GB2206922A - Paper clip - Google Patents

Abstract

A paper clip (10) comprises an integrally formed plastics moulding having opposed gripping edges (18). To assist insertion of a bundle of papers between the edges, one flank portion (16) of the clip is cut away to provide a lead-in (22) of diminishing thickness. <IMAGE>

Description

PAPER CLIP This invention relates to a paper clip.

In this specification the term paper clip is used to include clips for clipping together sheets of paper as well as clips for being fastened to or fastening other sheet material such as card. The term is also used to mean a clip capable of clipping together a large number of pages, for example to provide a temporary binder extending along one side of a stack of pages.

The designs of paper clips have not changed for many years save for minor variations. The conventional paper clip provides a useful function but is not capable of securely yet temporarily fastening a stack of a large number of sheets. The clip can deface the sheets clipped together and, furthermore, can become snagged with other clips holding other documents.

It is known to provide extruded sections of resiliently deformable plastics material for use as binding strips for binding together sheets of paper. Such strips have a spine section and a pair of flanks which meet at a gripping edge. In use, it is necessary to prise the flanks apart, to introduce the material to be bound and then slide the material along the length of the groove. The problems involved in using such strips include the difficulty of prising the flanks apart initially, and the tendency for the gripping edges to snag the cover papers as the material to be bound is introduced into the strip. In the manufacture of these strips they are extruded and then cut to length using a guillotine or similar device so as to have square cut ends.

According to this invention, there is provided a paper clip including two flank portions extending away from a spine portion, each flank portion including a gripping edge resiliently deformable with respect to a gripping edge of the other flank portion, one of said flank portions including an end edge extending generally perpendicular from said gripping edge towards said spine region, and the other including an end edge extending at an obtuse included angle from the gripping edge of said other flank portion towards first end edge region.

In the arrangement disclosed herein, the obtuse angle of the flank portion defines a cut-away portion which serves to gather material fed into the clip. This feature not only reduces the possibility of the first and last sheets of a bundle snagging, but also means that the introduction of papers into the cut out gently prises the flank portions apart. At the same time however, the clip can still apply a relatively strong clamping effect.

In one embodiment, the clip is provided with a tab extending away from the spine region of the clip. The tab may be used for carrying temporary filing data.

In another embodiment, the external surface of the flank portion of the tab may be marked with a logo or other indicia.

It is preferred for the clip to be made of a resiliently deformable plastics material by means of an injection moulding process.

The invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a paper clip according to an embodiment of this invention; and Figure 2 is an end view on the clip of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the embodiment of clip illustrated is intended as a replacement for a conventional paper clip and is intended to clip together anything up to twenty to thirty sheets of paper of average weight.

The clip 10 is of folded cross-section including a spine region 12, and first and second flank portions 14 and 16, respectively. Each flank portion includes a gripping edge 18 which is resiliently urged into contact with the gripping edge 18 of the other flank portion by virtue of the geometry and formation of the clip. The first flank portion 14 is rectangular in shape including square cut end edges 20, and the second flank portion 16 is trapezoidal in shape, including leading end edges 22 which meet the rear edges 20 adjacent the spine region and gripping edge 18. Each leading edge 22 defines an obtuse included angle with the gripping edge 18.

The clip is provided with a tab 24 upstanding adjacent the spine region on which filing or other information may be marked.

In use, a stack of papers is located on the inner surface of the first flank portion 14 and slid towards the leading edge 22. Because of the obtuse angle, between the leading edge 22 and the gripping edge the leading edge 22 acts as a ramp so that on movement of the stack of papers into the clip a gradually increasing gathering force is applied to the stack which prises the first and second flank portions apart. In order to assist the introduction of card or a stack of papers into the clip, the leading edge may be tapered and smoothed adjacent the gripping edge 18.

The arrangement illustrated may also be used for products other than paper clips. For example the configuration of the rear edge 20 and the front edge 22 may be used on binder strips designed for the hanging of posters and the temporary binding of reports or books. In this instance, the gripping edges 18 may be spaced apart in their equilibrium condition so that the binding force which is applied by the clip does not exceed acceptable limits.

The flank portions 14 and 16 may be used to carry information for promotional purposes.

Unlike the conventional wire paper clip, the embodiment of paper clip disclosed herein is capable of securely clipping together a large number of pieces of paper and the clip does not get hooked up with other clips on separate documents.

In a modification to the paper clip disclosed above, the clip may include wing portions 26 integral with the leading edges 22 and upturned in a generally scroll-like form about the leading edges to provide a smooth entry for a bundle of papers into the clip. These modifications are represented as dotted lines on Figures 1 and 2.

Claims (9)

1. A paper clip including two flank portions extending away from a spine portion, each flank portion including a gripping edge resiliently deformable with respect to a gripping edge of the other flank portion, one of said flank portions including an end edge extending generally perpendicularly from said gripping edge towards said spine region, and the other including an end edge extending at an obtuse included angle from the gripping edge of said other flank portion towards first end edge region.

2. A paper clip according to claim 1, wherein said one flank portion includes another end edge extending generally perpendicularly from said gripping edge towards said spine region, and said other flank portion includes another end edge extending at an obtuse included angle from the gripping edge of the other flank portion towards first end edge region.

3. A paper clip according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the or each end edge of said other flank portion includes an upturned wing portion for assisting passage of a bundle of papers between said gripping edges.

4. A paper clip according to any preceding claim, wherein said flank portions are resiliently urged into engagement with each other.

5. A paper clip according to any preceding claim including a tab extending away from the spine region of the clip.

6. A paper clip according to any preceding claim, wherein the clip is injection moulded from a resiliently deformable plastics material.

7. A paper slip according to any preceding claim, wherein the external surfaces of at least one flank of the clip carries a logo or other indicia.

8. A paper clip substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, any of the accompanying drawings.

9. Any and all novel features and combinations and subcombinations thereof substantially as hereinbefore disclosed.