Patent Publication Number: US-2011047758-A1

Title: Non-Metallic Devices for Holding Paper, Cards, and Wallets

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE(S) TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This is a continuation of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/283,403, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,770,263, filed Nov. 18, 2005, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/629,280 filed Nov. 18, 2004, both of which are incorporated by reference without disclaimer. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to non-metallic (e.g., plastic) devices that hold paper, cards, and/or a wallet. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Devices that hold money, whether in the form of paper currency or credit cards, come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Examples of such devices, sometimes referred to as money clips, are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,327,749, 5,249,437, and 4,675,953, and in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/813,640. Devices known as binder clips, which are typically used in an office setting for keeping documents together, have been used as money clips. This is true of both binder clips without ornamentation of any kind, such as those depicted in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,150,073 and 1,139,627, and with ornamentation as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,749. Other binder clips are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. D372,498 and D321,210. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present devices are suited to holding paper (such as currency, notes, receipts, business cards or the like), cards (such as credit cards, identification cards or the like), and/or wallets. The present devices may be referred to generically as money clips, although they are well-suited to holding things other than money. The clips and arms of the present devices may be made from a non-metallic material such as plastic (one suitable example of which is polycarbonate), and the non-metallic material may be any desired color. Travelers who use embodiments of the present devices will not need to take the device out of their pocket as they pass through a metal detector (at, for example, an airport). Furthermore, embodiments of the present devices will be relatively light-weight because of their non-metallic components. The present devices may also be used to advertise corporate or other types of logos. 
     Embodiments of the present devices include a non-metallic (e.g., plastic) clip to which two non-metallic (e.g., plastic) arms are pivotally coupled. Embodiments of the non-metallic clip are biased to a substantially closed position (e.g., a position in which the ends of the clip to which arms may be pivotally coupled are close together or touching) from which they may be opened by pivoting the non-metallic arms back against an outer surface of the non-metallic clip and applying force. As pressure, or force, is applied to the pivoted-back non-metallic arms that are in contact with the non-metallic clip, the ends of the clip (to which the arms have been pivotally coupled) are leveraged open. When the pressure, or force, is removed from the non-metallic arms, the non-metallic clip will return substantially to its original substantially closed position, at least during the initial stage of its useful life. Embodiments of the present clips may also have a ridge or ridges on the outer surface of their arm-retaining ends that help to retain the arms in a given position. 
     Additional details of these and other embodiments of the present devices are disclosed below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following drawings demonstrate certain aspects of the present devices. They illustrate by way of example and not limitation. The clip and arms of the preferred embodiment of the present devices depicted in the drawings are drawn to scale (in terms of proportions) unless otherwise noted. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of one of the present devices, the preferred embodiment being shown in an empty, closed position. 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a left side view of the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the right side view being a mirror image. 
         FIG. 4  is a front end view of the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a rear end view of the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the bottom view being a mirror image. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the non-metallic clip of the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a front end view of the non-metallic clip of the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a rear end view of the non-metallic clip of the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is a left side view of the non-metallic clip of the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the right side view being a mirror image. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the non-metallic clip of the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  taken along lines  11 - 11  in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of the non-metallic clip of the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the bottom view being a mirror image. 
         FIG. 13  is a partial cross-sectional view of the non-metallic clip of the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  taken along lines  13 - 13  in  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the inside surface of one of the non-metallic arms of the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 15  is a side view showing the inside surface of one of the non-metallic arms of the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 16  is a side view showing the outside surface of one of the non-metallic arms of the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view showing the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  in an exploded, unassembled state. 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , where the non-metallic arms are pivoted back in preparation for opening the non-metallic clip. 
         FIG. 19  is a top view of the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , where the non-metallic arms are pivoted back in preparation for a complete opening the non-metallic clip, and where the clip has been opened slightly, the bottom view of this configuration being a mirror image. 
         FIG. 20  is a top view of the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , where the non-metallic arms are pivoted back, pressure has been applied to them (not shown), and the non-metallic clip is completely open, the bottom view of this configuration being a mirror image. In practice, the non-metallic arms would be bent if the force required to place the clip in its completely open position were placed near the ends of the arms farthest from the clip. 
         FIG. 21  is a top view of the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , showing that it can include a wallet. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     The terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has” and “having”), and “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including”) are open-ended linking verbs. Thus, a device “comprising” a non-metallic clip having two ends and a leverage bump; and a non-metallic arm pivotally coupled to each end; where one of the non-metallic arms contacts the leverage bump when the non-metallic clip is completely open, is a device that possesses the recited non-metallic clip and non-metallic arms, but is not limited to possessing only those items. For example, the device may also possess a wallet configured to be held by the non-metallic clip. Likewise, a non-metallic clip “having” two ends and a leverage bump possesses those features, but is not excluded from possessing additional, unrecited features, such as pivot shaft retainers having an outer surface defined at least in part by one or more ridges. A feature (e.g., a ridge) that is configured in a certain manner must be configured in at least that manner, but may also be configured in manners that are not recited. 
     The terms “a” and “an” mean one or more than one. The term “another” means at least a second or more. The term “substantially” is defined as at least close to (and includes) a given value or state (preferably within 10% of, more preferably within 1% of, and most preferably within 0.1% of). Any dimensions provided in English units may be translated to the corresponding metric unit by rounding to the nearest millimeter. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present devices shown in the present figures was drawn using a pre-release version of Pro/ENGINEER® Wildfire™ software, production versions of which are commercially available from Parametric Technology Corporation, Needham, Mass. As a result, some of these drawings include many lines (some of them light) that are known in the art as “tangent” lines. Those of skill in the art will understand that not all of the tangent lines shown represent a “hard” change of angle. Instead, they may show where a rounded section meets a flat, or straight, section. Furthermore, some features of the preferred embodiment have not been labeled in all of the drawings, so that the drawings are not unnecessarily cluttered. 
     A. A Preferred Embodiment 
       FIGS. 1-20  all show aspects of features of a preferred embodiment of the present devices.  FIG. 21  shows that the device depicted in  FIGS. 1-20  may include a wallet. 
     Device  100  is a preferred embodiment of the present devices that includes a non-metallic (e.g., plastic) clip  10  having two ends  14  and a clip leverage bump  16 . More specifically, non-metallic clip  10  includes two clip leverage bumps  16  (only one of which is visible in  FIG. 1 ). Clip  10  also includes an inner surface  32  that is shown, for example, in  FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  11 . 
     Device  100  also includes a non-metallic arm  20  that is pivotally coupled to each end  14 . As shown in  FIG. 20  and described below, one of the arms of device  100  contacts a leverage bump when the clip is completely opened. More specifically, each arm  20  will contact a leverage bump  16  when clip  10  is completely opened. Arms  20  are examples of non-wire frame arms. In contrast, the following patents disclose only arms with wire frames: U.S. Pat. Nos. D321,209; D321,210; 1,139,627; 1,150,073; 4,332,060; 4,402,530; 4,532,680; 4,761,862; 5,249,336 (shows wire frame covered with a sleeve); 5,533,236; 5,896,624; and 6,327,749. 
     Clip  10  may be characterized as a clip that is not substantially triangular in shape when in an empty (nothing in it) closed position, as shown for example in  FIGS. 1-6 . In contrast, the following patents disclose only clips that are substantially triangular in shape when in an empty closed position: U.S. Pat. Nos. D321,209; D321,210; D372,498; D485,780; 1,139,627; 1,150,073; 4,332,060; 4,402,530; 4,532,680; 4,761,862; 5,249,336; 5,533,236; 5,896,624; 6,327,749; and 6,745,805. More specifically, clip  10  is an example of a clip that does not have a substantially triangular side profile when in an empty closed position, in contrast to the fifteen patents referenced in the preceding sentence. 
     Clip  10  of device  100  in may also be characterized as a spring because it may be configured such that it (a) is biased to a substantially closed position (in which ends  14  are close together but not necessarily touching, as shown in  FIG. 6 ) when no external force is acting on it, (b) can be opened by pivoting back the arms (which may also be characterized as leverage arms) and using force to leverage ends  14  of the clip apart, and (c) can return to a substantially closed position (although perhaps not always the precisely the same position it was in prior to the opening) after the force is removed. 
     Each end  14  of non-metallic clip  10  of the preferred embodiment shown in the figures includes a pivot shaft retainer  18 . Each arm  20  includes a pivot shaft  17  that fits at least partially within a pivot shaft retainer  18 . In the depicted preferred embodiment, each pivot shaft retainer  18  includes an outer surface that is defined at least in part by one or more ridges  19 . One or more valleys  15  may be positioned on either side of a given ridge  19 . As shown in the figures, ridges  19  need not span the entire length (the distance between flat portions  5 ) of pivot shaft retainer  18 . Furthermore, the height of each ridge  19  may be greatest at or near the middle of the ridge (and, therefore, the middle of clip  10 ). In  FIG. 1 , for example, the middle of a given ridge  19  is located near the tangent line cutting transversely across the visible ridges. 
     Each ridge acts (at least during the initial part of the usable life of the device) as an arm-movement inhibitor. A ridge can be configured with a sufficient height such that the portion of each arm nearest the ridge actually contacts the ridge as it pivots past it under force. More specifically, a ridge can be configured with a sufficient height such that force (other than gravity, as is always the case when force is discussed in this application) is required to pivot an arm past it; without such force, the ridge gets in the way, and the arm will not pivot past it. The ridges can be provided and configured in this manner to prevent arms from flapping or pivoting loosely, or to reduce that possibility. A ridge can also be configured with a sufficient height such that once items have been inserted into the clip for capture and the arms have been closed, a user may apply pressure to the portions of the arms near the pivot shaft retainers such that the arms are squeezed together (e.g., pinched) and the edge (discussed in more detail below) of each arm will move past a ridge (such that portions of the arms get closer together) and “snap” into place in a “locked” position from which the edges of the arms will not move back unless exposed to external force. The direction of this pinching force is illustrated with arrows in  FIG. 21 . 
     With time, a given ridge may wear down such that it no longer functions in one or more of the above-described manners. Similarly, a given clip may loose its “spring” over time (or may simply break or otherwise plastically deform) such that it can no longer serve its intended purpose of keeping cards, paper and/or a wallet in place. 
     A given non-metallic arms  20  may be provided with a protrusion  22  on the side facing outwardly (or away) from the device; this outer side is identified by element number  27  in the figures. An indention  24  (see  FIG. 14 ) may be on the opposite side of the arm, and the indention and protrusion may have similar reciprocal shapes. Indention  24  may be characterized as being provided on a side of a given non-metallic arm  20  that will be nearer than any other side of non-metallic arm  20  to an item or items that device  10  holds when non-metallic arms  20  are in a closed position (around the item or items). 
     As the figures show, a leverage bump  23  (which may be characterized as an “arm leverage bump”) may protrude from each protrusion  22 . Each leverage bump  23  may be positioned on arm  20  so as to contact a clip leverage bump  16  when the clip is forced into a completely open position ( FIG. 20 ). In those embodiments where an arm leverage bump is positioned to contact a clip leverage bump during opening of the clip, wear points on the arm and clip will include those bumps, though not necessarily exclusively those bumps. 
     The present clip and arm leverage bumps may be formed by placing extra material on a clip or arm that has already been created and attaching that material to the clip in any suitable fashion, such as through the use of an adhesive, heat, pressure, or any suitable combination of these. Alternatively, the present clip and arm leverage bumps may be created with the clips and arms as they are originally formed. 
     A version of a suitable clip leverage bump is shown as being provided on each side of clip  10  in many of the figures. Each clip leverage bump  16  spans a majority of the width of clip  10 , has U-shaped ends  13 , and is widest at or near the middle of clip  10 . Other shapes of clip leverage bumps are suitable, such as one that does not span a majority of the width of clip  10  or that is not widest at or near the middle of clip  10 . A given clip may have a leverage bump on one side that is different in shape from the clip leverage bump on the other side. Furthermore, each side of a clip may have more than one clip leverage bump. 
     A version of a suitable arm leverage bump is shown in many of the figures. Each arm leverage bump  23  extends from the middle of arm  20  in a curved manner toward the top and bottom of arm  20 . Arm leverage bumps  23  are generally U-shaped and have U-shaped ends  25 . Other shapes of arm leverage bumps are suitable, such as one that is not generally U-shaped. A given device may have arms that have differently shaped arm leverage bumps. Furthermore, each arm may have more than one arm leverage bump. 
     Certain figures also show that each half of clip  10  may have two pre-leverage bump extensions  7  located at the top and bottom of the clip near the ends  14  (and, thus, the pivot shaft retainers  18 ) of the clip. Pre-leverage bump extensions  7  are named as such because portions of arms  20  contact them—thus helping clip  10  to open—before any other portions of arms  20  contact the clip leverage bumps  16 , and because they extend up from flat portions  5  that define the tops and bottoms of ends  14  of clip  10 . As  FIGS. 1 and 2  show, pre-leverage bump extensions  7  get wider moving from ends  14  toward the back (designated generally by  11 ) of clip  10 . Further, as  FIG. 10  shows, pre-leverage bump extensions  7  drop in height moving from ends  14  toward back  11  of clip  10 . 
     Certain figures show that arms  20  posses an outer ridge  21  that runs along a portion of the upper and lower edge of each arm. Outer ridges  21  extend outwardly from outer side  27  of each arm  20 . This is clear from the views shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , which both illustrate the portion of outer ridges  21  extending outwardly from outer side  27  of each arm as forming a small shelf near the bottom of each view. The outer ridges  27  are widest nearest the pivot shaft retainers  18 , and become less wide moving toward the front (designated generally by  29 ) of arms  20 . Outer ridges  27  do not extend inwardly from the inner side of the arms. Outer ridges  27  terminate prior to reaching front  29 , as shown in  FIG. 16 . 
     During the process of completely opening clip  10 , a portion of a given outer ridge  27  contacts a portion of a given pre-leverage bump extension  7  before any other portion of arm  20  contacts a given clip leverage bump  16 . This is shown in  FIG. 19 . This pre-leverage bump contact helps to begin opening clip  20 . Furthermore, less force is required to cause that opening than is required to finish completely opening clip  10  once the clip and arm leverage bumps are in contact with one another (or once the arm and clip leverage bumps are in contact with one another, if no arm leverage bumps are provided; or once the arm leverage bumps and rear portion of the clip are in contact with one another, if no clip leverage bumps are provided). 
     The version of arms  20  shown in the figures are bowed slightly (and, more specifically, bowed inwardly), as shown for example in  FIG. 6 , such that the inside forward portions of the arms touch when the device is in an empty closed position. The inward bow shown in  FIG. 6  may also be characterized as a bend that has taken place around an axis that is perpendicular to the length of the arms. An advantage to having such a bend or bow is that the arms are somewhat easier to pull apart than they would be if they were perfectly straight and lacked such a bow or bend. 
     Turning to features of non-metallic arms  20 ,  FIG. 14  shows inner surface  42  of arm  20 . Arms  20  each include a pivot shaft designated generally at  44  around which each arm pivots when device  100  is used. Pivot shaft  44  includes a central portion  46  and two end portions  48 . Both the central portion  46  and the end portions  48  of a given pivot shaft  44  are circular in cross-section in the depicted preferred embodiment. However, other shapes may be used, provided they allow the arms to pivot within the portion of the pivot shaft retainer  18  that at least partially encloses or captures them. Central portion  46  of pivot shaft  44  has a smaller diameter than end portions  48 . End portions  48  of the depicted preferred embodiment have the same diameter. The height of pivot shaft  44  (which runs in the same direction as the width of arms  20  (see  FIG. 3  and corresponding description below)) is substantially equal to the distance between flat portions  5  that define the tops and bottoms of ends  14  of clip  10 . 
     Continuing with arms  20 , each arm of the preferred embodiment depicted in the figures includes an edge designated generally by  45  that is spaced apart from and substantially parallel to pivot shaft  44 . Edge  45  has substantially the same height/length as pivot shaft  44 . Edge  45  is a configured a certain distance from pivot shaft  44  such that a portion of edge  45  (and, thus, edge  45 ) contacts the ridge or ridges  19  of pivot shaft retainers  18  as arm  20  is pivoted back from a closed position to an open position (such as the completely open position shown in  FIG. 20 ). The range over which arms  20  pivot is greater than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees in the preferred embodiment depicted in the figures. 
     The contact that occurs between edge  45  and the ridge or ridges  19  that at least partly define an outer surface of pivot shaft retainer  18  is—in the preferred embodiment shown in the figures—a ratcheting-type contact, at least during the initial stage of the useful life of device  100 . As an arm  20  is pivoted back from a closed or substantially closed position to an open position, edge  45  will ratchet past each ridge  19  in the path of its motion, making a clicking sound as it contacts and passes each ridge. If left in a given position that is past a ridge  19 , arm  20  will not swing or flop back to its original position without someone forcing it back because the ridge it just passed will be in the way. Edge  45  may be rounded, as in the depicted preferred embodiment, or it may be sharp. 
     As shown in the figures, edge  45  includes a ridge contact portion  47  that extends nearer to central portion  46  of pivot shaft  44  than the balance of edge  45 . In the depicted preferred embodiment, ridge contact portion  47  is the portion of edge  45  that contacts the ridges  19  that at least partly define the outer surface of pivot shaft retainers  18 . 
     Turning to features of the embodiment of clip  10  shown in the figures, a given pivot shaft  44  is at least partially positioned in a corresponding pivot shaft retainer  18  (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). In the preferred embodiment depicted in the figures, pivot shaft retainer  18  defines a slot or groove  3  that is open at its ends and along its length; thus, groove  3  is open from one flat portion  5  to the other flat portion  5  of a given pivot shaft retainer  18 . Slot  3  has upper and lower portions  58  that are slightly larger than end portions  48  of pivot shaft  44 . Slot  3  also includes a central portion  56  that is bordered by two elongated, rounded shoulders  4  that tend to close slot  3  somewhat, but not completely; thus, pivot shaft retainer  18  can be characterized as having an open middle portion. Instead, rounded shoulders  4  (which extend between the upper and lower portions  58  of slot  3 ) narrow slot  3  such that force must be used to snap central portion  46  of pivot shaft  44  into place in slot  3  after the clip and arms are manufactured. That is, in the preferred embodiment depicted in the drawings, the gap between the closest portions of adjacent rounded shoulders  4  is more narrow than the diameter of central portion  46  of pivot shaft  44 . With regard to the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, once pivot shaft  44  has been snapped into place, it cannot be removed from slot  3  unless put under force. Further, if the preferred embodiment show in the figures is made from the polycarbonate material described below, it is difficult to remove pivot shaft  44  from a pivotally coupled relationship with pivot shaft retainer  18  (and, thus, slot  3 ) without damaging or breaking pivot shaft  44 . Pivot shaft retainer  18  (and, thus, slot  3 ) is configured such that pivot shaft  44  has enough “play” within pivot shaft retainer  18  (and, thus, slot  3 ) to enable arms  20  to be snapped into place and locked around items held by device  100  as described above. 
       FIG. 3  shows that each non-metallic arm  20  of device  100  has a widest portion  20 WP that has substantially the same width as the widest portion  10 WP of non-metallic clip  10 . Although the widest portions of the present clips and arms may be positioned in different locations along the lengths of those items,  FIG. 3  shows that, in the depicted preferred embodiment, widest portion  20 WP of each arm  20  is positioned near widest portion  10 WP of clip  10 . 
       FIG. 20  illustrates that non-metallic clip  10  is one example of a non-metallic clip that has a completely open position that includes two substantially parallel sides connected by an arch. In contrast, the following patents disclose only clips that lack a completely open position that includes two substantially parallel sides connected by an arch: U.S. Pat. Nos. D321,209; D321,210; D372,498; D485,780; 1,139,627; 1,150,073; 4,332,060; 4,402,530; 4,532,680; 4,761,862; 5,249,336; 5,533,236; 5,896,624; 6,327,749; and 6,745,805. While arms  20  are shown as being straight in  FIG. 20 , those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that a version of device  10  built using the LEXAN® polycarbonate described below in the relative dimensions shown in the figures will have plastic arms  20  that bend when a user completely opens plastic clip  10  by applying force to each plastic arm  20  near an end (e.g., front  29  of the arms) of each arm. 
       FIG. 21  is a top view of device  100 , and shows that device  100  may include a wallet  50  (which may have one or more pockets) that is effectively held by clip  10 , and more specifically holding portion HP of clip  10 , which is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Holding portion HP of clip  10  may include at least pivot shaft retainers  18  of ends  14 . Wallet  50  may have a back end positioned against the inside of clip  10  such that the rear portion of wallet  50  may be described as being received in receiving portion RP of clip  10  (see  FIG. 6 ).  FIG. 6  shows that receiving portion RP of clip  10  may include an arch A. Furthermore, clip  10  may be characterized as having an arcuate shaped portion (such as arch A) at one end of the clip, and two pivot shaft retainers  18 .  FIG. 3  shows that device  100  may have a thickness DT that comprises the greatest distance between the sides of clip  10  (which, in the preferred embodiment, is the distance between clip leverage bumps  16 ). Paper  51  has been folded around a portion of wallet  50  in  FIG. 21 . Cards  53  have also been placed in pockets of wallet  50 . 
     The present devices may be sold in any suitable fashion. For example, they may be sold in assembled fashion. Alternatively, they may be sold with the clips and arms separately—the different parts being configured for use with each other, and being configured to be pivotally coupled to each other—such that customers can mix and match different styles or colors of clips with different styles or colors of arms. Furthermore, the present devices may be sold in blister packs or in boxes. The boxes may have a tray in which the device fits (such that the tray has a recess shaped similarly to the device) and/or is strapped. 
     B. Suitable Materials and Manufacturing Techniques 
     One suitable non-metallic material from which embodiments of the present non-metallic arms and clips can be made is polycarbonate, which is a polymer and, more specifically, a thermoplastic. One suitable type of polycarbonate is GE Plastics LEXAN® 241R Polycarbonate (North America). This brand of polycarbonate is available from GE Plastics, which has offices in Pleasanton, Pa.; Pittsfield, Mass.; Southfield, Mich.; Seven Hills, Ohio; and Washington, W. Va. The LEXAN® 241R Polycarbonate used may have a flammability rating of UL94 V-0, and F2 UV (ultraviolet) resistance. Thus, the LEXAN® 241R Polycarbonate used may have a flame retardant agent and a UV-resistance filler. 
     The non-metallic clips and the non-metallic arms may each be made in their own injection mold using traditional injection molding techniques. For example, a 98-ton single extrude injection molding machine may be used to make either non-metallic arms or non-metallic clips. The “injection temperature” of the material may be 270 degrees Celcius. The “injection pressure” may be 75 bar. The molds may be made from 2083H mold steel. Each mold can have two cavities. Each mold can be cooled by water, and the cooling time for a pair of parts (e.g., arms of clips) is 10 seconds. 
     All aspects of each part (e.g., an arm or a clip) may be made at once by fashioning the injection mold cavities appropriately. After cooling, all parts may be de-molded and cleaned of any flashing or additional plastic. The pivot shafts on the arms may then be snapped into the pivot shaft retainers of the clip to yield a device such as the one shown in the figures. 
     The greatest dimension of the present devices (e.g., its length; the distance from the back  11  of clip  10  to front  29  of a given arm  20 ) is less than 6 inches in some embodiments, less than 5½ inches in some embodiments, less than 5 inches in some embodiments, less than 4½ inches in some embodiments, less than 4 inches in some embodiments, less than 3½ inches in some embodiments, and less than 3 inches in some embodiments. The next greatest dimension of the present devices (e.g., its width; the wider of  10 WP or  20 WP shown in  FIG. 3 , unless they are equal in width) is less than 3 inches in some embodiments, less than 2½ inches in some embodiments, less than 2 inches in some embodiments, less than 1½ inches in some embodiments, and less than 1 inch in some embodiments. The third greatest dimension of the present devices (e.g., its thickness; DT in  FIG. 6 , or the greatest distance between sides of a clip) is less than 1½ inches in some embodiments, less than 1¼ inches in some embodiments, less than 1 inch in some embodiments, less than ¾ inches in some embodiments, and less than ½ inch in some embodiments. 
     All of the devices disclosed and claimed can be made and used without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the present devices have been illustrated in terms of a preferred embodiment and described in terms of multiple embodiments, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that variations may be applied to these devices without departing from the scope of the following claims. For example, the arms of the present devices may be any suitable shape, including hexagonal, or octagonal, as may any of their indention, protrusions, clip leverage bumps and arm leverage bumps. Other non-metallic material may also be used to make the present non-metallic clips and non-metallic arms, such as polyethylene. 
     The claims are not to be interpreted as including means-plus- or step-plus-function limitations, unless such a limitation is explicitly recited in a given claim using the phrase(s) “means for” or “step for,” respectively.