GB2227047A - Improved paper clip - Google Patents

Abstract

The specification discloses a number of embodiments of a one-piece paper clip for diagonal application to the corners of assembled paper by flexing the clip. The embodiment of Figures 1-3 has a hinge b and tongue c for engagement under a latch d, application procedures being illustrated in Figures 2, 3. Figures 4A, 4B, 5, 6 show different narrowed forms of latch and tongue; Figure 6 may be injection moulded in resilient plastics material. Figures 7, 8 show a clip made of wire Figures 9-12 illustrate clips formed with two hinges b and two tongues c cranked inwards. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVED PAPER CLIP This invention relates to a one-piece paper clip for temporarily but firmly holding together two or more sheets of paper without mutilation or creasing.

Many one-piece designs already exist for this purpose and most of them are of wire construction formed into two "U" shaped legs which straddle the papers. Pressure is generated from one end where the maximum grip is applied at the paper's edge, diminishing along the length of each leg and terminating in a gap at one side and one end. This invites casual dislodgement and the random capture of other loose papers.

The invention as claimed is intended to remedy these drawbacks by providing a clip which exerts paper gripping pressure from two closed ends and which is applied diagonally across the corners of papers to be clipped.

The advantages offered by this invention are that because it has two pressure application points it will not be easily dislodged, and because it has two closed ends it will not readily capture loose papers. Additionally, when applied diagonally to a sheaf of papers it creates a pleasant visual impact which offers descriptive and decorative potential and allows each perused sheet to be tidily folded back diagonally against its edge without creasing.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the related drawings.

FIG. 1 shows oversize angled rear views of a flat, resilient, diagonally applied, one-piece latching paper clip in the open and latched positions. The front (a) extends to form the hinge (bY and the tongue (c) which is cranked in two places (e) to provide potential paper gripping pressure and also angled away (f) from the front (a) to allow easy positioning over the corner of the papers to be clipped. The centre portion of the tongue (c) may be ribbed lengthwise (g) to resist bending and provide a roughened external face, both features assisting the application procedure described subsequently in Fig.2 and Fig.3. The inside surfaces may be roughened to assist paper grip, and this is fully realised when the tongue (c) is inserted under the latch (d) which is also an extension of the front (a).The gap (h) created by the hinge (b) is sufficient to accept the combined thickness of a pre-determined maximum number of sheets of paper and the gap (i) created by the latch (d) exceeds gap (h) by material thickness. The inclusive angle provided by the inside faces of the hinge (b) and latch (d) is approximately 900 enabling them to be lined up against the two edges formed by the corner of the assembled papers and for the clip to straddle them diagonally and temporarily and firmly secure them.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show two application procedures which may be applied separately or in partial combination to the design described in Fig.l.

FIG. 2 shows four oversize front elevations (A,B,C & D) illustrating four progressive stages in its application.

A shows the clip in the open position, the clearance space (f) enabling it to be easily positioned over the papers (omitted for clarity) until the gaps (h) and (i) fit over their edges.

B The clip is pinched at each end onto the papers by the finger and thumb of both hands until the end of the tongue (c) lies on the outside face of the latch (d).

C The whole assembly of clip and papers is gently flexed (j) towards the front (a) creating a clearance gap (k) between the ends of the latch (d) and the tongue (c).

D Continued gripping pressure with relaxed flexing enables the tongue (c) to enter under the latch (d) and secure the papers.

FIG. 3 'shows three oversize rear plan views (A,B & C) illustrating three progressive stages of an alternative application procedure which may be applied separately or in partial combination with the procedure described in Fig. 2.

A The clip is positioned on the papers in the manner described in Fig. 2A.

B Finger and thumb pressure is applied inwards and sideways (1) assisted by the external roughening (g), sliding the tip of the tongue (c) across the outer face of the latch (d) until a gap (k) appears between them.

C Continued closing pressure with relieved sideways force will allow the tongue (c) to enter under the latch (d) and secure the papers.

Slight weakening by narrowing or the introduction of holes or slots in the hinge (b) or tongue (c) near the hinge will assist the sideways movement described in Fig. 3.

Reversing the above application procedures releases the papers and prepares the clip for further use. If preferred, the clip may be latched empty for convenient storage.

FIG. 4 shows, in the latched position, enlarged partial rear views of a design in which the tongue (c) and latch (d) are narrower than the front (a) and which is thereby more conducive to simple economic manufacture.

A relates to the basic design described with reference to Fig. 1 and to the flexing application method described with reference to Fig. 2 alone or in partial combination with the sideways application method described with reference to Fig. 3.

B shows a tongue (c) and latch (d) design which requires minimum sideways movement to achieve adequate overlap and which relates to the application method described with reference to Fig. 3.

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged angled rear view in the open position of a latching design which allows the tongue (c) to be pressed out of the front (a) This produces a narrower tongue (c) and lengthwise slot (v) in the front (a).

FIG. 6 shows an enlarged angled rear view in the open position of a flat latching design which may be injection moulded in resilient plastics material. It has a lengthwise slot (v) in the front (a) and a hinge (b) and tongue (c) which are narrower than the front (a).

The application procedures for the design described in Figs. 5 and 6 are those described in relation to Figs. 2 and 3.

An embodiment of the invention which may be produced from resilient wire will now be described with reference to the related drawings.

FIG. 7 (with reference to Fig. 8A) shows in oversized angled rear views, latching clips produced from wire in the open and latched positions. The front (a) is connected by the hinge (b) to the tongue (c) which is cranked upwards in two places (e) to provide potential paper gripping pressure and also to produce a gap (f) to allow the clip to be easily initially positioned over the papers to be clipped (omitted for clarity). The tongue (c) is also slightly angled along its length in order to produce a gap (r) (shown in Fig. 8A) which provides potential inward latching pressure.

The latch (d) is an extension of the front (a) and terminates in an appropriate sideways and downwards angle (s) (shown in Fig. 8A) to receive and retain the tip of the tongue (c). The gap (h) created by the hinge (b) is sufficient to accept the combined thickness of a pre-determined maximum number of sheets of paper, and the gap (i) created by the latch (d) exceeds gap (h) by the thickness of the wire which may be slightly flattened at that point.

FIG. 8 shows oversize views of three progressive stages (A, B & C) of application of the wire latching clip described in Fig. 7.

A Rear plan view and elevation showing the clip in the open position in which it is placed over the corner of the papers to be clipped (omitted for clarity) and which shows how the tongue (c) is cranked in two places (e) providing an outward gap (f) and slightly angled along its length in the 900 plane to provide a sideways gap (r). The latch (d) terminates in a sideways and downwards angle (s) to retain the tongue (c).

B Rear plan view showing the tongue (c) pressed inwards towards the front (a) as by finger and thumb pressure to pinch them together, and also to slide (1) the tongue (c) across the top of the latch (d) to produce a gap (k).

C Rear plan view and elevation showing how relaxed sideways pressure and continued pinching pressure allows the tip of the tongue (c) to be located under (w) the latch (d) and be retained by it.

Alternatively, after positioning the clip as described in Fig. 8A, the whole assembly of papers and clip may be laid flat with the tongue uppermost and this may then be pressed down and sideways by any convenient digit until the tip of the tongue has been engaged under the latch. The broad front, lying flat, maintains stability whilst the downwards and sideways pressure is applied.

Reversing the foregoing procedure will release the clip from the papers and render it ready for further service. If preferred, the clip may be latched empty for storage.

Further embodiments of the invention which may be made from flat strip or wire and which obtains paper gripping pressure from two non-latching tongues will now be described with reference to the relevant drawings.

FIG. 9 shows oversized rear views of two designs (A & B) produced from flat strip where the front (a) extends to form two hinges (b) and continues to form two tongues (c) which are cranked inwards (m) to produce potential paper gripping pressure and both of which terminate at an approximate 450 angle (n & o). Their extremities are slightly radiused as in (a) by a turned end (n) or by a rolled edge (o) as in (b), to allow easy positioning over the assembled papers (omitted for clarity). The gaps (h) formed by the hinges (b) are sufficient to accommodate the combined thickness of a predetermined maximum number of sheets of paper.

FIG. 10 shows an oversize rear view of a flat -design which incorporates the same features as those described in Fig. 9 and which may be produced in resilient plastics material by injection moulding, or from flat resilient strip to conserve material utilisation. In both cases, narrower hinges (b) and tongues (c) are produced, and the front (a) has a lengthwise gap (v).

FIG. 11 shows an oversize rear view of a design produced from resilient wire which incorporates the same features as those described in Fig. 9, where the front (a) extends to form two hinges (b) and continues to form two tongues (c) which are cranked inwards and terminate in folded angles (u). The gaps (k) produced by the hinges (b) are sufficient to accommodate a pre-determined maximum number of sheets of paper.

FIG. 12 shows, approximately full size, rear plan views of three progressive stages (A, B & C) in the application of the designs described in Figs. 9, 10 & 11.

A Partial flexing allows one half tongue (c) to be positioned over the papers (p).

B The clip is twisted radially until a gap (q) is produced between the edge of the second half tongue (c) and the papers' edge.

C The clip may now be finally positioned with both tongues (c) securing the papers.

FIG. 13 shows, approximately full size, three front plan views (A, B & C) of the visual appearance produced by the various designs of clips heretofore described in this application when fitted diagonally to a sheaf of papers (p).

All the foregoing designs of paper clip lend themselves to high volume production by conventional production equipment and tooling methods.

FIGS 1 & 5 and FIGS. 9 & 10 - Clips made from flat resilient material can be produced on high speed presses and progressive tooling.

FIGS. 7 & 11 - Clips made from resilient wire may be produced on high speed wire forming machines.

FIGS. 6 & 10 - Clips made in resilient plastics material can be produced on high speed automatic or semi-automatic injection moulding machines with multi-impression tools.

Clips may be made direct from resilient material or, if more convenient or economical of time and materials, more ductile materials subsequently heat treated.

Claims (5)

1. IMPROVED PAPER CLIP APPLICATION NO. 8827806-4

   CLAIMS 1) A thin1 flat, one-piece latching paper clip for diagonal appli cation as shown in Fig. 1 in which the hinge and latch form two angled closed ends, and the tongue, extending from the hinge, can be inserted under the latch by physically flexing the clip and be retained there when physical pressure is relaxed, firmly gripping the corner of papers previously inserted and releasing them when the assembly procedure is reversed.
2. 2) A thin, flat, one-piece latching paper clip for diagonal appli cation as claimed in Claim 1), which is of the form shown in Fig. 5.
3. 3) A thin, flat, one-piece latching paper clip for diagonal appli cation as claimed in Claim 1), which is of the form shown in Fig. 6.
4. 4) A one-piece latching paper clip for diagonal application which is made from wire as shown in Fig. 7, in which the hinge and latch form two closed ends and the tongue extending from the hinge can be engaged under the latch by physical closing and sideways pressure and be retained there when physical pressure is relaxed, firmly gripping the corner of papers previously inserted and releasing them when the assembly procedure is reversed.
5. 5) A thin, flat, one-piece paper clip for diagonal application which has tongues extending from two angled closed ends and which is applied by sliding one tongue over the corner of assembled papers, and then twisting the clip radially and returning it allowing the second tongue to straddle the papers.

   5) A thin, flat, one-piece paper clip for diagonal application as shown in Fig. 9, which has tongues extending from two angled closed ends and which is applied by sliding one tongue over the corner of assembled papers, and then twisting the clip radially and returning it allowing the second tongue to straddle the papers.

   6) A thin, flat, one-piece paper clip for diagonal application as claimed in Claim 5), which has the form shown in Fig. 10.

   Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1) A one-piece 'Y' formation metal or plastics paper clip with two closed angled ends for diagonal application and to facilitate the exertion of paper-gripping pressure from both ends; and two thin, flat, specially formed splayed legs with a common root which, when secured cornerways across the papers to be clipped, adds two thin smooth flat surfaces, not easily disturbed, to the paper thickness, and which is secured after positioning by applying dual digital pressure at each end squeezing the legs together and then simultaneously a sliding motion to the end of one leg whose leading edge then, because of the angularity of the two relevant faces, moves from over lapping a protruding tongue on the other leg to a position where, when sideways pressure is relaxed and closing pressure maintained, it will slide under the tongue and be retained there until released by reversing the foregoing procedure.

   2) A one-piece 'V' formation metal or plastics paper clip as described in Claim 1 but which is secured after positioning by gently bending lengthways, such action producing a leg length differential which changes the position of the tip of one leg from overlapping a protruding tongue on the other leg to a position where, when bending pressure is relaxed and gripping pressure retained, it will resiliently slide under the tongue and be retained there until released by reversing the foregoing procedure.

   3) A one-piece 'V' formation metal or plastics paper clip as described in Claim 1 where both sliding and bending procedures as described in Claims 1 and 2 are applied together.

   4) A one-piece 'V' formation wire paper clip with two closed ends for diagonal application which enables paper gripping pressure to be exerted from both ends, and two specially formed legs with a common root which, when positioned cornerways across the papers to be clipped, can be secured by applying dual digital pressure at each end squeezing the legs together and then simultaneously a sliding motion to the one leg whose leading end moves from overlapping a protruding tongue on the other leg to a position where, when sideways pressure is relaxed and closing pressure retained, it will move under the tongue and be retained there until released by reversing the foregoing procedure.