Stationery clamp

[0002] This invention relates to an improved stationery clamp and particularly a versatile stationery clamp that may be engaged with partition of various thickness for holding a wide variety of stationery sets.

[0003] Conventional stationery sets are usually being placed on desk top or being fastened to a wall by nails or screws. Desk top stationery sets tends to make the desk top untidy. Wall fastened stationery sets tend to make wall surface laden with unsightly pits and holes. In order to mitigate aforesaid problems, various stationery fixtures have been developed and introduced. For instance, there are hanger racks which may be nailed or screwed on a wall or partition. The hanger rack has multiple number of hangers for hanging things neatly. However the number of hangers is usually fixed for a given rack and the hangers can only be used for hanging articles. Its applicability and flexibility is severely restricted. Then there are double side tapes which may be stuck to a wall or partition to replace the hanger rack. The tape may stick to the wall or partition without nails or screws, but it leaves sticky residual marks on the wall that are difficult to clear and often become an eyesore. Many contemporary offices use modular office furniture which include partition panels. A pair of adjacent partition panels may join and connect by a bridge strut which has a plurality of slots. Mating stationery racks may be provided to engage with the slots. As office furniture producers have their own specifications and which are usually not compatible with other brands of furniture, the flexibility for mating stationery sets among different brands of furniture and partitions is limited.

[0004] In view of aforesaid disadvantages, it is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved stationery clamp that may be engaged with a wide variety of partitions or boards used in commonly modular office environments. The clamp further has a holding slot for selectively engaging with a paper clip tray, name card rack, mobile phone dock, tape stand or the like. All of this may greatly enhance the versatility and flexibility of the present invention.

[0005] The invention, as well as its many advantages, may be further understood by the following detailed description and drawings, in which:

[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of this invention.

[0007] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of this invention.

[0008] FIG. 3A is a sectional view of this invention, taken on line 3A—3A in FIG. 1.

[0009] FIG. 3B is a sectional view of this invention, taken on line 3B—3B in FIG. 1.

[0010] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of another embodiment of this invention.

[0011] FIG. 5A is a pictorial view of this invention in use.

[0012] FIG. 5B is another pictorial view of this invention in use.

[0013] FIG. 5C is further pictorial view of this invention in use.

[0014] FIG. 5D is yet another pictorial view of this invention in use.

[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the stationery clamp according to this invention has an adjustable width and includes a first clamp member 10, a second clamp member 20, an adjusting screw bolt 30 and an elastic member 40.

[0016] The first clamp member 10 includes a first flange 11 located at one end thereof and extended downward, two side walls each has a slide slot 12 of a selected length formed therein, and a first chamber 13 located inside which has a first front opening. Inside the first chamber 13, there is a rod 14 which has a step ring 141 at a selected location thereof to divide the rod 14 in two sections which have different diameters. The front end of the rod 14 has a smaller diameter which has a screw bore 15 formed therein. At the top side of the first clamp member 10, there is a holding slot 16.

[0017] The second clamp member 20 may be inserted into the first chamber 13 through the first front opening and includes a second flange 21 located at one end thereof and extended downward, a pair of resilient stubs 23 located at two side walls slidably engageable with the slide slot 12, a guide wall 24 mating with the rod 14, a second chamber 25 formed in the guide wall 24 for holding the elastic member 40 and a through hole 22 formed in a rear wall thereof. The elastic member 40 may be a compression spring which has one end pressing against the step ring 141.

[0018] The adjusting screw bolt 30 runs through the through hole 22, elastic member 40 and engages with the screw bore 15.

[0019] Through the construction set forth above, the clamping width formed between the first and second flange 11 and 21 may be changed and adjusted to suit different partition or board thickness.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, when there is a need to adjust the clamping width, turning the adjusting screw bolt 30 in one or another direction may move the first and second flange 11 and 21 toward or away from each other to change the clamping width formed therebetween. The elastic member 40 helps the first and second clamp member 10 and 20 to move steadily during the width adjustment.

[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of this invention. Below the top walls of the first and second clamp member 10 and 20, there are respectively a first and second strut 17 and 26 each has a first and second notch 171 and 261 formed at a lateral side opposite to each other. The elastic member 40 is an extension type which may be a spring or a rubber band, and has two ends engaged respectively with the first and second notch 171 and 261. The first and second strut 17 and 26 have respectively a bottom end which have a first and second screw hole 172 and 262 formed therein. There is a first bottom lid 18 which has a first aperture 181 to engage with the bottom end of the first strut 17 through screwing the first screw hole 172. There is a second bottom lid 27 which has a second aperture 271 to engage with the bottom end of the second strut 26 through screwing the second screw hole 262. The first and second bottom lid 18 and 27 have respectively a first and second stopper 182 and 272 formed at one end thereof and facing toward each other for defining the adjusting width of the clamp, and preventing the first and second clamp 10 and 20 from disengaging with each other.

[0022] FIGS. 5A through SD show this invention in use to clamp over a partition 50 and support various types of stationery set. FIG. 5A shows that a paper clip tray 60ahas a first ridge 61alocated below the bottom thereof for engaging with the holding slot 16 so that the paper clip tray 60amay be held securely on the clamp of this invention and mounted on a partition or board. By the same token, FIG. 5B shows that a name card rack 60bhas a second ridge 61bfor engaging with the holding slot 16. FIG. 5C shows that a mobile phone dock 60chas a third ridge 61cfor engaging with the holding slot 16. FIG. 5D shows that a tape stand 60dhas a fourth ridge 61dfor engaging with the holding slot 16. In addition to support various types of stationery set, this invention may also be adjusted to mount on partitions of different thickness.

[0023] It may thus be seen that the objects of the present invention set forth herein, as well as those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained. While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.