Safety Pin Apparatus and Methods of Use Thereof

Abstract

A novel safety pin apparatus which combines a safety pin member, which can be used to pierce a fabric or a clothing item, without doing substantial damage, along with a safety pin cap, which protects the user from being stuck or stabbed by a safety pin member on the safety pin apparatus, once the safety pin apparatus has been properly located and the pin protecting device has been installed. The novel safety pin apparatus is used to hold together a shirt or blouse, hold an item such as a boutonniere to a suit coat, or merely for decorative purposes, among other uses.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A safety pin apparatus, capable of piercing a material without causing damage, wherein said safety pin apparatus comprises:
 a safety pin member, said safety pin member having a first and a second end, said first end having a conical portion and a first coupling element formed on an outer surface of said conical portion, said safety pin member defining a longitudinal axis;   a safety pin cap, wherein said safety pin cap comprises:
 a housing, said housing defining a coupling recess configured to receive said first coupling element and some or all of said conical portion; and 
 a second coupling element configured to receive and secure said first coupling element within said coupling recess. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said first coupling element comprises a threaded portion; and   said second coupling element comprises mating threads corresponding to said threaded portion of said first coupling element.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said first coupling element comprises a detent; and   said second coupling element comprises a detent ball.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 said second coupling element further comprises a spring biased release member extending out of said housing.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 a slidable wedge is rigidly coupled to said spring biased release member, wherein said slidable wedge is positioned relative to said detent ball such that a change in pressure on said spring biased release member results in a change in pressure of said detent ball upon said detent.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said first coupling element comprises a detent; and   said second coupling element comprises a tab being substantially aligned with said detent when a portion of said first coupling element is inserted into said coupling recess.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a second safety pin cap is located on said second end of said safety pin member.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said safety pin member and said safety pin cap are connected by a connection mechanism.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said connection mechanism is a chain. 
     
     
         10 . A method of piercing a material with a safety pin apparatus without damaging said material, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) removing a safety pin member comprising a conical end and a coupling element from a safety pin cap;   b) inserting said conical end and said coupling element through a portion of material so that a portion of said coupling element extends through said portion of material, wherein said conical end pierces said portion of material; and   c) attaching said safety pin cap to said coupling element.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
 removing said safety pin member from said safety pin cap by rotating said safety pin cap until said safety pin cap is disengaged from said coupling element; and   attaching said safety pin cap by inserting said coupling element into a coupling recess of said safety pin cap and rotating said safety pin cap in an opposite direction than performed in the removal step until said safety pin cap is engaged with said coupling element.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
 removing said safety pin member from said safety pin cup by applying a first force to a spring biased release mechanism disposed in said safety pin cap; and   attaching said safety pin cap by applying a second force to said spring biased release mechanism, inserting said coupling element into said coupling recess, and removing said second force.   
     
     
         13 . A safety pin apparatus, capable of piercing a material without causing damage, wherein said safety pin apparatus comprises:
 a safety pin member, said safety pin member having a first and a second end, said first end having a conical portion, said safety pin member defining a longitudinal axis;   a safety pin cap, wherein said safety pin cap comprises:
 a housing, said housing defining a coupling recess configured to receive said conical portion; and 
 a coupling element configured to receive and secure said conical portion within said coupling recess. 
   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 said coupling element comprises a ball.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein:
 said coupling element further comprises a spring biased release member extending out of said housing.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein:
 a slidable wedge is rigidly coupled to said spring biased release member, wherein said slidable wedge is positioned relative to said ball such that a change in pressure on said spring biased release member results in a change in pressure of said ball upon said safety pin member.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 a second safety pin cap is located on said second end of said safety pin member.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 said safety pin member and said safety pin cap are connected by a connection mechanism.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein said connection mechanism is a chain.