Tactile Pins with Overload Protection Feautures

A tactile pin with overload protection features for use in a refreshable Braille display, the refreshable Braille display including an upper surface with a series of openings, the tactile pin being received within one of the series of openings, the tactile pin comprising:

• an upper extent, a lower extent, and an intermediate extent therebetween, the upper extent being rounded and adapted to be perceived by the fingertips of a user;
• a base for receiving the lower extent of the tactile pin, an actuator mechanism associated with the base, the actuator mechanism selectively driving the tactile pin upwardly with respect to the upper surface of the Braille display, the actuator mechanism receiving instructions for driving a series of tactile pins to selectively generate refreshable Braille characters, the actuator mechanism including sensitive components;
• a coil spring positioned about the intermediate extent of the tactile pin, the coil spring having a length and a spring constant, with the length and the spring constant being selected such that the upper extent of the tactile pin is positioned beneath the upper surface of the Braille display when the spring is compressed, the length and the spring constant further selected to prevent any damage to the sensitive components upon the application of excessive forces.