GB2155094A

GB2155094A - Paper clip

Info

Publication number: GB2155094A
Application number: GB08503958A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hilary Simone Miller; Lennard Joseph
Original assignee: URBAN DEVELOPMENTS Ltd
Current assignee: URBAN DEVELOPMENTS Ltd
Priority date: 1984-03-03
Filing date: 1985-02-15
Publication date: 1985-09-18
Also published as: GB8405622D0; GB8503958D0

Abstract

The paper clip comprises two leaves hingedly connected at their upper ends, one of which comprises or carries a panel for the display of indicia such as a company logo. The panel may be an integral part of the clip or may be a plate detachably or permanently secured to a conventional bent wire paper clip. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Paper clip This invention concerns a paper clip of the kind (hereinafter termed 'of the kind referred to') having two leaves hingedly connected at the top of the clip and adapted to be slid over the edge of a, usually small, number of superimposed sheets of paper, as distinct from those kinds of paper clip having jaws urged together by spring action, and which must be opened to enable them to be positioned over the edges of a, usually large, number of superimposed sheets of paper, before they are released to grip the sheets.

The most commonly used type of paper clip of the kind referred to has its two leaves of generally hooklike shape and is formed from wire. The life expectancy of these clips is very low. Office staff of all grades find them irresistable as instruments for a variety of purposes or simply as playthings, and all too frequently open the leaves sufficiently either to break the clip in two, or permanently deform it.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper clip of the kind referred to which overcomes at least to some extent the problem aforesaid, at the same time providing an extended surface which can be used to carry advertising material such as a company logo or other indicia, thus to comprise a novel and arresting product.

According to the present invention there is provided a paper clip of the kind referred to characterised in that one of the leaves thereof is formed by or mounts a panel which is adapted to carry printed matter or other indicia.

The panel may be integral with the paper clip to form one of the leaves thereof or provided as a separate part secured thereto, perhaps as a removable accessory.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description, with reference to the several figures of the accompanying drawing, which show, by way of example only, a number of paper clips embodying the invention.

Of the drawing:- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first form of paper clip; Figure 2 shows a cross-section through the paper clip on line Il-Il of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a second form of paper clip; Figure 4 shows a front elevation of a third form of paper clip; Figure 5 shows a cross-section through the paper clip on line V-V of Figure 4.

Figure 6 shows a front elevation of a fourth form of a paper clip; and Figure 7 shows a rear elevation of the paper clip of Figure 6.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the paper clip is comprised by two leaves 10 and 11 hingedly connected adjacent the upper edge of the paper clip. The leaf 10 comprises a rectangular panel having a raised lip 12 around its periphery on the front face thereof. Ther panel is formed from moulded plastics material.

The leaf 11 is comprised by a resilient metal spring whose upper edge is anchored in the body of the panel 10. The lower portion of the spring is curled away from the back face of the panel 10 to facilitate sliding over the edge of a bundle of superimposed sheets of paper.

The rectangular recess inwardly of the lip 12 is adapted to receive a card 13 or other unit which has been pre-printed with advertising material such as a company logo for example, or other indicia.

The paper clip of Figure 3 is generally similar to that of Figures 1 and 2 save that the rear leaf 30 is itself formed from a plastics material and is integrally moulded with the panel 31.

In this example the panel 31 instead of carrying a printed card or the like incorporates the indicia, such as a company logo, as an integral moulding 32 on the front face thereof.

The paper clip of Figures 4 and 5 comprises two parts, the first is a conventional paper clip having leaves 40 and 50 of hook shape all formed from a length of wire, and the second is a rectangular panel 51 comprised by a plastic moulding which is removably secured to the front leaf 50. The panel 51 has a recess 52 in the rear face which seats over the wire forming one limb of the hook of the leaf 50, and an aperture 53 through its height which locates the wire forming the other limb of the hook of the leaf 50.

The front face of the panel 51 may include indicia as an intergral part of the moulding or the panel may serve as a substrate to which another unit, preprinted or otherwise marked with indicia, can be adhered.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, it will be seen that the paper clip may comprise a conventional wire clip 60 having a metal sheet 61 spot welded to one of the leaves of the clip. The upper edge of the sheet 61 is rolled over the upper edge of the clip to present a neat and tidy appearance. The sheet 61 may be printed or serve as a substrate for a printed unit.

All of the paper clips described are sufficiently substantial and attractive as to be less likely to be vandalised by office staff and in any event are less suitable for use as instruments for purposes such as retrieving small objects from confined spaces for example.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof.

1. A paper clip of the kind referred to characterised in that one of the leaves thereof is formed by or mounts a panel which is adapted to carry printed matter or other indicia.

2. A paper clip according to claim 1, wherein the panel is integral with the paper clip to form one of the leaves thereof.

3. A paper clip according to claim 1, wherein the panel is a separate part secured to the paper clip.

4. A paper clip according to claim 3, wherein the panel is permanently secured to the paper clip.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Paper clip This invention concerns a paper clip of the kind (hereinafter termed 'of the kind referred to') having two leaves hingedly connected at the top of the clip and adapted to be slid over the edge of a, usually small, number of superimposed sheets of paper, as distinct from those kinds of paper clip having jaws urged together by spring action, and which must be opened to enable them to be positioned over the edges of a, usually large, number of superimposed sheets of paper, before they are released to grip the sheets. The most commonly used type of paper clip of the kind referred to has its two leaves of generally hooklike shape and is formed from wire. The life expectancy of these clips is very low. Office staff of all grades find them irresistable as instruments for a variety of purposes or simply as playthings, and all too frequently open the leaves sufficiently either to break the clip in two, or permanently deform it. It is an object of the present invention to provide a paper clip of the kind referred to which overcomes at least to some extent the problem aforesaid, at the same time providing an extended surface which can be used to carry advertising material such as a company logo or other indicia, thus to comprise a novel and arresting product. According to the present invention there is provided a paper clip of the kind referred to characterised in that one of the leaves thereof is formed by or mounts a panel which is adapted to carry printed matter or other indicia. The panel may be integral with the paper clip to form one of the leaves thereof or provided as a separate part secured thereto, perhaps as a removable accessory. The invention will be further apparent from the following description, with reference to the several figures of the accompanying drawing, which show, by way of example only, a number of paper clips embodying the invention. Of the drawing:- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first form of paper clip; Figure 2 shows a cross-section through the paper clip on line Il-Il of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a second form of paper clip; Figure 4 shows a front elevation of a third form of paper clip; Figure 5 shows a cross-section through the paper clip on line V-V of Figure 4. Figure 6 shows a front elevation of a fourth form of a paper clip; and Figure 7 shows a rear elevation of the paper clip of Figure 6. Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the paper clip is comprised by two leaves 10 and 11 hingedly connected adjacent the upper edge of the paper clip. The leaf 10 comprises a rectangular panel having a raised lip 12 around its periphery on the front face thereof. Ther panel is formed from moulded plastics material. The leaf 11 is comprised by a resilient metal spring whose upper edge is anchored in the body of the panel 10. The lower portion of the spring is curled away from the back face of the panel 10 to facilitate sliding over the edge of a bundle of superimposed sheets of paper. The rectangular recess inwardly of the lip 12 is adapted to receive a card 13 or other unit which has been pre-printed with advertising material such as a company logo for example, or other indicia. The paper clip of Figure 3 is generally similar to that of Figures 1 and 2 save that the rear leaf 30 is itself formed from a plastics material and is integrally moulded with the panel 31. In this example the panel 31 instead of carrying a printed card or the like incorporates the indicia, such as a company logo, as an integral moulding 32 on the front face thereof. The paper clip of Figures 4 and 5 comprises two parts, the first is a conventional paper clip having leaves 40 and 50 of hook shape all formed from a length of wire, and the second is a rectangular panel 51 comprised by a plastic moulding which is removably secured to the front leaf 50. The panel 51 has a recess 52 in the rear face which seats over the wire forming one limb of the hook of the leaf 50, and an aperture 53 through its height which locates the wire forming the other limb of the hook of the leaf 50. The front face of the panel 51 may include indicia as an intergral part of the moulding or the panel may serve as a substrate to which another unit, preprinted or otherwise marked with indicia, can be adhered. Referring to Figures 6 and 7, it will be seen that the paper clip may comprise a conventional wire clip 60 having a metal sheet 61 spot welded to one of the leaves of the clip. The upper edge of the sheet 61 is rolled over the upper edge of the clip to present a neat and tidy appearance. The sheet 61 may be printed or serve as a substrate for a printed unit. All of the paper clips described are sufficiently substantial and attractive as to be less likely to be vandalised by office staff and in any event are less suitable for use as instruments for purposes such as retrieving small objects from confined spaces for example. It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof. CLAIMS

5. A paper clip according to claim 3, wherein the panel is provided as a removable accessory.

6. A paper clip according to claim 2, comprising a moulded plastics panel and a resilient metal spring hingedly secured to the upper edge of the panel and forming the other leaf of the clip.

7. A paper clip according to claim 6, wherein said panel has a raised lip around its periphery on the front face thereof.

8. A paper clip according to claim 7, having a printed card or the like located on said front face within the recess defined by said lip.

9. A paper clip according to claim 2 comprising a plastics moulding defining the two leaves of the clip.

10. A paper clip according to claim 9, wherein one of said leaves incorporates said indicia as an integral part of the moulding.

11. A paper clip according to claim 3, comprising a conventional paper clip having leaves of hook shape and formed from a length of wire and a panel secured to one of said leaves.

12. A paper clip according to claim 11, wherein said panel is comprised by a plastics moulding which can be removably fitted to one of said leaves.

13. A paper clip according to claim 12, having a recess on its rear face and an aperture which respectively locate the two limbs of said one of said leaves.

14. A paper clip according to claim 11, wherein said panel is comprised by a metal sheet secured to one of said leaves.

15. A paper clip according to claim 14, wherein the upper edge of said sheet is rolled over the upper edge of the paper clip.

16. A paper clip according to either claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the sheet is secured to the leaf by spot-welding.

17. A paper clip substantiaily as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 or Figures 4 and 5 or Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawing.