US1878079A - Loose-leaf binder and method of forming the same - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 20, 1932. R. M. WATSON LOOSE LEAF BINDER AND METHOD OF. FORMING THE SAME Filed April 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

.4 TTORNEY.

Sept. 20, 1932. R. M. WATSON 8, 9

LOOSE LEAF BINDER AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME Filed April 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEY'.

i atented Sept 20, 1932 Ari NT orries RICHARD M. WATSON, or nn'rnorm, MICHIGAN L OOSE LEAF BINDER AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME Application filed April 27,

This invention relates to loose-leaf binders and method of forming the same, and it has to do partircnlarly with that type of binder having oval paper retaining means and plate '5 connecting means. V

Loose-leaf binders of the type having :oval vpaper retaining rings and plate connecting members are old in the ar but they have presented many objection-s, not only as to is an unusually large production cost, but also due to the shape of the paper retaining rings and the tendency of the ring members to become loose due to the method of assembly.

These plate-type members of the prior art "a have also been objectionable due to the height of the shell or base member which'heretofore has been necessary in order to give the plates and the ring members the necessary spring load.

"26 It is the object of the present-invention to provide .a paper retaining and connecting means of the highly desirable oval ring'iand plate type, but which is so fabricated and assembled as to present a very neat and 2t aesthetic appearance, and which novel article materially reduces the operation hitherto necessary inwassembly, permits :a shell structure which is extremely itlat,- and makes use of paper retaining members which are not so only in such shape'as to tend to prevent all tearing or distortion of the paper but which are positively secured to the plate members. The .f orming of this novel base structure for loose-leaf binders is accomplished by embodying several novel method steps, one of which incalndes the method of fabricating the ring members, which embodies the idea of simultaneouslyformingtwo ring members from apredetermined length of drawn oval 40 stock, whereby the production cost and'the time fabrication is not only decreased, but the .two members are given a very novel shape and are so formed as to retain all toughnesswand tensile strength of the-original idrawn vSlZOCk.

Another novel feature of the present invention resides in the fabrication of the ring-supporting plates and method of forming and assembling the same. Each plate is provided with suitable slots for receiving aper- 1928. Serial in. 273,470)

tion of the novelformed ring members and the ring member itself is so folded orbent as to securely position the same to the plate in contrast to the prior art method of milling one end of the paper retaining member'and 56 then swedging the same in place. Furthermore, instead of each ring supporting plate having retaining lug-s for-med and extending laterally from the inner edge thereof, I profor to form one plate with small retaining 00 lugs extending laterally therefrom and the other plate with fo'ldable lugs, which lugs are fabricated from the plate itself and initially bent upwardly to permit assembly f the two plates after which the lugs are 08 bent over into position in order to keep the plates engaged.

This latter feature enfbodies-a very novel method of assembly, in that "the shell for the base member have'initiall-y tnrneclnver 70 longitudinalbeads on each side thereof which may be'formed at the time-the shel l is initial.- ly fabricated. The platesmay then be inserted to contact with each bead, and the especially formed lugs on one plate' bent in position (a to insure the necessary spring load.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the formation of-the end portions of the shell structure, wherein they-are bent over and inwardly in para'l laelrelation to'rthe top of the shell, said end portions being formed with apertures which register each other when the end portions are 'rtnnned inwardly. This permits of the riveting of the shell str-ucture-to'the back'of'ithe binder 3:3 1

and provides a shell which has a smooth sun face extending practically the length 'of the binder. In order to completely :conceabthe rivet head, I have provided means for-phmg ging or filling up the exposed "aperture, in 90. each end of the shell. 7

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the step of forming theiring membersfor my base assembly. =05

Fig. :2 is also a diagrammatic view illustrating a possible second step inthemethod of forming and these rin-gmembers.

.Fig. is a detail view ofth'e finished drrplicate ring members.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3, and showing the ring members snapped apart or sepa rated.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of my novel plate or ring-supporting members illustrating particularly the manner of forming the lugs thereon prior to assembly of the plate member and also showing a ring member in dotted lines.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of 5 and illustrating the manner of securmg the ring member to a supporting plate.

Fig. 7 is an inverted plan View illustrat ng the assembled base member ready to be attached to the back of the binder.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the base member as assembled when positioned on the binder back. 7

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line 10'10 of Fig. 9 and showing in particular the compact and extremely flat shell member.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10 and showing the ring members 111 open position and also illustrating the compactness of the base member, in that the space wthin the shell is completely Ealfen. up by the movement 01 late mem ers. Fi g. 12 is a view taken on line 12 -12 of Fig. 9' and illustratin g the preferred manner of plug -mg up the apertures used for riveting the base members to the back.

The base structure embodying the present invention is in general construction similar ty) the finished standard base structurenow utilized in the bet er grade of loose-leaf binders; that is, those ofthc plate, oval-r1ng type.

Therings, however, instead or being formed in substantiall asemi-circle and having milled-out 811(l 13OYUOnS, are formpd by taking a predetermined length or oval orawn wire, as shown at 1, and subg ecting the same to a suitable transverse forming action, such as by means of die members and 3. These die members are preferably shaped, as shown, whereby to simultaneouslyforzn and shape two separate ring members in a single operation. It may be desirable, as shown in F 1g. 2, to utilize second die members 4: and 5 to shape the ends 6 of the member 1. This second operation is not necessary, as the ring members may be shaped substantially as shown in a single operation.

In forming the duplicate r1 ng members th e central portion of the length of stock 1 is given an inverted W formation in order to obtain the peculiar formation for one end of each ring member for the purpose to be. presently described.

It will beunderstood, of course, that the apex of the central part of the W may vary in angularity, whereby the two halves may assume different angles relative to each wh The point is that the forming of the outer ends of this'member 1 is merely a bending operation whether in one or two operations, and that the forming of the inverted W portion is a relatively slight stamping or flattening operation whereby the parts of the wire constituting this inverted W are flattened to destroy the original oval shape of the wire.

Informing the members shown in Fig. 3 the die is preferably so formed as to provide a slight break or indentation 7 whereby the duplicate members of the initially formed piece of stock 1 maybe readily snapped in two to form the two separate ring members 8 and 9, as shown in Fig. 4.

The plate in which the ring members are secured is preferably provided with rectangular slots 10, and as-the bottom of each ring members 8 and 9 is formed with the right angular portions 11 and 12, the portion 12 of each ring member may be inserted through the rectangular opening 10 and then bent or stamped over in the position shown in F ig. 6

to securely lock and locate the ring to the plate. This stamping operation may be accomplished by holding a suitable anvil under 5 the portion 11 of this ring or the ring may be assembled in any other suitable manner, the point being that a portion of the ring is itself inserted through an aperture in the plate and bent over upon itself to securely tie the ring to the plate by a very simple assembly operation. This materially reduces the cost of manufacturing of the'ring member in addition to materially reducing the time required in the assembly ofthe ring members and the plate. The rigidity and compactness obtained is obvious.

Due to this novel method of assembling the ring members and the plate member I have I made it possible to give the ring member a very peculiar and novel formation, in that, as shown in Fig. 6, the base portion 13 of the ring member is substantially vertical 'or at right angles to the plate 14, and the top portion 15 thereof is so curved as to cooperate with the adjacent ring member. This peculiar construction is made possible by the right angular formation 11 of the ring member which is pressed against and extends parallel with the plate member 14, the novel con struction of which will be readily obvious by comparison with the standard ring members of the priorart.

One of the plate members 14 is provided with suitable struck-out and lip-turned lugs 16, which lugs are formed from theplate itself and are of such a length that when turned down, as shown in Fig. 7 they will extend slightly beyond the edge of the plate.

semi-circular 7 1 having each end provided with two apertures 20 and 21, each end of this shell being bent 21 of the shell.

inwardly whereby the aperture 21 is positioned to meet and register with the aperture 20; The longitudinal edges of the shell are turned in during the initial formation of the shell and these edges, as shown at 22 and 23,

iii-Fig. 7 extend the full length of the shell.

without being distorted or cut away. The

shell itself is preferably stamped to provide a slight angular formation, that is, to provide two top surfaces 24 and 25 which are at a slight angle to the horizontal to correspond with the position of the plate members 14 and I 2. The method of forming paper recelving 17,- as shown in Fig. 11. V

In assembling the plate members in the shell structure the platemember 1 1 With the struck'-up lugs 16 is first positioned within the shell, the ring members being inserted through suitableapertures in the shell, and the other plate member 17 is then inserted in place so that the two plate-members are in the position shown in Fig. 11. It will be understood, herethat the inturned edges 22 and 23 of the shell are permanently shaped and that the plates are merely inserted, each with one edge in its respective bead. With the plate members in the position shown in Fig. '11 the lugs l6 are pressed inwardly to engage the edge'of the opposite plate member and to give the entlre assembly the necessary spring -When the lugs are thus bent inwardly it will be seen that the base member is complely assembled. It furthermore w1ll be 7 obvious that the respective plates with their ring members may be moved with a very quiet but positive and quick act-ion, equal in both directions, and that althoughthe top portions of the respective spring members 1 maybe opened to the normal distance, the

plate members themselves move only through a relatively small path.. The shell member,

is very flat, due to the fact that the complete assembly is obtained by bending down the lugs instead of bending over one of the beads after the plates are inserted.

The base member is secured to the back of the binder by inserting suitable rivets through the'back and throughtheaperture Such rivet-s, which may be designated 26, as shown in Fig. 12, may be riveted over by'the insertion of a. suitable tool through the aperture 20 in the top of ti e shell. After this riveting of the shell to the base I preferably insert asuitable plug 27 which is so shaped as to fit the aperture 20 and which also is provided with downwardly extending portions 28 which are so designed as'to spread outwardly whenthe plug is inserted in position, whereby to lock the same into position." It will be obvious that this plug 27 may be buffed over or smoothed to correspond with the surfaceof the shell. P

'. VVhatI claim is:

1. The method of forming paper receiving and supporting 'I'neans foriloose-leaf binders, which comp'rises bending a portion of wire to fornithe'main portion of a ring member, transverselybending and stamping a portion of said wire to form. a flattened portion comprising two legssubstantially at right angles to each other, and inserting one of the said legsv through an aperture in a supporting plate whereby-the other leg-rests flat against the plate, and bending the first leg over in parallel relation to the second whereby to clamp the ringmember' to the plate.

and supportingmeans for loose leaf binders, which comprises bending a portion of wire to form the main portion of a ring member, transversely bending and stamping a portion of said wire to form a flattened portion comprising two legs at substantially right angles to each other, and inserting one of the said legs through an aperture in a supporting plate whereby the other leg rests fiat against the plate, and bending the first leg'over in sz-arallel relation'to the second whereby. to clamp the ring member to the plate, the porti on of the paper retaining part of said ring the plate and turned upwardly, inserting said 1- plate members within the preformed flanges of said shellwhereby their respective edges are engaged, and then turning down said lug member to retain said plates in assembled p0sition. i

4. The steps in the-method of fabricating and assembling base members for loose-leaf binders, which comprise forming a shell structure with longitudinal inturned flanges along two edges thereof, inserting spring members at corresponding positions in two complementa'l'plates, one of said plates being provided with a lug member struck out-from the edge of the plate and turned upwardly,

inserting said plate members within the pre-,

formed flanges ofsaid shell whereby their adjacent edges are in contact, and then turning down said lug member to retain said plates in assembledposition, without disturb ing either of said beadsi 1- 5. The steps in the method of fabricating and assembling base members for loose-leaf binders, which comprise forming a shell member with preformed inwardly turned longitudinal flanges at each side thereof, securing ring members at corresponding points in two complemental plate members, one of which plate members is provided with upturned lugs, inserting the plate member having the bomplemental plate members whereby one is provided with upstanding lug members and the other is provided with transversely eX- tending lug members substantially in the plane of the plate, first positioning the plate with the upstanding lug members within the shell and retaining edge, and then inserting the second plate within the shell alongside the first plate without distorting said retaining edges, whereby said transverse lugs of the second inserted plate engage the other plate, and then turning down said upturned lugs to engage the opposite complemental 1 plate whereby to retain the plates in as-.

sembled position.

7. The method of fabricating and assembling base members for loose'leaf binders, which comprises forming a shell member of a single piece of stock having longitudinal inturned edges and end members turned over in parallel relation to said bead members and the top of the shell, said inturned end members and the top of the shell having registering apertures, inserting a plate member having upturned lugs adjacent the edge thereof within the shell and inserting a second plate member having permanently formed lug members adjacent the edge thereof within the shell, said permanent lugs engaging said first plate member without disturbing the said inturned beads, turning down said lug members to secure said plate members in assembled relation with the shell, securing the shell member to the back of the binder by means of rivets extending through one of the aperturesat each end of the shell, and closing the other aperture at each end of the shell.

8. A base member for a loose-leaf binder, comprising in combination a onepiece shell, pivotally mounted plates adjacently positioned in said shell and carrying cooperating paper-retaining members, each of said paperretaining members having a portion of substantially unreduced cross-section extending through its supporting plate and turned there. against in alignment with said member, a portion, of each paper-retaining member'extending outwardly and parallel with the top of each plate to the edge thereof and then substantially at right angles thereto, the

turned over portion of' each member being the sole means for rigidly securing the'memher to the plate, whereby the retaining members and plates move as aunit in said shell.

9. A base member for a loose-leaf binder comprising ahousing and complementallypositioned plates and paper-receivinglmems bers, the plates being formed with openings to receive substantially unreduced end, of the members and the members being formed of heavy and stifi oval wire and preformed so that the outer half of each member is arcuate in shape to receive paperand the inner portion shaped to present a square shoulder with the plate, said pro-formed and rigid members being permanently secured to the plates by the deformation of the unreduced portion protruding through the openmgs.

10. A base member for loose-leaf binders of the type having backs, consisting of three parts, a one-piece shell directly secured to the back of the binder and oppositely positioned ring carrying plate members retained by and movable within the shell, the longitudinal edges of the shell being inturned to receive the outer edges of the plate members and the complete height of said shell being substantially equal to the distance of movement of said plate members, said plate mem-. here being provided with paper retaining members having an upper curved part and a lower part extending substantially at right angles to the plate, each memberfbeing secured to the plate by having a portion there of being folded over against the plate.

llQA base member for loose-leaf binders comprising a pair of oppositely positioned plate members, a shell having inturned edges for positioning and retaining said plate members, said plate members being fulcrumed at their outer edge against said inturned edges, and paper-retainer rings secured to each plate member and oomplementally posidicular alignment with a point on the inner edge'of the plate. 7 12. A base member for loose-leaf binders comprising a pair of oppositely positioned plate members, a shell having inturned edges for positioning and retaining said plate members, said plate members being fulcrumed at their outer edge against said inturned edges, and paper-retainer rings secured to each plate member and complementally positioned so as to receive and retain paper, each plate being provided with apertures positioned approximately centrally of the width thereof, the free ends of each ring being permanently formed and shaped and extending outwardly parallel with the plate and then extending away from the pate substantially at right angles thereto and terminating in a curved portion the end of which is substantially in perpendicular alignment with a point on the inner edge of tht plate, the parallel portion of the ring adjacent the plate and the right angular portion of the ring meeting at a point closely adjacent the outer edge of the plate the inner end of each ring extending through said apertures and being bent over in alignment with said parallel portion to permanently clamp the plate therebetween.

13. The method of forming paper receiving and supporting means for loose-leaf binders, of the type having oppositely positioned plates and split rings which comprises transversely distorting a length of wire by bending .a portion of the same to form v the main portion of a ring member half and forming the end of said wire to provide two flattened legssubstantially at right angles to each other, one leg being formed at substantially right angles to the main part of the ring whereby to form a shoulder, inserting one of said legs through an aperture in one of said plates whereby the other leg. rests fiat against the plate and a portion of the ring member extends at right angles to the plate, and bending the first leg over in paralel relation to the second whereby to permanently clamp the plate between the said two legs. r

14. A base member for a loose-leaf binder consisting of a one-piece shell and oppositely positioned plates retained by and movable within the shell, theheight of the shell being substantially equal to the greatest path of movement of any part of the plates, and oppositely positioned paper-receiving members carried by each plate and having ends completely protruding through apertures formed in the plate, the portion of each member immediately above the aperture being flattened against and extending to the outer edge of its plate and the portion of each member protruding through said apertures being turned over parallel to said upper flattened portion whereby to permanent 1y secure the plates therebetween.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

RICHARD M. WATSON.

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