Hinged clip and fitted article

• US 5,871,194 A
• Filed: 01/10/1997
• Issued: 02/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Macfarlane Packaging Limited (Macfarlane Group Plc)
• Original Assignee: Aston Packaging Limited
• Inventors: Morley, Timothy Corben
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAXTER, GWENDOLYN WRENN
• Application Number:
  US08/765,833
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 248/345.1, 248/300, 248/228.7, 248/231.81, 108/27, 108/90, 312/140.4, 24/289, 24/297, 24/454, 24/457, 24/462, 24/489, 24/495, 24/546, 24/547, 206/586, 206/591, 206/592, 206/594, 49/462, 52/716.8, 428/122, 428/182, 428/184, 428/213
• US Class Current: 248/345.1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 59/00 Plugs, sleeves, caps, or like rigid or semi-rigid elements for protecting parts of articles or for bundling articles, e.g. protectors for screw-threads, end caps for tubes or for bundling rod-shaped articles stopping flow from or in pipes or hoses by means of plugs F16L55/11, by means of caps F16L55/115; protection of pipes or objects of similar shape against external or internal damage or wear F16L57/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44291 including pivoted gripping member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44342 having rigid linking arm pivotally connected to each gripping member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44778 Piece totally forms clasp, clip, or support-clamp and has shaped, wirelike, or bandlike configuration with uniform cross section throughout its length
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44786 Opposed faces located in and bias towards common plane in nonuse position
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24198 Channel-shaped edge component [e.g., binding, etc.]

Abstract

The invention teaches a hinged clip (10) comprising two arms (22), each arm having a free end (34) and an extension forming the other end, resilient bias means urging the free ends together, the extensions being movable towards one another against the force of the resilient bias means to separate the said free ends characterised in that the resilient bias means is non-removably secured to each arm. An edge protector for an article (14) having sides (16) joined by an edge (12) is also taught, as is the method of manufacture and use.

Claims

1. An edge protector which includes two arms, each arm having a free end and an extension forming the other end, a base member, having a first side and a second side, located between the arms, the arms each (i) extending away from the first side of the base member to said free end thereof, and (ii) extending away from the second side of the base member to said extension forming the other end thereof, and resilient bias means which urges free ends together, the extensions being moveable toward one another against the force of the resilient bias means to separate said free ends, the resilient bias means being non-removeably secured to each arm, with each extension being connected to a re-entrant portion, and the re-entrant portion being joined to the base member by a hinge, wherein each extension is joined to the re-entrant portion by an elbow, whereby the arms can grip and protect the sides of an article while elbows are spaced from an article edge and are adapted to accept blows directed at the article edge.

2. The edge protector according to claim 1, in which the base member and the opposed arms are formed from a single length of semi-rigid paper.

3. The edge protector according to claim 2, wherein each elbow is formed by a fold in the paper.

4. The edge protector according to claim 1, wherein a first hinge is provided between the base member and one of the arms and a second hinge is provided between the base member and the other of the arms, each hinge including a portion at an obtuse angle to the base member, wherein the portion and the respective arm are connected at an acute angle, the portion and arm being connected to prevent relative hinging, and wherein the connection is by an adhesive.

5. The edge protector according to claim 1, wherein the arms have a first relative position, the arms being hinged when fitted to an article, the article having opposed article sides connected by an article edge, and the edge protector having a second relative position frictionally gripping the article opposed sides between the arms, and the base member facing the article edge.

6. The edge protector according to claim 1, wherein the base and each of said arms is formed from corrugated paper.

7. The edge protector according to claim 6, wherein corrugations of the paper are outwardly facing.

8. The edge protector according to claim 6, wherein the base member, re-entrant portions, and arms are formed from a single length of paper, and wherein corrugations of the paper run from the free end of one of the arms to the free end of the other arm.

9. A method of assembling an edge protector to an article having opposed article sides joined by an article edge, comprising the steps of providing an edge protector which includes two arms, each arm having a free end and an extension forming the other end, a base member, having a first side and a second side, located between the arms, the arms each (i) extending away from the first side of the base member to said free end thereof, and (ii) extending away from the second side of the base member to said extension forming the other end thereof, and resilient bias means which urges the free ends together, the extensions being moveable toward one another against the force of the resilient bias means to separate said free ends, the resilient bias means being non-removeably secured to each arm, with each extension being connected to a re-entrant portion, and the re-entrant portion being joined to the base member by a hinge, and wherein each extension is joined to the re-entrant portion by an elbow, whereby the arms can grip and protect the sides of an article while the elbows are spaced from the article edge and are adapted to accept blows directed at the article edge, separating the arm free ends, feeding the free ends parallel or substantially so across the article sides, and releasing the arms so that they can engage the sides frictionally gripping the article.