US1603504A - Paper clip - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 19 192s. 1,603,504

L. E. BALTZLEY PAPER CLIP Filed August 9 1921 v INVENTOR hrrbmvsr Get. 19, 1926,

UNITED STATE LOUIS E. BAL'IZLEY, OF GLEN RIDGE, NEW JERSEY.

EAPER CLIP.

Application filed August 9, 1921. Serial No. 490,862.

The general objects of my present invention are to provide a clip or temporary binder for holding loose papers and the like which will be simple and inexpensive in its construction and which will combine the advantages of secure holding force and ease of operation.

Further special objects are to provide a clip of this character which can be inexpensively produced by simple operations from a one piece sheet metal blank.

In the drawing accompanying and forming Jart of this'specification I have-disclosed different embodiments of the invention, and a novel method of manufacturing the same, but as these disclosures are primarily illustrative in character, it will be understood that the structure and process of manufacture may be varied without departure from the true spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed. In this connection also I would have it understood that the terms which I have employed herein are used in a descriptive rather than in a limiting sense, except for such limitations as may be required by the prior art.

Figure l in the drawing referred to is an edge view of the clip in its open, paperreceiving condition, with the closed position indicated in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a plan view and Figure 3 is a roar view of the clip as in its normal closed position.

Figures'lto 8 are diagrammatic views illustratingsuccessive stepsin the manufac ture of the clip. I Figures 9' and 10 are edge and plan views respectively of a slightly modified formof the device.

The reference characters 15, 16-designatethe companion gripping jaws of the ;clip

which are connected together at their opposite ends by integral springs hmges and are operated by integral handle levers 17, 18, projecting rearwardly at points intermediate the spring hinges at the ends.

The spring hinges at the opposite ends of the jaws are separated, as indicated at 19, 20, in Figure 3, and therefore more or less independent in their operation.

As best shown in the edge views, these hinges each consist of a relatively fiat intermediate connecting strap 21 provided at its opposite ends with rearwardly directed loops or reversely curved portions 22 connected with the jaws by forwardly turned reversely curved portions 23.

These reversely curved portions operate as double spring connections between the awsand the connecting or spacing straps 21 providing sutlicient flexibility to enable the use of relatively heavy gage sheet metal, which is desirable because of its greater strength and durability.

The connecting straps 21 of the spring hinges when relatively fiat and straight, as shown in Figure 1, may be utilized as edge gages for the papers insertedin the clip. As shown in Figure 9, however, the intermediate connecting portion 21 of the spring hinge need not be straight, but may be curved, in continuation of the reverse curves at the opposite ends thereof.

An especially important feature of the invention is that the separation of the end hinges provides the necessary material for the aw operating handles between the same. This will be best understood by reference to Figures 4 to 8 wherein I have illustrated one practical method of manufacturing the device.

In the first of these views, there is shown the sheet metal blank 24: from which the clip is made, said blank being of oblong construction providing the material for the clamp jaws at the opposite ends thereof and the material for the handle levers and spring hinges between these end portions. The first operation on the blank is to make the substantially H-shaped cut, indicated at 25. The removal'of this H-shaped section of metal from the intermediate portion of the blank defines theaw handles at the central plane and the spring hinge portions at the opposite longitudinal edges of the blank. The handle levers-are thus initially formed as straight continuations of the clamping jaws and they retain this initial relation to the jaws throughout the remainder of the formation and use of the article.

To stilfen the handles and particularly at their juncture with the jaws, I preferably provide them with stilfening ribs 26 extending from the outer free ends of the handles, inward Well into the body of the jaws. In the first form of the invention I have shown two such stiffening ribs to each handle extending convergently along the edges of the handles, which are shown as tapered toward their outer and free ends and have further shown these stiffening ribs as connected at IOU the free ends of the handles by short transverse corrugations or ribs 27 providing somewhat rounded gripping surfaces tor engagement by the fingers of the operator.

The second step in the process disclosed consists in forming these stiliening ribs in the jaw and handle portions of the blanlr. as indicated in Figure 5. The next step disclosed consists in bending the jaw ends of the blank downward along the lines 28 (Figure to carry the opposed jaws and handles into the substantially parallel relation shown in Figure 6. In the next operation, the intermediate portions ofthe end straps connecting the jaws are struck downward, as shown in Figure 7, to start the formation of the double reverse curves for the spring hinges, after which it is only necessary to force-the opposite sides together so as in effect to -fully break in the reverse curves of the hinges, care being taken during this latter operation to give a set to the hinges which will force the jaws normally together into the convergent relation shown in Figure 8.

This method of construction is quite simple and the steps follow each other in logi cal sequence and an especially important advantage is that there is never any break or weakening of material between the jaws and their operating handles, these parts being maintained in their initial straight and continuous relation.

The same method of procedure may be employed in the manufacture of the second form of clip. In addition to the variation in the shape of the spring hinges it will be noted that in this second term of clip there is only a single reinforcing rib extending from each handle into the body of its jaw. This means that a somewhat simpler term of ribbing die can be used in the manufacture of this clip.

The inner portions 21 of the spring hinges constitute in effect the tulcrums for the hinging movement of the jaws and by displacing these fulcrums inwardly or toward the jaw tips, the leverage of the handles is increased so that the clips can be easily epened despite their powerful gripping eftectf This inward displacement of the tulcrum portions also is of advantage n that foreasy operation of the clip.

What I claim is: 1. A chp of the character described comprising cooperating clamping aws connected at their opposite ends by longitudinally separated integral spring hinges and having integral lever handles projecting rearwardly therefrom at pointsintermediate the end hinges, said handles standing in the same, planes with and .iorinirng straight continuations of the jaws and the material of the hinges being bent to shorten the same and thereby iincrieasethe leverage of the handles.

A one piece sheet metal clip comprising a plate o t spring metal bent to provide op posed clamping jaws connected by spring hinges at the opposite ends of the jaws, the material of the plate between said end hinges being extended rearwardly of the jaws and forming operating handles therefor and the material of the hinges being displaced from the rear of the clip inwardly between the jaws whereby to shorten the same and increase the leverage of the jaws.

3. A one piece sheet metal clip comprising a single plate of spring metal having opposed jaw portions connected at their op posite edges by integral hinge strips and the metal between such hinge strips consisting of integral handles projecting rearwardly from the jaws a considerable distance past the spring hinge strips and said spring hinge strips being each buckled in the intermediate portion of the same to shorten said spring hinge strips to bring the jaws closer together and provide hinge fulcrums at the'juncture oi 'said strips with the jaws, the intermediate buckled portions of the separate hinge strips standing crosswise of the space between the jaws to act as a back stop for papers inserted between the jaws.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this day of July, 1921.

LOUIS E. BALTZLEY.

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