US1604262A

US1604262A - Loose-leaf binder

Info

Publication number: US1604262A
Application number: US83879A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank H Crump
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1926-01-26
Filing date: 1926-01-26
Publication date: 1926-10-26
Anticipated expiration: 1943-10-26

Description

Oct. 26 1926.

F. H. cRUMP Loos LEAF BINDER Filed Jan. 26, 192e V2 Sheefs-Sheet 1 :J1/Wenko?, FRANK H. Cea/Mp fluozmq Oct. 26 1926. f 1,604,262

F. H. cRuMP LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Jan. 26. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .5. Fa 26 wuv/ntoz d g l I A 25 Y FRANK /.CeL/MP Patented Oct. 26, 1926.

FRANK I-I. CRUMP, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFQRNIA.

LOOSE-LEAF BNDER.

Application filed January 2G, 1926. Serial No. 83,879.

My invention relates to loose leaf binders bf the type embodied in my Pat-ent No. 1,093,835, issued April 24e, 1914, wherein top and bottom covers are provided with bind- 5 ing posts permanently associated with the bottom cover and providing a mounting ior the leaves and the top cover to permit the ready application and removal of the leaves and top cover to or from the posts, the posts being subsequently severed and headed to form a permanent means for retaining the leaves and top cover against displacement from the posts, thus providing a permanent binder.

It is a purpose of my present invention to provide a loose leaf binder of the above described character which can be used as a current binder and subsequently as a permanent binder, my invention being simple and inexpensive means for detachably and securely locking the top cover against accidental displacement 'from the binding posts and in clamping relation to the bottom cover in such manner that the top cover can be readily removed to permit the adding oi lil new leaves as is necessary in the current use` of the binder, and the retention ot the locking means between the covers when the posts are finally severed and heade-d tor permanent binding.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a loose leaf binder having` a leafv and cover locking means and a post attaching means applicable, respectively, to the` top and bottom covers after the latter have been made, thereby greatly facilitating theI manufacture and assembly of the binder.A

A Jfurther purpose of my invention is the provision of a leaf locking means and a binder post capable of use for filing and binding independently of covers.

I will describe only two forms of looseleaf binders embodying my invention, and will in claims.

In the drawings* Figure 1 is a view showing in perspective.

then point out the novel features thereof` on the line 4 4 of Figure 3, but with the posts severed and headed for permanent -showing one of the locking washers embodied in the binder;

Figure 7 is a view showing in vertical section a second form of binder embodying my invention;

F igurc 8 is a sectional perspective view showing a modiiied form of locking washer embodying my invention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts'in each of the several views.

Referring speciiically to the drawings, my invention in its iirst embodiment comprises a bottom cover 15, a top cover 16, with leaves 17 between the two, and the covers formed with

binding strips

18 and 19, respectively, secured to the covers by the binding material in the usual manner.

As clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4, a pair of binding` posts 20 are provided, preterably formed ot tubular brass, and with their lower ends provided with steel washers 21 and swaged ends 22 to provide annular lips, and between the lips and the washers are buffer rings 28 formed of brass. These elements contribute to form heads tor permanently securing the binding posts within sockets E24 of plates 25, the latter being secured to the binding strip 18 of the bottom cover 15 by rivets 26. It will be understood that the socket portions 24 of the plates 25 co-operate with the binding strip 18 to form pockets in which the post heads are permanently retained to thereby supportthe posts in upright position upon the inner side of the binding strip.

The binding` strip 19 o'f the -top cover 16 is formed with a pair of apertures 27 of a diameter to slidably receive the binding post 2O and to thereby allow vertical movement of the top cover on the post-s for adjustment and removal in the application or removal of leaves to or from the binding posts.

1n the current use of the binder it is necessary that the top cover 16 be removed from the binding` posts at frequent intervals in order to allow the application of new leaves between the covers of the binder, and it` is therefore desirable that the top cover be readily removed, adjustable vertically on the posts to accommodate the new leaves, and capable of being releasably locked in any adjusted position so as to properly co-operate with the bottom cover in compactly holding the leaves in book form and to prevent accidental displacement of the top cover from the posts. l attain these functions by the provision of a simple locking` means carried by the top cover and engaging the binding posts, and in such manner as to permit ythe ready removal of the top cover from the posts or vertical adjustment thereof when necessary. This locking means in Athe present instance comprises a pair of what may be termed washers 28, one for each of the posts, with each washer formeel of rubber or other suitable elastic or resilient material and having an opening` Q8 which, as shown in Figure 6, is 'of uniform diameter but slightly smaller than the diameter of the post for a purpose which will be hereinafter described. This washer 28 is carried `by the inner side of the top binder strip 19 by means of a socket plate Q9 identical in construction to the plate 25, with the socket thereof receiving the washer so that when the plate is vsecured to the binder strip by' the rivets 2G he washer will be housed between the socket portion and the binder strip and in surrounding relation to the corresponding opening 27. The opening 28 of the washer is thus in registration with the opening 27 of the binder strip so that the binding post can be extended through the washer. The mounting of the washer is such that it is slightly compressed, the washer being thicker than the socket in which it is housed, so as to compress the washer in applying the socket plate to the binding strip. ln this manner, the washer is held against undue flexing when moving' the binder strip 19 vertically on the post so that the washer will operate to effectively grip the post in locking the binder strip against movement thereon.

As previously described, the diameter of the washer opening 28 is slightly smaller than the external diameter of the post 2O so that when the post is extended through the opening a slight horizontal compression of the washer is effected, which reacts to increase the gripping action of the washer and consequently its locking function. It is to be noted that the socket mounting for the washer is such as to allow a limited lateral flexing thereof at the opening 28 in order that the washer will not unduly yield to any tendency of the binding strip to move vertically on the post.

In practice, the two washers 28 normally lock the top binding strip 19 in clamping relation to the leaves 17 of the lower binding `strip 18, but when it is desired to remove the top cover 16 a tter the application .of new leaves to the bin-der, the binder strip 19 can be moved vertically by exerting suicient upward pull to overcome lthe frictional gripping of the Washers 28. ln reapplying the top cover the upper ends of the binding posts are extended through the warhers and openings of the top binder strip, su'llicient downward force being` exerted to overcome the gripping action of the Washers until the top binding strip is in embracing` relation to the leaves. lt will thus be seen thatr I have provided a current binder which allows the ready application of additional leaves as desired, but when the binder has received its limit of leaves, and it is desired to form a permanent binder, vthe posts are 'severed and headed to permanently lock the top binder strip 19 against removal from lthe posts, as clearly illustrated herein and described 'in my vpatent hereinbefore referred to.

Referring now to Figure 8, l have here shown a modified form of locking washer, designated at 31, which is likewise formed of rubber or other suitable material. However, the opening 51EL of the washer, instead lof heilig of uniform diameter, is of frustoconical form, or tapered, 4in such direction that when substituted for the washer QS the binding strip 19 can freely move downwardly on the posts, but is lfrietionally locked against upward movement thereon. lt will be understood that due to the tapered .form of the washer opening the washer will not effectively grip the post, yas the post moves through and toward the smaller end ofthe opening, .but when the post moves in the opposite direction the washer/will be flexed to effectively `grip the post.

Referring now to Figure 7, I have here shown another form of binder,embodying my invention, which is more in the form of a file than a binder, in that no covers are used and one or a plurality of binding posts can be employed. In the present instance I have shown a single binding post 2O with a head at its lower end constructed in the same manner as the head of the other binding .posts in the iirst form of my invention. Mounted on the post 20 is a locking` member for coniining the leaves 17 against removal from the post and co-operating with the headed end of the post to securely clamp the leaves in stacked formation thereon. This locking member is identical to the member 28 and hence is indicated at Q8, and in the present instance this member is housed in and slightly compressed by a two-part metallic casing 32. The parts of the casing 32 are of disk form, with central openings 82a of greater diameter than the opening 2S of the member 28 so as to allow the limited liexing of the member as it is moved longitudinally on the post whereby it is frictionally locked against movement.

In, this form of my invention the post 20 being of tubular form may likewise be compressed transversely and thereby expanded llO to form a head to permanently secure the member 28 against removal from the post, the upper binding strip being recessed to accommodate the post head and thus allovv the latter to occupy a countersunk position in which it is flush With the top side of the binding strip.

Although I have herein shown and described only two forms ot loose leaf binder embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and variations may be made therein Without departing from the spirit o'lE the invention, and Within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A loose leaf binder comprising a top cover and a bottom cover, posts fixed to the bottom cover at one ot' their ends, and eX- tending through the top` cover, and means carried by the top cover constantly oper` ating to frictionally retain the cover against movement longitudinally on the posts but yieldable upon application of sui'licient force to permit adjustment and removal of the top cover.

2. A loose leaf binder comprising a top cove-r and a bott-om cover, posts fixed to the bottom cover at one of their ends, and eX- tending through the top cover, and an elastic member carried by the top cover constantly operating to 'frictionally retain the cover against movement longitudinally on the posts but yieldable upon application of snilicient force to permit adjustment and removal of the top cover.

3. A loose leaf binder comprising bottom and top covers having binding strips hingedly connected thereto, socket members on the inner side or the binding strip for the bottom cover, posts, heads on the posts selcured in the socket members to sustain the posts in perpendicular position on the bind- 4. A loose leaf binder as embodied in claim 3, wherein the posts are tubul-ar in cross section and are adapted to be compressed transversely and thereby expanded to form transverse heads for permanently coniining the top binding strip against removal from the posts.

5. A looose leaf binder comprising bottom and top covers having binding strips hingedly connected thereto, a pair of binding plates secured to spaced points on the inner side of the lower binding strip and having socket portions coacting with the strip to iorm sockets, a pair of posts having heads on their lower ends secured in said sockets to sustain the posts in upright position on the lower binding strip, the upper binding strip having spaced openings for slidably receiving they posts, plates secured to the top binding strip and having socket portions coasting With the strip to form r sockets, and post engaging members in the last sockets ior frictionally retaining the top binding strip against movement longitudinally on the posts.

6. A binder as embodied in claim 5, Wherein the posts are formed of tubular metal and adapted to be compressed transversely and thereby expanded to form heads beyond the top binding strip to permanently lock the latter against removal from the posts, the upper binding strip being recessed to accommodate the post heads.

FRANK H. CRUMP.