US2437640A - Strip of severable reinforcing tabs for loose-leaf sheets - Google Patents

Description

March 9, 1948. Q HED 5 2,437,640

REINFORCING "I'ABS'FOR LOOSE-LEAF SHEETS Filed Nov. 17, 1944 Dir/enter a 22 .4.

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WW Em 1 Patented Mar. 9, 1948 STRIP OF SEVERABLE REINFORCING TABS FOR LOOSE-LEAF SHEETS Charles E. Hedrick, Sn, Alexandria, Va.

\ Application November 17, 1944, Serial No. 563,873

This invention relates to novel and improved reinforcing collars and so-called tabs such as are used in marginal reinforcement of assembling ring holes in loose leaves such as are used in record books, special indices and the like.

It-is a matter of common knowledge that looseleaf reinforcing tabs are generally in the form of endless rings stamped or cut out from gummed sheet material such as fabric, paper, leather or the like, such tabs being individually and loosely packed in small boxes and equivalent containers. Efforts have been made to overcome the objections and nuisances attending the manufacture and sale of these types of ring tabs. For example, in a patent to R. A. Maish there is shown a reinforcing tab construction (see Patent 1,869,395 of August 2, 1932) of a special type. Here the reinforcing tabs are cut from a sheet of fabric to define a strip, the tabs being integrally joined together at opposite diametrically disposed portions by severable parts or webs,

The aforesaid general statement of the art to which the invention relates is included here inasmuch as the same idea of severable tabs is employed, the tabs being interconnected and linked into a chain-like pattern or strip. However, and in keeping with the principles of this invention, instead of using endless rings or collars, I employ substantially C-shaped collars, the free ends of the respective or successive collars being connected to the intermediate body portions of the adjacent collars by comparatively narrow easily tearable and severable webs, whereby to permit said collars to. be readily pinched and disconnected one after the other for expedient use.

I desire to stress the adoption and use of a C-shaped collar individually or in chain form to take the place of the conventional endless ring type in that the former is susceptible of ready placement and use, this without removing the leaves or the customary metal or equivalent binder or snap-rings. It follows, therefore, that the principal object of the invention is in reference to a C-shaped tab or collar of appropriate stock and texture which can be nicely slipped into place with its free ends or limb portions straddling the snap-ring and with the main body portion in close proximity to said ring, whereby to provide a tab which is virtually as strong as common ring types but is capable of insertion and attachment with such speed and reliability as to save countless hours of time which would be lost by removing the leaves for attachment of the customary tabs.

4 Claims. (01. 206-56) Another object of the invention is to so adjoin and interlink the successive tabs that a chain strip is provided permitting the tabs to be sold either individually or in roll form while at the same time saving approximately twenty-five per cent material in each of the tabs whether produced singly or in strip form.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawing.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of one corner portion of a loose leaf showing a fragmentary portion of a binder ring and also showing the improved C-shaped tab in place, the view also including a diagrammatic illustration of a chain of tabs to adequately bring out the expedien-cy of severance and application of said tabs.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail section taken approximately upon the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the rollabl'e chain strip and detailing the specific construction of the respective companion tabs or collars.

Figure 4 is an edge view of the assemblage seen in Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings by reference numerals, it will be seen that the collar-tabs are individually or unitarily denoted by the numerals 5. As above stated, they are of general C-shaped form in outline or configuration, as distinguished from the usual endless ring type. They are constructed from paper, fabric, or other suitable material, such as is employed in the industry. The connective and main body portion is denoted by the numeral 6 and the so-called free ends are denoted by the numerals l. The central hole is indicated at 9, this being approximately threequarters of a circle, The extremities of the ends '1 and 8 are arcuate in cross sectional form, In fact, these terminals may be described as sectorshaped, and when the tabs are joined in chain form, the terminals abut the edge portions of the next succeeding tab. 01' this construction might be described as comprising arcuate slits between the adjacent connected portions of the tabs. I

might state here, too, that it is not absolutely essential to slit or cut the material all the way through, since score lines may be employed in stead of slits. The central or body portion 6 of each tab is connected to the free ends of the next adjacent tab by way of readily severable webs 19. It follows that the central quadrant 6 actually projects into the hole 9 occupying an approximate QO-degree area of the marginal or perimeter portion thereof, as shown in Figure 3.

The weave of the cloth is such that the warp threads I! extend longitudinally, these being intersected. hythe woof threads 12, thus permitting the same to'run lengthwise and crosswise in a line connecting the centers of the collars for easy severance. All that is necessary to disconnect the end collar for use is to pinch theseverableweb l9 and pull said collar out of the chain, -so-to speak. Then the collar takes the C-shaped form indicated and is applied as brought out -in Figures 1 and 2.

In Figure 1, the loose leaf is indicated at A, the usual hole at B and the binder or snapering at C.

'It will be evident from the foregoinmas well as from the following claims that I predicate novcity on the reinforcing tabssingly andcollectively. That is to say, it is within thesphere of the invention to make thetabsin chain. or, strip form for convenience, or they maybe precut into individual tabs if preferredrfor sale in such a state.

Also, I direct attention to the fact that. the expression -c-sha-ped is employed advisedly-inthat .itwould appear to be Within the scope ofthe invention to use a collar of U-shaped formor any configuration which would be said to be of horseshoe-shaped f-orm permitting the arms-or ends to readily straddle the binder snap-ring.

.-A' careful examination orconsideratlon. of the foregoing description in. conjunction 'withthe invention as illustrated in the drawingswill enable the reader-to obtain-a clear understanding and .impression of the alleged features ofmerit and novelty sufficient to clarify the construction of the inventionas hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials andrearrangement ofparts may beresorted to inactual practice so long as no departure is made from the invention as claimed.

1 claim:

1. Ina tab assembly of the classxdescribeda c-shaped tab, the terminals of the .free '-ends thereof being arcuately cut and therefore sectorshaped, a second C-shaped tab disposed ina plane with the first-named tab and havingits central body portion arranged sothat the sector-shaped ends of the first-named tab contact the outer marginal edge portions of said second-named tab, the portions of the end edges of the first-named tab adjacent the inner periphery of the latter being connected to the outer edge of the body portion of the second-named tab by circumferentially spaced readily severable webs.

2. In a loose leaf reinforcing tab assembly of the class described, a:JC -shape'd-tab, a second -C'-shaped tab disposed in a plane with the firstnamed tab and having the central region of its body portion nested between the ends of the firstnamed tab,-and the terminals of said first-named tab contacting the outer perimeter edge portion of said second-named tab and being connected to said outer perimeter edge portion by circumferentially ,spaced readily severable webs.

'3. An article of the class described comprisingzarplurality of reinforcing tabs for snap-ring accommodation holes in loose leaves, said tabs be- :ing cut from a sheet to. define a strip, each tab beingin the form of a substantially C-shaped segment of a circular ring having its ends spaced apart to just permit passage of a conventional binder ring there-between so that the tab may be applied to. a loose-leaf sheet of'paper about its binder ring hole without opening the ring or dis- 4 engaging the loose leaf sheet from said ring-each .ofrallbut one of said tabs being integrally connected at. its end edges to the outer edge of an adjacent tab at equal distances from and at onposite sides of the transverse center of the latter .by-a readily severable integral connection.

4. .The combination of claim 3 including .threads runningboth longitudinally and transversely of said strip.

CHARLES E. HEDRIK, Se.

REFERENGES CITED 'The following references are of record in'the file of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 919,620 -McComb Apr. 27,1909 943,653 .Coe Dec; 21, 1909 1,066,543 :Stillwell July- 8, 1913 1,769,395 Selden July 1,1930 1,869,385 -Maish Aug. 2,11932 2,059,148 Schade Oct. 2'7, 1936 ..2,272,308 Merta Feb. 10, 1942 2,349,115 Sanford May 16, 1944

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