AU748380B2

AU748380B2 - Ring binder mechanism

Info

Publication number: AU748380B2
Application number: AU21473/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Manfred Baumann-Aebi
Original assignee: Brainwave Ltd
Current assignee: General Binding Corp
Priority date: 1998-02-05
Filing date: 1999-02-05
Publication date: 2002-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 2019-02-05
Also published as: EP1054780B1; EP1054780A1; AU2147399A; CA2319369A1; DE59902036D1; JP2002502728A; WO1999039920A1; CH692495A5

Description

Ring binder mechanism The invention concerns a ring binder mechanism with at least two rings, each comprising two ring elements, wherein the ring elements, made from plastic material, are pivotably fastened on a pad via hinge elements, so that in a closed end position their end regions are in contact with each other.

Ring binder mechanisms for folders are used in varied ways. In the case of commercially available folders for commercial purposes, used in Europe, two solid metallic clips are used, which can hold in the relevant folder a plurality of pages containing or not containing writing. These, in most cases D-shaped rings, are opened and closed by a mechanisms with the aid of a spring and associated bracket. As a rule they are arranged on the spine of the folder.

For smaller quantities of pages resilient ring binder mechanisms, having two, three or four rings, are used. Under a rigid cover, usually made from metal, two metal strips are inserted which are parallel to each other and are pre-tensioned, into which half-rings are riveted in correspondingly provided holes. By pressing the open half-rings they can be closed, by virtue of which the two metal strips are transferred through their dead centre into a second stable position.

oleo In this manner a plurality of pages, containing or not containing writing, can be *0o *o 0.0• compiled into a book spine-like cover and the single pages can be exchanged as 000.

often as required. The metal strip is a basic rail which can be fastened in a book 25 cover with two or more rings fastened on it.

Such ring binder mechanisms, made from metal, are expensive and are elaborate to handle. For this reason appropriate ring binder mechanisms, made from plastic material and having the features of the type mentioned in the introduction have been developed, like they are described, for example, in US 4,130,368. Here a ring binder mechanism is described, wherein a two-piece pad, that can be firmly screwed down, is provided and wherein the individual loose rings are joined by displacing the two pad elements. The disadvantage of this mechanism is that it is very complex, while it cannot be used as a single good-looking mechanism within a ring binder.

AMENDED PAGE From US 5,618, 122 a ring binder mechanism having the features of the type mentioned in the introduction is known, which has an integral construction and wherein the three rings provided have a press button mechanism. However, the manufacturing process with six half-rings is elaborate, and it does not allow in a simple manner a fastening in a folder, since in the base strip only relevant holes for screws are provided for additional screws.

Based on this state-of-the-art the object of the invention is to produce a ring 10 binder mechanism of the type mentioned in the introduction which can be produced in a cost-effective manner and requires less raw material and can be used either on its own or after the insertion of the pages by the user can be simply fastened on the base of a ring book.

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15 According to the invention this objective is achieved for a ring binder mechanism of the type mentioned in the introduction with further features of the characterising part of claim 1 and claim 2.

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0 0 0000 e* S S 0 00- 0 0 2 By virtue of using plastic material and in particular by using injection moulded plastic elements, almost no assembly is required during the production. Thus the mass production of ring binder mechanisms is considerably simplified.

In the case of an advantageous design of the invention the ring binder mechanism comprises a single injection moulded plastic part.

Further advantageous embodiments are characterised in the sub-claims.

In the following various embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the form of examples in the drawings. They show in: Fig.1 a cross-sectional view of a ring binder mechanism according to a first embodiment of the invention, Figs.2 and 3 a partially sectioned side view and a detailed view of a ring binder mechanism according to a second embodiment of the invention, Figs.4 and 5 a partially sectioned side view and a top view of a ring binder mechanism according to a third embodiment of the invention, Fig.6 a ring binder mechanism according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, Fig.7 a ring binder mechanism according to a fifth embodiment of the invention, Fig.8 a ring binder mechanism according to a sixth embodiment of the invention, Figs.9 and 10 various embodiments of the end regions of the half-rings for a ring binder mechanism according to the invention, and Figs.11 to 14 a side view, a cross-sectional view, a top view and a further crosssectional view of the ring binder mechanism according to one of the above described embodiments with a separate base.

Before describing the figures some terms are explained below. Under the term ring binder mechanism various folder devices are to be understood: A folder with a front and a rear cover side, for example with an A4 form, and a front side which is narrower than these cover sides. The ring binder mechanisms are usually fastened either on the front side or on the rear cover side in the direction of the axis of the hinge between the cover side and the front side.

The folder device can be also used separately as a binder spine, while the rear side of the device corresponds to the above mentioned front side. In this case one deals with the actual mechanism without cover sides.

Variations of both above mentioned principles, as they can be recognised from the following description.

Fig.1 shows a ring binder mechanism in a cross-sectional view according to a first embodiment of the invention. A ring binder mechanism is provided to be fastened in a book cover or in a folder. It accommodates paper sheets perforated on their edges. For this purpose in the cross-section it has a pad 1, which preferably extends transversely along the longitudinal side of the book cover. At least two, for example four or even a plurality like, for example, 20 rings are provided on this pad 1, each ring comprising two half-rings 2 and 3. The half-rings 2 and 3 can be, of course, of different size as far as of the radius is concerned, and accordingly can be described as ring elements. In the case of round half-rings a halving of the embraced circumference is considered advantageous. Under ring elements one can also understand D-shaped, rectangular or polygonal elements which can be joined together into an enclosed torus.

In the first embodiment the pad 1 is often constructed with a U-shape, tapering upwards with a trapeze shape and fastened in the folder with the wider base.

Thus two inclined lateral flanks 4 and 5 will occur. The semi-circular half-rings 2 and 3 are attached to these. As this can be seen from Fig.1, the imaginary extension lines of the sides 4 and 5 intersect in a straight line 6 which in Fig.1 is perpendicular to the plane of the drawing and simultaneously forms the centre point of the half-rings 2 and 3. Preferably the half-rings 2 and 3 have complementary fastening elements 7 and 8, with which the end faces 9 and respectively, of the half-rings 2 and 3 abut against each other. The fastening element 8 is a press button that engages the complementary hollow space 7.

Thus a locking of the half-rings 2 and 3 to form an enclosed ring is achieved in a simple manner.

In a preferred manner the entire ring binder mechanism is made from plastic material, by injection moulding, for example. This is valid both for the plurality of half-rings 2 and 3 and for the pad 1. The half-rings 2 and 3 are fastened on the pad 1 preferably with the aid of a thin injection moulded film 11, the thickness of which is shown exaggerated in Fig.l. The film 11 forms a film hinge. The individual rings 2 and 3, respectively, provided adjacent to each other may be fastened on a continuous small plate on the surface 4 and 5 and extend away from this.

After closing the individual rings 2 and 3, the ring book holds securely the inserted pages. To release the rings it is sufficient to push a longish object, e.g. a pencil or a finger, into the opening around the axis 6, so that the individual halfrings 2 and 3 open one after the other in the direction of the axis 6.

Instead of the advantageously inclined and trapeze-shaped lateral surfaces 4 and these may extend vertically or be aligned in one plane, i.e. arranged horizontally adjacent to each other. The half-rings 2 and 3 can form a perfect circle or have a thickened cross-section in the region of the pad.

Figs.2 and 3 show a second embodiment of the invention. In all drawings the same features are designated using the same reference numerals. The two halfrings 2 and 3 can be seen here also, which with their end faces nestle against the trapeze-shaped pad 1. At the same time the hinge is produced in each case by a pivot bearing 21, a top view of which is shown in Fig.3. This hinge 21 comprises a bracket 22, fastened on the lateral surface 5. The half-rings 2 and 3 have Lshaped hooks 12 which can engage the openings 23 of the hinges. The bottom portion 13 of the half-rings 2 and 3 is preferably wider, so that sufficient room remains for the hinge 21. Accordingly, the rings 2 and 3 themselves could be thinner as in known binder spine arrangements.

At the same time the inclined planes 4 and 5 form the stop for the half-rings 2 and 3, which, by virtue of this, abut against each other with their top end surfaces 9 and 10. These end regions and end surfaces 9 and 10 of the half-rings 2 and 3 are preferably provided with the elements 7 and 8 shown in Fig.1.

Figs.4 and 5 show a third embodiment of the invention is a side view and top view of a half-ring 3. In this case in addition to the inclined surfaces 4 and 5 two transversely extending webs 31 and 32 are provided, which on their top have grooves 33 running in the direction of the longitudinal axis 6 of the ring binder mechanism. To complement these grooves pegs 34 are provided on the halfrings 2 and 3, which pegs are preferably made of one piece and are pushed through a corresponding hole in the half-rings 2 and 3. These pins 34 protrude laterally from the half-rings 2 and 3 in such a manner that when the half-rings 2 and 3 are resting on the pad 1, the pins 34 slide over the lugs 35 of the webs and come to rest in the groove 33 in a locked position. By pretensioning the half-rings 2 and 3 in this manner on the lateral surfaces 4 and 5, in the case of this simple construction no press button mechanism is necessary on the end surfaces 9 and of the half-rings 2 and 3.

Fig.6 shows a side view of a ring of a ring binder mechanism according to a fourth embodiment, in the closed state. In this case the U-shaped pad 1 is made up from individual elements in the region of the ring. It comprises a rigid first lateral portion 41 and on the other side a second rigid lateral portion 42. On the covering surface, facing the centre 6 of the ring, a movable tab 43 with a groove 44 is provided, which is engaged by a lug 45 of the section 46 of the half-ring 2.

In accordance with the second embodiment this section 46 has a hook 12, that passes around a hinge eyelet 21. Instead of hooks 12, the ring elements 2 and 3 may have corresponding eyelets on a thin, passing through, peg.

Preferably each ring is symmetrically constructed from its ring elements 2 and 3, this meaning that they have a cross-section, which is slightly displaced through these ring elements 2, 3 in the longitudinal direction of the ring binder mechanism, a further tab 43 (not illustrated in the drawing) is present, which runs exactly antiparallel to the illustrated tab 43, and wherein the lateral portion 47 also has a hook 12 and a lug 45 (not illustrated in the drawing), that engages the tab 43 (not illustrated here).

Fig.7 shows a fifth embodiment of the invention, wherein both half-rings 2 and 3 have symmetrical construction. The same is valid for the pad 1, that has an inclined extending element 51, which in cross-section leaves an opening 52 open in the position of the ring. The base has a transversely extending web 53. Hooks 54 with a lug 55 engage the openings 52, illustrated in the drawing, as this is illustrated on the example of the half-ring 2. The lug 55 engages from behind the L-shaped lateral element 51, so that due to the pretensioning produced by this the sides 4 and 5 will contact half-rings 2 and 3, respectively.

*0 0 0 00 0 "0 0 0 @0 0 00 .0 00 0000 0 0 0000 0000 00 00 0 Figs.8, 9 and 10 show embodiments of the end regions of the half-rings 2 and 3 as far as their joining is concerned. Fig.8 shows that the half-ring 2 may have a pyramid-shaped tip 61, which for the purpose of centring protrudes into a corresponding hollow space 62 of the half-ring 3. In addition, in Fig.8 a ring binder mechanism is shown, which can be used as binding spine without cover pages.

20 To enable to write on the ring binder mechanism, a viewing window 90, made from a transparent plastic material, is provided on the rear side 19 of the base 1.

This viewing window 90 may be held on lateral insertion edges and has a small hollow space facing the rear side 19 to accommodate a label. A flat base 1 could be, for example, be directly written on by using a self-adhesive label.

0000 0 OO0 O*O0 In the case of another embodiment according to Figs.9 and 10, the ends of the half-rings 2 and 3 are made as interlacing fingers 71 and 72, which can be especially recognised in the top view in Fig. 10. By virtue of the openings 73, existing between the fingers, the complementary fingers of the other ring element can hook into each other and thus produce at the tip of the ring a firm joint withstanding normal loads.

Individual elements of the half-rings can be, of course, combined with any other V ,hinge connection, while there is always the advantage that a cost-effective mass- O'roducible article can be produced allowing the fitting of a ring book in an environment-friendly manner. It is particularly feasible to glue the rear side 19 of the pad 1 into a book cover. The illustrated ring binder mechanism has considerable economical advantages when compared with the state-of-the-art.

The construction using the thin film 11 or a one-piece construction, in particular when using injection moulding, are intended especially for small ring book diameters with many rings, and the solutions using press button mechanisms and centring means like pyramid heads, are intended for larger diameters. The design according to Fig.4 is intended more for a small number of rings.

Figs. 11 to 14 show a side view, a cross-sectional view, a top view and a further cross-sectional view of the ring binder mechanism according to one of the above described embodiments with a separate base. The rings 2 and 3 are fastened on the pad 1 in the described manner, the pad being fastened in this case on a base 81, made, for example, from plastic material or metal. The base is a flat parallelepiped, while the pad 1 has in this case a concave shape. On the one hand this allows a reduction of material and a round shape, which is provided around the axis 6, on the other.

The pad 1 is fastened to the base 81 with the aid of at least two injection moulded hooks 82, as this becomes particularly apparent from Figs.12 and 14. The unit, producible in this manner, is fastened to a book spine by means, for example, of a pin 83, which, for example, can be riveted into the base 81.

Fig. 12 shows the hooks 82 that are moulded onto the base 81. To construct the opposite situated resilient hook elements 84, the base 81 has openings 85. The two hook elements 84 have between them a web 86, connecting them with the base 81. The hooks 82, 84 extend through a hole in the pad 1. In accordance with Fig. 13, the hooks 82 may be provided in the intermediate spaces between the rings 2, 3; however, at least two hooks and associated openings should be present on the opposite situated ends.

The base 81 itself is then fastened according to Fig.14 by means of pins 83 on a book spine or the like. This modular solution allows even the use of various pads IN\ 1 with varying binding heights in the same book spines. For this purpose the bases 81 are pre-assembled and the various binding mechanisms/pads 1 merely have to be clipped in. Since the bases 81 are very thin, two or more may be preassembled in one book spine in depth and, for example, on the side, so that the user needs to fasten only the binder spines in the colour and size desired in the desired position. The base 81 can, of course, can also have openings and the hooks 82 can be formed on the pad 1.

A particularly simple folder, having all advantages of the ring binder mechanism, can be constructed as follows. A single cover side forms the bottom of the folder.

The pad 1 is fastened on this, for example on the left edge. If, in an advantageous manner, a distance of 2 to 3 cm is maintained between the left edge of the cover side and the pad, then on the one hand this edge serves as a grip to pull out such a folder vertically placed on the bottom of a shelf and on the other hand this region can be written on, so that standing next to the shelf on the side this writing of each folder can be read corresponding to the known glued on tab. In this case the individual cover sides form at the same time the cover sheet of the adjacent folder arranged behind it.

Claims

1. A ring binder mechanism with at least two rings, each comprising two ring elements 3) made from plastic material, wherein the ring elements 3) are pivotably fastened on a pad via hinge elements (11, 21), so that in a closed end position their end regions 10) are in contact with each other (2, characterised in that the ring elements 3) are fastened to the pad (1) via a film (11) glued on on its outside.

2. A ring binder mechanism with at least two rings, each comprising two ring elements 3) made from plastic material, wherein the ring elements 3) are pivotably fastened on a pad via hinge elements (11, 21), so that in a closed end position their end regions 10) are in contact with each other (2, characterised in that the pad has a base which can be fastened 15 with a binder base by means at least one pin (83) and which has further at least one hook (82) or an opening, that interacts with a complementary element, opening or hook of the pad

3. A ring binder mechanism according to claim 2, characterised in that the hook (82) and the complementary elements are provided between two adjacent ring elements 3). ooooo

4. A ring binder mechanism according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterised in that the ring elements 3) and the pad are made integral. o A ring binder mechanism according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterised in that on that side which is facing the pad the ring elements 3) have a hook which snaps into a corresponding eyelet (23) of the pad

6. A ring binder mechanism according to claim 4, characterised in that on each ring element 3) the pad has a tab (43; 51) with a locking element (44) into which the associated locking element (45; 54, 55) of the ring element (2, 3) enters. AMENDED PAGE

7. A ring binder mechanism according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the end regions 10) of the ring elements 3) have fastening elements 8) which are complementary for each other, with which the ring elements 3) can be closed.

8. A ring binder mechanism according to claim 7, characterised in that the complementary fastening elements 8) are segments fitting into each other.

9. A ring binder mechanism according to claim 7, characterised in that the complementary fastening elements 8) comprise a press button mechanism. A ring binder mechanism according to claim 1 and any one of claims 2 or 3. 1 2 a a o AMENDED PAGE