Paper clip

An improved paper clip for retaining at least two individual pieces of paper, together, comprising in combination

• a continuous U-shaped body having an upper wall and a lower wall spaced apart a distance and joined at one end by a junction portion,
• said upper wall having a cut-out portion formed therein, said cut-out portion having one surface thereof having an inclined surface formed therein,
• spring means mounted on said upper wall and recessed within said cut-out portion,
• said spring means further including an inclined section formed integrally therewith and positioned in cooperating relation with said inclined surface of said cut-out portion such that said inclined section frictionally engages said inclined surface,
• said spring means including paper piercing means formed thereon and extending downwardly therefrom in the direction of said lower wall,
• said spring means constructed to have an open position when retracted with said paper piercing means raised upwardly into said cut out portion, and a closed position when said spring means with said paper piercing means depressed downwardly such that said paper piercing means extends across the open space between said upper and lower walls respectively,
• said lower wall having a receiving slot formed therein and positioned in linear alignment with said paper piercing means when in the depressed and closed position,
• said receiving slot being dimensionally sized to frictionally receive said paper piercing means when inserted therein,
• whereby said paper clip may be operated to retain two or more pieces of paper together by simply inserting said pieces of paper into the open space between said upper wall and lower wall, and depressing said spring means such that said paper piercing means extends across said open space between said upper and lower wall, through the pieces of paper positioned therein, until said paper piercing means is received in said receiving slot and frictionally engaged therein, and the paper clip being designed to be removable by simply retracting said spring means into an upper open position thereby to remove said paper piercing means from engaging relationship with the pieces of paper positioned in the open space between said upper wall and lower wall respectively.