Ring binder mechanism

Details Ring binder mechanism Ring binder mechanism

2000-08-18

2001-08-07

Fridie, Jr., Willmon (Department: 3722)

Binder device releasably engaging aperture or notch of sheet

Sheet retainer travels arcuate path

Travel in plane perpendicular to axis of rotation

C402S039000, C402S041000, C402S036000, C402S031000, C402S026000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06270279

ABSTRACT:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to ring binders, and more particularly, to an improved ring binder having pinched ends and in which the booster is better secured to the end of the ring binder than has been previously possible.
In conventional ring binders, a frame portion of the binder comprises a pair of parallel extending plates or leafs to which one end of a binder ring half is attached. A trigger piece commonly referred to as a “booster” is attached at each end of the frame. The booster acts as a lever and provides a camming action by which a person pressing on the booster can moves the plates to open and close the binder rings and hence the binder.
A cover or shield fits over the frame to hide the frame and provide a cosmetic appearance to the binder mechanism. At each end of the cover is an inset through which a tab portion of the booster extends. After the booster is set in place, the sides of the cover extending past the booster are pinched together to hold the booster in place. A problem with this construction is that the pinched-in portions of the cover can be spread apart. Usually this results when the binder is dropped or otherwise mistreated or misused. This creates a space by which the booster can separate from the rest of the frame assembly, fall out of the binder, and render the render useless. The improved construction disclosed herein alleviates this problem.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Among the several objects of the present invention may be noted the provision of an improved ring binder construction particularly a pinched end binder ring;
the provision of such a construction by which boosters mounted at the ends of a frame assembly are held in place even if the pinched ends of a cover portion of the assembly spread apart;
the provision of such a construction to employ a notched end leaf with a tang portion of the booster being captured in the notch so to remain attached to the frame assembly;
the provision of such a construction in which identical portions of the notch are formed at each end of each leaf;
the provision of such a construction in which each portion of each notch includes an inner wide section, and an outer lead section which is narrows the width of the notch, the lead sections of the notch being deformable by an assembler inserting the tang portion of the binder to the frame assembly to force the tang into the notch;
the provision of such a construction in which leaf is formed of a spring material so the leads return to their initial configuration once the booster tang is installed;
the provision of such a construction to employ a cover or shield the length of which is such that the cover extends beyond the installed boosters;
the provision of such a cover whose ends are deformable about the boosters by pinching or crimping so to further lock the boosters in place and prevent the boosters from being dislodged during use of the binder; and,
the provision of such a construction which is readily adapted to current binder assembly methods so to facilitate manufacture of improved binders without increasing the cost of a binder.
In accordance with the invention, generally stated, an improved ring binder comprises a frame including a pair of leafs extending lengthwise of the frame. A series of binder rings are each formed of two binder ring halves one end of each of which is attached to one of the leafs. A booster is attached at each end of the frame. The leafs each include a notch formed at each end thereof and the boosters each include a tang captured in the respective notches. A cover or shield fits over the frame and the length of the cover is such that it extends beyond the location of the respective boosters when they are mounted in place. The sides of the cover are crimped about the boosters to secure them in place. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5116157 (1992-05-01), Gillum et al.
patent: 5180247 (1993-01-01), Yu
patent: 5332327 (1994-07-01), Gillum
patent: 5348412 (1994-09-01), Fuller
patent: 5476335 (1995-12-01), Whaley
patent: 5810500 (1998-09-01), Whaley
patent: 5816729 (1998-10-01), Whaley
patent: 5879097 (1999-03-01), Cheng
patent: 5957611 (1999-09-01), Whaley
patent: 6146042 (2000-11-01), To et al.

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