Pin bank

Abstract

An apparatus for securing pins includes a container including an opening sized to receive pins, a reservoir for the pins, and baffles between the opening and the reservoir. The baffles are configured to permit the pins to fall into the reservoir but to prevent the pins from exiting the container through the opening.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/241,900 entitled “Pin Bank” filed on Nov. 2, 2005.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to containers and, in particular, a container apparatus for securing pins configured to permit pins to fall into a reservoir of the container apparatus but to prevent the pins from exiting the container apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

People shopping for clothes often “try on” a selected article of clothing in a dressing room before deciding whether to purchase it. In clothing stores, new articles of clothing are sometimes pinned to maintain a folded or some other shape. Upon discovering such pins, shoppers typically remove them before trying on an article of clothing in a dressing room. Some dressing rooms include pin cushions or the like, typically mounted on a wall, for the customer to push the pin into after removing it from the article of clothing. Unfortunately, some customers are not able to properly push pins that they removed from an article of clothing into the pin cushion. Careless store employees or custodians may also inadvertently dislodge pins from the cushion. As a result, the pins fall out of the cushion and onto the floor where they become a potential hazard for shoppers, particularly those who have taken their shoes off. It would be useful to be able to provide people who are trying on clothes with a better mechanism for disposing of pins removed from articles of clothing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view an example embodiment of an apparatus for securing pins;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5A is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5B is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5C is a bottom view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5D is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an exploded front perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the bracket of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the container partially detached from the bracket; and

FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the container secured to the bracket.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an example embodiment of a pin securing apparatus 100 includes a container 102 with an opening 104 sized to receive pins 106 (FIG. 5A). In an example embodiment, the container 102 includes a front portion 108 and a back portion 110 which are fitted together. For example, the front portion 108 and the back portion 110 are secured together with an adhesive (e.g., glue) or fitted together (e.g., snap fitted). In this example embodiment, and referring also to FIGS. 3 and 6, the container 102 also includes a reservoir 112 for pins, and baffles (or members) 114, 116 and 118 between the opening 104 and the reservoir 112. In an example embodiment, the reservoir 112 is generally located at the bottom of the container 102. In an example embodiment, the front portion 108 is made of a substantially clear or translucent material (e.g., plastic) which allows a person to see pins or other objects inside the reservoir 112.

The baffles 114, 116 and 118 are configured to permit pins to fall into the reservoir 112 but to prevent the pins from exiting the container 102 through the opening 104 even when the container 102 is turned upside down. In this example embodiment, the baffles 114, 116 and 118 define a serpentine path 120 (FIG. 3, shown in dashed lines) between the opening 104 and the reservoir 112. In an example embodiment, the baffles 114, 116 and 118 are alternately positioned along the path 120 on opposite sides of the container 102. In the illustrated example embodiment, the baffles 114 and 118 are integrally formed as part of the front portion 108, and the baffle 116 is integrally formed as part of the back portion 110. In an example embodiment, the baffles 114 and 116 include guide surfaces (for the pins) that are approximately perpendicular to each other. In an example embodiment, the baffle 118 includes a guide surface that is approximately perpendicular to the guide surface of the baffle 116. In various embodiments, the baffles 114, 116 and 118 overlap obstructing a line of sight from the opening 104 to the reservoir 112. In the illustrated example embodiment, the opening 104 is defined by two of the baffles, namely, the baffles 114 and 116. In this illustrated example embodiment, and referring to FIGS. 5B and 5D, the opening 104 is shaped as shown to include a lower portion 117 toward the front of the container 102 to make it easier for people to see the opening 104 and to put pins into the opening 104. It should be understood that the number and or configuration of the baffles can vary.

In an example embodiment, an apparatus for securing pins includes a container including an opening sized to receive pins, a reservoir for the pins, and baffles between the opening and the reservoir, the baffles being configured to permit the pins to fall into the reservoir but to prevent the pins from exiting the container through the opening.

In the illustrated example embodiment, the front portion 108 and the back portion 110 are formed to facilitate being fitted together. In the illustrated example embodiment, and referring to FIG. 4, the front portion 108 includes edges 122 and 124 which fit (e.g., are snap-fitted and/or glued) into indented portions 126 and 128, respectively, of the back portion 110. Also in the illustrated example embodiment, and referring to FIG. 6, the front portion 108 is formed with indented portions 130 and 132 which are shaped to receive and interfit with the baffle 114 as shown.

In the illustrated example embodiment, and referring again to FIG. 3, the baffles 114, 116 and 118 provide scoops 134, 136 and 138, respectively, that face away from the opening 104. The scoops 134, 136 and 138 are configured along the serpentine path 120 to catch and prevent pins or other objects from exiting the container 102 through the opening 104 when the container 102 is turned upside down. In this example embodiment, the scoops 134, 136 and 138 are alternately positioned on opposite sides of the container 102. In this example embodiment, the scoops 134, 136 and 138 overlap, defining turns along the serpentine path 120.

In an example embodiment, an apparatus for securing pins includes a container including an opening sized to receive pins, a reservoir for the pins, a serpentine path between the opening and the reservoir, and scoops configured along the serpentine path to catch and prevent the pins from exiting the container through the opening.

In an example embodiment, the pin securing apparatus 100 includes a mechanism for detachably securing the container 102 to a surface (such as a wall in a dressing room). Referring to FIG. 6, in an example embodiment, the pin securing apparatus 100 includes a bracket 140 configured for mounting to a surface. In an example embodiment, the container 102 and the bracket 140 are formed with complementary surfaces that allow the container 102 to be detachably secured to the bracket 140. By way of example, and referring also to FIGS. 7 and 8, the back portion 110 includes grooves 142 and 144, and the bracket 140 includes complementary portions that fit into the grooves, namely, tongues 146 and 148, respectively. In the illustrated example embodiment, the bracket 140 includes apertures 150 sized for securing the bracket 140 to a wall or other surface with screws 152 or the like. After the bracket 140 is secured to a wall or other surface, and now referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the back portion 110 of the container 102 can be slid downward over the bracket 140 until the tongues 146 and 148 are seated in the grooves 142 and 144, respectively.

In an example embodiment, the complementary surfaces that allow the container 102 to be detachably secured to the bracket 140 include a recessed portion and a latch member sized to fit into the recessed portion when the container 102 is secured to the bracket 140. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, in the illustrated example embodiment, the rear portion 110 includes a recessed portion 154, and the bracket 140 includes a latch member 156 sized to fit into the recessed portion 154 when the container 102 is secured to the bracket 140. In the illustrated example embodiment, the latch member 156 includes a flexible portion 158 as well as a tab portion 160, and referring also to FIGS. 2 and 5C, the container 102 includes a finger indent 162. When the container 102 is secured to the bracket 140, the latch member 156 is seated within the recessed portion 154 of the rear portion 110. When the container 102 is to be separated from the bracket 140, e.g., when the reservoir 112 is close to being filled with pins, the tab portion 160 is pushed away from the container 102. The flexible portion 158 bends in response to this force causing the latch member 156 to unseat (withdraw) from the recessed portion 154 which allows the container 102 to be slid upward and away from the bracket 140. In an alternate embodiment, the container includes a latch mechanism instead of the bracket. It should be understood that other mechanisms for securing the container to a surface can also be employed.

In an example embodiment, an apparatus for securing pins includes a bracket configured for mounting to a surface, and a container configured to be detachably secured to the bracket, the container including an opening sized to receive pins, a reservoir for the pins, and a path between the opening and the reservoir, the path including a sequence of members that are angled in relation to the opening and alternately positioned on opposite sides of the container to catch and prevent the pins from exiting the container through the opening. In an example embodiment, the members overlap, defining turns along the path.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of the example embodiments above, numerous modifications and/or additions to the above-described embodiments would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the scope of the present invention extend to all such modifications and/or additions.

Claims

1. An apparatus for securing pins, comprising:

a container including an opening sized to receive pins, a reservoir for the pins, and baffles between the opening and the reservoir, the baffles being configured to permit the pins to fall into the reservoir but to prevent the pins from exiting the container through the opening.

2. The apparatus for securing pins of claim 1, wherein the baffles define a serpentine path between the opening and the reservoir.

3. The apparatus for securing pins of claim 2, wherein the baffles are alternately positioned along the path on opposite sides of the container.

4. The apparatus for securing pins of claim 1, wherein two of the baffles include guide surfaces that are approximately perpendicular.

5. The apparatus for securing pins of claim 1, wherein the baffles overlap obstructing a line of sight from the opening to the reservoir.

6. The apparatus for securing pins of claim 1, wherein the opening is defined by two of the baffles.

7. The apparatus for securing pins of claim 1, further including:

means for detachably securing the container to a surface.

8. The apparatus for securing pins of claim 1, further including:

a bracket configured for mounting to a surface;

wherein the container and the bracket are formed with complementary surfaces that allow the container to be detachably secured to the bracket.

9. The apparatus for securing pins of claim 8, wherein the complementary surfaces include a recessed portion and a latch member sized to fit into the recessed portion when the container is secured to the bracket.

10. The apparatus for securing pins of claim 1, wherein the container includes a front portion that is made of a substantially clear or translucent material allowing a person to see pins inside the reservoir.

11. An apparatus for securing pins, comprising:

a container including an opening sized to receive pins, a reservoir for the pins, a serpentine path between the opening and the reservoir, and scoops configured along the serpentine path to catch and prevent the pins from exiting the container through the opening.

12. The apparatus for securing pins of claim 11, wherein the scoops are alternately positioned on opposite sides of the container.

13. The apparatus for securing pins of claim 11, wherein the scoops overlap, defining turns along the serpentine path.

14. The apparatus for securing pins of claim 11, wherein the scoops face away from the opening.

15. The apparatus for securing pins of claim 11, further including:

means for detachably securing the container to a surface.

16. An apparatus for securing pins, comprising:

a bracket configured for mounting to a surface; and

a container configured to be detachably secured to the bracket, the container including an opening sized to receive pins, a reservoir for the pins, and a path between the opening and the reservoir, the path including a sequence of members that are angled in relation to the opening and alternately positioned on opposite sides of the container to catch and prevent the pins from exiting the container through the opening.

17. The apparatus for securing pins of claim 16, wherein the bracket includes a latch member and the container includes a recessed portion sized to receive the latch member when the container is secured to the bracket.

18. The apparatus for securing pins of claim 17, wherein the latch member includes a flexible portion.

19. The apparatus for securing pins of claim 16, wherein the members overlap, defining turns along the path.

20. The apparatus for securing pins of claim 16, wherein the opening is defined by two of the members.