Clip
AssigneeInnoverce Engineering Ltd.
InventorsJulian Claude Peck, Jack Harvie-Clark, Kathryn Young
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bistable clip suitable for clipping sheaves of paper, made from sheet metal with at least one hole in its upper surface (3), which toggles between a stable open position (for putting papers in or taking papers out) and a stable closed position (for gripping the papers), and which comprises a spine (2) stiffened to some degree by the shaping of the material in the spine (2).
Claims15
A clip comprising a single piece of material folded around a bend axis extending in a first direction to form first and second members (3, 1) coupled at a fold (2), said clip arranged to receive an item or items to be held between said first and second members (3, 1), said first member (3) having an aperture (6) therein with at least some of the material around said aperture (6) being plastically deformed whereby said first member (3) has a first position of stability in which at least regions proximal to the free end (8) of said first member (3) have a generally convex shape and a second position of stability in which at least regions proximal to the free end (8) of said first member (3) have a generally concave shape, in which said fold (2) comprises a first cross-section orthogonal to said first direction and a second cross-section parallel to said first cross-section and displaced in said first direction from said first cross-section, characterized in that:
- an internal radius of curvature of said first cross-section is smaller than an internal radius of curvature of said second cross-section and an external radius of curvature of said first cross-section is smaller than an external radius of curvature of said second cross-section, and also, for any said first cross section having a smaller internal radius of curvature than any other cross section parallel to said first cross section, the external radius of curvature of said first cross section is also smaller than the external radius of curvature of said any other cross section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.