This invention relates to a magnetic holding device that can easily hold any shape or size nail to it, so the nail can then magnetically be held at a distance to the operator's fingers. It can then be initially struck with a hammer in a completely safe manner, after which the device can easily be removed from the nail to finish the nailing procedure.

For many people, the lack, of ability or lack of accuracy, when using a hammer, results in some discomfort or bruising to their fingers, with even the possibility of them losing a fingernail in this initial nailing procedure. This occurs because, when initially holding the nail between their fingers on the material, they accidentally hit their fingers with the hammer's head. There has not been up until now, any device which will enable the nail to stand unaided by itself, at a safe working distance to the operator's fingers. This device, allows the operator to keep their fingers at a safe distance from the impact zone of the hammer, in the first initial stage of nailing, and all further stages in the nailing procedure.

Up until now, there has been no holding device in the history of carpentry, which enables the user to easily pick up nails and hold the nails at a safe distance from their fingers. Some people use pliers to hold the nails in a convenient position to stop them from accidentally striking their own fingers, but this is time consuming and tedious.

This problem can be overcome by this invention, which is able to magnetically pick up and hold any nail, so the fingers of the operator are then kept at a safe working distance from the impact zone of the hammer's head in the initial stage of nailing, after which the magnetic nail holding device can easily be

removed from the nail, while the nail remains intact in the material so the nailing process can be completed in full.

It is a further objective of this magnetic nail holder, to hold the nail with the aid of any magnet, the function of the magnet itself being well known, but this device allows the nail to slide over or on the magnetic surface or in the magnetic fields of the magnet, in such a way as to stop the nails from easily rotating on the end of the magnet or holder's surface. This is achieved with a shaped surface containing a recess or recesses or protrusions of any designed shape, size, number, configuration or combination of all to stop the easy rotation of the nail on that shaped surface of the holder. When a magnet of any shape or strength is placed below or behind the shaped surface in the holding device and is in close proximity to or in contact with the nail, the user is able to slide the holder lengthwise in either direction along the axial length of the nail until a comfortable holding position is achieved. The protrusions, recess or recesses in this shaped surface, stop the nail from simply rotating on this surface and out of the intended insertion angle desired by the user. Without the protrusions, recess or recesses, the nail would simply rotate on the smooth surface of the magnet or on the holder's smooth surface containing the magnetic fields of the magnet, to an unusable angle of initial insertion for the nail, into the material. The desired outcome would then not be achieved as the nail could penetrate the side of the material which would be unsightly and the resultant product would be of poor construction and workmanship.

Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings in which

Figure 1 shows a view of a magnetic nail holder according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows the magnetic nail holder of figure I in use, held with the left hand 18, thumb 20, fingers 19, with a nail 16, held in the magnetic nail holder being struck with a hammer's head 17, to initially insert the nail into the material 22, at the desired angle of insertion by the operator. A pencil 21 , is held in the tubular or hollow section of the holder, with a resilient band positioned around the tube or hollow section at a groove, that slightly penetrates the wall thickness of the holder, thereby enabling the pencil to be held tightly in the holder by the resilient band.

Figure 3 shows a half sectional view of the magnetic nail holder of Figure 1. .

Figure 4 and 5 shows views of shaped surfaces containing protrusions above surface 25, Fig 4 shows a hollow, shaped surface while Fig 5 shows a solid shaped surface. Both of these could be of various designs, shapes, and not just circular as shown 30. The protrusions 27, and 28, above the surfaces 25, can be of various three dimensional designs and shapes containing any amount of flats, edges, curves, circles, points, transitional shapes plus any other suitable shapes, in any number and combination of any shaped surfaces, to form some shaped protrusions on this surface 25, able to easily restrict the rotation of the nail on this shaped surface with protrusions while enabling the nail to easily slide between those protrusion 29. This would generally suit a moulding type of construction using any robust plastic available.

Figures 6 and 7 show views of shaped surfaces containing recesses or a recess below surface 25. Fig 6 shows a hollow shaped surface while Fig 7 shows a solid shaped surface. Both of these could be of various designs, shapes and not just circular as shown 30. The recess or recesses 26, below the surfaces 25, can be of various three dimensional designs and shapes containing any amount of edges, flats, curves, arcs, points, circles, transitional shapes or any other suitable

shape in any number and combination of any shaped surfaces to form some shaped recesses in the surface 25 able to easily restrict the rotation of the nail on this shaped surface with any number of these recesses while enabling the nail to easily slide in these recesses 29. This would generally suit a manufacturing process where the recesses are machined if made of metal or plastic or they can be moulded with a plastic material to the desired shape. It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described in Fig 4-7 and all sizes and designs can be varied.

Any of the preceding shaped surfaces described in Fig 4-7, can be placed in any position on any holder described in Fig 8-15, but the end is preferable. Both ends can have this shaped surface and they may be of a different size and configuration to each other. All or any of the preceding shaped surfaces can be machined into the holder or moulded in one piece or into or onto any cap holder of any design, shape or section possible that can be then fitted by some method to the holder handle. Fig 8-15.

Figure 8 shows a view of a one piece holder 36, of any cross sectional shape and of any length with a magnet 35, encapsulated in the moulding process, and may have any of the preceding shaped surfaces on the end above section line A-A

Figure 9 shows a view of a solid holder 36,of any cross sectional shape of any length with a magnet 35, pressed, glued or fitted somehow into a hole in the end and may have any of the preceding shaped surfaces on the end above section line A-A.

Figure 10 shows a view of any tubular or hollow sectional shaped holder 36, of any length with a magnet 35, pressed, glued or fitted somehow into the opening in the end and may have any of the preceding shaped surfaces on the end above section line A-A.

Figure 1 1 shows a view of a solid or tubular or hollow sectional shaped holder 36, of any length with a magnet 35 pressed, glued, fitted somehow into a cap holder which is then pressed, glued or fitted somehow onto the holder 36. This end can have any of the preceding shaped surfaces on the end above section line A-A.

Figure 12, shows a view of a solid or tubular holder 36, with a magnet 35, pressed, glued or fitted somehow into a cap holder which is then screwed/threaded onto or into the holder 36. This cap holder's end may have any of the preceding shaped surfaces on the end above section line A-A.

Figure 13, shows a view of a solid of any cross-sectional shape or any tubular or hollow sectional shaped holder 36, with a magnet 35, pressed, glued, fitted somehow or encapsulated into the holder 36. This holder can have the shaped surfaces on the sides, not just the ends.

Figure 14, shows a view of a cap holder 37, of tubular or hollow section with a suitable interference fit to suit a pencil 43, biro or carpenter's pencil which then acts as the holder. The magnet 35, is glued, pressed, fitted somehow or encapsulated into the cap 37. This end can have any of the preceding shaped surfaces on the end of the cap above section line A-A. The cap 37 can be fitted with a leg 42 to hold it to a shirt pocket. This additional leg 42, is a well-known device..

Figure 15, shows a view of a magnetic nail holder 36 similar to figures 1, 2 and 3, It is a tubular or hollow section suitable to fit a pencil 43, biro or carpenter's pencil. The magnet 35, is pressed, glued, fitted somehow or encapsulated into this holder 36, The end can have any of the preceding shaped surfaces on the end above section line A-A. The holder 36 has any shaped groove through the wall of the holder at any position along the axial length of the holder

36. A resilient band is then placed around the holder at the groove so as to hold the pencil from easily moving or falling out.

Any of the preceding shaped holders, caps, inserts can be manufactured out of any suitable robust material, metal, plastic etc.

It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications may be made to all the proceeding embodiments described in Fig 1 - 15. All designs, sizes and possible combinations of parts can be varied, especially the length of the holder.

The exact tolerances of any pressed interference fit (if used) can vary and would depend inter alia on the type of material and method of manufacture. Any suitable robust material can be used or any combination of these.

The type or shape or size of the magnet is not important. The magnet's strength and orientation to the nail is important as a weak magnet may not hold a large nail suitably during the initial nailing process. Similarly, a magnet of too great a strength, may pull small nails out of the material it was initially inserted into, before the magnetic nail holder's hold on the nail is released.