Novel Nail and Method of Use for String Art

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 63/636,725, which was filed on Apr. 20, 2024, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

This disclosure relates to implementations of a novel nail and a method of using the novel nail for string art.

String art involves placing nails in a substrate and winding thread or string around the nails to make art. One problem with string art is that the nails are placed in the substrate at varying depths resulting in the nails being of varying height above the substrate. Another problem with string art is that the nails may extend in different directions. There exists no means to ensure the nails are placed in the substrate at the same depth such that the nails are the same height above the substrate. Furthermore, there exists no means to ensure the nails extend in the same direction.

Implementations of a novel nail are provided. In some implementations, the novel nail comprises a head, a shank (or shaft), and a shelf (e.g., a projecting surface). In some implementations, the novel nail also comprises a point.

In some implementations, the novel nail is configured to ensure that a plurality of the novel nails can be placed in a substrate at the same depth such that each novel nail is the same height above the substrate.

In some implementations, the novel nail is configured to extend from the substrate in a predetermined direction or at a predetermined angle (e.g., perpendicular to the substrate).

In some implementations, the novel nail is sturdier than existing nails.

In some implementations, a method of using the novel nail comprises using a plurality of the novel nails to make string art by penetrating the novel nails into a substrate until the shelf of each nail engages the top surface of the substrate and then winding thread or string around the novel nails to make the string art.

illustrates an example of string art, in which nailsare placed in a substrateand thread or stringis wound around the nailsto make art. One problem with string artis that the nailsare placed in the substrateat varying depths resulting in the nailsbeing of varying height above the substrate. There exists no means to ensure the nailsare placed in the substrateat the same depth such that the nailsare the same height above the substrate. Furthermore, there exists no means to ensure that the nailsextend in the same direction or extend from the substrateat a predetermined angle.

illustrates an example existing nailand the existing nail problem in string art. As shown in, a typical nailcomprises a head, a shank (or shaft), and a point. As discussed above, to make string art, nailsare placed in a substrateand thread or stringis wound around the nails. However, as shown in, there is no means to ensure the nailsare placed in the substrateat the same depth such that the nailsare the same height above the substrate. Furthermore, as shown in, there exists no means to ensure that the nailsextend in the same direction or extend from the substrateat a predetermined angle. As shown in, the nailsare placed in the substrateat different depths such that the nailsare at different heights above the substrate. Furthermore, as shown in, the nailsextend in different directions and/or extend from the substrateat different angles.

illustrates an implementation of an example novel nailand methodA of using the novel nail for string art according to the present disclosure. As shown in, in some implementations, the novel nailcomprises a head, a shank (or shaft), and a shelf.

As further shown in, in some implementations, the shankextends from the head, and the shelfextends around and away from the shankat a predetermined distance from the head. As shown in, in some implementations, the novel nailalso comprises a pointthat extends from the shankopposite the head.

In some implementations, the headof the novel nailmay comprise any suitable configuration (e.g., size, shape, etc). For example, in some implementations, the headmay comprise a generally curved side (or perimeter) surfaceextending between a generally flat circular top surfaceand an opposite bottom surface(e.g., similar to the head of an existing nail).

In some implementations, the headis configured to be hammered or otherwise engaged to place or otherwise position the novel nailin a substrate, such as shown in.

In some implementations, the shankof the novel nailmay comprise any suitable configuration (e.g., size, shape, etc). For example, as shown in, in some implementations, the shankmay be generally elongated and cylindrical.

In some implementations, the shankis configured to extend into a substratewhen the novel nailis placed, driven, or otherwise positioned into the substrate, such as shown in.

In some implementations, the shelfof the novel nailmay comprise any suitable configuration (e.g., size, shape, etc). For example, in some implementations, the shelfmay be generally circular disk shaped. In some implementations, the shelfmay have a flat top surfaceand/or opposite flat bottom surface.

As shown in, in some implementations, the shelfextends around and away from the shank. In some implementations, the shelfis attached or otherwise secured to the shank. In some implementations, the shelfand shankare integral.

In some implementations, the shelfextends around the shankat a predetermined distance from the head. In some implementations, the shelfextends around the shankat a point equidistant or about equidistant from the headand the point. In some implementations, the shelfextends around the shankat any other suitable position.

In some implementations, the shelfis configured to stop the shankfrom penetrating a substrateat the shelf. For example, in some implementations, the shelfis attached or otherwise secured to or integrated with the shanksuch that the shelfstops the shankfrom further extending into a substrateat a predetermined distance when the novel nailis placed, driven (e.g., with a hammer), or otherwise positioned into the substrate, such as shown in.

In this way, as shown in, in some implementations, a plurality of novel nailspenetrate the substrateat the same depth such that the novel nailsare the same height above the substrate.

Furthermore, in some implementations, the shelfis configured to ensure that the novel nailextends from a substrateat a predetermined angle (e.g., perpendicular to the substrate) when the shelfis flat against the substrate. For example, in some implementations, the shelfis attached or otherwise secured to or integrated with the shanksuch that when the shelfis flat against the substrate, the shankextends from a substrateat a predetermined angle when the novel nailis placed, driven, or otherwise positioned into the substrate, such as shown in.

In this way, in some implementations, a plurality of novel nailsextend from the substrateat the same angle or in the same direction when the novel nailsare placed, driven, or otherwise positioned into the substrate, such as shown in.

As discussed above, in some implementations, the novel nailalso comprises a point. In some implementations, the pointof the novel nailmay comprise any suitable configuration (e.g., size, shape, etc). For example, as shown in, in some implementations, the pointmay be generally cone-shaped.

As shown in, in some implementations, the pointextends from the shankof the novel nailopposite the head.

In some implementations, the pointis configured to penetrate into a substratewhen the novel nailis placed, driven, or otherwise positioned into the substrate, such as shown in.

illustrates another implementation of an example novel nailaccording to the present disclosure. As shown in, in some implementations, the novel nailcomprises a head, a shank (or shaft), and a shelf. In some implementations, the novel nailalso comprises a pointthat extends from the shankopposite the head. The novel nailis the same as the novel nailexcept that the portion of the shankextending from the shelfaway from the headcomprises a ring shank. In this way, the portion of the shankbetween the headand shelfis smooth and the portion of the shankbetween the shelfand the pointincludes a ring shank

In some implementations, the portion of the shankbetween the shelfand the pointincludes a screw shank.

In some implementations, the portion of the shankbetween the shelfand the pointincludes a spiral shank.

In some implementations, the portion of the shankbetween the shelfand the pointincludes threads or rings.

In some implementations, the portion of the shankbetween the headand shelfand the portion of the shankbetween the shelfand the pointhave different surfaces or withdrawal resistance.

In some implementations, the novel nail,is sturdier than existing nails.

In some implementations, the novel nail,comprises any suitable dimensions.

In some implementations, the diameter of the head,of the novel nail,is 3 mm or thereabout. In some implementations, the length of the novel nail,is 2.5 cm or thereabout. In some implementations, the diameter of the shank,is 16 gauge or thereabout.

In some implementations, the diameter of the head,is equal to the diameter of the shelf. In some implementations, the diameter of the head,is smaller than the diameter of the shelf. In some implementations, the diameter of the head,is larger than the diameter of the shelf.

In some implementations, the novel nail,is composed of any suitable materials. For example, in some implementations, the novel nail,is made from steel or other suitable metal material. In some implementations, the novel nail,is made from plastic. In some implementations, the novel nail,is made from stainless steel, iron, copper, aluminum, bronze, or any other suitable material.

In some implementations, the novel nail,can have any suitable appearance, such as the example appearances shown in the figures.

In some implementations, an example method of using the novel nail,with respect to the above-described figures, comprises using the novel nail,to make string art. In some implementations, the method comprises penetrating a plurality of the novel nails into a substrate until the shelf of each novel nail lays adjacent to or engages the top surface of the substrate such that the novel nails extend the same height above the substrate, such as shown infor example.

In some implementations, the method further comprises winding thread, string, or any elongated material or article of manufacture around the shaft of the novel nails extending above the substrateto make string art.

In some implementations, the substratecomprises any suitable dimensions. In some implementations, the substratehas a thickness sufficient to receive a portion of the novel nail from the bottom surface of the shelf to the distal end of the point.

In some implementations, the substrateis made from any suitable materials. In some implementations, the substrateis made from wood. In some implementations, the substrate is made from material configured to receive, as described above, the novel nail of the present disclosure.

In some implementations, the substratecan have any suitable appearance

The figures, including photographs and drawings, comprised herewith may represent one or more implementations of the novel nails and method for string art.

Details shown in the figures, such as dimensions, descriptions, etc., are exemplary, and there may be implementations of other suitable details according to the present disclosure.

Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or “implementation” or words of similar import means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic is comprised in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrase “in some implementations” or a phrase of similar import in various places throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.

The described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the above description, numerous specific details are provided for a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail.

While operations may be depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results.