Spring Tension Test

I encountered a matte black metal binder clip resting open beside a notebook. Its flared wire handles formed an inverted triangle. Anchoring my foot pads against the desktop grain, I gripped both wire loops and pressed down. Moderate resistance met my palms, then snapped shut with an audible click as my balance shifted. I adjusted my center of gravity by leaning slightly forward, securing the steel jaws over a stray wooden ruler edge. The cantilever mechanism held firm.