Binder device releasably engaging aperture or notch of sheet – Sheet retainer travels arcuate path – Travel in plane perpendicular to axis of rotation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-04
2001-03-27
Gerrity, Stephen F. (Department: 3721)
Binder device releasably engaging aperture or notch of sheet
Sheet retainer travels arcuate path
Travel in plane perpendicular to axis of rotation
C402S041000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206601
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to loose-leaf binder mechanism of the type which are commonly used in ring binders.
Ring binders include an elongated housing containing a pair of pivoting elongated hinge plates each of which carries a series of spaced apart prongs. Each prong on one hinge plate is aligned with a prong on the other hinge plate. The hinge plate may be pivoted relative to each other between two positions. In one of these positions the aligned prongs engage each other to form a closed loose-leaf sheet retaining loop; and in the other position each pair of aligned prongs is spread apart to permit removal or insertion of loose-leaf sheets. While the prongs can be used as levers to move the hinge plates between the two positions, such binders commonly include separate lever-type actuating means for pivoting the hinge plates between the open and closed position as exemplified in the U.S. Pat. Nos.
1,787,956, 1,841,793, 1,868,793, 1,896,838, 1,896,839, 1,913,700, 1,927,113, 2,013,552 2,041,168, 2,498,902, 3,101,719, and 3,884,586.
One problem associated with loose-leaf binders of the type described is the possibility that the prongs may be accidentally opened during use. This may happen, for example, if one drops a filled binder causing the hinge plates to open. In situations where the binder is stored in an inverted position with the loose-leaf sheets suspended or hanging from the loop defined by the closed prongs, the weight of the loose-leaf sheets may tend to pry the prongs apart, and in some housings may even cause complete opening of the prongs. To prevent accidental or otherwise unintentional opening of the prongs, a means for locking the prongs in closed position is required. Many known loose-leaf ring binders have been constructed with various forms of locking means as exemplified by the U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,061,676, 2,105,235, 2,950,719, 3,077,388, 3,098,490 and 3,884,586. The most pertinent of these, relative to this invention, is U.S. Pat. No. 3,098,490 which provides a construction where a portion of an actuating lever is wedged between the hinge plates and the housing to lock the prongs together.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to construct a relatively inexpensive, reliable and easy-to-use locking ring binder mechanism.
This effort has successfully resulted in a novel and improved ring binder mechanism which, in addition to combining the locking and actuating functions in a lever-type actuator also combines a unique safety lock feature in the lever-type actuator to prevent accidental release of the lock.
This invention provides an improved locking ring binder mechanism which is exceedingly simple in construction, with very few moving parts, is easy and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, and is reliable in operation.
As in conventional ring binders, the binder of this invention includes an elongated housing or cover within which a pair of robust elongated hinge plates are pivotally mounted with the pivot axis of each extending longitudinally along its outer edge; the inner edges of the hinge plates are disposed in abutting relationship. Each hinge plate, as in known constructions, carries a series of longitudinally spaced apart prongs with each prong on one hinge plate being aligned with a prong on the other hinge plate. The hinge plates are selectively moveable between an inwardly bowed position and an outwardly bowed position. In the inwardly bowed position, the hinge plates extend inwardly of the housing with their surfaces mounting the prongs facing away from each other, each pair of aligned prongs being thus spread apart to permit insertion and removal of loose-leaf sheets. In the outwardly bowed position the hinge plates extend outwardly of the housing with their prong mounting or carrying surfaces facing each other; each pair of aligned prongs thus engage each other to define a closed loose-leaf sheet retaining loop. Finally, an actuating means is provided for moving the hinge plates between the two described positions.
An advantage of this invention is the robustness and reliability of the actuating means. According to this invention, the actuating means comprises a pivoting lever member engaging the hinge plates, hinge plate depressor means responsive to movement of the lever for moving the hinge plates from the inwardly to outwardly bowed position, and hinge plate lifting means also responsive to movement of the lever for moving the hinge plate from the outwardly bowed position to the inwardly bowed position. The lever is, more particularly, operable upon being pivoted in one direction through one predetermined locus of its path of movement to apply an outwardly directed force on the inwardly bowed hinge plates with enough leverage to move them through their coplanar position of the hinge plates to the outwardly bowed position. Upon pivoting of the lever in the reverse direction, the lever applies an inwardly directed force to the outwardly bowed hinge plates sufficient enough to move the outwardly bowed hinge plates through the coplanar position back to the inwardly bowed position. The lever is so constructed that a portion of it can, as the lever is moved over a range of angular positions disposed along another segment its path of movement, be selectively wedged tightly between the outwardly bowed hinge plates and the housing to lock the prongs in closed position.
Within the range of wedged-in positions, the lever can be moved between a first position such that an imaginary line interconnecting any point of contact between the wedged-in portion of the lever and the housing with any point of contact between the wedged-in portion of the lever and the hinge plates is oriented at an upwardly inclined outwardly extending attitude relative to the housing and a second position such that said imaginary line is oriented at an upwardly inclined inwardly extending attitude relative to the housing.
Finally, the improved actuating means of this invention includes a stop lock means for preventing inward pivotal movement of the lever to any position beyond said second position where its wedging portion would cease to be wedged between the housing and outwardly bowed hinge plates.
With the construction described, the hinge plates are locked in the outwardly bowed position, the aligned prongs being thereby locked in closed position, at all lever positions where its wedging portion is wedged between the housing and outwardly bowed hinge plates. And, importantly, by moving the lever from said first wedged-in position described above past the center wedged-in position into the said second wedged-in position described above, an effective safety for the lock is provided minimizing the chances of the locked prongs becoming accidentally released.
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Gerrity Stephen F.
Hong Kong Stationery Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Shoemaker and Mattare Ltd.
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