US2194748A - Clip applicator - Google Patents

Description

March 26, 1940. M A @LASER ET AL 2,194,748

CLIP APPLIGATOR Filed April l5, 1937 2 sheets-Sheet 1 -z if@ l 49' Z640 l-IIL,"- INVENToRS March 26, 1940. VM. A. GLASER m' AL 2,194,748

CLIP APPLICATOR 2 Sheets-Shea?l 2 Filed April 15, 1957 66 INVENTOR jg -MAAKA ema/2 J Z 5m/5 a 50M Lil) Lli) Patented Mar. 26, 1940 CLIP' APPLICATOR MarkA. Glaser and Leslie C. Isom, i

Los Angeles, Calif.

ApplicationI April 15, 1937, serial No. 137,064.

l1 Claims.

This invention relates to fastening means, and particularly pertainsto a clip applicator.

It is the principal object of the present in vention to provide a fastening clip andrneans for applying the same, the clip and its applicator being capable of a large number of desirable uses. For example, the clips mayv beused in surgical work as a haemostat to block off the flow of blood in the veins and arteries, and in which case the applicator is especially adapted to conveniently apply and remove the clips. It is also an object of the present invention 'to design a device of `this character which may apply clips for fastening papers together or for markv ing articles, such as when laundry markers or thelike are required.

The present inventionl contemplates the provision ci a` simple and novel clip structurewhich may be placed within anvapplicator. the said applicator being so designed and arranged as to be in the form of hand operated pliers carrying a magazine for the clips and having associated therewith means for consecutively feeding the` clips from the magazine to the jaws of the structure and for holding the fed clip while it is being applied.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing the clip applicator with which .the present invention is concerned and with the jaws of the applicator in their opened position. i

Fig. 2 is a View of the applicator as shown in.

Fig. 1 with the jaws in their closed and clamping position. 4

Fig. 3 is a view of the applicator similar to that shown in Fig. l, but showing the reversed side of the applicator. f

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional View as seen on' the line 4 4 of'Fig. 3 and showing the operation of the clip ejector, said ejector being indicated in its outermost position in solid lines and in its retracted position in dotted lines.

Fig. 5 is a View in central section and elevation through the applicator as seen on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 and shows theposition of the clip magazine between the plier elements of the device and the ejector in its outermost position.

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 showing the structure with the ejector in its retracted position.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view on the line l--l of Fig. 4 snowing the position of the clips as they are fed forwardly to the clamping jaws.

Fig. 8 is a similar view in section and side` elevation showinga variation of the present invention in which a marking element is associated with the` clip applying jaws for the` purpose of applying indicia to the clips or material carried` i thereby, such as would be the case inr connection 5"' 'with` the use of laundry marks or the like.

' Fig. 9 is a View in elevation indicating the marker as seenY on the line 9-'9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. l0 is a view in perspective showing one oi the clips. 10

. Fig. 1l is an end view of `the magazine as seen on the line ll-ll of Fig. 1.

Fig. l2 is a view showing a form of clip in solid lines and indicates its reopened position in dotted lines.

. Referring more particularly to the drawings,

' it indicates an upper jaw member and l l indi-` cates aV lower jaw member. The upper rjaw member is formed with a gripping element l2` and a shank I3 which issecured, thereto and is disposed at right angles to the gripping member to form a clearance space itl. The shank I3 is formed with a slotted opening I5 extending longitudinally of its end portion and which end portion terminates in` an eye it. vThe lower jaw H has a gripping face l'l and is relatively thin so far as thickness is concerned so that it may be easily introduced into coniined spaces. The end of the gripping jaw Il is formed with an eX- tension I8 through which a slotted opening I9 30 occurs. The upper jaw lll is carried by a pair of arms 2t of a handle fork which `are parallel to` each other and extend along opposite sides of the jaw. These fork armsZll are pivotally conf nected with the jaw member lll by pivot screw 2|. The fork arms Ziorm a continuationof an operating handle 22 which occurs upon` the opposite side of the longitudinal center of the forks cross each other at a point alongthe longitudinal center line oi the applicator and that they are pivoted together by a central pivot pin 2t. The arms 2t also carry a link pin 2 which entends through the slotted opening i9 of the lower jaw Il. The arms 23 carry a link pin 28 which extends through the slotted opening l5 of' the upper jaw lll. As shown in Fig.`3 a link 29. 55

-65 disposed at an angle to each other.

is also engaged by the pins 27 and 23 and is formed with a slotted opening 36 to allow movement of the handles 22 and 25 toward each other, the link being provided to limit movement of the handles away from each other. The handles 22 and 25 are also connected by draw links 3i and 32. The link 3l is pivotally attached to the handle 22 by a screw 33 and the link 32 is pivotally attached to the handle 25 by a screw 34. These links at their contiguous ends are pivoted together by a screw 35. A longitudinally extending clip magazine 36 is disposed between the handles 22 and 25. This magazine is channel shaped as shown in Fig. 1l and has a floor 3l' and side walls 36 and 39. The side walls have overhanging anges B0 and 4l. The floor 3l is formed with a central longitudinal rib 62. This magazine is adapted to receive a plurality of clips 63. It will be understood that in their various applications the clips may differ in design but that essentially they are as indicated in Fig. 10, where it will be seen that they are formed from a piece of at metal folded intermediate its ends to provide a pair of legs M- and Along the area of the fold and at opposite edges of the clips grooves 46 are made so that the clips will seat over the rib d2 in the floor of the magazine. The magazine 36 extends longitudinally between the handles 22 and 25 and the side wall 38 of the magazine extends along the upper face of the jaw I! to a point beneath the fastening element lil carried by the jaw. The side wall has opposite short upturned flanges, one being the flange 66 previously described and the other being a complementary flange 46. The side Wall 39 also extends forwardly and terminates at the forward edge of the recess lll in the jaw Iii. A portion of the back wall is cut away between these forwardly extending portions and terminates in a fork 46 as particularly shown in Fig. 3. The clips 61 provided on the front of magazine 36 and are fastened to the sides of the jaws Il by screws 63. This holds the front end of the magazine 36. The magazine is also anchored to the jaw il by an angle plate 50 and also by securing the magazine to the links 3l and 32 by the screw 35. A pusher bar 5l is slidably positioned` within the magazine 36 and follows the nested'set of clips 63, the rearmost one of which seats within an angle-shaped end groove 52 of the pusher bar. The pusher bar is fitted with a pin 53 receiving a knob 54 which is connected to a flexible steel element 55 leading into a drum 56 where a coil spring 51 holds the steel element under tension and acts to move the pusher bar 5l forwardly in the magazine 36 to force the clips to an ejecting position. The drum is mounted upon the pivot pin 26. Slidably mounted upon the magazine 36 is a removable carriage 58 provided at its side with a pin 59 to which a spring 66 is attached. The forward end of the spring 60 is fastened into the eye I6 of the jaw I6 and tends to draw the carriage 56 toward the discharge end of the magazine. This carriage is provided with a draw bar' 6l which extends through la longitudinal passageway in the carriage and has a catch shoulder 62 at its forward end. This shoulder engages the forward end of the carriage. The draw bar 6| is pivotally connected to the screw 35 and when the handles 22 and 25 are forced toward each other the links 3l and 32 will move together and force the draw bar 6l longitudinally pulling the carriage 58 toward the end of the magazine against the tension of spring 60. A stop 63 limits the forward movement of the carriage 58 as influenced by the spring 66. Carried upon the carriage 58 is a lock pin 6ft which is mounted upon a spring leaf 65. Formed through the fioor of the magazine 36 at an appropriate place is an opening 66 which receives the lock pin when the carriage is in its retracted position and temporarily holds the carriage against movement while allowing the draw bar 6! to move forwardly as the handles 22 and 25 spread away from each other. Slidably mounted through a bearing in the carriage 58 is a feed bar 6l which is adjustably held to move with the carriage by the screw 59. This feed bar extends forwardly along the side wall 35i of the magazine and terminates at its forward end in a fork 68 which straddles the side wall 33 of the magazine in the space I4 of the jaw lli and extends downwardly along opposite sides of the side wall to a point along the plane of the longitudinal center of the magazine.

The fork 68, as particularly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, terminates in a pair of angularly disposedfingers 66 and 'i6 which have a slight amount of resiliency and may flex for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The ends of the fingers 66 and 16 are formed with side faces 'il and shoulders l2, which shoulders may engage the folded portion of the outermost clip 43 within the magazine when the fork 69 is in a retracted position, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. d, and will move the outermost clip forwardly to the position indicated by solid lines in Fig. 4, Attention is directed to the fact that the faces i2 and il of the jaws l and Il, respectively, are each formed with a rectangular recess i3 having a width substantially equal to the width of the clips and terminating in end shoulders M, particularly shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. These temporarily retard the outer movement of the outermost clip as will be hereinafter described. Spring fingers l5 are mounted upon the side walls 38 and 39 of the magazine as shown in Fig. 7 and retain the clips within the magazine prior to being selected and ejected by the fork 66. A spring 'I6 is interposed between handles 22 and 25 and tends to urge the handles to their outermost and separated positions.

As previously stated the applicator here disclosed may be used for applying clips of various types and for various purposes. The clips previously described are applied to veins and arteries in surgical operations to block 01T the ow of blood. At present the clips used must be individually placed in the haemostat forceps by an attendant and handed to the surgeon. In extensive operations this requires a great deal of time. By the structure here disclosed these clips can be applied as rapidly as desired.

in other applications of this invention clips of slightly different form are provided if desired so that they may be used as markers, such for example as marking poultry, rabbits and other animals, or the clips may be used as laundry markers, or for sales tags, in which instance it may be desirable to apply the same or consecutive marks on a marking field carried by the clip. In order to accomplish this last result it may be desirable to provide a marking mechanism generally indicated at 8D in Fig. 8 of the drawings. This structure comprises a series of marking wheels 8| mounted upon shaft 82 which shaft may be carried in suitable bearings disposed either upon the jaw structure l0 or Il. The marking wheels may be manually set to produce a selected mark or may be actuated by mechanism connected withthe handles 22 and 25 so that the wheels may act in the same manner as mechanical counters and consecutively turn out each actuation of the applicator. It is also to be understood that the clip applicator might be used as an article of office equipment to bind papers together.

In operation of the present invention the applicator is assembled as shown in the drawings and a nested string of clips is disposed within the magazine 36. vThese clips are preferably maintained in their nested position by the application of some adhesive or binding material, such as lacquer, cellophane, or the like.` When the clips are in position the groove 46 in their fold will straddle the rib l2 in the floor 3l of the magazine and the outer edges of the leaves tand t5 of the clip will rest against the top and bottom Walls 3S and 39 of the magazine. After the clips have been placed in the magazine 3S the pusher' bar lll is placed in the end of the magazine with the il-shaped portion 52 bearing against the rearmost clip. The knob 54 attached to the flexible spring 55 is then mounted upon the pin 53 of the pusher bar. This creates tension on the spring and tends to urge the pusher plate forwardly and to force the clips out through the front end of the magazine. `'l'his movement is restrained, however, by the spring fingers 'i5 as shown in Fig. 'l and temporarily prevent the clipsxfrorn moving outwardly. When it is desired to feed a clip from the magazine and to apply it for its intended purpose the applicator is grasped in the hand of the operator while it is in the position shown in Fig. l of the drawings. In thisposition it will be possible for the jaw ll to easily pass under an object upon which the clip is to be applied, since this jaw is relatively thin as compared to the jaw lil. Pressure then may be brought upon the handles so that the handles will swing toward each other in the direction of the arrows d in Fig. l. Due to the manner in which the handles are linked together and are attached to the jaws lll and li the jaws will be forced toward each other while being maintained in a parallel relationship.` As the jaws are forced toward *each other the links 3l and 32 will swing toward each other upon their pivot screw 35, and this screw will move in the direction of the arrow l2` as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. In this movement the draw bar 6l will be` drawn in thesame direction and since its shoulder E52 has engaged the forward edge of the carriage 58 it will draw the carriage rearwardly along the magazine 36. This movement will continue until the catch pin 54 drops into the slot Sli, thus limiting the rearward movement of the carriage 58 and swinging movement of the handles 22 and 25 in the direction of the arrows a. As the carriage moves rearwardly it will draw the feed bar 6l rearwardly and will retract the fork 58 until the feed fingers BS and l@ move from the position indicated by solid lines in Fig. 4 to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4. These feed fingers S9 and 'lil will thus ride over the folded portion of a clip lit, and the shoulders 'l2 on the fingers will abut against the back face of the clip. The particular clip engaged is indicated in Fig. 4 at @3a. The

clip when in position between the jaws is indicated at 43. By reference to Fig. 7 of the drawings it will be seen that the clip 43a abuts at its forward edges againstthe spring fingers 'l5 which extend through the side walls 38 and 353 `of the magazine. The remaining clips are retained within the magazine by a spring nger 84 having inturned end 85 as particularly shown in Fig. 4. The feed lingers 69 and Y'lll reach the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4 when the carriage 58 has been retracted until the pin Sli has come to register within the slot 6E. When pressure on the handles 22 and 25 has been released so that these handles may swing in a counter direction to that indicated by arrows d and under the expansive action of the spring lli the forks of the handles will actto separate the jaws It!` and Il. As these jaws separate additional tension will be imposed upon the spring lill connected to the carriage 5B. This will cause the pin @Il to be drawn out of the slot 66 and will release the carriage 58, so that it will move forwardly under the influence of the spring Bil and force the feed bar 61 forwardly. The fork 6B on the feed bar will then force the clip 43a from its frictional engagement with the spring fingers 'l5 and 85 and will move it forwardly until its forward edges abut against the shoulder it of the jaws. This will place the cliplta in position to be compressed by the jaws so that the leaves lll and 45 will assume the positions indicated by dotted lines when the next closing operation of the jaws takes place. It will thus be seen that by this arrangement the clips may be rapidly and automatically fed forwardly and instantly applied. It has also been learned that by using the forward ends of the jaws as a pair of pliers and squeezing `the folded portion of an applied clip the leaves itl and 45 may be caused to spread apart so that the clips may be easily removed. ,l

Referring particularly to Fig. 12 a spiral form of clip is shown. This clip Sil is bent intermediate its ends and the leg portions 92 are provided on their inner end surfaces with transversely extending teeth and a transverse groove 9i in each of its legs t2 at a point near the fold 93 of the metal. This makes it possible for the clip to be removed easily by compressing the fold 93.. The legs or leaves 92 will spread outwardly releasing the cbject gripped'by the clip. i

It will thus be seen that by the construction here disclosed a simple and effective clip applicator is provided, which acts automatically to feedand apply clips by the use of a compact structure, which is well balanced to be conveniently handled and operated.

While we have shown thepreferred form of our invention, as now known to us, it will be understood that various changes might be made in the combination, construction, and arrangement of parts, by those skilled in the art, without `departing from the spirit of the invention, as

claimed.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A clip applicator comprising a pair of jaws adapted to move toward `and away from each other in parallel planes, a pair of handles adapted i'or actuation to impart movement to said jaws, a magazine disposed centrally of said' handles for receiving clips to be applied by the applicato-r, `clips being in the formof a flat sheet metal stripiolded upon itself to provide a pair of leaves extending foremost and at angles to each other, and feed means comprising a fork having a pair of fingers at one end thereof the other end thereof n being slidably mounted upon the magazine clip and being connected' to a pair of links associated with the handles whereby the feed means will be actuated bya partial movement of the handles toward each other to select the koutermost clip in the magazine and move it to a position between jaws whereby when the jaws are moved into engagement with each other they will apply pressure to the leaves of the clip and fold them together in a clamping action.

2. A clip applicator comprising a pair of movable jaws, a pair of handles associated with said jaws and adapted for actuation to force the jaws toward each other, spring means acting to separate the jaws when the handle grasp is released, a clip magazine positioned between the handles and adapted to guide clips to a position between the jaws, feed ngers associated with the clip magazine and acting to select the outermost one of a series of clips within the magazine and to feed it forwardly to a position between the jaws, means acting to hold a fed clip in a position to be operated on by said jaws, and means for holding the remainder of vsaid clips in inoperative position in said magazine.

3. A clip applicator comprising a pair of jaws movable toward and away from each other in a parallel plane, a pair of handles adapted when compressed to close the jaws, a clip magazine carried by one of said jaws and extending between the handles to receive a series of clips to be successively fed from the magazine to said jaw, feed means operably associated with the handles for the clips and being slidably mounted upon the magazine for reciprocation by movement of the handles toward each other to engage a clip in the magazine, and acting to feed said clip to a point between the jaws when the handles are separated, and means for moving the handles and the jaws to their separated positions.

4. A clip applicator comprising a pair of jaws movable toward and away from each other in a parallel plane, a pair of handles adapted when compressed to close the jaws, a clip magazine carried by one of said jaws and extending between the handles to receive a series of clips to be successively fed from the magazine to said jaw, feed means for the clips slidably mounted upon said magazine and adapted to be reciprocated to engage a clip in the magazine when said handles are moved toward each other, and acting to feed said clip to a point between the jaws when the handles are separated, means to move the handles and the jaws to their separated positions, and means comprising an adjustable pin associated with the clip magazine and the feed means for regulating the forward movement of the feed means.

5. A clip applicator comprising a pair of jaws movable toward and away from each other in a parallel plane, a pair of handles connected to said jaws and acting when compressed to close the jaws, a clip magazine carried by one of said jaws and extending between the handles to receive a series of clips to be successively fed from the magazine to said jaw, feed means for the clips slidably mounted upon the magazine and adapted to be reciprocated by a movement of the handles to engage a clip in the magazine when the handles have been moved toward each other and acting to feed said clip to a point between the jaws when said handles are moved to separated position, means acting to move the handles and the jaws to a separated position, means comprising an adjustable pin associated with the clip magazine and the feed means for regulating the forward movement of the feed means, and stop means for limiting the retracted movement of said feed means.

6. A clip applicator comprising a pair of jaws having parallel pressure faces adapted to move toward and away from each other in a parallel movement, a pair of handles for said jaws adapted to be grasped by the hand of an operator and when forced toward each other closing the jaws, said handles being formed at their forward ends with handle forks, one fork straddling one jaw and the other fork straddling the opposite jaw, means pivoting said handle forks to their respective jaws, means pivoting the handle forks to each other, means limitng the degree of separation of the handles and the jaws, spring means acting to move said handles and jaws to a position separated from each other, a magazine disposed between tne handles and carried by one of said jaws to receive clips characterized as being formed of a fiat piece of ductile material folded upon itself to form a pair of leaves normally bent at an angle to each other and adapted to be compressed in a gripping position by the jaws, and means connected to a pair of links operably associated with the handles for consecutively feeding said clips from the magazine to a position between the jaws incident to 'the movement of said handles, said means including a carriage slidable upon the magazine and longitudinally between the handles, a feed bar connected therewith, and a pair of yieldable feed lingers carried at the forward end of the feed bar and acting in its retracted position to engage the foremost clip in the magazine and in its advanced position to feed the clip to a clamping position between the jaws.

'7. A clip applicator comprising a pair of jaws having relative movement with each other in parallel, a magazine adapted to receive clips and guide said clips to a position to be operated on by said jaws, feeding means slidably mounted on said clip magazine comprising a pair of fingers for selectively feeding clips from the magazine to a position between the jaws, and means adapted to simultaneously move the jaws toward and away from an operative position and to actuate said feeding means.

8. A clip applicator comprising a pair of movable jaws, a pairof handles associated with said jaws and adapted for actuation to force the jaws toward each other, spring means acting to separate the jaws when the handle grasp is released, a clip magazine positioned between the handles and adapted to guide clips to a position between the jaws, feed fingers associated with the clip magazine slidably mounted thereon and articulately connected by a pair of links to said handles whereby manipulation of the handles will actuate the feed fingers to select the outermost one of a series of clips .within the magazine and to feed it forward to a position between the jaws, means acting to hold a fed clip in a position to be operated on by said jaws, and means for holding the remainder of said clips in inoperative position within the clip magazine.

9. A clip applicator comprising a pair of movable jaws, a pair of handles adapted for actuation to force the jaws toward each other, spring means acting to separate the jaws, a clip magazine positioned between the handles and adapted to guide clips to a position between the jaws, feed means associated with the clip magazine and acting to select the outermost one of the clips and to feed it forwardly to a position between the jaws, means acting to hold a fed clip in position to be operated on by said jaws, means for holding the remainder of said clips in inoperative position, and means acting to separate the handles and jaws when pressure is released and to retract the clip feeding means to a position where it will engage a clip in the magazine.

10. A clip applicator for applying clips characterized as beingmade from al sheet of material folded upon itself to form a pair of leaves adapted to embrace and be compressed. againsty an article to grip the same, said applicator comprising a pair of jaws movable toward and away from each other and being maintained parallel, receiving means in the opposing faces of said jaws against which a clip may be positioned, a pair 4of handles pivoted together and having end extensions engaging the jaws to move the same toward and away from each other, a clip magazine extending between the ,handles and'carried by one of said jaws to receive a series of clips, carriage means within the magazine, a drawbar connected to said f carriage means, a pair of links pivotally connected to said drawbar and operably associated with said handles, said combination acting to urge the clips toward their discharged position between the jaws, means' for holding the foremost clip in position to be operated on by said jaws and preventing the remainderof the clips in the magazine from being fed therefrom, and automatic feeding means associated with the magazine and actuated by movement of the handles to engage the foremost clip in the magazine when the jaws are in a closed position and to feed a clip from the magazine as the jaws move to an opened position. 11. A clip applicator for applying clips' characterized as being made from a sheet of material folded upon itself to form a pair of leaves adapted to embrace and be compressed against an article to grip the same, said applicator comprising a pair of jaws movable toward and away from each other and being maintained in a parallel plane, receiving means in the opposing faces of said jaws against which a clip may be positioned, a pair of handles pivoted together and having end extensions engaging the jaws to move the same toward and away from each other, a clip magazine extending between the handles and carried by one of said jaws to receive a series of clips, carriage means within the magazine, a drawbar connected to said carriage means, a pair of links. pivotally connected to said drawbar and operably associated with said handles, said combination acting to urge the clips toward a discharging position between the jaws, means engaging the foremost clipin the magazine and temporarily preventing the remainder of the clips from being fed from said magazine, automatic feeding means associated with the magazine and actuated by movement of the handles to engage the foremost clip in the magazine when the jaws are in a closed position and to feed a clip from the magazine as the jaws move to an opened position, stop means comprising a link `fastened to the forward ends of the handles and having a.

slot formed therein associated with a pin actuated by movement of the jaws away from each other whereby a clip fed therebetweenv will be held in position pending the clamping operation, and spring means acting to move the jaws to a separated position and the clip feed means to a retracted position.

lMARK A. GLASER.

LESLIE c. IsoM.

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