GB2286560A

GB2286560A - Binder support bracket

Info

Publication number: GB2286560A
Application number: GB9403140A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Karpal Singh Chana
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-02-18
Filing date: 1994-02-18
Publication date: 1995-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 2014-02-18
Also published as: GB2286560B; GB9403140D0

Abstract

A binder support bracket comprises a "U" shaped plastic moulding consisting of a back 1, a right hand face 2 and a left hand face 3. Connected to the internal face of the back 1 are three pairs of grippers 4, which attach the support bracket securely to the open ends of the covers of a binder. The splayed ends 7 of the grippers guide the support bracket on to and off the binder covers and a series of ridges 8 on each gripper ensures a secure grip. Also provided on the external face of back 1 is a label holder 5 for inserting interchangeable labels and a finger hole 6 for easy retrieval of a binder from a book shelf. <IMAGE>

Description

BINDER SUPPORT BRACKET.

This invention relates to a binder support accessory called a binder support bracket for the neat storage of ring binders, lever arch files and the like.

Ring binders or lever arch files have the same basic construction. A front cover and a back cover attached to a central spine, usually constructed from stiff cardboard and often encapsulated in PVC plastic. A ring binding or a lever arch mechanism is either attached to the central spine or the back cover as illustrated by Figures 1 and 2. When closed, the binders form an elongated triangular shape in cross-section, as illustrated by Figures 3 and 4 that depict typical cross-sections through a ring binder and a lever arch file respectively.

Anyone who owns a set of ring binders or lever arch files, will be aware of the frustration of keeping them neatly filed on a standard book shelf without adequate support. Such binders are normally stored with the spine upright and when several binders are filed together, they have a tendency to slant to one side, slip and fall. The difficulty of storing binders becomes increasingly frustrating as the number of binders being stored side by side increases. The storing of any binders is further complicated by the loose nature of the paper being filed, which tends to flop down-wards, making the binder unstable.

At present, to over-come the storage problem, several shelving designs are available which prevent the binders from slipping and falling and keep the binders neatly stored, but most are uneconomical, expensive and require a large floor area to accommodate them.

According to the present invention, the storage problem can be over-come by modifying the elongated triangular shape of the binder to a rectangular shape, thereby providing much better stability to the binder by affording a larger surface area to come into contact with a book shelf ar.d therefore providing improved storage. The necessary modification is achieved by clipping a binder support attachment called a binder support bracket to the open end of the covers of a binder.

The essential features and design of the invention will now be described by referencing the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a typical example of a ring binder.

Figure 2 illustrates a typical example of a lever arch file.

Figure 3 shows a typical cross-section through a ring binder.

Figure 4 shows a typical cross-section through a lever arch file.

Figure 5 shows an oblique perspective view of the binder support bracket.

Figure 6 shows the front elevation of the binder support bracket.

Figure 7 shows a side elevation of the binder support bracket.

Figure 8 shows a rear elevation of the binder support bracket.

Figure 9 shows a cross-section on Line A-A through the binder support bracket.

Figure 10 illustrates a cross-section through a ring binder with a binder support bracket attached.

Figure 11 illustrates a cross-section through a lever arch file with a binder support bracket attached.

Referring to Figure 5, Figure 6 and Figure 9, a binder support bracket comprises of a "U" shaped plastic moulding consisting of a back 1, a right hand face 2 and a left hand face 3. Connected to the internal face of back 1 are three pairs of strong grippers 4, thereby providing the means by which the binder support bracket is attached securely to the open ends of the covers of a binder. The grippers are so designed that they clip firmly onto the open ends of the front and back cover of the binder, holding them apart at the same fixed distance as the binder to which it is being attached to.

To ensure easy attachment of the binder support bracket to a binder, the leading edge 7 of each gripper 4 has a splayed end to guide the grippers onto the covers of a binder. Referring to Figure 9, a series of ridges 8 on the inside face of the grippers ensure a secure grip, especially when a binder is being retrieved from a book shelf.

Figure 10 illustrates a cross-section through a ring binder with a binder support bracket attached and likewise Figure 11 shows a binder support bracket attached to a lever arch file.

As part of the design of the binder support bracket, a label holder 5 on the external face of back 1 is provided for interchangeable label inserts. A finger hole 6 is also conveniently provided for easy retrieval of a binder from a book shelf.

Having attached the binder support bracket, the binder is stored upright on a book shelf with the bracket facing towards you. From the cross-sections illustrated in Figure 3 and Figure 4 and comparing them to those shown in Figures 10 and 11, it is clearly evident that the binder support bracket alters an unstable shape into a more stable one, providing better support to the binder, thereby allowing for improved storage. Another feature of the binder support bracket is that it allows binders to be stacked horizontally on top of each other, if desired. This at present is not feasible or practicable without the binder support bracket.

An essential feature of this invention is that it can easily be attached and detached from a binder at any time making it completely inter-changeable and re-usable time after time.

The binder support bracket will be rohnntly manufactured to give many years of trouble free use and will be constructed from either new or recycled moulded plastic, using injection moulding technology.

At present in the UK, binders are available in a wide range of colours and come in three basic sizes to accommodate the standard paper sizes available; namely A5, A4 and foolscap. The binder support bracket will also be manufactured in a range of colours and sizes, to match the binders already available. In addition, due to the simple design construction, the binder support bracket could be custom made for a particular size or style of binder and may be supplied singly, in packs or come already attached to a ring binder or a lever arch file.

The binder support bracket also provides two substantial surface areas, the back 1 and the right hand face 2, for customised printing of Company logos and Company advertisements.

Claims

CLAIMS. BINDER SUPPORT BRACKET.

1 A binder support bracket comprises of a "U" shaped plastic moulding which when attached to a binder, holds apart the open ends of the covers of the binder to a set distance, transforming an unstable elongated triangular shape to a more stable rectangular shape, thereby affording substantial stability and support to a binder and ensuring trouble free and better storage on a standard book shelf.

2 A binder support bracket as claimed in Claim 1, wherein grippers connected to the internal face of the back of a binder support bracket provide the necessary means of attachment to a binder.

3 A binder support bracket as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2, wherein the leading edge of the grippers have splayed ends for ease of attachment and to guide the grippers onto the covers of a binder.

4 A binder support bracket as claimed in Claim 2 and Claim 3, wherein substantial grip is provided by means of ridges on the inside face of the grippers.

5 A binder support bracket as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein a label holder is provided for interchangeable label insert.

6 A binder support bracket as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein a finger hole is provided for easy retrieval of a binder from a book shelf.

7 A binder support bracket as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein attachment of a binder support bracket to a binder allows horizontal stacking of binders on top of one another.

8 A binder support bracket as claimed in any preceding Claim, substantially provides at least two surface areas for customised printing of Company Logos and or Company Advertisements.

9 A binder support bracket substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-11 of the accompanying drawing.