GB2232111A - Ruler punch - Google Patents

Abstract

A hole punch with at least two cutting elements 4, has each cutting element 4 mounted in a discrete punch body 2. The punch bodies 2 are mounted to a rigid longitudinally extending base 3. At least one of the punch bodies 2 is movable axially along the base 3, which is preferably a ruler with notches 7', at fixed distances corresponding to the commoner non- standard hole separations currently used for ring-binder files, for cooperation with locating pins (7, Fig. 3) on the or each movable punch body. Each element 4 is integral with a resilient, upwardly concave cap 1. <IMAGE>

Description

RULER PUNCH This invention relates to hole punches for use with ring binder files and, in particular, to the provision of a punch allowing predetermined variable distance hole separation.

Conventional hole punches are designed to meet a general industry standard hole separation of approximately 8 cm. These punches comprise a pair of cutting elements pivotally attached or connectible to a lever-frame a fixed distance apart. Also, many ring binder files have more than two rings and thus, more than two holes are needed.

In order to obtain spare pages for ring binder files having non-standard ring separation or non-standard number of rings, it has previously been necessary to purchase pre-punched pages. In some cases, manufacturers have produced non-standard spaced ring binders with the aim of increasing sales of prepunched pages.

One prior art solution to the problem of obtaining spare pages for a non-standard type ring binder file has been proposed in the form of a single cutting element hole punch. Whilst such a punch allows great freedom of choice as to the positioning of holes along the marginal edge of file paper it suffers the substantial disadvantage of having no means to ensure that holes are correctly positioned relative one to another.

According to the present invention there is provided a hole punch having at least two cutting elements, characterised in that the cutting elements are each mounted in a discrete punch body? said punch bodies being mounted to a rigid longitudinally extending base that at least one of said punch bodies is movable axially therealong.

Preferably the rigid longitudinally extending base is a graduated rule. It is also preferred that one of said punch bodies is fixed at or near one end of the longitudinally extending base.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention each cutting element is eccentrically mounted in its punch body, being nearer a paper-accepting face thereof.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises the provision of locating pins on the movable punch bodies which may locate in corresponding notches at predetermined distances along the longitudinally extending base.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a portion of a hole punch embodying the present invention, illustrating one of the cutting elements mounted in a punch body which is slidably mounted on the rigid base; FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the hole punch shown in Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view of the hole punch of Figure 1; FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the hole punch illustrating the depressed position of the punch; FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of an alternative embodiment of a hole punch body which comprises a convex punch cap; and FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view of the hole punch of the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 5.

In the preferred hole punch of the present invention a pair of punch bodies 2 each containing a cutting element 4 are mounted on a graduated rule 3, with one punch body 2 (not shown) being fixed at or near one extremity of the rule 3 and the other punch body 2 being longitudinally slidable along an axial channel 5 in the rule 3 shown in Figure 1. As illustrated in Figure 2, the cutting element 4 is preferably an underside extension of a punch cap 1, to which cap 16 a downward acting external forces applied during use. The cap 1 is mounted on the punch body 2, the rim 8 of the cap 1 being accommodated within a cooperating annular cavity 9 in the outer wall of the punch body 2 and vertically movable therein.The cap rim 8 is retained within the cavity 9 by abutment of a ridge 10 around the lower end of the cup rim 8 with a corresponding ridge 10' around the upper end of the annular cavity 9. The underside extension of the punch cap 1, that is the cutting element 4, is accommodated within a bore 11 passing through the punch body 2, and, via channel 5, through the rule 3. This bore 11, together with annular cavity 9, permits depression of the cap 1, in use-(see Figure 4). The provision of the bore 11 traversing the rule 3 allows excised waste paper discs from punched paper to be externalised. Paper to be punched is fed into the punch body 1 via a slot 12 in the front face thereof, in use.A particular feature of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is the provision of the cutting element 4, and accommodating bore 11, forward of the centre of the punch body 2. This arrangement, contrary to that depicted in Figures 5 and 6, allows the provision of a paper slot 12 that does not extend so close to the rear wall, in use, of the punch body 2. In the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6 depression of cap 1 is achieved by deformation of the convex form thereof. The subsequent return of the punch cap 1 to its initial raised position, retracting cutting element 4, is achieved by the resilient recoil of cap 1 in response to said deformation.

In the preferred embodiment the form of the cap 1 is substantially concave. Consequently the provision of an annular cavity 9 in the punch body 2 is made necessary to permit depression of the cap 1 and associated cutting element 4. The returning recoil of punch cap 1 is provided by means of a strip of nylon or other resilient plastics material acting as a spring. In fact, a compression spring may be used.

Further features of the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figure 4 are: the provision of an external flange 14 and the lower extremity of the wall of bore 11 abutting the underside of the rule 3 and accommodated within a recess 13, serving to attach the punch body 2 to the rule 3; and the provision of locating pins 7 on that surface of the punch body 2 which is in contact with the rule 3. The rule 3 has corresponding notches 7' at fixed distances therealong, the positions of which reflect the commoner non-standard hole separations currently used by ring-binder file manufacturers.

Thus, if one punch body is maintained depressed through the sheet of paper to serve as a datum, the other or others may be moved to any one or more required positions to punch other holes as desired.

Claims (8)

CLAIMS:

1. A hole punch having at least two cutting elements, characterised in that the cutting elements are each mounted in a discrete punch body, said punch bodies being so mounted to a rigid longitudinally extending base that at least one of said punch bodies is movable axially therealong.

2. A hole punch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rigid longitudinally extending base is a graduated rule.

3. A hole punch as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein one of said punch bodies is fixed at or near one end of the longitudinally extending base.

4. A hole punch as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein an elongate slot extends along the longitudinally extending base, said slot being dimensioned to receive and retain a part of the or each movable punch body.

5. A hole punch as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more locating pins are provided on the or each movable punch body, the pins being adapted to locate in corresponding notches at predetermined distances along the longitudinally extending base.

6. A hole punch as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each punch body is provided with a cap manually depressible against an outwardly directed resilient bias.

7. A hole punch as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each cutting element is mounted non-centrally in its punch body to be nearer a paperaccepting face thereof.

8. A hole punch substantially as described herein with reference to the Figures of the accompany drawings.