权利要求：
A plastic clip (1) comprising a strip (2) of plastic material defining at least one tapered slot (3), the tapered slot (3) extending from an inlet (4) at the edge of the strip (2) to an internal terminal position (5) in the strip (2), the width of the tapered slot (3) at the inlet (4) being wider than the width of the tapered slot (3) at the internal terminal position (5), the tapered slot (3) providing a clamping surface for clamping articles positioned within the tapered slot (3) and holding them in place.
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tapered slot (3) tapers from a wide inlet (4) at the edge of the strip (2) of plastic material to a narrow internal terminal position (5).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tapered slot (3) tapers by decreasing gradually and continuously from a wide inlet (4) at the edge of the strip (2) of plastic material to a narrow internal terminal position (5).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tapered slot (3) tapers intermittently from a wide inlet (4) at the edge of the strip (2) of plastic material to a narrow internal terminal position (5).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the tapered slot (3) is configured so that, as the articles are fed through the inlet (4) of the tapered slot (3), they are subject to a clamping force defined by the clamping surface of the tapered slot (3).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the tapered slot (3) is configured so that the clamping force defined by the clamping surface of the tapered slot (3) increases as the articles are advanced through the tapered slot (3) towards to the internal terminal position (5).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the tapered slot (3) is configured so that in use the articles are advanced through the tapered slot (3) until the clamping force defined by defined by the clamping surface of the tapered slot (3) is sufficient to hold them in place.
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the tapered slot (3) is configured so that the clamping force provided by the surface of the tapered slot (3) continuously increases as the articles are fed through the tapered slot (3).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the tapered slot (3) is configured so that the force for clamping articles and holding them in place is defined by the friction engagement with the surface of the slot (3) due to the tapering of the slot (3).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in the preceding claims, wherein the tapered slot (3) is configured so that the force for clamping articles and holding them in place is defined exclusively by the friction engagement with the surface of the slot (3) due to the tapering of the slot (3).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the tapered slot (3) is configured so that the force for clamping articles and holding them in place is additionally defined by roughness of the surface of the tapered slot (3).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in claims 10 or 12, wherein the tapered slot (3) is configured so that the force for clamping articles and holding them in place is additionally defined by the corrugated the surface of the tapered slot (3).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the tapered slot (3) is configured so that in use the articles are advanced until the internal terminal position (5).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the tapered slot (3) is configured so that in use the articles are advanced until the internal terminal position (5) that is defined by a decreasing width.
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the internal terminal position (5) defines the narrowest portion of the tapered slot (3).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the width of the tapered slot (3) at the internal terminal position (5) is greater than 0 mm, and is preferably between 1 and 5 mm, most preferably in the range of 2 to 4 mm.
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the tapered slot (3) tapers substantially to a point at the internal terminal position (5).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the width of the tapered slot (3) at the inlet (4) is between 5 and 30 mm, and most preferably in the range of about 15 to about 25 mm.
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the clamping surface is provided along the entire length of the tapered slot (3), such that articles can be clamped in place anywhere along the tapered slot (3).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the width of the inlet (4) and the internal terminal position (5), and the gradient of the taper of the slot (3) are defined so that a wide range of different sizes of articles can be received in the inlet (4) and securely clamped in place at different positions along the tapered slot (3).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the plastic material being a rigid plastic material.
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the plastic material being one of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate or a combination thereof.
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in the preceding claims, wherein the plastic material being polypropylene.
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the plastic material has a level of rigidity/springiness so that it returns easily to its original shape after the insertion of the articles into the inlet (4) of the tapered slot (3).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the tapered slot (3) has at least one bend (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) for obstructing the path from the internal terminal position (5) to the inlet (4), thereby increasing the difficultly with which the articles clamped between the clamping surface of the tapered slot (3) can be inadvertently removed from the plastic clip (1).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the tapered slot (3) has at least in part a serpentine path (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in the claims 25 or 26, wherein the tapered slot (3) has a serpentine path (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) from the inlet (4) to the internal terminal position (5).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in claims 26 or 27, wherein the serpentine path has at least two bends (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the strip (2) is an elongate strip (2).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the elongate strip (2) comprises a first end portion (7), a second end portion (8), and side surfaces (9) extending between the first end portion (7) and second end portion (8).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in claim 30, wherein the inlet (4) is defined at or in the side surfaces (9).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in claim 30, wherein the inlet (4) is defined at or in the first end portion (7) or the second end portion (8).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the claims 30-32, wherein the internal terminal position (5) is defined at or in the first end portion (7) or the second end portion (8).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in claim 33, wherein the inlet (4) is defined at or in the first end portion (7) and the internal terminal position (5) is defined at or in the second end portion (8), or vice versa.
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the claims 30-34, wherein the first end portion (7) and/or the second end portion (8) and/or the side surfaces (9) comprise an opening (10).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in claim 35, wherein the opening (10) can be threaded with fastening means to allow it to be conveniently carried and manipulated.
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in claims 35 or 36, wherein the opening (10) is configured to conveniently tie and carry around multiple plastic clips (1).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the claims 35-37, wherein the opening (10) is configured to securely attach the plastic clip (1) to a washing line.
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the claims 35-38, wherein the opening (10) is spaced apart from and separate to the tapered slot (3).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the claims 35-39, wherein the strip (2) is reinforced around and/or in correspondence of the opening (10).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the strip (2) comprises a tool implement.
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein second end portion (8) comprising a tool implement.
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the strip (2) comprises at least one reinforcing sections.
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the reinforcing sections comprise a thicker construction.
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in the claims 43 or 44, wherein the first end portion (7) and/or the second end portion (8) and/or side surfaces (9) comprise a thicker construction than the main body of the strip (2).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the outer edge of the strip (2) is reinforced.
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the strip (2) is of unitary construction.
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein it is adapted for hanging articles of clothing from a washing line, the inlet (4) being sized to receive the articles and the washing line.
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein it is adapted for clipping to sailing lines.
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the strip (2) comprises at least two of said tapered slots (3).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said at least two tapered slots (3) are spaced longitudinally apart on the strip (2).
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the plastic clip (1) is formed by injection moulding.
A plastic clip (1) as claimed in any of the claims 1-51, wherein the plastic clip (1) is formed using 3D printing.
Method for producing a plastic clip (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: producing a digital model (400) of a strip (2) of plastic material defining a tapered slot (3) having a serpentine path extending from an inlet (4) at the edge of the strip (2) to an internal terminal position (5) in the strip (2), the width of the tapered slot (3) at the inlet (4) being wider than the width of the tapered slot (3) at the internal terminal position (5), the tapered slot (3) providing a clamping surface for clamping articles positioned within the tapered slot (3) and holding them in place, and using the digital model of the plastic clip (1) for controlling a 3D printing apparatus (300) to perform a 3D printing process to produce the plastic clip (1) as specified by the digital model, thereby producing the plastic clip (1).
A computer-readable storage medium having computer executable instructions recorded thereon which, when executed by at least one processor (500, 505), cause the at least one processor to perform operations for controlling a 3D printing apparatus (300) to perform a 3D printing process to produce a plastic clip (1) as specified by the computer executable instructions, thereby producing a plastic clip (1) according to one or more of the claims 1-53.