US1119523A - Locking device for loose-leaf binders. - Google Patents

Description

H. C. MILLER.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR LOOSE LEAF BINDERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12, 1913. I

Patented Deo. 1, 1914.

rHE NORRIS PETERS CD.. PHOTc-LITHO., WASHINGTON, n. C.

HENRY C. MILLER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR LOOSE-LEAF 'BINDERS Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led May 12, 1913. Serial No. 766,999.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY C. M ILLER, of Milwaukee, lVisconsin, have invented a Locking Device for Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to loose-leaf books of variable thickness, more particularly those having a back-cover to which a pair of upright standards are fixed and a frontcover provided with a locking-device adapted to clip said standards at any point of. their length.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved type of looking-device and more particularly one Which cannot become opened accidentally as by shaking or droppin on the iioor. a

eretofore locking-devices for this'type of binders have been customary in which a bolt or bar is moved endvvise to grip or release the standards or posts; but said device held its place by friction merely.

A primary feature of my present invention consists in providing a spring-lock which, lwhen the locking-bar is in gripping position, positively holds it there, but which is released automatically by the same nipulation that slides the locking-bar back and therefore gives no additional trouble in operating it.

Another feature of my invention consists in novel means which I provide for causing the release of the gripping-devices and thereby releasing the standards.

The nature of my invention may best be understood from a consideration of various concrete embodiments thereof, two of Which are shown in the accompanying drawings, Wherein- Y Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of a complete loose-leaf book according to my invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation from the back of the binder of the coversection and parts of the standards or posts, the locking-mechanism being shown in gripping position; Fig. 3 is a plan-view of the left-hand end, as shovvn in Fig. 2, of the locking-mechanism, a part of the sheet-metal casing beingcut away and the post or standard shown in section; Fig. A is a longitudinal central section through Athe lockingmechanism of the right-hand end thereof as seen in Fig. 2, said mechanism being other form of locking-mechanism and partsv of the standards or posts, said mechanisml being shown in the gripping position; Fig. 6 is an end-view thereof from the right-hand end of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal central section through the locking-mechanism shown in Fig. 5, of the right-hand end thereof as seen in said figure, the mechanismv being here shown in releasing position; Fig. 8 is a plan-view of the same With the top of the sheet-metal casing removed; and Fig. 9 is a plan of the grippingelement of this vform of the device as seen in Fig. 5. The kreference. letters refer each to the same part in each figure of the drawing.

The general parts illustrated in Fig. l comprise the back-cover a, the front-cover b, the leaves c and the standards or posts d, which latter are permanently fixed to the back-cover a; and said posts may be of variable length, or in sections if desired, but

' as this idea is not relevant to the invention,

it is vnot here shown.

The invention consists entirely in the special form of locking-mechanism, designated as a Whole E, which is contained in a sheetmetal box or housing e `mounted. on the back-bar b of the front-cover b. Said cover is here shown as being secured to the backbar b2 by means of a couple of prongs e2 on its ends and a couple of rivets e3, which pass through theback-bar and are clenched orv upset on the opposite `side thereof. The interior of the housingy eris separated from the back-bar (which is customarily covered With leather, canvas, etc., not here shown) by a flat plate F,'Which has holes through Which said prongs e2 and rivets e3 pass. Both the box e', plate F and backbar b are provided With notches e4 which` extend from the back to the center of the housing for the purpose ofenabling the cover to slip sidevvise upon the posts as Well as endvvise; but thisfeatureis not a necessary element of the invention..4

The gripping-devices consist of va pair of spring-tempered plates f, which are riveted to the plate F by rivets f2, and Whosefree Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

ends are adapted when not otherwise restrained to press downward obliquely upon the sides of the posts d. The effect of this is that when the cover is in place on the post-s, it will slide freely downward against the leaves c, but cannot be inoved upwardly because the edges of the plates f bind upon the posts. gripping-devices is the gripping position. lf or releasing the gripijiing means, l provide the locking-bar G, which is arranged to slide longitudinally within the casing e and is of the saine width as the lutter interiorly. l t has on its ends two depressed portions g', which are of such depth that they slide freely upon the plate li" when the flat-poi tion of the bar G rests on the top of the box iin aperture or slot g'gis formed in the bar (l on the left-hand side of each depressed portion through which the springplates j" respectively extend. On the righthand side of each depressed portion, the bar G is also slotted as shown at g3, the slot g"j being of the saine width as the diaineter of the posts CZ, -and narrower than the slot g2, whereby the inetal on each side of the slot is adapted to corne against the under side of the spring-plate f and lift it away from the post d when the bar (it is shifted to the left, as shown in Fig. il. lt will be understood, of course, that the slot g3 is necessarily an open-ended slot whenever the side-slot e* is provided in the housing e, to enable the cover to be removed sidewise as aforesaid; and in this case, the prong 'g4 on one side of the slot g3 prevents the lateral withdrawal of the cover frein the post in the locking-position.

New, in order to prevent the accidental shifting of the bar G froin the locking to the releasing-position, and at the saine time provide means for shifting the locking-bar manually, l provide a spring-plate g5, secured to said bar by a rivet gb' and carrying a locking-pin (/7 and a inanipulatingbutton gg, these passing through corresponding apertures g and glo in the bar G, and the shank of the button g8 passing through a slot e5 in the top of the casing e. Said slot is of such length that when the locling-bar is shifted to the locking-position of Figs. l and C', the pin 97 registers with the end of the slot e5? and the spring-plate g5 raises it thereinto, so that the bar cannot now be shifted to releasing-position without manually depressing said pin /T, and this is effected by depressing the button g3, which takes place by the saine inoveinent as that with which it is shifted endwise.

ln the second forin of iny invention.y Fi 5 to 9 inclusive, the box or housing E is substantially they saine as in the first forni, the slot e, however, being omitted, and in place thereof is formed in one end of said rhus the nornial position of thebox a slot e6. The gripping-devices in this case, consist of tilting spring-tempered plates l1", one of which is shown separately in Fig. 9; each of said spring-plates having pivot-ears f formed on its ends which work in slots eS in the sides of the box E. The place of the locking-bar G is taken by a bar G', which slides in like manner in the top ofthe boX and has two downwardly curved tongues g, which both support the bar in position and also serve to depress one end or other of the gripping-plates lf as the bar is shifted from one side to the other. '.lhese tongues qll are formed by slitting the inetal longitudinally along two parallel lines which lie on opposite sides of the post Z and bending the nietal tongue so fornied, thus giving a second tongue gm, which in the locking-position extends across the open slot e* and prevents lateral withdrawal of the cover troni the posts.

'lhe bar G has a manipulating-tab Q13 on its end, and said tab extends through the aperture e and is turned up to give a convenient hold to the linger. Now, in order to lock the bar against accidental shifting, the inetal of the housing E is forined with a downwardly depending tongue e7 on the upper edge of the slot e6, and the tab Q13 has a hole g1* forined therein which registers with said tongue eT when the bar is pushed in, as clearly shown in Fig, 6. The resilient quality of the instal-bar G causes the tab (/13 to spring up and holds the hole Q14 in engageinont with the tongue e7, but it will be seen that the engagement is broken by the natural effort of the finger in shifting the lockingbar to releasing position. ln this case the action of the grippingdeiiice F is regulated by the bar G in a somewhat diderent inanner froni the lirst forin of the invention.

lVhen the bar is in looking-position, Fig. 5,`

the tongues gn press upon the plates F on the left of their pivots, and thus press the engaging ends ft thereof against the posts el; but when the bar G is shifted to the right, the pressure of the tongues g11 is shifted to the right of the pivots f3 and then the action is to raise the engaging ends ,ft away from the posts.

Various changes and modifications in the constructions as herein shown may be inade without departing froin the spirit of iny invention,` and l wish it understood therefore, that the latter is not otherwise limited than by the proper scope of my claims.

Having thus described my invention, what l claiin as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. ln a loose-leaf binder, the combination with a post, a cover, and a locking-nieans on said cover having a shifting locking-bar.; there being a pair of elements respectively on said locking-bar and ay stationary part adapted to positively engage one another in the locking-position land said elements being adapted to be resiliently disengaged.

2. ln a loose-leaf binder, the combination with a post, a cover, and a locking-means on saidV cover having a shifting locking-bar; there being a pair of elements respectively on said locking-bar and a stationary part adapted to positively engage one another in the locking-position, and said elements being adapted to be resiliently disengaged by the same and manipulating-movement as that employed to shift said locking-bar.

3. ln a loose-leaf binder, the combination with the baclncover having an upright post and the front-cover adapted to slide on said post of a locking-mechanism on said front cover adapted to engage said post; said looming-mechanism having a stationary and a longitudinally shifting-member and said shifting-member having a locking and a releasing-position; the respective members having elements adapted to positively engage each other in the locking-position and pressed into engagement by a spring; and a device adapted to simultaneously release said spring and shift said shifting-member.

l. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination with the back-cover having an upright post and the front-cover adapted to slide on said post of a locking-mechanism on said front-pover adapted to engage said post; said locking-mechanism having a stationary and a longitudinally shifting-member and said shifting-member having a loclringand a releasing-position; one of said members having a projecting element and the other a recess in which said vprojecting element is adapted to engage in the locking-position, and a spring-device on said shifting-member adapted to hold said projecting element in engagement with said recess.

5. ln a loose-leaf binder, the combination with the back-cover having an upright post and the front-cover adapted to slide on said post of a locking-mechanism on said frontcover adapted to engage said post; saidv locking-mechanism having a stationary and a longitudinally shifting member and said shiitingmember having a loclingand a releasing position; one of said members having a projecting element and the other a recess in which said projecting element is adapted to engage in the locking-position, a spring-device on said shifting-member adapted to hold said projecting element in engagement with said recess, and a manipulating element carried by said spring and adapted to be used simultaneously to release said engagement and shift said shiftingmember.

6. In a loose-leaf binder, the combination of the bach-cover carrying one or more upright posts, a front-cover adapted to slide thereon, and a locking-mechanism mounted on said front cover, said lockingmechanism comprising one or more spring- 'one side with a slot through which passes the free end of the corresponding springplate and on the other side comprising one or more lingers adapted when shifted toward said spring-plate to raise the free end of said spring-plate from said post.

7. In a loose-leaf binder, the conbination of the back-cover carrying one or more upright posts, a front-cover adapted to slide thereon, and a locking-mechanism mounted on said front-cover; said locking-mechanism comprising one or more spring-plates, one for each post, mounted laterally on one side of the post and pressing downwardly against the same with its free end whereby to permit downward but not upward movement of the cover on the posts.; and a longitudinally shifting bar having one or more depressed portions, one for each post, each depressed portion provided on one side with a slot through which passes the free end of the corresponding spring-plate and on the other side comprising two fingers adapted, y

when shifted toward'sai'd spring-platato raise the free'end of said spring-plate from ysaid post, and said locking-mechanism having one or more lateral notches, one for each' post, through which the post is adapted to be inserted and one of the fingers of each depressed portion forming a prong which is adapted in the releasing-position of said shifting-member to clear said notch and in the locking-position thereof to extend across the open side of said notch.

8. In al loose-leaf binder, the combination of the back-cover carrying upright posts, a front-cover adapted to slide thereon, and a locking-mechanism mounted on said front-v cover; said loclzing-mechanism comprisinga closed box or housing, spring-plates, one for each post, mounted laterally' within said housing on one side of the post and pressing downwardly against the same with'its free end whereby to permit downward but not upward movement of the cover on the posts; and a longitudinally shifting-bar within said housing and sliding at the` top thereof having one or more depressed portions one for each post, each depressed portion provided on one side with a slot through which passes the free end of the corresponding spring-plate and on the other side comprising one or more fingers adapted when shiftllO ed toward said spring-plate to raise the free end of said spring-plate from said post, Suid housing izwing a longitudinal slot therein, spring-plate mounted at one of its ends on said longitudinally shifting-member, a inauipuluting-button mounted on said spring-plate and extending into seid slot in the housing, and zi projecting element n'lounted on Seid Spring-plate and adapted when said shifting-member is in the locklo ing-position to register with said slot and abut against one end thereof.

'lu Witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses. HENRY C. MULLER. Witnesses:

0. P. HAZARD, A. H. BRENEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtaine for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0:2 Zateut.

Washington, ID. C.

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