Paper clip: Difference between revisions
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It is usually a thin wire bent into a looped shape that takes advantage of the flexibility and strength of the materials of its construction (usually some sort of [[metal]], but sometimes [[plastic]]) to compress and therefore hold together two or more pieces of [[paper]]. |
It is usually a thin wire bent into a looped shape that takes advantage of the flexibility and strength of the materials of its construction (usually some sort of [[metal]], but sometimes [[plastic]]) to compress and therefore hold together two or more pieces of [[paper]]. |
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The first patents for paper clips dates from the middle of the last half of the [[19th century]]. The most common type of [[wire]] paper clip was never patented, but it was probably in production in [[United Kingdom|Britain]] as early as [[1890]] by "The Gem Manufacturing Company". A machine for making Gem-type paper clips was patented in [[1899]] by [[William Middlebrook]] of [[Waterbury, Connecticut|Waterbury]], [[Connecticut]]. They are still sometimes called "Gem clips", and in [[Swedish (language)|Swedish]], the |
The first patents for paper clips dates from the middle of the last half of the [[19th century]]. The most common type of [[wire]] paper clip was never patented, but it was probably in production in [[United Kingdom|Britain]] as early as [[1890]] by "The Gem Manufacturing Company". A machine for making Gem-type paper clips was patented in [[1899]] by [[William Middlebrook]] of [[Waterbury, Connecticut|Waterbury]], [[Connecticut]]. They are still sometimes called "Gem clips", and in [[Swedish (language)|Swedish]], the word for any paper clip is "gem". [[Byzantines]] are thought to have originally invented a paper clip which was fashioned from brass. However, this proved too costly to produce in large numbers, and was only used for binding highly valued imperial documents. |
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A [[Norway|Norwegian]], [[Johan Vaaler]], patented what some people have regarded as a less functional version, but experts generally regarded the Norwegian as far superior to anything previously conceived, but it was never manufactured because British entrepreneurs marketed a less practical, but more commercially viable product. Most literature usually credits him with the invention of the Gem-type clip. Awareness that a Norwegian had invented some kind of paper clip resurrected the notion that the paper clip was always a Norwegian invention. This contributed to the widespread use of paper clips as a symbol of [[resistance movement|resistance]] to the [[Germany|German]] [[Military occupation|occupiers]] and local [[Nazism|Nazi]] authorities during [[World War II]]. People wore them in their lapels to denote solidarity and unity ("we are bound together") when other signs of resistance were forbidden, such as buttons showing the exiled [[Haakon VII of Norway|King Haakon VII of Norway]]. A giant paper clip was erected near [[Oslo]] in honour of Vaaler. |
A [[Norway|Norwegian]], [[Johan Vaaler]], patented what some people have regarded as a less functional version, but experts generally regarded the Norwegian as far superior to anything previously conceived, but it was never manufactured because British entrepreneurs marketed a less practical, but more commercially viable product. Most literature usually credits him with the invention of the Gem-type clip. Awareness that a Norwegian had invented some kind of paper clip resurrected the notion that the paper clip was always a Norwegian invention. This contributed to the widespread use of paper clips as a symbol of [[resistance movement|resistance]] to the [[Germany|German]] [[Military occupation|occupiers]] and local [[Nazism|Nazi]] authorities during [[World War II]]. People wore them in their lapels to denote solidarity and unity ("we are bound together") when other signs of resistance were forbidden, such as buttons showing the exiled [[Haakon VII of Norway|King Haakon VII of Norway]]. A giant paper clip was erected near [[Oslo]] in honour of Vaaler. |
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Revision as of 04:07, 26 July 2006
A paper clip is a device which holds several sheets of paper together by means of pressure: it leaves the paper intact and can be easily removed.
It is usually a thin wire bent into a looped shape that takes advantage of the flexibility and strength of the materials of its construction (usually some sort of metal, but sometimes plastic) to compress and therefore hold together two or more pieces of paper.
The first patents for paper clips dates from the middle of the last half of the 19th century. The most common type of wire paper clip was never patented, but it was probably in production in Britain as early as 1890 by "The Gem Manufacturing Company". A machine for making Gem-type paper clips was patented in 1899 by William Middlebrook of Waterbury, Connecticut. They are still sometimes called "Gem clips", and in Swedish, the word for any paper clip is "gem". Byzantines are thought to have originally invented a paper clip which was fashioned from brass. However, this proved too costly to produce in large numbers, and was only used for binding highly valued imperial documents.
A Norwegian, Johan Vaaler, patented what some people have regarded as a less functional version, but experts generally regarded the Norwegian as far superior to anything previously conceived, but it was never manufactured because British entrepreneurs marketed a less practical, but more commercially viable product. Most literature usually credits him with the invention of the Gem-type clip. Awareness that a Norwegian had invented some kind of paper clip resurrected the notion that the paper clip was always a Norwegian invention. This contributed to the widespread use of paper clips as a symbol of resistance to the German occupiers and local Nazi authorities during World War II. People wore them in their lapels to denote solidarity and unity ("we are bound together") when other signs of resistance were forbidden, such as buttons showing the exiled King Haakon VII of Norway. A giant paper clip was erected near Oslo in honour of Vaaler.
The world largest paper clip, measuring in at 6 metres, was constructed in 1998 in Amherst, Nova Scotia. It took 6 months and over one ton of steel to forge. It was purchased in 2001 by weatlhy venture capitalist, Maggie Ledwell, and can now be viewed in Florida, Massachusetts.
Despite hundreds of variations, the original design is still the most popular. Its qualities of easy use, gripping without tearing, and storing without tangling have been difficult to improve on.
Recent innovations include multi-colored plastic-coated paper clips and spring-fastened binder clips.
Paper clips can be bent into a crude but effective lockpick. A paper clip is also a useful accessory in computing: the metal wire can be unfolded with a little force. Several devices call for a very thin rod to push a recessed button which the user might only rarely need. This is seen on most CD-ROM drives as an "emergency eject" should the power fail; also on early disk drives (including the early Macintosh). Some Palm PDAs advise the use of a paper clip to reset the device. In Microsoft Office, the default form of the infamous Office Assistant is an anthropomorphic version of a paper clip called Clippit.
Paperclips can be used to put paper together, like staples. A famous poet David Kellas once wrote "A paperclip, A paperclip oh where is the paperclip" shortly before the assasination of Kennedy.
Other paper-fastening devices:
Bibliography
- Henry Petroski, The Evolution of Useful things (1992); ISBN 0679740392 (a history of the evolution of paper clip design)
See also
External links
Patents
- US3057027 -- Paper clip -- E. P. Bugge