GB2367035A

GB2367035A - Compressor bar with perforator

Info

Publication number: GB2367035A
Application number: GB0100663A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ho Ping Cheng
Original assignee: Leco Stationery Manufacturing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Leco Stationery Manufacturing Co Ltd
Priority date: 2001-01-10
Filing date: 2001-01-10
Publication date: 2002-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 2021-01-10
Also published as: WO2002055313A3; CN1468178A; AU2002226257A1; WO2002055313A2; CN1186210C; CN2496660Y; GB2367035B; GB0100663D0; CN1367088A

Abstract

A compressor bar for document files comprises a base 6 having a pair of openings 18 through which prongs of a document file (e.g. a lever-arch file) can be received, the base 6 in use selectively releasably gripping the prongs to compress and hold documents in the file. A handle portion 8 is hingeably attached to the base 6 so as to be movable between open and closed positions. The base and handle portions are provided with respective interengageable teeth 12 and eyes 14 adapted to perforate inserted documents as the handle portion 8 is moved from the open to the closed position. The teeth 12 may be tubular having a sharp, crenellated top edge.

Description

COMPRESSOR AND PERFORATOR DEVICE

The present invention relates to compressor bars for use in lever arch files. More particularly, the present invention concerns such a compressor bar incorporating a perforator device to punch holes into paper.

Compressor bars for securing documents into files are known. One construction has a base with a pair of openings through which the prongs of a document file can extend and a pair of resilient rods held within the base and extending between the pair of openings, the base being elongate and the openings being spaced apart in a generally longitudinal direction ; an arm including means for flexing the rods at a position between the two openings, the arm being moveable between a first position in which the flexing means flexes the rods and a second position in which the flexing means does not flex the rods or flexes them to a lesser extent; and two sets of lands, each set being attached to the base between the flexing means and the respective openings, said lands being positioned to provide a fulcrum about which each rod can pitch whereby the flexing of the rods by the flexing means causes the spacing between the rods in the openings to alter between a first spacing in which the rods can grip prongs extending through the openings and a second spacing that is wider than the first spacing. In one such compressor bar, the arm (known as a transverse button) is pivotally attached to the base to pivot about an axis extending in the same general direction as the said longitudinal direction between the openings in the base. The arm is preferably pivotally attached to one of the rods to move between the first and second positions, and includes a cam surface that, when pressed into the space between the rods, urges them apart and so flexes them. The flexing means may also include a further surface that maintains the rods in a stable arrangement in which they are in their flexed state. Alternatively, the arm (known as a longitudinal button) may be pivotable about an axis extending transversely of the longitudinal direction, with the flexing means acting on the rods as above. Such devices are disclosed in European Patent Specification No. 0 941 870. Although the examples referred to herewith describe files

having a pair of prongs, arrangements of three, four or even more prongs can also be found. Conventionally, when documents are to be placed onto prongs in a document file, for example a lever arch file, the paper is first perforated using a hole punching device. As a last resort, if such a device is unavailable, the paper can be speared onto the prongs manually, but this is difficult and leads to untidy perforations with possible unwanted tearing of the paper, and paper waste enfolded between adjacent paper sheets, preventing them from stacking evenly.

The present invention solves this problem by combining a perforating device and a compressor bar so as to provide a compressor bar for document files comprising a base having a pair of openings through which prongs of a document file can be received, the base in use selectively releasably gripping the prongs to compress and hold documents in the file; characterised in that the base is hingeably attached to a handle portion which can be moved from an open position to a closed position, and the base and handle portion provide a tooth and eye arrangement such that when the handle portion is in the open position the tooth and eye do not engage and when the handle portion is closed, the eye closely fits around the tooth to perforate an inserted document.

Further preferred features of the invention are in the dependent claims and in the following description of illustrative embodiments, made with reference to the drawings in which : Fig. I is a perspective view of the lever arch mechanism of a lever arch file including a compressor bar with perforator embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a more detailed perspective view of the compressor and perforator of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the under side of the compressor and perforator device; Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the compressor and perforator device where the base and handle are in the open position; Fig. 5 shows the components of the compressor and perforator device;

Figs. 6 and 6a show a cross section of the compressor and perforator deceive in the open and closed position with a piece of paper.

The compressor and perforator device fits onto the prongs of the lever arch file and compresses the papers into place on the prongs. The perforator device, although known in the art, has not been combined with a compressor in this way before, and can be conveniently and cheaply manufactured, eliminating the need to pre-perforate the papers using a conventional hole punch, which may not be available, before putting documents onto a file. Additionally, the documents to be perforated can be aligned with the file itself, or documents already in the file, to ensure that the perforations are correctly located.

Fig. I shows a conventional lever arch file with a compressor and perforator device (16) of the present invention attached to its prongs (2). The compressor and perforator device shown here has a longitudinal button arrangement; however a different arrangement such as a transverse button as described in EP 0941870 could be used.

Fig. 2 shows the compressor and perforator arrangement, with the handle portion (8) having a pair of eyes (14) cut into its body. These eyes (14) are spaced to correspond to the two teeth (12) which can be seen received within the eyes (14). The tooth and eye arrangements are spaced to correspond with the prongs (2) on the file.

Fig. 3 shows the underside of the compressor and perforator device. The rods and lands conventionally found in compressor devices can be seen here, as well as rivets (26) which hold each tooth onto the base (6) of the compressor and perforator device.

Fig. 4 shows the compressor and perforator device with the handle (8) in an open position.

The teeth (12) can be seen protruding from the base (6) and the eyes (14) formed in the handle can also be clearly seen. The teeth (12) comprise metal pressings with tubular upper ends on which sharp edges are formed. Although this arrangement effectively perforates holes into paper, an alternative embodiment could have the teeth protruding

from the handle with the eyes being cut into the base. Other forms of tooth are also possible ; for example, solid rod like teeth, with generally sinusoidal cutting edges, as found in many conventional hole punches.

Fig. 5 shows the compressor and perforator device dismantled. It can be seen that the tooth is surrounded and supported by a set of three tangs (36) struck out from the base (6).

The tooth (12) is secured into place by a rivet (26). The tangs (36) also serve as stops which limit the closing movement of the handle portion (8). Two pairs of mounting lugs (28) are struck out from the base (6). A pair of arms (27) integrally formed with the handle portion (8) have laterally projecting parts (32) engageable in holes (29) in the lugs (28), to form a hinged connection between the base (6) and the handle portion (8).

Figs. 6 and 6a show a cross section of the compressor and perforator device in use. The paper (4) is placed between the opened handle portion (8) and base (6) with the paper resting on the teeth (12). When the handle portion (8) is subsequently closed, the teeth (12) cooperate with the eyes (14) and perforate the paper (4) with a shearing action, leaving the cut out paper (30) resting on the teeth (12) as can be seen in Fig. 6a.

Other embodiments are possible. For example, the tooth and eye arrangement can be reversed such that the tooth protrudes from the handle portion and the eye is formed into the base. The type of compressor device used can also be varied. Although the examples herewith refer to devices for use with files having a pair of prongs, compressor and perforator devices for use in files having three, four or even more prongs and corresponding tooth and eye arrangements are envisaged.

Claims

1. A compressor bar for document files comprising a base having at least one opening through which prongs of a document file can be received, the base in use selectively releasably gripping the prongs to compress and hold documents in the file; characterised in that the base is hingeably attached to a handle portion, which can be moved from an open position to a closed position, and, the base and handle portion provide a tooth and eye arrangement such that when the handle portion is in the open position the tooth and eye do not engage and when the handle portion is closed, the eye closely fits around the tooth to perforate an inserted document.

2. A compressor bar and perforator device as claimed in claim 1, having two or more tooth and eye arrangements spaced apart at a distance equal to the distance between the prongs of a document file.

3. A compressor bar and perforator device as claimed in claims I or 2 where the tooth protrudes from the base portion and the eye is cut into the handle portion.

4. A compressor bar and perforator device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, where the tooth is made separately and is mounted between locating tangs struck from the material of the device and serving also to limit the closing movement of the handle.

4. A compressor bar and perforator device as claimed in any of claims I to 3 where the tooth is of tubular construction having a sharp top edge.

5. Use of the compressor bar and perforator device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 to punch holes into paper such that when a sheet of paper is placed between base and handle portion and the handle portion is moved from the open position to the closed position so that the eye cooperates with the tooth, the tooth perforates the paper. Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1. A compressor bar for document files, comprising a base having at least one opening through which prongs of a file can be received, the base in use selectively releasably gripping the prongs to compress and hold documents in the file and being hingeably attached to a handle portion moveable from an open position to a closed position, wherein the base and handle portion provide a tooth and eye arrangement such that when the handle portion is in the open position the tooth and eye do not engage but when the handle portion is closed the eye fits closely around the tooth, which is of tubular construction having a sharp, crenellated top edge, to perforate an inserted document.

2. A compressor bar and perforator device as claimed in claim 1, having two, three or more tooth and eye arrangements spaced apart at a distance equal to the distance between the prongs of a corresponding document file.

3. A compressor bar and perforator device as claimed in claim I or 2 where the tooth protrudes from the base portion and the eye is cut into the handle portion.