EP2303600A1

EP2303600A1 - A paper-retaining mechanism

Info

Publication number: EP2303600A1
Application number: EP08876564A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kei Cheng
Original assignee: World Wide Stationery Manufacturing Co Ltd
Current assignee: World Wide Stationery Manufacturing Co Ltd
Priority date: 2008-07-17
Filing date: 2008-07-17
Publication date: 2011-04-06
Also published as: TW201004808A; CN102143847A; AU2008359347A1; AR071401A1; CN102143847B; WO2010006477A1; MX2011000627A

Abstract

A paper-retaining mechanism (100,200) includes a base (102,202), two posts (104,204) fixed to the base, two arches (106,206) engaged with the base for pivotal movement relative to the posts, and a lever (114,214) pivotable relative to the base. The arches are joined with each other via a cranked rod (108,208) for simultaneous movement, and are pivotable between a closed position in which the arches are in contact with the posts to form two closed rings and an open position in which the arches are out of contact with the posts whereby the rings are open. The lever is pivotable relative to the base between a first position in which the rings are closed and a second position in which the rings are open, and the lever includes a toe portion (126,226) which pivots the cranked rod away from the base to pivot the arches to the open position when the lever is pivoted from the first position to the second position.

Description

A PAPER-RETAINING MECHANISM

TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a paper-retaining mechanism and a document file incorporating such a mechanism.

BACKGROUND ART

Various paper-retaining mechanisms have been available. In one type of such conventional paper-retaining mechanisms generally called lever-arch type file mechanisms, a one-armed lever is pivotable to pivot a pair of arches relative to a pair of fixed posts to allow pieces of hole-punched paper to be retrieved from or inserted into the file mechanism, and for closing the posts and arches to form a pair of closed rings to retain the paper therein. The pair of arches are joined by an intervening crank on which a roller attached to the lever travels during pivotal movement of the lever, to effect opening or closing of the pair of rings. In operating such a conventional file mechanism, the lever is pivoted downwardly to close the ring pairs formed by the posts and arches and is pivoted upwardly to allow a spring leaf to pivot to thereby open the rings.

Such a conventional file mechanism is not convenient in use, in that when the lever is pivoted upwardly to open the rings, the lever is very close to or even touches one of the arches, such that it is not possible to have paper inserted into or retrieved from the arches.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a paper-retaining mechanism and a document file incorporating such a paper-retaining mechanism in which the aforesaid shortcoming is mitigated, or at least to provide a useful alternative to the public.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paper-retaining mechanism including a base, at least two post members fixedly engaged with said base, at least two arch members engaged with said base for pivotal movement relative to said post members; and a lever member pivotable relative to said base; wherein said arch members are joined with each other via a cranked rod for simultaneous movement; wherein said arch members are i pivotable between a closed position in which said arch members are in contact with said post members to form at least two closed rings and an open position in which said arch members are out of contact with said post members whereby said rings are open; and wherein said lever member is pivotable relative to said base between a first position in which said rings are closed and a second position in which said rings are open; characterized in that said lever member includes an actuating part which, when said lever member is pivoted from said first position to said second position, pivots said cranked rod away from said base to pivot said arch members to said open position.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a document file including a substrate engaged with a paper-retaining mechanism including a base, at least two post members fixedly engaged with said base, at least two arch members engaged with said base for pivotal movement relative to said post members; and a lever member pivotable relative to said base; wherein said arch members are joined with each other via a cranked rod for simultaneous movement; wherein said arch members are pivotable between a closed position in which said arch members are in contact with said post members to form at least two closed rings and an open position in which said arch members are out of contact with said post members whereby said rings are open; and wherein said lever member is pivotable relative to said base between a first position in which said rings are closed and a second position in which said rings are open; characterized in that said lever member includes an actuating part which, when said lever member is pivoted from said first position to said second position, pivots said cranked rod away from said base to pivot said arch members to said open position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a paper-retaining mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, as assembled and in a ring-closed configuration;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a right side view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a left side view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a front perspective view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a rear perspective view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a front view of mechanism shown in Fig. 2 in a ring-open configuration;

Fig. 9 is a top view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a right side view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a left side view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 12 is a front perspective view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a paper-retaining mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 14 is a front view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 13, as assembled and in a ring-closed configuration;

Fig. 15 is a top view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a right side view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is a left side view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 14; Fig. 18 is a rear view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 19 is a front perspective view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 20 is a rear perspective view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a front view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 14 in a ring-open configuration;

Fig. 22 is a top view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 21; Fig. 23 is a right side view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 21;

Fig. 24 is a left side view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 21;

Fig. 25 is a front perspective view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 21; and

Fig. 26 is a rear perspective view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 21.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Components of a paper-retaining mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention are shown in Fig. 1, with the mechanism generally designated as 100. The mechanism 100 includes a generally planar base 102 to which two posts 104 are fixedly secured. A pair of arches 106 are joined with each other via a cranked rod 108, with which they are integrally formed. The arches 106 and the cranked rod 108 are thus movable simultaneously.

The cranked rod 108 is engaged with a pair of clamps 110 on and integrally formed with the base 102, so that the cranked rod 108 is pivotable relative to the base 102 and the posts 104 about an axis Ri-Ri close to the base 102. By way of such an arrangement, the cranked rod 108 is pivotable to pivot the arches 106 (with which it is simultaneously movable) between a ring-closed position in which free ends 1 06a of the arches 106 contact and mate with free ends 104a of the posts 104 to form two closed rings (as shown in Figs. 2 to 7) and a ring-open position in which the free ends 106a of the arches 106 are out of contact and mating relationship with the free ends 104a of the posts 104 whereby the rings are open (as shown in Figs. 8 to 12).

A plate 112, which is integrally formed with the base 102, extends generally perpendicularly from the base 102. A lever 114 is pivotally mounted by a rivet 116 to the plate 112 at a point adjacent the base 102. In particular, the lever 114 has a hole 118 and the plate 112 has a hole 120 adjacent the base 102. The rivet 116 is partly received through these two holes 118, 120 for pivotally mounting the lever 114 to the plate 112. By way of such an arrangement, the lever 114 is pivotable relative to the base 102, the plate 112 and the posts 104 about an axis Si-Si which is perpendicular to the axis Ri-Ri.

The lever 114 has a planar body portion 122 integrally formed at one longitudinal end thereof with a planar thumb piece 124, and at an opposite longitudinal end thereof with a planar toe portion 126. The thumb piece 124 is perpendicular to the body portion 122 and the toe portion 126 is also perpendicular to the body portion 122. A cover piece 128, which may be made of a relative soft material (e.g. synthetic rubber or plastics), is provided to cover over the thumb piece 124 to provide additional comfort in use. A roller 130 is mounted onto the body portion 122 by a rivet 132 such that the roller 130 is freely rotatable about an axis Ti-Ti which is parallel to the axis Si-Si.

Figs. 2 to 7 show the paper-retaining mechanism 100 in a configuration (called the "ring-closed configuration") in which the lever 114 is in its ring-closed position and the free ends 106a of the arches 106 contact and mate with the free ends 104a of the posts 104 to form two closed rings. In this ring-closed configuration, the roller 130 sits on and engages with a recess 134 (see Fig. 1) on an upper part of an upwardly bent portion 136 of the cranked rod 108, to thereby press the cranked rod 108 towards the base 102, so as to keep the arches 106 in the ring-closed position.

When the lever 114 is pivoted (e.g. by a user operating the thumb piece 124) relative to the base 102 and the posts 104 about the axis S₁-S₁ in the direction indicated by the arrow W₁ (see Fig. 2) and away from its ring-closed position, the roller 130 is moved away from engagement with the recess 134 of the cranked rod 108. In the meantime, the toe portion 126 is pivoted, again about the axis S₁-S₁ and in the same direction indicated by the arrow W₁, away from the base 102 to engage with and act on the cranked rod 108 from below, to cause the cranked rod 108 to pivot about the axis R₁-R₁ and away from the base 102.

When the lever 114 is thus pivoted in the direction indicated by the arrow W₁ to the position as shown in Figs. 8 to 12 (called the "ring-open position"), the arches 106 are pivoted out of engagement and out of contact with the posts 104, so as to open the two rings. When the mechanism 100 is in this ring-open configuration, pieces of paper may be retrieved from or inserted into the posts 104 and the arches 106.

When the mechanism 100 is in this ring-open configuration, the roller 130 sits on and engages with a recess 138 (see Fig. 2) of a downwardly bent portion 140 of the cranked rod 108. The radius of curvature of the recess 134 is smaller than that of the recess 138.

The engagement between the roller 130 of the lever 114 and the recess 138 limits the extent of the upward pivotal movement of the cranked rod 108 and that of the pivotal movement of the lever 114 in the direction indicated by the arrow W₁. In particular, when the lever 114 is already in the ring-open position as shown in Figs. 8 to 12, any further pivotal movement in the direction of the arrow W₁ (which tends to bring about a further pivotal movement of the roller 130 in the same direction about the axis S₁-S₁) will bring about a corresponding upward pivotal movement of the toe portion 126, which in turn tends to pivot the cranked rod 108 further upward, directly against the further pivotal movement of the roller 130. Therefore, there cannot be any pivotal movement of the lever 114 in the direction indicated by the arrow W₁ beyond that shown in Figs. 8 to 12, nor can there be any further upward pivotal movement of the cranked rod 108 beyond that shown in Figs. 8 to 12.

When the lever 114 is pivoted from its ring-open position as shown in Figs. 8 to 12 back to its ring-closed position as shown in Figs. 2 to 7, the roller 130 is also pivoted about the axis S₁-S₁ to engage with and press the recess 134 of the cranked rod 108 towards the base 102, so as to pivot the cranked rod 108 (and thus the arches 106) back to the ring-closed position as shown in Figs. 2 to 7. It can be seen that the thumb piece 124 is always between the two rings formed by the posts 104 and arches 106, whether the lever 114 is in its ring-closed position or ring-open position, or during its pivotal movement between these two positions. It can also be seen that the pivoting axis S₁-S₁ of the lever 114 is between the roller 130 and the toe portion 126.

Components of a paper-retaining mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention are shown in Fig. 13, with the mechanism generally designated as 200. It can be seen that the construction of the mechanism 200 is similar to but simpler than that of the mechanism 100 discussed above.

The mechanism 200 includes a generally planar base 202 to which two posts 204 are fixedly secured. A pair of arches 206 are joined with each other via a cranked rod 208, with which they are integrally formed. The arches 206 and the cranked rod 208 are thus movable simultaneously with one another.

The cranked rod 208 is engaged with a pair of clamps 210 on and integrally formed with the base 202, so that the cranked rod 208 is pivotable relative to the base 202 and the posts 204 about an axis R₂-R₂ close to the base 202. By way of such an arrangement, the cranked rod 208 is pivotable to pivot the arches 206 (with which it is simultaneously movable) between a ring-closed position in which free ends 206a of the arches 206 contact and mate with free ends 204a of the posts 204 to form two closed rings (as shown in Figs. 14 to 20) and a ring-open position in which the free ends 206a of the arches 206 are out of contact and mating relationship with the free ends 204a of the posts 204 whereby the rings are open (as shown in Figs. 21 to 26).

A plate 212, which is integrally formed with the base 202, extends upwardly away from the base 202. A lever 214 is pivotally mounted by a rivet 216 to the plate 212 at a point adjacent the base 202. In particular, the lever 214 has a hole 218 and the plate 212 has a hole 220 adjacent the base 202. The rivet 216 is received through these two holes 218, 220 to pivotally mount the lever 214 to the plate 212. By way of such an arrangement, and when the mechanism 200 is duly assembled (as shown in Figs. 14 to 26), the lever 214 is pivotable relative to the base 202, the plate 212 and the posts 204 about a common longitudinal axis of the rivet 216, the hole 220, and the hole 218, which is perpendicular to the axis R₂-R₂. The lever 214 is made of a plasties material, and has a body portion 222 with two longitudinal ends. One longitudinal end of the body portion 222 serves as a thumb piece 224, and an opposite longitudinal end of the body portion 222 is a toe portion 226 with a wall portion 227. The toe portion 226 and the wall portion 227 are generally perpendicular to each other. The lever 214, including the body portion 222, the thumb piece 224, the toe portion 226 and the wall portion 227, is integrally made in one piece of the plastics material, and all such parts are thus movable simultaneously with one another.

Returning to the cranked rod 208, near a middle portion of it is an upwardly bent portion

236 with a first recess 234, and a downwardly bent portion 240 of the cranked rod 208 adjacent to the upwardly bent portion 236 has a second recess 238. The radius of curvature of the first recess 234 is smaller than that of the second recess 238.

Figs. 14 to 20 show the mechanism 200 in a configuration (called the "ring-closed configuration") in which the lever 214 is in its ring-closed position and the free ends 206a of the arches 206 contact and mate with the free ends 204a of the posts 204 to form two closed rings. In this ring-closed configuration, a curved protrusion 242 of the lever 214 sits on and engages with the first recess 234 on an upper side of the upwardly bent portion 236 of the cranked rod 208, to thereby press the cranked rod 208 towards the base 202, so as to keep the arches 206 in the ring-closed position.

When the lever 214 is pivoted (e.g. manually by a user) relative to the base 202 and the posts 204 about the longitudinal axis of the hole 220 in the direction indicated by the arrow W₂ (see Fig. 14) and away from its ring-closed position, the protrusion 242 is moved away from engagement with the recess 234 of the cranked rod 208. In the meantime, the toe portion 226 is pivoted, again about the longitudinal axis of the hole 220 of the plate 212, and in the same direction indicated by the arrow W₂, to engage with and act on the cranked rod 208 from below, to cause the cranked rod 208 to pivot about the axis R₂-R₂ and away from the base 202.

When the lever 214 is thus pivoted in the direction indicated by the arrow W₂ to the ring-open position as shown in Figs. 21 to 26, the arches 206 are pivoted out of engagement and out of contact with the posts 204, so as to open the two rings. When the mechanism 200 is in this ring-open configuration, pieces of paper may be retrieved from or inserted into the posts 204 and the arches 206.

When the mechanism 200 is in this ring-open configuration, the protrusion 242 sits on and engages with a recess 238 (see Fig. 14) of a downwardly bent portion 240 of the cranked rod 208.

The engagement between the protrusion 242 of the lever 214 and the recess 238 limits the extent of the upward pivotal movement of the cranked rod 208 and that of the pivotal movement of the lever 214 in the direction indicated by the arrow W₂. In particular, when the lever 214 is already in the ring-open position as shown in Figs. 21 to 26, any further pivotal movement in the direction of the arrow W₂ (which tends to bring about a further pivotal movement of the lever 214 the same direction about the longitudinal axis of the hole 220 of the plate 212) will bring about a corresponding upward pivotal movement of the toe portion 226, which in turn tends to pivot the cranked rod 208 further upward, directly against the further pivotal movement of the protrusion 242 of the lever 214. Therefore, there cannot be any pivotal movement of the lever 214 in the direction indicated by the arrow W₂ beyond the position shown in Figs. 21 to 26, nor can there be any further upward pivotal movement of the cranked rod 208 beyond the position shown in Figs. 21 to 26.

When the lever 214 is pivoted from its ring-closed position to its ring open position to move the mechanism 200 from the ring-closed configuration to the ring-open configuration, the wall portion 227 is raised from its lower position (as shown in Figs. 14 and 19) in which it is close to the base 202 to its upper position (as shown in Figs. 21 and 25) in which it is raised from the base 202, to come into contact with the upwardly pivoted cranked rod 208.

Referring in particular to Figs. 21 to 25, it can be seen that when the mechanism 200 is in its ring-open configuration (in which the arches 206 are out of contact and out of engagement with the posts 204), the wall portion 227 of the lever 214 is in its upper position, and a side of the wall portion 227 facing the plate 212 contacts a side of the cranked rod 208 facing the arches 206. It is found in practice that, in the absence of the wall portion 227, it is sometimes possible to forcibly pivot the cranked rod 208 out of engagement with the toe portion 226, for example by forcibly pulling the arches 206 further away from the posts 204, thus causing damage to the mechanism 200. The wall portion 227 therefore assists in limiting the extent of pivotal movement of the cranked rod 208 away from the base 202. When the lever 214 is pivoted from its ring-open position (as shown in Figs. 21 to 26) back to its ring-closed position (as shown in Figs. 14 to 20), the protrusion 242 is also pivoted about the longitudinal axis of the hole 220 of the plate 212 to engage with, act on and press the recess 234 of the cranked rod 208 towards the base 202, so as to pivot the cranked rod 208 (and thus the arches 206) back to the ring-closed position as shown in Figs. 14 to 20.

It can be seen that the longitudinal end of the lever 214 opposite to the protrusion 242 and the toe portion 226 is always between the two rings formed by the posts 204 and arches 206, whether the lever 214 is in its ring-closed position or ring-open position, or during its pivotal movement between these two positions. It can also be seen that the pivoting axis of the lever 214 is between the protrusion 242 on the one hand and the toe portion 226 and the wall portion 227 on the other hand.

It can also be seen that both mechanisms 100, 200 are of a spring-less structure.

Both the mechanisms 100, 200 may be secured, e.g. by screws or rivets or other securing means, to a substrate, e.g. a cover made of cardboard, plastics, metal or a combination thereof, to form a document file, e.g. a box file or document holder.

It should be understood that the above only illustrate examples whereby the present invention may be carried out, and that various modifications and/or alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It should also be understood that various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described here in the context of a single embodiment, may be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations. Conversely, it should also be understood that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may be provided in combination in a single embodiment.

Claims

1. A paper-retaining mechanism (100, 200) including: a base (102, 202); at least two post members (104, 204) fixedly engaged with said base; at least two arch members (106, 206) engaged with said base for pivotal movement relative to said post members; and a lever member (114, 214) pivotable relative to said base; wherein said arch members are joined with each other via a cranked rod (108, 208) for simultaneous movement; wherein said arch members are pivotable between a closed position in which said arch members are in contact with said post members to form at least two closed rings and an open position in which said arch members are out of contact with said post members whereby said rings are open; and wherein said lever member is pivotable relative to said base between a first position in which said rings are closed and a second position in which said rings are open; characterized in that said lever member includes an actuating part (126, 226) which, when said lever member is pivoted from said first position to said second position, pivots said cranked rod away from said base to pivot said arch members to said open position.

2. A mechanism according to Claim 1 further characterized in that said lever member is formed integrally with said actuating part.

3. A mechanism according to Claim 1 or 2 further characterized in that said lever member includes means (130, 242) for pressing said cranked rod towards said base when said lever member is in said first position.

4. A mechanism according to any of the preceding claims further characterized in that said pressing means is engaged with a first recess (134, 234) of said cranked rod when said lever member is in said first position.

5. A mechanism according to Claim 4 further characterized in that said pressing means is engaged with a second recess (138, 238) of said cranked rod when said lever member is in said second position.

6. A mechanism according to Claim 5 further characterized in that said first recess is of a smaller radius of curvature than said second recess.

7. A mechanism according to Claim 5 or 6 further characterized in that the engagement between said pressing means and said second recess of said cranked rod limits the extent of pivotal movement of said lever member.

8. A mechanism according to any of the preceding claims further characterized in that a longitudinal end of said lever member opposite said actuating part is between said two rings whether said lever member is in said first position or in said second position.

9. A mechanism according to any of the preceding claims further characterized in including a wall member (227) which, when said arch members are in said open position, contacts a side of said cranked member facing said arch members to limit the extent of pivotal movement of said cranked member away from said base.

10. A mechanism according to Claim 9 further characterized in that said wall member is movable simultaneously with said lever member.

11. A mechanism according to Claim 9 or 10 further characterized in that said wall member is integrally formed with said lever member.

12. A mechanism according to Claim 11 further characterized in that said lever member and wall member are made of a plastics material.

13. A document file including a substrate engaged with a paper-retaining mechanism according to any of the preceding claims.