US1724407A

US1724407A - Ring binder

Info

Publication number: US1724407A
Application number: US173560A
Authority: US
Inventors: Adolph G Lotter
Original assignee: H C Miller Co
Current assignee: H C Miller Co
Priority date: 1927-03-07
Filing date: 1927-03-07
Publication date: 1929-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 1946-08-13

Description

Aug. 13, 1929. A. G. LOTTER R-ING BINDER Filed March '7. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet Adolph ELmt-tr 192?); v LOTTER 1,724,407

'L RING BINDER Filed'maron '7, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNITED sra'rss ADOLEH G. LOTTER, F MILWA.U KEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO H. C. MILLER COIJI- IE'ANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF W'ISCONSIN.

RING BINDER.

Application filed March '7, 1927. Serial No. 173,560.

The conventional ring binder construction consists of a back member having cover members pivotally connected therewith and between which the loose leaves or sheets are disposed, being secured in place by two or more retaining rings having various means permitting their separation for the removal or addition of the leaves, and in which types of binders a follower member of fiber or other relatively stiff material engages the outermost sheets. In actual use, the cover members are engaged near their free ends to close them on each other, the sheets are likewise closed on each other, when divided as is most generally the case and instead of the sheets freely sliding on the retaining rings to come together at the outermost portions of the rings, they frequently bind on the side portions of the rings tearing the stock outwardly of the apertures in addition to hindering the full closing of the binder.

. This difficulty is obliterated when the inner ends of the leaves are raised upwardly on the rings as the divided leaves are closed on each other and it is an object of this invention to provide means for facilitating the handling of a binder so that the leaves readily slide on the rings as they are closed on each other to prevent tearing of the leaves and to facilitate the closing of the binder.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved binder of the character described in which the cover members are so connected with the back that closing of the same on each other irrespective of where they are grasped slides the leaves on the rings to prevent their binding thereon.

In the conventional type of ring binder wherein the cover members have a fixed piv-' otal connection with respect to the back, the distance from the opposite ends of the cover members when spread i such that their ends extend beyond the leaves a distance considerably greater than that when closed on each other and, as a the result, the binder requires considerable space when open and this invention has as a further object the provision of an improved binder of the character described which occupies less space than the conventional type of binder of like size when opened.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a binder of the character describ d w i h the cover m rs ha e extensible connections with the back'to permit movement of the cover member inner ends close to the back when in full open position and outwardly therefrom when the cover members are closed.

And a still further object of this invention resides 'in the provision of an improved binder in which the cover members each have a plurality of hinged members connecting the same with the back and means whereby the hinge members vare prevented from straightening or passing dead center to prevent their ready collapsing as the cover members are opened.

, With the above and other'objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel con- 'struction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise'embodim'ent of the herein-disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope 'ofthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated two complete examples of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best modes I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ring binder embodying my invention, thebinder being illustrated in open position and a por tion of the leaves being broken away; 7 Figure 2 is a side view of the binder in closed position; V. Y

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of the binder back with the cover closed.

Figure 4c is a View similar to Figure 3 illustrating the binder as partially open;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 of a slightly modified form of my invention, and

Figure 6 is an end view ofthat form of binder illustrated in Figure 5 and illustrating the same as fully open.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, 5 designates the back of a inder which is of approximately elliptical shape and tubular to receive the mechanism,

not shown, mounting a plurality of spaced retaining rings 6 adapted to split at a point 7 t pe m t t e eng g ment thereover of a plurality of loose leaves or sheets 8 which are apertured at 9 to receive the rings. The outermost portion of the back 5 is preferably provided with a covering or binding 10 and covers 11 are connected with the back to move from a closed position with the sheets 8 therebetween to the open position illustrated in Figure 1.

Heretofore, in the conventional type of ring hinders, the cover members have been pivoted directly to the backs 5 and when opened their outer ends projected beyond the ends of the sheets 8 a distance equal to theirnormal degree of projection when closed plus the distance from the inner ends of the leaves when on the outer portion of the rings and the back 5, making an unusually wide spread. In closing the covers of a conventional ring binder with the leaves divided as illustrated in Figures 1, 4 and 6, the leaves tend to bind on the inner portions of the curves of the rings and unless extreme care is exercised, the portions of the leaves inwardly of the apertures are torn.

The present construction removes this ob jectionable feature and cuts down the de gree of projection of the cover members beyond the leaves when in open position and consists of hinge constructions 12 connect ing the covers with the back and each including two

parts

13 and 14 pivotally connected at 15, the part 13 having its outer end piveted at 16 to the adjacent marginal edge of the back 5 and the part 14 having its outer end pivoted to the inner end of the adjacent cover 11, as at 17. Rigid with each cover and extended inwardly beyond the pivot 17 is an extension or part 18 having elongated slots or apertures 19 through which the retaining rings pass, the parts either being integral with the cover members or similar to the conventional follower employed in ring binders, in which case they are riveted or otherwise secured to thecovers, as at 20.

Assuming the binder is open as illustrated in Figure 1 with the body of leaves or sheets 8 divided, the dotted lines 21 indicate the additional degree of opening the conventional typeof binder assumes. When the covers are grasped near their outer ends in closing the binder, the inner ends 22 of the parts or followers 18 engage the inner curved surfaces 23 of the back 5 and the hinges 12 extend causing the cover members inner ends to move away from the back in the manner illustrated in Figure 4, sliding the inner ends of the leaves over the rings 6 by applying a pressure thereagainstat their inner ends and preventing the normal tendency of the sheets to bind about the innermost portion of the rings.

To insure the proper collapsing or folding of the binder as illustrated in Figure 2, means are provided to prevent the pivots 15 passing into or beyond a line drawn through the

pivots

16 and 17, this means in the present instance being accomplished by making the rings 6 of such a diameter that their outermost portions are in line with or extend beyond the side margins of the back so that the position the hinges 12 assume when the binder is closed is as il lustrated in Figure 3.

In Figures 5 and 6 a slightly modified form of my invention is illustrated in which the hinges 12 are replaced by a gusset-or other flexible connection 24:, in which case in closing the binder the covers are engaged near their inner ends so that the lifting action imparted to the parts 18 by the hinges 12 is imparted thereto by the closing action of the hands.

While in the description and claims the members 11 are referred to as covers or cover members and the followers 18 as parts extending from the cover members, it is to be understood that the members 11 may be of'the conventional type and the follower members used in the larger style of ring members such as the visible record type may be provided with the hinge'members 12, so that the hinged construction isentirely concealed and the exterior is that of the conventional binder.

lVhat 1 claim as my invention is:

1. In a binder including a back, retaining rings carried thereby andysheets havapertures through which the retaining rings are received, cover members for the sheets, and extensible means connecting the cover members with the'back, said extensiblc means concealing the rings when the binder is closed.

2. In binder including a back, retaining rings carried thereby and sheets having apertures through which the retaining rings are received, cover members for the sheets, extensible means connecting the cover members with the back, and means connected with the cover members for sliding the sheets upwardly on the retaining means as the cover members close on each other.

3. In a binder includinga back, retaining rings carried thereby and. sheets having apertures through which the retaining rings are rec ed, cover members for the sheets, parts rigid with the cover members and having openings re ei'ving the retaining rings and adapted to slide the sheets up on the retaining rings as the covers are closed on each other, and extensible means connecting the cover members with the back.

1. In a binder including a back, retaining rings carried thereby and sheets having apertures through which theretaining rings are received, cover members for the sheets, and hinged means connecting the cover members with the back whereby the inner ends of the cover members have movement away from the back as they close on each other, said inner ends having engagement with said rings to slide the sheets outwardly on the retaining rings.

5. In a binder including a back, retaining rings carried thereby and sheets having apertures through which the retaining rings are received, cover members for the sheets, parts rigid with the cover members and having openings receiving the retaining rings, and hinged means connecting the cover members with the back whereby the inner ends of the cover members have move-- ment away from the back as they close on each ether to slide the sheets outwardly on the retaining rings.

6. In a binder including a back, retaining rings carried thereby and sheets having apertures through which the retaining rings are received, follower members engaging the outermost sheets and having apertures through which the retaining rings are re ceived, and hinged means connecting the follower members with the back whereby the inner ends of the follower members have movement away from the back as they close on each other to slide the sheets outwardly on the retaining rings.

7. In a binder including a back, retaining rings carried thereby and sheets having apertures through which the retaining rings are received, follower members engaging the outermost sheets and having apertures through which the retaining rings are received, and multiple hinged means connectin the follower members with the back whereby the inner ends, of the follower members have movement away from the back as they close on each other to slide the sheets outwardly on the retaining rings, said rings assuring the collapsing of the hinged means as the follower members are moved to open position.

8. In a binder including a back, retaining rings carried thereby and loose sheets having apertures through which the retaining rings are received, cover members for the sheets, a follower member engaging each outermost sheet and having apertures therein through which the retaining rings pass, and means connecting said follower members to the cover members whereby closing of the cover members on each other causes the follower members to slide the sheets up on the retaining rings so that they come together without tearing the apertures therein.

9. In a binder including a back, retaining rings carried thereby and sheets having apertures through which the retaining rings are received, cover members for the sheets and engaging said rings, a two-part hinge member connecting each cover member with the back, the outer marginal edge of one hinge part being connected with the adjacent cover member and the outer marginal edge of the other hm ge part being connected with the adjacent edge of the back, and said provided with apertures through which the retaining rings pass, a two-part hinge member connecting each cover member with the back, the outer marginal edge of one hinge partbeing connected with the adjacent cover member and the outer marginal edge. of the other hinge part being connected with the adjacent edge of the back, and said hinge members being collapsed with their intermediate hinge joints outwardly when the cover members are opened and said cover member followers causing the sheets to slide on the retaining rings as the cover members close on each other.

11. In a binder including a back, retaining rings carried thereby and sheets having apertures through which the retaining rings are received, cover members for the sheets, followers carried by the cover members and provided with apertures through which the retaining rings pass, a two-part hinge member connecting each cover member with the back, the outer marginal edge of one hinge part being connected with the adjacent cover member and the outer marginal edge of the other hinge part being connected with the adjacent edge of the back, said hinge memhere being collapsed with their intermediate hinge oints outwardly when the cover members are opened and said cover member followers sliding up on the retaining rings as the covers are closed on each other, the ar rangement of parts being such as to prevent the passing of the intermediate pivots of the hinge member parts beyond dead center when the covers close, whereby collapsing of the hinge members, when the cover members open, is assured.

12. In a binder including a back, retaining rings carried thereby and sheets having apertures through which the retaining rings are received, cover members for the sheets, followers carried by the cover members and provided with apertures through which the retaining rings pass, a two-part hinge member connecting each cover member with the back, the outer marginal edge of one hinge member part being connected with the adjacent cover member and the outer marginal edge of the other hinge member part being connected with the adjacent edge of the back, said hinge members collapsing with their intermediate hinge joint outwardly when the cover members open and said cover member followers sliding on the retaining rings as the covers open and close on each other, and the diameter of the retaining rings being such as to prevent passing of the intermediate pivots of the hinge member parts beyond dead center when the covers close, whereby the collapsing of the hinge members, when the cover members open, is assured.

13. In a binder including a back, retaining rings carried thereby and loose sheets having apertures through which the retaining rings are received, cover members for the sheets, said cover members having portions engaging said rings whereby closing of the cover members on each other causes the sheets to readily slide on the retaining rings and prevent their binding thereon with the inner ends separated, means connecting the cover members with the back, said means concealing the rings when the binder is closed.

14. In a binder including a back, sheetretaining means connecting the sheets with the back, cover members for the sheets, follower means carried by the cover members and having connection with said retaining means, and means connecting said cover members with the back in such manner as to prevent longitudinal twisting of said follower means.

15. In a binder including a back, sheet retaining means connected with the back, cover members, follower members associated with the cover members and having sliding connection with said retaining means, and means connecting said cover members with the back, said last named means being arranged for parallel movement and presenting resistance to twisting movement in said follower members.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

ADOLPH G. LOTTER.