US1951673A - Permanent lock for loose leaf binders - Google Patents

Description

Patented Mar. 20, 1934- 'NITD STATES PATENT OFFICE PERMANENT LOCK FOR LOOSE LEAF BINDERS tion of Massachusetts Application May 18-, 1933, Serial No. 671,611

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a mechanism for permanently locking the pintle slides of a loose leaf record binder against movement after the binder has been filled and no further need exists for removal or addition of sheets to the contents of the book.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple and eflicient locking mechanism that will permanently prevent movement of the pintle slides in the sheaths after the pintle slides have been moved to a predetermined position. It is a further object or" this invention to provide a permanent locking mechanism that will be foolproof and tamperproof. It is a further object of this invention to provide a permanent locking mechanism that may be readily assembled and will be positive in its action. Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification taken in conjunction with P}? the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a loose leaf binder embodying my invention with parts broken away to facilitate the illustration;

I Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View through the sheath showing the pintle slide in open position;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the sheath showing the pintle slide in'closed position;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the sheath showing the pintle slide in permanently locked position;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the permanent lock spring; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the permanent lock spring.

In the drawing, the reference numeral 2 designates a back member having covers 3 hinged on opposite edges thereof as indicated at 4. A metal sheath 5 is secured to the back member 2 along each longitudinal edge thereof. The metal sheaths 5 are provided with a plurality of notches 6 adapted to receive a plurality of posts 7 upon which the loose sheets 8 are impaled. The posts 7 are apertured at each end, as indicated at 9, Figure 1.

Each sheath 5 is provided with a pintle slide 10 longitudinally movable within said sheath. 5{) The upper edge of the slide 10 is notched, as indicated at 11, Figures 2, 3 and 4, to provide a plurality of pintles 12 adapted to bridge the notches 6 of the sheath 5. When the pintle slides 10 are in closed position, as shown in Figure 3, the pintles 12 are engaged with the apertures 9 of the posts 7 and securely hold the sheets 8 within the binder.

In order to release either end of the posts 7 the pintle slide 10 holding that end of the posts is pulled outwardly by means of a finger piece 13. The outward movement of the pintle slide 10 is limited by a pin or stud 14 which extends transversely across the sheath 5. The pintle slide 10 is notched, as indicated at 15, Figures 2, 3 and 4, to permit a limited longitudinal movement of the pintle slide 10 within the sheath 5. The finger piece 13 abuts against the end of the sheath 5, as shown in Figure 3, to limit the normal inward movement of the pintle slide 10.

The finger piece 13 is secured to the pintle slide 10 by means of a screw 16. The screw 16 and finger piece 13 are removable so that the pintle slide 10 may be moved inward beyond its normal limit of travel when it is desired to lock the binde" permanently. This is generally desirable after the binder has been completely filled and it is no longer necessary to remove or insert any of the sheets. The removable finger piece 13 is provided to prevent accidental permanent locking because when the binder is permanently locked it cannot 30 be opened by anyone without destruction of the binder.

The lower edge of the pintle slide 10 is notched, as indicated at 17. A bent spring 18 is adapted to be received in the notch 1'7. The spring 18 may be welded or riveted to the pintle slide 10, but such securement is not necessary. The spring 18 fits snugly in the recess formed by the notch 17 and the adjacent walls of the sheath 5 so that it cannot become displaced from its proper position under any circumstances.

The lowermost arm of the spring 18 is provided with a downwardly bent member 19 which is constantly pressed against the bottom of the sheath 5 and is adapted to spring into an aperture 20 in the bottom wall of the sheath to lock the pintle slide 10 permanently. The edge of the sheath adjacent the aperture 20 constitutes an integral stop beyond which the member 19 cannot be forced. As shown in Figures 2 and 3 the normal limits of travel of the pintle slide 10 do not permit the engagement of the member 19 with the aperture 20 so that the finger piece 13 must be removed before the pintle slide 10 can be permanently locked.

A plate member 21 is welded or permanently secured to the bottom of the sheath 5 in any suitable manner to cover the aperture 20 to make the spring inaccessible after the device has been assembled so that tampering with the permanent 119 lock is impossible. One end of the sheath 5 is closed, as indicated at 22, Figures 2, 3 and 4:, to prevent the possibility of the pintle slide 10 being pulled out through that end. The spring 18 has sufiicient shearing resistance to prevent anyone from pulling the pintle slide 10 out of the sheath 5 in the opposite direction.

The spring 23, shown in Figure 6 is the same as the spring 18 except that it is round instead of flat. The end of the lowermost arm of the spring 23 is bent downwardly as indicated at 24:, Figure 6.

If desired, a projection may be struck or pressed from the bottom Wall of the sheath 5 as a substitute for the aperture 20. The projection is preferably of ratchet tooth shape so that the member 19 or 24 may easily ride over it in one direction. The other face of the projection will be steep enough to form a stop over which the spring pressed member 19 or 24 cannot pass.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention in detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is illustrative rather than restrictive, as many details may be modified or changed Without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact construction described except as limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a loose leaf binder, a sheath, a stop integral with said sheath, a pintle slide movable in said sheath, and an unattached spring movable *in said sheath and engageable with said stop to permanently lock said pintle slide against movement in said sheath.

2. In a loose leaf binder, a sheath provided with an aperture in its bottom wall, a pintle slide movable in said sheath, an unattached spring adapted to engage with said aperture to permanently lock said pintle slide against movement in said sheath, and means to prevent accidental engagement of said spring with said aperture.

3. In a loose leaf binder, a sheath provided with an aperture in its bottom wall, a pintle slide movable in said sheath and a spring associated with said pintle slide and movable therewith in said sheath, said spring being unattached to said pintle slide, and one end of said spring being movable into said aperture to permanently lock said pintle slide against movement in said sheath.

4. In a loose leaf binder, a sheath provided with an aperture in its bottom wall, a pintle slide movable in said sheath, removable means to restrict the normal movement of said pintle slide-in one direction to a predetermined limit, and an unattached spring movable into engagement with said aperture when said pintle slide is moved beyond its normal limit to permanently lock said pintle slide against movement in said sheath.

5. In a loose leaf binder, a sheath provided with an aperture in its bottom wall, a pintle slide movable in said sheath, removable means to restrict the normal movement of said pintle slide in one direction to a predetermined limit, an unattached spring having one end adapted to engage with said aperture when said pintle slide is moved beyond its normal limit to lock said pintle slide against movement in said sheath, and a fixed plate member covering said aperture to prevent tampering with said spring.

6. In a loose leaf binder, a sheath, a pintle slide in said sheath, said pintle slide having a notch in one edge, and an unattached spring retained in said notch and adapted to move in said sheath with said pintle slide, one end of said spring being bent downwardly and pressed against the bottom of said sheath, the bottom of said sheath being apertured to receive said downwardly bent end of said spring when said pintle slide is moved to a predetermined position to permanetiy loci: said pintle slide against movement in said sheath.

'1. In a loose leaf binder, a sheath, a pintle slide in said sheath, one edge of said pintle slide being notched, an unattached spring retained in said notch and adapted to move in said sheath with said pintle slide, said spring having one end means to increase the travel of said pintle slide in one direction beyond said normal limits to cause said downwardly bent end of said spring to engage said aperture to permanently lock said pintle slide against movement in said sheath.

GEORGE J. RUNDBLAD.

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