US4914791A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plastic paper clip
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-04-26
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Granted: 1990-04-10
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Expires: 2009-04-26
Abstract
Abstract A plastic paper clip having two outer, approximately V-shaped clamping legs connected by transverse webs to a pair of clamping arms disposed within the clamping legs, has a longitudinal slot terminating at an extension element leading to the clamping arms. The extension element is not slotted. When applied to clip paper, the clip is subjected to torque in the area of the longitudinal slot, but the extension element keeps the torque from deforming the clamping arms.
Inventors
- 👤 Kurt Lorber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:00
CPC Classifications
B; B42; B42F; B42F1/00; B42F1/02; B42F1/10; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/20; Y10T24/202; Y10T24/205; Y10T24/44; Y10T24/44641; Y10T24/44769; Y10T24/44923
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
A plastic paper clip, comprising: two outer clamping legs, splayed at an angle of approximately 15 to 20 degrees to define an approximate V-shape having a longitudinal axis, the outer clamping legs having constant width and thickness along their entire length; a pair of transverse webs, each connected to one of the clamping legs and leading inwardly toward the longitudinal axis; two parallel clamping portions separated by a slot, the parallel clamping portions being attached to the transverse webs; a connecting plate and two V-shaped splayed clamping arms, the clamping arms having constant width and thickness along their entire length, defining parallel side edges of the clamping arms and being attached to the connecting plate such that the clamping arms are parallel to the clamping legs, the slot separating the clamping portions at most extending over approximately one third of a length of the clip, the clamping portions being connected to the connecting plate by an extension element clear of the longitudinal slot, the extension element having a length approximately equal to a length of the slop separating the clamping portions, and a gap being defined between the extension element and the clamping arms in the form of a slot with substantially parallel side edges, sloping at least partly relative to the longitudinal axis of the clip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
A plastic paper clip, comprising: two outer clamping legs, splayed at an angle of approximately 15 to 20 degrees to define an approximate V-shape having a longitudinal axis, the outer clamping legs having constant width and thickness along their entire length; a pair of transverse webs, each connected to one of the clamping legs and leading inwardly toward the longitudinal axis; two parallel clamping portions separated by a slot, the parallel clamping portions being attached to the transverse webs; a connecting plate and two V-shaped splayed clamping arms, the clamping arms having constant width and thickness along their entire length, defining parallel side edges of the clamping arms and being attached to the connecting plate such that the clamping arms are parallel to the clamping legs, the slot separating the clamping portions at most extending over approximately one third of a length of the clip, the clamping portions being connected to the connecting plate by an extension element clear of the longitudinal slot, the extension element having a length approximately equal to a length of the slop separating the clamping portions, and a gap being defined between the extension element and the clamping arms in the form of a slot with substantially parallel side edges, sloping at least partly relative to the longitudinal axis of the clip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
160 words
A plastic paper clip, comprising: two outer clamping legs, splayed at an angle of approximately 15 and 20 degrees to define an approximate V-shape, the outer clamping legs having constant width and thickness along their entire length; a pair of transverse webs and two parallel clamping portions attached to the transverse webs and separated by a slot extending at most over approximately one third of an overall length of the clip; an extension element, connected to the clamping portions clear of the slot, the extension element having a length approximately equal to a length of the slot; a connecting plate, attached to the extension element, the connecting plate having two V-shaped splayed clamping arms with parallel side edges and with a constant width and thickness along their entire length, a gap being defined between the extension element and the clamping arms, the gap forming a slot with substantially parallel side edges sloping relative to a longitudinal direction of the clip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
160 words
A plastic paper clip, comprising: two outer clamping legs, splayed at an angle of approximately 15 and 20 degrees to define an approximate V-shape, the outer clamping legs having constant width and thickness along their entire length; a pair of transverse webs and two parallel clamping portions attached to the transverse webs and separated by a slot extending at most over approximately one third of an overall length of the clip; an extension element, connected to the clamping portions clear of the slot, the extension element having a length approximately equal to a length of the slot; a connecting plate, attached to the extension element, the connecting plate having two V-shaped splayed clamping arms with parallel side edges and with a constant width and thickness along their entire length, a gap being defined between the extension element and the clamping arms, the gap forming a slot with substantially parallel side edges sloping relative to a longitudinal direction of the clip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The paper clip according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the extension element has a convergent construction in an area between the clamping portions and the connecting plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The paper clip according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the clamping arms define a splaying angle of between approximately 15 and approximately 20°.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The paper clip according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the extension element converges on its sides at an angle between approximately 15 and approximately 20°.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
190 words
An improved paper clip of the type having a pair of outer clamping legs connected in a V-shape and a pair of inner clamping arms connected in a V-shape, the clamping legs being connected to the clamping arms along transverse webs and clamping portions extending inwardly from a top of the V-shape clamping legs and downwardly to a point between the V-shape clamping arms, a longitudinal slot being defined between the clamping portions, said clamping portions being twisted when the clamping arms and clamping legs are separated from one another by an article to be clipped, the improvement comprising: an extension element disposed between the clamping portions and the clamping arms, the extension element being clear of the longitudinal slot and having a length approximately equal to a length of the longitudinal slot, gaps being defined between the clamping arms and the clamping legs, the clamping arms and clamping legs each having constant width and thickness along their respective lengths, said gaps having parallel side edges and being parallel to one another, the gaps on each side of the clip defining a splaying angle of approximately 15 to 20 degrees.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
190 words
An improved paper clip of the type having a pair of outer clamping legs connected in a V-shape and a pair of inner clamping arms connected in a V-shape, the clamping legs being connected to the clamping arms along transverse webs and clamping portions extending inwardly from a top of the V-shape clamping legs and downwardly to a point between the V-shape clamping arms, a longitudinal slot being defined between the clamping portions, said clamping portions being twisted when the clamping arms and clamping legs are separated from one another by an article to be clipped, the improvement comprising: an extension element disposed between the clamping portions and the clamping arms, the extension element being clear of the longitudinal slot and having a length approximately equal to a length of the longitudinal slot, gaps being defined between the clamping arms and the clamping legs, the clamping arms and clamping legs each having constant width and thickness along their respective lengths, said gaps having parallel side edges and being parallel to one another, the gaps on each side of the clip defining a splaying angle of approximately 15 to 20 degrees.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The improved clip of claim 6, wherein said longitudinal slot extends at most over approximately one third of a length of the clip.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-04-09 | 1993-10-09 | 1994-04-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-09 | 1997-10-09 | 1998-04-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-09 | 2001-10-09 | 2002-04-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |