IMPROVEMENTS IN LETTER OR PAPER CLIPS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LETTER OR PAPER CLIPS."-A communication from
abroad by Adolphe Charles Guillemot, Instrument Maker, of 13,
Boulevart St. Martin, Paris.
Sealed the 22nd May 1869, and dated the 27th November 1868..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his.
Petition, on the 27th November 1868..
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LETTER OR PAPER CLIPS," to be as.
follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in letter or paper clips, by.
means of which a sheet of paper, invoice, card, or slip may be placed
in the clip with one hand and there held, either by a spring alone or.
with the addition of a prong. These paper clips may be placed on a

page_text: stand for office use or suspended on a hook or nail in the wall. These
clips are composed, 1st, of a plate of clip, which is pressed down by the
hand and raised by the action of a spring: 2ndly, of a hinged clip,
which presses on the plate for securing the paper or slips between
them, the pressure being obtained by the aid of the same spring which
raises the plate after it has been depressed by the hand. The papers
or slips are secured between the hinged clip and the plate. The clip is
also raised by the action of the plate on bearing on the latter for the
purpose of inserting the paper or slip; said clip being returned to position
for securing the papers by the, aid of the same spring: The clip may
either move in a horizontal plane or describe a portion of a circlej
according as it turns on an axis perpendicular or nearly so with the
plate or parallel therewith.
These improvements are illustrated in the accompanying Drawings,
which show several arrangements of the improved clips.
ou a
Figure 1 is a front view of tlie first arrangement adapted for hanging
wall or in other vertical position; Figure 2 is a side view of the
same; Figure 3 is a plan, in which the clip is shown as describing a
portion of a circle in moving up or down; Figure 4 shows a front view
of another and modified arrangement of clip; and Figure 5, a side view
of same attached to a block or stand for placing on a horizontal surface;
Figures 6 and 7 show front and side views of another arrangement, in
which the clip is mounted on an axis at right angles or nearly so with
the spring plate. The letters of reference apply to all the Figures.
, stand or frame, which is provided with a ring 6 if to be hung on a
wall; c, plate fixed at one end d to the stand or backing a, and which
is depressed by the hand bearing thereon; e flat spring fixed to a, bearing
on the end of plate c so as to raise it when the pressure of the hand
thereon is removed; f, clip pivotted at g, g, in a parallel line with the
plate c; h, bridge piece of clip f, on which the end of spring e acts in
oriler to bring the clip again in contact with the plate when the pressure
of the hand on said plate is removed. The clip is raised by bearing oni
the plate c with the hand, as the free end of said plate acts on tho
bridge piece h and spring e; i, guide, at which the paper or slip is
introduced.
From the foregoing it will be understood that by presenting a slip of
paper to the clip and pressing on plate c the clip will be raised, and on
the pressure of the hand being removed the clip returns to position by

page_text: the action of the spring on the bridge piece h, so securing the paper
slip between the clip and the plate c. In Figures 4 and 5 the end
of plate c acts on a cam j forming the tail piece of the clip. In
Figures 6 and 7 the clip turns on an axis at right angles to stand a, the
motion being obtained by the aid of a part working in a slot made in
the plate. In this manner by depressing plate the part will be
caused to turn and with it the clipf; l, bearing;
Two or more clips may be connected if desired, or I may arrange the
parts as represented in elevation and plan at Figures 8 and 9, in which
I have four clips jointed to a frame 1 pivotted at 2, 2, said axes carrying
ratchets 3. In this manner every time the plate c is depressed the
frame makes a fourth of a revolution and withdraws a clip which passes
underneath, the plate returning to position; on the latter rising the
next clip in turn presses on and secures the paper. A spring 5 is con-
nected with each clip axis for returning them to position after passing
under the plate c.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 22nd May 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting,
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her.
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her
special licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, niy executoi
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander
Melville Clark, my executors, administratörs, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make,. use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN LETTER OR PAPER CLIPS," a communication

page_text: to me from abroad by Adolphe Charles Guillemot, Instrument Maker, of
13, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
'cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, 'to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to improvements in letter or paper clips, by
means of which a sheet of paper, invoice, 'card, or 'slip may be placed
in the clip with one hand, and there held either by a spring alone or
with the addition of a prong. These paper clips may be placed on a
stand for office use or suspended on a hook or nail in the wall. These
clips are composed, first, of a plate or clip, which is pressed down by
the hand and raised by the action of a spring. Secondly, of a hinged
clip, which presses on the plate for securing the paper or slips between
them, the pressure being obtained by the aid of the same spring which
raises the plate after it has been depressed by the hand. The papers or
slips are secured between the hinged clip and the plate. The clip is
raised by the action of the plate on bearing on the latter for the purpose
of inserting the paper or slip, said clip being returned to position for
securing the papers by the aid of the same spring. The clip may either
move in a horizontal plane or describe a portion of a circle, according as
it turns on an axis perpendicular (or nearly so) with the plate or parallel
therewith.
These improvements are illustrated in the accompanying Drawings,
which show several arrangements of the improved clips.
Figure 1 is a front view of the first arrangement adapted for hanging
on a wall or in any other vertical position; Figure 2 is a side view of
the same; Figure 3 is a plan, in which the clip is shown as describing
a portion of a circle, when moving up or down; Figure 4 shows a front

page_text: view of another and modified arrangement of clip; and Figure 5 a side view
of same attached to a block or stand for placing on a horizontal surface;
Figures 6 and 7 show front and side views of another arrangement, in
which-the clip is mounted on an axis at right angles or nearly so with
the spring plate. The letters of reference apply to all the Figures.
a, stand or frame, which is provided with a ring b if to be hung on a
wall; c, plate fixed at one end a to the stand or backing a, and which
is depressed by the hand bearing thereon; e, flat spring fixed to a,
bearing on the end of plate c so as to raise it when the pressure of the
hand thereon is removed; f, clip pivotted at g, g, in a parallel line with
the plate c; h, bridge picce of clip f, on which the end of spring e acts
in order to bring the clip again in contact with the plate when the
pressure of the hand on said plate is removed. The clip is raised by
bearing on the plate c with the hand as the free end of said plate acts
on the bridge piece and spring e; i, guide for assisting the introduction
of the paper or slip.
From the foregoing it will be understood that by presenting a slip of
paper to the clip and pressing on plate c the clip will be raised, and on
the pressure of the hand being removed the clip will return to position
by the action of the spring on the bridge piece k, so securing the paper
slip between the clip and the plate c. In Figures 4 and 5 the end of
plate c acts on a cam j forming the tail picce of the clip. In Figures 6
and 7 the clip turns on an axis at right angles to stand a, the motion
being obtained by the aid of a part k working in a slot made in the
plate. In this manner by depressing plate c the part will be caused
to turn, and with it the clip f; 1, bearing.
Two or more clips may be connected if desired, or I may arrange the
parts as represented in elevation and plan at Figures 8 and 9, in which
I have four clips jointed to a frame 1 pivotted at 2, 2, said axes carrying
ratchets 3. In this manner every time the plate c is depressed the
frame makes a fourth of a revolution and withdraws a clip which presses
underneath, the plate returning to position; on the latter rising the
next clip in turn presses on and secures the paper. A spring 5 is con-
nected with each clip axis for returning them to position after passing
under the plate c.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to
be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the

page_text: several improvements in letter or paper clips, arranged substantially as
shown and described, or any mere modifications of the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of
May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight "hundred and
sixty-nine.
Witness,
JAMES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
4. M. CLARK. (L.S.)