US2938252A - Paper clip device - Google Patents

Description

May 31, 1960 ESCHEEMAEKER PAPER CLIP DEVICE Filed Feb. 2l, 1958 United States Patent O PAPER CLIP DEVICE Emile Scheemaeker, P.0. Box 114, Howard, RJ. Filed Feb. 21, 1958, Ser. No. 716,616 1 Claim. (Cl. 24-66) This invention relates to improvements in paper clips of the type generally employed for temporarily binding together two or more sheets of paper, fabric, and similar materials.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide an improved paper clip which when applied to two or more sheets of paper or similar materials, will not leave imprints of the component elements thereof on the bound papers.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved paper clip together with means for preventing both vertical and horizontal inadvertent or accidental shifting thereof relative to the papers to which it is attached.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved paper clip with indicia bearing means thereon, the indicia being stamped, embossed, or otherwise applied thereto.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved paper clip together with means for releasably securing indicia thereon.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, the provision of an improved paper clip which may be stamped, molded or bent into the desired configuration from metals, plastics, Wire and the like.

' Still another object of this invention is to provide a paper clip of the type referred to supra, which is noncomplex in construction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture, and durable in use.

Other and further objects of this invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which: v l

l Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a clip constructed in accordance with this invention; l

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the clip illustrated in Figure l;

Figure 3 illustrates the clip of Figure l in its operative position, Figure 3 being a front elevational view;

Figure 4 is a detail cross-sectional view taken substantially on the horizontal plane of line 4-4 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of one of the side arms of the clip illustrated in Figure l, the view illustrating a modification thereof;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view taken substantially on the horizontal plane of line 6 6 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the clip illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 8 illustrates a second embodiment of this invention, wherein the illustrated clip is formed of wire or of a similar flexible material;

Figure 9 is a front elevational view of the clip illustrated in Figure 8, Figure 9 illustrating the clip in its operative position;

Figure 10 is a detail cross-sectional view taken sub- 2,938,252 Patented May 31, 19670 2 stantially on the horizontal plane of line 10-10 of Figure 8, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 1l is a fragmentary front elevational view of the clip illustrated in Figure 8, Figure l1 showing the clip as carrying an indicia device; and,

Figure 12 is a fragmentary detail cross sectional view taken substantially on the vertical plane of the line 12-12 of Figure 1l, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now more specifically to Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, of the drawings, reference numeral 20 designates a paper clip constructed in accordance with the teachings of one embodiment of this invention. As illustrated therein, the clip 20 is seen to comprise an inverted substantially U-shaped member 22 having a pair of elongated laterally spaced substantially parallel and rectangular side arms 24, 26 and including a pair of adjacent ends thereof connected by means of an arcuately shaped bight 28 from which upwardly projects a chord shaped tab 30. As is seen in Figures 1, 3 and 7, the tab 30 may have stamped, embossed, inscribed or imprinted thereon indicia such as, for example, the letter A- or Z or other alphabetical notations to serve as a index or for other purposes of the user.

The side arms 24, 26, adjacent the free ends thereof terminate in enlarged, Hat, substantially rectangular bosses 32, 34 having elongated axially extending substantially rectangular slots 36, 38, respectively, projecting transversely therethrough to serve a function to be described.

From the arcuate bight 28 depends an elongated substantially rectangular tongue 40 which, adjacent the lower free end thereof, terminates in an enlarged substantially rectangular head 42. The tongue 40 is formed with a transversely extending elongated and substantially rectangular slot 44 which extends axially substantially throughout the length thereof, and the head 42 is also provided with a transversely extending slot, the slot 46 being substantially rectangular in configuration and being elongated in the direction of the longitudinal'axis of the tongue 40.

As is seen in the above referred to figures, the upper end of the tongue 40 is spaced from the upper ends of the side arms 24, 26 while the lower end thereof including the enlarged head 42 converges toward the enlarged bosses 32, 34. Since the clip 20 is formed of a resilient material it will be understood, therefore, that the head 42 is constantly biased for movement in the direction of the bosses 32, 34.

Figure 3 illustrates the clip 20 in its operative position binding or tieing together the upper edges of a plurality of paper sheets 47, 48 and 49. As shown in this figure, the side arms 24, 26 engage against the front sheet 49 and the upper ends of the sheets 47, 48 and 49 abut against the bight 28 and the lower edge of the tab 30, and the tongue 40 and head 42 engage against the back sheet 47. The resiliency of the clip 20 tightly clamps the sheets of paper 47, 48, 49 between the side arms 24, 26, the tongue 40 and head 42 in such a manner as to force small portions of the paper sheets into the slots 36, 38 and 46 (see Figure 4).

With the clip 20 installed in the manner described and illustrated, the same cannot cant to either side of its vertical axis due to the engagement of the upper edges of the paper sheets with the bight 28. At the same time, vertical and-lateral shifting of the clip relative to the sheets is prevented by the portions thereof located within the slots 36, 38, 44 and 46'.

Figure 5 illustrates a modification in the configuration of the side arms 24, 26. As shown therein, the side arm 24 could be formed with a chord shaped transverse configuration, the linear side thereof being adapted for engagement with the paper sheets 47, 48, 49.

Figures 8 to 12, inclusive, illustrate a second embodiment of this invention wherein the clip, designated in general -by reference numeral 150 is shown as being `formed of a continuous length of Wire. The side arms of Vthe clip 50 generally indicated at 52, 54, the tongue thereof is ascribed reference numeral 56 and the head therefor is designated at 58.

As is seen more clearly in Figure 8 of the drawing, the side arms 52, 54 comprise elongated lengths of laterally spaced and substantially parallel Wires 60, 62 having a pair of adjacent ends thereof connected by a bight member 64. The other end of the wire lengths 60, 62A are integrally connected by bights 66, 68, respectively with a pair of reverted wire sections 70, 72 which extend substantially parallel to the lengths 60, 62 and are disposed in spaced confronting relation relative to each other. The other ends of the reverted wire sections 70, 72 are odset inwardly at 74, 76 towards the wire - lengths 60, 62 and continue in extensions 78, S in the direction of the bight 64. The extensions 78, 80 terminate at a point adjacent to but spaced from the bight 64 and are bent laterally and inwardly toward each other to form bights 82, 84. The other ends of the bights 82, S4 are reverted to form extensions 86, 88 disposed in laterally spaced relationship relative to the extensions 78, 80, and the extensions 86, 88 are positioned in spaced, parallel and confronting relationship relative to each other.

The extensions 86, 88 are offset at 90, 92, the offsets diverging away from each other and being integrally connected with a pair of adjacent ends of wire end mem-V bers 94, 96', the other ends of which areintegrally connected by a bight 98.

The clip 50 is utilized in the same manner as the clip 20, that is, the clip 50 is fitted over the upper edges of a plurality of paper sheets 100, 102 with the tongue 56 and head 58 engaging the rear most sheet 100 while the side arms 52, 54 engage over the front sheet 102. In this embodiment of the invention, the upper edges of the sheets 100, 102 engage against the bights 82, 84 whereby casting of the clip 50 with respect to its vertical axis is effectively prevented. At the same time, tension exerted by the clip causes a portion of the paper sheets to enter or be expressed into those areas of the clip which extend between the lower portion of the wire lengths 60, 62, the reverted wire sections 70, 72v and the. inwardly offset members 74, 76 of side arms 52, 54. Portions of the paper are also expressed between the wire elements forming the head 58. Thus, lateral and vertical shifting of the clip 50 relative to the sheets 100,v 102 is effectively prevented.

For identification purposes an indicia bearing card may be inserted behind the ybight 64, the wire lengths 60, 62 and in front of the bights 82, 84 and the upper ends of the extensions 78, 80, 86 and 88. This feature of the second embodiment of the invention is clearly illustrated in Figures 11 and 12 of the drawing.

To those skilled in the art, it will be appreciated that if desired, the two embodiments of this invention de scribed and illustrated herein may be die stamped from any suitable resilient material.

Having described and illustrated two embodiments of this invention in detail, it will be understood that the same is offered merely by way of example, and that the present invention is ,to be limited only by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A clip for tieing together a plurality of sheets of material, said clip comprising a pair of elongated substantially rectangular side arms disposed in spaced parallel and confronting-relation, a bight member connecting Vtogether a pair of adjacent ends of said side arms in offset relation relative to said bight member, the other end of each of said side arms terminating in an enlarged boss each having a longitudinally extending substantially rectangular slot formed therein and extending transversely therethrough, an elongated substantially rectangular tongue having a bent end thereof xedly secured to said bight member 'intermediate the ends thereof and disposed between said side arms,rs'aid connected end of said tongue being disposed in ois'et relation relative to said' pair of adjacent ends of said arms and in anopposite direction with respect to the offset direction of the latter, the other end of said tongue terminating in an enlarged head having a longitudinallyv extending slot formed therein and extending transversely therethrough, and an indicia bearing pad integrally connected with said bightv member and projecting away therefrom in a direction away yfrom said side arms and said tongue.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great` Britain Oct. 16, 1944

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