GB2116481A

GB2116481A - Clamping bar for paper file

Info

Publication number: GB2116481A
Application number: GB08206148A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Victor Blunt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-03-03
Filing date: 1982-03-03
Publication date: 1983-09-28
Also published as: GB2116481B

Abstract

A sheet clamping bar comprises tapering slots (4) which are engaged over filing posts and grip the posts and compress the filed sheet as the clamping bar is moved longitudinally. The bar can be made of nylon and include a finger grip (2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to filing arrangements for papers This invention relates to improvements in filing arrangements for papers, and more particularly to a clamping plate which serves to hold the papers securely in position in a filing device such as a lever arch file, or a loose leaf binder.

Such a device is provided with a plurality of filing posts and the papers to be filed have perforations by which each paper is fitted over the posts for location in the file. A device of this kind will hereinafter be referred to as "a filing device of the kind specified." It is known to provide in such a filing device, a clamp which cooperates with the posts to clamp the papers into the file. Known forms of such clamps consist of several parts which must be separately manufactured and then assembled together thus adding to the overall cost of the file.

It is also known to provide a spring clip in the form of an integral structure of wire shaped so that the posts may be gripped by or freed from the clips by longitudinal movement of the clip.

According to the invention, a clamp for use in a filing device of the kind specified comprises a plate made of a resilient non-metallic material, a plurality of elongate slots extending through the plate, each reducing progressively in width from one end of the slot to the other, each slot being parallel to the other slot or slots and each of the plurality of slots reducing in width in the same direction in the plane of the plate, each slot at its wider end being dimensioned so as freely to accommodate a filing post when extending transversely therethrough, of a filing device of the kind specified, the remainder of the slot having a width dimension less than the cooperating transverse dimension of the post, whereby in use in a filing device of the kind specified, movement of the plate in the plane of the plate in one direction will cause the filing posts to be gripped by the slides of the slots, whilst movement of the plate in the opposite direction in the plane of the plate will release said grip.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 illustrates a plan view and Fig. 2 an elevation of one form of clamp plate.

Fig. 3 illustrates an elevation of another form of clamp plate.

Referring to the drawings the clamp plate 1 is made of a non-metallic, resilient material (e.g. of a synthetic plastics material such as flexible nylon).

The plate may for example be 130 mm. longx 1 5 mm. widex3 mm. thick. Centrally of the plate, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is a raised portion -2shaped to provide a convenient finger grip for use when moving the plate as hereinafter described.

Alternatively as indicated in Fig. 3, the finger grip could be provided by an upturned end portion 8-of the plate at one end or both ends thereof.

A pair of spaced-apart elongated slots 4 extend through the plate. The slots are aligned along a common longitudinal axis substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the plate. The slots are spaced apart at a pitch -P- corresponding to the distance apart of the posts in the filing device with which the clamp shown, is to be used.

Each slot has rounded ends and reduces in width progressively from a wider end -5-which latter is dimensioned to freely accommodate a filing post of the file, whilst the remainder of the slot has a width dimension less than the cooperating transverse dimension of the post, whereby in use in a file of the kind specified, movement of the plate in the plane of the plate in one direction will cause the filing posts to be gripped by the sides of the slots, whilst movement of the plate in the opposite direction in the plane of the plate will release said grip. At its narrower end, each slot may terminate as shown in a drilling -6-for ease of manufacture and to obviate splitting of the plate during use.

The boundary-defining surface of each slot at least at the sides of the slots may be serrated or roughened so as more firmly to grip the post.

In use, for clamping a sheaf of papers in a file of the kind specified having posts spaced to a dimension-P-, the clamp plate-i-is located over the posts with a post projecting through each of the slot portions-S-. After exerting a slight hand pressure downwardly on the plate to clamp the papers, the plate is moved in the plane of the plate in the direction of the arrow -X- using the finger grip, thereby causing the posts to be gripped in a narrower portion of the slots. On release of the finger grip the plate will then remain in this position, maintaining the clamping pressure on the papers and holding the sheaf of papers firmly in the file.

To release the clamping pressure the plate is moved in the plane of the plate in the direction of the arrow -Y-, again using the finger grip.

Claims

1. A clamp for use in a filing device of the kind specified, comprising a plate made of a resilient, non-metallic material, a plurality of elongate slots extending through the plate each reducing progressively in width from one end of the slot to the other, each slot being parallel to the other slot or slots and each of the plurality of slots reducing in width in the same direction in the plane of the plate, each slot at its wider end being dimensioned so as freely to accommodate a filing post when extending transversely through, of a filing device of the kind specified, the remainder of the slot having a width dimension less than the cooperating transverse dimension of the post, whereby in use in a filing device of the kind specified, movement of the plate in the plane of the plate in one direction will cause the filing posts to be gripped by the sides of the slots, whilst movement of the plate in the opposite direction in the plane of the plate will release said grip.

2. A clamp as claimed in claim 1, said material

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to filing arrangements for papers This invention relates to improvements in filing arrangements for papers, and more particularly to a clamping plate which serves to hold the papers securely in position in a filing device such as a lever arch file, or a loose leaf binder. Such a device is provided with a plurality of filing posts and the papers to be filed have perforations by which each paper is fitted over the posts for location in the file. A device of this kind will hereinafter be referred to as "a filing device of the kind specified." It is known to provide in such a filing device, a clamp which cooperates with the posts to clamp the papers into the file. Known forms of such clamps consist of several parts which must be separately manufactured and then assembled together thus adding to the overall cost of the file. It is also known to provide a spring clip in the form of an integral structure of wire shaped so that the posts may be gripped by or freed from the clips by longitudinal movement of the clip. According to the invention, a clamp for use in a filing device of the kind specified comprises a plate made of a resilient non-metallic material, a plurality of elongate slots extending through the plate, each reducing progressively in width from one end of the slot to the other, each slot being parallel to the other slot or slots and each of the plurality of slots reducing in width in the same direction in the plane of the plate, each slot at its wider end being dimensioned so as freely to accommodate a filing post when extending transversely therethrough, of a filing device of the kind specified, the remainder of the slot having a width dimension less than the cooperating transverse dimension of the post, whereby in use in a filing device of the kind specified, movement of the plate in the plane of the plate in one direction will cause the filing posts to be gripped by the slides of the slots, whilst movement of the plate in the opposite direction in the plane of the plate will release said grip. Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 illustrates a plan view and Fig. 2 an elevation of one form of clamp plate. Fig. 3 illustrates an elevation of another form of clamp plate. Referring to the drawings the clamp plate 1 is made of a non-metallic, resilient material (e.g. of a synthetic plastics material such as flexible nylon). The plate may for example be 130 mm. longx 1 5 mm. widex3 mm. thick. Centrally of the plate, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is a raised portion -2shaped to provide a convenient finger grip for use when moving the plate as hereinafter described. Alternatively as indicated in Fig. 3, the finger grip could be provided by an upturned end portion 8-of the plate at one end or both ends thereof. A pair of spaced-apart elongated slots 4 extend through the plate. The slots are aligned along a common longitudinal axis substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the plate. The slots are spaced apart at a pitch -P- corresponding to the distance apart of the posts in the filing device with which the clamp shown, is to be used. Each slot has rounded ends and reduces in width progressively from a wider end -5-which latter is dimensioned to freely accommodate a filing post of the file, whilst the remainder of the slot has a width dimension less than the cooperating transverse dimension of the post, whereby in use in a file of the kind specified, movement of the plate in the plane of the plate in one direction will cause the filing posts to be gripped by the sides of the slots, whilst movement of the plate in the opposite direction in the plane of the plate will release said grip. At its narrower end, each slot may terminate as shown in a drilling -6-for ease of manufacture and to obviate splitting of the plate during use. The boundary-defining surface of each slot at least at the sides of the slots may be serrated or roughened so as more firmly to grip the post. In use, for clamping a sheaf of papers in a file of the kind specified having posts spaced to a dimension-P-, the clamp plate-i-is located over the posts with a post projecting through each of the slot portions-S-. After exerting a slight hand pressure downwardly on the plate to clamp the papers, the plate is moved in the plane of the plate in the direction of the arrow -X- using the finger grip, thereby causing the posts to be gripped in a narrower portion of the slots. On release of the finger grip the plate will then remain in this position, maintaining the clamping pressure on the papers and holding the sheaf of papers firmly in the file. To release the clamping pressure the plate is moved in the plane of the plate in the direction of the arrow -Y-, again using the finger grip. Claims

2. A clamp as claimed in claim 1, said material being a synthetic plastics material.

3. A clamp as claimed in claim 2, said material comprising nylon.

4. A clamp as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the boundary-defining surface of each slot is serrated or roughened.

5. A clamp as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the plate has integrally formed therewith a protrusion extending from one face of the plate and shaped to facilitate gripping thereof with the fingers when moving said plate.

6. A clamp as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein a portion of the plate at one end, or at both ends of the plate is upturned out of the plane of the plate to facilitate gripping of the plate with the finger when moving said plate.

7. A clamping plate substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A filing device for papers, of the kind specified, including a clamping plate according to any of the preceding claims.