Sheet interconnecting device

Claim 1

A device for fastening a plurality of sheets of paper or the like together, said device comprising: a first member having a head, a base having a flat surface, and a shaft perpendicularly extending from said flat surface of said base, the distal end of said shaft being pointed to pierce said sheets, an annular member, the opening of which receives the pointed end of said shaft, said shaft having intermediate its distal end and the base at least one annular groove therein the cross-section of which in the plane of the axis of said shaft is rounded and concave at its outwardly facing side, the diameter of said shaft exclusive of the groove or grooves being uniform, and resilient gripping means extending into the opening of said annular member, said resilient gripping means having opposed portions which are spaced apart by a distance less than the diameter of the shaft so that said gripping means will engage said shaft when said shaft is thrust through the opening to couple the members whereby the members will fasten Together sheets of paper between the second member and the base of the first member, said gripping means having a cross-section in the plane of the axis of the opening of the annular member which is rounded and convex at its inwardly facing side, the curvatures of the facing surfaces of the groove and gripping means being configured for mutual interengagement so that when the resilient gripping means is seated in the groove it can be readily disengaged therefrom by a relative axial force applied to the base and annular member so that while the resilient gripping means is in the groove maximum surface contact between the gripping member and the groove, and hence maximum engagement therebetween, will be obtained, a tether having ends, one end being permanently joined to the first member and the other end being permanently joined to the annular member to prevent the two members from being widely separated, and a protective cover connected to the annular member and arching over the annular opening therein on the side of said annular member remote from the side through which the pointed tip of the base is inserted through the opening in the annular member, said cover being deep enough in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the annular member to receive pieces of paper which are punched out of paper sheets pierced by the first member and fastened together by said first member and annular member.

Claim 2

A device for fastening a plurality of sheets of paper or the like together, said device comprising: a first member having a head, a base having a flat surface, and a shaft perpendicularly extending from said flat surface of said base, the distal end of said shaft being pointed to pierce said sheets, an annular member, the opening of which receives the pointed end of said shaft, said shaft having intermediate its distal end and the base at least one annular groove therein the cross-section of which in the plane of the axis of said shaft is rounded and concave at its outwardly facing side, the diameter of said shaft exclusive of the groove or grooves being uniform, and resilient gripping means extending into the opening of said annular member, said resilient gripping means having opposed portions which are spaced apart by a distance less than the diameter of the shaft so that said gripping means will engage said shaft when said shaft is thrust through the opening to couple the members whereby the members will fasten Together sheets of paper between the second member and the base of the first member, said gripping means having a cross-section in the plane of the axis of the opening of the annular member which is rounded and convex at its inwardly facing side, the curvatures of the facing surfaces of the groove and gripping means being configured for mutual interengagement so that when the resilient gripping means is seated in the groove it can be readily disengaged therefrom by a relative axial force applied to the base and annular member so that while the resilient gripping means is in the groove maximum surface contact between the gripping member and the groove, and hence maximum engagement therebetween, will be obtained, a tether having ends, one end being permanently joined to the first member and the other end being permanently joined to the annular member to prevent the two members from being widely separated, and a protective cover connected to the annular member and arching over the annular opening therein on the side of said annular member remote from the side through which the pointed tip of the base is inserted through the opening in the annular member, said cover being deep enough in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the annular member to receive pieces of paper which are punched out of paper sheets pierced by the first member and fastened together by said first member and annular member.