Patent Publication Number: US-6217246-B1

Title: Two-piece paper fastener having rounded sides

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an improved two-piece paper fastener wherein each side of the prong base and the compressor has a flange folded inward so as not to cut users&#39; fingers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A conventional two-piece paper fastener is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and generally includes a prong base  40  and a compressor  30 . The prong base  40  has two prongs  41  extending from two ends thereof and two holes  31  are respectively defined through two ends of the compressor  30  so that the two prongs  41  extend through papers (not shown) and the two holes  31  so position the papers between the prong base  40  and the compressor  30 . Two retainers  32  are movably mounted to the compressor  30  so that the two prongs  41  can be folded toward each other and are retained by the two retainers  32 . The prong base  40  and the compressor  30  are generally made of metal sheets or plastic sheets, and the metal sheets or the plastic sheets are pressed into pieces of the prong bases  40  and the compressors  30  so that the sides of each the prong base  40  and the compressor  30  have sharp raw material which could cut users&#39; fingers. Besides, the prong base  40  and the compressor  30  with sharp raw material on their sides could result in tragedies if children use them as toys so that the conventional two-piece paper fastener needs to be improved. 
     The present invention intends to provide a two-piece paper fastener that includes a prong base and a compressor, and each side of the prong base and the compressor has a flange folded inward so as to define a smooth side. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a two-piece paper fastener comprising a prong base with two prongs extending from two ends of a top surface of the prong base. Each of two sides of the prong base is a rounded side. A compressor with two holes defined through two ends of the compressor. Two retainers are slidably mounted to the compressor and each of two sides of the compressor is a rounded side. 
     The object of the present invention is to provide an improved two-piece paper fastener wherein the prong base and the compressor have rounded sides so that they will not cut users&#39; fingers. 
     These and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, several embodiments in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view to show a two-piece paper fastener of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view to show the paper fastener of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the paper fastener of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3A is an enlarged side elevational view, partly cutaway and in section of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view to show a pile of papers is collected by the paper fastener of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded view to show a conventional two-piece paper fastener, and 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the conventional paper fastener. 
     FIG. 6A is an enlarged side elevational view, partly in section and cutaway of FIG.  6 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 to  4 , a two-piece paper fastener in accordance with the present invention comprises a prong base  20  with two prongs  21  extending from two ends of a top surface of the prong base  20 . Each of two sides of the prong base  20  is a rounded side. Each of two sides of the prong base  20  has a first flange  22  folded toward a bottom surface of the prong base  20  so as to define the rounded side. 
     A compressor  10  has two holes  11  defined through two ends of the compressor  10  so that the two prongs  21  extend through a pile of papers as shown in FIG.  4  and through the two holes  11  in the compressor  10 . Two retainers  12  are slidably mounted to the compressor  10  and the two prongs  21  are folded and inserted between the retainers  12  and the compressor  10 . Each of two sides of the compressor  10  is a rounded side. Each of two sides of the compressor  10  has a second flange  13  folded toward a bottom surface of the compressor  10  so as to define the rounded side. 
     The first flanges  22  on the prong base  20  and the second flanges  13  on the compressor  10  can be mass-produced by machine so that the manufacturing cost is low. The rounded sides of each of the prong base  20  and the compressor  10  effectively avoid cutting of users&#39; fingers. 
     While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.