Pin having a tapered cap

Abstract

The invention provides a pin comprising a rod and a tapered cap, wherein the rod is a cylinder with a constant diameter and the tapered cap is a cylinder with a variable diameter, the rod and the tapered cap having a common cylindrical axis, the tapered cap having a diameter adjacent to the rod that is greater than the diameter of the rod and the diameter of the tapered cap adjacent to the rod is greater than a diameter of the tapered cap more distant from the rod.

1 . A pin comprising: 
 a rod; and    a tapered cap,    wherein the rod is a cylinder with a constant diameter and the tapered cap is a cylinder with a variable diameter, the rod and the tapered cap having a common cylindrical axis, the tapered cap having a diameter adjacent to the rod that is greater than the diameter of the rod and the diameter of the tapered cap adjacent to the rod is greater than a diameter of the tapered cap more distant from the rod.    
   
   
       2 . A pin of  claim 1 , wherein the rod comprises pultruded fiberglass.  
   
   
       3 . A pin of  claim 1 , wherein the cap comprises a polymer or a polymer blend.  
   
   
       4 . A pin of  claim 3 , wherein the cap comprises HDPE/nylon.  
   
   
       5 . A pin of  claim 1 , wherein the rod and the cap comprise a polymer or polymer blend.  
   
   
       6 . A pin of  claim 5 , wherein the rod and the cap comprise HDPE/nylon.  
   
   
       7 . A pin of  claim 2 , wherein the cap comprises HDPE/nylon.  
   
   
       8 . A pin of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the rod is approximately 1.3cm.  
   
   
       9 . A pin of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the tapered cap adjacent to the rod is approximately 1.9 cm.  
   
   
       10 . A pin of  claim 1 , wherein the pin has a length of from 5 to 15 cm.  
   
   
       11 . A pin of  claim 10 , wherein the pin has a length of approximately 9.5 cm.  
   
   
       12 . A pin of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the length of the cap to the length of the rod is from 1:2 to 1:6.  
   
   
       13 . A pin of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the length of the cap to the length of the rod is from 1:4.0 to 1:4.5.  
   
   
       14 . A wall having a front surface and a rear surface, the wall comprising: 
 at least a first lower course and a second upper course, each course comprising a plurality of blocks;    each block having an upper surface spaced apart from a substantially parallel lower surface, thereby defining a block thickness,    wherein the upper surface of at least one block in a first course has at least one upper surface pin shaft receiving space aligned along an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the upper and lower surfaces, wherein the lower surface of at least one block in a second course has at least one lower surface pin cap receiving space aligned along an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the upper and lower surfaces, and wherein the wall comprises at least one pin disposed both in the upper surface pin shaft receiving space of at least one block in the first course and in the lower surface pin cap receiving space of at least one block in the second course,    wherein the pin comprises:    a rod; and    a tapered cap,    wherein the rod is a cylinder with a constant diameter and the tapered cap is a cylinder with a variable diameter, the rod and the tapered cap having a common cylindrical axis, the tapered cap having a diameter adjacent to the rod that is greater than the diameter of the rod and the diameter of the tapered cap adjacent to the rod is greater than a diameter of the tapered cap more distant from the rod.    
   
   
       15 . A wall of  claim 14 , wherein the rod of the pin comprises pultruded fiberglass.  
   
   
       16 . A wall of  claim 14 , wherein the cap of the pin comprises a polymer or a polymer blend.  
   
   
       17 . A wall of  claim 16 , wherein the cap of the pin comprises HDPE/nylon.  
   
   
       18 . A wall of  claim 14 , wherein the rod and the cap of the pin comprise a polymer or polymer blend.  
   
   
       19 . A wall of  claim 18 , wherein the rod and the cap of the pin comprise HDPE/nylon.  
   
   
       20 . A wall of  claim 15 , wherein the cap of the pin comprises HDPE/nylon.  
   
   
       21 . A wall of  claim 14 , wherein the diameter of the rod of the pin is approximately 1.3 cm.  
   
   
       22 . A wall of  claim 14 , wherein the diameter of the tapered cap adjacent to the rod is approximately 1.9 cm.  
   
   
       23 . A wall of  claim 14 , wherein the pin has a length of from 5 to 15 cm.  
   
   
       24 . A wall of  claim 23 , wherein the pin has a length of approximately 9.5cm.  
   
   
       25 . A wall of  claim 14 , wherein the ratio of the length of the cap to the length of the rod is from 1:2 to 1:6.  
   
   
       26 . A wall of  claim 14 , wherein the ratio of the length of the cap to the length of the rod is from 1:4.0 to 1:4.5.  
   
   
       27 . A method of making a pin, the pin comprising: 
 a rod; and    a tapered cap,    wherein the rod is a cylinder with a constant diameter and the tapered cap is a cylinder with a variable diameter, the rod and the tapered cap having a common cylindrical axis, the tapered cap having a diameter adjacent to the rod that is greater than the diameter of the rod and the diameter of the tapered cap adjacent to the rod is greater than a diameter of the tapered cap more distant from the rod,    the method comprising:    disposing a top portion of the rod in a mold cavity having the shape of the cap;    injecting a polymer or polymer blend into the mold cavity;    allowing the polymer to harden; and    removing the pin from the mold cavity.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the top portion of the rod comprises a keyway.