Briefly described, the paper clip of the invention comprises a single resilient wire with its center bent into an unclosed diamond shaped ring. This page provides information on the types of patents and types of patent applications, and the examination process.The catch is, it wasn't a paper-clip patent. Instead, William Middlebrook patented a machine that would make wire paper clips. It is possible to obtain a patent for a new use for a preexisting product. Indeed, this is quite common. John Martin of Brazoria, the inventor of the better paper clip, has 50 notebooks filled with da Vinci-like sketches. In 1877, Erlman J. Wright received a patent for a clip that was specially designed for fastening leaves of paper together. Copies of U.S. patents and U.S. patent application publications are not provided in paper to applicants and are not placed in the application file. Established and Patent held to be valid.