Abstract:
A series of embodiments of a paper clip with index tab enables a relatively large clip to perform double duty as a sheet fastener and also for holding an index tab to the edge(s) of the sheet(s). The clip includes a relatively long, straight medial spine disposed parallel and adjacent to the edge(s) of the sheet(s) when the clip is secured thereto. An index tab is secured around the spine and extends outwardly away from the sheet(s) to make visible any data thereon. The tab may be opaque and may contain the index data upon the face thereof, or may be a transparent or translucent hollow sleeve with removable index tag installed therein.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to temporarily attachable and removable clips and other fasteners for sheet material. More specifically, the present invention relates to a paper clip with an integral index tab.  
         [0003]     2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART  
         [0004]     The general concept of placing some form of index or identification tab or label upon a sheet material fastener has been known for some time. Various such devices include binder clips and paper clips having tabs permanently or removably secured thereto. Most, if not all, such devices either (1) conceal the index tab below the edge of the sheets so that it cannot be seen when placed upon any but the front sheet in a series of papers; or (2) where the tab extends beyond the edges of the sheets, it does not allow the fastener to completely grip the sheets.  
         [0005]     An example of such a clip is shown in German Patent Publication No. 3,322,757, published on Jan. 3, 1985, titled in English as “Tab for index cards, files or the like.” The device uses a clip that passes through an information-carrying strip having upper and lower slots therein for the clip. The strip may be written upon and the assembly clipped to the edge(s) of the file(s) as appropriate. The strip is discarded when no longer needed. Much of the area of the strip is wasted, as it is concealed between sheets of material when attached thereto.  
         [0006]     Another device is shown in International Patent No. WO 95/19023 published on Jul. 13, 1995, having the English title “Label Support Adaptable To Any Paper Clip System.” This device comprises a relatively complex, three leaved sheet that forms a pocket into which a clip is inserted. The sheet may be written upon, and the assembly clipped to the edge(s) of document(s) or the like. This configuration conceals most of the tag between document sheets; most of it is not visible unless displayed on the front sheet.  
         [0007]     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a paper clip with index tab solving the aforementioned problems is desired.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The paper clip with index tab enables a relatively large clip to perform double duty as a sheet fastener and also for holding an index tab to the edge(s) of the sheet(s). The clip used with the present device includes a relatively long, straight medial spine disposed parallel and adjacent to the edge(s) of the sheet(s) when the clip is secured thereto. An index tab is secured around the spine and extends outwardly away from the sheet(s) to make visible any data thereon. The tab may be opaque and may contain the index data upon the face thereof, or may be a transparent or translucent hollow sleeve having a removable index tag installed therein.  
         [0009]     These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a paper clip with index tab according to the present invention used on file folders in a filing cabinet.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is an environmental front elevation view of a series of files, illustrating the placement of a paper clip with index tab of the present invention thereon, showing the index tabs extending visibly beyond the edges of the sheets.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the paper clip with index tab of the present invention, showing installation of the index tab upon the clip.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a paper clip with index tab according to the present invention, showing installation of a hollow sleeve type tab with removable tag to the clip.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a paper clip with index tab according to the present invention, wherein the clip is of a different type than the clips of  FIGS. 1 through 4 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is an environmental side elevation view showing details of the attachment of a hollow sleeve type tab to a clip and the securing together of plural sheets by means of the clip. 
     
    
       [0016]     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]     The present invention comprises a series of embodiments of a clip having an index tab attached thereto, and providing for the complete display of the tab beyond the edge of a sheet(s) to which the clip has been attached while still permitting complete seating of the clip against the edge of the sheet(s). Various types of clips may be used to form a part of the present invention. Also, various types of index tabs may be used to form a part of the clip and tab structure, e.g. opaque tabs providing a writing surface or otherwise marked thereon, or tabs having transparent or translucent sleeves for the removable insertion of an index tag therein.  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  of the drawings shows a filing cabinet C with a series of files F therein, with each of the files F identified with one of the present clip and tab assemblies  10 .  FIG. 2  provides a front elevation view of a series of files F superimposed over one another, with a corresponding series of the clip and tab assemblies  10  secured to their respective upper edges E. This arrangement is essentially the same as the arrangement of the files F in the file cabinet C illustrated in  FIG. 1  of the drawings.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  provides an exploded perspective view of a first clip and index tab embodiment  10 . The clip  12  is formed of a springy wire and includes a generally medial, straight spine portion  14  having opposite first and second ends  16  and  18 . Each end  16  and  18  has a leg extending generally diagonally therefrom, respectively first leg  20  and second leg  22 . The two legs  20  and  22  cross and overlap to define a sheet gripping interstice  24  therebetween (shown in  FIG. 6 ). Each of the two legs  20  and  22  further includes a doubler, respectively  26  and  28 , which extends from the distal end of each of the legs and back toward the respective ends  16  and  18  of the spine portion  14 . This clip configuration is exemplary, and other configurations having a straight spine portion for attachment of the index tab may be used as well. The clip  12  will be recognized as the type of clip often referred to as the Ideal paper clip, Ideal paper clamp. Butterfly paper clip (or clamp), etc., characterized by the two diagonal overlapping triangles that permit clamping onto thick stacks of paper.  
         [0020]     An index tab sheet  30  wraps around the spine  14  of the clip  12  to adhesively secure the sheet  30  permanently to the clip  12 . The sheet  30  includes opposite first and second leaves, respectively  32  and  34 , which fold together and adhere to one another by means of the adhesively coated first surface  36  of at least one of the leaves  32  and/or  34 . The opposite second surface  38  of the sheet  30  provides an opaque recording surface for the notation of various indicia thereon, e.g., letters of the alphabet, numbers, dates, subject headings (either full or abbreviated), docket or case numbers or names, symbols, etc., as desired. The index tab sheets  30  may be formed of any practicable material as desired, e.g., paper, plastic, leather, or even metal, if so desired. A thin stiffener may be inserted between the two leaves  32  and  34  where more flexible materials are used for the tab sheet  30 , if so desired. Alternatively, the two leaves  32  and  34  may be secured together by wrapping them with a short length of transparent or translucent adhesive tape, if so desired.  
         [0021]     When the tab  30  has been secured to the spine  14  of the clip  12 , the two joined leaves  32  and  34  extend essentially opposite the sheet gripping interstice  24  of the clip  12 . This results in the tab  30  extending beyond the edge(s) E of the file(s) F or other sheet(s) to which the clip  12  has been secured for ease of viewing of the tab and any information thereon, while allowing the clip  12  to seat completely over the file(s) or sheet(s) with the spine  14  of the clip resting immediately adjacent the edge(s) of the file(s) or sheet(s), a shown clearly in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of the present clip and tab assembly, designated as clip and tab  100 . The clip  12  is identical to the clip  12  of  FIG. 3 , having a spine  14  with opposed first and second ends  16  and  18 , first and second legs  20  and  22  extending from the ends  16  and  18  of the spine  14  to cross one another and define an interstice  24  therebetween, and first and second doublers  26  and  28  extending from their respective legs  20  and  22 . However, the index tab  102  differs from the index tab  10  of  FIG. 3 , in that the tab  102  comprises a hollow, flattened tube or sleeve  104  having at least one translucent side  106 . The tab  102  also includes a leaf  108  having an adhesively coated surface  110 , which wraps about the spine  14  of the clip  12  to adhesively secure the tab  102  thereto. The leaf  108  may also be formed of a transparent or translucent material unitarily with the sleeve  104 , and may wrap over the face of the sleeve  104  and secure adhesively thereto to secure the tab  102  permanently in place on the clip  12 . Alternatively, the leaf  108  may extend only along the lower edge of the translucent or transparent sleeve  104 , remaining clear of the majority of the area of the sleeve  104  and particularly its transparent or translucent viewing surface or side  106 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . Alternatively, transparent or translucent adhesive tape (not shown) may be used to secure the leaf  108  to the sleeve  104 , and/or to secure the tab  102  to the spine  14  of the clip  12 .  
         [0023]     The hollow transparent or translucent sleeve  104  of the tab  102  of  FIG. 4  allows the information displayed with the tab  102  to be changed or modified as desired. The information is contained on an indicia recording tag  112 , which may be removably installed within the sleeve  104  and viewed through the transparent or translucent side or surface  106  of the tab  102 . The tag  112  may be removed and replaced with a new tag as the need arises, e.g. when a case is closed and a new case opened or for any other reason as desired or required.  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  illustrates a different paper clip embodiment from that disclosed in  FIGS. 1 through 4 . The clip  200  of  FIG. 5  is also formed of a springy wire and includes a straight, generally medial spine  202  having opposed first and second ends  204  and  206 . However, the clip  200  of  FIG. 5  differs from the clip  100  of  FIGS. 1 through 4  and  6 , in that the first and second legs  208  and  210  each have a first segment, respectively  212  and  214 , extending generally orthogonally from their respective spine ends  204  and  206 . A second segment, respectively  216  and  218 , extends from the distal end of each first segment  212  and  214 , and is angled inwardly toward the opposite leg. Each second segment  216  and  218  terminates in a coil, respectively  220  and  222 , with the two coils  220  and  222  overlapping one another to define a sheet gripping interstice therebetween, similar to the interstice  24  shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0025]     The tab  102  illustrated with the clip  200  of the  FIG. 5  embodiment has essentially the same configuration as the tab  102  illustrated in detail in  FIG. 4 , having a sleeve  104  with at least one transparent or translucent side or surface  106  and an attachment leaf  108 , which wraps about the spine  202  of the clip  200 . An index tag  112  or the like is removably installed within the sleeve  104  to identify the file or other sheet(s) to which the clip  200  is attached. While the tab  102  and its tag  112  are shown somewhat narrower than the length of the spine  202  of the clip  200  of  FIG. 5 , it will be understood that the tab  102  and its tag  112  could have substantially the same width as the length of the spine  202 , or could even be somewhat wider with a narrower attachment leaf  108  wrapping about the spine  202  between the two leg first segments  212  and  214 . Alternatively, the index tag  30  configuration illustrated in  FIG. 3  could be used with the clip  200  embodiment of  FIG. 5 , if so desired.  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  illustrates the operation of the present paper clip and index tab invention, showing a first embodiment clip  12  secured to the upper edge E of a series of file sheets F. A hollow sleeve type tab  102  is adhesively secured to the spine  14  of the clip  12 , with the height or span of the sleeve  104  extending substantially opposite the plane of the interstice  24  to position the tab  102  visibly beyond the edge(s) E of the file sheets F. Yet, the spine  14  of the clip  12  is positioned essentially immediately adjacent to and in contact with the spine  14  of the clip  12  (neglecting the thickness of the wrapped leaf  108  of the tab  102 ), thereby assuring maximal grip for the clip  12  on the file(s) F.  
         [0027]     The tabs are quite inexpensive, and may be preprinted with letters of the alphabet (or other characters from non-Roman alphabets), numbers, dates, symbols, codes, colors, etc., as desired to differentiate different files from one another when attached thereto. The tabs themselves may be formed of any practicable material in opaque form, with a clear or translucent plastic being used for the embodiment having a sleeve with removable index tag. The paper clip with index tab may also be provided in kit form, with the user marking and fastening the tabs to the clips as desired.  
         [0028]     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.