, the elongated cylindrical body has a diameter of at least about 0.25 mm to about 1.5 mm, the bulbous gripping / stopping expansion portion has a push-in portion at the distal end from the tip, the push-in portion is a convex cap having a diameter of about 2 mm to about 5 mm, and the elongated cylindrical body is formed within the bulbous gripping / stopping expansion portion. A pin having a plurality of generally convex gripping rings surrounding it, at least two of the gripping rings spaced about 4 mm to 15 mm apart from the convex cap of the push-in portion, the diameter of the gripping rings being at least 0.35 mm larger than the diameter of the adjacent portion of the bulbous gripping / stopping expansion portion and spaced at least about 2.25 mm apart from the next adjacent gripping ring.

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