Magnetic clip holder

Abstract

A clip holder includes a container arranged inside a casing with a space therebetween. The container has a top opening defined by a circumferential edge for receipt of paper clips. Two slots that are extended in such a way not to coincide with each other for retaining a notepaper in a deformed manner. The deformation of the notepaper induces friction between the notepaper and the slots thereby effectively retaining the notepaper in an upright manner. A disk magnet is positioned under the bottom of the container and two magnetic bars are arranged on opposite sides of the container and adjacent the side wall of the container. The magnets are arranged so that the same polarity of the magnetic bars oppose each other, while an opposite polarity of the disk magnet face toward the bottom of the container. The arrangement of the magnets allows at least a fraction of magnetic force lines goes from the magnetic bars to the disk magnet in a vertical direction for retaining paper clips in a standing up manner inside the container. The casing has a hemispherical base with a weight fixed therein to allow the clip holder to swing back and forth with the paper swinging in a non-constrained manner inside the container.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a clip holder, and in particular to a magnetic clip holder for retaining paper clips in a standing up manner, allowing easy pick up of the paper clips.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Paper clips are widely used to organize and file documents. The paper clips are usually positioned in a small box to avoid arbitrarily spread over the surface of a desk. Putting a number of paper clips in a small box causes troubles in picking up a single clip for the clips are all entangled together. A user must separate the clips one by one with both hands.

[0003] Notepapers are also commonly used in offices for taking notes and messages. Since the notepapers are usually small in size, they can be easily hidden under other documents. Looking for a notepaper having important and urgent messages thereon is a nightmare for an absent-minded office worker. Thus, a device for holding a notepaper or notepapers for easy access is important to office workers. A conventional way to solve the problem is to attach the notepapers to a fixture having ferromagnetic parts by a magnet. A problem arises if there is no such fixture in nearby areas. In addition, such a magnetic device for holding notepapers is not generally suitable for retaining paper clips.

[0004] Thus, it is desired to have a device for solving the above problems simultaneously.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic clip holder that retains paper clips in a standing up manner so as to allow ready access and pick up of the clips by a user.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic clip holder that allows paper clips held thereby to swing back and forth for entertainment purposes.

[0007] A further object of the present invention is to provide a notepaper holder that retains a notepaper in an upright manner.

[0008] To achieve the above objects, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a clip holder comprising a container arranged inside a casing with a space therebetween. The container has a top opening defined by a circumferential edge for receipt of paper clips. Two slots that are extended in such a way not to coincide with each other for retaining a notepaper in a deformed manner. The deformation of the notepaper induces friction between the notepaper and the slots thereby effectively retaining the notepaper in an upright manner. A disk magnet is positioned under the bottom of the container and two magnetic bars are arranged on opposite sides of the container and adjacent the side wall of the container. The magnets are arranged so that the same polarity of the magnetic bars oppose each other, while an opposite polarity of the disk magnet face toward the bottom of the container. The arrangement of the magnets allows at least a fraction of magnetic force lines goes from the magnetic bars to the disk magnet in a vertical direction for retaining paper clips in a standing up manner inside the container. The casing has a hemispherical base with a weight fixed therein to allow the clip holder to swing back and forth with the paper swinging in a non-constrained manner inside the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a magnetic clip holder constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the magnetic clip holder of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the magnetic clip holder of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the magnetic clip holder of the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the magnetic clip holder of the present invention with a notepaper retained therein;

[0015] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a magnetic clip holder constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the magnetic clip holder of FIG. 6 with a notepaper retained therein; and

[0017] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the magnetic clip holder of the present invention showing an entertainment function thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, a magnetic clip holder constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a casing (not labeled) having a semi-spherical base 10 and a substantially cylindrical top member 30. The base 10 forms a top opening having a circumferential flange 12 forming a circumferential shoulder (not labeled). The top member 30 forms a lower opening defined by a circumferential flange 301. The flange 12 of the base 10 is received in the lower opening of the top member 30 with the flange 301 of the top member 30 engaging the shoulder of the base 10.

[0019] A weight 20 is received and fixed inside the base 10. In the embodiment illustrated, a central bore 21 is defined in the weight 20 for receiving a fastener 22, such as a bolt. A hole 110, preferably inner-threaded, is defined in the base 10 for receivingly engaging the bolt 22 to secure the weight 20 in the base 10. In the embodiment illustrated, a post 11 is formed in a central location of the base 10 with the hole 110 defined therein. A first magnet 23, preferably in the form of a disk as shown in the drawings, is attached to the weight 20. The first magnet 23 can be attached to the weight 20 by any known means, such as adhesives and fasteners. Alternatively, the weight 20 itself is made of a ferromagnetic material whereby the first magnet 23 is attached to the weight 20 by means of magnetic attraction therebetween.

[0020] Also referring to FIG. 3, the clip holder comprises a container 31 arranged inside the casing. The container 31 has a circumferential side wall (not labeled) opposing the top member 30 and a bottom (not labeled) facing the base 10. The container 31 is spaced from the top member 30, defining a ring space 32 therebetween. Two second magnets 40 having an arc configuration are received and fixed in the ring space 32 by means of adhesives or the likes. The second magnets 40 are arranged on opposite sides of the container 31. The bottom of the container 31 is also spaced from the base 10 for accommodating the disk magnet 23 with the magnet 23 located adjacent the bottom of the container 31. Alternatively, the second magnets 40 are flexible magnet bars that are forcibly fit into the ring space 32 and are deformed to comply with the ring space.

[0021] The second magnets 40 are arrange to have the sides of the same polarity opposing each other and facing the container 31 while the polarity of the side of the disk magnet 23 that faces the container 31 is different from that of the second magnets 40 that face the container 31 whereby at least a fraction of the magnetic force lines goes from the second magnets 40 to the first magnet 23 through the interior space of the container 31 in a substantially vertical direction as shown in FIG. 3. The magnetic force lines 60 between the first and second magnets 23, 40 retain paper clips 50 in a substantially standing up manner inside the container 31.

[0022] Also referring to FIG. 8, since the paper clip 50 is not fixedly secured inside the container 31, shaking the clip holder causes the paper clip 50 to swing back and forth, providing an entertainment purposes.

[0023] Also referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the container 31 has a top opening defined by a circumferential edge in which two slots 33 are defined. The slots 33 are extended in directions that are not coincident with each other. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the slots 33 are extended radially but in different directions whereby an included angle A that is not 180 degrees is formed therebetween. A notepaper 70 can be positioned in and retained by the slots 33. The included angle A between the slots 33 forces the notepaper to deform to some extents that induces friction between the notepaper 70 and the slots 33, thereby effectively retaining the notepaper 70 in an upright manner in the slots 33.

[0024] FIGS. 6 and 7 show a magnetic paper clip constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, which is substantially identical to the first embodiment with the only difference in the arrangement of the notepaper retention slots 33. In the second embodiment, the slots 33 are made substantially parallel to but offset from each other a predetermined distance. Such distance forces the notepaper to deform in fitting into the slots 33. Friction is thus induced between the notepaper 70 and the slots 33 to effectively retain the notepaper 70 in an upright manner in the slots 33.

[0025] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A clip holder comprising:

a container adapted to receive at least one paper clip therein; and

magnetic means for generating magnetic force lines through the container in a substantially vertical direction whereby the paper clip is retained inside the container in a standing up manner.

2. The clip holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container comprises a side wall and a bottom and wherein the magnetic means comprises a first magnet adjacent the bottom of the container and two second magnet on opposite sides of the container and adjacent the side wall of the container, the first magnet having a first polarity side facing toward the bottom of the container and a second, opposite polarity side facing away from the bottom of the container, each second magnet having a third polarity side facing toward the side wall of the container and an opposite fourth polarity side facing away from the side wall of the container, the third polarity sides of the second magnets opposing each other, the first polarity being opposite to the third polarity whereby at least a fraction of magnetic forces lines from the second magnets goes in a vertical direction toward the first magnet.

3. The clip holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first magnet is a disk magnet positioned under the bottom of the container, each second magnet being a magnetic bar positioned outside the side wall of the container and partially co-extensive with the side wall.

4. The clip holder as claimed in claim 3, wherein the container has a cylindrical side wall, the each second magnet comprising an arc magnetic bar partially surrounding the side wall.

5. The clip holder as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second magnets are two arc magnetic bars substantially surrounding the side wall of the container on opposite sides of the container.

6. The clip holder as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a casing inside which the container is fixed, a space being defined between the container and the casing for accommodating the magnetic means.

7. The clip holder as claimed in claim 6, wherein the casing has a hemispherical base for swinging back and forth.

8. The clip holder as claimed in claim 7, wherein the container has a bottom facing the base of the casing and a cylindrical side wall, the magnetic means comprising a disk magnet fixed inside the base adjacent the bottom of the container and two arc magnets fixed on opposite sides of the container between the side wall of the container and the casing.

9. The clip holder as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a weight fixed in the base.

10. The clip holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container has a top opening defined by a circumferential edge in which two slots are defined, the slots being extended in such a way to be not coincident with each other for retaining a notepaper with the notepaper deformed to induce friction between the notepaper and the slots so as to effectively retain the notepaper in the slots.

11. The clip holder as claimed in claim 10, wherein the slots are extended radially with an included angle not corresponding to 180 degrees therebetween.

12. The clip holder as claimed in claim 10, wherein the slots are substantially parallel to but offset from each other.