U.S. patent application number 09/861385 was filed with the patent office on 2002-11-21 for wall tack.
Invention is credited to McKeirnan, Robert D. JR., Spencer, Russell B..
Application Number | 20020171017 09/861385 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25335647 |
Filed Date | 2002-11-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020171017 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McKeirnan, Robert D. JR. ;
et al. |
November 21, 2002 |
WALL TACK
Abstract
An improved wall tack is provided for quick and easy mounting
onto an upholstered wall surface or the like for supporting
documents such as memoranda, pictures, calendars, etc. The wall
tack comprises a plastic molded tack body having a hanger hook
protruding from a front side thereof, and a lower prong or push pin
projecting rearwardly from a lower margin at a rear side thereof.
The rear side of the tack body further includes an elongated
recessed groove lined by a plurality of undercut lock tabs for
secure snap-fit reception of an elongated wire member having
opposite ends defining a pair of rearwardly projecting pointed
prongs at an upper margin of the tack body rear side. The pair of
pointed prongs cooperate with the lower push pin for engaging and
securely supporting the tack body on the upholstered wall
surface.
Inventors: |
McKeirnan, Robert D. JR.;
(Westlake Village, CA) ; Spencer, Russell B.;
(Cerritos, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Stuart O. Lowry, Esq.
Kelly Bauersfeld Lowry & Kelley, LLP
Suite 1650
6320 Canoga Avenue
Woodland Hills
CA
91367
US
|
Family ID: |
25335647 |
Appl. No.: |
09/861385 |
Filed: |
May 18, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/217.3 ;
248/216.1; 248/497 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B43M 15/00 20130101;
Y10T 24/209 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/217.3 ;
248/497; 248/216.1 |
International
Class: |
A47K 001/00; E04G
003/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A wall tack, comprising: a generally flat tack body defining a
front face and a rear face; a hanger hook protruding from said tack
body front face; a lower pointed tip prong projecting rearwardly
from said tack body rear face generally at a lower margin thereof;
and an elongated wire member having a pair of upper pointed tip
prongs at opposite ends thereof, and a central segment
interconnecting said upper prongs; said rear face of said tack body
defining a groove for removably receiving said wire member central
segment, said upper prongs projecting generally rearwardly from
said tack body rear face generally at an upper margin thereof when
said wire member central segment is received within said
groove.
2. The wall tack of claim 1 wherein said wire member comprises an
elongated metal element.
3. The wall tack of claim 1 wherein said groove defined on said
tack body rear face comprises a partially undercut groove, said
wire member central segment being springably deformable for
substantially snap-fit reception into said partially undercut
groove.
4. The wall tack of claim 3 further including a plurality of lock
tabs formed on said tack body in positions spaced rearwardly from
said tack body rear face, said lock tabs cooperating with said tack
body rear face to define said partially undercut groove.
5. The wall tack of claim 1 wherein said lower prong comprises a
rearwardly projecting push pin.
6. The wall tack of claim 5 wherein said rearwardly projecting push
pin is formed integrally with said tack body.
7. The wall tack of claim 1 wherein said tack body, said hanger
hook, and said lower prong comprise a unitary plastic molding.
8. The wall tack of claim 1 wherein upper prongs each extend
generally rearwardly and then turn generally upwardly relative to
said tack body, when said wire member is received within said
groove.
9. The wall tack of claim 1 wherein said tack body has a generally
triangular shape defining a pair of spaced-apart upper corners and
a lower corner, said lower prong extending generally rearwardly
from said tack body lower corner, and said upper prongs
respectively extending generally rearwardly from said tack body
upper corners.
10. A wall tack, comprising: a tack body defining a generally flat
front face and a generally flat rear face, said tack body having a
generally triangular shape defining a pair of spaced-apart upper
corners and a lower corner, a hanger hook protruding from said tack
body front face, and a lower pointed tip prong projecting
rearwardly from said tack body rear face generally at a lower
margin thereof, said tack body and said hanger hook and said lower
prong being formed as a unitary plastic molding; and an elongated
wire member having a pair of upper pointed tip prongs at opposite
ends thereof, and a central segment interconnecting said upper
prongs; said rear face of said tack body defining a groove for
seated reception of said wire member central segment in a position
with said upper prongs projecting generally rearwardly from said
tack body upper corners.
11. The wall tack of claim 10 wherein said wire member comprises an
elongated metal element.
12. The wall tack of claim 10 wherein said groove defined on said
tack body rear face comprises a partially undercut groove, said
wire member central segment being springably deformable for
substantially snap-fit reception into said partially undercut
groove.
13. The wall tack of claim 12 further including a plurality of lock
tabs formed on said tack body in positions spaced rearwardly from
said tack body rear face, said lock tabs cooperating with said tack
body rear face to define said partially undercut groove.
14. The wall tack of claim 10 wherein said lower prong comprises a
rearwardly projecting push pin.
15. The wall tack of claim 10 wherein upper prongs each extend
generally rearwardly and then turn generally upwardly relative to
said tack body, when said wire member is received within said
groove.
16. The wall tack of claim 10 wherein said wire element comprises
said central segment having a curved shape and joined at opposite
ends thereof to a pair of generally straight side legs, said side
legs being joined in turn respectively to said upper prongs, and
further including at least one lock tab formed in rearwardly spaced
relation to said tack body rear face to define an undercut for
snap-fit reception of said wire member central segment, a
peripheral rim extending rearwardly from said tack body rear face,
and a pair of lock tabs projecting inwardly from said peripheral
rim generally at opposite side edges of said tack body and in
spaced relation with said tack body rear face, said pair of lock
tabs cooperating with said peripheral rim and said tack body rear
face to define undercuts for respective snap-fit reception of said
wire member side legs.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to improvements in wall
tacks and push pins of the general type used for affixing documents
such as notes, memoranda, photographs and other pictures, and
calendars and the like to upholstered or similar soft-surfaced
walls used in office cubicle walls and partitions. More
particularly, this invention relates to an improved wall tack
designed for quick and easy attachment to an upholstered wall
surface or the like, wherein the wall tack is constructed from a
minimum number of components adapted for rapid and economical
manufacture.
[0002] Office cubicle walls and/or partitions commonly comprise an
upholstered or fabric or other soft-surfaced or padded material
mounted on a suitable support frame or substrate. This wall
structure accommodates versatile office floor plans while
additionally providing sound attenuation between adjoining work
spaces. Push pins or tacks are frequently inserted or pressed into
the wall structure by office personnel to hang work related
documents such as office papers, calendars and schedules, and
address lists, as well as personal items such as photographs and
the like.
[0003] In many instances, the upholstered wall surface lacks
sufficient structural integrity to support items having any
significant weight. As a result, items supported from the wall
surface have an annoying tendency to fall unexpectedly to the
floor. Moreover, conventional push pins have a tendency to work
loose even when used to support relatively lightweight items,
particularly in response to periodic bumping displacement of the
push pins or the supported item, resulting again in occasional
unexpected falling of the push pin and supported item to the
floor.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,126 discloses an improved wall tack for
supporting a document or the like from an upholstered wall surface,
wherein the wall tack comprises a plastic tack body with an
internal metal reinforcement comolded within a forwardly projecting
hanger hook, and at least two rearwardly projecting metal prongs
formed at the opposite ends of a wire segment which is comolded
within the tack body. While this improved wall tack is designed for
quick and easy mounting onto an upholstered wall surface or the
like, and is capable of supporting a significantly larger weight in
a secure and stable manner in comparison with a conventional push
pin, the metal-plastic comolded construction of the wall tack
results in disadvantageous manufacturing complexities and
costs.
[0005] There exists, therefore, a need for further improvements in
and to wall tacks of the general type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
6,126,126, wherein the wall tack is designed for quick and easy
attachment to an upholstered wall surface or the like, and further
wherein the wall tack construction is compatible with relatively
simple and low cost manufacturing techniques. The present invention
fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In accordance with the invention, an improved wall tack is
provided for quick and easy mounting onto an upholstered wall
surface or the like for supporting documents such as memoranda,
pictures, calendars, etc. The wall tack comprises a plastic molded
tack body having a hanger hook protruding from a front side
thereof, and a pointed lower prong or push pin projecting
rearwardly from a lower margin at a rear side thereof. The rear
side of the tack body further includes an elongated recessed groove
lined by a plurality of undercut lock tabs for secure snap-fit
reception of an elongated wire member having opposite ends defining
a pair of rearwardly projecting pointed prongs at an upper margin
of the tack body rear side. The pair of pointed prongs cooperate
with the lower push pin for engaging and securely supporting the
tack body on the upholstered wall surface.
[0007] In a preferred form, the pair of pointed upper prongs each
extend rearwardly and then turn angularly upwardly relative to the
tack body, when said wire member is snap-fit assembled with the
tack body. The lower push pin preferably is formed integrally with
the plastic molded tack body and projects rearwardly therefrom,
although in an alternative form the lower push pin may comprise a
separately mounted metal pin or the like. The tack body has a
generally triangular shape defining two upper corners with the
upper prongs respectively extending rearwardly and angularly
upwardly therefrom, and a lower corner with the lower push pin
extending rearwardly therefrom. The assembled wall tack is mounted
onto the upholstered wall surface by angularly oriented the tack
for press-fit or push-in engagement of the upper prongs with the
wall surface, followed by downward rotation of the tack body for
engaging the lower push pin with the wall surface in a similar
press-fit or push-in manner.
[0008] Other features and advantages of the invention will become
more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way
of example, the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such
drawings:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the front, right and
bottom sides of an improved wall tack embodying the novel features
of the invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded rear perspective view of the wall tack
shown in FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view thereof;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a front elevation view thereof'
[0014] FIG. 5 is a rear elevation view thereof;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a side elevation view depicting installation
thereof onto a vertical wall surface; and
[0016] FIG. 7 is a side elevation view similar to FIG. 6, and
showing the wall tack in a fully installed position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] As shown in the exemplary drawings, an improved wall tack is
referred to generally in FIGS. 1-7 by the reference numeral 10, for
use in supporting documents and other items such as memoranda,
photographs, calendars and the like from an upholstered wall
surface 12 (FIGS. 6-7) or the like. The wall tack 10 generally
comprises a plastic molded tack body 14 adapted for quick and easy
assembly with a wire member 16 (FIG. 2) to form a compact
three-pronged device designed for quick and easy attachment to the
upholstered wall surface 12.
[0018] The improved wall tack 10 of the present invention is
particularly designed for use in hanging documents and/or personal
items from an upholstered or similarly soft-surfaced wall structure
12 of the type used commonly in an office cubicle or office
partition. More particularly, such soft-surfaced wall structures 12
typically comprise a lightweight wall frame (not shown) supporting
a suitable substrate material which is coated or covered by a
relatively sturdy fabric upholstery material. Wall structures of
this type are widely used in an office environment due to their
versatility in accommodating different and variable office space
patterns. The wall structure is frequently used by office personnel
to hang a variety of work-related and personnel items. The improved
wall tack 10 comprises a relatively compact, cost efficient, and
easily used device for quickly and securely hanging such items from
the wall surface 12.
[0019] The tack body 14 is formed from a lightweight and
economically molded plastic material, preferably as a unitary or
one-piece molded element. As shown in the illustrative drawings by
way of one preferred configuration, the plastic tack body 14 has a
generally flat triangular shape defining a front face or side 18
(FIGS. 1 and 4) and a rear face or side 20 (FIGS. 2-3 and 5). This
triangular element has a top edge 22 joined at opposite top corners
24 to a pair of downwardly and inwardly angled side edges 26 which
terminate at a common lower corner 28. A hanger hook 30 has a base
end thereof joined integrally with the tack body front side 18 at a
location near the lower corner 28 thereof. This hanger hook 30
projects upwardly and forwardly from the front side 18 for use in
hanging support of a document or other selected item, as will be
described in more detail.
[0020] The rear side 20 of the tack body 14 includes a rearwardly
open central shallow cavity 32 of generally triangular shape,
bounded by a peripheral rim 34 extending rearwardly a short
distance from a generally planar or flat triangular surface of the
rear face 20, as viewed best in FIGS. 2-3 and 5. In the
illustrative preferred form, a lower pointed tip prong or push pin
38 is formed integrally with the tack body 14 and projects
rearwardly from the peripheral rim 34 generally at the lower corner
28. A pair of first lock tabs 40 project inwardly from the
peripheral rim 34 at positions near the upper corners 24, and in
spaced relation to the rear face 20. Accordingly, the lock tabs 40
cooperate with the rear face 20 to define a corresponding pair of
undercuts 42 (FIG. 2).
[0021] In the preferred form as shown, the rear face 20 of the tack
body 14 additionally supports a pair of second lock tabs 44 at a
lower central region thereof. These second lock tabs 44 are carried
at the distal ends of a pair of rearwardly extending support posts
46 molded integrally with the tack body 14. As shown, the rear face
20 of the tack body 14 may include one or more apertures 48 formed
therein to accommodate the appropriate mold tooling for integral or
one-piece molding of the lock tabs 40, 44 in spaced relation to the
rear face 20. The second lock tabs 44 thus define a second pair of
undercuts 50 (FIG. 2). The first and second lock tabs 40, 44
cooperatively define a partially undercut groove for clip-on or
snap-fit mounting of the wire element 16.
[0022] The wire member 16 comprises a bent element shaped for quick
and easy clip-on and snap-fit assembly with the molded tack body
14. In the preferred form, the wire member comprises a metal wire
element having a curved central segment 52 joined at opposite ends
to a pair of elongated and generally straight side legs 54. These
side legs 54 are respectively joined in turn to a pair of
rearwardly extending prong segments 56 joined in turn at the rear
ends thereof to a pair of generally upwardly extending upper
pointed tip prongs 58. It will be recognized and understood that
the wire member may be constructed from alternative materials, such
as an elongated plastic spring element, and further may embody
alternative end prong segment configurations.
[0023] The wire member 16 is assembled with the tack body 14 by
squeezing the side legs 54 toward each other, in the direction of
arrows 60 in FIG. 2. While holding the wire member 16 is this
configuration, the curved central segment 52 can be seated within
the undercuts 50 associated with the second lock tabs 44, followed
by manual placement of the side legs 54 in alignment with the
undercuts 42 associated with the first lock tabs 40. The side legs
54 can then be released, to permit the side legs 54 to spring
outwardly into said undercuts 42 and into spring-biased engagement
with the inboard sides of the peripheral rim 34. In this position,
the rearwardly extending prong segments 56 of the wire member 16
project rearwardly from the tack body 14 respectively at the top
corners 24 thereof.
[0024] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate mounting of the assembled wall tack
10 onto the upholstered wall surface 12. As shown, the wall tack 10
is manually held in an angular orientation (FIG. 6) relative to the
wall surface 12, to permit the pointed upper prongs 58 at the upper
rear margin of the tack body 14 to be pressed or pushed into the
wall surface. Concurrently with or immediately following this
initial engagement of the pointed upper prongs 58 with the textured
wall surface, the wall tack 10 is rotated downwardly in the
direction of arrow 62 (FIG. 6) while maintaining the upper prongs
58 in engagement with the wall surface. The wall tack 10 is rotated
downwardly until the lower push pin 38 at the lower rear margin of
the tack body engages and is pressed or pushed into the wall
surface 12, to a final installed position as viewed in FIG. 7. In
this position, a selected document or the like can be hung from the
wall tack 10 by suitably coupling the document with the front
hanger hook 30. In this regard, a hole can be formed in the
selected document(not shown), or the document can be held by a
conventional spring clip (also not shown), as depicted in U.S. Pat.
No. 6,126,126, which is incorporated by reference herein.
Alternately, if desired, a suitable hanger wire or strap (not
shown) attached to the selected document can be engaged with the
hanger hook 30 to support the document. Still further, if desired,
the lower push pin 38 may be used to pierce the document and
thereby support the document upon attachment of the wall tack to
the wall surface.
[0025] The improved wall tack 10 of the present invention thus
provides a simple device adapted for rapid and economical
manufacture, and for subsequent quick and easy attachment to an
upholstered wall surface 12 or the like, to support a selected
document or personnel item from the wall surface in a secure and
stable manner. The wall tack 10 is not easily dislodged from the
wall surface in response to routine bumping or other contact during
normal office work activities. However, when and if desired, the
wall tack can be removed from the wall surface quickly and easily
by simply lifting upwardly and forwardly on the lower corner 28
thereof, and then pulling outwardly on the wall tack to withdraw
the upper prongs 58 from the wall surface.
[0026] A variety of further modifications and improvements in and
to the wall tack 10 of the present invention will be apparent to
those persons skilled in the art. For example, it will be
recognized and understood that the upper prongs 58 may be oriented
to extend angularly upwardly and rearwardly from the associated
rearwardly projecting prong segments 56, or that these upper prongs
58 may be oriented to extend angularly downwardly and rearwardly
from the associated prong segments. Moreover, it will be recognized
that the lower push pin 38 may be provided as a separately mounted
component formed from metal or other suitable material.
Accordingly, no limitation on the invention is intended by way of
the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, except as set
forth in the appended claims.
* * * * *