Pin

Last updated October 23, 2024

Different types of pins

A sewing pin

A safety pin

A pin is a device, typically pointed, used for fastening objects or fabrics together. Pins can have the following sorts of body:

a shaft of a rigid inflexible material meant to be inserted in a slot, groove, or hole (as with pivots, hinges, and jigs)
a shaft connected to a head and ending in a sharp tip meant to pierce one or more pieces of soft materials like cloth or paper (the straight or push pin)
a single strip of a rigid but flexible material (e.g. a wire) whose length has been folded into parallel prongs in such fashion that the middle length of each curves towards the other so that, when anything is inserted between them, they act as a clamp (e.g. the bobby pin)
two strips of a rigid material bound together by a spring at one end so that, when the spring held open, one can insert some material between the prongs at the other end that, the spring allowed to close, then clamp the inserted material. ^{[ citation needed ]}

According to their function, pins can be made of metals (e.g. steel, copper, or brass), wood, or plastic.

History

Pins have been found at archaeological sites dating as early as the Paleolithic, made of bone and thorn, and at Neolithic, Celtic and Ancient Roman sites.^[1] Neolithic sites are rich in wooden pins, and are still common through Elizabethan times.^[2] Metal pins dating to the Bronze Age have been found in Asia, North Africa and Europe, like the hammer-headed pins from the kurgan burials in the northeastern Caucasus.^[1]

Sewing and fashion pins

The development of the pin closely paralleled that of its perforated counterpart, the needle. Archaeological evidence suggests that curved sewing pins have been used for over four thousand years. Originally, these were fashioned out of iron and bone by the Sumerians and were used to hold clothes together. Later, pins were also used to hold pages of books together by threading the needle through their top corner.^[3]

Many later pins were made of brass, a relatively hard and ductile metal that became available during the Bronze Age. This development was followed by the use of steel which was much stronger but tended to rust when exposed to humid air. The development of inexpensive electroplating techniques allowed the steel to be plated with nickel. Nickel did not rust, but tended to flake off the steel in humid weather, again allowing it to rust. However, this took many months or even years to happen, and as nickel plated steel pins were usually used only temporarily to hold cloth in place prior to sewing, no further refinement has been considered necessary. However, some modern specialty pins are made out of rust-proof and very strong titanium.^[4]

Production

A pinners guild was first established in London in 1356, spreading to other towns, but falling short of the quality produced by French pinmakers, discussed in the Art de l'épinglier (French : Art de l'épinglier, lit. 'Pin art') (1761) where Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau gives details about the division of labor used by French pinmakers:^[5]^[6]

There is nobody who is not surprised of the small price of pins; but we shall be even more surprised, when we know how many different operations, most of them very delicate, are mandatory to make a good pin.
— Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau, Art de l'épinglier

Adam Smith described the manufacture of pins as part of his discussion about the division of labor in the Wealth of Nations .

John Ireland Howe invented a pin-making machine in 1832, and an improved machine in 1841; his Howe Manufacturing Company of Derby, Connecticut, used three machines to produce 72,000 pins per day in 1839.

Walter Hunt invented the safety pin by forming an eight-inch brass pin into a bent pin with a spring and guard. He sold the rights to his invention to pay a debt to a friend,^[7] not knowing that he could have made millions of dollars.

Straight pins

Pin type	Typical size^{[Note 1]}	Typical length	Features
Beading pins	14	7⁄8 in (22 mm)	A wider-than-usual-head allows this pin to hold beads more easily.
T-pins	0.75 mm	1+1⁄4 in (32 mm)	These pins have a head bent into a capital letter "T" to make it easier to grab with the finger tips.
Dressmaker pins	17-20	1+1⁄16 in (27 mm)	The most common type of sewing pin, they are used for light- to medium-weight fabrics and may have either a small flat head or a round plastic one.
Pleating pins	17	1+1⁄16 in (27 mm)	Considered "extra fine", they are used for pinning pleats and lightweight fabrics.
Appliqué pins	0.6 mm	3⁄4 in (19 mm)	Pins have small round glass heads that are easy to work around; also, because the pins are comparatively short, they are less likely to "stick out" when holding small pieces of fabric against a larger one.
Bridal and lace pins	17	1+1⁄4 in (32 mm)	These pins are made entirely of stainless steel and will not rust; they are used for fine and lightweight fabrics.
Patchwork pins	22 (0.5 mm)	1+7⁄16 in (37 mm)	Pins have extra sharp tips for penetrating thick iron-on patches; their size and length also make them suitable for quilting; they have glass heads that will not melt if pressed in an iron.
Quilting pins	30 (0.6 mm)	1+7⁄8 in (48 mm)	Quilting pins are exceptionally long and often have glass heads.
Silk pins	0.5 mm	1+7⁄16 in (37 mm)	Silk pins are suitable for lightweight fabrics and traditionally have a glass head that will not melt when ironed.
Pearlized pins	24	1+1⁄2 in (38 mm)	These have round plastic heads which have been painted (often in bright colors) to superficially resemble the appearance of pearls. Because the heads are plastic, there is a risk that they will melt if ironed at high temperatures.
Sequin pins	8 (0.5 mm)	1⁄2 in (13 mm)	Their exceptionally short length makes these pins suitable for appliqué; a large flat head allows them to hold sequins in place. Used for permanently holding sequins to styrofoam forms such as Christmas ornaments.
Tidy pins	-	1+1⁄2 in (38 mm)	U-shaped pins with no head are used for holding slip covers and doilies in place; often made of brass so that they will not rust; also called fork or loose cover pins.
Hatpins	-	8 in (20 cm)	These are exceptionally long decorative pins used to hold a woman's hat in place.

General purpose pins

The push pin was invented in 1900 by Edwin Moore^[8] and quickly became a success. These pins are also called "map pins" and are distinguished by having an easy to grip head.

Steel pins without heads

Thin, hardened pins can be driven into wood with a hammer with the goal of not being seen.

Mechanical fasteners

In engineering and machine design, a pin is a machine element that secures the position of two or more parts of a machine relative to each other. A large variety of types has been known for a long time; the most commonly used are solid cylindrical pins, solid tapered pins, groove pins, slotted spring pins and spirally coiled spring pins.

Explanatory notes

↑ The size numbers given here correspond to those found on the packaging of various manufacturers—they do not necessarily correspond to any objective width measurement or to the size numbers of other manufacturers. Measurements given in millimeters are actual millimeters.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paper clip</span> Metal device to hold papers together

A paper clip is a tool used to hold sheets of paper together, usually made of steel wire bent to a looped shape. Most paper clips are variations of the Gem type introduced in the 1890s or earlier, characterized by the one and a half loops made by the wire. Common to paper clips proper is their utilization of torsion and elasticity in the wire, and friction between wire and paper. When a moderate number of sheets are inserted between the two "tongues" of the clip, the tongues will be forced apart and cause torsion in the bend of the wire to grip the sheets together. They are usually used to bind papers together for productivity and portability.

A zipper, zip, or fly, formerly known as a clasp locker, is a commonly used device for binding together two edges of fabric or other flexible material. Used in clothing, luggage and other bags, camping gear, and many other items, zippers come in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and colors. In 1892, Whitcomb L. Judson, an American inventor from Chicago, patented the original design from which the modern device evolved.

Injection moulding is a manufacturing process for producing parts by injecting molten material into a mould, or mold. Injection moulding can be performed with a host of materials mainly including metals, glasses, elastomers, confections, and most commonly thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers. Material for the part is fed into a heated barrel, mixed, and injected into a mould cavity, where it cools and hardens to the configuration of the cavity. After a product is designed, usually by an industrial designer or an engineer, moulds are made by a mould-maker from metal, usually either steel or aluminium, and precision-machined to form the features of the desired part. Injection moulding is widely used for manufacturing a variety of parts, from the smallest components to entire body panels of cars. Advances in 3D printing technology, using photopolymers that do not melt during the injection moulding of some lower-temperature thermoplastics, can be used for some simple injection moulds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rivet</span> Permanent mechanical fastener

A rivet is a permanent mechanical fastener. Before being installed, a rivet consists of a smooth cylindrical shaft with a head on one end. The end opposite the head is called the tail. On installation, the deformed end is called the shop head or buck-tail.

A clothespin or clothes peg is a fastener used to hang up clothes for drying, usually on a clothes line. Clothespins come in many different designs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buckle</span> Mechanical device for fastening two loose ends

A buckle or clasp is a device used for fastening two loose ends, with one end attached to it and the other held by a catch in a secure but adjustable manner. Often taken for granted, the invention of the buckle was indispensable in securing two ends before the invention of the zipper. The basic buckle frame comes in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the intended use and fashion of the era. Buckles are as much in use today as they have been in the past: used for much more than just securing one's belt, instead they are one of the most dependable devices in securing a range of items.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banana connector</span> Single-wire electrical connector used for joining wires to equipment

A banana connector is a single-wire electrical connector used for joining wires to equipment. The term 4 mm connector is also used, especially in Europe, although not all banana connectors will mate with 4 mm parts, and 2 mm banana connectors exist. Various styles of banana plug contacts exist, all based on the concept of spring metal applying outward force into the unsprung cylindrical jack to produce a snug fit with good electrical conductivity. Common types include: a solid pin split lengthwise and splayed slightly, a tip of four leaf springs, a cylinder with a single leaf spring on one side, a bundle of stiff wire, a central pin surrounded by a multiple-slit cylinder with a central bulge, or simple sheet spring metal rolled into a nearly complete cylinder. The plugs are frequently used to terminate patch cords for electronic test equipment such as laboratory power supply units, while sheathed banana plugs are common on multimeter probe leads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fastener</span> Hardware device that mechanically joins or affixes two or more objects together

A fastener or fastening is a hardware device that mechanically joins or affixes two or more objects together. In general, fasteners are used to create non-permanent joints; that is, joints that can be removed or dismantled without damaging the joining components. Steel fasteners are usually made of stainless steel, carbon steel, or alloy steel.

A chuck is a specialized type of clamp used to hold an object with radial symmetry, especially a cylinder. In a drill, a mill and a transmission, a chuck holds the rotating tool; in a lathe, it holds the rotating workpiece.

A split pin, also known as a cotter pin, or cotter key in the US, is a metal fastener with two tines that are bent during installation, similar to a staple or rivet. Typically made of thick wire with a half-circular cross section, split pins come in multiple sizes and types.

Padlocks are portable locks usually with a shackle that may be passed through an opening to prevent use, theft, vandalism or harm.

Henri-Louis Duhamel du Monceau, was a French physician, naval engineer and botanist. The standard author abbreviation Duhamel is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T-nut</span>

A T-nut, T nut, or tee nut is a type of nut used to fasten a wood, particle or composite materials workpiece, leaving a flush surface.

In mechanical engineering, a key is a machine element used to connect a rotating machine element to a shaft. The key prevents relative rotation between the two parts and may enable torque transmission. For a key to function, the shaft and rotating machine element must have a keyway and a keyseat, which is a slot and pocket in which the key fits. The whole system is called a keyed joint. A keyed joint may allow relative axial movement between the parts.

Tube bending is any metal forming processes used to permanently form pipes or tubing. Tube bending may be form-bound or use freeform-bending procedures, and it may use heat supported or cold forming procedures.

A rail fastening system is a means of fixing rails to railroad ties or sleepers. The terms rail anchors, tie plates, chairs and track fasteners are used to refer to parts or all of a rail fastening system. The components of a rail fastening system may also be known collectively as other track material, or OTM for short. Various types of fastening have been used over the years.

A spring pin is a mechanical fastener that secures the position of two or more parts of a machine relative to each other. Spring pins have a body diameter which is larger than the diameter of the hole they are intended for, and a chamfer on either one or both ends to facilitate starting the pin into the hole. The spring action of the pin allows it to compress as it assumes the diameter of the hole. The force exerted by the pin against the hole wall retains it in the hole, therefore a spring pin is considered a self retaining fastener.

A metal zipper is a zipper with its binding edges consisting of individual pieces of metal that are molded into shape and set at regular intervals on the zipper tape. Metal zippers are mainly made of brass, nickel and aluminium, and given their durability, they are mostly used in jeans, work-wear, heavy luggage and heavy-duty garments that must withstand high strength and tough washing. The metal zipper is the oldest type of workable zipper, having been invented by Gideon Sundback as an improvement of Whitcomb Judson's "Clasp Locker" that majorly consisted of a hook-and-eye shoe fastener.

A needlecase or needle case is a small, often decorative, holder for sewing needles. Early needlecases were usually small tubular containers of bone, wood, or bronze with tight-fitting stoppers, often designed to hang from a belt. Needlecases are sometimes called by the French name étui and are typically one of the tools attached to a chatelaine. A pin poppet is a similar container for pins, common in the 18th century.

A clamp holder or clamp fastener is a piece of laboratory apparatus that is used to secure laboratory clamps, such as extension-type utility clamps, or other attachments to a retort stand or lab frame. The material can be made up of brass, cast iron, stainless steel, aluminium or nickel-plated zinc.

References

1 2 Beaudry, Mary C. (2006). Findings The Material Culture of Needlework and Sewing. Yale University Press. p. 11. ISBN 0-300-11093-6.
↑ Beaudry, Mary C. (2006). Findings The Material Culture of Needlework and Sewing. Yale University Press. p. 12. ISBN 0-300-11093-6.
↑ Petroski, Henry, "From Pins to Paper Clips", The Evolution of Useful Things, Knopf, New York, 1993, p. 53
↑ Bridgman, Roger. 1000 Inventions & Discoveries. New York: Dorling Kindersley Publishing Archived 2020-09-19 at the Wayback Machine , 2002, p.126
↑ Beaudry, Mary C. (2006). Findings The Material Culture of Needlework and Sewing. Yale University Press. p. 17. ISBN 0-300-11093-6.
↑ Khurana, A. (2009). Scientific Management: A Management Idea to Reach a Mass Audience. Global India Publications. ISBN 9789380228013.
↑ Alfred, R (2008-10-04). "April 10, 1849: Safety Tech Gets to the Point, Baby". Wired. Archived from the original on April 30, 2014. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
↑ USpatent 654319,Edwin Moore,"Push-pin",published Jul 24, 1900

Pin

Contents