JPS6349084B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a locking device for releasably retaining one or more elongated flexible elements against longitudinal movement in a direction. Although the present invention will be described below primarily as applied to devices in which the retaining elements are single cords, twin cords, or cord ends, the invention in its broadest scope is also applicable to other flexible elements. be.

U.S. Patent Application Ser. Discloses a locking action obtained by providing an oscillating lock assembly consisting of two parts which oscillate and are free against limited rotation relative to each other in the final holding or tightening action. are doing. Of the two parts that make up the rocking assembly, the first part can be considered as an actuating member that can be manually rotated between a release position and an actuated position, while the second part can itself be rotated together with the actuating member. It is receivable in a part of the actuating member in such a way as to give itself the desired degree of freedom for relative rotation while at the same time giving itself the desired degree of freedom for relative rotation. The two clamping surfaces are then brought closer to each other by rocking of the actuating member, first clamping the elongated flexible element against relative longitudinal movement and then the second clamping surface of the assembly.
The part is rotated relative to the actuating member to strengthen and stiffen the gripping action.

Also, one of the conventional locking devices that have been used for a long time to hold two cords or cord ends against longitudinal movement is a locking device that has been used for a long time to hold two cords or cord ends against longitudinal movement. two metal parts, one of which protrudes through a slit in the other in the locked state, and has a loop for receiving a padlock, and both parts cam each other. Move along and grasp the cord between the two.

The present invention is for gripping one or more elongated elements, in a preferred embodiment particularly two
An improved locking device is provided which is suitable for gripping the cord or end of a cord of a book, typically the opposite end of a string used in bags and the like. The present device preferably utilizes a two-piece swing lock assembly, such as that described in the applicant's previously cited U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 6/136,406.
Improvements have been made to maximize ease of handling and gripping effectiveness when used as a cord lock, while at the same time providing extremely large load carrying capacity and structural strength, ensuring good folding and long reliable operation. guaranteed over a period of time.

Some of the advantages of the present device result from improving the shape of the surface on which the locking member of the two-part oscillating lock assembly presses against the cord when in the locked condition. Preferably, this surface forms the curved wall of the recess into which the locking member pushes the cord.
Preferably, said surface or face also has a series of teeth which engage the cord in an open engagement to increase the resistance to longitudinal movement of the cord in the locked condition of both parts, these teeth being formed on the locking member. preferably smaller than the opposing teeth. Upon initial engagement of the cord threaded through the locking device, both cords may be engaged by being received within two spaced apart grooves or recesses formed in the locking member and/or formed in a member of the device. A protrusion projecting toward the locking member at an intermediate location places the two cords in suitably spaced and substantially parallel relationship.

The actuation arm is held in the locked position by a detent mechanism including detents projecting from one of the cooperating members and engageable with structures formed in the other member, these detents being Preferably, the cord is located between two guideways formed in one member and through which the two cords extend. A loop receiving the padlock and holding both parts in the locked state extends from one member and projects through the slit in the actuating member at a location between the pivot axis of both parts and the detent element.

The above and other features and objects of the present invention will be understood from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The lock device embodying the present invention is numbered 10 in the drawings.
, and is suitable for use in preventing longitudinal movement of a pair of flexible cords 11. These flexible cords 11 may be either separate cords or opposite ends of a single string used in shoulder mail bags, garment bags, and the like. The device in the locked state prevents movement of the cord in the right direction in FIGS.

The cord lock 10 has a first part or member 12 having a label or card retention frame 13 on its underside as shown in FIG. 2 and is connected to the first member 12 by a hinge structure 15. It consists of an assembly 14 which performs relative rotation about a shaft 16 between a locked position shown by a solid line and a released position shown by a broken line in the figure. The assembly 14 includes an actuating member 17 and a locking member 18, the locking member 18 being connected to the shaft 16.
Freely limited rotation of the actuating member 17 about the .

The member 12 has a mutually parallel and longitudinal central plane 21 near its right end as shown in FIGS.
It has two opposing side walls 19 and 20 extending parallel to the . In this specification, the vertically extending surface 21
and side walls 19, 20. The side walls 19, 20 extend upwardly from opposite sides of the horizontal bottom wall 22 of the member 12 and may be integrally formed therewith. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the two side walls 19, 20 have a straight vertical front edge 23,
Defined by a horizontal top edge 24 and a sloped rear edge 25, the bottom wall 22 projects to the left beyond these side walls to its lateral end 26 (FIG. 2). The cords 11 extend substantially parallel to each other in laterally spaced relationship on the bottom wall 22 and, in the part position of FIG. It rests on and is supported by the horizontal or upper surface 27 of wall 22. This gripping portion 28 defines a recess 29 such that the gripped portion of the cord 11 is pressed downwardly into the recess 29 by the locking member 18 and a slightly curved grip surface or surface 30 forming the wall of the recess 29.
Pressed against. The exact shape desired for the grip surface 30 will be explained in more detail below.
The label or card holder 13 is rectangular and the member 1
2, which extends along the outer periphery of the lower surface of the member 12 and is accommodated and fixed in grooves 32 formed on both side edges of the member 12.
two parallel opposite sides 31 and two lateral ends 33 received and secured within grooves 34 of member 12
and has. The card retaining frame 13 is secured to the member 12 in any suitable manner by ultrasonically welding and fusion-bonding the card retaining frame 13 to the member 12 by ultrasonically welding the upper surfaces of its sides and ends 32, 33 along its entire length.

Both sides 31 of the card holder 13 are provided with two flanges 36 that respectively protrude below the level of the horizontal lower surface 35 of the member 12 and define a guide path 37.
, and within these guideways 37 the opposite edges of a card 38 are receivable, the lower side being in a relationship where the circular protrusion or projections 39 of member 12 abut and slightly deform the central portion of the card. The card is held in the guide path formed between the flanges 36 by friction. Name on card 38,
An address and other identification items are printed to identify the item to which the card 11 and locking device 10 are attached.

The oscillating actuating member 17 extends substantially horizontally in the locked position shown in FIG.
It forms an arm that can be manually engaged to swing the member 17 in either direction between the solid line position and the dashed line position. Actuating member 17 can also be considered to have substantially horizontal walls 41 in the solid line position of FIG. That is, the wall 41 first extends almost immediately horizontally from its left handle-like end to a point 42, then gradually curves downward to a point 43, and then rises again with an incline from the point 43 to a point 44. . A reinforcing or reinforcing rib 45 extends along the opposite side edge of the wall 41 of the actuating member 17 and
It juts upwards a small distance from there. The wall 41 of the actuating member 17 has a slot 46 in its central position, which slot 46 is connected to the first member 1.
2 and extends substantially horizontally to the main longitudinal axis 21 of the padlock, and is integrally formed with and projects upwardly from the bottom wall 22 of the member 12 when the member 12 is in the solid line position in FIG. accepts the loop 47 of The loop 47 receives the lock portion 48 of the padlock 49 at a position above the actuating member 17 and locks the opening 1 .
47 to lock the actuating member 17 in the solid line position of FIG. 2, a position which prevents upward release movement of the cord. The lowest portion 43 of the wall 41 of the actuating member 17 is positioned to engage the locking portion 48 of the padlock in its locked state. In this state, the left end 40 of the actuating member 17 is connected to the first member 12.
is spaced upwardly from the bottom wall 22 and the cord 11 to permit easy manual actuation of the actuating member 17 upwardly from the locked condition to the released condition. That is, the handle-shaped left end 40 of the actuating member 17 is grasped with the hand and moved upward, or the user's thumb is pushed under the handle-shaped left end 40 and the cord is pressed upward with the remaining hand. It can be flipped up.

Further, the actuating member 17 has a pivot pin portion 50 having a cylindrical shape on the outside at its right end. 1
The actuating member 17 is mounted so as to function as a cylindrical pivot lug protruding into corresponding cylindrical openings 54, 55 formed at 9 and 20, respectively, and aligned with the pivot shaft 16, and to enable the above-mentioned rocking motion. urge Each of the parts 12, 17, 18 and 13 are all formed of a substantially hard or rigid resinous plastic material suitable for resiliently deforming and snap-fitting during assembly while effectively maintaining the shape shown. is preferred. In particular, when assembling the first member 12 and the actuating member 17, both side walls 1
The actuating member 17 is pushed downward between 9 and 20, and the side walls are pushed open by the cam tracing movement.
Opening 5 provided in the side wall by pivot lugs 52, 53
4 and 55, respectively, and spaced far enough apart to complete the desired hinge connection.
For this purpose, the pivot lugs 52, 53 are formed with the following shape. That is, when the actuating member 17 is in the upwardly protruding position shown by the broken line in FIG. 2 and the position shown by the solid line in FIG. A semicircular cam surface 56 inclined toward the
a corresponding upper inwardly sloping cam surface 5 formed on the inner surface of the side walls 19, 20 above the openings 54, 55;
7 and is engageable with the cylindrical portion 5 of the actuating member 17
0 is pushed down, the side walls 19 and 20 are deflected or cam-followed to move them apart from each other (fifth
(See the broken line in the figure). And the cylindrical part 50
When the pivot lug ends 52, 53 of the side walls reach a position in line with the apertures 54, 55, respectively, the side walls spring back by their own elasticity to their initial vertical and parallel condition. The cylindrical outer surface 51 of the pivot pin or shaft portion of the actuating member 17 may be continuous along the entire length of the pivot pin portion 50 or, for weight reduction purposes, may have a cylindrical outer surface 51 as represented by 58 (see FIG. 10). It may be interrupted at any position. Actuating member 17 has a portion 59 extending between its cylindrical portion 50 and point 44;
is somewhat thicker than the wall 41 of the above-mentioned actuating member 17 on the left side of point 44 and has a width such that it is closely received and confined between the parallel inner vertical surfaces 61 of the side walls 19, 20, positioning relative to the first member 12 for movement along 16;

The first member 12 has an upwardly projecting wall 62 (see FIGS. 8 and 9) near its left end, and this projecting wall 62
is shaped to include and form two guide passageways 63, 64 dimensioned to receive and securely confine the cord 11 and position them in a desired laterally spaced relationship at the left end of the device. There is. The wall 62 has a detent 65 between the guide passages 63, 64 which is engageable with a detent lug or finger 67 projecting downwardly therefrom integrally with the actuating member. The detent lug 67 and the detent portion 65 of the wall 62 are
The lug 67 has a cross-sectional shape as shown in FIG. It has a camming rib or protrusion 68 with an upper latching surface 69, a lower angled camming surface 70, and a vertical surface 71 therebetween. When the actuating member 17 swings downward toward the solid line position in FIG. 2, the cam surface 70 first contacts the inclined cam edge 72 formed on the detent portion 65 of the first member 12, causing the lug 67 to move to the left. Deflect slightly. The cam surface 70 then moves further down past the cam edge 72,
Finally, when the solid line position in FIG. 2, thereby latching the actuating member 17 in the solid line position in FIG. 2, effectively detenting the actuating member against upward swinging. However, at this time, the elasticity of the detent protrusion 67 is selected as follows. That is, the actuating member 17 is connected to the first member 1
2 by hand, the engagement between the upper inclined surface 69 of the cam rib 68 and the lower surface of the detent wall 62 causes the protrusion 67 to follow the cam to the left, and the protrusion 67 moves toward the wall 62. 2, allowing the actuating member 17 to swing to the dashed line in FIG. The actuating part 17 has a detent lug or protrusion 67.
A slit 73 is formed at the location to facilitate forming the detent tab by injection molding.

Like the other parts, the locking element 18 is preferably made of a resin-like plastic material that is substantially hard but slightly elastically deformable, and is supported by the cylindrical pivot pin portion 50 of the actuating member 17 and has a shape that allows it to swing thereon. has. The locking member 18 is connected to the parallel inner surfaces 6 of the side walls 19, 20 of the first member 12.
1 and extending over the entire distance between
The locking element 18 has parallel vertical end faces 74 engageable with the locking element 18 to effectively position the locking element 18 for movement along the axis 16. Further, the lock element 18 has a shape as shown in FIG. 7 over its entire axial width located between the side walls 19 and 20. However, the positions of the two spaced apart grooves 75, which extend in an arc around the axis 16 and have the cross-sectional shape shown in FIG. 5, are different. These grooves 75 are located symmetrically on either side with respect to the central vertical plane 21 of the device, so that the actuating member 17 is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2 and in solid lines in FIG. thing)
When in the upward protruding position respectively represented by 2
It is positioned to receive the upper portion of the code 11 of the book. A protrusion 76 that is integral with the bottom wall 22 of the first member 12 and projects upward therefrom forms an arcuate portion 7 of the locking element 18 between the grooves 75.
7, and cooperates with these grooves to form passages in which two cords are accommodated on both sides of the protrusion 76 and the arcuate portion 77, respectively. Protrusion 76
has a semicircular upwardly curved curve 176 that engages the cords to hold them in a spaced apart relationship. In this way, the protrusion 76 and the lock element 18
Both side walls 19, 20 of the first member 12 at the arcuate portion 77 of
By keeping the cord close to the
This minimizes the internal stress created in the gripping portion 28 of the first member 12 when the cord is pulled.

The locking element 18 further has a cylindrical inner curved surface 78 which corresponds to and fits tightly around the outer cylindrical surface 51 of the pivot pin portion 50 of the actuating member 17. The locking member 18 rotates the axis 16 relative to the actuating member 17 by a very limited angle (preferably 45°) defined by the arcuate width about the axis 16 of the gap formed between the edges 79, 80. It is mounted in the center and can be rotated freely. As can be easily understood, the lock element 18 is located relative to the actuating member 17 at a position where the lower surface of the extending portion 59 of the actuating member 17 abuts one edge 80 of the lock element 18 (solid line state in FIGS. 2 and 7). and a position where the upper surface of the extending portion 59 comes into contact with the other upper edge 79 of the element 18 forming the gap. The locking element 18 has a series of grip teeth 81 on its underside, which grip teeth 81 are movable between a release position shown in broken lines in FIG. 2 and a cord gripping position shown in solid lines in FIG. . The grip teeth extend parallel to the pivot axis 16 of both parts 17, 18 and are received against a grip surface 30 formed on the upper side of the first member 12 when in the locked position.

The actuating member 17 has an upwardly projecting wall 82 at the left end of its extension 59, which wall 82 extends directly vertically at the solid line position in FIG. having a vertical cross section defining a portion 83 extending laterally above the upper edge and a downwardly projecting portion 84 on the outside of each of these side walls, in accordance with co-pending U.S. Patent Application Ser. 122604 ``Pry-Resistant Cord Locks or Similar Materials''.
This prevents 0 from being expanded carelessly.
In the upwardly projecting position of the actuating member 17, shown in phantom in FIG. Does not impede the unfolding movement for snapping downward into the assembled state between walls. When the actuating member 17 swings downward from the dashed line position to the solid line position in FIG.
4 is moved to the outside of both side walls 19 and 20, and these side walls are confined to prevent them from expanding. If side walls 19, 20 are forced open in the condition of FIG. 2, this action will inevitably result in breakage of lug 84, indicating to the user that the locking device has been breached.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the grip teeth 81 formed on the lower surface of the locking member 18 and the opposing toothed grip surface 30 of the first member 12 are located on both side walls 1.
Preferably, the cross-sectional shape is uniform along the entire axial width between 9 and 20 in the direction intersecting the axis 16.
Furthermore, the vertical cross-sectional shape of the remaining portions of the gripping portion 28 of the first member 12 located before and after the toothed grip surface 30 is also the same as that of the two side walls, except for the cord separation lug 76 portion on the first member 12. It is uniform along the entire axial distance between 19 and 20. That is, except for the position of the lug 76, the first member 12
The upper surface 85 of the handle 28 is horizontal and the curved grip surface 30 is recessed below the level of this horizontal surface 85.

Each grip tooth 81 of the locking member 18 has a pivot point 1
6 and at a uniform radial distance from axis 16. So these teeth are on axis 1
It is preferably aligned with a second axis 86 parallel to but laterally spaced apart from 6 and offset immediately to the left in the same horizontal plane 87 as axis 16 in the solid line position of FIG. Therefore, the tip 88 of each tooth 81 follows a curved pattern shown at 89 in FIG. 7 that is centered on the second axis and extends eccentrically from the main pivot axis 16. In other words, the leading tooth of the grip teeth 81, that is, 81 in FIG.
The tooth indicated by a has a higher rotational axis 1 than the following tooth 81b.
The tooth located near 6 and further following is the axis 16
It is located so that it gradually moves away from the

The teeth 90 and surfaces defined by the teeth on the gripping surface 30 of the first member 12 are also arranged in a pattern that is generally arcuately curved but not aligned with respect to the pivot axis 16. be done. These teeth 90 are smaller than the teeth 81 of the locking member 18, such that not only the radial dimension of the teeth 90 is smaller than the radial dimension of the teeth 81, but also the circumferential spacing between successive teeth 90 is continuous. It is preferable that the distance between the teeth 81 is smaller than the distance between the teeth 81 along the circumferential direction. Preferably, tooth 90 has a larger radius of curvature than tooth 81 and is centered on one or more axes further from main axis 16 than axis 86 of tooth 81 . In the preferred embodiment, position 9 in FIG.
The first row of teeth 90 between positions 94 and 92 are aligned with an axis 93 parallel to and offset to the left from the axis of rotation, while the first row of teeth 90 between positions 94 and 95
are aligned with another axis 96 that is slightly closer to axis 16 than axis 93 but slightly further away from axis 16 than axis 86 . At the solid line position in FIG. 2, these axes 16, 86, 93
and 96 are mutually parallel, and FIG. 7 shows a common horizontal plane 8.
Located above 7. Teeth 90 between both positions 92, 94
has no effective radius of curvature centered on either axis 93 or 96, and a line 190 connecting the tooth tips between these two positions 92 and 94 runs substantially straight horizontally and parallel to surface 87. The curved pattern defined by the tips of teeth 90 between locations 91, 92 (aligned with axis 93) is shown at 97 in FIG. The curved pattern defined by the tips of teeth 90 between 94 and 95 is shown at 98.

When the device thus assembled is to be used for the first time, the actuating member 17 is swung upwardly relative to the first member 12 about the shaft 16 so as to be positioned as shown in broken lines in FIG. Correspondingly, the locking element 18 also pivots to the position indicated by the broken line in the same figure, thereby allowing the locking element 18 to pass through the gap formed vertically between the element 18 and the toothed grip 28 facing upward of the first member 12. , the code 11 can be inserted to the left. The groove 75 in the locking member 18 and the intermediate large diameter portion 77 of the locking member 18 cooperate with the upwardly projecting lug 76 of the member 12 to provide a guideway that allows the two cords to be easily pushed between the two parts. Form. Both cords travel along the upper surface of member 12 through guideways 63 and 64 formed in its upwardly projecting wall structure 62 and maintain a parallel relationship as they extend to the left through the entire locking device. . After the cord is pushed in in this manner, the actuating member 17 is moved downward from the dashed line position in FIG. At the same time, the locking member is swung from the broken line position in FIG. 2 to the solid line position in FIGS. 2 and 7, and the grip teeth 81 are engaged with the cord. Tighten the cord against a series of curved teeth 90 within and in the recess. Next, when a longitudinal force to the right is applied to the cord, the locking member 18 is rotated counterclockwise relative to the locking member 17 about the shaft 16, and this pivoting movement causes the teeth 81 of the actuating member 17 to rotate.
The eccentric shape of teeth 90 of member 12 acts to gradually bring teeth 81 closer to teeth 90, thereby gripping the cord progressively more tightly. In this way an automatic tightening effect is obtained which effectively and very reliably prevents the cord from being pulled out to the right between the two gripping surfaces. If these toothed gripping surfaces are particularly shaped as described above, the gripping operation will be optimal. At the end of the downward swing of the actuating member 17, the detent lug 67 of the actuating member 17 is deflected by the detent 65 of the wall 62 and then returns to its original position, causing the actuating member 1
7 is releasably held in its locked position shown in FIG. Both parts 17, 12 are actuating arm 17
It is held in the locked state by inserting the clasp 48 of the padlock 49 into the loop 47 located above the padlock. The unique concave curved shape of the toothed gripping surface 30 of the first member 12 allows the teeth 8 of the locking element 18 to
1, the effect of maximizing the resistance to the rightward movement of the cord in the locked state of the device is obtained, and at the same time, the internal stress generated in the member 12 is mainly caused by the weight of the lower part of the grip. As a result of being supported by section 28, the internal stress generated in side walls 19, 20 is minimized.

Although a specific embodiment of the present invention has been described above as a typical example, the present invention is of course not limited to this embodiment, and any modifications within the scope of the claims are possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a plan view of a cord lock constructed in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 2--2 in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a top view taken along line 3--3 in FIG. Partial side view of the ivy; Figure 4 is an end view taken along line 4-4 in Figure 1; Figures 5 and 6 are vertical sectional views taken along lines 5-5 and 6-6 in Figure 1, respectively; 7 is an enlarged partial view of a part of FIG. 2; FIGS. 8 and 9 are vertical sectional views taken along lines 8-8 and 9-9 of FIG. 1, respectively; and FIG. 10 is a reduced vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 of the figure; FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Lock device, 11... Elongated element (flexible cord), 12... First member, 16... Rotation shaft (first shaft), 17... Actuation member, 18... Lock member,
19, 20... First member opposing (end) side wall, 22... First member bottom wall, 29... Concave shape, 30... Grip surface, 6
2...Upwardly protruding wall (cross section) of first member, 65...Detent portion, 81...Grip teeth of locking member, 86
... Central axis of teeth of locking member, 90 ... Teeth of grip surface, 93 ... Central axis of first row teeth, 96 ... Central axis of second row teeth, 97 ... Tooth tip surface of first row teeth, 98 ... No. The tip of the second row of teeth.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A first member 12, an actuating member 17 mounted substantially swingably relative to the first member 12 about a first shaft 16 between a locked position and a released position. , a locking member 18 that swings together with the actuating member 17 and has a limited rotation relative to the actuating member 17 about the first axis 16, the locking member 18 holding the elongated element. Said first member 1
teeth 81 arranged in an arc about a second axis 86 substantially parallel to and offset from the first axis 16 in a common horizontal plane for pressing against the two concave grip surfaces 30; The gripping surface 30 has a gripping portion including a
an elongated element that is progressively advanced towards said first axis 16 as the elongated element is advanced about said first axis 16 in a direction that rotates relative to said actuating member 17 and tightens its grip on said elongated element; In a device for holding against longitudinal movement, the concave gripping surface 30 is curved and the locking member 18 presses against the elongated element.
The teeth 90 on the gripping surface 30 of the first member 12 are substantially parallel to the first and second axes 16, 86 in a common horizontal plane and are aligned with the first and second axes 16,86. The device is arranged in an arc shape around a third axis 93 which is offset from the axes 16 and 86 of the device. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third axis 93 is further away from the first axis 16 than the second axis 86. 3. The gripping surface 30 of the first member 12 is substantially parallel to the first, second and third axes 16, 86, 93 in a common horizontal plane. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a further series of teeth 90 arranged in an arc about a fourth axis 96 offset from 86,93. 4 The second shaft 86 is substantially the same as the first shaft 16.
and the third and fourth axes 93,96. 5 The teeth 81 of the gripping portion of the locking member 18 are similar to the teeth 9 of the gripping surface of the first member 12.
5. Devices according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that they are arranged at intervals greater than zero. 6 The gripping surface 30 of the first member 12 has a plurality of teeth 190 between the first mentioned series of teeth 90 and the further series of teeth 90 of the gripping surface 30; The plurality of teeth 190 are not arranged in an arc shape with respect to either the third axis 93 or the fourth axis 96, and the first series of teeth 90 and the further series of teeth 90 are different from each other. 5. A device according to claim 3, characterized in that the device is arranged substantially along a straight line between 90 and 90. 7 One series of teeth 90 of the concave grip surface 30
7. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the teeth 81 of the locking member 18 are smaller than the teeth 81 of the locking member 18. 8 a first member 12; an actuating member 17 mounted substantially swingably relative to the first member 12 about an axis between a lock position and a release position; and an actuating member 17 coupled to the actuating member 17; , which pivots together with the actuating member and makes a limited pivoting movement relative to the actuating member about the axis, gripping the elongated element progressively tighter in response to this relative pivoting; In an apparatus for holding an elongated flexible element of a book, the first member 12 is supported by a generally horizontal portion extending along the underside of the elongated element; The two elongated elements have opposing ends secured to and projecting upwardly from the first member on opposite sides thereof and an upper transverse portion 62 extending laterally between the ends and interconnecting them. a structure that bridges the upper sides of the two elongated elements and confines them vertically between the first member and an upper cross section of the structure; a detent element 65 in a laterally confining relationship between the ends of the structure, the upper transverse portion extending laterally between the ends and coupled to the first member only through the ends of the structure; .