US2089211A - Loose leaf binder - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 10, 1937. KRAG 2,089,211

' LOOSE LEAF BINDER .Filed May 29, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 flvvi/vrafi: 5/714 1. hray a W y my.

g-10 3 E.L.KRAG 7 2,089,211

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed May 29, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fNVfNi'Of? fn'A Z ffrag Patented Aug. 10, 1937 PATENT OFFICE LOOSE LEAF BINDER Erik L. Krag, Chicago, Ill., assignor of one-tenth to E. J. Andrews, Chicago, Ill.

ApplicationMay 29, 1933, Serial No. 673,379

2 Claims.

, This invention relates toloose-leaf binders, and

has for its object providing various improvements inthe ordinary binders in use, particularly with reference to the means for removing and inserting leaves, and for shifting them from one position on the binder to another.

Of the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a fractional plan view of a binder which embodies someof the features of my invention; Fig. 2 is a front end view of the binder; Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are transverse sectional views of the binder along 1 the respective lines 3-3, 44 and 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fractional plan view of a modified form of binder; Fig. 7 is a fractional side view of the same; Fig. 8 is a plan view of a further modification; and Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional views along the respective lines 9- 9 and I0-lll of Fig. 8.

It is customary with loose-leaf binders to provide means for shifting the sets of paper holding prongs towards and away from each other transversely of the binder. In such cases, the prong holding means are also shifted bodily with the prongs. In this case, however, I prefer to tilt or rotate the sets of prongs away from each other when the leaves are to be changed. I One or both sets may be made tiltable, as may be desired. In Figs. 1 to 5, I show the left set only tiltable. By using upwardly projecting and inwardly arched prongs, with their lower ends fixed to a rotatable holding strip, the upper ends maybe tiltedoutwardly suificient to allow the leaves to be shifted .as desired. Y

For this purpose, I provides. base plate H] extending the full length of the binder. Preferably, onthe right-hand edge, a support strip I l is fixed for holding the immovable set of prongs l2. On the other edge ofthe plate, I provide a strip I3 for the other set of prongs M. This strip I3 is rotatably mounted, preferably on a rod l5, so that the upper ends of the prongs may beitilted away from the prongs I2, asin Fig. 4. Whenever itis desired to insert or remove leaves from either set of prongs, it is necessary only to tilt or rotate the prongs l4 outwardly and proceed 45 in the ordinary manner.

To prevent inadvertent opening of the prongs, I provide means for locking them in their closed positions. Preferably these means comprise a strip l6 non-rotatably associated with the prong 50 strip l3, and having an inwardly projecting flange ll. Pivotally mounted on the plate HI is an arm I8 adapted to be rotated so that the free end will project outwardly over the flange I1, holding it in the closed position. To operate the arm [8, 55 I provide a longitudinal bar l9 slidably mounted on the plate l0 and with one end extending to the front end of the binder. A handle 20 is'provided for operating this bar. The arm I8 is also pivoted to the bar H), by means of a slot 2!, and by operating the bar the free end of the arm 5 may be passed onto or off from the flange ll.

As many locking means it? as may be desired may be applied, operating simultaneously by means of the bar [9. And suitable guide means and stop means may be provided for the bar. Also these various means may be provided for binders which merely open the prongs or forthose which also provide for shifting the sets of prongs longitudinally with reference to each other. a

In this instance, I provide for shifting bodily. 15 the tiltable set of prongs longitudinally of the binder. These means comprise the strip I3 and the rod l5. The strip is both rotatably and slidably mounted on the rod by means of a strip 22. The strips l3, l6 and 22 are rigidly con- 20 nected in any suitable manner, such as by means of rivets 23. A handle 24 is formed on the front end of these strips for operating the prongs either tiltably or longitudinally.

I also provide means for registering the mov- 25 able prongs withreference to the others. In this case, these means comprise a strip 25 having notches 26 in one corner. A flange 2? projects d-ownwardlyfrom the handle 2d and passes into one of the notches as the prongs are closed in the 30 proper relative positions. As many notches may be provided as is desired, and they are suitably spaced for positioning the movable prongs properly. 7

To assist in positioning the leaves to be inserted and in shifting them on the prongs, I provide an arched retaining plate 28; The lower edges of the plate are preferably fixed to the base plate to; and, thearched plate wallsare spaced from the closed prongs properly to support the edges of the leaves when they are being inserted or shifted on the prongs. p

Also to assist in shifting the leaves upwardly towards the bowed portions of the prongs when the binder covers 3| are being closed, I provide automatic boosters 30. When the binder is open, as in Fig. 5, the loose leaves lie down on the binder covers 3|, and they must be pushed upwardly onto the bowed portions of the prongs, in order to close the binder covers. This is accomplished partly by the boosters. These boosters comprise plates 34 which are hinged to the inner edges of the respective strips H and i3, or 31 and 39 of Fig. 5. To the outer edge of each plate 34 is hinged a second plate 32, and a boosters, I prefer to form in the covers 3| depres--,. sions 35, into which the rollers 33 pass as the" binder covers are closing. The rollers are thus held in the positions best adapted for thepurpose of suitably operating the boosters.

the rollers in the depressions when the binder is closed. Fingers 32a prevent the plates 32 from turning inwardly beyond the depressions a 1 Fig. 5 illustrates a modification of the mean for positioning the prongs properly for closing the binder. These means comprise the strip corresponding to the strip 25 of Fig. 4. Notches 4| are formed in the inner corner of the strip and these are adapted to-receive flanges 42 projecting downwardly from the strips 39, or corresponding strips. Fig. 6 illustrates the strip 40 and the 1 notches 4-l therein.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate modified means for holding the binder in its locked position. These means comprise a plate fixed to the base plate l0, and with a portion thereof spaced from the a base plate.

A hook [Bis-fixed to an operating bar" 41-. The bar H isslidably mounted with reference to-the-prong-holding bar 48. When the 1 binder'is closed, the hook is forced under the plate 45- by the spring 45a holding the binder closed. As the bar 4! is pushed inwardly, the hook is released and thebinder may be opened; A spring 44; on the rod I5with-one end passing underthe prong plate 39 andthe other end over the'base plate I0, tends at all'times to tilt the prong plate" to the open position. A bar 48 is providedfor slidingthe prongs longitudinally in an ordinary manner;

Fig. 8 illustrates meansfor' forcing the prongs apart. In this case; both setsof prongs are tiltable. When it'is desiredt'o open the prongs, the operating bar 50' is' forced outwardly, thus :operating the arms 5|. Each of these arms' is pivoted at one'end to the base plate 52'by a pivot 53, and" to the central portion of the bar 50 by a pivot 54 fixedito the bar 50 playing in a slot 55'. The other end of each armhasacam portion 56. The'prong' plate 43' of the prongs 51 is rotatably associated with the rod 58,.and' also rotatably mounted on the rod'is a plate 59'. As the arm 5| is operated, the camend passes under'the inner edge of theplate 59; and the cam forces the edge of the plate 59 upwardly and rotates the prong support" and,

And springs 36 are adapted to press the plates 34 downward when the binder is open and to hold:

tral portion of the shifter sheet is forced upwardly; to the position indicated by the dotted lines 64. A stiffening strip is fixed to the outer edge of the sheet, to prevent bending of the edge.

' Inthese figures are shown also the supports IM and H19 hereinafter described.

.Figs. 9,10 show a manually operable plate I00 for supporting the leaves to be shifted. This plate preferably extends the full length of the b'inder,. and it' :ishingedand slidably mounted on supports- I'OLby means'ofa rod NHL The sup-- ports lllltare fixed with reference to the tiltable prongs- 43', one oneach end-.- The platemay' be easily tilted upwardly to the operative" position: by means of a handle I03,- and' downwardly onto asupport I 04 to its inoperative position.

In this and similar binders, I provide a leaf support-and guide I 09. The fingers I'M of theupper 'edgeof this guide are positioned properly to support the leaves as they are to be passedonto the prongs I08; the entire guide is curved to be parallel with the curve of the prongs, and the guide surfaceis spaced so-as tosupport'the' inner edgesof theleavesand; thus; prevent sagging or other displacement of theleaves. The fingers I01 pass-through the slots lll5 'when'the binder is open and the plate I00 is-rotated-i I claim asmyinvention: I

1". In a loose-leaf binder, a frame, twosets of co-operating prongs, one set being mounted for transverse movement on the frame, said frame having a cover board' hinged thereto, and means: for forcing the loose leaves on oneof the sets of prongs upwardly and away from the adjacent cover -board, as the board is turned upwardly to" itsclosed position, said means comprising a platepivoted between the two'sets of prongs, and ex tending between and outsideof the prongs to be affected, and a' second platepiv'otedfito the first mentioned plate'outside ofthe-latter prongs:-

2. In a loose-leaf binder, a base p1ate,,a: rod"

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