Information
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Patent Grant
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6217246
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Patent Number
6,217,246
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Date Filed
Tuesday, April 4, 200024 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, April 17, 200123 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Wellington; A. L.
- Henderson; Mark
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 402 8
- 402 17
- 402 18
- 402 60
- 402 62
- 402 63
- 402 64
- 402 68
- 024 67 R
- 024 675
- 024 6711
- 024 67 CF
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International Classifications
- B42D100
- B30B1200
- B42F300
- B42F1306
- B42F1308
-
Abstract
A two-piece paper fastener includes a prong base with two prongs extending from two ends of a top surface of the prong base. Each of two sides of the prong base has a first flange folded toward a bottom surface so as to define a rounded side. A compressor with two holes through which the two prongs extend and two retainers are slidably mounted to the compressor. Each of two sides of the compressor has a second flange folded toward a bottom surface of the compressor so as to define a rounded side.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved two-piece paper fastener wherein each side of the prong base and the compressor has a flange folded inward so as not to cut users' fingers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A conventional two-piece paper fastener is shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6
and generally includes a prong base
40
and a compressor
30
. The prong base
40
has two prongs
41
extending from two ends thereof and two holes
31
are respectively defined through two ends of the compressor
30
so that the two prongs
41
extend through papers (not shown) and the two holes
31
so position the papers between the prong base
40
and the compressor
30
. Two retainers
32
are movably mounted to the compressor
30
so that the two prongs
41
can be folded toward each other and are retained by the two retainers
32
. The prong base
40
and the compressor
30
are generally made of metal sheets or plastic sheets, and the metal sheets or the plastic sheets are pressed into pieces of the prong bases
40
and the compressors
30
so that the sides of each the prong base
40
and the compressor
30
have sharp raw material which could cut users' fingers. Besides, the prong base
40
and the compressor
30
with sharp raw material on their sides could result in tragedies if children use them as toys so that the conventional two-piece paper fastener needs to be improved.
The present invention intends to provide a two-piece paper fastener that includes a prong base and a compressor, and each side of the prong base and the compressor has a flange folded inward so as to define a smooth side.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a two-piece paper fastener comprising a prong base with two prongs extending from two ends of a top surface of the prong base. Each of two sides of the prong base is a rounded side. A compressor with two holes defined through two ends of the compressor. Two retainers are slidably mounted to the compressor and each of two sides of the compressor is a rounded side.
The object of the present invention is to provide an improved two-piece paper fastener wherein the prong base and the compressor have rounded sides so that they will not cut users' fingers.
These and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, several embodiments in accordance with the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is an exploded view to show a two-piece paper fastener of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a perspective view to show the paper fastener of the present invention;
FIG. 3
is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the paper fastener of the present invention;
FIG. 3A
is an enlarged side elevational view, partly cutaway and in section of FIG.
3
.
FIG. 4
is a perspective view to show a pile of papers is collected by the paper fastener of the present invention;
FIG. 5
is an exploded view to show a conventional two-piece paper fastener, and
FIG. 6
is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the conventional paper fastener.
FIG. 6A
is an enlarged side elevational view, partly in section and cutaway of FIG.
6
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to
FIGS. 1
to
4
, a two-piece paper fastener in accordance with the present invention comprises a prong base
20
with two prongs
21
extending from two ends of a top surface of the prong base
20
. Each of two sides of the prong base
20
is a rounded side. Each of two sides of the prong base
20
has a first flange
22
folded toward a bottom surface of the prong base
20
so as to define the rounded side.
A compressor
10
has two holes
11
defined through two ends of the compressor
10
so that the two prongs
21
extend through a pile of papers as shown in FIG.
4
and through the two holes
11
in the compressor
10
. Two retainers
12
are slidably mounted to the compressor
10
and the two prongs
21
are folded and inserted between the retainers
12
and the compressor
10
. Each of two sides of the compressor
10
is a rounded side. Each of two sides of the compressor
10
has a second flange
13
folded toward a bottom surface of the compressor
10
so as to define the rounded side.
The first flanges
22
on the prong base
20
and the second flanges
13
on the compressor
10
can be mass-produced by machine so that the manufacturing cost is low. The rounded sides of each of the prong base
20
and the compressor
10
effectively avoid cutting of users' fingers.
While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
Claims
- 1. A two-piece paper fastener comprising:a prong base having opposing top and bottom surfaces and two prongs extending out from two ends of said prong base, each of two sides of said prong base having a first flange folded toward said bottom surface of said prong base to form a rounded side edge thereof; a compressor having opposing top and bottom surfaces and two holes respectively formed through two end portions of said compressor, each of two sides of said compressor having a second flange folded toward said bottom surface of said compressor to form a rounded side edge thereof; and, two retainers slidably mounted on said on said compressor.
US Referenced Citations (7)