Abstract: A combination bag tag and zipper lock is formed from a stamped out piece of metal, and has a pair of pointed legs which may be formed from a frangible central portion and bent outwardly, away from a first surface of the stamped out blank so as to form a pair of pointed securing elements. The securing elements are preferably bent outwardly at about 90.degree. from the first surface, and have their pointed ends inserted through opposite sides of a zipper closure at either or both ends on a body bag until a bottom surface of the bag tag/zipper lock contacts the closed zipper closure. The securing elements are then bent over the closed zipper closure so as to securely hold the zipper closure together.

Abstract: A piercing clamp for sheets of paper and the like, it includes a piercing jaw containing a piercing pin, and a holding jaw, and is urged closed by a spring. It is self piercing. Once a sheet of paper is pierced within the clamp, it retains its position relative to the clamp whether the clamp is open or closed. A guard may also be included to guard the piercing pin. The piercing clamp has great utility in a hanging clipboard. By piercing divider sheets within the clamp, other sheets may be inserted between the dividers without being pierced, allowing the piercing clamp to be used as a flier.

Abstract: A paper sheets binding system utilizes a two-part connector including a headed bifurcated inner ratcheted post binding member and a headed pawls-containing locking collar which is ratcheted down over the post member legs to cinch the heads either directly around punch-hole apertures in a paper sheets stack or against a pair of longitudinal binding strips on opposite marginal edges of the stack, with or without an affixed paper sheets cover. The post legs and pawls on the binding member and locking collar, respectively, are offset from the center of their heads so that upon assembly on a paper sheets stack to be bound, the connector element heads are asymmetric with respect to the apertures in the punch-hole paper stack. This allows the connector to better withstand asymmetric loading which is present when a book is purposely opened or accidentally dropped.

Abstract: For convenient packaging of plastic bookbinding strips, cassettes are provided. The end edges of each strip are received in channels formed in opposed side rails. The rails engage adjacent either end the depending legs of transverse spacer bars. The spacer bars have plural sockets to engage projections on the upper ends of the legs so that the spacing between side rails may be varied to accommodate strips of different lengths--e.g., 81/2 inches, 11 inches, etc. Different length legs may be used to accommodate different length studs formed on the strips. By eliminating the legs entirely, flat female binding strips may be packaged in the cassette. A detent is provided in the ends of the rails preventing removal of strips until the detent is bent out of position. The cassette is especially useful in equipment which mechanically assembles punched sheets and strips preparatory to binding a book in a binding machine.

Abstract: A male bookbinding member comprises a relatively thin, narrow strip having studs projecting therefrom at intervals. The ends of the studs are formed as male paper punches. A female paper punch comprises a female bookbinding strip having holes at the same intervals as the studs. Individual or small batches of paper (or other sheet material) are brought into position overlying the female punch. The male member advances toward the sheets punching them in cooperation with the female strip. The paper remains on the studs. The operation is repeated until all the sheets of the book are on the studs. The strips are forced together, excess stud lengths cut off and heads formed on the ends of the studs to rivet the book together or the strips are held together by other means. Alternatively, a hardened female punch die is used and the female binding strip brought into contact with the studs after the sheets are assembled thereon.

Abstract: A fastener for paper and the like is integrally molded of a plastic material and comprises hingedly interconnected first and second plate members, each having a mating surface thereon, and a wedge-shaped prong which extends from the mating surface of the first plate member. The prong is receivable in frictional interengagement in a slot in the second plate member to detachably maintain the plate members in the closed positions thereof, wherein the abutting surfaces thereof are in mating relation. One or a plurality of sheets of paper or the like interposed between the plate members are penetrated by the prong when the plate members are in the closed positions thereof to secure the sheets in the fastener.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved paper clip for retaining two or more pieces of paper together formed by a continuous U-shaped body having an upper wall and a lower wall being spaced apart a distance and joined at one end by a junction portion, the upper wall having a cut-out portion formed therein and having one surface thereof including an inclined surface formed therein, spring means mounted on the upper wall and recessed within the cut-out portion the spring means further including an inclined section formed integrally therewith and positioned in cooperating relation with the inclined surface of the cut-out portion such that the inclined section frictionally engages against the inclined surface, the spring means including paper piercing means formed thereon and extending downwardly therefrom in the direction of the lower wall, the spring means constructed to have an open position when retracted and a closed position when depressed, the lower wall having a receiving slot formed therein and positioned in line