GB2350086A

GB2350086A - Ring binder having separately molded front and back covers detachable from the spine

Info

Publication number: GB2350086A
Application number: GB9911382A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chun-Ching Liao
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-05-18
Filing date: 1999-05-18
Publication date: 2000-11-22
Also published as: GB9911382D0; DE29909109U1

Abstract

The covers 10 are releasably attached to the spine 20 by means of C-shaped slots 21 that snap engage rods 12 to form a hinge. The covers and spine are separately molded from polypropylene. In addition the paper fastener 22 is detachably mounted by engagement of bottom plate 23 with L-shaped corner pieces 13 which include an outwardly curved guide 14 (Fig 5). The bottom plate is retained in position by engagement of protrusions 16 with holes in the bottom plate.

Description

2350086 TITLE: AN IMPROVED STRUCTURE OF A COMBINATION FILE FOLDER

BACKGROUND OF THE RWENTION

a) Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an improved structure of a combination file folder, and in particular, to a file folder having two detachable clip boards and a central connection board combined together. The file folder has a mounting structure having a plurality of fastening frames disposed on the inner edge of the engaging clip board so that the paper fastener can be detachably mounted to the engaging frames. The improved structure provides easy and convenient mass production and lowers the cost of manufacturing., The size of the combination file folder can be changed by changifig the size of the connection board based on requirements.

b) Description of the Prior Art

A file folder is used to conveniently collect and keep the related information together In conventional file folder, traditionally, thick cardboards are used as the side boards of the folder and the sizes are made in accordance with specified requirements. In other words, the size of the file folder cannot be changed.

In manufacturing the conventional file folder, a sheet of thick cardboard 2 or the like of a specific size is first formed and then folded. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, two side boards 3 0 and a central connection board 3 1 are tailored from a single sheet of board material. Based on requirements, a paper fastener 32 is mounted to one inner edge of the side boards 30 or is directly 5 mounted onto the connection board 3 1 to facilitate documents collection. The conventional file folder provides a rigid side board so that the documents can be safely kept and protected. However, this conventional file folder has numerous of drawbacks. Firstly, as the size ofthe file folder is fixed and the file folder is made from a single sheet material, it requires to have several different connection board sizes in order to make file folder of different size. In manufacturing, it requires different molds for different size of connection boards.

A a result, the cost of manufacturing is very high. Secondly, a wider board material is required in the manufacturing of the file folder. Ths is due to the fact that it may be error in the cutting of the board material which causes a waste of material. Thus, this will increase the cost ofproduction. Tbirdly, the side boards have to be identical and the size varies based on the size of the required file folder, and thus, the constant changing of size of the board materials will result in a waste of materials. Lastly, due to the structure of the protruded fastener 32 mounted within the conventional file folder, these 3 folders cannot be arranged horizontally and therefore, packaging of these file folders is difficult and it takes a large space to store. A waste of space will increase the cost of storage and transportation.

Thus, it is the main object of the inventor to design a file folder where the connection board is variable and the costs of manufacturing and trortation of the products are greatly reduced.

In accordance with one main object of the present invention, the drawbacks of the conventional file folders are thus overcome.

4 SUNMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved structure of a combination file folder comprising a pair of clip boards and a connection board wlich mounted together at the vertical edges of the connection board to form a file folder. The file folder can be made from plastic materials and the clip boards can be detached from the connection board. Thus, the packaging and transportation costs of the file folder are greatly reduced. Based on the need of the size of the file folder, the change of the connection board can satisfy the needs of the consumers.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved structure of a combination file folder wherein the connection board and the clip boards can be formed from plastic materials via plastic molding process, which -can thus greatly reduce the cost of manufacturing.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an improved structure of a combination file folder, wherein the clip boards and the central connection board are made independently, and the C-shaped fastening slots on the connection board and the knots on the edge of the clip boards can be detachably mounted. The central connection board can be replaced with a size adaptable for filing of documents as required by the users.

A firther object of the present invention is to provide an improved structure of a combination file holder wherein the bottom plate of the paper fastener is twisted and engaged within the engaging fl-amework without using any rivets.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinwy skill in the art in view of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below.

6 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the combination file folder of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the combination file folder of the present 5 invention; Fig. 3 is another preferred embodiment of the combination file folder of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a reference drawing illustrating lhe position of the right- angled engaging fi-ame mounted onto the inner edge (surface) of the clip board of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the mounting of the paper fastener into the engaging fi-arnework formed by the plurality of the right-angled engagifig fi-ame; Fig. 6 is a worIcing view of the present invention; Fig. 7 is another worldng view of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a schematic view of a conventional file folder; and Fig. 9 is a partial top view of a conventional file folder.

7 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TBE PREFERRED EMBODEVIENT

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, an improved structure of a combination file folder according to the present invention comprises two corresponding identical clip boards 10, and a central connection board 20, characterized in that at one vertical edge of the clip board 10, a protruded shaft seat 11 having a plurality of knots 12 is provided and formed as a unit with the clip board 10, and the two vertical edges of the connection board 20 is provided with a plurality of substantially C-shaped slots 21, which are correspondingly snapped onto the knots of the clip boards 10. Ihe clip boards 10 is rotatably hinged to the Cshaped slots 21 such that the clip boards 10 can be opened about the C-shaped slots 2 1. lhe slot 21 has an opening with an inward edge.

In order to ensure rotatably fastening by the C-shaped slots 2 1, the slots 21 faceupward. When in use, the edge ofthe clipboards 10 with the knots 12 is inserted directly into the connection board 20 at the C-shaped slots 2 1. A squeeze force is applied to the clip board 10 and the clip board 10 is fitted to the connection board 20. Accordingly, the clip board 10 can turn or open freely and a combination file folder is thus obtained. In accordance with the present invention, the two clip boards 10 can be interchanged and the similar eflect can be obtained.

The clip boards 10 can be mounted onto the connection board 20 of 8 various sizes such that the sizes of the file folder can be varied. In particular, when the quantity of the documents to be filed is increased, the connection board 20 can be changed into a wider board without purchasing another new file folder.

Other than the unique feature of varying the size of the file folder, it is another characteristics of the present invention that the materials used for packaging of the file folders are greatly reduced. In accordance with the present invention, the two clip boards 10, the central connection board 20 and the paper fastener 22 mounted on the connection board 20 can be independently packed. This causes the packaging materials used is rninimum. Accordingly, the low packaging material used lowers the cost of production and provides convenient transportation, which in turn, lowers the cost of transportation.

In addition, the clip boards 10 can be made from Polypropylene material which is a recycle material and it is abundant in supply. The structure of the file folder of the present invention is also in compliance with the DIY principle such that consumers can flexibly choose the choice of colors to provide convenient filing and identification of documents.

As shown in Figs 4-7, the clip boards 10 and the paper fastener 22 are made separately such that the paper fastener 22 is detachably mounted onto 9 the clip board 10. On the surface (inner edge) of the clip board 10, closer to the central connection plate, at the normal position of the paper fastener 22, a plurality of right-angled, inverted L-shaped engaging frames 13 are mounted in such a way that the engaging fimes 13 correspond to the four comers of the bottom plate 23 of the paper fastener 22, and forming an engaging framework. The engagmg framework has the shape of the bottom plate 23. In accordance with the present invention, one edge of the right-angled engaging fi-ame 13 is provided with an outwardly curved guiding plate 14, facilitating the mounting of the paper fastener 22. The paper fastener 22 is twisted and enclosed wifin the engaging framework formed by the plurality of engaging frames 13.

In accordance with the present invention, the paper fastener 22 requires no riv6fing means to mount itself onto the clip board 10. The paper fastener 22 is urged and positioned within the comers of the engaging frame 13 without dislocation from the position.

In order to filrther secure the paper fastener 22 onto the clip board 10, when molding the clip board 10, a rounded head protrusion dice is provided on the ejection mold such that a protrusion 15 with a rounded head 16 is obtained in the process ofplastic molding. The original position for rivet on the paper fastener 22 is provided with hole so that the rounded head of the protrusion 15 can be engaged with the hole. Thus, the paper fastener 22 is firther secured to the clip board 10.

In accordance with the present invention, the advantages thus obtained are listed below:

(1) The consumers have the choice to mount the paper fastener 22 together with the clip board based on the required size of the paper fastener. For smaller document filing, a smaller paper fastener may be used without purchasing other file documents.

(2) As the file folder is made independently, the production and packaging of the parts fonnffig the file folder is convenient. In particular, less space is taken which facilitating delivery of products to the consumer or retailers. Thus, transportation for this product is greatly reduced.

(3) The convenient mounting of the paper fastener onto the engaging fl-arnework complies with the DIY principle.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other tyWs of methods difrering from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be 11 limited to the details above, since it will be -understood that various ornissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the fornis and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those sIdlled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

12

Claims

1 CLAIM: 1. An improved structure of a combination file folder comprising

a pair of corresponding identical clip boards; and a central connection board detachably mounted together with said clip boards at the vertical edge of the clip boards, characterized in that said clip boards and the central connection board are separately fabricated, and one vertical edge of each of the clip board is provided with a protruded shaft seat having a plurality of knots, and the two vertical edges of the connection boards are provided with a plurality of substantially C-shaped slots, such that the knots of the shaft seat can be pivotally mounted onto the C-shaped slots and the clip boards can be opened or closed about the shaft seat.

2. The improved structure of a combination file folder as set forth in Claim 1, whereifi the position of the C-shaped slots are corresponding to the position of the knots of the shaft seat.

3. The improved structure of a combination file folder as set forth in Claim 1, wherein the C-shaped slot has an opening with an inward edge.

4. The improved structure of a combination file holder as set forth in Claim I, finther comprising a paper fastener which is detachably mounted onto the inner edge of the clip board and comprises a plurality ofprotruded inverted L- shaped engaging fi-ames, one edge of the fi-ame being provided with an 13 outwardly curved guiding plate, such that the bottom plate of the paper fastener is snapped into the fastening fi-ames and retained firmly on the inner edge of the clip board.

5. The improved structure of a combination file holder as set forth in Claim 4, wherein a plurality ofrounded head protrusions are provided to the clip board to mount with the bottom plate of the paper fastener.