US2209284A - Loose-leaf structure - Google Patents

Description

July 23, 1940. SCHADE 2,209,284

LOO SE-LEAF STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 25, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 48 J BY fox/1v 501 405 W J I TOR YS July 22., 1940. SCHADE 2,209,284

LOOSE-LEAF STRUCTURE Filed Feb. '25, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fa/ml fa/1,405

Patented July 23, 1940 2,209,284

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOOSE-LEAF STRUCTURE John Schade, Holyoke, Mass., assig'nor to National Blank Book Company, Holyoke, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 25, 1939, Serial No. 258,377

11 Claims. 1. 129-8) This invention relates to improvements in loose plate has a pair of guide members I2 and I3 leaf structures for holding a pack or filler of loose each of which is in the form of an angular flange leaf sheets. The improvements are disclosed in secured to the plate as by the rivets I4. The their preferred form as applied to a binder of the upstanding arms of these flanges or guide mem- 5 type shown in my prior Patent No. 1,990,136, of hers I2 and I3 end in rebent sections l5 and form 5 February 5, 1935. The features of the present guideways to receive the upstanding arms of a invention have particular importance in improvpair of angular flanges I6 and H which are simiing the operation of the type of binder shown in larly attached to plate 6. As is plain from Fig. 7, said prior atent. Also, the arrangement of the he fl ng I6 nd I1 h v goose n k x ensions various elements has certain advantages which I8 which protrude beyond the inner turned up 10 will appear from the description and claims. ed e l9 Of Plate 6, and are p v as d c ed Since the construction and operation of the at is directly t0 the tie bar 20 Of equalizer mechparts of the specific disclosure herein are in some anism Consisting of a t bar 0 d n a respects quite similar to those fully described in h r levers 21 and 22 (see also Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6).

my prior patent, I will only show them in a gen- These gooseneck portions I8 are also provided 15 or l way a d confine th particulars nd d with slots 25 and rounded corners 26 so that the tailed description to the new features. binder plates 5 a d 6 may be positioned as in Fi 1 th drawings; 8 simply by separating them to theposition of Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the binder in closed i 7 d n rotating hem ar nd he piv t position but with the covers broken away; between the tie bar 20 and gooseneck n- 20 Fi 2 i i of t binder of F'ig 1 but t sions. In this last position the back plates 5 and th parts in t reading position; 6 form an inverted V with the strip II on plate Fig. 3 shows the binder opened to its maximum 5 resting against h turned p edge I9 f pl e and ready to be positioned to allow insertion or AS is explained in the earlier Pat nt referred remove} f t to, this general position is the one in which sheets 25 Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view, taken on line contained in the prong Sets y be t 6011- 44 of Fig. 2, of the latching mechanism which Veniently inserted v dordinarily holds the binder in the reading position on the Other nd, W th the parts p s d a of 2; in Fig. '7, the flat back plates 5 and 6 can. be slid 30 Fig. 5 is an enlarged view on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 towards each other, the upstanding a ms of 30 showing how certain of the parts are nested flanges and moving a ng the passageways t th provided by flanges I2 and I3 with the flat back Fig 6 is a sectional View on line 5 of Fig plates parallel to each other and in overlapping Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 1-1 of Fig. 3; relation- Fi 3 i i of t parts of Fig. 1 moved to During this lateral motion, the back plates 5 35 the position in which the sheets may be inserted and 5 e constrained by the equalizer mechanism r removed; previously referred to as consisting generally of Fig. 9 is an aitemate for of structure which the tie bar 20, and long and short levers 2I and may be used; 22. As appears from Figs. 1, 3 and 6, the long Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view on line I0I0 arm has a fixed pivot 30 at e end On plate 40 of F1 g 9; 5 and at the other end a sliding pivot with tie Figs. 11 and 12 Show a further Variation of bar 20, this last pivot consisting of a pin 3| which Structure which may be used; can slide along a slot 32 cut in the upper end of Fig 13 is a View taken on line |3 |3 f Fig said tie bar. on the other hand, the short arm and 22 is fixedly pivoted to the center of long arm 2I 45 Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view on line 14-14 and lower end of the tie bar b p s 33 and of Fig. 4. 34, respectively. In passing from the fully closed Referring to Figs. 3 and '7, the binder consists position of the binder, ShOWn y: Fig- ,1, to the of flat back plates 5 and 6 with upstanding reading P o 0f and finally t0 the fully flanges along their outer long edges to which Opened POSitiOn of this equ zer mech- 50 flanges are attached binding prongs 1 and 8 and anism works like lazy tongs to positively assure covers 9 and I0. In addition, plate 5, for the sake that the upstanding arms of flanges I6 and I! of appearance, is provided with the decorative cooperate smoothly with the passageways pro- 5 backing strip II. Along its narrow edges, this vided by flanges I2 and I3.

further detail.

' position of Fig. 2, presses on'the'thumb piece 45 of the slot 32 so that the pins 3| and 34 are constantly in a longitudinal plane parallel to the long edges of the flat plate 5. As the separation of the plates 5 and 6 is continued beyond the reading position, pins 3| and 34 stay in the same longitudinal plane parallel to the long edges of the plate 5, and the plates are stopped at their fully spread position of Fig. 3 when pin 3| reaches the inner end of slot 32.

A further description of this equalizing function is contained in the earlier patent referred to and this action will not therefore be gone into in 'As is explained in the earlier patent, this type of binder is stored or filed with thepartsin the back-closed position shown by'Fig. 1, while its normal reading position is that of Fig. 2,that is,"with the plates 5 and 6 displaced laterally. Thetposition of Fig. 8 is provided for primarily to facilitate changing sheets. To insure that the book will not inadvertently be opened beyond the reading position, the latch shown in detail in Fig; 4 is used. As can be seen from that figure taken in conjunction with Figs. 1, 2 and 14, this latch consists of an L shaped member 39 with 4 its long leg pivoted to theside of flange l1 and its'short leg overhanging the top edge of said flange. Clearance is provided between the member' 39 and flange IT for passage of the flange I3 attached to'plate 5. The short leg of this latch member 39 terminates at its forward endin a thumb piece-4U overlying a depression 4| in flange I1, and the forward end of the long leg extends beyond the thumb piece terminating in a toe 42.

This toe 42 passes through a slot 43 in flange 1|! and forms a stop for an abutment piece'44 formed on the lower edge of the rebent portion I5 of flange I3. To open the book to the position of Fig. 8, the user separates the plates 5 and 6 to the to move the latch downward (said latch being frictionally pivoted to normally retain the position to which it is moved) so that the toe 42 clears'abutment 44 and the thumbpiece lies in depression-4|, and then separates the plates to the position of Fig. 3 when the back plates can be pivoted as previously described. To again close the book, the plates are swung to the position of Figs. 3 and 7 and forced laterally together to the position of Fig. 1. As soon as the top edge of the rebent section I 5 of'flange' I 3 hits the thumb, piece 45 in the latch 3'3,'it will raise the latch to make it effective to stop the opening of the book at the reading position when the plates are again pulled laterally apart. 3

Referring now to Figs. 5, 7 and 8, when the binder is being closed after insertion or removal of sheets, the plates 5'and 6 must first be positioned parallel to each otheras in Fig. 7 before any lateral pressure is exerted or the flanges l6 and I! will bind inthe passageways provided by flanges I2 and I3. Therefore I form each gooseneck I8 with a toe 48 which protrudes as an extension of thegooseneck. As is apparent in Fig. 7, each toe lel and the top edge of flanges I6 and I1 are in contact with the under surfaces of the top of the U sections formed by the rebent portions l5 of the flanges I2 and I3. This arrangement determines that the fiat plates are parallel and will therefore slide easily over each other.

Of course, the rebent portions I 5 can be dimensioned so that in the absence of toes 48 the top edges of flanges I6 andll adjacent the gooseneck portions will abut the inner top surface of the rebent portions when the plates 5 and 5 are parallel and thereby furnish a stop. With such an arrangement there would be a great deal of strain on the rebent portions with the structure shown. Therefore, by the use of the toe 43 the strain due to careless closing is removed from the rebent portion I5 and it is thus enabled to retain its shape.

Referring to Fig. 5, this toe in no way interferes with the closed position of the binder, for the upstanding flange of plate 5 is slotted as indicated, and the toe 48 passes through this slot and may either rest against the cover 9 or, as indicated, be received by a recess cut in that cover.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3 and 6, certain specific advantages of this particular equalizer mechanism will be pointed out. In the first place,

the entire mechanism is contained between the.

. the binder.

Again, by using a short arm 22 and long arm 2| arranged as indicated and previously described, the mechanism can be folded to the position of Fig. 1 with all the pivot points located in a single longitudinal plane. If the short arm 22 were replaced by a long one similar to arm '2I and this arm pivoted to plate 5 at the upper .end thereof, this pivot would intersect the plane of arm 2I (see Fig. 6) and prevent that arm 2i from swinging to the position of Fig. 1. With this last arrangement, the opening and closing of the binder would be limited because of the limited motion of the equalizer mechanism. Also, if a second long arm were used, tie bar 20 would necessarily have to be provided with a slot similar to slot 32 for the pin 34;, This of course would introduce additional possibility of undesirable tolerances inthe moving parts which might hamper the operation of the equalizer mechanism.

Considering the above, it will be seen that the equalizer mechanism performs its function though its construction is extremely simple, and, for the purposes of my invention, is particularly apt. n the other hand, recalling an earlier part of the specification wherein the function of the toes 48 in the gooseneck portions I8 was discussed not, because of the strain put on them, be satisfaotorily used in conjunction with the top edges of flanges l6 and IT to provide for the sole means to stop the plates and 6 in parallel relation when the book is closed from the position of Fig.

8 to: that of Fig. 7. One solution of this is as follows. The flange can be extended beyond the edge of the plate5 so'that the rebent-portions I5 would overhang the flanges I6 and I1. However; something more is desirable because the overhang would interfere with the upstanding prong carrying flange on plate 6 in the closed position. In Figs. 9 and 10, this difliculty is solved by the structure illustrated. The rebent portion I5 is made so that its internal channel is oversize and a slipper 5D placed over the gooseneck I8 between that member and the rebent portion. This slipper is pivoted at 20' to the tie'bar 20 and in turn the gooseneck portion is pivoted to the slipper at 50. While the gooseneck portion I8 has no protruding toe as in the preferred form, the forward end of the gooseneck has a flattened surface 53-which, in the position of Fig. 9, serves as a bearing on the upper horizontal surface of the flanges I2 and I3. I As that figure shows, the forward end of the slipper 50 has an arm 5| which bears on the top of the flanges I6 and I1 and this, in combination with the flattened portion 53, will form a satisfactory stopping means to arrest the plates 5 and 6 in parallel relation. Comparison of the broken and full line positions of the flange I6 in Fig. 9 will make the stopping action of this mechanism clear. Inasmuch as the slipper 50 is pivoted to the tie bar 20 and its heel 55 does not protrude beyond this bar, no special provision is necessary to allow for the complete closing of the book when the plates 5 and 6 are slidtogether to the position of Fig. 1.

In the structure shown in Figs. 11 to 13, the slipper 58 which is pivoted to the tie bar 20 in the same manner as described above for slipper 50 has a longer heel 51 than that in Figs. 9 and 10, and the gooseneck portion I8 has a sliding pivot provided by the pin 59 and slot 60. Also, the slipper is provided with a forwardly extending arm 62 which is arranged to contact the upper surface of the horizontal arm of flanges I6 and I1. With the plates 5 and-'6 positioned ready to rotate about pin 59 (see Figs. 11 and 13) said pin is located at the forward end of slot 60 and the stopping means is provided by the flattened portion 53 of the gooseneck I8 and the arm 62. Because of the length of the heel 51, this structure is very strong and effective in performing 'the desired function.

When the plates 5 and 6 are being slid towards each other, the .pin 59 first progresses to the end of slot 60 and then the slipper 58 begins to move (see Fig. 12). At this time the vertical edge of the heel of the slipper is in line with the edge of the tie bar 20 so that, as with the previous form of mechanism, no special provision to accommodate theslipper is necessary in the completely closed position.

As is evident from the precedingdescription, my invention represents a definite improvement in the loose leaf binder field for not only have I been enabled by'its application to produce an exceedingly neat and compact structure wherein the equalizing mechanism occupies substantially no more space than the necessary thickness of the back plates; but also this structure is much more easily handled, particularly during the closing of the book, after new sheets have been inserted because of the provision of my novel stop mechanism for limiting the rotation of the back plates to their parallel position.

One of the main features of the invention is in the means provided to bring the-parts at the book back into compact form and minimize the bulk at the back when the book is ready to be stored for use. Considering the means provided in the back for the desired functional manipulationof the book, it will be seen that they occupy little space. For example, the equalizer means is capable of collapsing into a narrow thin space; the part-for bracing the telescoping halves is tucked away in a recess. Either one or both of these provisions definitely results in the functions '1. In a binder of the class described, the combination of one short and two long bars pivoted together as an equalizer mechanism and collapsible for said bars to lie directly over one another,

a prong carrying back portion attached to one of said long bars for holding it permanently in right angle relation to the prongs on said back portion, a second prongcarrying back portion in underlying and slidable relation to the first and towhich one end of the other long bar is pivoted, said two back portions when in nested relation having the bars of said equalizer mechanism lying directly one over the other in a narrow space betweenthe outer edge of one and the inner edge of the other of said back portions, 'whereby the nesting of the back'portions'with the equalizer mechanism in collapsed position avoids excessive width of the binder back.

2. In a binder of the class described, two prong carrying back portions, each of which has end flanges, one pair fitting into the other for sliding movements, one pair having overhanging portions to provide for pivoting said back portions,

pivot means for the overhanging portions, extensions on said overhanging portions to give extra leverage forstopping .pivotal movement of v the back portions in one direction when parallel and ready to slide togethen rece'sses in one of the back portions vto receive said extensions at the end of their sliding movement in nesting the back portions.

3. A loose-leaf structure consisting of two back plates, complementary guide means .on the plates for holding the plates while in overlapped and slidable relation, and equalizing means, operable by movement of said plates, adapted to maintain the sides of the plates parallel as they are moved to varying overlapped positions and to hold the plates in pivotal engagement when they are moved out of overlapped relation, said equalizer means consisting of a combination of levers that at least in the collapsed position lies between, the inner edge of one plate and outer edge of the other plate for the purpose described. 4. A loosej-leaf structure consisting of two back plates, complementary guide means on the plates for holding the plates while in overlapped and slidable relation, and equalizing means, operable by movement of said plates, adapted to maintain the sides of the plates parallel as they are moved to varying overlapped positions and'to hold the plates in pivotal engagement when, they are moved out of overlapped relation, the guide means on one of said plates having additional means adapted to limit the pivotal movement of said plates in one direction to the parallel position .of said plates when the plates are innon-overlape ping position.

5. A loose-leaf structure consisting of two back plates, complementary guide means onthe'plates :forrholding the plates while in-qoverlapped and slidablez relation, and Z'equalizingi means; opera:

ble by.move'ment ,of said plates, consisting of a combination. of {flat-levers. adapted to,.maintain the, sides of the; plates parallel as theyare moved to.- yarious overlappedpositions and :to' holdlithe plates in pivotal engagement when, they are tional means consisting of a member protruding.

moved out offioverlapped relation, the guide meanslon one of said plates having additional means; adapted :to limit the pivotal movement of said plates in one direction to the parallel po-' sition: of said plates when the plates are in non overlappingposition; r 1 r 6.-The structure of claim 5 with said gaddifrom the guidegmeans on one plate and resting on a horizontalp'art ofthe binder andoverlying the other plate when said plates are parallel.

, 7.,A loose-leaf structure consisting of two back plates, complementary guide means on the plates for holding the plates while" in overlapped and slidablerelati'on, and equalizing means, operable :by movement of said plates, consisting of a :cornbination'of flat levers adapted to maintain the sides of the plates parallel as theyare moved tofivarying; overlapped positions and to hold the i member resting on a horizontal part ofthe binder a'ndoverlying, the other plate hensaid plates. are parallel and in pivotedrelation andnested' plates ,in pivotal engagement when they are moved: out, 'of overlapped relation, the guide 1 means on one of said plates having a protruding within a recess infsaid binder beyond "the edge ofssaidguidemeans when the plates are overlapped to their maximum, all for described. 1

[8. A loose-leaf structure consisting of two rec the purpose tangular back plates, complementary guide :means onthe plates along the upper. and lower edges for holding theplates during overlapped and slidable relation; and equalizing means, operable by movement of said plates, adapted .to maintain the sidespfthe plates parallel as they are: moved to varying'overlapped positions and tothold the plates in: pivoted engagement when they'are moved out of overlapped relation,fsaid equalizer I means consisting of a tie bar with its longfaxis' parallel to the sideedges of the plates and pivoted about this'axis at eachend to the guide means 7 associated with one of the plates, a long lever arm pivoted .at one end to the tie bar adjacent one end of said tie bar, and at the other'end,-to

anouter corner of therother plate at the end of said plate which is remote 'f'rom said pivot on said tie bar,,one' of saidjlonglever arm pivots being fixed and the-other sliding, andfa short arm fixedly pivoted to, the midpoint of the longarm andto the other: end-ofxthetiebar all for, the

purposedescribed. 1 ,9. A looseleaf:.structure consistingofrtwoflat rectangular back plates in overlapped,-relation,

said upper plate having upstan-ding'flanges at each end with=gooseneck portions of the flanges extending beyond theinner' side edge of said plate, said lower plate having complementary upstanding flanges at each end with a rebent porof said plates-parallel as they aremoved to varying-overlappedi positions jand to hold the plates tion ,under which said first mentioned flanges slide, equalizer mechanism, operable by move,-

m'ent of saidplates, pivoted tosaidgooseneck portions and adapted to maintain the side edges in pivotal engagement whenthey'are moved out of overlappedrelation, but with the gooseneck portions still within, the rebent portions, each gooseneck portion having a protruding toe adapted to bear on a horizontal binder part when the plates are parallel all for the purpose described.

10. A loose-leaf structure consisting of two I flat rectangular back plates in overlapped relation, said upper platehaving upstanding flanges at each end with gooseneck portions of the flanges lower edge, a ,U-shaped slipper pivoted in inverted .positionovervthetop edge of each of said gooseneck-portions and having at the forward end an integral arm extended and overlapping the. upper edgeof the flange back of the goose"- neck portio'nvwith the heel of said slippersubstantiallyflushwith the forward end of said gooseneck portion, said lowerv plate having upstanding flanges at each end with rebent portins':un.der whichflsaid slippers slide, equalizer mechanism, operable by movementof said plates, pivoted to said; slippers and adapted tor maintain theside edges of said platesparallel as they are moved to varyingoverlapped .positions andto hold the plates in pivotal engagementwhen they aremoved out .of overlapped relation but with the heels of the slippersstill within the rebent portions, said flat portions of said g ooseneck's beingadapted to bear on a horizontal-binder part on said lower plate and said extended arms of said'slippers to bear: on said flanges on said 3g upperplate. when the pl'ates'are; parallel, all for the purpose described,

. 11. A loose-leafi structure consisting of two' flat rectangular back platesin overlapped relation,.said upperplate having upstanding flanges" at each end with gooseneck portions of the extending beyondthev inner side edge of said plate and each having a flat surface along its flanges extending beyondthe inner side edge of said plate and each having a flat surface along its loweredgega ,U-sha'ped slipper pivoted in I inverted position over the'top edge'of eachof said gooseneck portionsfand having at the for-'- ward end an-integral arm extending and overlying the surface of said upper plate back of the 'goosene'ckiportion, said lower plate. having upstanding flanges at each endKWith rebentportions under which said slippers slide, equalizer mechanism, operable by movement of said plates, pivoted to said slippers and adapted' to maintain thesideedges of said plates parallel as theyare moved to varying overlapped positions and to holdFthe plates in pivotalengagement when they are moved out of overlapped position but withthe heels of the slippersstill withintherebent portions, said flat portions of said goosenecksbeing adapted tobear on .iaihorizontal "binder part on.

the lower .plate and the extended arms of the slippersto-bear onahorizontal part of said up-- periplate whenvv the plates are parallel intheir non-overlapping position, the pivots between the slippers and gooseneck: portions each being in Join: SCHADE.

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