BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Clips are well known for holding various items and especially planar-type items such as sheets of paper, paper currency, credit cards and the like. Persistent problems with many known clips include the difficulty of manually opening the clip. Operating levers in one form or another are utilized to enhance the ability to open the clip and insert the contents. These types of clips are widely accepted and function well except that they tend to be somewhat difficult and expensive to manufacture.

Therefore, there is a need for a clip which is easy and convenient to open, but is inexpensive to manufacture thereby resulting in a lower retail price so as to be attractive to a wide variety of consumers.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

By this invention, a clip is provided for holding a variety of items such as folding currency and credit cards and includes a pair of spring arms integrally joined along proximate side edges to a base plate with a top and a bottom integrally joined respectively to the distal side edges of the spring arms and being angularly disposed inwardly of the clip. An aperture is formed in the top in proximity to the free end of the top and a detent is formed in the bottom generally opposite the aperture. A platform is integrally formed on the upper surface of the top with a portion enveloping the aperture and with a thumb ridge formed on the platform adjacent the proximate portion of the aperture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the clip according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view shown from the bottom side of the clip;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view; FIG. 6 is an end elevational view taken from the right side of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view showing contents contained within the clip

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 9-9 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the clip; and

FIG. 11 is a side-elevational view of the clip shown in FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the drawings and with particular reference to FIG. 1, the clip in one form, according to this invention, is shown and includes spring arms 1 and 2 joined along their outer or proximate side edges to base plate 3. Top 4 and bottom 5 are integrally joined, respectively, to the inner or distal edges of spring arms 1 and 2 and extend angularly inwardly toward each other. The angular disposition of base plate 3 with respect to spring arms 1 and 2 provides added inward tension to top 4 and bottom 5. As best shown in FIGS. 1-3, for ease of manipulation, the free or distal end of top 4 overlaps the corresponding end of bottom 5. According to this invention, recessed detent 6 is formed on the inside surface of bottom 5 in general proximity to the free end thereof and elongated aperture 7 is formed in top 4 generally opposite detent 6.

According to a further feature of this invention, platform 8 is integrally joined to the upper surface of top 4. The distal end of platform 8 is open and encircles aperture 7 with finger ridge 9 formed therein adjacent the inner periphery of aperture 7. Portion 8a of platform 8 is of a given thickness and portion 8b of platform 8 encircling aperture 7 is of a lesser thickness the result of which is finger ridge 9 formed at the junction of portion 8a and portion 8b adjacent the inner edge of aperture 7. As best shown in FIG. 9, there is a void or pocket formed in portion 8a of platform 8 above top 4. This feature serves to reduce the overall weight of the clip and add spring tension to the clip.

Also, as best shown in FIG. 9, the periphery of aperture 7 formed in top 4 is angled inwardly from the bottom surface of top 4 and then extends vertically upward perpendicular to planar top 4 through portion 8b of platform 8. The inward orientation of substantially the lower half of the periphery of portion 8a enhances sliding of the clip contents both in and out of the clip. In order to prevent snagging of the contents of the clip on the lower edge of aperture 7 as they are inserted into and withdrawn from the clip, the lower edge of aperture 7 is machine polished to form a smooth somewhat rounded surface around the bottom edge of aperture 7.

A further embodiment of the clip, according to this invention, is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 wherein modified platform 10 is integrally formed on the upper surface of top 4 and is tapered upwardly extending distally of the clip from spring arm 1. Similar to platform 8, shown in FIGS. 1-8, platform 10 extends around the periphery of aperture 7. The upward taper of platform 10 results in finger ridge 11 formed along the peripheral edge of aperture 7.

Elongated raised parallel gripping bars 12 are formed on the outer surface of platform 8 in general proximity to the junction between spring arm 1 and top 4 and on the outer surface of bottom 5 in general proximity to the junction between spring arm 2 and bottom 5.

In operation, since the free end of top 4 extends beyond the free end of bottom 5, the user conveniently places desired contents under the lip of top 4 and, with the free hand holding the clip, inserts a finger through aperture 7 and presses on detent 6 so as to apply pressure to bottom 5 and thereby separate top 4 from bottom 5 so that the contents of the clip are easily inserted therebetween. When the manual pressure applied to bottom 5 is released, the spring force resulting from the inward tension of spring arms 1 and 2 causes top 4 and bottom 5 to close together thereby holding the contents securely within the clip.

An advantage of the clip, according to this invention, includes the angular disposition between spring arms 1 and 2 and the respective top 4 and bottom 5 which results in an increased tension force urging top 4 and bottom 5 together. Such increase in the closing force between top 4 and bottom 5 is not possible with a conventional rounded clip connecting throat.

In addition, the location of aperture 7 in proximity to the free end of top 4 allows for increased leverage in opening the clip and the location of detent 6 generally opposite aperture 7 ensures the proper location of the downward force during opening of the clip.

Finger ridge 9 allows the user to apply additional pressure on the clip during the opening operation. When it is desired to remove contents from the clip, the user can employ one hand to grip the edges of the contents in the clip and, with the other hand, grip raised bars 12 which provide additional manual gripping friction on the clip as the contents are pulled away from the clip. Alternatively, it may be more comfortable and convenient to apply pressure to finger ridge 9 and, with the other hand, simply grasp and withdraw the contents from the clip. Therefore, by this invention, a clip is provided which is easy and convenient to use and is inexpensive to manufacture.