Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Description
CLIP
Field of Invention
This invention relates to a clip for securing sheet material having a base
and a rotatably movable cam member; and particularly relates to paper clips
for
securing paper between first and second opposed surfaces and a displaceable
cam member, and includes the method of clamping said paper therebetween.
Background Art
There have been a variety of fastening devices for fastening, clamping, or
gripping substantially flat articles such as sheet material or the like. Such
fastening devices can include clipboards, staples, paper clips and the like
for
holding, fastening or clamping a plurality of sheets, fabric, paper or other
material.
In particular it is well known to employ staples as well as paper clips to
hold sheets of paper together such as the standard metal oblong-shaped paper
clip or the metallic clamping paper clip having two pressure bearing legs that
must be separated to insert paper there between. Such metal paper clips and
staples can damage paper.
Moreover a piece of paper can inadvertently get snagged in the prior art
oblong-shaped paper clip which is attached to other papers and thereby be
incorrectly filed.
Furthermore many paper clips do not get used as paper clips particularly
the wire paper clips which often get extended to clean articles or bent out of
shape in a mechanical form of doodling.
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These and other prior art devices such as the spring wire clip formed from
spring steel wire having a triangular head with a pair of forwardly and
inwardly
extending legs have been disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4, 299,013.
Moreover U.S. Patent No. 4,440,374 relates to a resilient clip for
supporting elongated articles where a base has an integrally formed flexible
arm.
Another arrangement is shown in U.S. Patent No. 5,056,197 which relates
to a clip of extruded plastic material.
Yet other plastics clips are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,400,483 while
U.S. Patent No. 5, 479,682 relates to a clamp comprising a U-shaped body
having a web and two legs for clamping paper sheets.
Other clip arrangements are shown in U.S. Patent No. 6, 260,244 which
relates to a plastic clip; U.S. Patent No. 6,163,934 which illustrates a multi-
purpose paper clip; U.S. Patent No. 6,018,850 which shows a clip for sheets of
paper, and U.S. Patent No. 5,214,825 which illustrates a paper clip with
multiple
panels.
Clips have also been used to bind paper together as shown in U.S. Patent
Nos. 5,758,902, 5,542,708, 5,626,432, 4,174,910 and 5,320,456.
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved paper clip which is
easy to manufacture and use.
Disclosure of Invention
It is an aspect of this invention to provide a clip for securing sheet
material
comprising a base; a cam member operably connected to said base for
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displaceable movement between; an open position for insertion of said sheet
material between said base and said cam member; a closed position for gripping
said sheet material between said base and said cam.
It is another aspect of this invention to provide a paper clip for securing
paper comprising first and second opposed surfaces, each having a forward and
rear edge, and connected together at said rear edge, to permit insertion of
said
paper through said front edge between said first and second surfaces; a cam
member pivotally connected to said front edge of said second surface for
displaceable movement between; an open position where said cam member is
displaced away from said first surface to permit insertion of said paper
between
said first and second surfaces, and a closed position where said cam member is
displaced towards said first member to clamp said paper between said cam
member and said second surface.
It is yet a further aspect of this invention to provide a method of clamping
paper in a paper clip having spaced first and second opposed surfaces, each
first
and second opposed surface having a forward and rear edge, and connected
together at said rear edge, and a cam member having a tab at one end thereof
and a cam surface at another end thereof comprising the steps of moving said
tab to a first open position where said cam surface is displaced away from
said
first surface; inserting paper through said forward edge between the said
first and
second opposed surfaces; moving said tab to a closed position whereby said
cam surface is displaced towards said first surface to clamp said paper
between
said cam surface and said second opposed surface.
Brief Description of Drawings
Fig. I is a perspective view of one embodiment of the paper clip in a
closed position.
Fig 1 a is a side elevational view of figure 1.
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Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the base or housing.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cam member.
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Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the paper clip in a closed position.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the paper clip in an
open position.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a paper clip in a closed position.
Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the paper clip in a closed position.
Fig. 8 is a detailed side view of one embodiment of the paper clip.
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention
illustrating a rod between the arms of the paper clip.
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the invention in
a closed position.
Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the cam member of Figure 10.
Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention in a
closed position.
Fig. 13 is a top plan view of Figure 12.
Fig. 14 is a side elevational view of Fig. 12.
Fig. 15 is a side elevational view of Fig. 12 in a closed position.
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Fig. 16. is a side elevational view of Fig. 12 in an open position.
Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 12 with the
paper inserted therein.
Fig. 18 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention in a
closed position.
Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 18 in an
open position.
Fig. 20 is another perspective view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 19.
Fig. 21 is a side elevational view showing a first cam surface .
Fig. 22 is a side elevational view showing a second cam surface.
Fig . 23 is a top plan view illustrating the use of the invention as a clip
board.
Fig. 24a is a side elevational view showing that the base 4 is comprised of
magnetic material for use as a fridge magnet capable of clipping sheets of
material.
Fig. 24b is a side elevational view where the base includes a pin for use of
the device as a pin holder.
Fig. 25 is a top plan view showing the use of the invention as a binding
system.
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Fig. 26 is a top plan view showing the use of the invention as a tab for a
file folder.
Fig. 27 is a perspective view showing the clamp being used to temporarily
close an open bag.
Fig. 28 is a perspective view of the clip adapted to clip the corner of a
stack of paper.
Fig. 29 is a perspective view of a plurality of clips carried by a frame to
hold either one article or bag or a plurality of articles or bags
respectively.
Fig. 30 is a top plan view showing the clip used as a clipboard.
Fig. 31 is a top perspective view illustrating a paper binder.
Fig. 32 is a bottom perspective view of figure 31.
Fig. 33 is a cross sectional view taken along 34-34 of figure 32 in the
closed position.
Fig. 34 is a cross sectional view taken along 34-34 of figure 32 in the
closed position.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
In the description which follows, like parts are marked throughout the
specification and the drawings with the same respective reference numerals.
The drawings are not necessarily to scale and in some instances proportions
may
have been exaggerated in order to more clearly depict certain features of the
invention.
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Figures 1, 1a, 2 and 3 illustrate one embodiment of the invention which
comprises a clip 2 for securing sheet material 40 together. In particular the
paper
clip 2 has opposed first 4 and second 6 spaced surfaces. The first surface 4
has
a forward edge 8 and a rear edge 10 while the second opposed surface 6 also
has a forward edge 12 and a rear edge 14. The rear edges 10 and 14 of first
and
second opposed surfaces 4 and 6 respectively are connected together by a
connecting member 16 so as to permit insertion of paper 40 through the forward
edges 8 and 12 between the first and second surfaces 4 and 6 respectively.
The first opposed surface 4 also defines a base which extends upwardly
through the connecting member 16 and merge with the second surface 6. The
second surface 6 includes spaced arms 20 and 22. In particular the spaced arms
and 22 are carried by the second surface 6 as best illustrated in Figure 2. In
this way the base 4 extends upwardly to present two spaced apart arms 20 and
15 22.
The first surface or base 4 is substantially flat as shown.
The spaced arms 20 and 22 each present posts 24 and 26 which are
20 axially aligned along axis A, and extend for a short distance between the
arms 20
and 22.
The second surface 6 includes a cam member 30.
The cam member 30 is generally illustrated in Figure 3 and consists at one
end thereof a tab member 32 which is operably movable as described herein and
furthermore the cam member 30 also includes a cam portion 34 which comprises
of an enlarged portion at another end of the cam member 30 as best illustrated
in
Figure 3. The enlarged or cam portion 34 also includes two opposed holes 36
and 38 which are axially aligned along axis A2 and adapted to receive the
posts
24 and 26 respectively.
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The paper clip 2 can be comprised of a variety of materia-Is and in one
embodiment consists of suitable plastic which will permit the arms 20 and 22
to
flexibly spread apart to accommodate the insertion of the cam member 30
between the arms 20 and 22 and the registration of the posts 24 and 26 within
the holes 36 and 38 respectively; for rotational displacement or movement of
the
cam member 30 relative arms 20 and 22.
As can be seen from Figures 2 and 3 the posts 24 and 26 are suitably
chamfered as well as the holes 36 and 38 to permit the easy insertion of the
cam
member 30 so that the axis A, of the posts 24 and 26 co-axially align with the
axis A2 of holes 36 and 38.
Figure 4 is a top plan view of the paper clip 2 in a closed position showing
the assembly of the cam member 30 relative the arms 20 and 22. In particular
one can see the insertion of the posts 24 and 26 within the holes 36 and 38
respectively. Moreover Fig. 1a illustrates that in the closed position the cam
portion 34 contacts the base 4 so as to exert the optimum force there between
and grip the paper. In other words there is no gap. However the benefits of
the
invention may still be realized if there was a space or gap between the cam
portion 34 and base 4 in the closed position particularly if one desired to
clip a
large stack of paper.
The tab member 30 is adapted for displaceable movement about axis A
(which comprises the co-axial superimposition of A, and A2) relative the base
4
as well as the first and second opposed surfaces 4 and 6 from an open position
as shown in Figure 5 to a closed position as shown in Figures 6 and 7.
As can be seen from a detailed side elevational view of Figure 8 the base
or first surface 4 includes an upturned forward edge 12 for inhibiting the
accidental insertion of paper 40 once the paper clip is in its closed
position. The
upturned forward edge 12 blocks entry of paper into the cavity defined by
first
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and second surfaces and connecting member 16, when the paper clip 2 is in the
closed position.
Furthermore the bottom surface 42 of the upturned front edge 12 of the
5 first surface 4 defines an angled surface for diverting paper 40 away from
the clip
2.
The lower surface or base 4 includes a raised portion 44 between the
forward edge 8 and rear edge 10 of the base 4 to bend the paper 40 within the
10 cavity so as to assist trapping the paper 40 in the closed position.
A tab member 32 presents a first or top surface 50 as shown in Figure 6
which may be substantially flat so as to permit the placement of indicia such
as
the instruction on the use of the paper clip or other advertising material
such as a
company logo or the like. The tab 32 may be suitably dimensioned as shown in
Figure 6 so as to present a curved edge 52 which extends slightly beyond the
rear edge 14 of second surface 6 so as to easily permit a user to push or pull
the
tab 32 from the closed position shown in Figure 6 to the open position shown
in
Figure 5.
Moreover the lower surface 54 of the tab 32 may be shaped or sculpted to
present a gradually diminishing thickness from the holes 36 to the edge 52 so
that the tab 32 may be nestled into an appropriately shaped recess 56
presented
by the top surface of the second opposing surface 6 to accommodate the
reception of the tab 32 in the closed position, so as to present a compact
configuration.
The cam member 30 includes an enlarged cam portion 34 which presents
a desired side profile 35 to permit the cam surface 34 to be pushed into
contact
with the paper 40 inserted between the surfaces 4 and 6 in a closed position;
as
well as permitting a cam surface 34 to be moved away or displaced away from
the first surface 4 to permit insertion of the paper between the first and
second
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surfaces 4 and 6; or alternatively to permit a user to withdraw paper 40
placed
between the first and second surfaces 4 and 6 respectively.
The spaced opposed surfaces 4 and 6 generally define a housing or frame
structure 60 which is operably connected to the displaceable cam member 30.
The paper clip 2 can be suitably dimensioned so as to minimize the
intrusion of the paper clip 2 over the paper when compared to prior art paper
clips
62 as shown in Figure 6.
Figures 9, 10 and 11 illustrate another embodiment of the invention which
includes a rod 64 which extends from and between the arms 20 and 22. The
cam member 30 includes a slot 66 which is adapted to accommodate and receive
the rod 64 to permit pivotal movement of the cam member 30 about the rod 64.
The slot 66 is dimensioned to receive the rod 64. As previously mentioned the
cam member 30 can comprise of flexible material such as plastic whereby the
edges 68 and 69 of the slot 66 deform and accommodate the insertion of the rod
64. The assembled view of a second embodiment of the invention is shown in
Figure 10.
Figures 12-17 inclusive illustrate a third embodiment of the invention which
also comprises a base 6 and cam member 30.
The base 6 comprises two spaced leg member 70 and 72 joined together
by a connecting member 74. Each leg member 70 and 72 presents an arm
member 22 and 24 respectively as shown in Figures 11 and 12. The arm
members 22 and 24 are spaced from the leg members 70 and 72 respectively by
a spacing member 73. Each of the leg members 70, 72, connecting member 74,
arms 22 and 24 and spacing member 73 are circular in cross-section. The arm
members 22 and 24 are presented by the leg members 72 and 70 in the region
remote from the connecting member 74. The end 75 of the arm members 22 and
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24 are turned inwardly and are adapted to be received by the holes 36 and 38
of
the cam member 30.
The embodiment shown in Figures 12-17 can comprise of any suitable
material such as plastic or the like or alternatively the legs 70 and 72,
connecting
member 74, spacing member 73 and arms 22 and 24 can be made from wire or
metal which is easily bent. The arms 22 and 24 may be bent away from one
another so as to place the cam member 30 therebetween for registration of the
ends 75 with the holes 36 and 38 of the cam member 30.
The cam member 30 can be dimensioned so as to present a cammed
surface 34 which extends slightly beyond the legs 70 and 72 in the closed
position as best seen in Figure 14 so as to assist in the clamping action of
the
paper inserted between the arms 22 and 24 and legs 70 and 72.
Figure 14 shows that the arms 22 and 24 and legs 70 and 72 are
substantially parallel. although it is also possible to have the ends 75 of
the arms
22 and 24 tapered slightly inwardly towards the legs 70 and 72 in the vicinity
away from connecting member 73 so as to assist in the "pinching" or "gripping"
action of the cam surface 34 relative the legs 70 and 72.
Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 18, 19 and 20
which illustrates a one-piece paper clip 2. By way of example a suitable
material
for the paper clip comprises plastic. In particular the cam member 30 is
integrally
connected to the front edge 12 of the second member 6 by a reduction 80 in the
thickness of the plastic material between the front edge 12 of the upper
surface 6
and the cam member 30. The reduction 80 defines a web which permits the
rotational movement of the cam member 30 from the closed position shown in
Figure 18 about the web 80 to the open position shown in Figure 19.
The paper clip 2 can be extruded or molded in an appropriate machine.
Since the plastic will tend to have a memory of the part. in an open position
the
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cam surface 34 can be suitably dimensioned relative the base 4 so as permit
closure of the paper clip 30 to the closed position.
As can be best seen from Figure 18 the second surface 6 can include a
hole 37 to receive the cam 34 as the cam member 30 is swung from the closed
position to the open position as shown.
The one-piece clip 2 is easy to manufacture and eliminates the need to
assemble the cam member 30 to the arms 20 and 22.
Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 21 and 22 which
illustrates that the cam member 30 can include a first cam surface 82 at one
end
thereof operably movable to a first closed position to close a first thickness
of the
paper 40 to clamp the first thickness of the paper 40 between the first cam
surface 82 and the first surface or base 6. Furthermore the cam member 30 can
also include a second cam surface 84 pivotally movable to a second closed
position to clamp a second thickness of paper between the second cam surface
84 and the first surface or base 6. This way one paper clip 2 can accommodate
two different thicknesses of stacked paper to be clipped therebetween.
Accordingly the paper clip 2 described herein can be used for clamping
paper by:
(a) moving the tab 32 to a first opened position where the cam surface
34 is displaced away from the first surface or base 6;
(b) inserting the paper through the forward edges 8 and 12 between
the opposed surfaces 4 and 6;
(c) moving the tab 32 to a closed position where the cam surface 34 is
displaced or rotated toward the second or base surface 6 to clamp
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the paper 40 between the cam surface 34 and the first surface or
base 6.
Furthermore as shown in Fig. 25 a plurality of paper clips 2 can be clipped
along one edge 91 of the paper 40 to permit the paper to be separately moved
about the one edge 91 of the paper much like a book since the paper clip 2
will
not intrude significantly into the text of the paper. Alternatively the clip 2
can be
combined or connected as shown so as to present a paper binder.
Moreover Fig. 23 illustrates that a clipboard 93 can be fashioned with the
clip 2 secured to a board 95 to define a clipboard 93. Either one or more
clips 2
may be secured near the top of the board 95.
Fig. 24 a shows the base 4 having a magnetic material 97 for use as a
fridge magnet and Fig. 24 b shows the pin type paper clip 2 having a base 4
presenting a pin 99 where the paper clip holds paper that can be pinned to a
message board.
Fig 26 illustrates another embodiment of the invention where the base 4
includes a extension or file tab 43. The clip 2 can be attached to an office
file and
act as a marker. Two small spaced clips are shown in Fig. 26. The file tab 43
is
adapted to receive indicia such as a sticky label to be written on, or
alternatively
the file tab can comprise a material to be written on. Once the office file is
stored
in a filing cabinet the file tab will stick out to mark its location.
Fig. 27 shows the use of the clip 2 in closing the open bag, such as a
potato chip bag 51.
Fig. 28 illustrates the clip 2 adapted to clip the corner of a stack of paper.
Fig. 29 illustrates a plurality of clips 2 carried by a frame to attach either
one article thereto or a plurality of articles respectively.
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Fig. 30 illustrates a clipboard which has the clip 2 described herein
attached thereto to hold paper to the clipboard.
5 Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 31to 34
inclusive which consists of a plurality of clips 2 which define a paper binder
100
having a first opposed or base strip 104 which extends upwardly through the
connecting extension 116 and merge with the second strip 106. Each cam
member 30 is integrally connected to the front edge 12 of the second strip
106, by
10 a reduction 80 which defines a web which permits the rotational movements
of
the cam members from the closed position shown in Fig. 34 to the open.position
shown in Figure 33. The second strip has a plurality of holes 37 to receive
the
cams 30. Alternatively the cam members can be adapted to rotate about the pins
as described above. The bookbinder is adapted to removably receive a stack of
15 pages.
The paper clip described herein has the following perceived advantages:
1. a higher perceived value than prior art paper clips that may be less
likely to the thrown out with the papers;
2. the camming action makes the paper clip 2 reusable many more
times than a prior art paper clip whose spring action decreases with
use. Such reusability may save cost in the long run as well as the
time to reorder same;
3. the paper clips described herein can include messages on the tab
as herein described;
4. moreover the paper clips having a better clamping or gripping force
and can be used instead of staples;
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5. furthermore the paper clip described herein can be dimensioned so
as to cover the corners of the paper to make them more attractive
and appealable in a finished presentation;
6. a larger version of the paper clip described can replace large metal
paper clips that can scratch desks and boardroom tables;
7. there is less likelihood of tangling up stray paper with the clipped
papers;
8. metal paper clips rust if left on documents and stored for long
periods of time whereas plastic paper clips described herein will
not;
9. two-sided cam designs as described above replace different sized
prior art paper clips;
10. paper clips described herein can be used to present papers in a
booklet format;
11. even one paper clip as described herein makes flipping through and
reading the pages easier than using a prior art wire bent paper clip
at the top of the pages;
12. oblong metal paper clips are often twisted out of shape and used as
projectiles propelled by elastic bands. The paper clip described
herein is safer with less likelihood of causing the same damage if
propelled.
Various embodiments of the invention have now been described in detail.
Since changes in and/or additions to the above-described best mode may be
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made without departing from the nature, spirit or scope of the invention, the
invention is not to be limited to said details.
