HK1080043A - Ring binder mechanisms - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to binder mechanisms, such as for a loose-leaf ring binder.

A typical looseleaf binder has a ring binder mechanism which holds at least two paper-retaining rings and toggles between open and closed positions. The toggling action is produced by a pair of hinged plates held in edgewise compression between the corners of a flexible arched housing. The rings are formed in mating parts attached to respective ones of the plates. The rings then snap open or shut when enough force is applied to the rings, either directly, or by devices such as levers or triggers at the two ends of the housing.

Other ring binder mechanisms have actuating levers for opening and closing two, three or more rings. In some such devices, the levers also lock the rings closed. The typical arrangement is to attach the bottoms of the ring halves to hinged plates confined between the edges of an arcuate metal housing which provides a toggling action as the plates snap between open and closed positions.

Other devices have been proposed in which the rings are opened and/or closed by a cam-type mechanism. Prior such constructions are seen in U.S. Patents 778910, 2494898, 2789561, and 2894513. US Patent 778910 discloses a two-ring binder mechanism which is opened by lifting the end of a lever which depresses a crank whose ends are the movable ends of the two rings. US Patent 6637968 shows another device with an actuating crank.

In most ring binders, the opposed ring parts are both semicircular, so that when they are closed, they form substantially a circular shape. One problem with semicircular ring parts is that they do not make it easy to load or remove large numbers of papers at once onto or off the rings. Automatic machine loading of papers onto such rings is particularly difficult. For this reason, rings have been developed in which one segment is straight, or almost so. With such rings, commonly called D-rings, a large group of papers can be lowered right onto the straight segments very simply and quickly. But since D-rings are not symmetrical, and the tips meet to the left or right of the centre plane of the housing, they approach one another not axially, but rather with a lateral component. The greater the offset, the greater the lateral component. When one tip is designed to seat within a recess in the other, a lateral approach may result in interference between the approaching tips, preventing or impeding proper seating. The solution to this problem, until now, has been to bend the tip of the straight segment inward toward the arcuate segment. That solution, however, works against the goal of facilitating the installation and removal of large groups of papers.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a ring binder mechanism comprising means for supporting a plurality of rings, each ring comprising two parts which are relatively moveable so that the rings can be opened and closed, wherein one of the parts terminates at a first tip and the other of the parts terminates at a second tip, one of said tips having a protrusion and the other of said tips having a complementary recess for receiving the protrusion when the rings are closed.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a D-ring binder mechanism comprising a housing containing a pair of hinged plates and a plurality of rings, each ring comprising two parts, each part being connected to a respective one of said plates so that the rings can be opened and closed as the plates pivot within the housing, wherein one of the parts is substantially arcuate terminating at a first tip and the other of said parts has a straight segment terminating at a second tip, one of said tips having a protrusion and the other of said tips having a complementary recess for receiving the protrusion when the rings are closed.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a ring binder mechanism comprising a base plate supporting a plurality of rings, each ring comprising a stationary part and a movable part, and a crank for moving the movable part of each ring so that the rings can be opened and closed, wherein one of said tips has a protrusion and the other of said tips has a complementary recess for receiving the protrusion when the rings are closed, and the tip with the complementary recess also has a lateral window intersecting the recess, the window being shaped to permit the protrusion to enter the recess from a direction substantially oblique to the length of the straight part.

An embodiment of the invention provides a ring binder mechanism having D-shaped rings of either the slanted type or non-slanted type, having a perfectly straight segment onto which large groups of papers can be easily loaded and removed.

The embodiment provides a ring tip geometry which permits the tips to approach one another at a substantial angle to their length, and to seat smoothly and without interference.

Another embodiment of the invention may improve the operation of a crank-operated ring binder mechanism having two or more rings.

A further embodiment provides a ring binder mechanism having a support plate, and at least two rings, each comprising a movable segment pivotally attached to the support plate and an immovable segment affixed to said support plate, and a crank for moving the rings between an open position and a closed and locked position. The crank, which is pivotally supported on the support plate for oscillation about a longitudinal axis, has one or more throws offset from the longitudinal axis. The movable ring segments are integrally attached to the crank. A leaf spring biases the crank towards a ring-closed position, and a manually operable lever moves the crank towards a rings-open position. The lever is pivotally mounted on said support plate and depresses the throw, driving the crank towards its rings-closed position, as the lever is depressed.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is an isometric view of a D-ring binder mechanism having slanted rings, embodying the invention, showing the rings closed;
• Figure 2 is a view like Fig. 1, showing the rings open;
• Figure 3 is a view like Fig. 1, showing the rings slightly ajar;
• Figure 4 is a view like Fig. 2, showing an alternative form of the invention;
• Figure 5 is a view like Fig. 3, showing a second alternative form of the invention;
• Figure 6 is an isometric view of a two-ring binder mechanism embodying the invention, showing the mechanism in its open configuration;
• Figure 7 is a view similar to that of Figure 6 of another embodiment of the invention, showing the mechanism in its closed configuration;
• Figure 8 shows the ring tips of Figure 7 or Figure 8; and
• Figure 9 shows the ring tips of another embodiment of the invention.

A D-ring binder mechanism embodying the invention is shown in Figures 1 - 3. As with all common ring binders, the mechanism includes a housing 10 made of resilient sheet metal, preferably steel. Three two-part rings 12, 14, 16 extend from the housing at equal intervals. Each ring has a substantially arcuate part 18 and a rectilinear part 20. The rectilinear part 20 comprises a substantially horizontal proximal segment 22 and a straight distal segment 24 which extends upward from the proximal segment, at an angle of about 60° to 80° to the base plane of the housing 10, depending on the ring geometry. The ring parts 18, 20 are affixed at their bottom ends to respective hinged plates 26, 28 whose outer edges are seated in the lateral edges 30 of the housing 10, which lie in the base plane. The plates 26, 28 cause the ring parts 18, 20 to move in unison. Their inner edges, which are held together by small tabs (not shown) can move upward and downward within the confines of the housing 10. When the rings are closed (Fig. 1), the plates 26, 28 are in their lowermost position, and when the rings are open (Fig. 2), the plates 26, 28 are in their uppermost position. Because of the inward force applied to the edges of the plates 26, 28 by flexure of the housing 10, only the fully open and fully closed positions are stable. When the parts 18, 20 are at any intermediate position, such as shown in Fig. 3, the compression forces on the plates 26, 28 tends to snap the rings apart or together. Fig. 3 is therefore a transient position, and is presented only to show how the tips of the rings approach the fully nested position of Fig. 1.

Levers 32, 34 at the ends of the mechanism, which engage the plates 26, 28 from below, can be manipulated to open or close the rings. Alternatively, one can grasp the ring parts 18, 20 directly to open and close them.

Rivets 36 hold the mechanism to a binder spine (not shown). Details of the connection are not pertinent to this invention.

The insets in Figs. 1 and 3 show the ring tips, greatly enlarged. The tip of the rectilinear part 20 has a protrusion 38 which includes a short part of a diameter substantially less than that of the ring cross-section. The protrusion has been shown rounded at the top 40, and with a conical base part 42, but these details are only preferred. Whatever the exact shape of the protrusion, the tip of the curved part 18 of the ring has a complementary recess 44 for receiving the protrusion 38. A window 46 is provided to permit the protrusion 38 to enter into the recess at an angle, since the tips do not approach one another lengthwise, but rather more laterally. The window 46 may have various shapes, but in any event it should be at least as large as the cross-section of the protrusion 38, so that the protrusion 38 can enter the recess 44 without interference. The window 46 may be made somewhat larger than that, to account for tolerances and bending of the components; however, too large a window would result in a less secure union between the mating tips.

While the protrusion 38 has been described and shown on the rectilinear part 20, with the complementary recess 44 on the arcuate part 18, it is possible to reverse the arrangment. Fig. 4 shows this modification: the rectilinear part 118 of the ring has a recess 144 in its tip, and the curved or arcuate part 120 has a protrusion 138 adapted to seat in the recess 144. Note that the window 146 intersecting the recess is on the opposite side of the tip, facing the centre plane of the binder. The idea is the same, namely to permit the protrusion 138 to land smoothly in the recessed tip without interference.

In another modification shown in Fig. 5 the invention is applied to a D-ring binder having non-slanted rings. Here, the straight segment 220 of the rectilinear part is perpendicular to the base plane in which the lateral edges of the housing 10 lie, so papers can be lowered straight down over the segment.

A further embodiment provides, as shown in Fig. 6, a mechanism comprising a support plate 110 having raised portions or plateaus, which reinforce the plate, formed by embossing. Projections 112 on a plateau 114 of the plate 110 support the bottoms of straight, stationary ring members 116, 118 which extend perpendicular to the support plate. The upper ends of the stationary members terminate at tips 120.

A large tab 122 is bent perpendicularly out from the support plate 110. A narrow slot 124 is cut across the top of the space from which the tab was deformed, leaving a bridge 126 which is deformed slightly upward and bears against the bottom surface of a leaf spring 128 whose fixed end is held within the slot. The free end of the leaf spring 128 provides an upward bias against a crank (described below).

A pin 130 is staked or welded to the top of the tab 122, facing the spring side.

One end of an actuating lever 132 is pivotally mounted on the pin 130, whose head is flattened to retain the lever 132.

The lever 132 has a first end segment 134, an intermediate segment 136 perpendicular to the first end, and a second end segment 138 perpendicular the intermediate segment 136. A flattened tip 140 extends from the end of the second end, parallel to the intermediate segment. The lever 132 pivots in the centre plane of the device. It has a circumferentially grooved nylon roller 142 fixed on a headed pin 144 which is fixed to and extends from the lever near the intersection of the first end segment and the intermediate segment. The distance between the pins 130 and 144 is about half an inch (1.3cm).

As shown in Fig. 7, two movable ring segments 146, 148 extend from opposite ends of a common crank 150. Each movable ring segment is J-shaped, having a straight segment 152 connected to the crank 150 and a curved segment 154. The end 155 (Fig. 8) of the curved segment has a conical recess 157 which receives the complementarily shaped tip 120 of the fixed segment.

The crank 150 (Fig. 7) has a throw formed by a straight segment 158 offset from the crank journals 160. The crank is pivotally retained against the support plate by tabs 162 which are bent up out of the support plate and are curled around the journals 160 to form plain bearings. The leaf spring 128 bears up against the bottom of the throw 158, tending to move the crank in a direction which opens the ring segments.

The nylon roller 142 engages the crank throw 158 from above. As the lever is depressed, the roller rolls along the crank throw, pushing the throw towards the support plate, thus closing the ring segments. When the lever strikes the support plate (Fig. 7), the roller is slightly past the centre of the throw, and locks the throw down. The upward bias provided by the spring 128 holds the lever in this position until the lever is manually released.

Fig. 8 shows the ring tips, greatly enlarged. The tip 120 of the stationary part 118 has a protrusion 166 of a diameter substantially less than that of the ring cross-section. The protrusion is shown with a conical base part 168, but these details are only preferred. Whatever the exact shape of the protrusion, the tip 155 of the curved part of each movable ring segment 146, 148 has a complementary recess 170 for receiving the protrusion 166. A window 172 is provided to permit the protrusion 166 to enter into the recess at an angle, since the tips do not approach one another lengthwise, but rather at a substantial angle to the length of the stationary part. The window 172 may have various shapes, but in any event it should be at least as large as the cross-section of the protrusion 166, so that the protrusion can enter the recess without interference. The window may be made somewhat larger than that, to account for tolerances and bending of the components; however, too large a window would result in a less secure union between the mating tips.

While the protrusion has been described and shown on the stationary segment, with the complementary recess on the movable segment, it is possible to reverse the arrangement. Fig. 9 shows the modification: the stationary part of the ring has a recess 270 in its tip 255, and the movable curved part has a protrusion 266 adapted to seat in the recess. Note that window 272 intersecting the recess is on the opposite side of the tip, i.e. on the inside of the ring, facing the centre plane of the binder. The idea is the same, namely to permit the protrusion to land smoothly in the recessed tip without interference.

Although the device illustrated in Figs. 6-9 is a two-ring binder, it should be understood that the invention is equally applicable to binders having more than two rings.

Since the invention may be subject to modifications and variations, it is intended that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as only illustrative of the invention defined by the following claims.

Claims (11)

1. A ring binder mechanism comprising means (26, 28) for supporting a plurality of rings (12, 14, 16), each ring comprising two parts (18, 20) which are relatively moveable so that the rings (12, 14, 16) can be opened and closed, wherein one (18) of the parts terminates at a first tip and the other (20) of the parts terminates at a second tip, one of said tips having a protrusion (38) and the other of said tips having a complementary recess (44) for receiving the protrusion (38) when the rings (12, 14, 16) are closed.
2. A D-ring binder mechanism comprising a housing (10) containing a pair of hinged plates (26, 28) and a plurality of rings (12, 14, 16), each ring comprising two parts (18, 20), each part being connected to a respective one of said plates (26, 28) so that the rings (12, 14, 16) can be opened and closed as the plates (26, 28) pivot within the housing (10), wherein one (18) of the parts is substantially arcuate terminating at a first tip and the other (20) of said parts has a straight segment (24) terminating at a second tip, one of said tips having a protrusion (38) and the other of said tips having a complementary recess (44) for receiving the protrusion (38) when the rings (12, 14, 16) are closed.
3. A mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the tip with the complementary recess (44) also has a lateral window (46) intersecting the recess (44), the window (46) being shaped to permit the protrusion (38) to enter the recess (44) from a substantially lateral direction.
4. A mechanism according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the housing (10) has lateral edges (30) lying in a common base plane, and said straight segment (220) extends substantially perpendicular to the base plane when the rings (12, 14, 16) are closed.
5. A mechanism according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the housing (10) has lateral edges (30) lying in a common base plane, and said straight segment (24) is slanted and extends substantially oblique to the base plane when the rings (12, 14, 16) are closed.
6. A ring binder mechanism comprising a base plate (110) supporting a plurality of rings (116, 118), each ring comprising a stationary part and a movable part, and a crank (132) for moving the movable part of each ring (116, 118) so that the rings can be opened and closed, wherein one (120) of said tips has a protrusion (166) and the other of said tips has a complementary recess (170) for receiving the protrusion (166) when the rings (116, 118) are closed, and the tip with the complementary recess also has a lateral window (172) intersecting the recess, the window (172) being shaped to permit the protrusion (166) to enter the recess (170) from a direction substantially oblique to the length of the straight part.
7. A mechanism according to claim 6, wherein one of the parts is substantially arcuate, terminating at a first tip, and the other of said parts is substantially straight, terminating at a said second tip.
8. A mechanism according to claim 7, wherein the arcuate part is the movable part and the straight part is the stationary part.
9. A mechanism according to claim 6, claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the crank interconnects all the movable ring parts, and further comprising means for driving the crank towards a rings-open position, and a spring for biasing the crank towards a rings-closed position.
10. A mechanism according to claim 9, wherein the driving means is a lever pivotally supported on the base plate, the lever having an element for engaging the crank.
11. A mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the element for engaging the crank is a roller mounted on the lever.