GB2207637A

GB2207637A - Ring binder

Info

Publication number: GB2207637A
Application number: GB08814240A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Zigmunt Dabrowski; Eric R Parsons
Original assignee: RHODEN PARTNERS Ltd
Current assignee: RHODEN PARTNERS Ltd
Priority date: 1987-06-15
Filing date: 1988-06-15
Publication date: 1989-02-08
Also published as: GB8814240D0; GB8713913D0

Abstract

A ring binder for punched papers has a cover 10 and a ring binder mechanism 15 with a number of openable rings 24 along a support beam 20,21. The support beam and the cover have complementary engagement means 40,42 which connects the mechanism to the cover. A spring catch 41,44 lock the two together, and a lever 45 releases the catch. <IMAGE>

Description

Ring Binder This invention relates to ring binders and in particular to the ring mechanism, for example for a portable memo book.

Particularly for smaller sizes of ring binders, as used for portable memo books for example, the features available in the past have been restricted. The invention aims to provide various features such as opening and closing of the rings by an operating button, and differential operating of an upper and a lower set of rings, and also a detachable ring binder mechanism on which the outer cover can be exchanged.

In normal ring binder constructions, the ring binder mechanism is rivetted or otherwise rigidly clamped to the spine.of an outer cover and cannot therefore be replaced. A change of cover may be desirable for both practical and aesthetic reasons; to replace a worn cover, or to change at will the colour or decorative style.

Accordingly, the invention provides a ring binder comprising a cover and a ring binder mechanism having a plurality of openable rings along a support beam, wherein the support beam and the cover have complementary engagement means which allow the mechanism to be alternatively locked into or detached from the cover.

Preferably, a spring catch is housed within a hollow support beam, which also forms an over-centre spring mechanism for the rings, the catch automatically locking the ring binder mechanism to the cover and being accessible to a user to release the catch for removal of the cover.

In order that the invention shall be clearly understood, an exemplary embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figel shows a section across the spine of a ring binder, illustrating the rings on the support beam; Fig.2 shows a section on 2-2 in Fig.l; Fig.3 shows a plan view of the ring binder mechanism; and Fig.4 shows the complementary locking plate in the binder spine.

Referring to Fig.l, the ring binder has a front and a back cover 10, 11 and a spine 12. Within the layers 13 of the spine 12 is a locking plate 14 of curved crosssection, which is complementary to the back surface of the ring binder mechanism 15.

The latter comprises basically a top plate 20, a rear plate 21 forming together a hollow support beam and a pair of ring support plates 22, 23, each carrying three half rings 24. The whole mechanism has six rings along its length, so there are two pairs of plates end-to-end within the support beam. Each pair of plates 22, 23 engage along the centre line 25 by a series of small projections so that their respective edges do not slip apart. The total wid.th of the pair of plates is slightly greater than the normal space within the top edges 26 of the rear plate 21. The latter must therefore be sprung open slightly and the plates 22, 23 are held in a state of compression.They can snap 'over-centre' between the position shown with the rings closed, and a ring-open position with the pair of plates at a similar obtuse angle to each other in the other direction. The operation of the mechanism just described is conventional.

A cross-section at right angles to Fig.l is shown in -Fig.2, illustrating just over half the length of the whole ring binder mechanism 15. At both free ends 30 of the support beam 15 is a lever 31 for opening and closing the rings 24. The lever has a forked portion 32 and a finger button 33. The portion 32 has one central lower finger 34 and two spaced upper fingers 35, located respectively below the centre line 25 of the plates 22, 23, and one above each plate. By pushing down on button 33 the plates 22, 23 are pushed up in the centre to open the rings; by pulling up, the plates are pushed down to close them. The buttons 33 at each end can be operated simultaneously or separately.

Because the plates 22, 23 extend less than half the length of the support beam, only three rings 24 are operated by lever 31; another three are operated by a lever at the other end (not shown) of the mechanism 15.

The system for locking the mechanism 15 to the spine locking plate 14 will now be described with reference to Figs 2,3.and 4. Plate 14 has two wing-like upstands 40, and a further abutment 41, rear plate 21 has two keyhole apertures 42 and a spring tongue 43. By positioning the wider parts of the apertures 42 over the upstands 40, and pushing the beam lengthwise to the right in Fig.2, the wing shapes can engage over the sides of the narrower parts of apertures 42, thus holding the mechanism 15 to the spine. The beam is locked in place by the tongue 43. This is simply deflected upwards by the abutment 41 when the beam is first put in place; when it is then slid lengthwise, the free end 44 of the tongue 43 drops behind the abutment 41.

The tongue can be released to free the ring binder mechanism 15 by means of a release lever 45 within the beam. This is cranked and forked at 46 to pass each side of the tongue 43, then joined again to form a crossbar 47 which extends across below the tongue 43.

Above the lever 45 there is a small hole 48. A pointed article e.g. a ball-point pen can be pushed through the hole 48 to press on the lever. This causes the crossbar 47 to rise, lifting the free end 44 of the tongue 43 and enabling the mechanism to be slid to the left to release it.

It can be seen that the ring binder according to the invention has important advantages over previously known binders. It is easier to use by virtue of the opening and closing button, and half sheets of paper can be released without disturbing the rest of the contents. Also, the cover can be completely changed if worn or if a different decorative cover is needed.

Claims

1. A ring binder comprising a cover and a ring binder mechanism having a plurality of openable rings along a support beam, wherein the support beam and the cover have complementary engagement means which allow the mechanism to be alternatively locked into or detached from the cover.

2. A ring binder as claimed in claim 1 comprising a spring catch which retains the two complementary engagement means in engagement, and which effects the locking automatically upon engagement.

3. A ring binder as claimed in claim 2 wherein a release member is operable to deflect said one resilient means to unlock the two means to allow disengagement.

4. A ring binder as claimed in claim 3 wherein the release member is located within the support beam which is hollow and forms an over-centre spring mechanism for opening and closing the rings of the binder.

5. A ring binder as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the two engagement means are engaged by sliding movement of one adjacent the other.

6. A ring binder as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mechanism has two sets of rings ech positioned along one half of the length of the support beam, and each set being operable separately.

7. A ring binder as claimed in claim 6 wherein each set of rings is operated by a button member at the respective free end of the support beam.

8. A ring binder as claimed in claim 7 wherein said button member both opens and closes its set of rings.

9. A ring binder substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.