US2243535A - Loose-leaf binder - Google Patents

Description

y 1941; G. w. NEWMAN 2,243,535 LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Filed Sept. 15, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1941- ,6. w. NEWMAN 2,243,535

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Filed Sept. 16', 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 27, 1941 ETED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Application September 15, 1938, Serial No. 229,990

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a loose-leaf binder and particularly to a binding back having means for securing the sheet retaining mechanism in a ring binder.

It is an object of this invention to provide a back plate with a plurality of clamping or gripping elements adapted to snap over the edges of the spring back to facilitate the securement of the sheet retaining mechanism to the binder back. Other objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a loose-leaf binder embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the binder before final assembly;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line IIIIII of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the binding back;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing another manner of securing the gripping elements; and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4, showing integral gripping elements.

In the drawings the reference numeral 2 indicates a case member comprising a back 3 to which a pair of covers 4 is hinged. A binding back 5 is secured to the back 3 of the case memher in any suitable manner.

The binding back is provided with a plurality of clamping or gripping elements 6 which extend transversely of the bin-ding back and are rigidly secured thereto by welding, riveting or in any other suitable manner. The gripping elements 6 have their ends bent upwardly and inwardly, as indicated at 1, Figure 4, and are suificiently resilient to snap over the edges of a sheet retaining unit to secure said unit to said case member permanently. The case member is preferably provided with a lining member 8 which covers the binding back and the inside surface of the covers 4. The ends 1 of the clamping members 6 project through said lining member. The case member 2 may also be provided with an outer covering 9 to enhance the appearance of the binder.

The sheet retaining mechanism comprises a pair of toggle plates l0 arranged in side by side relationship in a spring back ll. Each toggle member is provided with a plurality of curved sheet retaining prongs l2 which meet at their free ends to form ring members. A cover plate [3 engages the edges of the spring back and covers the toggle plates. The cover plate [3 is notched, as indicated at I4, to provide clearance for the sheet retaining prongs I2.

The sheet retaining mechanism may be assembled and stocked as a unit. The gripping elements are spaced to correspond with the spacing of the ring members. Then, when the binding back is secured to a cover, the assembled sheet retaining unit may be snapped into place, and the gripping elements 6 will engage the edges of the spring back ll through the notches [4 of the cover plate to retain the sheet retaining mechanism in the binder.

In Figure 5 a bridge I5 is struck from the material of the binding back [6 and the clamping element I1 is threaded therethrough. When the clamping element I1 is properly positioned, the bridge I5 is hammered down to secure the clamping element in place. I

In Figure 6 the clamping elements l8 are formed by slitting the metal of the binding back l9 and bending the strips into proper shape.

The resilience of the clamping elements 5, l7 and I8 permits rapid assembly of sheet retaining units with completed case members to form loose-leaf binders. The clamping elements are strong enough to retain the sheet retaining unit, after it has been snapped into place, so that the sheet retaining unit cannot be removed without destruction or deformation of the clamping elements.

Although 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 case member, a curved binding back secured to said case member, a spring back curved to conform to said binding back, and a plurality of gripping elements on said binding back engaging the outer edges of said spring back to secure said spring back to said case member.

2. In a. loose-leaf binder, a spring back, a cover plate engaging the edges of said spring back, said cover plate being notched at a plurality of points, and a binding back provided with gripping elements engaging the edges of said spring back through said notches.

3. In a loose-leaf binder, a sheet retaining unit comprising a curved spring back and a pair of prong carrying plates arranged in side by side relationship in said spring back, a binding back curved to conform to said spring back, and means on said binding back engaging the outer edges of said spring back to secure said sheet retaining unit to said binding back.

4. In a loose-leaf binder, a sheet retaining unit comprising a curved spring back and a pair of prong carrying plates arranged in side by side relationship in said spring back, and a binding back curved to conform to said spring back, said binding back being provided with a plurality of resilient clamping members into which said sheet retaining unit is snapped.

GEORGE W. NEWMAN.

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