![]() Vaaler probably did not know that a better product was already on the market, although not yet in Norway. ![]() He was granted patents in Germany and in the United States (1901) for a paper clip of similar design, but less functional and practical, because it lacked the last turn of the wire. Norwegian Johan Vaaler (1866–1910) has erroneously been identified as the inventor of the paper clip. The paper clip patented by Johan Vaaler in 18 More convincing is its appropriation as logo of the Year of Design ( L'any del disseny) in Barcelona 2003, depicted on posters, T-shirts and other merchandise. The Gem-type paperclip has become a symbol of inventive design, as confirmed below – although falsely – by its celebration as a Norwegian invention in 1899. ![]() Its qualities-ease of use, gripping without tearing, and storing without tangling-have been difficult to improve upon. But the original Gem type has for more than a hundred years proved to be the most practical, and consequently by far the most popular. In addition, purely aesthetic variants have been patented, clips with triangular, star, or round shapes. Some have pointed instead of rounded ends, some have the end of one loop bent slightly to make it easier to insert sheets of paper, and some have wires with undulations or barbs to get a better grip. Since then countless variations on the same theme have been patented. The fact that Middlebrook did not mention it by name, suggests that it was already well known at the time. Paper clips are still sometimes called "Gem clips", and in Swedish the word for any paper clip is "gem".ĭefinite proof that the modern type of paper clip was well known in 1899 at the latest, is the patent granted to William Middlebrook of Waterbury, Connecticut on April 27 of that year for a "Machine for making wire paper clips." The drawing clearly shows that the product is a perfect clip of the Gem type. The announcement stated that it had been used since March 1, 1892, which may have been the time of its introduction in the United States. In 1904 Cushman & Denison registered a trademark for the "Gem" name in connection with paper clips. The earliest illustration of its current form is in an 1893 advertisement for the "Gem Paper Clip". Since the 1883 article had no illustration of this early "Gem", it may have been different from modern paper clips of that name. He refers to an 1883 article about "Gem Paper-Fasteners", praising them for being "better than ordinary pins" for "binding together papers on the same subject, a bundle of letters, or pages of a manuscript". The most common type of wire paper clip still in use, the Gem paper clip, was never patented, but it was most likely in production in Britain in the early 1870s by "The Gem Manufacturing Company", according to the American expert on technological innovations, Professor Henry J. This clip was advertised at that time for use in fastening together loose leaves of papers, documents, periodicals, newspapers etc. Another notable paper clip design was also patented in the United States by Erlman J. Although functional and practical, Fay's design along with the 50 other designs patented prior to 1899 are not considered reminiscent of the modern paperclip design known today. This clip was originally intended primarily for attaching tickets to fabric, although the patent recognized that it could be used to attach papers together. History Īccording to the Early Office Museum, the first patent for a bent wire paper clip was awarded in the United States to Samuel B. Recent innovations include multi-colored plastic-coated paper clips and spring-fastened binder clips. Some other kinds of paper clips use a two-piece clamping system. The most common material is steel or some other metal, but molded plastic is also used. Paper clips usually have an oblong shape with straight sides, but may also be triangular or circular, or have more elaborate shapes. They are usually used to bind papers together for productivity and portability. When a moderate number of sheets are inserted between the two "tongues" of the clip, the tongues will be forced apart and cause torsion in the bend of the wire to grip the sheets together. Common to paper clips proper is their utilization of torsion and elasticity in the wire, and friction between wire and paper. Most paper clips are variations of the Gem type introduced in the 1890s or earlier, characterized by the almost two full loops made by the wire. A paper clip (or paperclip) is a tool used to hold sheets of paper together, usually made of steel wire bent to a looped shape (though some are covered in plastic).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |