LinkedIn PinpointAnswer & Solution
LinkedIn Pinpoint 526 Answer
LINKEDIN PINPOINT
October 8, 2025
Mousetrap
Mechanical watch
Stapler
Clothespin
Trampoline
Todayâs LinkedIn Pinpoint was a classic exercise in identifying a hidden mechanical component that exists across wildly different objects. At first glance, these items donât seem to share a room, let alone a category, but once you look under the hoodâor inside the casingâthe connection becomes crystal clear.
The Solve: A Tale of Wrong Turns
When the first clue, Mousetrap, popped up, my mind immediately went to "Pest Control" or perhaps "Board Games." Itâs a very specific object, and usually, the first clue in Pinpoint is broad enough to lead you down a few different paths. I even briefly considered "Wood" or "Cheese," but I knew I needed more data before making a high-stakes guess.
Then came Mechanical watch. This was a total curveball. A watch has nothing to do with mice or board games. I started thinking about "Precision" or "Gears." Maybe the category was "Things that tick" or "Metal objects"? I held off on submitting because "Stapler" was about to drop, and thatâs when the mechanical gears in my own head started turning.
Once Stapler appeared, the "Gears" theory fell apartâstaplers don't really have gears. But what does a mousetrap, a watch, and a stapler all have in common? They all rely on stored energy. I thought about "Levers," but a watch doesn't really fit that. Then it hit me: the "snap" of the mousetrap, the "drive" of the stapler, and the "mainspring" of the watch. They all use springs.
To be safe, I waited for Clothespin. That sealed the deal. A clothespin is essentially just a tiny torsion spring holding two sticks together. By the time Trampoline showed up, it was just a victory lap. The giant coils surrounding a trampoline are its most defining feature.
I realized the theme wasn't about what these things *do*, but rather the internal component that makes them *work*. I confidently typed in "Things with springs" and watched the green checkmark appear. It was a great lesson in looking past the surface level of an object to see its engineering.
Lessons Learned
Look for the "Power Source": When items seem unrelated in function (like a watch and a trampoline), ask yourself what provides the physical energy or tension for them to operate. Often, the answer is a shared mechanical part.
Ignore the Material: Don't get distracted by what things are made of. A clothespin is wood, a watch is gold or steel, and a trampoline is fabric. Focus on the mechanism instead of the material.
Think about "Snap" and "Bounce": If you see items that involve sudden movement or tension (like a stapler or a mousetrap), "Springs" or "Tension" should be one of your first guesses.
The Scale Shift: Pinpoint loves to jump from tiny items (watch parts) to huge items (trampolines). If you find a connection that works for both a micro-scale and a macro-scale object, youâve likely found the right answer.
Expert Q&A
Why was "Mechanical watch" specified instead of just "Watch"?
A standard digital or quartz watch runs on a battery and a vibrating crystal, whereas a mechanical watch specifically requires a "mainspring" to store energy and move the hands. Specifying "mechanical" was a vital hint to point players toward the spring mechanism.
Could the answer have been "Metal things"?
While all these items contain metal, "Metal things" is usually too broad for a Pinpoint answer. The game looks for a more specific functional connection. Since a trampoline is mostly fabric and a clothespin is often wood, "Springs" is the much more accurate common denominator.
How does a stapler use a spring?
A stapler actually uses two! One long spring pushes the row of staples forward so there is always one ready at the front, and another mechanism (often a leaf spring or coil) helps the top of the stapler bounce back up after you press it down.
What is the specific type of spring in a clothespin?
Most clothespins use a "torsion spring." This is a coil that exerts torque or circling pressure. When you squeeze the ends of the pin, you are working against that torsion spring, which then snaps the jaws shut when you let go.
Are there other items that could have fit this puzzle?
Absolutely. Items like "Pogo stick," "Retractable pen," "Shock absorbers," or even "Toaster" would have fit perfectly because they all rely on internal springs to function.