US1908644A - Paper fastener - Google Patents

Description

O. A. ROSS PAPER FASTENER May 9, 1933.

Filed NOV. 21, 1932 INVENTOR Patented May 9, 1933 UNITED STATES FFICE PATENT OSCAR A. ROSS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PAPER FASTENER Application filed Ilovember 21, 1932. Serial No. 643,773.

This invention refers to paper fasteners and more particularly to that class of fasteners for clamping together a number of perforated sheets of paper such as correspondence.

One object of the invention is to furnish a fastener of economical construction at the same time giving satisfactory service during the use thereof.

Another object is to furnish a paper fastener wherein the fastener parts securing the papers are positively locked in closed position to prevent accidental opening of the fastener and resultant misalignment of the papers secured thereby.

Another object is to furnish a novel form of locking member for paper fasteners capable of being locked and unlocked by the movement of one finger of an operator.

Another object is to furnisha novel form of stop for locking members slidable on keepers of paper fasteners for constraining a predetermined movement thereof.

Another object is to furnish a novel form of bendable finger for paper fastener clamping members having male locking portions formed thereon cooperating with female locking portions formed on locking members arranged to be locked over said fingers.

Another object is to furnish a novel form of keeper for paper fasteners wherein rails provided for supporting locking members also act as re-enforcements for said keeper.

Another object is to furnish a paper fastener having a comparatively low height, or thickness whereby filing space in filing cabinets is economized.

Another object is to furnish a novel form of re-enforcement on the keeper of paper fasteners without adding to the thickness of said fastener. V

Another object is to furnish a novel form of keeper for paper fasteners wherein the paper is held in substantially flat parallel planes after being secured in the fastener thereby economizing in filing space in file cabinets.

Another object is to furnish novel means for supporting locking members on keepers of paper fasteners whereby the keeper is formed of a comparatively low height, or thickness without interfering with the free movement of said locking members when adding or removing papers from the fastener.

Another object is to furnish a novel form lock said fingers.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of the invention progresses and the novel features thereof will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference is made to the accompanying drawing wherein embodiments of the invention are illustrated, and wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is an enlarged plan view of one embodiment of the invention taken on line l-1 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 2 is a part sectional,

part elevational view of the same taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken online IIIIII of Fig. 1, and Figs. 4 to 6 are super-enlargedsectional views of modified forms of the invention, and Fig. 7 is perspectiveview 0f the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. lto 3 inclusive.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 7, paper fastener 1, formed of sheet metal comprises clamping member 2 having base portion 2a and finger portions 3 joined to each end thereof, said fingers being arranged to pass through and be bent at orifices 5 in keeper 4. Keeper 4 comprises plate or body .6 haV-.

ing end portions 7 joined to center or base portion 8 formed between upwardly extend ing wall portions 10, to the upper edges of which are joined flat rail portions 11, said rail portions being'formed along the edges of keeper plate 6 but terminating short of the ends thereof, the ends of said rail portions forming stop portions 12 arranged to limit the sliding movement of lockin members 13 slidably mounted on plate 6. nd portions 7 are provided with re-enforcing portions 21 of U-shaped form, the legs thereof extending inwardly from the ends of the plate 6 and preferably beyond the ends of the orifices 5 for rigidifying the end portions 7.

Locking members 13 comprise plate or bridge portion 14 having grooved or channel shoe portions 15 formed at each end thereof and arranged to slide between stop portions 12. Joined to the edges of plate portion 14 are actuating flange portions 16 between which an operators fingers may be placed for more readily sliding said locking members 13. Also formed on plate portion 14 is the downwardly facing annular male looking portion 17 arranged to enter into the opening 18 in the free end of fingers 3 for matingly locking the members 13 at predetermined and variable locations on rail portions 11, the inherent resilient upward move ment of said fingers after bending downwardly thereof acting to retain the locking projections 17 in said openings 18, said projections snapping into said openings as the locking members 13 are slid over said fingers. The snapping of said projection into said opening forms an aural indication that said .locking member and finger are positively and matingly locked together for preventing accidental sliding movement of said locking member. The end portions 7 are formed with re-enforcing rib or groove 21 surrounding orifice '5. The locking projections 17 are preferably formed by initially perforating the plate portion 14 and thereafter forcing an annular portion surrounding said perfo- V ration downwardly to form said projection.

In applying the fastener 1, the fingers 3 are inserted through the perforated paper sheets, whereafter keeper 4 is applied by inserting said fingers through the orifices 5, the fingers being bent downwardly between rails 9 whereafter the locking members 13 are slid over'the free ends of said fingers while held pressed against the base portion 8, the fingers then being released and the locking members slid thereover until the locking projection 17 snaps into the locking opening 18 in this manner positively locking said finger and locking member against substantial relative movement.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of fastener 1 showing how the locking projection 17 of the locking member 13 enters the orifice 18 of the fingers 3 for positively locking said members and fingers against rela tive sliding movement.

- Referring to the modified form of fastener 25 shown by Fig. 4, the fingers of clamping member '2 are formed with upwardly extending imperforate male looking projection 26 arranged to'enter upwardly extending imperforate female locking recess 27 formed in plate portion 28 of locking member 29, said locking member belng similar to locking member 13, the flange portions 16 being upward movement of said fingers after bending acting to frictionally constrain locking projection 26 in the recess of recessed portion 27.

Referring to the modified form of paper fastener 35 shown in Fig. 5, the locking members 36 comprise plate or bridge portion 37 having orifice 38 arranged to receive annular male locking projection 39 formed on finger 3, the application of this fastener being affected in substantially the same manner as described for applying fastener 1. The actuating flange portion 16 has been omitted from looking members 36.

Referringto the modified form of paper fastener 44 shown in Fig. 6, the locking member 45 comprises plate or bridge portion 46 having downwardly extending imperforate male locking projection 47 formed therein arranged to enter or engage downwardly extending female locking recess portion 48 formed on fingers 3, the application of this fastener being substantially as described for the application of fastener 25.

The various means for locking the fingers 3 and the locking members together may be substituted by the various locking means shown in my copending application Ser. No. 643,774, filed November 21st, 1932.

It is to be noted that by having the rails 9 formed short of the orifices 5 the file operator can more readily confine the bend of the finger immediately at the or'ificethereby more tightly binding the paper sheets together and therefore economizing in file cabinet space.

It is also to be noted that by employing the connecting or reenforcing wall 10 as the sole reenforcement longitudinally of the keeper plate 6, the keeper 4 has a comparatively low height or thickness thereby further economiz ing in file cabinet space.

I claim 1. A paper fastener comprising, a clamping member having spaced fingers, perforations formed in the fingers, a keeper member comprising, an elongated keeper plate having perforations formed at each end thereof arranged to receive the fingers of the clampportions, and locking projections formed on the locking members arranged to enter the perforations of the fingers for positively looking the locking members against accidental removal from over the fingers.

2. A paper fastener comprising, a clamping member having spaced fingers, perforations formed in the fingers, a keeper member comprising an elongated keeper plate having perforations formed at each end thereof arranged to receive the fingers of the clamping member therethrough, spaced parallel rail portions formed on the keeper plate, locking members arranged to slide over the fingers after the bending downwardly thereof over the keeper member, a bridge portion formed thereon having shoe portions formed at each end thereof arranged to embrace the rail portions of the keeper plate for slidable movement thereon, and a downwardly extending locking projection formed on the bridge portion arranged to enter the perforation in the fingers as the locking member is slid thereover.

3. A paper fastener comprising, a clamping member having spaced fingers, a keeper member comprising an elongated keeper plate having perfo *ations formed at each end thereof arranged to receive the fingers of the base member therethrough, parallel rail portions formed on each edge of the keeper plate arranged to form a channel space therebetween, locking members having a bridge portion extending across the channel space, a grooved shoe portion formed at each end of the bridge portion embracing the rail portions being slidable thereon, and upwardly extending flange portions formed at each edge of the bridge portion for urging the free ends of the fingers downwardly as the locking members slide thereover.

4:. In a paper fastener, a clamping member having spaced fingers thereon, and a keeper member comprising an elongated keeper plate having perforated end portions for receiving the fingers therethrough, re-enforced portions on the end portions surrounding the ends and one side of the perforations for reenforcing the end portions, a base portion on the keeper plate extending between the end portions thereof, spaced rail portions formed along each edge of the base portion positioned thereabove, stop portions at each end of the rail portions, and locking members having shoe portions slidably embracing the rail portions arranged to slide over the fin gers after the bending downwardly thereof over the keeper plate, the shoe portions engaging the stop portions at ends of the rail portions for limiting the movement of the locking members on the rail portions.

5. In a paper fastener, a clamping member havin spaced fingers thereon, and a keeper member comprising an elongatcd keeper plate having perforated end portions for receiving the fingers therethrough, re-enforced portions on the end portions surrounding the ends and one side of the perforations for reenforcing the end portions,-abase portion on the keeper plate extending between the end portions thereof, spaced rail portions formed along each edge of the rail portions positioned thereabove, and locking members slidably embracing the rail portions arranged to slide over the fingers after the bending downwardly thereof over'the keeper plate.

6. A locking member for paper fastener keepers comprising, a bridge portion having an opening therein, a downwardly extending annular locking portion surrounding the opening for locking the member, and grooved shoe portions formed at each end of the bridge portion for slidably'supporting th member. 1

7. A locking member for paper fastener keepers comprising, a bridge portion for sliding the member on the fastener keeper, an upwardly extending imperforate locking boss portion formed spacedly between the edges of the bridge portion, the boss portion having a downwardly facing locking recess therein for locking the member, and shoe portions formed at each end of the bridge portion for slidably supporting the member.

8. A locking member for paper fastener keepers comprising, a substantially fiat bridge portion for sliding the member on the keeper, a downwardly extending locking portion formed on the bridge portion spacedly between the edges thereof, and shoe portions formed on each end of the bridge portion for slidably supporting the member on the keeper.

9. A locking member for paper fastener keepers comprising, a substantially fiat bridge portion, an opening formed in the bridge portion spacedly between the edges thereof, and grooved shoe portions formed at each end of the bridge portion for s-lidably supporting the member on the keeper body.

10. A locking member for paper fastener keepers comprising, a bridge portion for sliding the member, a downwardlyextending imperforate locking boss formed on; the bridge portion spacedly between the edges thereof, and grooved shoe portions formed on each end of the bridge portion for slidably supporting the member on the keeper body.

11. A keeper for paper fasteners comprising, a keeper plate having a substantially flat base portion extending between the ends thereof arranged to rest on the paper sheets secured by the fastener, perforations formed in the ends thereof, substantially flat spaced parallel rail portions formed on the keeper plate between the ends thereof, the rail portions being formed in a plane parallel. to the plane of the base portion but spaced there from, re-enforcing wall portions joining the edges of the base portion and the rail portions, the re-enforcing wall portions being positioned solely between the rail and base portions, and locking membersslidably secured to the rail portions arranged to slide between the ends thereof.

- 12. A keeper-for paper fasteners comprising, a keeper plate. having a substantially flat base portion extending between the ends thereof arranged to rest on the paper sheets secured by the fastener, perforations formed in the ends thereof, substantially flat spaced parallel rail portions formed on the keeper plate between the ends thereof, the rail portions being formed in a plane parallel to the plane of the base portion but positioned spacedly thereabove, re-enforcing Wall portions joining the edges of the base and rail portions, the re-enforcing wall portion being positioned solely below the rail portions, and locking members slidably secured to the rail portions arranged to be moved between the ends thereof.

13. In a paper fastener, a clamping member having spaced fingers thereon, and a keeper member comprising an elongated keeper plate having perforated end portions for receiving the fingers therethrough, U- shaped re-enforcing portions on the end portions, the legs of the U facing inwardly from the ends of the end portions and extending beyond the perforations for re-enforcing the end portions, a base portion extending between the end portions thereof, spaced rail portions on the base portion, and locking members slidably mounted on the rail portions arranged to slide over the fingers after the bending downwardly thereof over the keeper plate.

14. A keeper plate for paper fastener keepers comprising, an elongated base portion, rail portions formed on the edges of the base portion, end portions formed coextensively with the ends of the base and rail portions, perforations formed in the end portions, and U-shaped re-enforcing portions on the end portions, the open endof the U facing the ends of the rail portions.

Signed at New York city in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 16th day of August, A. D. 1932.

OSCAR A. ROSS.

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