EP2098379A1 - A lever clamp mechanism - Google Patents

A lever clamp mechanism Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2098379A1
EP2098379A1 EP07711050A EP07711050A EP2098379A1 EP 2098379 A1 EP2098379 A1 EP 2098379A1 EP 07711050 A EP07711050 A EP 07711050A EP 07711050 A EP07711050 A EP 07711050A EP 2098379 A1 EP2098379 A1 EP 2098379A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
lever
arch mechanism
base
mechanism according
ring
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP07711050A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Hungyu Cheng
Wingyiu Ng
Xitao Deng
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Leco Stationery Manufacturing Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Leco Stationery Manufacturing Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Leco Stationery Manufacturing Co Ltd filed Critical Leco Stationery Manufacturing Co Ltd
Publication of EP2098379A1 publication Critical patent/EP2098379A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42F—SHEETS TEMPORARILY ATTACHED TOGETHER; FILING APPLIANCES; FILE CARDS; INDEXING
    • B42F13/00—Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots
    • B42F13/16—Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots with claws or rings
    • B42F13/20—Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots with claws or rings pivotable about an axis or axes parallel to binding edges
    • B42F13/22—Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots with claws or rings pivotable about an axis or axes parallel to binding edges in two sections engaging each other when closed
    • B42F13/24—Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots with claws or rings pivotable about an axis or axes parallel to binding edges in two sections engaging each other when closed wherein one section is in the form of fixed rods

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a lever arch mechanism.
  • a lever arch mechanism is a type of stationery widely used for retaining pages such as loose-leaf pages.
  • a conventional lever arch mechanism comprises: a substantially flat base; two first ring members separated from each other and having an end fixedly attached onto one longitudinal side of the base, the first ring members extending generally vertically upwards from the base and bent slightly at their other end to form a bending portion; two second ring members separated from each other and having an end movably attached onto the other longitudinal side of the base, the second ring members extending generally vertically upwards from the base and bent slightly at the other end to form the other bending portion, thereby forming a closed loop by engaging with the bending portion on the other end of two first ring members when the lever arch mechanism is closed, two second ring members connected integrally with each other at their ends near the base by a connecting portion to allow two second ring members move together, the connecting portion having a generally U-shaped bending portion bent at its middle portion towards the center of the base, the middle of the bending portion slightly protruding upward
  • the present invention is proposed in consideration of the above problems in the conventional lever arch mechanism.
  • one object of the invention is to provide a lever arch mechanism in which the lever handle may rotate at a small angle and rise to a relatively low height when the lever arch mechanism is opened.
  • the distal end of the handle does not interfere with pages, which facilitates adding or removing pages.
  • a lever arch mechanism comprising: a flat base; two first ring members attached fixedly onto the base at one end, two first ring members being separated from and parallel with each other; a ring assembly attached movably onto the base, the ring assembly comprising two second ring members separated from and parallel with each other, two second ring members connecting integrally with each other by a connecting portion, the connecting portion comprising a bending portion bent toward the center of the base, the middle of the bending portion projecting upwards to form a protrusion, two first ring members and two second ring members being disposed in such a way that they face to each other respectively so that the respective ring members facing to each other form a closed loop when the ring assembly moves; an elastic member with one end attached onto the base and the other end abutting against the ring assembly, the elastic member pushing the ring assembly away from the base by its elastic force; a projection extending upwards from the base; and a lever mechanism attached rotatably onto the projection for contacting the
  • the depth of the recess is sized so that a distance between the peak of the protrusion and the valley of the recess is equal to or lager than the diameter of the steel wire from which the ring members are made.
  • the depth of the recess is sized so that a distance between the peak of the protrusion and the valley of the recess is equal to or lager than 4.5 mm.
  • Figs.1 to 11 show a lever arch mechanism 100 according to a first embodiment of the invention.
  • the lever arch mechanism 100 according to the invention comprises a generally flat base 101.
  • Two first ring members 103 that are separated from and parallel with each other are attached fixedly onto a longitudinal side of the base 101.
  • Two first ring members 103 substantially extend vertically upwards from the base 101 and are bent slightly at their free ends to form a bending portion respectively.
  • a ring assembly 105 is attached movably onto the other longitudinal side of the base 101.
  • the ring assembly 105 comprises two second ring members 105a that are separated from and parallel with each other and a connecting portion 105b for connecting integrally two second ring members 105a.
  • Each of two second ring members 105a has a bending portion formed on its free end respectively to allow two second ring members 105a of the ring assembly 105 to engage with the corresponding one of two first ring members 103 that are attached fixedly onto the base 101 to form a closed loop.
  • Two second ring members 105a of the ring assembly 105 are connected integrally with each other at their other ends near the base 101 by the connecting portion 105b.
  • the connecting portion 105b has a generally U-shaped bending portion 105c bent substantially horizontally at its middle towards the center of the base, and the middle of the bending portion 105c protrudes slightly upward to form a protrusion 105d.
  • a recess 105e is formed on the bending portion 105c at both sides of the protrusion 105d respectively.
  • the first ring members 103 and the ring assembly 105 have a generally circular or elliptical cross section respectively, and are made from suitable materials such as steel wire or the like.
  • the ring assembly 105 is attached movably onto the base 101 by two turned-over portions 107. Two turned-over portions 107 are formed on one side of the base 101 provided with the ring assembly 105 by cutting or punching the base and turning the cut or punched portions of the base over.
  • a generally upstanding projection 109 is substantially formed in the middle of the base 101 by cutting or punching the base 101 near a longitudinal side of the base provided with the ring assembly 105 and bending the cut or punched portions of the base upwards from the base.
  • a cutout 111 (as shown in Figs 1 and 4 ) is left in the base 101 because the projection 109 is bent upwards.
  • An elongated slot 113 is formed near the edge of the longitudinal side of the base provided with the ring assembly 105, and its function will be described later.
  • One or more holes 115 may also be formed in the base for attaching the lever arch mechanism onto a cover of files or notebooks.
  • the lever arch mechanism 100 further comprises a lever 117.
  • the lever 117 comprises a lever body 117a, a lever head 117b extending obliquely and upwards from one end of the lever body 117a and a lever handle (operation end) 117c extending from other end of the lever body 117a.
  • the lever arch mechanism 100 according to the invention also comprises a roller 119 which is preferably made from plastics. The roller 119 is attached onto a joint between the lever body 117a and the lever head 117b through a pin shaft 121.
  • two first ring members 103 are mounted fixedly on one longitudinal side of the base 101 by a connection such as rivets, welding or any other known connection means.
  • Two ends of the connecting portions 105b of the ring assembly 105 are fixed movably by two turned-over portions 107 so that the ring assembly 105 is attached movably onto the base 101.
  • the U-shaped bending portion 105c of the connecting portions 105b substantially locates near the projection 109 to movably attach the ring assembly 105 onto other longitudinal side of the base 101 so that two second ring members 105a of the ring assembly 105 align with two first ring members 103 attached fixedly.
  • the mounting position of the leaf spring 125 is not limited to the illustrated position as long as the leaf spring 125 can abut against the underside of the bending portion 105c.
  • the shape of the leaf spring 125 also is not limited to the illustrated shape as long as the leaf spring 125 can abut against the underside of the bending portion 105c to generate an upward pushing force.
  • the lever head 117b may rotate clockwise around the fastener 123 from the configuration shown in Fig.5 , thereby moving the roller 119 mounted onto the joint between the lever body 117a and the lever head 117b to the protrusion 105d along the bending portion 105c of the ring assembly 105 in a direction away from the lever handle 117c (i.e. moving the roller 119 from the recess 105e to the protrusion 105d), and pressing the connecting portion 105b onto the base 101 against the upward pushing force of the leaf spring 125.
  • two second ring members 105a of the ring assembly 105 move together to a position where they contact with two opposite first ring members 103 to form two closed loops for retaining loose-leaf pages, as shown in Fig.2 .
  • the lever head 117b may rotate counterclockwise around the fastener 123 from the configuration shown in Fig.2 , thereby moving the roller 119 mounted onto the joint between the lever body 117a and the lever head 117b from the protrusion 105d along the bending portion 105c of the ring assembly 105 in a direction towards the lever handle 117c (i.e. moving the roller 119 from the protrusion 105d to the recess 105e), and releasing the pressing of the connecting portion 105b onto the base 101.
  • the connecting portion 105b moves away from the base 101 under the action of the upward pushing force of the leaf spring 125 so that two second ring members 105a of the ring assembly 105 move from two first ring members 103 to form two open loops for accessing loose-leaf pages.
  • the depth of the recess 105e is sized so that a distance A between the peak of the protrusion 105d and the valley of the recess 105e is equal to or lager than the diameter D of the steel wire from which the ring members are made (as shown in Fig. 9B and 9C ). Furthermore, the depth of the recess 105e is preferably sized so that the distance A between the peak of the protrusion 105d and the valley of the recess 105e is equal to or lager than 4.5 mm.
  • a depression 105f is preferably formed on the middle of the protrusion 105d to receive the roller 119 when the lever arch mechanism is closed.
  • Two stoppers 127a and 127b for limiting respectively the rotation ranges of the lever head 117b when the lever arch mechanism being closed and opened are provided on one side of the projection 109 facing the ring assembly.
  • only one stopper 127b for limiting the rotation range of the lever head 117b when the lever arch mechanism being opened may be provided on the projection 109.
  • Limiting the rotation ranges of the lever head 117b when the lever arch mechanism being closed may be performed by abutting the lever body 117a against the base 101.
  • the stopper 127b is used to limit the lever arch mechanism to a position where the lever arch mechanism is allowed to open at a given range.
  • Figs.12 to 22 show the lever arch mechanism 200 according to a second embodiment of the invention.
  • the structure of the lever arch mechanism 200 according to the second embodiment of the invention is substantially similar to that of the lever arch mechanism 100 according to the first embodiment of the invention except that only one recess 205e is formed at one side of the protrusion 205d facing the lever handle.
  • Parts of the lever arch mechanism 200 according to the second embodiment corresponding to parts of the lever arch mechanism 100 according to the first embodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals, plus "100". The description for the same parts will be omitted.
  • two second ring members 205a of the ring assembly 205 are connected integrally with each other at their other ends near the base by the connecting portion 205b.
  • the connecting portion 205b has a generally U-shaped bending portion 205c bent substantially horizontally at its middle towards the center of the base, and the middle of the bending portion 205c protrudes slightly upward to form a protrusion 205d.
  • a recess 205e is formed at one side of the protrusion 205d facing the lever handle 217c.
  • one stopper 227b for limiting the rotation range of the lever head 217b when the lever arch mechanism being opened is preferably provided on the projection 209 adjacent the lever head, thereby limiting the lever arch mechanism to a position where the lever arch mechanism is allowed to open at a given range.
  • two stoppers may be provided on the projection 209 in the same manner as the first embodiment.
  • the lever head 217b may rotate clockwise around the fastener 223 from the configuration shown in Fig.17 , thereby moving the roller 219 mounted onto the joint between the lever body 217a and the lever head 217b to the protrusion 205d along the bending portion 205c of the ring assembly 205 in a direction away from the lever handle 217c (i.e. moving the roller 219 from the recess 205e to the protrusion 205d), and pressing the connecting portion 205b onto the base 201 against the upward pushing force of the leaf spring 225.
  • two second ring members 205a of the ring assembly 205 move together to a position where they contact with two opposite first ring members 203 to form two closed loops for retaining loose-leaf pages, as shown in Fig.13 .
  • the lever head 217b may rotate counterclockwise around the fastener 223 from the configuration shown in Fig.13 , thereby moving the roller 219 mounted onto the joint between the lever body 217a and the lever head 217b from the protrusion 205d along the bending portion 205c of the ring assembly 205 in a direction towards the lever handle 217c, and releasing the pressing of the connecting portion 205b onto the base 201.
  • the connecting portion 205b moves away from the base 201 under the action of the upward pushing force of the leaf spring 225 so that two second ring members 205a of the ring assembly 205 move from two first ring members 203 to form two open loops for accessing loose-leaf pages.
  • Figs.23 to 33 show the lever arch mechanism 300 according to a third embodiment of the invention.
  • the structure of the lever arch mechanism 300 according to the third embodiment of the invention is substantially similar to that of the lever arch mechanism 200 according to the second embodiment of the invention except that one recess 305e is formed at one side of the protrusion 305d facing away from the lever handle, the lever 317 is attached rotatably onto the projection 309 at a joint between the lever body 317a and the lever head 317b by a fastener 323 such as a rivet and the roller (the abutting portion) 319 is attached onto the free end of the lever head 317b.
  • Parts of the lever arch mechanism 300 according to the third embodiment corresponding to parts of the lever arch mechanism 200 according to the second embodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals, plus "100". The description for the same parts will be omitted.
  • the lever head 317b may rotate clockwise around the fastener 323 from the configuration shown in Fig.24 , thereby moving the roller 319 mounted onto the free end of the lever head 317b to the recess 305e along the bending portion 305c of the ring assembly 305 in a direction away from the lever handle 317c (i.e. moving the roller 319 from the protrusion 305d to the recess 305e), and releasing the connecting portion 305b.
  • the connecting portion 305b moves away from the base 301 under the action of the upward pushing force of the leaf spring 325 so that two second ring members 305a of the ring assembly 305 move from two first ring members 303 to form two open loops for accessing loose-leaf pages.
  • the lever head 317b may rotate counterclockwise around the fastener 323 from the configuration shown in Fig.27 , thereby moving the roller 319 mounted onto the free end of the lever head 317b from the recess 305e along the bending portion 305c of the ring assembly 305 in a direction toward the lever handle 317c (i.e. moving the roller 319 from the recess 305e to the protrusion 305d), and pressing the connecting portion 305b onto the base 301 against the upward pushing force of the leaf spring 325.
  • two second ring members 305a of the ring assembly 305 move together to a position where they contact with two opposite first ring members 303 to form two closed loops for retaining loose-leaf pages, as shown in Fig.27 .
  • the rotational angle of the lever handles 217c, 317c from the ring-open configuration to the ring-closed configuration becomes much less than that of the conventional lever arch mechanisms.
  • the lever handles 217c, 317c do not interfere with pages retained by the lever arch mechanism.
  • the inclined angle of the lever handle with respect to the lever body is as small as possible so that the lever handle does not extend to a too high position.

Landscapes

  • Clamps And Clips (AREA)
  • Sheet Holders (AREA)
  • Harvester Elements (AREA)
  • Preventing Unauthorised Actuation Of Valves (AREA)
EP07711050A 2006-10-31 2007-03-06 A lever clamp mechanism Withdrawn EP2098379A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN2006101432135A CN101172435B (zh) 2006-10-31 2006-10-31 杠杆夹机构
PCT/CN2007/000717 WO2008052401A1 (en) 2006-10-31 2007-03-06 A lever clamp mechanism

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2098379A1 true EP2098379A1 (en) 2009-09-09

Family

ID=39343792

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP07711050A Withdrawn EP2098379A1 (en) 2006-10-31 2007-03-06 A lever clamp mechanism

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2098379A1 (zh)
CN (1) CN101172435B (zh)
AR (1) AR062206A1 (zh)
AU (1) AU2007314018A1 (zh)
TW (1) TW200836939A (zh)
WO (1) WO2008052401A1 (zh)

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4415371A1 (de) * 1994-05-02 1995-11-09 Leitz Louis Kg Ordnermechanik
DE4428112A1 (de) * 1994-08-09 1996-02-15 Leitz Louis Kg Ordnermechanik
GB2359784A (en) * 2000-03-01 2001-09-05 Leco Stationery Mfg Ring binder mechanism held shut by inter-engaging teeth
GB0005605D0 (en) * 2000-03-08 2000-05-03 Leco Stationery Mfg Device for retaining a stack of papers in a file
GB0018986D0 (en) * 2000-08-02 2000-09-20 Leco Stationery Mfg Device for retaining a stack of papers in a file
US6637968B2 (en) * 2001-05-07 2003-10-28 Hong Kong Stationery Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Three-ring binder with actuating crank
CN2609763Y (zh) * 2002-02-05 2004-04-07 利高文具制造厂有限公司 用于在文件夹中保持一叠纸的装置
AT412266B (de) * 2002-08-23 2004-12-27 Schneider Guenter Karl Ordnermechanik
CN200984881Y (zh) * 2006-10-31 2007-12-05 利高文具制造厂有限公司 杠杆夹机构

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2008052401A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN101172435B (zh) 2010-08-04
WO2008052401A1 (en) 2008-05-08
CN101172435A (zh) 2008-05-07
AR062206A1 (es) 2008-10-22
AU2007314018A1 (en) 2008-05-08
TW200836939A (en) 2008-09-16

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