Development of Office Paper Attachment Methodologies

A design project was carried out which began with the study and critique of office paper attachment systems, such as paperclips and staples. A set of criteria for an ideal system of attachment was then developed. This led to the design of an improved system and the manufacture of a prototype to prove the concept behind it. The concept that was developed and pursued was a ratcheting clip. The ratchet allowed the clip to be tightened, but prevented it from being loosened, unless a release button was pressed. The prototype was built and tested, and the results proved that the ratcheting concept has the potential to become a superior form of paper attachment than current methods. Further work in optimizing the design for mass production and human factors should be pursued. Thesis Supervisor: Ernesto Blanco Title: Adjunct Professor of Mechanical Engineering