US2125464A - Paper fastener - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 2, 1938. J. SCHADE 2,125,464

PAPER FASTENER Filed Sept. 15, 19:53

INVENTOR J/m/ Jab A05 mw ia ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 2, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAPER FASTENER John Schade, Holyoke, Mass, assignor to National Blank Book Company, Holyoke, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application September 15, 1933, Serial No. 689,617

15 Claims. (01. 24-153) This invention relates to paper clips, and is has a wide adaptability to different prong widths specifically directed to the improvement of clips and thicknesses. of the customary form in which twospaced The keeper in its preferred form is made of a prongs pass through spaced holes in the paper single piece of sheet metal folded upon itself at stack and are held in folded down position by a M to form an upper wall i5 and a lower Wall 5 keeper. In prior practice the prongs have been 16, with the walls spaced apart to provide a formed as projections from a single metallic back narrow prong-receiving channel 1?. When the piece, or have been attached to or formed integral prongs [0 are bent over parallel to the top of with eyelets secured to a heavy paper folder. the stack the keeper may be pushed over them The present invention is not concerned with the to prevent their becoming unfolded. To permit 0 specific type of prong construction used, and this the lower wall at least is made slightly while for convenience the prongs have been shorter than the distance between the prongs shown in the drawing as arising from a single when these are extending straight through the back piece it is equally applicable to prongs of holes I! in the manner shown in Fig. 4. In l5 other types. order that the folding over of the prongs may Keeper plates previously proposed (have all be made rapidly and accurately the lower wall been subject to numerous disadvantages, which it is extended laterally beyond the upper wall have been overcome by the construction about along one side of the keeper as at l8. When the to be described. The keeper plate forming the keeper is placed on top of the stack in the subject of the present invention is of extreme position of Fig. 4 this extension forms a template 2O simplicity and cheapness of construction, can be over which the prongs may be turned down by applied with great rapidity to the prongs, and the fingers in the manner indicated in Fig. 5. offers a minimum of exposed surfaces upon By this means the prongs are always folded with which other papers or files may catch. It works sharp corners and at a constant elevation above with equal facility on either a thin or a thick the top of the stack just sufiicient to clear the 25 stack, and gives an improved degree of tightbottom plate l6, thereby bringing them in correct ness or compactness to the sheets. Additional position to enter the channel I'l.

advantages and objects of the invention will ap- As a desirable refinement the ends of the expear in the description and claims below. tension 18 are beveled or tapered at 20 so that .30 Referring to the drawing, they converge in a direction away from the body Fig, 1 is a plan View of a keeper constructed of the keeper. When the upstanding prongs are in accordance with the preferred form of the bent over upon an extension [8 constructed in invention; this manner they are drawn slightly closer to Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1, taken one another than would otherwise be the case,

on an enlarged scale; and when the keeper is then forced into place 35 Fig. 3 is a section, on an enlarged scale, on a slight pull is exerted on the prongs which line 33 of Fig. 1; serves to draw the keeper and the back plate Fig. 4 is a view showing the first step in the together and thus condense the paper stack. operation of applying the keeper to a pair of A very tight clamping of the separate sheets of prongs projecting through the holes of a paper paper results. This effect is of particular utility 4 stack; in rendering the device adaptable to the clamp- Fig. 5 is a similar View showing the prongs ing of sheet stacks containing widely differing folded over but the keeper still in the position numbers of sheets. In the practical use of fasof Fig. 4; teners constructed in accordance with my inven- Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the keeper in tion equally good results have been obtained 45 its final position; and when the paper stack contained two or three Fig. '7 is a section on line 'I'l of Fig. 6. sheets or when it was so thick that only a short The spaced prongs 10 which pass through the length of the prongs showed above the hole. As punched holes II in the stack of paper l2 may far as I am aware, this uniformity of action be made in any desired form, and as shown are with stacks of differing thicknesses has not here- 5(] bent from the ends of a back piece l3. Many tofore been obtainable. such devices are now on the market, and are It is also desirable to extend the upper wall l5 used with or without keepers. The keeper which longitudinally as at 2| so that it covers the holes forms the present invention is adapted for use II when the keeper is in place, and to bend these with practically any of these usual types, and extensions down towards the plane of the bot- 55 tom Wall l6. Several advantages accrue from this construction. A much neater appearance of the assembled clip results, as is clearly apparent from Fig. 6, for the upper wall l5 covers up the prongs and also the holes in the paper stack, leaving nothing visible from the top of the stack except the keeper itself. By bending the extensions downwardly the keeper is given a longitudinally curved form which prevents it from catching upon other papers or files, a result which has been extremely objectionable with other forms of clips using exposed sliders or presenting thick blunt edges. Not only do these extensions add to the utility of the assembled device, however, but they greatly facilitate the rapidity and accuracy of its assembly. Returning to the start of the assembling operation in Fig. 4, where the extension l8 of the lower channel wall is passed between the upstanding prongs l0, it will be seen that the end extensions 2% operate as stops to limit the lateral movement of the keeper since they strike against the edges of the prongs when the keeper has reached its proper position. When this construction is used great rapidity and uniformity in the assembly of the clip can be attained without thev necessity for any practice whatsoever.

One additional refinement, adding both to the appearance and security of the clip will now be described. It will be noted in Fig. 2 that the forward edge of the upper channel wall is bent slightly downwardly as at 22. The extent 'to which this edge is bent is insufficient to interfere with the sliding of the keeper over the folded over prongs H]; but it is enough so that, when the prongs are fully within the channel and spring upwards by their natural resiliency, they will not permit the keeper to slide off unless some force is exerted on it. The downward curve of the edge adds to the smooth appearance of the keeper, audit also acts to prevent the keeper catching on other articles in the same way as did the down curve at the longitudinal ends of the upper wall.

In case the retention of the prongs ID by the channel is required to be more positive than would be secured by the construction described, a detent may be provided on one of the channel walls, preferably on the lower one. Such an arrangement has been shown in Fig. 2, where a slight localized elevation or hump 23 is formed at or near each end of the lower wall IS in position to have the prong Ill snap over it when the keeper is forced into the position of Fig. 6. The operation is the same as before, except that when the keeper is once pushed into position slightly more effort is necessary to remove it. The humps 23 act with the prongs as spring detents to keep the keeper positively in place. 'It is preferable to have the detents located adjacent the zones of bending of the prongs, as in'this position there is a minimium tendency to twist or displace the prongs when putting the keeper on or taking it off.

The material of which the keeper is made is not of importance as long as sufiicient rigidity for the purpose is obtained. On account of the simplicity of its formation comparatively little working of'the metal need be done, this being in direct contrast to the complicated formations of many of the previous devices. Since the metal is not greatly distorted it is possible to use sheet metal which has received its final surface finish while still in sheet form, no marring of exposed portions of the surface being incurred. Prior devices have been universally sold commercially in unfinished form, as the amount of distortion required for their fabrication was such that they could only be surface finished, after they were completely formeda prohibitively expensive operation. The present device is not only quicker and more reliable in operation, but lends itself readily to fabrication out of material having a comparatively inexpensive'surface finish given to it while in sheet form.

What I claim is:

1. In a paper fastener of the type adapted for use with spaced prongs passing through a paper stack, a keeper plate extending longitudinally between the prongs and formed with walls spaced apart to provide between them a prong receiving channel open at one side, said keeper being adapted to be pushed laterally onto the folded down prongs to retain them in folded condition, and having its lower wall extendin laterally beyond its upper wall to provide a form for binding down the prongs, the upper wall having its longitudinal edge adjacent the extended portion of the lower wall bent downwardly to form a con-. stricted entrance to the channel facilitating the retention of the prongs therein and avoiding the presence of a blunt paper-engaging edge on that side of the upper wall.

In a paper fastener of the type adapted for use with spaced prongs passing through a paper s ack. a keeper plate extending longitudinally b men the prongs and. formed with walls spaced ap t to provide between them a prong receiving channel open at one side, said keeper being adapted to be pushed laterally onto thefolded down prongs to retain them in folded condition, and having its lower wall extending laterally beyond its upper wall and formed with its longitudinal ends converging away from the body of the keeper whereby when the prongs are folded down on the lower Wall and the keeper pushed laterally into prong embracing position the prongs will be tensioned and the paper stack tightly bound, the upper wall having its longitudinal edge adjacent the extended portion of the lower Wall bent downwardly to form a constricted entrance to the channel facilitating the retention of the prongs therein and avoiding the *presence of a blunt paper-engaging edge on that side of the upper wall.

3. In a paper fastener of the type adapted for use with spaced prongs passing through a paper stack, a keeper plate extending longitudinally between the prongs and formed with walls spaced apart to provide between them a prong receiving channel open at one side, said keeper being adapted to be pushed laterally onto the folded down prongs to retain them in folded condition, the upper wall being extended longitudinally beyond the lower wall and having its extended ends turned towards the plane of the lower Wall to cover the holes in the paper and avoid the presence of blunt paper-catching ends on the keeper, the upper wall having its longitudinal edge bent downwardly to form a constricted entrance to the channel facilitating the retention of the prongs therein and avoiding the presence of a blunt paper-engaging edge on that side. of the upper wall.

l. In a paper fastener of the type adapted for use with spaced prongs passing through a paper stack, a keeper plate extending longitudinally between the prongs and formed of a single sheet of metal folded on itself to form walls spaced apart and providing between them a prong receiving channel open at one side, said keeper being adapted to be pushed laterally onto the folded down prongs to retain them in folded condition, and having its lower wall extending laterally beyond its upper wall and formed with its longitudinal ends converging away from the body of the keeper whereby when the prongs are folded down on the lower wall and the keeper pushed laterally into prong embracing position the prongs will be tensioned and the paper stack tightly bound, the upper wall being extended longitudinally beyond the lower wall and having its extended ends turned toward the plane of the lower wall to cover the holes in the paper, the upper wall also having its longitudinal edge bent downwardly to form a constricted entrance to the channel facilitating the retention of the prongs therein, curved surfaces preventing catching on adjacent files being provided on one side by the lengitudinal fold, on the opposite side by the bent down longitudinal edge of the upper wall, and on opposite ends by the bent down end extensions of the upper wall.

5. In a paper fastener of the type adapted for use with spaced prongs passing through a paper stack, a keeper plate formed of a. single piece of sheet metal folded upon itself to form a. prong receiving channel, one wall of the channel extending laterally beyond the other wall and being of a length substantially equal to the distance between the prongs, said extending wall having humps formed therein substantially at the entrance to the channel and adjacent the zone of bending of the prongs to engage the outer sides of the prongs when the prongs are received within the channel.

6. In a paper fastener of the type adapted for use with-spaced prongs passing through a paper stack and folded down thereon, a keeper plate formed with walls permanently spaced one above the other at a side of the keeper plate to form a channel opening laterally at said side of the keeper plate with its lower wall extending laterally beyond the upper wall at the open side of the channel and having end edges spaced apart the distance between the spaced prongs and converging in said extending portion in a direction away from the channel, the lower Wall of the channel being located between the spaced prongs and underneath their folded portions, and the upper wall of the channel overlying the folded portion of the prongs when the fastener is in assembled condition, the lateral extension of the lower channel wall forming a template upon which the prongs may be bent down in position to be received within the channel, and the cont'erg' end edges acting to tension the prongs and bind the paper stack tightly as the keeper is. pushed laterally to bring the folded down portions of the prongs within the channel.

'7. In a paper fastener of the type adapted for use with spaced prongs passing through a paper stack, a keeper plate formed with walls permanently spaced one above the other throughout the distance between the prongs to form a channel opening laterally at said side-of the keeper plate, the lower wall of the channel being located between the spaced prongs and underneath their folded portions when the fastener is in assembled condition and the upper wall of the channel overlying the folded portions of the prongs and having portions extending longitudinally beyond the lower wall to cover the prongreceiving holes in the paper, said longitudinally extending portions of the upper wall being turned towards the plane of the lower wall to avoid the presence of blunt paper-catching ends on the keeper.

8. In a paper fastener adapted for use in combination with spaced prongs passing through a paper stack and folded down thereon, a keeper plate formed with walls permanently located one above the other at a side of the keeper plate to form a channel opening laterally at said side of the keeper plate, the lower wall of the channel being of a length substantially equal to the space between the spaced prongs and adapted to underlie their folded portions when the fastener is assembled, and the upper wall of the channel adapted to overlie the folded portions of the prongs.

9. In a paper fastener adapted for use in combination with spaced prongs passing through a paper stack and folded down thereon, a keeper plate with members permanently located one above the other at a side of the keeper plate to form a channel opening laterally at said side of the keeper plate, the lower channel forming member extending laterally beyond the upper channel forming member at the open side of the channel and presenting prong engaging edges spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the spacing of the prongs so as to serve as a template upon which the prongs may be bent down into position to be received within the channel by a relative lateral sliding movement of the prongs and the keeper plate, the upper channel forming member of the channel overlying the folded portions of the prongs when the fastener is assembled.

10. In a paper fastener adapted for use in combination with spaced prongs passing through a paper stack and folded down thereon, a keeper plate formed with walls permanently located one above the other at a side of the keeper plate to form a channel opening laterally at said side of the keeper plate, the lower wall of the channel being of a length substantially equal to the space between the spaced prongs and extending laterally beyond the upper wall at the open side of the channel so as to serve as a template upon which the prongs may be bent down into position to be received within the channel by a relative lateral sliding movement of the prongs and the keeper plate, the upper wall of the channel being adapted to overlie the folded portions of the prongs when the fastener is assembled, and means positioned to engage releasably the outer sides of the folded down prongs when the latter are positioned within the channel to retain them therein.

11. In a paper fastener adapted for use in combination with spaced prongs passing through a paper stack and folded down thereon, a keeper having a substantially uninterrupted upper plate covering the bent down portions of the prongs When the fastener is in assembled condition, and prong engaging means integral with the upper plate and permanently extending down and under the same from one longitudinal edge thereof to a position substantially parallel to the upper plate and underlying the prongs when the latter are covered by the upper plate, said prong engaging means being unattached to the upper plate at the side opposite the point of attachment to said upper plate and having prong engaging edges spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the space between the prongs, to permit association of the keeper and the bent down prongs solely by a relative lateral sliding movement of the keeper and the prongs by which said prong engaging edges are caused to pass along the prongs while retaining engagement with them as the upper plate of the keeper is brought into overlying relation to the bent down prongs.

12. In a paper fastener adapted for use in combination with spaced prongs passing through a paper stack and folded down thereon, a keeper having a substantially uninterrupted upper plate covering the bent down portions of the prongs When the fastener is in assembled condition, and prong engaging means integral with the upper plate and permanently extending down and under the same from one longitudinal edge thereof to a position substantially parallel to the upper plate and extending beyond the upper plate.at the second longitudinal edge thereof to present projecting edges spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the space between the prongs and over which the prongs may be bent, said prong engaging means being unattached to the upper plate at said second longitudinal edge to permit association of the keeper and the bent down prongs solely by a relative lateral sliding movement of the keeper and the prongs, said projecting prong engaging edges having continuations thereof underneath the upper plate whereby the bent down prongs will be held positively by their inner surfaces as the keeper is brought into full covering relatien to the prongs.

13. In a paper fastener adapted for use in combination with spaced prongs passing through a paper stack, a keeper plate formed of a single piece sheet metal permanently folded upon itself to form a prong receiving channel, one wall of the channel extending laterally beyond the other wall and being of a length substantially equal to the distance between the prongs.

14. In a paper fastener of the type adapted for use with spaced prongs passing through a paper stack, a keeper provided with a top member and a base member permanently located one above the other at a side of the keeper plate to form a channel-like recess between them opening laterally at said side of the keeper plate, whereby the folded down prongs may be inserted laterally into the recess in the keeper, and means at each end of said keeper for restricting the entrance to the recess under said top member.

15. In a paper fastener of the type adapted for use with spaced prongs passing through a paper stack, a keeper provided with a top member and. a base member permanently located one above the other at a side of the keeper plate to form a channel-like recess between them opening laterally at said side of the keeper plate, whereby the folded down prongs may be inserted laterally into the recess inthe keeper, and prong retaining means on one of said members consisting of aportion of said member at each end thereof folded into the space between the two members.

JOHN SCHADE,

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