clip

Abstract

To provide a clip which can be used for various purposes and is integrally formed by one material to reduce labor during manufacturing and disposal.SOLUTION: A clip is formed by one bar and the bar is deformed to define four areas comprising sandwiching parts 13, 33, a fulcrum part 21, short shaft parts 14, 34, and long shaft parts 12, 32. The clip sandwiches an object to be sandwiched with the pair of sandwiching parts 13, 33. The bar is bent into a coil shape to form the fulcrum part 21, and the fulcrum part 21 and the individual sandwiching parts 13, 33 are connected by the short shaft parts 14, 34. Further, the pair of long shaft parts 12, 32 extending from the sandwiching parts 13, 33 are arranged so as to sandwich an outer periphery of the fulcrum part 21. The structure enables the sandwiching parts 13, 33 to be displaced by operating the long shaft parts 12, 32. A stable reaction force is obtained by the coil shaped fulcrum part 21. Additionally, displacement magnitudes of the long shaft parts 12, 32 are sufficiently secured. Thus, the clip is not subject to restrictions on its use and can be used in various fields.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a clip used when holding various objects such as a plurality of sheets of paper or laundry after washing.

Background Art

[0002] A clip is a daily necessity that can sandwich various objects such as a plurality of sheets of paper. There are various types according to the application. Among them, the gem clip has a structure in which a wire-shaped bar is formed into an oval shape and is often used when bundling relatively thin objects such as several sheets of paper. Also, the ball clip and the double clip are often used when bundling thicker objects such as dozens of sheets of paper and have a structure that can be opened and closed based on the lever principle. When the knob portion is pushed in with a finger or the like, the clamping portion on the opposite side opens, and various objects can be sandwiched therein. In addition, for laundry clips, it is necessary to balance preventing damage to clothes and ensuring holding power, and many have a structure combining synthetic resin and metal. Regarding the technical development of such clips, specific examples of those mainly composed of bars such as wires are listed in the following patent documents.

[0003] In Patent Document 1, a clip that is easy to use and has versatility is disclosed. This clip is formed by bending a single metal wire and is composed of three elements: a pair of clamping pieces, an extension extending from each individual clamping piece, and a tightening portion located near the boundary between the clamping piece and the extension. Among them, the tightening portion is formed in an elongated annular shape. Through this tightening portion, a portion near the base end of the clamping piece passes. In addition, the pair of extensions are shaped such that the interval gradually widens as they move away from the tightening portion. By sandwiching the pair of extensions with a finger or the like, the pair of clamping pieces open with the tightening portion as a fulcrum, and various articles can be held therebetween.

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses a clip that is easy to operate and designed for ease of use. This clip consists of two elements: one member formed from a rod such as a metal wire in an annular shape, and the other member formed from the same rod in a U-shape. Both the one member and the other member are provided with clamping ends and base ends. Furthermore, the other member has symmetrically formed branch-like protruding ring portions, and by wrapping these ring portions around the one member, the one member and the other member become integrated in a displaceable state. When the base ends of both the one member and the other member are pulled together with fingers or the like, the opposing clamping ends open up. The force that presses the clamping ends together is generated by the elastic deformation near the ring portions. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-99496 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-277768 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] Bulldog clips and binder clips are composed of multiple parts, which increases the effort required during manufacturing. Furthermore, when disposing of such clips, disassembly is sometimes required to facilitate recycling, but during this process, the accumulated elastic deformation may cause parts to unexpectedly pop out, potentially leading to unforeseen problems. Therefore, it is desirable to construct the entire clip from a single part, as described in Patent Document 1. However, due to its structure, Patent Document 1 makes it difficult to increase the closing force between the pair of clamping pieces, and it is also difficult to enlarge the opening between the pair of clamping pieces, which may limit its applications.

[0007] This invention was developed based on these circumstances, and aims to provide a clip that can be used for a variety of purposes and is integrally formed from a single material to reduce the effort involved in manufacturing and disposal. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The invention described in claim 1, for solving the aforementioned problems, is a clip made of a single rod, having a pair of clamping parts for clamping an object to be clamped, the pair of clamping parts being connected via a pivot point, each of the clamping parts being formed by bending the rod approximately 180 degrees, one end of which is connected to a short axis part toward the pivot point, and the other end of which is connected to a long axis part that passes near the pivot point and extends beyond there, the pivot point being... The clamping parts are formed by bending them into a coil shape, and each of the short shafts is connected to the pivot point, and the pair of short shafts are arranged to face each other, sandwiching the coil-shaped pivot point, and the reaction force generated by the elastic deformation of the pivot point allows the pair of clamping parts to close, and the pair of long shafts are arranged to sandwich the outer circumference of the pivot point, and when the tips of the pair of long shafts are brought close together, the long shafts come into contact with the pivot point and the pair of clamping parts open Furthermore, a portion of the aforementioned rod material has its cross-sectional shape altered by pressing or cutting, and guide grooves are formed at the contact points between the long axis portion and the pivot point portion to prevent separation. It is characterized by the following:

[0009] The clip according to the present invention can be manufactured simply by deforming a single rod, and in this respect, it is the same as a conventional paperclip. However, in the present invention, it is desirable to use a rod that is thicker than that of a paperclip from the viewpoint of ensuring strength. Furthermore, the material of the rod can be freely selected from metals such as iron and aluminum, as well as synthetic resins and wood, as long as the original function can be ensured. The single rod is given names for each area according to its function, and is specifically divided into a clamping part, a pivot part, a short axis part, and a long axis part.

[0010] The clamping parts are the components for gripping various objects, and are necessarily arranged in pairs facing each other. The distance between them can be changed by manual manipulation. Furthermore, the rod material is pre-formed with elastic deformation to firmly grip the object being clamped, and the reaction force allows the pair of clamping parts to be kept closed at all times. The fulcrum plays the role of connecting the pair of clamping parts, and each clamping part is connected to the fulcrum, so that the pair of clamping parts always maintains an opposing state.

[0011] Each clamping section is formed by bending a rod by approximately 180 degrees. Therefore, the clamping section consists of two rows of rods, both extending toward the fulcrum. However, the section beyond the clamping section is referred to as the short axis section and the long axis section, with the short axis section connected to the fulcrum. Thus, the reaction force generated by the elastic deformation of the fulcrum is transmitted to the clamping section via the short axis section, allowing the pair of clamping sections to close. The long axis section, on the other hand, does not connect to the fulcrum, but passes near the fulcrum and extends beyond it.

[0012] The pivot point connects the pair of clamping parts, and each clamping part is connected to the pivot point via the short axis as described above. The pivot point also serves as the source of the force required to keep the pair of clamping parts closed at all times. Therefore, the pivot point is constructed by bending a rod into a coil shape, and like a normal coil spring, it generates a reaction force when a twist is applied around its center. This reaction force displaces the clamping parts via the short axis, allowing the pair of clamping parts to close. The detailed shape of the pivot point is flexible, and there is no limit to the number of turns. In addition, instead of making the pivot point a simple coil shape, it is also possible to make a form in which the rod is folded back midway, resulting in a cut on the circumferential surface that extends in a coil shape.

[0013] Since the short shafts extend from each clamping section, two short shafts reach the pivot point. These two short shafts are positioned opposite each other, straddling the center of the coil-bent pivot point, and each is connected to the pivot point. Therefore, when the pair of clamping sections are displaced in the opening direction, torsion is applied to the pivot point, and this elastic deformation generates a reaction force that tries to close the pair of clamping sections.

[0014] The tip of each long shaft extends from the pivot point to the opposite side of the clamping section. In addition, the long shafts are positioned so as to contact the outer circumference of the pivot point. Moreover, the two long shafts are positioned opposite each other, straddling the center of the coiled pivot point, just like the short shafts mentioned above. Therefore, when the tips of the two long shafts are brought closer together, the long shafts come into contact with the pivot point, and this contact point functions as the pivot point of the long shafts. In the section from the pivot point to the clamping section, the two long shafts are displaced in a direction away from each other, inevitably causing the pair of clamping sections to open, allowing the object to be clamped to be inserted between them. At that time, the short shafts are also displaced along with the clamping sections, so a twisting force is applied to the pivot point, and the object to be clamped is gripped by the reaction force.

[0015] In this way, by constructing the clip from a single rod, when it is time to dispose of it after its use is complete, the entire structure can be utilized as a resource without the need for disassembly or other work. Furthermore, by bending the rod to form a coil shape at the pivot point, a stable reaction force can be obtained, allowing the pair of clamping parts to close tightly. In addition, since the pair of long shafts are positioned to sandwich the pivot point, it is easy to widen the gap between them, ensuring sufficient displacement and allowing the pair of clamping parts to open wide.

[0016] Also, Claim 1The described invention aims to improve convenience and is characterized in that a portion of the rod material has a modified cross-sectional shape achieved by pressing or cutting. The cross-sectional shape of the rod material can be freely determined, but it is usually circular in shape due to availability and other considerations. In this invention, the contact points with the fingers and the gripping parts are also made solely of rod material, so with a circular cross-section rod material, the contact area with the fingers and the object being gripped is suppressed, and slippage is more likely to occur. Therefore, by changing the cross-sectional shape of the rod material as in this invention, the contact area and friction with the fingers and the object being gripped can be increased, thereby improving convenience. Pressing involves causing plastic deformation in the rod material, and cutting includes cutting out grooves for anti-slip purposes.

[0017] Also, Claim 1 The described invention specifies the relationship between the long shaft portion and the pivot portion, and is characterized in that guide grooves are formed at the contact points of both to prevent the long shaft portion and the pivot portion from separating. The long shaft portion extending from the clamping portion is positioned to contact the outer circumference of the pivot portion, and as a result, when the tips of the pair of long shaft portions are brought closer together, the long shaft portion will be displaced with the contact point with the pivot portion as the pivot point. In this case, if the long shaft portion slips off the outer circumference of the pivot portion, the long shaft portion will not be able to perform its intended function, and the pair of clamping portions will not be able to open.

[0018] Therefore, by forming a guide groove at the contact point between the long shaft and the pivot point, either the long shaft or the pivot point will fit into the groove, preventing the long shaft from detaching from the pivot point, thus ensuring that it can reliably perform its intended function. Note that the guide groove only needs to be formed on either the long shaft or the pivot point. Furthermore, it is desirable that the rod material constituting the clip has a certain thickness so that this guide groove can perform its intended function. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] Like the invention described in claim 1, the clip is composed of a single bar, and this bar is deformed and partitioned into four regions consisting of a clamping portion, a fulcrum portion, a short-axis portion, and a long-axis portion. In addition to clamping an object to be clamped with a pair of clamping portions, the fulcrum portion is bent into a coil shape, the clamping portion and the fulcrum portion are connected by the short-axis portion, and a pair of long-axis portions extending from the clamping portion are arranged so as to sandwich the outer periphery of the fulcrum portion. By operating the tip side of the long-axis portion, the clamping portion can be displaced. In the present invention, the entire clip can be manufactured with only a single bar. When disposing of it after its use, operations such as disassembling are unnecessary, and the whole can be utilized as a resource.

[0020] The fulcrum portion is configured by bending the bar into a coil shape. Similar to a normal coil spring, when torsion about its center axis is applied, a stable reaction force due to elastic deformation can be obtained, and a pair of clamping portions can be strongly closed. In addition, since a pair of long-axis portions are arranged so as to sandwich the outer periphery of the fulcrum portion, it is easy to widen the interval therebetween. When operating the tip side of the long-axis portion, a sufficient displacement amount can be ensured, so that a pair of clamping portions can be widely opened. As a result, there is no restriction by the application, and it can be used in various fields.

[0021] Also, Claim 1 Like the invention described in the claim, by changing the cross-sectional shape of a partial section of the bar by pressing or cutting and forming a flat portion or the like, the contact area with a finger or an object to be clamped can be increased. At the same time, by continuously forming fine grooves or the like, the friction is increased, the slippage with a finger or an object to be clamped can be prevented, and the convenience is improved.

[0022] Also, Claim 1 Like the invention described in the claim, in order to prevent the separation between the long-axis portion and the fulcrum portion, guide grooves are formed at the contact portions of both, so that when the tip sides of a pair of long-axis portions are approached, either one of the long-axis portion and the fulcrum portion fits into the guide groove, preventing the long-axis portion from slipping off the outer periphery of the fulcrum portion. Therefore, the long-axis portion can surely exhibit its original function and does not cause malfunction.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view showing a shape example of the clip according to the present invention. Above the figure, the closed state of the clip is depicted. In the middle of the figure, the state where the clip is divided at the fulcrum is depicted. Below the figure, the open state of the clip is depicted. [Figure 2] It is a perspective view showing the details of the clip of FIG. 1. Below the figure, the cross-section of the contact portion between the long-axis portion and the fulcrum is enlarged and depicted. [Figure 3] It is a perspective view showing a clip having a shape different from that of FIG. 1. Here, the fulcrum is not in a simple coil shape, but has a fold provided in a bar in the middle, and has a cut on the circumferential surface extending in a coil shape.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0026] The long shaft portion 12 extending from the upper clamping portion 13 extends diagonally upward, similar to the adjacent short shaft portion 14, but eventually extends horizontally, passing through the pivot point portion 21 and continuing beyond it. The tip end of the long shaft portion 12 is deformed in a crushing manner to provide a flat lever portion 11. Furthermore, the long shaft portion 12 extending from the upper clamping portion 13 is positioned adjacent to the upper part of the coil-shaped pivot point portion 21. At the contact point between the long shaft portion 12 and the pivot point portion 21, a guide groove 25 is formed by locally recessing the pivot point portion 21, and the long shaft portion 12 fits into this groove, preventing it from detaching from the pivot point portion 21.

[0027] The long shaft portion 32 extending from the lower clamping portion 33 extends diagonally downward, then horizontally, passing through the pivot point portion 21 and continuing beyond it, with a lever portion 31 formed at its tip. The long shaft portion 32 is positioned adjacent to the lower part of the pivot point portion 21, and a guide groove 25 is formed at the contact point between the long shaft portion 32 and the pivot point portion 21, creating a locally recessed area in the pivot point portion 21 to prevent the long shaft portion 32 from detaching from the pivot point portion 21. The pair of lever portions 11 and 31 are manually operated when opening the pair of clamping portions 13 and 33, and are finished in this flat shape to alleviate pressure acting on fingers or other body parts.

[0028] As shown in the lower part of this diagram, when the pair of lever parts 11 and 31 are pinched together with fingers or the like and brought closer, the individual long shaft parts 12 and 32 are displaced around the point of contact with the pivot part 21, causing the pair of clamping parts 13 and 33 to open, allowing the object to be clamped to be inserted between them. When the pair of clamping parts 13 and 33 open, the pair of short shaft parts 14 and 34 are also displaced, causing a twist to be applied to the pivot part 21. Therefore, when the operation of the lever parts 11 and 31 is released, the reaction force of the elastic deformation generated in the pivot part 21 causes the pair of clamping parts 13 and 33 to displace in the closing direction, allowing the object to be clamped to be held. To strengthen the clamping of the object to be clamped, it is desirable to apply a twist to the pivot part 21 during the manufacturing stage of the clip to generate a constant reaction force.

[0029] Figure 2 shows details of the clip in Figure 1. This clip is made of a single rod with a circular cross-section, and its lever portions 11, 31 and clamping portions 13, 33 also initially have a circular cross-section as shown in the figure. However, these parts are flattened by pressing the rod during the manufacturing process. In addition, at the contact points between the long shaft portions 12, 32 and the pivot portion 21, a guide groove 25 is formed on the pivot portion 21, and as shown in the lower part of the figure, the long shaft portions 12, 32 fit into the guide groove 25, preventing them from detaching from the pivot portion 21. The pivot portion 21 is made by bending the rod into a coil shape as shown in the figure. Therefore, in this section, the rods are adjacent to each other, and a valley is inevitably formed at the boundary between the rods, into which the long shaft portions 12, 32 can be fitted, preventing them from detaching.

[0030] Figure 3 shows a clip with a different shape from Figure 1. Here, the pivot point 21 is not a simple coil shape, but has a bend in the rod midway, and has a cut in the circumferential surface that extends in a coil shape. Thus, the pivot point 21 is based on the premise that the rod is bent into a coil shape, but it can be made into a shape with a bend that makes a U-turn midway, as shown in this figure, rather than a simple coil shape as in Figure 1, and has a cut. Even in this case, the right side of the pivot point 21 connects the top and bottom without interruption, and the pair of clamping parts 13 and 33 are connected at the pivot point 21. In addition, to prevent the long shaft parts 12 and 32 from detaching from the pivot point 21, a guide groove 25 is formed in the pivot point 21, as in Figure 1.

[0031] The clip in this diagram has its clamping parts 13 and 33 formed in an "Ω" shape to widen its width, allowing it to grip larger objects. In addition, the surfaces of the pair of clamping parts 13 and 33 that come into contact with the object being clamped are knurled for anti-slip purposes. The lever parts 11 and 31 are not oval-shaped as in Figure 1, but are simpler circles, and the surfaces that come into contact with the fingers are also knurled for anti-slip purposes. Thus, the shapes of the lever parts 11 and 31 and the clamping parts 13 and 33 can be freely determined according to the application. Furthermore, the pivot point 21 is designed to be bent into a coil shape, but its form and size can also be freely determined. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0032] 11 Lever section 12 Long shaft part 13 Clamping part 14 Short shaft part 21. Support point 25 Guide groove 31 Lever section 32 Long shaft part 33 Clamping part 34 Short shaft part

Claims

[Claim 1] A clip made of a single rod, having a pair of clamping parts (13, 33) for gripping an object to be clamped, the pair of clamping parts (13, 33) are connected via a pivot point (21), Each of the clamping portions (13, 33) is formed by bending the rod material by approximately 180 degrees, with a short axis portion (14, 34) connected to one end toward the pivot point portion (21), and a long axis portion (12, 32) connected to the other end passing near the pivot point portion (21) and extending beyond it. The pivot point (21) is formed by bending the rod into a coil shape, and each of the short shaft portions (14, 34) is connected to the pivot point (21). The pair of short shaft portions (14, 34) are arranged to face each other, sandwiching the coil-bent pivot point (21), and the reaction force generated by the elastic deformation of the pivot point (21) can close the pair of clamping portions (13, 33). The pair of long shaft portions (12, 32) are arranged to sandwich the outer circumference of the pivot portion (21), and when the tips of the pair of long shaft portions (12, 32) are brought closer together, the long shaft portions (12, 32) come into contact with the pivot portion (21) and the pair of clamping portions (13, 33) open. A portion of the aforementioned bar material has had its cross-sectional shape altered by pressing or cutting. A clip characterized in that guide grooves (25) are formed at the contact points between the long shaft portion (12, 32) and the pivot portion (21) in order to prevent them from separating.

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