EP2219881A1

EP2219881A1 - File mechanism having a double lever

Info

Publication number: EP2219881A1
Application number: EP08862487A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Janez Benedicic
Original assignee: Niko Kovinarsko Podjetje Dd Zelezniki
Current assignee: Niko Kovinarsko Podjetje Dd Zelezniki
Priority date: 2007-12-18
Filing date: 2008-11-10
Publication date: 2010-08-25
Anticipated expiration: 2028-11-10
Also published as: SI22833A; SI22833B; EP2219881B1; ATE521485T1; DE202008013352U1; WO2009078821A1

Abstract

The file mechanism comprises a base plate (1) with a pair of stable pins (11, 12), which are firmly attached thereon, as well as two pivotable pins (21, 22), which may be pivoted and pressed towards said stable pins (11, 12) by means of swiveling an actuating lever (3). The purpose of the invention is to assure, that despite to minimum possible modifications of an existing mechanism said actuating lever (3) should be maintained in such position that each user could transpose the sheets, which are stored in such a document file. The invention proposes a double i.e. two-part lever (3), which consists of a primary part (31), which is by means of appropriate pivot joint (30) pivotally attached to the cantilever (13) on the base plate (1), as well as of a secondary part (32), which is pivotally attached to said primary part (31). An actuating member (35', 35') is foreseen on the primary part (31) at a corresponding distance apart from the pivot joint (30), which is intended to cooperate alternatively either with an elevation (251) or with an inclination (252) on the supporting member (250) on the intermediate section of the clamping set (2).

Description

FILE MECHANISM HAVING A DOUBLE LEVER

The present invention belongs to the field of bookbinding and requisites for clipping and storage of documents, i.e. among requisites adapted for sorting and organizing documents, especially of such kind, which comprise corresponding means for inserting through appropriate openings, by which the stored documents are furnished, namely among two- part clipping assemblies, which includes a stable part having at least two stable pins, as well as a pivotable part, which also includes at least two pivotable pins.

When bearing in mind a file mechanism comprising a base plate with a pair of stable pins firmly attached thereto as well as a clamping set consisting of a pair of pivotable pins, which are firmly interconnected via a rigid intermediate section and pivoted towards said stable pins by means of swiveling appropriate actuating lever, it is therefore he purpose of the present invention, how to achieve without any essential amendments of the existing construction concept of the base plate and preferably also of the clamping set, that the actuating lever could be simply and easily manipulated and should even in the opened state of such mechanism, when each pivotable pin is located apart from each corresponding pin, be situated in such a position that transposition of sheets even in the completely full document file would be possible. One of widely known and commonly used file mechanisms is described in WO 20/04082961 or EP 1 606 122, respectively. Such mechanism consists of a base plate, on which a pair of stable pins is available, which are firmly connected to said base plate, and moreover a pair of pivotable pins, which are interconnected by means of a rigid intermediate portion and are therefore simultaneously pivoted by means of appropriate lever, which is pivotally connected to the cantilever, which is arranged in the central portion of said base plate and represents a part of said base plate or is firmly interconnected therewith.

The base plate includes appropriate reinforcing elements as well as openings adapted for attachment to each disposable file cover. Two stable pins are attached to said plate apart from each other and located in both corners of one of both longer lateral edges thereof, and their free ends are bent towards free ends of pivotable pins. Along the other lateral edge two pivotable pins are embedded within appropriate bearings and interconnected by means of an intermediate portion, which is bent in a trapezoidal shape essentially in the form of letter U. Said bearings are normally placed adjacent to the longitudinal edge of the base plate, while the intermediate section, by means if which said pivotable pins are interconnected, is placed towards the central portion of the base plate and extends essentially parallel to the aforementioned edge of the base plate.

Furthermore, a cantilever is foreseen approximately in the central area of the base plate, which protrudes apart from the base plate and at least approximately perpendicularly with respect to the aforementioned plane and forms at its free end and apart from the base plate a pivot joint of appropriate lever, which is intended to control the file mechanism and pivoting the pivotable pins with regard to the base plate and the stable pins. Said lever is arranged in the vertical plane, which extends parallel to the longitudinal edges of the base plate. A roller is embedded on the lever eccentrically at a certain distance with respect to the pivot joint, and is adapted for being rolled along said intermediate portion between both pivotable pins. To this aim, said lever is formed in the shape of the letter L, wherein the longer arm is intended for actuating, on the end portion of the shorter arm said roller is embedded, and the lever is embedded in the coinciding area of said arms.

In the area of said intermediate portion, the clipping assembly is supported by a spring, which is normally available as a cantilevered bending spring. By pivoting said lever, the roller is moved along said central portion in order to either press said intermediate section towards the spring or to allow when desired that said intermediate portion is pressed by said spring in such an extent, which is determined by said roller and each disposable position of the lever, whereby said pivotable pins are pivoted with regard to the plane of the base plate in order to be shifted towards the stable pins or away from them.

When said pivotable pins are shifted away from the pair of the stable pins, then the file mechanism is opened and the sheets are allowed to be inserted into the file or removed there-from. Thanks to the spring, the intermediate section is maintained in position apart from the base plate, and also the actuating arm is shifted away from the base plate protruding thereby into the area between the stable pin and pivotable pin, which are available on the side of the actuating arm of the lever and are held apart from each other.

By pivoting the actuating arm of the lever towards the base plate, the roller is moved along the intermediate portion between the pivotable pins, by which said intermediate portion is pressed towards the plane of the base plate in a direction opposite with respect to the force of the spring. When the roller is moved across the line, which extends perpendicularly with respect to the plane of the base plate throughout the pivot joint on the centrally arranged cantilever, then the free end of each corresponding pivotable pin is rest on the free end of each corresponding stable pin. Since the lever may be pivoted still further, such movement involves movement of the roller beyond said line, upon which the lever is fixed and arrested in such a state, by which the file mechanism is closed.

When bearing in mind quite practical experience by using such a mechanism, it appears to be extremely reliable and efficient, and enables quickly and reliable storage of a sufficient quantity of sheets. The problem however arises when the user intends to transposition such stored sheets or for example to re-arrange the content of such file or the like. In such a case such transposition of sheets from the area of pivotable pins into area of stable pins or vice versa is generally possible, however only then, when the mechanism is closed. In order to re-arrange the stored sheet, the mechanism must be opened by shifting the pivotable pins apart from the stable pins by means of the lever, upon which the sheets are allowed to be temporarily removed from the file and appropriately re-arranged then inserted into the file again, upon which the pivotable pins are shifted by pivoting the lever unless the mechanism is closed. By sorting the sheets in the file, such sequence often needs to be repeated several times, which is no doubt a time consuming workload, which the users would prefer to avoid.

Still further, EP 1 226 987 proposes a generally analogous mechanism, which also consists of a base plate with stable pins firmly attached thereto as well as wit a centrally arranged cantilever, to which a lever is attached in appropriate pivot joint. Again, both pivotable pins are interconnected by means of an intermediate section, which is in its central portion pressed towards the main plane of the base plate by means of appropriate roller, which is eccentrically embedded on the lever, and at the same time said intermediate section is pressed away from the main plane of the base plate by means of a spring, which is mounted on the base plate below said central area of the intermediate section. The purpose of such a solution is to enable transposition and re-arrangement, for example amending of sequences of sheets, which are stored in the file, even if the file mechanism is opened. In such a manner even during an extensive re-arrangement there is no need on repeated opening and closing the mechanism. In order to avoid protruding the lever into the area between each pivotable pin and corresponding stable pin on the side of the actuating arm of the lever, a limitation means is foreseen on the base plate below the central portion of the intermediate section between the pivotable pins, by means of which pivoting of the actuating arm away from the base plate is then limited. Due to such relatively simple modification of the base plate, namely by forming a cutout and subsequently bending of material of such cutout in order to obtain said limitation means, the actuating arm of the lever is then prevented from protruding into the area between the pivotable and stable pin, when positioned apart from each other, which would otherwise make transposition of sheets impossible. Accordingly, thanks to said limitation means the actuating arm of the lever is allowed to be pivoted only in such an extent that even in opened mechanism said arm is still maintained relatively close to the main plane of the base plate and at least at such distance apart from the stable pin and a corresponding pivotable pin, that transposition of sheets is still possible.

In this particular case, enabling transposition of sheets is achieved on the basis of reduction of the pivoting area of the lever. Whenever the mechanism is opened, the pivotable pin and stable pin must be maintained at a desired distance apart from each other, and such reduced pivoting area of the lever requires adequate amendment of the transmission ratio between the force acting on the lever and the force, by which the pivotable pins are pressed towards the stable pins. In addition to serious problems about accessing the lever in a completely full document file it is therefore obvious, that either essentially higher force must act on the lever, or the mechanism as such must be exposed to essentially higher loadings and deformations, consequently. It is also obvious, that such products are manufactured in a mass production, and must also comply with all requirements with regard to safe and reliable use, so that increasing of the force used for closing the mechanism seems generally to be unacceptable, while such increasing of deformations may lead to reducing of reliability and shortening of a noπnal lifetime of such products, or is even connected with other undesired measurements like introducing of more expensive raw materials or enlarging dimensions of certain components, which normally leads to increasing of the weight and higher manufacturing expenses.

Still further, a file mechanism is described in WO 2005/047015, which also includes a base plate, a pair of stable pins, which are firmly connected thereto, as well as a pair of pivotable pins, which are pivoted by means of appropriate lever. Said pivotable pins are embedded on the base plate and interconnected by means of an intermediate section, which is supported by a spring, which is mounted on said base plate. Like in previous cases, said lever is pivotally attached to a cantilever on the base plate and is adapted to cooperate with the intermediate section arranged between the pivotable pins. However in this particular case the intermediate section is adapted to cooperate not e.g. with a roller, which is eccentrically embedded on the lever, but with a circumferential rand of an essentially circular and centrically embedded operational area of the lever, which is formed as a specially determined curve on the same principle as a classic and commonly known crank shaft mechanism. Accordingly, by pivoting the lever around said pivot joint in a determined manner the distance between the pivot joint and each particular contact point on the circumference of said operating area is changed, in which the lever is cooperating with the intermediate section in order to it towards the spring and opposite to the force thereof. Three main angular positions of the lever are discussed in said source in more detail, namely the first position, in which the mechanism is closed and the lever is locked adjacent to the main plane of the base plate so that transposition of sheets is enabled, while in the second position thanks to appropriately determined transmission ratio the mechanism is smoothly opened or closed, whereby the lever is pivoted away from the base plate and transposition of sheets is impossible, while in the third position the lever is pivoted around the pivot point for approximately 180 degrees with respect to its first position, by which the mechanism is opened and transposition of sheets is enabled again despite to the fact that the mechanism is opened, since the lever is maintained again adjacent to the base plate. Also in this case a spring is mounted on the base plate, by which the intermediate section between the pivotable pins is pressed towards the circumferential rand of the lever. In this solution the main problem refers to the second position of the lever, in which the lever protrudes approximately rectangular with respect to the main plane of the base plate. When the lever is positioned adjacent to the base plate, the risk of damages due to possible hooking or impacts is relatively low. On the contrary, when the lever protrudes perpendicularly with respect to the base plate, the free end of the lever is placed at a long distance apart from the base plate and also from the pivot joint, so that each loading in a transversal direction with respect to the axis of the pivot joint e.g. due to possible impacts by hand, hooking by clothes or when the file drops down to the floor may result in extremely high stresses in the area of the pivot joint, which leads to increasing of play therein or even to destroying the mechanism. This may in particularly happen when the file is completely loaded with documents, and during pivoting the lever the user is still occupied with sheets, which are stored in the file.

The present invention refers to improvements of a known file mechanism, which is described in WO 20/04082961 or EP 1 606 122, respectively, and is intensively manufactured by the applicant, who is already possessing all required manufacturing tools and other accessories, which enable a reliable mass production..

Such file mechanism consists of a base plate and a clamping set, which is pivotally attached to sad base plate and is actuated by means of an actuating lever, which is also pivotally attached to said base plate. A pair of stable pins is firmly attached to the base plate adjacent to one longitudinal edge thereof and are arranged appropriately apart from each other and positioned at least approximately rectangular with respect to the main plane of said base plate. A cantilever with a pivot joint is arranged in the central area of the base plate, while adjacent to the opposite longitudinal edge appropriate bearings are situated, which are adapted for embedding the clamping set onto said base plate. Said integral clamping set comprises a pair of pivotable pins, which are adapted to cooperate with said stable pins in the sense of coaxial resting of said pivotable pins thereon and between which an intermediate section is available, which is offset towards the cantilever and is therefore embedded eccentrically with respect to said bearings and pressed away from the base plate by means of a supporting spring, and moreover, appropriate bearing sections are foreseen between said intermediate section and said pivotable pins, in the area of which said clamping set is pivotally embedded within said bearings on the base plate. The actuating lever is pivotally attached to the pivot joint on the cantilever of the base plate and extends essentially in the longitudinal direction with respect to the base plate, protruding thereby outside of the circumference of the base plate in the area of one stable pin and corresponding pivotable pin. Said actuating lever is adapted to cooperate with the intermediate section of the clamping set, which is on the one hand pressed away from the base plate by means of the spring and on the other hand by means of the actuating lever optionally pressed towards the base plate.

In accordance with the present invention the actuating lever is formed as a double i.e. a two-part lever, consisting of a primary part, which is on its one end portion pivotally attached to the cantilever on the base plate, as well as of a secondary part, which is via corresponding pivot joint pivotally attached to said primary part of the actuating lever and in its central portion rest on the top surface of the base plate. Said actuating lever also comprises an actuating member, which is arranged on said primary part and at a desired distance apart from the pivot joint i.e. eccentrically with respect to said pivot joint of the actuating lever, namely of the primary part thereof, which is available on the cantilever on the base plate. Said actuating member is adapted to cooperate with the supporting member, which is foreseen on the intermediate section of the clamping set and comprises at least of a plane, preferably slightly concave elevation, which is arranged at a certain distance above the base plate and below the pivot joint of the actuating lever on the cantilever, as well as an inclination, which is arranged adjacent to said elevation and extends in the direction along the actuating lever and downwards in the direction towards the base plate.

Said primary part of the actuating lever comprises a connecting portion and an actuating portion as well as a central portion available there-between On the other hand also the secondary part of the actuating lever comprises a connecting portion and an actuating portion as well as a central portion available there-between. Consequently, said actuating lever as a whole and formed by said parts is pivotally attached to the pivot joint on the cantilever of the base plate by means of the connecting portion of the primary part, whereas the second part is rest by its central portion on the top surface of the base plate and is by means of its connecting portion pivotally attached to a pivot joint, which is situated in the central portion of said primary part of the actuating lever.

Furthermore, the primary part of the actuating lever is allowed to pivot within the pivot joint around a geometric axis, which extends parallel with respect to the main plane of the base plate and at the same time also with two planes, which extend across each pair of mutually cooperating pins. The secondary part of the actuating lever is allowed to pivot within the pivot joint on the primary part around a geometric axis, which extends parallel with respect to the main plane of the base plate and at the same time also with two planes, which extend across each pair of mutually cooperating pins. Each position of the actuating member on the primary part of the actuating lever is determined in such a manner that in the first end position of the primary part, when the actuating portion thereof is located at the utmost distance apart from the main plane of the base plate, said actuating member is supported by the inclination of the supporting member on the intermediate section of the clamping set, while in the second end position, where said actuating portion is located in its lowest position adjacent to the main plane of the base plate, said actuating member is supported by the elevation of the supporting member on the intermediate section of the clamping set.

The primary part of the actuating lever is moved from its first position, in which the actuating member is located on the elevation and which corresponds to the closed state of the mechanism where the pins are pressed to each other, into its second position, in which the actuating member is located on the inclination and which corresponds to the opened state of the mechanism where the pins are maintained at a desired distance apart from each other, by means of appropriate movement of the actuating portion of the secondary part, which is by means of its central portion rest on the top surface of the base plate, in the direction downwards to the base plate.

The actuating member is formed either as a rolling or a sliding member. When the actuating member is a roller member, it can be attached in form of a cantilever onto the primary part of the actuating lever.

When the actuating member is available as sliding member, then the primary part of the actuating lever is formed as an integral part, which includes a vertical area, in which both pivot joints are located, as well as a horizontal reinforcing member, which is attached to said vertical area along the bottom edge of the primary part of the actuating lever, which is faced towards the base plate, whereas the actuating member represents an integral part of said horizontal reinforcing member. In this, said horizontal reinforcing member is directly transformed into the actuating portion of the primary part of the actuating lever at a desired distance apart from the cantilever and outside of position of both pivot joints. Besides, in such case also the secondary part of the actuating lever is formed as an integral part and includes a vertical area, in which the pivot joint is located, as well as a horizontal reinforcing member, which extends along the top edge of the secondary part, which is arranged at the utmost distance apart from the base plate and is in those end area, which is situated at the utmost distance apart from the pivot joint directly transformed into actuating portion of the second part of the actuating lever.

Still further, several variations of the invention are foreseen, according to which the supporting member, which comprises said elevation and said inclination, is attached to the intermediate section of the clamping set either in a detachable i.e. removable manner or firmly i.e. in a non-detachable manner. Moreover, said supporting member, which comprises said elevation and said inclination, may also be formed integrally with the intermediate section of the clamping set in order to form an integral part of said intermediate section.

A mechanism according to the invention is described in more detail on the basis of two embodiments which are illustrated in the enclosed drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a rear perspective view of a mechanism in the closed state; Fig. 2 is a front view of the mechanism according to Fig. 1 in the opened state; Fig. 3 is a front view of the same mechanism, however in the closed state; and Fig. 4 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of such mechanism in the opened state thereof. A file mechanism according to Fig. 1 comprises a base plate 1 with two stable pins 11, 12, which are firmly attached thereto, and a cantilever 3 with an actuating lever 3 attached thereto, as well as of an uniform clamping set 2, which consists of a pair of pivotable pins 21, 22 and an intermediate section 25 arranged there-between.

The base plate 1 of the mechanism according to the invention generally corresponds, or is at least very similar or even quite identical to those, which belong to the mechanism according to prior art (WO 20/04082961 or EP 1 606 122, respectively). Accordingly, said base plate 1 is furnished with appropriate reinforcing elements 14, mounting openings 15 as well as positioning openings 16, while two stable pins 11, 12 are fixed to the base plate 1 adjacent to the longitudinal edge 17, preferably by means of pressing or riveting. Adjacent to the other longitudinal edge 18, two bearings 19', 19" are foreseen, in which said clamping set 2 embedded on the base plate 1. Said bearings 19', 19" are preferably formed integrally with the base plate 1 as such, and may e.g. be realized by means of bending appropriate cutouts consisting of the material of the base plate 1.

Furthermore, a cantilever 13 is foreseen approximately in the central area of the base plate 1 and extends essentially in the perpendicular direction with respect to the main plane of the base plate 1. Said cantilever 13 is analogously like the base plate 1 relatively rigid in order to assure the highest possible accuracy of embedding of the actuating lever 3 and consequently also of actuating of the clamping set 2

Still further, a spring 10 is inserted within appropriate cutout in the base plate 1, which is located between the cantilever 13 and the longitudinal edge 18, and may be mounted and formed in a quite analogous manner like in the mechanism according to prior art (WO 20/04082961 or EP 1 606 122, respectively). The purpose of said spring 10 is to support on the base plate 1 said intermediate section 25 of the clamping set 25. Said spring 10 usually consists of different material with respect to the base plate 1, and is mounted on the base plate in the form of a cantilever, and serves as a bending leaf spring.

The actuating lever 3 is pivotally attached to the cantilever 13 on the base plate 1 in the area of a pivot joint 30, and extends approximately in the longitudinal plane of the base plate 1 and between one stable pin 12 ad corresponding pivotable pin 22 protrudes outside of the area of the base plate 1, and moreover is allowed to swivel around an axis, which extends parallel both with respect to the main plane of the base plate and to both parallel planes, which extend separately across each pair of mutually cooperating pivotable and stable pins 11, 12; 21, 22.

According to the invention, said actuating lever 3 is conceived as a double i.e a two-part lever, and consists of a primary part 31 and a secondary part 32, which are pivotally interconnected in the area of the pivot joint 303. Said primary part 31 is pivotally mounted within the pivot joint 30 and is adapted to cooperate with the clamping set 2, while the secondary part 32 serves more or less for the purposes of transposition of said primary part 31 with respect to the base plate 1. Said pivot joint 303, in which the secondary part 32 is attached to the primary part 31, allows the secondary part 32 to be swivel ed relatively with regard to the primary part 31 around the axis, which extends parallel with respect to the axis, around which the actuating lever 3 as a whole may be pivoted around its pivot joint 30 on the cantilever 13 of the base plate 1.

Said primary part 31 of the actuating lever 3 is therefore in the area of its connecting portion 311 pivotally attached to the pivot joint 30 on the cantilever 13 of the base plate 1, so that the primary part 31 of the actuating lever 3 is then allowed to pivot around said pivot joint 30 thanks to the opposite actuating portion 313. Said pivot joint 303 is located in the central portion 312, which is available between both previously mentioned portions 311, 313, and there the secondary part 32 of the actuating lever 3 is pivotally attached to the primary part 31 of the actuating lever 3. Also this secondary part 32 of the actuating lever 3 comprises an actuating portion 323, which generally serves for the purposes of pivoting of the secondary portion 32 around said pivot joint 303 on the primary part 31 of the actuating lever 3, and the central portion 322, which is however adapted to be rest on the base plate 1 of the mechanism, so that this secondary part 32 generally represent a double-arm and centrally supported lever.

Thanks to such a construction concept, said actuating lever 3 consists of a primary part 31 , which is by means of its connecting portion 311 pivotally attached to the pivot joint 30 on the cantilever 13 of the base plate 1, and is moreover by means of its central portion 312 pivotally connected with the connecting portion 321 of the secondary part 32, the central portion 322 of which is rest on the base plate 1. Whenever the actuating portion 313 of the primary part 31 is pivoted downwards in the direction towards the base plate 1 (Figs. 1 and 3), then it may be pivoted upwards i.e. away from the base plate 1 by means of pressing the actuating portion 323 of the secondary part 32 and moving thereof downwards i.e. towards the base plate 1.

Besides, said actuating lever 3 is furnished on its primary part 31 with an actuating member 35', which is in the first embodiment of the invention 1 according to Figs 1 to 3 available as a cantilevered roller member. Said actuating member 35' is arranged at a corresponding distance apart from the pivot joint 30 of the actuating lever 3 on the cantilever 13 of the base plate 1, namely eccentrically with respect to said pivot joint 30. Said actuating member 35' is adapted to cooperate with a supporting member 250, which is available on the intermediate section 25 of the clamping set 2 below said pivot joint 30 of the actuating lever 3. In another embodiment according to Fig. 4 said actuating member 35" is available as a sliding member. In such a case the primary part 31 of the actuating lever 3 is formed as an integral part consisting of a vertical area 314, in which both pivot joints 30, 303 are located, as well as of a horizontal reinforcing member 315, which is attached to the vertical area 314 along the bottom edge of said primary part 31, which is faced towards the base plate 1, whereby said actuating member 35 preferably represents an integral part of said horizontal reinforcing member 315. It is also preferred in this embodiment, if outside of actual positions of both pivot joints 30, 303 in the direction away from the cantilever 13 said horizontal reinforcing member 315 is directly transformed into the actuating portion 313. Quite analogously, in such and embodiment also the secondary element 32 is integrally formed and comprises a vertical portion 324, in which the pivot joint 303 is situated, as well as of a horizontal reinforcing member 325, which however extends along the top edge of the secondary part 32 of the actuating lever 3, which is arranged at the utmost distance apart from the base plate 1, and which is then directly transformed into an actuating portion 323 of the secondary portion 32 of the actuating lever 3. Such an embodiment is preferred in particular when essentially simplified manufacturing of both parts 31, 32 of the actuating lever 3 is taken into account, since both these parts 31, 32 may be easily manufactured by forming of a metal plate in order to obtain appropriately light and at least in respect of bending also extremely rigid components.

Said supporting member 250 may generally either be a part of the clamping set 2 as such, or may according to the embodiments according to Figs 1 to 3 also be surmounted onto the intermediate section 25 of the clamping set 2, by which said set 2 may generally remain completely unchanged with respect to the prior art solutions and by taking into account the benefits resulting from the technologic aspects of manufacturing thereof. Said supporting member 250 comprises a horizontal elevation 251, which is placed at a distance apart from said spring 10 and the main plane of the base plate 1, as well as an inclination 252, which extends from said elevation 251 and is inclined downwards and in the direction along the actuating lever 3 and is by-passing said intermediate section 25 of the clamping set 2. Said actuating member 35', 35" of the actuating lever 3 is rest on said supporting member 250 either in the area of said inclination 252 or onto said elevation 1 251, depending on each position of the primary part 31 and the secondary part 32 of the actuating lever 3.

Whenever the primary part 31 of the actuating lever 3 is swiveled away from the main plane of the base plate 1, then the actuating member 35', 35" is placed at the bottom portion of the inclination 252 of the supporting member 250 on the intermediate section 25 of the clamping set 2, by which said intermediate section 25 is by means of spring 10 held at the utmost distance apart from the base plate 1, so that the pivotable pins 21, 22 of the clamping set 2 are swiveled apart from the stable pins 11, 12 on the base plate 1. In such a position the mechanism is maintained in its opened state, in which each disposable sheet may either be placed onto the stable pins 11, 12 and herewith inserted into the file, or also removed there-from, when desired. At the same time each disposable sheet may also be placed onto the pivotable pins 21, 2 or also removed there-from, since both parts 31, 32 of the actuating lever 3 are situated outside from the trajectory of transposition of sheets from the area of stable pins 11, 12 towards the area of pivotable pins 21, 22, or vice versa.

By closing the mechanism i.e. transforming thereof from the state according to Fig. 2 into a state according to Fig. 3, the actuating portion 321 of the primaiy part 31 of the actuating lever 3 needs to be pressed, upon which the primary part 31 is swiveled towards to the base plate 1 around the pivot joint 30 on the cantilever 13 of the base plate 1, by which the actuating member 35', 35" is moving along the inclination 252 of the supporting member 250 on the clamping set 2, which results in approaching of the intermediate section 25 towards the base plate 1 and pressing thereby the spring 10, while the pivotable pins 21, 22 of the clamping set 2 are pivoted towards the stable pins 11, 12 on the base plate 1. The secondary part 32 of the actuating lever 3, which is rest on the base plate 1 is following such transposition, by which the connecting portion 321 is also approaching towards the main plane of the base plate 1, while its actuating portion 323 is successively moved away from said main plane of the base plate 1.

Just before the actuating member 35', 35" reaches the top position on the inclination 252 at the utmost level apart from the base plate 1, and just before the primary part 31 of the actuating lever 3 reaches the position closest to the base plate 1 according to Fig. 3, each pivotable pin 21, 22 of the clamping set 2 arrives into contact with each corresponding stable pin 11, 12. A still further movement of the primary part 31 of the actuating lever 3 towards the main plane of the base plate 1 leads to approaching of the actuating member 35', 35" onto the horizontal elevation 251. In such a state (Figs. 1 and 3), each pivotable pin 21, 22 is pressed towards each corresponding stable pin 11, 12, by which the actuating member 35', 35" is prevented from and further movement along the elevation 251 or even towards the inclination 252. The pressure between each pivotable pin 21, 22 and each belonging stable pin 11, 12 is namely so strong, that elastic deformation of the cantilever 13 on the base plate 1 occur, which are however controlled and determined in advance and which are then maintaining the mechanism in its closed state in a reliable manner, which means that the mechanism remains closed even when the document file is exposed to external stresses, which may occur during transport, loading or unloading, gripping or even when the completely full document file would drop down from a certain altitude.

Despite to such reliable closing of the file mechanism due to said compression between each pair of mutually engaged pins 11, 12; 21, 22, opening of the mechanism is performed quickly and easily by transposition of pins 11, 12; 21 22 apart from each other. Upon pressing the actuating portion 323 of the secondary part 32 of the actuating lever 3 the connecting portion 321 of said secondary part 32 is pivoted in the direction away from the main plane of the base plate 1, by which also the primary part 31 of the actuating lever 3 is pivoted in the direction away of the main plane of the base plate 1, by which the actuating member 35', 35" on the primary part 31 of the actuating lever 3 is moved from the area of the elevation 251 into the area of inclination 252 on the supporting member 250 of the intermediate section 25 of the clamping set 2, by which the intermediate section 25, which is supported by spring 10, is displaced away from the base plate 1, so that both pivotable pins 21, 22 are swiveled away from the stable pins 11, 12 and both pairs of mutually cooperating pins 11, 21; 12, 22 are displaced apart from each other, by which the mechanism is then opened.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. File mechanism having a double lever, namely consisting of a base plate (1) and a clamping set (2), which is pivotally attached to sad base plate (1) and is actuated by means of an actuating lever (3), which is also pivotally attached to said base plate (1), whereby a pair of stable pins (11, 12) is firmly attached to said base plate (1) adjacent to one longitudinal edge (17) thereof, and are arranged appropriately apart from each other and positioned at least approximately rectangular with respect to the main plane of said base plate (1), and whereby a cantilever (13) with a pivot joint (31) is arranged in the central area of the base plate (1), while adjacent to the opposite longitudinal edge (18) appropriate bearings (19', 19") are arranged, which are adapted for embedding the clamping set (2) onto the base plate (1), and whereby said integral clamping set (2) comprises a pair of pivotable pins (21, 22), which are adapted to cooperate with said stable pins (11, 12) in the sense of coaxial resting of said pivotable pins (21, 22) thereon and between which an intermediate section (25) is available, which is offset towards the cantilever (13) and pressed away from the base plate (1) by means of a supporting spring (10), and whereby appropriate bearing sections (23, 24) are foreseen between said intermediate section (25) and said pivotable pins (21, 22), in the area of which said clamping set (2) is pivotally embedded within said bearings (19', 19") on the base plate (1), whilst the actuating lever (3) is pivotally attached to the pivot joint (31) on the cantilever (13) of the base plate (1) and extends essentially in the longitudinal direction with respect to the base plate (1), protruding thereby outside of the circumference of the base plate (1) in the area of one stable pin (12) and corresponding pivotable pin (22), and being furnished with appropriate actuating member (35', 35"), by means of which it is rest on the intermediate section (25) between the pivotable pins (21, 22) of the clamping set (2), which is therefore on the one hand by means of the spring (10) pressed in the direction away from the base plate (1) and on the other hand by means of said actuating member (35', 35") pushed towards the base plate (1), characterized in that the actuating lever (3) is formed as a double i.e. a two- part lever, consisting of a primary part (31 ), which is on its one end portion (311) pivotally attached to the cantilever (13) on the base plate (1), as well as of a secondary part (32), which is via corresponding pivot joint (301) pivotally attached to said primary part (31) of the actuating lever (3) and in its central portion (322) rest on the top surface of the base plate (1), by which said actuating lever (3) also comprises an actuating member (35', 35"), which is arranged on said primary part (31) and at a desired distance apart from the pivot joint (30) i.e. eccentrically with respect to said pivot joint (30) of the actuating lever (3), namely of the primary part (31) thereof, which is available on the cantilever (13) on the base plate (1), whereby said actuating member (35', 35") is adapted to cooperate with the supporting member (250), which is foreseen on the intermediate section (25) of the clamping set (2) and comprises at least of a plane, preferably slightly concave elevation, which is arranged at a certain distance above the base plate (1) and below the pivot joint (30) of the actuating lever (3) on the cantilever (13), as well as an inclination (252), which is arranged adjacent to said elevation (251) and extends in the direction along the actuating lever (3) and downwards in the direction towards the base plate (1).

2. File mechanism according to Claim 1, characterized in that the primary part (31) of the actuating lever (3) comprises a connecting portion (311) and an actuating portion (313) as well as a central portion (312) available there-between, and that also the secondary part (32) of the actuating lever (3) comprises a connecting portion (321) and an actuating portion (323) as well as a central portion (322) available there-between, whereas said actuating lever (3) as a whole and formed by said parts (31, 32) is pivotally attached to the pivot joint (30) on the cantilever (13) of the base plate (1) by means of the connecting portion (311) of the primary part (31), and whereas the second part (32) is rest by its central portion (322) on the top surface of the base plate (1) and is by means of its connecting portion (321) pivotally attached to a pivot joint (303), which is situated in the central portion (312) of said primary part (31 ) of the actuating lever (3).

3. File mechanism according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the primary part

(31) of the actuating lever (3) is allowed to pivot within the pivot joint (30) around a geometric axis, which extends parallel with respect to the main plane of the base plate (1) and at the same time also with two planes, which extend across each pair of mutually cooperating pins (11, 21; 12, 22).

4. File mechanism according to Claim 3, characterized in that the secondary part

(32) of the actuating lever (3) is allowed to pivot within the pivot joint (303) on the primary part (31) around a geometric axis, which extends parallel with respect to the main plane of the base plate (1) and at the same time also with two planes, which extend across each pair of mutually cooperating pins (11, 21; 12, 22).

5. File mechanism according to anyone of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the position of the actuating member (35', 35") on the primary part (31) of the actuating lever (3) is determined in such a manner that in the first end position of the primary part (31), when the actuating portion (313) thereof is located at the utmost distance apart from the main plane of the base plate (1), said actuating member (35', 35") is supported by the inclination (252) of the supporting member (250) on the intermediate section (25) of the clamping set (2), while in the second end position, where said actuating portion (313) is located in its lowest position adjacent to the main plane of the base plate (1), said actuating member (35', 35") is supported by the elevation (251) of the supporting member (250) on the intermediate section (25) of the clamping set (2).

6. File mechanism according to Claim 5, characterized in that the primary part (31) of the actuating lever (3) is moved from its first position, in which the actuating member (35', 35") is located on the elevation (251) and which corresponds to the closed state of the mechanism where the pins (11, 21; 12, 22) are pressed to each other, into its second position, in which the actuating member (35', 35") is located on the inclination (252) and which corresponds to the opened state of the mechanism where the pins (11, 21; 12, 22) are maintained at a desired distance apart from each other, by means of appropriate movement of the actuating portion (323) of the secondary part (32), which is by means of its central portion (322) rest on the top surface of the base plate, in the direction downwards to the base plate (1).

7. File mechanism according to anyone of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the actuating member (35') is formed as a rolling member.

8. File mechanism according to Claim 7, characterized in that the actuating member (35') is attached as a cantilever on the primary part (31) of the actuating lever (3).

9. File mechanism according to anyone of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the actuating member (35") is formed as a sliding member.

10. File mechanism according to Claim 9, characterized in that the primary part (31) of the actuating lever (3) is formed as an integral part, which includes a vertical area (314), in which both pivot joints (30; 303) are located, as well as a horizontal reinforcing member (315), which is attached to said vertical area (314) along the bottom edge of the primary part (31) of the actuating lever (3), which is faced towards the base plate (1), whereas the actuating member (35") represents an integral part of said horizontal reinforcing member (315).

11. File mechanism according to Claim 9, characterized in that said horizontal reinforcing member (315) is directly transformed into the actuating portion of the primary part (31) of the actuating lever (3) at a desired distance apart from the cantilever (13) and outside of position of both pivot joints (30, 303).

12. File mechanism according to anyone of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the secondary part (32) of the actuating lever (3) is formed as an integral part and includes a vertical area (324), in which the pivot joint (303) is located, as well as a horizontal reinforcing member (325), which extends along the top edge of the secondary part (32), which is arranged at the utmost distance apart from the base plate (1) and is in those end area, which is situated at the utmost distance apart from the pivot joint (303) directly transformed into actuating portion (323) of the second part (32) of the actuating lever (3).

13. File mechanism according to anyone of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the supporting member (250), which comprises said elevation (251) and said inclination (252), is attached to the intermediate section (25) of the clamping set (2) in a detachable i.e. removable manner.

14. File mechanism according to anyone of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the supporting member (250), which comprises said elevation (251) and said inclination (252), is firmly attached to the intermediate section (25) of the clamping set (2) in a non- detachable manner.

15. File mechanism according to anyone of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the supporting member (250), which comprises said elevation (251) and said inclination (252), is formed integrally with the intermediate section (25) of the clamping set (2) and forms an integral part of said intermediate section (25).