Patent Publication Number: US-8117719-B1

Title: System and method for interconnecting pieces of cardstock

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     In general, the present invention relates to clips that are used to engage products, such as business cards and playing cards, that are made of card stock. More particularly, the present invention relates to clips that are specifically used to interconnect multiple pieces of cardstock to one another. 
     2. Prior Art Description 
     In the prior art, cardstock is used in the manufacture of many different printed products. Examples of such products include business cards, playing cards, and greeting cards. 
     For most every product that is made of cardstock, there exist auxiliary devices for holding such products. For example, there are many cardholders for holding business cards. There are also many types of paper clips and other specialized clips that are specifically designed to attach a business card to another object. Likewise, there are many card holding devices for holding playing cards and greeting cards. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,263 to Endres, entitled Card House Toy, a clip system is shown that is used to interconnect playing cards or other similar cardstock items. In this manner, playing cards can be built up into houses and other structures without fear of collapse. A similar system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,913 to Mackie, entitled Connector For Use In Connecting Planar Objects. One of the problems with such prior art clips is that they are large and bulky. As such, the clips are very noticeable when a structure is constructed out of cards and the clips. Furthermore, such prior art clips are relatively expensive to make, requiring complex injection molds. A large card structure may require hundreds or thousands of such clips. Accordingly, any type of expensive clip is undesirable. 
     Another disadvantage of prior art card connecting clips is that they only enable cards to interconnect edge to edge. As such, prior art card clips are good for producing square card structures or rectangular card structures. However, more complex shapes cannot be obtained. 
     The present invention is a card connecting system that is very inexpensive to manufacture. The system utilizes clips that are very lightweight and visually inconspicuous. Furthermore, the card connecting system enables cardstock to interconnect in complex shapes and formations. As a result, the present invention is believed to be an improvement in the art, as is described and claimed below. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a system for engaging and supporting a flat piece of cardstock. The system utilizes a clip. The clip is made from a continuous strip of material having a first end and a second end. The clip is configured into four sections that are delineated by three bends. A first section extends from a first end of the clip to a first bend in a first direction. A second section extends from the first bend to a second bend in an opposite second direction. A third section extends from the second bend to a third bend in the first direction. Finally, a fourth section extends from the third bend to the second end in a direction generally perpendicular to the stated first direction. 
     A first clip structure is defined by the first section, the first bend and the second section. The first clip structure is capable of receiving and retaining a portion of a flat piece of cardstock. 
     Likewise, a second clip structure is defined by the second section, the second bend and the third section. The second clip structure is capable of receiving and retaining a portion of a different piece of cardstock. 
     The clip can be supported or interconnected to other clips by a detachable tubular element, such as a straw. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a clip utilizing by the present invention system; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the system being used to support a business card; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the system being used to support multiple playing cards; and 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a clip. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Although the present invention system can be used to engage many types of printed card stock, such as greeting cards and photographs, the present invention is particularly well suited to engage business cards and playing cards. Accordingly two exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been selected for illustration. The first embodiment shows the present invention engaging a business card. The second embodiment shows the present invention engaging playing cards. Both embodiments are merely exemplary and should not be considered limitations when interpreting the scope of the claims. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  a clip  10  is shown. The clip  10  is made from a narrow strip  12  of flexible metal that has been folded in a serpentine pattern. The strip  12  of flexible metal has a first end  14  and a second end  16 . The serpentine pattern folds the flexible metal strip  12  into four distinct straight sections  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23  between the first end  14  and the second end  16 . The four straight sections  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23  are delineated by three bends, which include two 180-degree bends  24 ,  26  and one 90-degree bend  28 . 
     The first straight section  20  of the clip  10  extends between the first end  14  and the first 180-degree bend  24 . A slight flare bend  30  may be present proximate the first end  14  to facilitate the engagement of the clip  10  with a piece of cardstock. The second straight section  21  of the clip  10  extends from the first 180-degree bend  24  to the second 180-degree bend  26 . The third straight section  22  of the clip  10  extends from the second 180-degree bend  26  to the 90-degree bend  28 . Finally, the fourth straight section  23  of the clip  10  extends from the 90-degree bend  28  to the second end  16  of the metal strip  12 . 
     The first, second and third straight sections  20 ,  21 ,  22  of the clip  10  are generally parallel. The fourth section  23  of the clip  10  extends away from the third section  22  at generally a right angle. 
     A first clip structure  32  is disposed between the first straight section  20  and the second straight section  21 . The first clip structure  32  is capable of receiving and engaging the edge of a piece of cardstock, as will later be explained. 
     Likewise, a second clip structure  34  is disposed between the second straight section  21  and the third straight section  22 . The second clip structure  34  is capable of receiving and engaging the edge of a piece of cardstock, as will later be explained. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  in conjunction with  FIG. 1 , it can be seen that the strip  12  of metal used in the creation of a clip  10  has a width that is slightly wider than the diameter of a straw  36 . In this manner, the fourth straight section  23  of the clip  10  can pass into the open end of a straw  36  and engage the inside of the straw  36  with an interference fit. 
     A business card  38  is placed into the first clip structure  32  between the first straight section  20  and the second straight section  21  of the clip  10 . The clip  10  and straw  36  combine to create a stand for the business card  38  that holds the business card  38  in an upright, freestanding position. It will be understood that greeting cards, photographs and any other printed piece of cardstock can be held upright in the same manner. Likewise, it will be understood that the business card  38  can be placed in the second clip structure  34  instead of the first clip structure  32 , wherein the business card  38  would still be displayed in the same manner. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  in conjunction with  FIG. 1 , an assembly is shown wherein a plurality of playing cards  40  are connected together using clips  10  and straws  36 . By placing the edges of separate cards  40  into both the first clip structure  32  and the second clip structure  34  of the same clip  10 , the two cards  40  can be held edge to edge in the same plane. Furthermore, by connecting straws  36  between clips  10 , separate parallel walls of cards can be created without sidewalls. Furthermore, if a straw  36  is used that has a corrugated bending section, straws  36  can be used to support card walls at selected angles. 
     The ability to interconnect cards  40  with clips enables large card walls to be constructed. Furthermore, the ability to interconnect clips  10  with straws  36  enables different card walls to be interconnected at many angles. Consequently, large complex structures can be created from cards  40  and other printed cardstock items. 
     The clips  10  are made from small folded strips of metal and can be made very inexpensively with simple manufacturing tooling. Likewise, straws  36  are widely commercially available and are very inexpensive. By combining the clips  10  with straws  36 , a simple construction system is created for cards  40  or any other cardstock item. The construction system can be used for fun by children or can be used to create complex trade show displays and point-of-sale displays. 
     Although the present invention system illustrates clips  10  that engage cards and interconnect with drinking straws  36 , it should be understood that the scale of the system can be dramatically increased or decreased. Large clips can be used with pieces of PVC piping or similar conduit to support large posters or display boards. Likewise small clips can be manufactured that interconnect with small stirring straws for interconnecting small printed objects or to hold business cards in a less obtrusive manner. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an alternate embodiment of a clip  50  is shown. The clip  50  is molded from plastic, rather than bent from metal. The clip  50  has four sections  51 ,  52 ,  53 ,  54  divided by three bends  55 ,  56 ,  57 . However, to alleviate the stresses in the plastic, the sections  51 ,  52 ,  53  between the bends  55 ,  56 ,  57  are slightly curved. Furthermore, the bends  55 ,  56 ,  57  have a larger radius of curvature than would be necessary with a metal clip. 
     It will further be understood that the embodiments of the present invention that are illustrated and described are merely exemplary. A person skilled in the art can make many variations to the illustrated embodiments. For instance, the width, length, and gauge of the clip can be varied as a matter of design choice. All such variations, modifications, and alternate embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.