# US 12,179,323 B1 · Push pin installation devices and methods of installing push pins

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- Number: US 12,179,323 B1
- Document ID: US12179323B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 18/215,556
- Filed: 2023-06-28
- Published: 2025-01-02
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2023-06-28
- Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.; Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
- Inventors: Brian A. Fleck
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179323B1

## CPC

- B25B 31/00: Hand tools for applying fasteners (nailing or stapling tools B25C)
- B25B 27/04: inserting or withdrawing keys
- B25B 27/0035: {for motor-vehicles (wrenches for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/003)}
- B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING

## Abstract

A push pin installation device includes a handle, a shaft that extends outwardly from the handle and a sliding collar provided on the shaft that includes head with a bore that is sized to receive a push pin. The shaft and sliding collar are configured such that pushing on the handle moves the shaft through the bore farther into the sliding collar to apply a force against a push pin located in the bore.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A push pin installation device comprising:
a handle;
a shaft that extends outwardly from the handle, the shaft comprising an enlarged portion connected to the handle and a narrow portion that extends outward from a stop surface at an end of the enlarged portion to a terminal end;
a sliding collar provided on the shaft that includes head with a bore that is sized to receive a push pin; and
a spring configured to bias the sliding collar toward an extended position, the spring located around the narrow portion and entirely between a handle-facing end of the sliding collar and the stop surface and spaced from the handle;
wherein the shaft and sliding collar configured such that pushing on the handle moves the shaft through the bore farther into the sliding collar to apply a force against a push pin located in the bore.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The push pin installation device of claim 1, wherein the shaft extends outward from a center of the handle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The push pin installation device of claim 1, wherein the narrow portion having a pin-receiving slot that extends lengthwise along the narrow portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The push pin installation device of claim 3, wherein the sliding collar comprises a guide pin that extends across the bore, the guide pin received by the pin-receiving slot.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The push pin installation device of claim 1, wherein the sliding collar having the handle-facing end and an opposite part-facing end, the part facing end including a tapered surface that tapers inwardly toward an opening to the bore.

### Claim 6

A method of installing a push pin in a pin-receiving bore using a push pin installation tool, the method comprising:
placing a push pin within a pin-receiving bore of the pin installation tool, the pin installation tool comprising:
a handle;
a shaft that extends outwardly from the handle, the shaft comprising an enlarged portion connected to the handle and a narrow portion that extends outward from a stop surface at an end of the enlarged portion to a terminal end;
a sliding collar provided on the shaft that includes head with a bore that is sized to receive a push pin; and
a spring configured to bias the sliding collar toward an extended position, the spring located around the narrow portion and entirely between a handle-facing end of the sliding collar and the stop surface and spaced from the handle; and
pushing on the handle thereby moving the shaft through the bore farther into the sliding collar applying a force against a push pin located in the bore.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 further comprising biasing the sliding collar toward the extended position by the spring.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the step of applying a force comprises applying a first force using the spring and applying a second force using the shaft.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the narrow portion having a pin-receiving slot that extends lengthwise along the narrow portion.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the sliding collar comprises a guide pin that extends across the bore, the guide pin sliding within the pin-receiving slot while moving the shaft through the bore.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the sliding collar having a handle-facing end and an opposite part-facing end, the part facing end including a tapered surface that tapers inwardly toward an opening to the bore.