JP2003145974A - Binding tool - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To exactly maintain the engagement of the tips of the first and second binding members by preventing the deformation with the passage of time of the first and second binding members. SOLUTION: A metal binding tool 15 has a base 18, a pair of the first binding members 19 and 19 supported by the base 18, and a pair of the second binding members 20 and 20 forming a closed loop by engaging with the tip sides of the first binding members 19 and 19. Weakening parts 43 and 43 are formed on the base end side of each of the first binding members 19 and 19, and are deformed temporarily when the tip sides of the first binding members 19 and 19 are made to approach each other. The engagement between the first binding member 19 and the second binding member 20 is released.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a binding tool, and more particularly to a binding tool by bringing the front ends of a pair of first or second binding members close to each other. The present invention relates to a binding tool in which a formed closed loop is releasably provided.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a resin binding tool has been widely used in which a binding member is inserted into a binding hole of a document so that the document can be bound. As this type of binding device, a base fixed to a predetermined cover body, a pair of first binding members rotatably supported by the base, and a front end side of each first binding member are engaged with each other. It is configured to include a pair of second binding members capable of forming a closed loop on the base. First
The second binding member is made of a resin material, and when the front end sides of the first binding member are brought close to each other, the first binding member is elastically deformed so as to bend, and It is possible to cancel the match.

[0003]

However, since the first and second binding members are made of resin material, their strength tends to be relatively weaker than that of metallic binding members. strong. Therefore, in order to be able to bind a large number of documents with the resin binding member, it is unavoidable to set the shaft diameter of the binding member to be thick to increase the strength. This causes the inconvenience that it becomes difficult to insert each binding member.

Here, if each of the binding members is made of metal, it becomes possible to secure strength while reducing the shaft diameter of the binding members. However, in this case, the strength of the binding member becomes too strong, and when releasing the engagement, it becomes difficult to bring the respective tip sides close to each other unless a strong external force is applied. As a result, not only a great load is applied to the fingertips, but also by repeating the approaching operation, the binding member is deformed over time and does not return to the initial position, which causes a shift in the engagement. This causes the inconvenience of making it difficult to turn pages of documents.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been devised in view of such inconvenience, and an object thereof is to approach the first or second binding member even if the binding member is made of metal. It is an object of the present invention to provide a binding tool that can prevent the binding member from being deformed over time due to the above, and can accurately maintain the engagement of the first and second binding members.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention relates to a base, a pair of first binding members supported by the base, and a front end side of these first binding members. In a metal binding device including a pair of second binding members that form a closed loop, one of the first and second binding members is provided with a weakening portion on the base end side thereof, The structure is such that the engagement is released by the temporary deformation of the weakened portion when a force for bringing the distal ends closer to each other is applied. Specifically, a weakening portion is provided on the base end side of the first binding member, and when a force for bringing the front end sides closer to each other is applied, the engagement is released by temporary deformation of the weakening portion. Can be adopted. According to such a configuration,
Even if the binding tool is made of metal, the engagement can be released without the deformation of the binding member itself, and the deformation of the binding member over time can be effectively suppressed to ensure accurate engagement. It is possible to maintain. Moreover, since the binding member is made of metal, it is possible to set the shaft diameter of the binding member to be smaller than that made of resin, and it is possible to easily insert the binding member into the binding hole of the document.

[0007]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the present invention, the base end sides of the first and second members are connected to each other via predetermined connecting portions, and the weakening portions are provided at these connecting portions. It is preferable to adopt the configuration. With such a configuration, the formation and the release operation of the closed loop in each binding member can be performed at the same time, and the operability of the binding member can be favorably maintained.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of essential parts when the binding device according to this embodiment is applied to a file.
In this figure, a file 10 is configured to include a cover body 14 having a front cover 12 and a back cover 13 which are connected to each other via a spine cover 11, and a binding tool 15 attached to the inner surface of the spine cover 11. ing.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the binding device 15 extends in the vertical (longitudinal) direction of the spine cover 11 and is attached to the inner surface of the spine cover 11 via rivets 17, 17. Base 18, a pair of first binding members 19 and 19 respectively supported at the ends of the back cover 13 side (right side in FIG. 3) of the base 18, and the front cover 12 side of the base 18 (in FIG. 3). A pair of second pair that are respectively supported by the end portions of the left side) and engage with the front end sides of the first binding members 19 and 19 to form a closed loop together with the base 18.
Binding members 20, 20, and an interlocking mechanism 21 provided between the base 18 and the spine cover 11. Here, each member that constitutes the binding device 15 is configured by using a metal material such as stainless steel.

As shown in FIG. 4, the base 18 is formed in a substantially open bottom type box shape. Specifically, a pair of mounting surface portions 24 and 24 each having a through hole 23 for the rivet 17 and having a substantially triangular shape in a plan view, and a pair of standing surface portions 2 standing upright from the mounting surface portions 24 and 24.
5, 25, a flat surface portion 26 that is continuous between the upper ends of the upright surface portions 25 and 25, and a pair of side surface portions 28 and 28 that are continuous with the upright surface portions 25 and 25 and the left and right ends of the flat surface portion 26 in FIG.
It is provided with four slot-shaped notches 29 that allow the first and second binding members 19 and 20 to pass therethrough.
As shown in FIG. 2, each notch 29 is formed from both sides of the flat surface portion 26 in the short width direction to a position near the lower end of the side surface portion 28, whereby the first and second bindings are performed. A large rotation angle of the members 19 and 20 is secured.

The first and second binding members 19 and 20
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, each of the binding members 19 and 20 is provided in a substantially semi-circular shape in a front view.
The closed loop can be formed and released via an engaging portion 31 provided between the front end sides of the. As shown in FIG. 3, the engagement portion 31 includes the first binding member 19.
And an inward hook-shaped portion 33 formed on the tip end side of the second binding member 20 and engageable with the outward-facing hook-shaped portion 32. ing. When the front end side of the first binding members 19 and 19 is pinched in the direction of arrow P in FIG. 3, the engagement portion 31 has the front end sides of the first binding members 19 and 19 to the second binding members 20 and 20, respectively. Without interfering with each other, and in a state where the shapes of the first binding members 19 and 19 are retained, the first binding members 19 and 19 are movable in directions toward each other.

The interlocking mechanism 21 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 (A).
As shown also in (C) to (C), the first binding portion 35 that is located in the base 18 and that connects the base end sides of the first binding members 19 and 19 to each other, and the second binding member 19,
A second connecting portion 36 for connecting the respective base ends of 20 to each other;
A pair of support surface portions 39, 39 provided with two holes 38 for supporting the first and second connecting portions 35, 36 while being attached to the central region of the lower surface of the flat portion 26 by welding or the like.
4, a pair of reinforcing surface portions 41, 41 connecting the left and right ends of the supporting surface portions 39, 39 in FIG. 4, and the connecting portions 35, 3
6 and a pair of gears 42, 42 respectively mounted on the support 6 and positioned between the support surface portions 39, 39. The first and second connecting portions 35, 36 are formed on the supporting surface portions 39, 3 respectively.
It is rotatably supported by 9, so that the first and second binding members 19 and 20 can rotate along the closed loop forming direction. In addition, the gears 42, 42 are the same as those shown in FIG.
As shown in (A), it is provided so as to be engaged with each other, whereby the first and second binding members 19,
When one of the other binding members 20 is rotated, the binding members 19 and 20 of the other binding member are also rotated together.

Weakening portions 43, 43 are provided on the base end sides (both upper and lower sides in FIG. 4) of the first binding members 19, 19 in the first connecting portion 35, respectively. Each weakening part 4
The reference numerals 3 and 43 extend in the extending direction of the first connecting portion 35, and are provided in a plate shape (see FIG. 7B) located on a substantially horizontal plane. In addition, the respective weakening portions 43, 43 temporarily and elastically deform when the front ends of the first binding members 19, 19 are brought close to each other, so that the approaching operation can be performed without difficulty. Has become.

A coil spring 4 is attached to the second connecting portion 36.
4 is exterior. One end of this coil spring 44 is
It is held by a piece member 45 provided on the support surface portion 39,
The other end has a hole 36A in the central portion of the connecting portion 36 (see FIG. 4).
Is always inserted into the first and second binding members 1
9 and 20 are set so as to apply a force in the direction of releasing the closed loop to the second connecting portion 36.

In the above structure, when releasing the closed loop of the first and second binding members 19 and 20 from the state shown in FIG. 3, the front ends of the first binding members 19 and 19 are
For example, the thumb and the index finger may be straddled so as to straddle the thumb and the index finger, and a force may be applied in a direction in which the both fingers approach each other (direction of arrow P in FIG. 3) to release the engaging portions 31, 31. This allows
The spring force of the coil spring 44 acts to rotate the second connecting portion 36, and the first connecting portion 35 also interlocks via the gears 42, 42 to rotate, so that the first and second binding members 1
9 and 20 rotate in synchronization with the direction of releasing the closed loop.

On the other hand, the first and second binding members 19,
When a closed loop is formed by 20, the coil spring 44
It suffices to rotate the respective leading end sides of the first and second binding members 19 and 20 in a direction in which they approach each other against the spring force of. As a result, the outward hook-shaped portions 32 and the inward hook-shaped portions 33 of the engaging portions 31, 31 are butted against each other, and finally they are engaged with each other to form a closed loop.

Therefore, according to such an embodiment, the first
Since the plate-shaped weakening portions 43, 43 are provided in the connecting portion 35 of
When a force is applied to bring the front ends of the first binding members 19 and 19 closer to each other, the weakened portions 43 and 43 elastically deform so as to bend, so that the closed loop formed by the binding members 19 and 20 is closed. It can be released easily and smoothly.

In the above embodiment, the first and second
Although the case where both of the binding members 19 and 20 of the first binding member are rotatable is described, the present invention is not limited to this, and any one of the first and second binding members 19 and 20 may be used. One of them may be non-rotatably fixed to the base 18. This eliminates the need for the gear 42 and the like that form the interlocking mechanism 21, and simplifies the overall structure of the binding device 15.

The constitution of the weakening portion 43 is not limited to the illustrated constitution example, and for example, the first binding member 1 may be used.
On the base end side of 9, the shaft diameter of the first connecting portion 35 is made thin, or the entire first connecting portion 35 is formed into an elongated piece, and the weakening portion 4 is formed.
3 may be configured, or the first binding member 19 may be independently rotatable in a state in which the above-described deformation by the weakening portion 43 is allowed. Furthermore, the weakening portion 43
It can also be provided in the area of the binding member 19 of. In short, according to the present invention, when a force is applied in a direction in which the respective leading end sides of the first binding members 19 and 19 are brought closer to each other, the weakened portion 43 that is temporarily deformable is the base of the first binding member 19. It is enough if it is provided on the edge side.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Engagement of the first and second binding members by the temporary deformation of the weakening portion provided on the proximal end side of the binding member when the front ends of the first or second binding members are brought close to each other. Since it can be released, the engagement can be released by eliminating the deformation of the binding member. Therefore, even if the metal binding device has rigidity, the time-dependent deformation of the binding member can be effectively prevented, and the engagement can be firmly maintained for a long period of time.

When a weakening portion is provided in the connecting portion that connects the proximal ends of the binding members, the closed loop forming and releasing operations of the binding members having the weakening portions are performed at the same time, so these operations are performed. Can be performed smoothly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a main part when a binding device according to an embodiment is applied to a file.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic perspective view of the binding device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of FIG.

5 is a front view of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a front view similar to FIG. 2, showing a state in which the engagement between the first and second binding members is released.

7A is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 3, FIG.
3 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 3, and (C) is a cross-sectional view of FIG.
A sectional view taken along the line C.

[Explanation of symbols]

15 binding tools 18 base 19 First binding member 20 Second binding member 35 First Connection Part 36 Second connection part 43 weakened part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A base, a pair of first binding members supported by the base, and a pair of second binding members that engage with the front ends of the first binding members to form a closed loop. In the metallic binding device, one of the first and second binding members is provided with a weakening portion on the base end side thereof, and when a force for bringing the tip end sides toward each other is applied, The binding tool is characterized in that the engagement is released by a temporary deformation of the weakened portion. 2. A base, a pair of first binding members supported by the base, and a pair of second binding members that engage with the front ends of the first binding members to form a closed loop. In the metal binding tool, a weakening portion is provided on the base end side of the first binding member, and when a force for bringing the leading end sides toward each other is applied, the engagement is caused by temporary deformation of the weakening portion. A binding tool characterized by being released. 3. The base end sides of the first and second members are
The binding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the binding parts are connected to each other via predetermined connecting parts, and the weakening parts are provided on these connecting parts.