US3479123A - Looseleaf binder and locking means therefor - Google Patents

Description

1969 F. PETTIT 3,479,123

LOOSELEAF BINDER AND LOCKING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Sept. 26, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 R 2 m5 2 mom M fig. B 9 m+m l 2, 1, u m" Q a; g i; w@ i w/fk 2% F. PETTIT LOOSELEAF BINDER AND LOCKING MEANS THEREFOR Nov. 18, 1969 2 Sheefis-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 26. 1967 United States Patent US. Cl. 40221 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A multi-ring binder for looseleaf notebooks and the like having improved means for releasably locking the rings in the closed position.

This invention relates to looseleaf binders and more specifically to a novel and improved multi-ring binder for looseleaf notebooks and the like utilizing improved means for locking the rings in the closed position and for releasing the locking means to permit the rings to be opened for insertion and removal of pages.

Various types of ring binders have been proposed such as the conventional split ring binder wherein spring means are employed to maintain the cooperating portions of each split ring in engagement one with the other and binders wherein ring segments are pivoted at one end to a supporting plate while the other end is adapted to be releasably engaged with the plate to retain the rings in their closed position. In the latter structure a plurality of ring segments are usually interconnected and are displaceable longitudinally of the supporting plate for holding the rings in the closed position and for releasing them to permit insertion and removal of pages.

This invention constitutes an improvement of ring binders having longitudinally displaceable ring segments and provides a novel and improved arrangement of elements whereby a plurality of rings by a single supporting plate are automatically locked in the closed position and means are provided for releasing the locking means to displace the rings longitudinally for movement to an open position. In this way the rings can not be accidentally released from the closed position.

Another object of the invention resides in a novel and improved ring binder having a plurality of rings pivoted to a supporting plate and interconnected one with the others for simultaneous longitudinal displacement and wherein means are provided for automatically locking the rings in the closed position when moved in one longitudinal direction which means may be readily released to permit displacement of the rings in the other longitudinal direction so that they may be released for movement to an open position.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved ring binder characterized by its dependability, reliability and relatively low cost.

The above and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings forming part of this application.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of a novel and improved ring binder in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom view of the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view of FIGURE 1 taken along the line 33 thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view of FIGURE 3 taken along the line 44 thereof;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are cross sectional views similar to FIGURE 3 and illustrate the operation of the locking means to release the rings from their closed position and permit longitudinal movement to a second position wherein the rings may be moved about the hinge to an open position;

FIGURE 7 is an end view of the structure shown in FIGURE 3 and taken in the direction of the arrows 7-7;

FIGURE 8 is a cross sectional view of FIGURE 4 taken along the line 8-8 thereof;

FIGURE 9 is a cross sectional view of FIGURE 4 taken along the line 99 thereof;

FIGURE 10 is a cross sectional view of FIGURE 4 taken along the line 10-10 thereof;

FIGURE 11 is a top view of another embodiment of the ring binder in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 12 is a bottom view of the binder illustrated in FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a cross sectional view of FIGURE 11 taken along the line 1313 thereof;

FIGURE 14 is a cross sectional view of FIGURE 13 taken along the line 1414 thereof;

FIGURE 15 is a view similar to FIGURE 13 showing the locking means in the unlocked position.

FIGURES l6 and 17 are cross sectional views of FIG- URE l4 taken along the lines 16-16 and 17 17 thereof; and

FIGURE 18 is a cross sectional view of FIGURE 11 taken along the line 18-18 thereof.

Reference is made to FIGURES 1 through 10 illustrating an embodiment of the invention utilizing an elongated plastic base generally denoted by the numeral 10. This plastic base is normally secured to a cover assembly 11 by a plurality of rivets 12.

The plastic base 10 includes a top wall 13, side walls 14 and 15, and end walls 16 and 17. The side wall 15 and a portion of the top wall 13 are cut away to provide a plurality of recesses 18 which will accommodate ringling elements 19 in the manner to be described. Each ring-like element includes an arcuate portion terminating in end portions 19a and 1917. In the illustrated form of the invention there are three such rings or ring-like elements secured to a longitudinal rod 20 so that when the rod is secured in the base, the rings can be simultaneously reciprocated and rotated relative to the base. In the instant embodiment of the invention, the rings 19 and the rod 20 are formed from a ringle length of round stock by bending the stock at intervals to form arcuate rings 19 as illustrated. It is evident, however, that the rod 20 may be a single longitudinal element and that the rings 19 may be separately formed and welded or otherwise secured to the rod 20. The rod 20 is rotatably and reciprocally secured in position on the base by means of walls 21 spaced from the side wall 20 and positioned adjoining each of the cutout portions 18. A series of inwardly extending tabs 22 carried by the wall 15 partially close the spaces between the walls 21 and the wall 15. With this arrangement the rod 20 can be forced into position since the portions of the wall 15 carrying the tabs 22 will deflect slightly outwardly and permit passage of the rod 20. Once the rod 20 is in position, the tabs 22 partially overlie the rod 20 and thereby secure it in position.

The wall 14 of the base 10 is provided with three recessed portions 23 for slidably accommodating the end portions 19b of the rings 19, and the inwardly extending tabs 24. As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the upper portion 23' of each recess 23 has a depth slightly greater than the length of the tab 24 on the associated ring 19 so that the rings 19 can be moved into and out of the recesses 23 as illustrated more clearly in FIGURE 9. The lower portion of each recess as illustrated in FIGURE 1 has an outwardly extending ridge 25 so that when the rings 19 are moved to bring the tabs 24 into engagement with the recesses 23 and then the ring assembly is moved downwardly, the tabs 24 will underlie the ridges 25 and thereby hold the rings 19 in the closed position as illustrated in FIGURE 8. If desired, each of the recesses 23 may be provided with a bottom wall 26, as will be observed more clearly in FIGURES 8 and 9, to limit the rotational movement of the rings 19.

Referring more specifically to FIGURE 1, it will be observed that the lower end of the rod 20 is provided with an offset or angle 20' on the end thereof, and this angle 20' extends slightly beyond the end wall 17 of the base 10 as illustrated in FIGURES 2, 3, and 4. It will be observed from FIGURES 2 and 3 that the inwardly extending tabs 22 are disposed on each side of the uppermost recesses as shown in FIGURE 2 but only on the upper side of the lowermost recess 18 as shown in FIG- URE 2. With this arrangement and with the rings 19 and rod 20 in the lowermost position as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the upwardly extending angle 20' on the end of the rod 20 engages the lower edge of the plate 10 and prevents longitudinal displacement of the rings 19 to the unlocked position. If it is desired to displace the rings 19 longitudinally to permit movement of the rings to an open position, the lowermost ring 19 as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and is pressed downwardly causing the rod 20 to deflect about the lowermost tab 22 and disengage the end 20' of the rod 20 from engagement with the wall 13 of the plate as shown in FIGURE 5 whereupon the entire ring assembly can be moved to the ring disengaging position as shown in FIGURE 6. The rings can then be rotated to the open position with the recess in the wall 15 accommodating the end portion With the foregoing arrangement, when the ring assembly including the rings 19 and the rod 20 are moved downwardly as illustrated in FIGURE 10, the rings are automatically locked in position and the end portion 20' on the rod 20 prevents accidental longitudinal displacement of the rings 19. Should it be desired to move the rings 19 to the unlocked position, it is merely necessary to apply pressure to the lowermost ring 19 to disengage the end portion 20' on the rod 20 from the base 10 and then displace the rings longitudinally to move the tabs 24 out of engagement with the ridges 25.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG- URES 11 through 17 is substantially identical to the embodiment of the invention already described except that the base 10 is formed of metal instead of plastic. The utilization of metal for the base 10' permits certain variations in the design of the base through the other elements of the structure and the mode of operation is substantially identical to the previously described embodiment of the invention. Accordingly, corresponding elements in the two forms of the invention are identified by like numerals.

The base 10' differs from the base 10 in FIGURE 1 in that it is provided with two elongated channels 27 and 28 coupled by a central section 29 through which a series of rivets 30 extend for fastening the base or plate to a cover assembly as previously described. The configuration of the base may be more readily comprehended by reference to FIGURES 16 through 18.

In this embodiment of the invention the side wall 31 of the channel 27 has three recesses 32 which correspond to the recesses 18 of FIGURE 1. Since the base of plate 10 is formed of metal, the rod 20 carrying the ring-like elements 19 is held within the channel section 27 by metal tabs 33 as may be observed more clearly in FIGURES 12 and 18. Thus the rod 20 and ring-like elements 19 are pivotally retained in position on the base and at the same time may be reciprocated to remove the rings from an engaged position to a position whereby the rings are released for rotation to an open position.

The outer wall 34 of the channel 28 has a series of recesses 35 aligned with the recesses 32. The upper portion of each recess 35 as viewed in FIGURE 11 extends inwardly to the inner wall 34 of the channel 29 to accommodate the inwardly formed tabs 24 on the ring-like elements 19 while the lower portion of each recess has an outwardly extending ridge portion 36 to engage the tabs 24 on the ring-like elements 19 when moved downwardly.

The locking means to retain the rings in the closed or engaged position is similar to that illustrated and described in connection with the previous embodiment of the invention in that the lower end of the rod 20 includes an upwardly bent portion 20' which engages the lower edge of the channel section 27. To facilitate operation of this locking means, the tab 33 in the lowermost recess 32 as viewed in FIGURES 11 and 12 is positioned substantially parallel with the wall 27' and a portion of the wall 31 is bent inwardly to form an inwardly extending tab 31 as viewed more clearly in FIGURES 12, 16 and 17. This tab 31 holds the rod firmly within the channel 27 and the upwardly bent portion 20, which comprises the locking means, in engagement with the lower edge of the base or plate 10" as viewed in FIGURES ll, 12, and 13. To release the locking means 20' for longitudinal displacement of the ring assembly, the lowermost ring 19 is pressed downwardly to deflect the rod 20 to the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 13. This deflection occurs about the inwardly formed tab 31 which functions as a fulcrum. In so doing the ring assembly can be shifted longitudinally as viewed in FIGURE 15 to move the tabs 24 of the rings 19 out of engagement with the ridges 36 whereupon the rings can be rotated about the axis of the rod 20. Movement of the ring 19 to place the tabs 24 in engagement with the ridges 36 automatically causes the locking means 20' to snap into engagement with the bottom edge of the plate 10' and thereby prevent accidental displacement of the rings during normal use of the ring binder.

What is claimed is:

1. A ring binder comprising an elongated base plate, a plurality of ring elements each having an arcuate portion and spaced end portions, an elongated rod adjoining one longitudinal edge of said plate, said rod being rotatably and reciprocably carried by said plate, one of said end portions of each ring element being fixed to said rod, inwardly extending tab means on the other end portion of each of said ring elements, spaced means on the other longitudinal edge of said plate slidably receiving said inwardly extending tab means, said spaced means each. including tab engaging means to engage said tabs and prevent rotation of said ring element to an open position when said ring elements are in one longitudinal position and disengaging said tabs to permit movement to the open position when the ring elements are in another longitudinal position and relasable locking means carried by said rod, said locking means comprising an angularly offset portion carried by said elongated rod and normally engaging one end of said base plate with said ring elements in said one longitudinal position and preventing longitudinal displacemet of said rod, a tab carried by said base plate and underlying said rod at a point adjoining the inner side of the end ring element adjoining said offset portion whereby depression of the last said ring when said rod is in said one longitudinal position will deflect said rod to disengage said oflset portion from said base plate and permit displacement of said rod and ring elements to the other longitudinal position so that said ring elements can be rotated to the open position.

(References on following page) References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 661,062 11/1951 Great Britain.

Gudis 129- 4 1,026,040 4/1966 Great Britain. Thesieres 129-24 Dennis 1 5 JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner Dennis 129-24

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