Abstract:
A clip is provided with two wings pivoting about a common axis and a biasing spring forcing the wings toward a closed position to grab sheets of paper or other articles. The clip can be mounted on a board, a metallic surface, etc. One wing is formed with a large opening or window and a panel with multiple surfaces is rotatably supported within the window. The various surfaces are provided with different images and other information.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    none 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    This application pertains to a clip that can be used by itself or that can be mounted on a clip board, the clip having a movable or rotating panel. 
         [0004]    B. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    Currently there are several different types of clips available on the market for various purposes. For example, magnetic clips are available that can be mounted on a refrigerator or other magnetic surface. Other clips are integrated into clipboards. However, either way, these clips can be used to hold several sheets of paper or other similar, relatively flat articles. These clips may have a front face on which various information may be provided, such as the name of a company, instructions for various operations, the name of the owner or user of the clip and so on. However, because the clips are in a highly visible place, producers of clips would prefer to have a larger area then presently possible for presenting more or different kinds of information to the users. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Briefly, a clip is provided with two wings. The two wings are biased toward each other to form a pressure nip for sheets of paper or other articles. One wing is formed with a window and a panel with at least two major surfaces or faces is rotatably supported within the window so that at least one of the faces is presented to the user at any given time. The surfaces or faces are used for images, alphanumeric characters, logos or other information. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1A  shows an orthogonal view of a clip made in accordance with this invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1B  shows an orthogonal view of another embodiment of the clip; 
           [0009]      FIG. 1C  shows an orthogonal view of a third embodiment of the clip. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  show a front and a backview of the top wing of the clip, respectively; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  show a front and a back view of the top wing of the clip, respectively; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  show a sectional and an end view of the clip respectively; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  shows an end view of another embodiment of the clip. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly,  FIG. 1A , a clip  10 A constructed in accordance with this invention includes a top wing  12  and a bottom wing  14 . The two wings are connected to each other to form a V-shape and they can pivot with respect to each other along an axis passing between the wings as described in more detail below. 
         [0015]    Moreover, the two wings are biased toward each other by a spring or other means (as discussed below) so that the front edges  12 E and  14 E of each of the wings  12 , 14  are abutting to form a zone  16  with a pressure nip. The wings can be squeezed together along the edges opposite edges  12 E,  14 E to separate the wings. One or more sheets of paper or other small articles (not shown) are introduced between the edges  12 E,  14 E, the wings are then released. The biasing force of the spring (not seen in  FIG. 1A ) then forms the pressure nip in zone  16  to hold the sheets of paper. 
         [0016]    Importantly at least one of the wings, e.g., the top wing  12  is formed with a window  18 . A panel  20  is secured within the window in a manner that allows the panel to pivot about an axis. For example, a pin  22  depending from and extending between two opposite sides of the window  18  can be used to hold the panel  20 . The panel  20  is generally in the shape of a flat plate with two opposed major surfaces, one surface  24  being visible in  FIG. 1A . The two surfaces are then used to hold and display various information or advertising. The user has a choice of selecting either surface that is visible from the front of the clip. 
         [0017]    Window  18  has a generally rectangular shape. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1A , the panel  20  is also rectangular so that it conforms to the shape of window  18 . 
         [0018]    Other configurations are possible for the window and the panel. For example, two or more panels may be provided. In  FIG. 1B , three panels  20 B are provided, each panel having a generally square or rectangular shape. Each panel  20 B is mounted on pin  22  and their surfaces  24 B are used for various printed material. Each of the panels  20 B is independently rotatable on the pin  22  and can be positioned so that either one of its major surfaces is visible from the front. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1C  shows another embodiment in which the two panels  20 B have the same shape but a third panel  20 C has a different shape. 
         [0020]    Details of the wings are shown in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B,  2 C,  2 D. Top wing  12  includes top surface  30  surrounding opening  18  ( FIG. 2A ). The wing  12  also includes a bottom surface  32  that is formed with two lateral recesses or indentations  34 ,  36 . Each indentation is formed with a respective peg  38 ,  40 . Preferably the recesses have a back zone  42 ,  44  through which the recesses join the bottom surface  32  without any edges. The recesses  34 ,  36  and pegs  38 ,  40  are provided to receive an end of a respective biasing spring as discussed below. The pegs  38 ,  40  enter into respective holes in the ends of the springs  46 ,  48  to engage and secure the springs. 
         [0021]      FIGS. 3A ,  3 B show details of the bottom wing  14 . It is very similar to the top wing  12  but it does not have a window. Instead, it has two holes  54 ,  56  extending between the surfaces  50 ,  52 . Screws or rivets may be provided through the holes  54 ,  56  to attach the clip  10  to a clipboard (not shown). 
         [0022]    In addition, or alternatively, a recessed area  58  is provided to receive a magnet (not shown). The magnet is glued to the bottom wing  14  and can be used to attach the clip  10  to a refrigerator door or other similar walls in the usual manner. 
         [0023]    The mode of operation of clip  10  is clearly illustrated in  FIG. 4A . The two wings  12 ,  14  are urged toward a closed position by spring  48  to form a press nip in zone  16 . The panel  20  is pivoting around a pin  22  as indicated by arrow A. The pin can be mounted vertically or horizontally in window  18 , 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 4B , preferably, the wings  12 ,  14  have lateral walls  60 ,  62  respectively, one on each end of the respective wing. Wall  60  is formed on the rear wing  14  and have two externally directed pegs  64 . These pegs  64  enter through and are captured by holes or indentations  66 . The pegs  64  are disposed along an imaginary shaft allowing the wings  12 , 14  to be squeezed toward each other. 
         [0025]    In  FIGS. 4B , the inner edges of walls  60 ,  62  have a curved shape. In an alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the walls have a different shape. More specifically, wall  60 A,  62 A is in the shape of a strap. 
         [0026]    Numerous modifications may be made to the scope as the invention without departing from its scope as defined in the appended claims. For example, the panel could have a prismatic shape with more than two major surfaces for presenting images.