Field of the invention

This invention relates to an adjustable spike and refers particularly, though not exclusively, to an adjustable spike for use in holding thereon paper or other frangible material.

Background of the invention Paper spikes have been in use for some time. They normally comprise an elongate spike made of metal which is sharpened to a point at one end, and at the other end is secured into a base which is normally of wood or other similar material. These have been used for some time to place thereon paper or the like which has been used for a number of purposes such as, for example, telephone messages in offices, the material used to prepare an account in a restaurant or the like, or other similar circumstances. These spikes have long had the problems that they are easily moved; are not adjustable; and, being of metal, can easily damage the hand or other body parts of a user.

As an alternative there have been developed such devices as very large paper clips mounted on a similar base but these have had the problem of not being able to hold a sufficient volume of material, and a lack of reliability in operation.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a spike for use with paper or other frangible materials and which is able to be secured to the surface upon

SUBSTTTUTE SHEET (Rule 26)

which it is located. A further object is to provide such a spike which is adjustable in angle. Yet another object is to provide such a spike which is less likely to damage a body part of a user.

Brief description of the invention

With the above and other objects in mind the present invention provides a spike for paper or other frangible material including an elongate spike extending axially outwardly from a body, the body being hingedly attached to a base to enable the angle of the elongate spike relative to the base to be changed.

Preferably, the lower end of the body has an elongate slot therein with the body on either side of the slot being shaped to provide a cam surface. More preferably, the base includes a lower portion in the form of a suction cup having a spindle extending upwardly therefrom, the upper end of the spindle having a shaped cut¬ out to receive a pin mounted within and passing across the elongate slot in the body.

Advantageously, the base has an upper portion with a centrally located slot adapted to pass over the spindle, the upper portion being adapted to be acted upon by the cam surface to assist in the securing of the spike to a surface upon which it is located.

More advantageously, the cam service at the lower end of the body comprises a series of flat segments, there being a first segment which is radially closer to the pin than the o er segments. More advantageously the other segments are all of the same radial distance from the pin. Description of the drawings

In order that the invention may be readily understood there shall now be described by way of non-limitative example only a preferred construction of an adjustable spike incoφorating the principal features of the present invention, the description being with reference to the attached illustrative drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a spike of the present invention in a first position;

Figure 2 is a side view in partial cross-section of the spike of Figure 1 in a second position; and

Figure 3 is a side view in partial cross-section of the spike of Figures 1 and 2 in the first position;

Figure 4 is a front view of the spike of Figures 1 to 3 again in the first position;

Figure 5 is a side view in partial cross-section of the spike of Figures 1 to 4 in a third position; Figure 6 is a side view in partial cross-section of the spike of Figures 1 to 5 in a fourth position;

Figure 7 is a side view of a second embodiment of a spike of the present invention, in partial cross-section, in the second position;

Figure 8 is a side view in partial cross-section of he spike of Figure 7 in the first position; Figure 9 is a side view in partial cross-section of a third embodiment of a spike of the present invention again in the second position;

Figure 10 is a side view in partial cross-section of the spike of Figure 9 in the first position; and

Figure 11 is a side view in partial cross-section of a fourth embodiment of a spike of the present invention in the second position.

Description of the preferred embodiment

To refer to Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings, there is shown a spike generally designated as 10 and which is placed upon a flat surface such as the table top or the like, generally designated as 12. The spike 10 generally comprises a spike portion 14 and a body 16, the body 16 being mounted on a base 18.

The spike 14 has an elongate shaft 20 which at its outer end has a point 22. The point may be slightly rounded for safety and for ease of manufacture. The shaft 20 at its lower end is attached to or integral with the body 16. The body 16 has an upper portion 24 and a lower portion 26. The upper portion 24 is solid whereas the lower portion 26 has a slot 27 to divide the lower portion 26 into two identical, parallel, spaced-apart arms 29 on either side of the slot 27. Extending across the slot between the arms is a pin 28. As can be seen, the lower end of lower portion 26 is shaped to provide a number of surface segments.

SUBSTΓTUTE SHEET (Rule 26)

Although flat surfaces are shown, curves, or a different number of flat surfaces, may be used.

The flat surface generally comprise a first flat surface 30, a second flat surface 32, a third flat surface 34 and a fourth flat surface 36.

The body 16 is mounted on the base 18. The base 18 includes a lower portion 38 which is concave. It is in the form of a suction cup and is made of a relatively flexible material. A radially-outwardly extending tab 39 may be provided to assist in the removal of suction cup 38 from a surface. Securely mounted to the lower portion 38 by an enlarged base 41 and extending upwardly therefrom is a spindle 40 which passes through an opening 42 in an upper portion 44 which, again, is concave and somewhat cup shaped. Upper portion 44 is not of sufficient flexibility to operate as a suction cup The spindle 40 is preferably relatively narrow, as shown, although other shapes may be used. At its upper end the spindle 40 has a shaped opening 46 in which is received the pin 28 in a loose fit, or, preferably, in the manner of a snap fit. Once in opening 46, the pin 28 can rotate relative to spindle 40 without leaving opening 46. The enlarged base 41 may be moulded into suction cup 38, or may be securely attached thereto.

In the position shown in Figure 2, the radial distance from surface 30 to the centre of pin 28 is less than the distance from the upper surface 31 of upper portion 44 to the centre of pin 28. Therefore, the body portion 16 can readily be assembled with the base 18 by passing the spindle 40 through the slot 42 and then passing arms 29 over spindle 40 and engaging pin 28 in opening 46. At this time, the components are assembled as a loose fit. However, the radial distance from surfaces 32, 34 and 36 to the centre of pin 28 is greater than the distance from surface 30 to the centre of pin 28 as well as from the centre of pin 28 to the upper surface of upper portion 44 when resting on suction cup 38. Therefore, as is seen in Figure 4, upon the body 16 being rotated about opening 46, the junction of surfaces 30, 32 forces upper portion 44 downwardly onto suction cup 38 to assist in the sealing of suction cup 38 on surface 12. Further rotation of body 16 causes surface 32 to engage an upper surface 31 of upper portion 44 and slightly release the pressure on suction cup 38 by upper portion 44. With surface 32 engaged upon the upper surface 31 of portion 44 there remains an axially downwardly directed force on surface 31. This engages rim 33 of upper portion 44 on the suction cup 38 with force to thus assist in the suction cup 38 being secured to the surface 12. It also provides for rigidity in assembly.

In the position as shown in Figure 1, the shaft 20 is generally peφendicular to surface 12. Upon further rotation, surface 34 engages on upper surface 31 and thus the shaft 20 is at an angle of approximately 45° relative to surface 12, as is shown in Figure 5. Further rotation can cause the surface 36 to engage on upper portion 44 to allow the shaft 20 to move to be approximately parallel to surface 12, as is shown in Figure 6. It is preferable that the shaft 20 be made of a material having elastic memory such as, for example, nylon so that upon it being moved it will return to its original shape. However, as with many other synthetic materials, if the shaft 20 is held in a different position for a significant period of time it will retain that different position by way of memory. By using nylon, it only requires to be heated to the required temperature (eg 100° C) for the material to relax to enable the normal position to be able to be resumed.

In this way, the adjustable spike 10 can be mounted on a horizontal surface 12 as shown, or be mounted on a surface at an angle to the horizontal, including the vertical. The angle of the shaft 20 to the surface 12 is able to be adjusted to that desired by the user. By use of the two-part suction cup, assistance in the sealing is provided to enable relatively secure fixing to flat surfaces.

A number of flat surfaces, such as those numbered 32, 34 and 36, can be provided so that the adjustment in angle can be as required.

Figures 7 and 8 show a second embodiment according to the present invention with like reference numerals being used for like components but with the addition of a prefix number 2.

To refer to Figures 7 and 8, there is shown an adjustable spike generally designated as 210 and which is adapted to be used in relation to a flat surface 212. In all respects, the spike 210 is the same as the spike 10 of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 6. The only difference is in the lower portion 226 where there is the first flat surface 239 as well as the second surface 232. However here, there is an intermediate surface 233 at an angle of approximately 45°. That would enable the shaft 220 to be located at an angle of 45° relative to the surface 212 but in the opposite direction relative to the vertical to that of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4. The surface 234 is the same as the surface 34 of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4. However, there is no equivalent to surface 36 of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4. Instead, there is a point 235 which may be used to assist in

secure sealing of the suction cup 238 on surface 212. In all other respects, the embodiment is the same as that of Figures 1 to 6 and operates in the same manner.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a third embodiment with the similar principal being used for embodiments of Figures 1 to 6, and that of Figures 7 and 8. Here, again, like reference numerals are used for like components but with the addition of a prefix numeral 3. The general construction is the same as for both of the earlier embodiments with there being the shaft 320 of a spike 310 adapted to be located on the surface 312. Suction cup 318 works in the same manner as previously. The principal difference in the lower portion 326 where the first surface 330 is as before. However, here, there is a curved surface 360 extending from the surface 330. The surface 360 may be of continuous or non-continuous radius, but the distance from curved portion 360 to the centre of pin 328 is always greater than the distance from surface 330 to pin 328. Surface 360 is provided with a number of notches 362 which co-operate with a lug 364 on inner surface of spindle 340. In this way as the shaft 320 is pivoted around pin 328, the surface 360 acts to force the upper portion 344 downwardly, as in the previous embodiments. At the position where the shaft 320 is approximately vertical to surface 312, the first notch 362 will engage on lug 364 to provide a locating device. Further rotation to the 45° position as referred to in the embodiments of Figures 1 to 4 will have the second notch 362 located on lug 364 to again provide the appropriate locating device. The number of notches may be varied, as may be their location, as required. In all other respect the embodiment of Figures 9 and 10 is the same and operates in the same way as the earlier two embodiments. The remaining embodiment is illustrated in Figure 11 where, again, like reference numerals, are used for like components with the addition of a prefix number 4. Although the embodiment of Figure 11 has been shown as a variation of the embodiment of Figure 9 and 10, it could be used with the embodiments of Figures 7 and 8, or Figures 1 to 6.

The principal feature here is that the shaft 420 at its outer end 421 is angled away from the longitudinal axis of shaft 420. This is to provide a predisposition for shaft 420 to bend away from its axis whenever an axial force is provided on tip 422, along the longitudinal axis of shaft 420 towards pin 428. Hence, if the spike 410 were located in the first position (as shown in Figure 1) and a person placed a hand on spike 422 and applied an axially downwardly force onto shaft 420, the shaft 420 would have an increased tendency to bend,

commencing from the junction point 423 between outer end 421 and the main body 420 of the shaft. This tendency to be may assist in reducing injury to a body part of any user.

Whilst there has been described in the foregoing description a preferred construction of an adjustable spike incoφorating the principal features of the present invention, many variations or modifications in details of design or construction may be made without departing from the essential features of the invention.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention. It will also be understood that where the term "comprises" or its grammatical variants, is employed herein, it is equivalent to the term "includes" and is not to be taken as excluding the presence of other elements or features.