US1336998A - Puncturing device for files, binders, or the like - Google Patents

Description

v E. K. BOTTLE. PUNCTURING DEVICE FOR FILES, BINDERS, OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20,1915.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Fig J.

INVENTOR By Attorneys,

WITNESSES E. K. BOTTLE.

PUNCTURING DEVICE FOR FILES, BINDERS, OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.20, 1915- 1,336,998. Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR WITI IESSES W6 By A ltomeys,

EDWARD KIRIBY BOTTLE, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK,

ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM A. COOKE,

OF BROOKLYN, NEW' YORK.

PUNCTURING DEVICE FOR FILES, BINDERS, OR THE LIKE.

Application filed April 20, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD K. Bo'rrnn, a citizen of the United States of America, residin in Elmira, in the county of Chemung and tate of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Puncturing Devices for Files, Binders, or the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to files, binders or similar devices, and is more particularly di rected to a puncturing device for the papers to be filed.

' The invention aims to provide an effec tive and reliable device of this character, which, by reason of its excessive cheapness, is adapted for use in connection with paper or cardboard binders for general correspondence and the like.

Many forms of puncturing or perforating devices have heretofore been proposed, such devices usually constituting a die and a punch, or a duplication of these parts. The die has customarily comprised a plate of metal having an aperture or apertures which are formed with a sharpened or cutting edge, and the punch has usually comprised a pin having a flat upper working face also provided with a cutting edge, the die and punch fiting so closely that the paper to be perforated is cut with a round hole, a circular blank being removed in the cutting operation. Such devices, While applicable to the more expensive types of binders have been entirely too costly for use in connection with ordi nary correspondence or similar files. They have usually required an operating handle for actuating them, and. their size and weight have also rendered their use impractical or impossible in the types of binder just referred to.

According to the present invention, I provide a puncturing device which is exceedingly cheap and simple in construction. Instead of acting as a pair of dies to cut out portions of the paper, it acts to pierce or puncture the paper by separating its fibers. The openings thus formed through the paper are, however, quite suflicient'to admit the pins or prongs of the binder, and the openings being properly spaced apart, there is no danger of tearing the paper in the act Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Serial No. 22,544.

of inserting the prongs. The invention also includes certain other features of construction which will be hereinafter more fully described.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate several forms of the invention,

Figure l is a plan of a file or binder hav ing my invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 22 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing a modified method of attaching the projection to the file.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of puncturing device.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 66 in Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 77 in Fig. 5.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3, let A indicate a binder of suitable construction, that shown having pins or prongs B, B which are of flexible metal and are designed to pass through the letter sheets to be filed. In Fig. 1 the prongs are shown folded down. being held in this position by pivoted catches C, C. This type of binder is wellknown and needs no further description, except to say that when the catches C, C are opened, the prongs may be bent upwardly and inserted through the sheets to be filed.

One form of the puncturing device provided by the present invention is shown at the left in Fig. 1. In the form illustrated,

it will ordinarly be attached to one of the covers of the binder, preferably the lefthand cover on the inside, as shown.

The puncturing device which is indicated as a whole by the letter D, comprises a means by which the direct pressure of the hand may be utilized to puncture the paper. I have found that if a projection such as E is mounted in one of the parts, as for instance, the cover of the binder, and an opening such as F is formed in another part, so that it can be pressed downwardly over the projection by the finger or thumb of the operator, the paper will be pierced in an effective manner without danger of injuring it. In practice I utilize an eyelet G in the opening F, which may conveniently be circular in shape, although other shapes may be used.

The eyelet or eyelets G are preferably mounted in a hinged flap H which is adapted to fold down over the puncturing devices E in such a manner as to bring the eyelets in alinement with the puncturing devices.

The puncturing devices may be made in a number of different ways, but the cheapest and simplest way with which I am. acquainted is to form them with a strip of thin sheet brass bent at its middle. Such strip may be formed with legs E which pass upwardly through the cover, thereby holding the device in place. In the construction shown in Figs 1 to 3, eyelets J are set in the cover and the puncturing devices E pass upwardly through the eyelets, as shown in Fig. 2.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4, the puncturing device E is formed wit-h straight legs E which are glued or otherwise secured to the inner side of the cover, a strip of flexible material being superposed upon them.

In use, the sheet of paper to be filed is laid over the tops of the projections E and the flap H folded over, thus bringing the openings F in approximate alinement with the projections. Pressure is then brought to bear upon the device, with the result that the projections E force their way through the paper, thereby making a suitable puncture which is sufficiently welldefined to admit the passage of the prongs B, B of the binder. At the same time the paper is not torn or marred in any other manner by the operation of the device.

Preferably, the member H is sufficiently flexible to permit one of the punctures to be made in advance of the other, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and preferably, the puncture is made by pressing the finger or thumb directly down upon the eyelet G, the binder cover being preferably .supported on some fiat surface, although the fingers may constitute such a support if desired. By making the member H flexible it will be observed that it is not necessary to puncture the two holes at once. Therefore, the power required is considerably less, and with. the construction shown, pressure with the finger over the eyelet is suificent to puncture the paper. The flap H is preferably made of cardboard, paper or thin metal, or other suitable material.

In the construction, as described, the paper is not sheared as is the case with prior devices.

The projections may however be sharp, and may be of any suitable shape, so as to obtain the desired perforation. The eyelet however is preferably not relied upon as a die, but to place a strain upon the paper around the projection thereby causing the end of the puncturing device to separate the fibers by straining them beyond their cohesive strength.

The device is capable of considerable modification. In Figs. 5 to 7' is shown a modification in which the projections or puncturers are formed on the catches C, C, such projections being indicated by the reference letter M. In this case the holes may be made in the cover, as shown at N, so that when the cover is pressed downwardly, as before describechthe device is caused to operate. Or other constructions may be adopted within the spirit of the invention.

hat I claim is 1. A puncturing device for files, binders or the like, comprising a plurality of bladelike puncturing projections, a plurality of members adapted to be pressed downwardly over said projections, said members having substantially circular openings into which said projections may enter and force their way through the paper to be filed, whereby to pierce the paper by separating its fiber, and a flexible means for carrying said members adapted to permit said members to be separately operated to successively pierce said paper.

2. A puncturing device for files,binders or the like comprising a flexibly mounted member having a substantially circular aperture and a blade like projection adapted to aline with said aperture.

3. A puncturing device for files, binders or the like, comprising a pair of fixed bladelike projections, a flexible strip and eyelets carried by said strip adapted to be moved into alinement with said fixed projections respectively.

4. A puncturing device for files, binders or the like, comprising a plurality of sheet metal projections, and a flexible strip carrying a plurality of eyelets adapted to be pressed over said projections, said sheet metal projections comprising a strip of sheet metal having a bent-up portion presenting a narrow edge at its top.

5. A puncturing device for files, binders or the like, comprising a plurality of sheet metal projections, and a flexible strip carrying a plurality of eyelets adapted to be pressed over said projections, said sheet metal projections comprising a strip of sheet metal, bent up at its middle and pressed together to form a narrow edge at the bend.

6. A puncturing device for files,binders, or the like, comprising a movable member and apart upon which it is mounted, one of said parts having a substantially circular aperture and the other of said parts having a blade-like projection adapted to signed my name in the presence of two subaline withf said gperture151 and ab flexible scribing Witnesses. mountin or sai mova e mein er conr 7 nected to the said part at one side only so as EDWARD IXIRBi BOTTLE 5 to permit it to be easily operated by the WVitnesses:

finger to puncture asheet. A. L. STREETER,

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto G. W. EDMUNDS.

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