Spring clip

A spring clip is arranged to include confronting first and second clamp plates biased together by a spring member mounted between first and second actuator plates, with the actuator plates biased towards one another by the spring member. The first and second actuator plates are arranged in a parallel fixed relationship relative to the first and second clamp plates and pivotal relative to one another about an axle shaft. The first and second clamp plates include resilient engaging projections to enhance securement of a paper workpiece directed therebetween. Further, second actuator plates of a plurality of the spring clip members may be assembled together by utilizing fastener plugs directed through the respective second actuator plates.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The field of invention relates to paper clip structure, and more 
particularly pertains to a new and improved spring clip wherein the same 
is arranged to secure workpieces, and particularly flexible web workpieces 
together. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Clamp structure of various types have been utilized throughout the prior 
art to permit the securement and fastening of various paper webs together. 
Such clip structure is exemplified in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,618; 
4,594,016; 3,531,841; and U.S. Design Pat. No. 257,924. 
The mounting of various files together in a convenient and accessible 
manner as addressed by and exemplified in the prior art has heretofore 
been arranged to confront various problems in the association of such file 
structure. The instant invention attempts to overcome deficiencies of the 
prior art in addressing the securement of a plurality of clip members 
together, as well as the positive mounting of various filing webs to 
include sheets of paper and the present invention sets forth such 
structure in a convenient and compact organization and in this respect, 
the present invention sets forth improvements of the prior art not 
addressed therein. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of clamp 
structure now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a 
spring clip wherein the same is arranged to engage a paper web member 
between confronting projections of confronting clamp plates. As such, the 
general purpose of the present invention, which will be described 
subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved spring 
clip which has all the advantages of the prior art spring clip structure 
and none of the disadvantages. 
To attain this, the present invention provides a spring clip arranged to 
include confronting first and second clamp plates biased together by a 
spring member mounted between first and second actuator plates, with the 
actuator plates biased towards one another by the spring member. The first 
and second actuator plates are arranged in a parallel fixed relationship 
relative to one another about an axle shaft. The first and second clamp 
plates include resilient engaging projections to enhance securement of a 
paper workpiece directed therebetween. Further, second actuator plates of 
a plurality of the spring clip members may be assembled together by 
utilizing fastener plugs directed through the respective second actuator 
plates. 
My invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but rather in 
the particular combination of all of them herein disclosed and claimed and 
it is distinguished from the prior art in this particular combination of 
all of its structures for the functions specified. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, 
additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter 
and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which 
this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved spring clip which has all the advantages of the prior art spring 
clip structure and none of the disadvantages. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
spring clip which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved spring clip which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved spring clip which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture 
with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then 
susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making 
such spring clips economically available to the buying public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved spring clip which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the 
prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming 
some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 to 7 
thereof, a new and improved spring clip embodying the principles and 
concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the 
reference numeral 10 will be described. 
The FIGS. 1 and 2 indicate the use of the spring clip structure as set 
forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,618 to provide for clamping jaw structure to 
secure paper webs therebetween. 
More specifically, the spring clip 10 of the instant invention essentially 
comprises a first clamp plate 11 having a first clamp first end 12 spaced 
from a first clamp plate second end 13 in a parallel relationship, 
including a second end recess 14 directed into the first clamp plate 11 
from the second end 13 medially of the second end. A second end axle shaft 
15 is fixedly mounted with the first clamp plate second end extending 
colinearly therewith over the second end recess 14. A first actuator plate 
16 is fixedly mounted to the axle shaft 15 diametrically opposed to the 
mounting of the first clamp plate second end thereto, with the first 
actuator plate 16 having a first actuator plate first end 17, as noted 
above, mounted to the axle shaft 15, and a first actuator plate second end 
20 spaced from and parallel the first actuator plate first end 17. A first 
end recess 19 is directed into the first actuator plate 16 from the first 
end 17 medially thereof and at least coextensive with the second end 
recess 14. A second clamp plate 21 is provided having a second clamp plate 
first end spaced from and parallel a second clamp plate second end 22 and 
23 respectively. The sides of the second clamp plate 21 are canted from 
the first end 22 towards one another to the second end 23, with the second 
clamp plate second end positioned coextensive with the first recess and 
the second recess, having an axle shaft pivot tube 25 fixedly mounted to 
the second clamp plate second end 23 receiving the axle shaft therewithin. 
For purposes of illustration, the axle shaft pivot tube 25 is indicated as 
split, but it is to be understood that it is of a unitary construction 
when the clip structure is in an assembled configuration, such as 
indicated in the FIGS. 6 and 7 for example. 
The second actuator plate 28 is fixedly mounted to the pivot tube 25 
diametrically opposed to the second clamp plate, with the second actuator 
plate 28 arranged parallel relative to the second clamp plate 21, wherein 
similarly, the first actuator plate 16 is arranged parallel relative to 
the first clamp plate 11, such as indicated in FIG. 3. A second actuator 
plate first end 26 is spaced from and parallel a second actuator plate 27 
and as noted, the second actuator plate first end 26 is fixedly mounted 
diametrically opposed to the second clamp plate second end 23 about the 
pivot tube 25. A plurality of second end actuator plate apertures 30 are 
directed into the second actuator plate equally spaced from the second 
actuator plate second end 27 for purposes to be described in more detail 
below. A spring member 29 is interposed between confronting surfaces of 
the first actuator plate and the second actuator plate to bias the 
actuator plates together, in a manner as indicated in FIG. 3, wherein to 
receive a paper "P" between the first and second clamp plates, manual 
spreading of the first and second actuator plates in a spaced relationship 
relative to one another is required, as indicated in FIG. 4. 
First resilient bumper projections 31 are mounted to the first clamp plate 
spaced a predetermined spacing from the first clamp plate first end 12, 
with second resilient bumper projections 32 mounted to the second clamp 
plate an equal spacing from the second clamp plate first end, wherein the 
first and second projections 31 and 32 are each aligned with at least one 
of the second projections 32. 
The FIG. 6 indicates the use of first and second adhesive sheets 33 and 34 
arranged for securement to the first clamp plate second end 20, having a 
tube member 35 mounted thereto to receive a message plate therewithin for 
identification of various papers secured by the organization. 
The FIG. 7 indicates the use of resilient fastener plugs 36 arranged for 
securement to respective second actuator plates of adjacent spring clip 
members 10, wherein the resilient fastener plugs 36 each include 
projections to be received within coaxially aligned second actuator plate 
apertures 30 to secure the plurality of clip members together for the 
assemblage of plural groups of documents. 
As to the manner of usage and operation of the instant invention, the same 
should be apparent from the above disclosure, and accordingly no further 
discussion relative to the manner of usage and operation of the instant 
invention shall be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.