Patent Application
20140090210
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to clamping devices. More particularly the invention relates to a compressive clamping device imparting a biased substantially parallel sandwiched engagement of items placed between. This biased engagement over a large surface area better restricts the movement of engaged items such as paper, banknotes, or other thin planar materials such as cloth or plastic. The disclosed device employing the biasing imparted by a plurality of cris-crossed members, maintains a substantially parallel biasing contact of large surface areas upon opposing sides when used, for instance, as a money clip. The substantially parallel continuously biased side surfaces provide means to increase the contact area of engaged materials as well as rendering insertion of items for restraint therein, easier to achieve.
2. Prior Art
Clamping and holding devices for paper and paper currency such as paper clips and money clips are widely used. A conventional paper clip is typically formed from a length of metal wire, or planar metal or plastic material, which is bent to form opposing sides which bias inwardly in a configuration to secure stacks of paper such as paper currency. Another mode of paper securement used for maintaining a stack of paper, proximate to others in the stack, is a paper clip. Such paper clips conventionally utilize the elasticity of the metal wire forming opposing wire tongue portions. In the conventional configuration, when the tongue portions are forced apart, at least one of the loops is twisted or torqued resulting in a restoring force which causes the clip to grip the paper sandwiched between the tongues in a biased sandwiched engagement.
Conventional money and clip designs also suffer from a number of recurrent problems. First, such clips conventionally employ a solid connecting member engaged to or communicating into one side edge of two opposing planar members. Because the opposing planar members are engaged with a fixed length solid member, both planar member portions are also held in fixed positions at their common connection. Because one end of each opposing member cannot move relative to the other, such conventional clips angle the two opposing members from a widest separation at their common connection point to the connecting member, to a contact of both distal ends of both planar members at a narrowest point of separation.
As can be discerned, such conventional money clips and the like, by their limitation of a fixed engagement at one end and angled opposing positioning of planar sides, do not distribute a compressive bias to paper or currency sandwiched therebetween, in a manner which imparts pressure to the constrained money evenly across a large surface area of their coincident surfaces. Instead, due to the angled engagement toward their respective distal ends, to accommodate a thinner stack of paper or currency or paper, there is provided only a single small area of compressed or biased contact between each member with the sandwiched stack of paper or currency.
This single contact point and small area results in a smaller pressure point of the surface of opposing sides against constrained paper or currency at a small contact area. This is quite unlike the disclosed device herein, which communicates a biasing force of the contact surfaces of both side members evenly across a large area. Because of the small area of biased engagement on conventional clips, when the two planar members are separated at an increasing distance from each other, the amount of pressure at this single small contact area therebetween, significantly increases the difficulty of adding and removing currency or stacked paper items between the members. Insertion therebetween can be particularly difficult to achieve.
Conventional paper clip devices also fail in many aspects of their intended task of constraining stacked paper adjacently using sidewall surfaces. First, the paper clip is not easily employed on large stacks of paper or other medium due to the required increase in the angle of the sides to each other to a point where such clips are easily susceptible to permanent deformation by a bending of the metal forming them. Conventional paper clips can seldom secure stacks of paper much thicker than the width of the loops forming the clip and as such are extremely limited. Because of the extreme, non parallel angle, both side members of the clip must assume for larger stacks of paper, attempts to secure such a clip to a stack of paper thicker than a few pages, most often results in permanent deformation of the metal forming the clip thereby rendering it inoperable since its biasing force for a sandwiched engagement for subsequent thinner stacks of material will no longer be present.
In addition, for large and even moderate or small sized stacks of paper, the distal ends of the formed members or tongue portions of a wire paper clip will tend to protrude from the plane of the paper. In other words, so engaged, the clip will not lie flat and will assume a twisted engagement and therefore result in a misshapen stack of paper.
Such misconfiguration can be of quite a nuisance since it will often result in stacks of paper which are not securely engaged together. Further, the misshapen stack may not easily store in conventional folders, binders, or envelopes. Still further, the relatively sharp distal ends of the wire forming the opposing members of the clip, may tend to dig or tear into the paper. As such, removal of the clip may cause undesirable damage to the paper documents.
As a result, prior art has shown many attempts to provide improvements in the art of paperclips. A ‘butterfly clip’ is a well known alternative clip which is formed from metal wire having a central spine or crossbar portion with two overlapping legs portions typically formed into triangles engaged to and extending from the ends of the spine. The spine portion acts as a type of torsion bar, such that when the legs are forced apart as needed for the insertion of paper, the spine is twisted or torqued. In the as used position, the spine crosses over the edge of the paper stack and the leg portions are positioned on the opposite faces of the paper stack. The resultant restoring force of the torqued spine creates a torqued engagement of the ends of the spine which is then communicated to the legs to provide the compressive engagement of paper documents positioned therebetween. However, due to the configuration of a single crossing spine, the structure of the clip is in general torsionally unstable and flimsy. Further, the butterfly clip does not substantially prevent the paper from twisting and binding in its engagement with the clip when the stack of papers is jostled or simply moved from one place to another. Still further, the employment of only a single spine limits the amount of holding force the clip is able to achieve.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,435 to Michelson teaches a paper clip device having a spine portion, two straight side leg portions extending substantially perpendicular to each end of the top spine portion and bent portions extending from the straight side legs. This device is similar to the well known butterfly clip in that a single spine portion is employed as a type of torsion bar to communicate the restoring force of the torqued spine to the legs when engaged to a thickness of papers. In the as used mode the single spine portion similarly crosses the edge of the medium and the legs are positioned on the opposite faces. However, this device similarly falls short in that it's structure is torsionally unstable and flimsy can additionally fails to prevent the paper from twisting or binding in its engagement with the clip.
Other devices shown in prior art which similarly employ this single torsion bar/spine configuration include U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,061,474; 1,989,953; 1,783,099; and 776,974. These and similar devices fail in providing adequate securement for relatively large thicknesses or stacks of paper or other medium. A first downfall as noted above is the employment of the single spine portion with thicker materials. In the as-used mode engaged over a stack of paper or other medium, the restoring force of the torqued spine is communicated to the legs extending from the ends of the spine thereby providing a biasing force for a gripping engagement of the clip to the medium, from the twisting or torqued metal. Again, however, this structural configuration is torsionally unstable and flimsy and fails to prevent the medium it is holding from binding or twisting within the clip, and may further cause the distal ends of the legs to protrude from the plane of the paper such that the legs do not lie flat in a plane with the paper. One skilled in the art can easily discern such additional downfalls of current wire-formed paper clip devices.
Binder clips, also referred to as bulldog clips, are another known type clamping device employed for securing stacks of paper and other medium. A binder clip conventionally consists of a strip of spring steel bent into the shape of a triangle. Tension along the base of the formed triangle forces the two sides closed. A handle is engaged at the apex of the triangle on both sides and extends past the base as a type of lever which can be squeezed to open the clip for the insertion of paper between formed sidewalls. This device is generally known to provide greater holding forces compared to paper clips which are formed from portions of thin wire. However, the width of medium the binder clip can hold is limited by the thickness of the base. As such, for employment with larger stacks of paper, the binder clip is required to be formed bigger, therefore resulting in extremely bulky clips.
Money clips are another known device in prior art which are employed to securely engage and constrain paper currency and related materials. Money clips often take the form of a bulldog clip, having a fixed profile wherein two side portions are tensioned together via a common curved member base. In this conventional configuration, the thickness of the space between the walls of the base is fixed and separated. This result is in a limit to the thickness which may be inserted therebetween, and therefore amount of paper the clip can accommodate in a biased sandwiched engagement.
Since money clips are often kept in a users pocket, the need for a sleek and low profile clip are generally desired by the user. As a result, manufacturers tend to manufacture money clips in sizes which are relatively small in the spacing of the opposing side members at their common connection. However, limiting the fixed distance of the opposing members at their connection point, will limit the amount of paper currency or other medium which may be inserted and which the clip can securely hold. Typical money clip users are therefore often dissuaded from low profile designs due to this shortcoming. Alternatively, if the money clip is made larger to hold more currency, the result is a bulky and cumbersome clip, which is again undesirable.
In some designs, handles or levers are employed to allow the user to splay the clip open so it can be slid onto the material it will be holding. If these levers are fixed they create a large profile similar to a clothes-pin. To overcome this large profile some designs have levers that slide out when they are to be used and some allow the levers to pivot out when being used. Both of these designs are cumbersome, more complex and costly. Some flat spring designs also use tapered lead-in lips that allow the flat spring to splay open when it is pushed against the medium. The lead-in lips must be larger than the thickness of the material it is to be pushed onto. This again creates a large profile.
As such, there is a continuing unmet need, for an improved paper securing clip or money clip device and system of components which will allow for insertion of a single bill or large stacks of bills or papers, and still apply an evenly distributed compressive biased engagement between opposing complimentary planar members. Such a device should apply biasing pressure against constrained paper or bills, to both very short stacks, as well as thick stacks, substantially evenly. Such an even pressure in the case of a money clip and other clip devices will allow the constraint in a biased sandwiched engagement, of flatly formed items, whether they be very thin, or reaching the maximum thickness for the gap between the members. So constrained, because of the large area of biased pressure, the items are rendered more securely fastened, yet, easier to remove and to insert during use. In all cases, a planar and substantially parallel positioning of opposing sidewalls or members is maintained which is a trait which is especially preferred when the device is located in a pocket or purse to minimize occupied space.
The forgoing examples of related art and limitation related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive, and they do not imply any limitations on the invention described and claimed herein. Various limitations of the related art will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding of the specification below and the accompanying drawings.
The device herein disclosed and described provides a solution to the shortcomings in prior art in paper and currency securement devices and achieves the above noted goals through the provision of a compressive device formed from one or a plurality of bent wire-like members which form or reinforce and bias opposing side surfaces toward each other. The wire or other wire-like member forming the device may be of conventional materials such as metal wire or spring steel, however the wire-like member can be formed of any material suitable for the purposes set forth in this disclosure, and which will impart a biased sandwiched engagement to paper or material positioned between formed or engaged sidewall members of the device. Polymeric materials or carbon fiber materials may also be employed for example for the formation of the serpentine shaped wire-like members of the device.
In modes of the device employed as a money clip or paper clip, the device may employ a conventional paper clip gauge wire or wire-like member, configured or bent to form portions of the wire-like member into the opposing sides yielding the biased sandwiched engagement. Alternatively, these distal ends of each wire-like member, may also be formed and configured to engage within planar wall members which form opposing side walls of the clip device. These planar sidewalls may be formed of material suitable to the purpose such as metal or polymeric material or hybrid materials such as carbon fiber using carbon fiber or glass fiber and resin materials.
The device so formed, yields a novel component which allows for easy clipping or clamping of most thin planar mediums including paper, money, wood, plastic or just about any material which requires a quick and easily biased sandwiched engagement between an opposing pair of planar portions or segments. The pair of planar segments, communicate at respective edges with cross-positioned spring-like members running in a plane substantially normal to that of the planar segments. This flexible cross-over spring-like intersection of the wire-like member, providing the connection between the two planar members, is configured in a manner which when positioned to fully collapsed mode, with the engaged planar segments adjacent or barely separated, the opposing sections of the wire-like member impart a biased force and continue to communicate a compressive force to the opposing contact areas of the planar segments which are coincident.
Employing this novel cross-over connection, using wire-formed sidewalls or with wire-like segments in an operative engagement with the two planar components forming sidewalls, the compressive bias is communicated to substantially the entire contact surfaces of the planar segments and is also imparted to substantially the entire area of items placed in communication with the contact surfaces of these planar segments.
Unlike conventional money and paper clips which employ angled opposing planar segments when in a collapsed mode, and which only achieve a parallel configuration of the contact surfaces and sidewalls when constraining material therebetween at a maximum separation distance, the device herein maintains the contact surfaces substantially parallel, from a narrowest separation where the contact surfaces are in communication, throughout sequential positions of the contact surfaces to a widest separation distance between the contact surfaces. Because of this continuous substantially parallel positioning of the two opposing contact surfaces, the biased contact therewith with any paper or currency placed therebetween in a biased sandwiched engagement, is communicated by a contact of substantially the entire surface area of both opposing contact surfaces of each respective planar component. This wide surface contact area is unlike conventional clips which impart a high compressive force between only distal surface areas of the planar opposing components in a small area of the total area.
Further, the device herein, communicates the biasing force of the sandwiched engagement evenly against the entire surface of paper or currency positioned in a contact therebetween. This evenly distributed force over a large surface area of continuous substantially parallel contact surface against inserted currency or paper, allows for a much more secure engagement between the planar members. Further, the even and widely communicated force provides a means for a much easier user-insertion and removal of paper or currency from the biased engagement. This is because all the force of the biased opposing members is not concentrated at distal ends in a very small surface area as in the current art. This evenly distributed force of the contact surfaces with substantially the entire surface of inserted medium in communication with the contact surfaces, increases proportionally with the amount of displacement or separation of the opposing contact surfaces from each other.
The opposing planar segments of the disclosed device as noted may be formed in various patterns or shapes of bent wire or of metal or polymeric material, such as triangular or round or rectangular. When formed of wire-like members, such planar portions or segments may also be joined to the formed planar components which act as extensions or entities of the planar segments becoming an extension of the planar member which then evenly distributes a compressive bias. Contact surfaces of planar members in either mode, may be smooth or possess a coarse finish such as gnarling, to alter the frictional resistance to a sliding movement with respect to flatly formed items placed within. In some cases, one planar member of the aforementioned clip system may be a base plate or larger surface such as a table, desk or clipboard.
A highly advantageous characteristic of this improved device and the disclosed cross-over parallel method of applying a compressive sandwiched bias to paper and banknotes is derived from the continuously parallel properties of the planar members from contact to maximum separation distance. When the clip is expanded by user performed displacement of planar members, or by the containment of items, the planar members remain substantially parallel throughout the translation to and from maximum separation distance. By substantially parallel it is meant that the two contact surfaces of the two planar members will be continuously parallel or within a few degrees of parallel throughout the distance of translation to and from a maximum separation. Slight deviations may occur due to user force or the shape of the inserted paper or currency or medium, however the two contact surfaces of the planar members will continuously try to remain parallel or return to parallel once force by the user ceases.
Depending on the size, weight and material properties of the items to be contained, multiple mechanisms yielding this biased sandwiched engagement of two parallel contact surfaces may be employed in an array of one or more as part of an arranged pattern to distribute the compressive bias across larger or oddly shaped objects. Also, in certain situations, a grommet-like addition may be applied, molded or formed at the cross-over intersection of substantially perpendicular spring-like members to limit or constrain deformation and relative displacement. The cross over spring-like members while generally are perpendicular to the contact surfaces of the planar members, this may vary by slight curvatures of the spring-like cross over members, or flex during use.
The disclosed device herein, employing this “cross-wire” configuration as noted, provides many advantages and uses over the conventional design which are illustrated in the descriptions following and discernible from the drawings. It is briefly noted that the features and advantages of the device can be employed in a plurality of other designs employing a bend member and cross-over configuration where it can be implemented, such as money clips, paper clips, and clamps for holding heavier things such as two wooden 2×4's together.
Again, the device employs a particularly preferred cross member configuration of a unitary formed member or wire-like members. In the as-used mode of the device, a plurality of the member or wire portions, preferably two portions of wire herein referred to as ‘spines’ or ‘cross members,’ cross at a terminating or limiting edge of the material being held by the device, forming the depicted cross-over or X-shape. The opposing distal end portions of the crossed members include leg portions extending therefrom which are bent relative to other portions but occupy substantially the same plane which is substantially orthogonal to the plane of the cross members and each form respective overlapping planarly aligned leg configurations with respective contact surfaces.
In use, each of the spine portions of the member undergo a deformation during insertion of money or media and provide a means for torsional loading, that is they act as a type of torsion bar, such that when loaded (i.e. when the device is opened and contact surfaces separated to receive the medium to be held, or when the spines are pre-loaded or pre-stressed to impart force to the contact surfaces when collapsed) each spine is twisted and/or slightly bent, and formed of material which resists this deformation at a force to impart and communicate a closing bias to the contact surfaces. The deformation and resulting return force results in the communication of a bias or means for compressive sandwiched engagement of inserted medium such as currency between the opposing biased contact surfaces. Further, an enhanced gripping of the contact surfaces is provided by the biased engagement from the resultant restoring torsional forces of the spines when deformed which is communicated to the overlapping gripping planes of the contact surfaces of the leg portions, or engaged members thereto.
Advantages of this configuration and the resulting biased contact surfaces against the material held is that the material being held is substantially restrained by the biased sandwiched engagement from twisting or sliding between the contact surfaces. Further, the provision of two cross members engaging the edge of the medium being held, as opposed to one spine section, provides a means for aligning and restraining the edge of the medium when inserted. In addition, the cross wire configuration of the overlapping members also makes the clip structure itself much more torsionally stable, allowing it to be used more effectively in devices such as a money clip. This torsional stability of the device and the contact surfaces can be further improved by other preferred modes of the device which employ a boxed configuration, that is, all free ends of the member or wire forming the device are secured.
In general, when the formed device is under a load, or when the spines are pre-stressed under a load, the ends of the spines at or near the four corners of the X-shaped cross wire configuration provide moments of torqued engagement which are then communicated to the leg portions. This results in a means for compressive sandwiched engagement of the opposing planar leg configurations forming contact surfaces for clamping a material therebetween. Further, this configuration allows the contact surfaces of both engaged planar members or segments, to maintain a substantially parallel positioning, throughout their sequential translation in different imaginary planes from a collapsed configuration in mutual contact to a maximum separation and maximum distance between the contact surfaces. While the planar surfaces providing the contact surfaces may momentarily tilt slightly from mutually parallel, if the material being constrained is planar such as paper or money or bank notes, the two contact surfaces on contact with the constrained material will return to a substantially parallel positioning where substantially all of the surface area of both contact surfaces will touch the constrained material.
Further, the cross wire configuration of spring-like members, positioned substantially normal to the contact surfaces, substantially increases the compressive force that is applied to the inserted material. This is because torsion from two cross wires is communicated to each respective contact surface rather than just a single member as in the previously cited prior art. Further, the continuously parallel positioning of the two sidewalls of the device, and contact surfaces, provide a low profile to the device when constraining money or similar media which in use, is only slightly larger than the material it is holding, whether the material is very thin or very thick.
In accordance with at least one preferred mode, the planarly aligned leg portions of the formed device are bent in their communication from the cross-over members and formed into opposing right triangles, each of which has one of two opposing contact surfaces. Briefly, this mode of the device is configured with a small gap formed between the respective projecting points of the triangles. This gap provides an insertion target and easier separation when the user secures the device to the paper or other material. It is noted however that in other preferred modes of the device, the gripping planes of the leg portions may be formed in other configurations of the bent leg portions, and consequently should not be considered limited to a bending of the wire-like member to right triangles. For example, the leg portions may form substantially trapezoidal or square shapes or as noted, may be engaged with formed sidewalls of metal or polymeric or hybrid materials.
In yet another preferred mode, each of the planarly aligned leg configurations formed by the bent leg portions are enclosed in an engagement with a respective sidewall body component. The body components preferably include at least one substantially flat contact surface which may be textured or otherwise formed to enhance the frictional gripping force of the device to the material being held. In this mode the sidewall components may be formed to provide novel and functional money clips. The body of one or both sidewall components can be ornamentally formed, and may include indicia in the form of printed, engraved or otherwise formed indicia which is customizable by the manufacturer. As such, the user will be able to employ the benefits of the cross wire configuration and continuously parallel positioning of the sidewall components along with the improved gripping means of the body components, thereby providing an vast improvement in the art of money clips. The indicia can be customized to the individual user, or be a form of advertisement or logo which companies can use as an advertising or promoting means.
In still yet another preferred mode of the present invention, the device is configured as a clamp which may be employed for woodworking, construction, or other purposes. It is noted that in this mode, the device may be formed from wire of substantially higher gauge in order to provide gripping forces which are suitable for these purposes. Additionally, the cross members may include spring portions, such as torsion springs, to further enhance the resultant compressive force when the device is loaded. Still further, double and triple cross wire configurations employing a plurality of crossing spine portions are also disclosed and described below.
With respect to the above description, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the herein disclosed invention in further detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention herein described is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways which will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present disclosed device. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
As used in the claims to describe the various inventive aspects and embodiments, “comprising” means including, but not limited to, whatever follows the word “comprising”. Thus, use of the term “comprising” indicates that the listed elements are required or mandatory, but that other elements are optional and may or may not be present. By “consisting of” is meant including, and limited to, whatever follows the phrase “consisting of”. Thus, the phrase “consisting of” indicates that the listed elements are required or mandatory, and that no other elements may be present. By “consisting essentially of” is meant including any elements listed after the phrase, and limited to other elements that do not interfere with or contribute to the activity or action specified in the disclosure for the listed elements. Thus, the phrase “consisting essentially of” indicates that the listed elements are required or mandatory, but that other elements are optional and may or may not be present depending upon whether or not they affect the activity or action of the listed elements.
It is an object of this invention to provide a money or paper clip, which has opposing sidewalls with contact surfaces imparting a biased sandwiched engagement to inserted paper or medium.
It is a further object of this invention, to provide such a device with such sidewalls which remain or return to positions substantially parallel to each other throughout a translation from contact with each other, to a maximum separation distance.
These objects, and other features, and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive, examples of embodiments and/or features. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting. In the drawings:
a shows an end view of a preferred body component having a substantially curved profile, which allows the device when employed as a money clip to contour to the curve of a users leg when in the pocket of the user.
In this description, the directional prepositions of up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, right, normal, perpendicular, and other such terms refer to the device as it is oriented and appears in the drawings and are used for convenience only. Such terms are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the device cannot be used or positioned in any other particular orientation.
The various components of the device disclosed herein can be formed of conventional materials for elongated members such as metal wire, spring steel, or the like, or hybrid materials such as resin and fiber, or the members and attachments thereto can be formed of any material suitable for the purposes set forth in this disclosure.
Now referring to drawings in
There are two outer side legs 18 and 20 formed of portions of the member forming the device 10 which are preferably bent substantially perpendicular to the plane occupied substantially by the outer spine 12 and inner spine 14 as shown. The member provided by the wire is further bent to provide two outer diagonally running leg portions 22 and 24, one inner diagonally running leg portion 26 and one inner side leg end 28, which is shown extending substantially parallel to outer side leg 18.
The outer diagonally bent end portion 22 is bent approximately 45 degrees relative the adjacent side leg 18 at a first distal end 30 of the device 10 and terminates 36 near the side leg 20. The outer diagonally bent end portion 24 is bent approximately 45 degrees relative the adjacent side leg 20 at a second distal end 32 of the device 10 and continues to the outer spine 12. It is noted however, that the leg portions can be bent at other degrees, and are anticipated. The inner diagonally bent leg portion 26 communicates from an engagement with the end of the outer spine 12 to an approximately 45 degree bend 34 adjacent the first distal end 30, which then extends along the inner side leg end 28 parallel to the outer side leg 18 to a second termination 38 of the wire.
As can be seen the outer side leg 18, inner side leg 28, outer diagonal leg 22, and inner diagonal leg 26 are aligned to form a first planarly aligned leg configuration, and is substantially triangular in shape. The outer side leg 20, and outer diagonal leg 24 align in a second planarly aligned leg configuration, and is also substantially triangular in shape, and overlaps the first plane. In the as used mode described shortly, when the device 10 is loaded such that a deformation of the spines 12, 14 occurs when they are twisted much like torsion bars, the resultant restoring forces of the spines 12, 14 are communicated as an inward bias to the leg portions of each respective formed planar configurations and providing a means for compressive gripping of material between the gripping planes formed by the legs of the device 10. In essence, torsional moments at or near the corners 40, 42, 44, 46 of the cross wires 12, 14 when under a load during deformation caused by media insertion and provide at least four means of biased or torqued engagement of the device 10 to the medium being held. The bias from this deformation is then communicated to the respective legs forming the respective contact surfaces, providing the means for a biased or compressive sandwiched engagement of the material. This will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon further disclosure of the preferred modes of the device 10 described later.
It is noted that in this mode the terminating ends 36, 38 of the wire are positioned such that during operative employment of the current mode of the device 10 as a money clip or paper clip, the ends will not dig or damage the material being held. This overcomes the downfalls of conventional and prior art devices which may tend to dig the typically sharp ends into the material being held. However, it is noted that length of the leg end portions 22, 28 and therefore the position of the terminating ends 36, 38, may be adjusted and modified into other configuration which will be set forth in later figures.
In the current mode it is additionally preferred that the outer spine 12 and the inner spine 14 are approximately the same length, which are approximately the same length as the side legs 18, 20, and 28. However, those skilled in the are will realize that the size of the clip can vary according to use and is anticipated. For example the spines 12, 14 can be approximately one inch, the side legs 20, 18 one inch and the bent diagonal portions 24, 26 one inch. The diameter of the wire used and the sizes may be varied according to desire and resulting compressive strength of the device 10 in the as used mode, described shortly. The material of the wire can be that used for the common paper clip but other material such as, but not limited to, stainless spring steel and music wire similar that used in common compression springs, and other suitable materials.
In
This insertion causes a separation of the corners 40, 42, 44, 46 of the spines 12, 14 such that the spines 12, 14 formed by the member in a unitary serpentine configuration, undergo deformation or a torsional loading. Once the device 10 is pushed all the way onto the stack 1000, both contact surfaces of the formed sidewalls return to a substantially parallel positioning which is maintained to a maximum separation distance. By substantially parallel is meant that both contact surfaces are finally positioned along planes which are parallel or within 1-6 degrees of angle to each other of being parallel. As a general rule, if the opposing sides of inserted media such as money or bank notes, are planar, both contact surfaces will assume a parallel positioning where they contact and follow the plane on their respective side of the inserted media. Since most banknotes or paper money is substantially flat even when folded in half, both contact surfaces will be substantially at zero degrees in parallel planes, or within 1 to 6 degrees of being parallel.
Thus, the substantially planar and parallel contact surfaces are positioned on one side of the perimeter of the first planarly aligned leg configuration of the member forming leg portions 18, 28, 22, 26 and upon an opposing side surface of the second planarly aligned leg configuration of the member forming leg portions 20 and 24, and the perimeter thereof. Both opposing contact surfaces will always return to their substantially parallel positioning, with a majority of their contact surface areas within the perimeter of the respective leg, contacting the respective side surfaces of the inserted media or stack as shown.
The deformation of the member and resulting torsional loading of the spines 12, 14 and restoring moments at or near the four corners 40, 42, 44, 45 resulting thereof, impart a bias to respective member portions which is communicated to the respective contact surfaces provided by the perimeters defining the formed leg portions. This bias results in a compressive force of the opposing contact surfaces against sides of the inserted media or stack 1000. Because of the planar nature of the formed contact surfaces, and their propensity to maintain a substantially parallel positioning, substantially all of the surface area of the respective opposing contact surfaces will make contact with the planar opposing side surfaces of the inserted media or stack 1000. By employing these four means of torqued engagement caused by member deformation, essentially double the amount of biasing force may be achieved in the sandwiched engagement relative to conventional and prior art devices which only employ a single spine member, and a very small contact surface area of the total available contact surface.
It is noted that the device 10 can be made from conventional manufacturing techniques known in the art where a single member is bent or configured to shape in a serpentine path to form a unitary structure of a single bend-resistive member.
It is additionally noted and anticipated that although the device is shown in a number of simple forms, various components and aspects of the device may be differently shaped or slightly modified when forming the shape of the invention herein. As such those skilled in the art will appreciate the descriptions and depictions set forth in this disclosure or merely meant to portray examples of preferred modes within the overall scope and intent of the invention, and are not to be considered limiting in any manner. Although the mode of the device 10 has been shown to provide substantial improvements in the art of restraining or clamping devices, money clips, and paper clips, additional preferred modes of the device are described herein having different configurations. However all employ a cross wire or cross over member configuration noted herein which provides the deformation to impart bias as well as maintaining a continuous parallel positioning of contact surfaces.
In use, the body components 72 will effectively increase the surface area of the engagement surface of the device 10 with the material being held, wherein in other modes of the device 10 only one side surface of the member forming the perimeter defining the legs of the device 10 are in contact with the material being held. As such the planar body components 72 provide a means for enhancing the engagement of a contact surface of the device 10 against the material or media held. Further, the body component 72, having a contact surface provided by the inner edge 74 which is angled or substantially curved allows the user to engage the provided contact surfaces of device 10 to a stack of paper or other material by employing the steps shown in
Further, in this mode the secured engagement of the device 10 to the body components 82 can be provided by the positive engagement of the inward bias or compressive forces of the device 10 itself, provided by member deformation described earlier, which is communicated to the body components 82. Lip portions 85 are provided to further secure the device 10 to the body components 82 by restraining the distal corners of the device 10, as can be clearly seen in the figure. However adhesives, welding, or the like can be employed to enhance engagement of the member and provide a permanent engagement.
It is again noted that those skilled in the art will recognize that the current depicted mode of the body component 82 may be modified to be employed with other shapes of the members and other preferred modes of the device 10, and as such should not be considered limited by the current depiction. Further, as shown, the body components 82 include tab portions 90, which the user can engage with their thumb and forefinger, and thereafter can impart a twisting motion thereon. Thus the tab portions 90 provide a means for aiding the user to part the biased contact surfaces and achieve the engaged mode of the device 10 to the biased sandwiched engagement with medium being held when employing the steps shown in
In addition, the planar body components 82 can include a cover 92 having indicia 94 imparted thereon such as a logo, name, image, picture, or the like. The indicia 94 can be applied by printing, engraving, carving, etching or other suitable forming means. For example the indicia 94 can be a company logo, wherein the device 10 is employed as a means for advertising, and the like. Alternatively, the device 10 can be customized by the individual user by having indicia 94 of the users name formed thereon. The cover 92 can be engaged by welding, snap fits, adhesive, or other suitable means for engagement.
a shows an end view of yet another mode of the body component 82 having a substantially curved profile. As such, when employed as a money clip, the device 10 will be contoured to the curve of the users leg when stored in the users pocket and provide a means for bending or contouring the material being held, such as paper currency or credit cards. Therefore the device 10 and the material being held will more comfortably rest in the users pocket when stored. It is noted that those skilled in the art will realize that any of the modes of the device 10 may similarly be curved or formed in such a manner to provide a contoured configuration as needed, and should not be considered limited to the current depiction only.
It is noted that it is an object of the invention to employ the cross over configuration of a unitary member or a plurality of members engaged with clips and forming the spines 12, 14 providing the inward bias upon deformation as previously described. This configuration whether in combination with a clip 96 or other side surfaces provides a significant improvement of the engagement of the contact surfaces with a medium being held. This formed biased sandwiched engagement and contact of substantially all of the area of the parallel-positioned contact surfaces of the device 10 with the held material, yields a vast improvement over prior art devices with small contact surface areas of angled members.
Further, those skilled in the art will understand that the members forming the leg portions extending from members forming the spines 12, 14, can be bent and configured into essentially any shape or form, without departing from the scope and intent of the invention. As an example, shown in yet another preferred mode in
In
Finally, in
This invention has other applications, potentially, and one skilled in the art could discover these. The explication of the features of this invention does not limit the claims of this application; other applications developed by those skilled in the art will be included in this invention.
Thus, upon reading this disclosure, those skilled in the art may recognize various other improvements in clamping device which are considerably or slightly different than those disclosed, however are considered within the scope and intent of the invention herein, and are anticipated within the scope of this patent.
While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the invention have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations and substitutions are included within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/709,333 filed on Oct. 3, 2012, and is included herein in its entirety by this reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61709333 | Oct 2012 | US |
