James Ward has an unusual attachment to paper clips. And when he sees one, he sees "a piece of art, but it's also a piece of useful art." And like any serious art appreciator, he is also a collector.

In the patent literature, the term "prior art" is virtually synonymous with "state of the art," the standard against which any claimed improvement is necessarily judged. Normally, "state of the art" ...

The paper clip is a staple of office culture. They perform a necessary office function--keeping papers together on a temporary basis--that few if any other products can do so effectively and cheaply.