GB2180405A - Magnetic pin aligning and driving tool - Google Patents

Abstract

A tool has a body "A", Fig. 1 housing a magnet "D" which acts upon a steel rod "C" allowing a pin to be magnetically drawn into hole "B" whereupon it becomes correctly aligned and is able to be driven through panel "F", Fig. 4, and into material "G". <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Magnetic "pin aligning and driving tool" This invention relates to a magnetic tool to facilitate the holding and aligning and driving in of short panel-pins and similar fasteners.

Prior to a panel-pin being driven "home" (usually by blows from a hammer) it has to be held in position until the correct alignment of the pin and the initial penetration of the accommodating material is achieved.

The normal method (especially for the D.I.Y handyman) is to hold the pin with the Index finger and thumb of one hand and drive it in initially with a hammer held in the other.

However, when short pins (e.g. 2" or long) are used, this method is hazardous and often extremely painful to the handyman as the thickness of the holding thumb is greater than the pin's length, resulting in the thumb frequently taking the force of the hammer blows.

Further, pins of many lengths often need to be fixed in corners where there is no easy access for the human hand to support the pin.

According to the present invention the tool comprises a body with a small hole throughout it's length in which slides a close-tolerance hardened steel rod.

This rod being slightly longer than the body of the tool so that it may protrude at one or both ends.

A magnet is located, ideally within the body, in as close proximity as possible to the hardened steel rod and parallel to it.

This magnet is therefore in a "shock-free" environment.

The field of the magnet affects the hardened steel rod rendering IT magnetic sufficiently to: 1. Attract and hold a panel-pin to one end.

2. To prevent the hardened steel rod dropping out of the body when the tool is inverted and held vertically.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1. Is an exploded view of the tool (in hand-tool form) "A"=Body.

"B"=Small diameter hole throughout it's length.

"C"=Hardened steel rod with "Sliding fit" within the hole.

"D" = Magnet.

Figure 2. Is a view with the Rod "6" of the tool attracting the head of a panel-pin "E".

Figure 3. Is an exploded view with the panel-pin "E" having been drawn magnetically into the hole by the rod "C' thereby becoming correctly aligned for driving into panel "F".

Figure 4. Is an exploded view of the tool in use, with the correctly aligned pin "E" being driven through panel "F" into fixing material G,. ..

1. A magnet hand-tool (which could be adapted to Robotic use) which, when operated, aligns and facilitates the driving into appropriate materials of panel-pins and similar fixing devices.

2. A hand-tool as claimed in Claim 1, wherein there is a hole of small and consistant diameter having a straight axis throughout it's length.

3. A hand-tool as claimed in Claim 1, wherein there is a permanent magnet within the assembly in close proximity to the hole described in Claim 2.

4. A hand-tool as claimed in Claims 1, 2 and 3, with a "close-tolerance hardened steel rod having a sliding fit within the hole and being rendered magnetic by the magnet.

5. A hand-tool substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Magnetic "pin aligning and driving tool" This invention relates to a magnetic tool to facilitate the holding and aligning and driving in of short panel-pins and similar fasteners. Prior to a panel-pin being driven "home" (usually by blows from a hammer) it has to be held in position until the correct alignment of the pin and the initial penetration of the accommodating material is achieved. The normal method (especially for the D.I.Y handyman) is to hold the pin with the Index finger and thumb of one hand and drive it in initially with a hammer held in the other. However, when short pins (e.g. 2" or long) are used, this method is hazardous and often extremely painful to the handyman as the thickness of the holding thumb is greater than the pin's length, resulting in the thumb frequently taking the force of the hammer blows. Further, pins of many lengths often need to be fixed in corners where there is no easy access for the human hand to support the pin. According to the present invention the tool comprises a body with a small hole throughout it's length in which slides a close-tolerance hardened steel rod. This rod being slightly longer than the body of the tool so that it may protrude at one or both ends. A magnet is located, ideally within the body, in as close proximity as possible to the hardened steel rod and parallel to it. This magnet is therefore in a "shock-free" environment. The field of the magnet affects the hardened steel rod rendering IT magnetic sufficiently to: 1. Attract and hold a panel-pin to one end. 2. To prevent the hardened steel rod dropping out of the body when the tool is inverted and held vertically. A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1. Is an exploded view of the tool (in hand-tool form) "A"=Body. "B"=Small diameter hole throughout it's length. "C"=Hardened steel rod with "Sliding fit" within the hole. "D" = Magnet. Figure 2. Is a view with the Rod "6" of the tool attracting the head of a panel-pin "E". Figure 3. Is an exploded view with the panel-pin "E" having been drawn magnetically into the hole by the rod "C' thereby becoming correctly aligned for driving into panel "F". Figure 4. Is an exploded view of the tool in use, with the correctly aligned pin "E" being driven through panel "F" into fixing material G,. .. CLAIMS

1. A magnet hand-tool (which could be adapted to Robotic use) which, when operated, aligns and facilitates the driving into appropriate materials of panel-pins and similar fixing devices.

2. A hand-tool as claimed in Claim 1, wherein there is a hole of small and consistant diameter having a straight axis throughout it's length.

3. A hand-tool as claimed in Claim 1, wherein there is a permanent magnet within the assembly in close proximity to the hole described in Claim 2.

4. A hand-tool as claimed in Claims 1, 2 and 3, with a "close-tolerance hardened steel rod having a sliding fit within the hole and being rendered magnetic by the magnet.

5. A hand-tool substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the accompanying drawings.