US2212380A - Loose-leaf binder - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 20, 1940. J. A. STEELE LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Feb 20, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 azzz zz IHYENTUR JOHN/I. STEELE A'I'TDHNEY s- 20, 1940- J. A. STEELE 2,212,380

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Feb. 20, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 InvEnTuR Jmm A. 5'IEE LE ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 20, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE McMillan Book Company, Syracuse, N.

corporation of New York Application February 20, 1939, Serial No. 257,391

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a loose-leaf binder in which separable prong carriers provided with impaling prongs are mounted for movement toward and away from each other to move the prongs to and from the closed position for releasably securing loose leaves in book form.

The main object of the invention is to provide a loose-leaf binder of the split ring or prong type which is economical, durable and simple in construction and which is simple, easy and positive in operation.

In carrying out the above mentioned object, I have provided a pair of prong carriers one for each set of prongs and have mounted these carriers in interlaced sliding relation with each other to form a self supporting binder unit.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide simple means connected with the prong carriers for producing lateral movement with respect to each other for moving the prongs carried thereby into and out of operative engagement with each other.

Another object of the invention is to form the prong carriers from strips of sheet metal and to provide such strips with integral means stamped therefrom for guiding the same during the lateral movement thereof in bringing the prongs into and out of operative engagement with each other.

A further object of the invention resides in forming the prongs integrally with the prong carriers.

A still further object of the invention is to form the prong carriers interchangeable so that the two sections for a binder may be stamped from a single die mechanism.

I attain these objects by mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a loose leaf binder comprising the various features of this invention, the binder being shown in the open position and portions of the cover membersbeing broken away and in section.

Figures 2 and 3 are detail transverse sectional views taken, respectively, in the planes of .lines 2-2 and 33 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view of one end portion of the binder shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5'is an exploded perspective view illustrating one end portion of the prong carriers and a corresponding portion of the cam slide for moving said carriers toward and from each other.

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view illustrating a modified form of actuating means for the prong carriers illustrated in Figure 1, said'carcarrying mechanism 29 as carrier 30 or 3|.

riers being in their innermost or closed position.

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view of one end portion of the prong carriers and the means for actuating the same, as shown in Figure 6, with the carriers in the open or extended position.

Figure 8 is a detail transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 8-8, Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a horizontal sectional view similar to Figure 6 illustrating a still further modified form of actuating means for moving the prong carriers toward and from each other, said carriers being shown in their innermost or closed position.

Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view, similar to Figure 9, illustrating the prong carriers in an extended or open position.

Figure 11 is a detail longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on line H! I, Figure 9.

The loose-leaf binder, as shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, comprises a cover 20 which, as is customary in this particular class of binder, is composed of flexible or semi-flexible material. The cover is composed of a central or medial por-. tion 2| forming the back of the binder and two side portions 24 and 25 forming the sides of the binder.

The leaf carrying mechanism 29 comprises a I pair of separable prong carriers 30 and 3! one or which is fastened to the inner face of the back portion 2| of the cover. The members 30 and iii are adapted for lateral movement with respect to each other to bring the prongs 32 thereof into operative engagement with each other to form rings or to separate the prongs to put in or take out leaves. Each of the carriers 36 and 3! com-. prises a flat, rectangular base plate 34 having one longitudinal edge thereof bent laterally toprovide a relatively narrow upwardly extending flange 35 integral therewith. The upper edge of each'flange 35 is provided with a plurality of up wardly extending prongs 32 which have the upper end portions thereof'bent inwardly to extend over the base plate portion 34.

Each base plate and its prongs are stamped from a strip of sheet metal so that the base plate 34, flange 35 and prongs 32 constitute an integral unit. Furthermore, the base plate 34, flange 35 and prongs 32 are so constructed and related that each such unit may be used at either side of the The base plates. 3 are each provided with a plurality of slots 36 which are arranged in substantially uniform spaced relation to each other longitudinally of the plate. These slots 36 extend inwardly from the inner longitudinal edge of the plate toward the flange member 35 to within a short distance of said flange member so as to provide a plurality of plate sections 31 and 38 arranged in alternate relation with each other. The plate sections 37 extend laterally from the bottom edge of the flange 35 in substantially the plane of said flange edge while the plate sections 33 are stamped upwardly with respect to the bottom edge of the flange so as to extend inwardly from the flange above the plane of the upper face of the plate sections 37, as indicated in Figures 2 and 3. Thus the raised plate sections 38 define recesses 37 over the adjacent lower plate sections 3'3.

When the carriers 35 and 3! are assembled, the raised plate sections 38 of the carrier 30 overlie the lower plate sections 37 and rest in the recesses Sl of the carrier 3! and the raised plate sections of carrier 35 overlie thelower plate sections 3'5 and rest in the recesses 31 of the carrier 30. The raised plate sections 38 of carrier 38 then lie adjacent to and in the same plane as the raised plate sections 38 of the carrier 3!. The lower plate sections 3! of the carriers are similarly disposed toward each other. Thus the staggered plate sections 37 and 38 of the carriers 55 and iii are interlaced above and below each other and the raised sections 38 are alternately tongued in the recesses 37 of the opposite carrier so that, when assembled, the carriers form aself-supporting, self-guiding structure, within the limits of relative lateral movement necessary for separating the prongs to file leaves in the binder. Since no other support, back plate or guide member is needed, the cover 20 may be secured directly to one of the carriers, as 30, by rivets 55 extending through holes provided in several of the plate sections 3?.

The upper ends of the rivets 45 are swaged, as illustrated in Figure 2, and the corresponding plate sections 38 of the carrier 3! are provided with elongated slots 32 which extend outwardly from the inner longitudinal edge thereof to avoid interference with said swaged rivet ends.

Mounted over the base plates 34 is a shift bar or cam plate 45. This shift bar or plate 45 extends longitudinally of the base plates 34 and is of such a width as to be readily received between the flanges 35 of the base plates when said base plates are in their innermost positions with respect to each other. The shift bar or plate 45 is provided with two pairs of cam slots 56 and 47. The cam slots 45 and t! of each pair extend longitudinally of the bar and have the opposite end portions it and 59 thereof arranged in substantially parallel relation with each other at opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the bar.

The end portions 58 are arranged in close proximity to each other adjacent the center of the bar while the end portions 45 are spaced from each other and arranged in close proximity to the longitudinal side edges of the bar. The end portions 38 and 55 are connected with each other by a transversely disposed portion 50.

The base plates 34 are operatively connected with the shift bar or plate 55 by means of drive members in the form of pins or studs 52 and 53 connected with said base plates and which extend upwardly through the cam slots 46 and lil. The pins or studs 52 are secured to corresponding raised plate sections 58 of the carrier 35 and extend upwardly through the cam slots 45 while the pins or studs 53 are secured to corresponding plate sections 31 of the carrier 3| and extend upwardly through the cam slots 41 of the shift plate 45. The plate sections 38 of the carrier 3| aligned with the pins or studs 53 are provided with elongated slots 55 through which these pins or studs extend, as indicated in Figure 3.

It will now be observed that longitudinal movement of the shift plate or bar 45 with respect to the carriers 35 and 3! will produce a corresponding transverse movement of said carriers with respect to each other due to the movement of the pins or studs 52 and 53 through the cam slots 45 and 51. In order that the shift bar or plate 55 may be readily moved longitudinally with respect to the carriers, one end of said plate or bar is provided with an upwardly extending fingerpiece 57 as shown more particularly in Figures 1, 4 and 5.

It will now be obvious that, inasmuch as one of the carriers 30 is secured to the center portion 28 of the cover 20 by the rivets ill, longitudinal movement of the shift bar or plate 45 will produce a corresponding lateral movement of the other carrier 5!. In other words, the carrier 3| may move from the closed position, as indicated by full lines in Figure 2, to the open position, as indicated by broken lines in said figure, during the movement of the shift plate 55 outwardly with respect to the carriers 30 and 3!. During the longitudinal movement of the shift plate, said plate will also have a transverse movement with respect to the fixed carrier 35 due to the movement of the pins 52 along the cam slots 46, as indicated by broken lines in Figure 4.

Furthermore, it will be obvious that the carriers will be locked against transverse movement inclusive, I utilize two shift bars or plates instead of one as in the structure above described. These shift plates 50 are relatively short members mounted for longitudinal sliding movement over corresponding end portions of the base plates 34. Each shift bar or plate 50 comprises a central body portion 5i, an inwardly extending guide portion 62 and an outwardly extending finger portion 63.

The body portion 6| is of substantially the same width as the distance between the upwardly extending flanges 35 of the base plates 35 when said base plates are in their innermost positions 7 with respect to each other so as to have a free sliding movement longitudinally of the base plates. Each body portion is provided with a pair of cam slots 45 and H constructed similar to the cam slots 36 .and 47 shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5. These cam slots are operatively connected with the base plates 34 by the pins or studs 52 and 53.

The guide portion 62 of each shift bar or plate 65 is provided with a cam slot 46 extending longitudinally thereof in substantial alignment with the cam slot 45 provided in the body portion of the corresponding shift bar or plate. The cam slots 45 provided in the shift bar or plate positioned at the left-hand side of the binder, as illustrated in Figures 6 and '7, are operatively connected with the base plate 34' of the carrier .30 by pins or studs 52 which are mounted as shown in Figure 8, in corresponding plate section 38 of said base plate.

The cam slot 41 provided inthe shift bar or plate mounted at the left-hand end of the binder, as illustrated in Figure 6, is operatively connected with the base plate 34 of the carrier 3! by a stud 53 secured to the plate section 31 of said carrier as illustrated in Figure 8. i

It will be understood that the cam slots 46 and 41 of the shift plate mounted at the right-hand end of the binder are connected in 'a. similar manner with the base plates of carriers 30 and 3|, respectively.

It will now be observed that the carriers 30 and 3| may be relatively moved laterally toward and from each other by the longitudinal movement of both of the shift bars or plates 60 with respect to the base plates 34. Furthermore, it will be observed that the carriers will be securely maintained in either their outermost or innermost position with respect to each other due to the engagement of the studs or pins 52 and 53 with the parallel end portions 48 and 49 of the cam slots 46 and 4?.

In the structures shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11, I have illustrated astill further modified form of shifting members for producing transverse relative movement of the carriers 30 and 3|. These shifting members, as 10, are in the form of cam plates or disks which are mounted one adjacent either end of the carriers. Each shift disk 10 is substantially equal to the distance between the flanges 35 of the base plates 34' when said base plates are in their innermost positions with respect to each other. Each shift disk 10 is pivotally connected with the base plate 34 of one of the carriers by a stud H which extends through a suitable aperture provided in the disk in eccentric relation thereto.

I order that the base plate 34 of the carrier 3| may readily move laterally with respect to the carrier 30, the end sections 38 aligned with the studs H are provided with elongated slots 12 for receiving the stud H therethrough. Each shifting disk It! is also connected with the second carrier by a pin or stud 13 which is secured in the plate section 38 overlying the end plate section 31 and extends upwardly through a cam slot 14 provided in the corresponding shift disk 10.

The cam slot 14 is preferably constructed as shown in Figures 9 and 10 in substantially concentric relation with the shift disk and, therefore, in eccentric relation with the pivot H for said disk. In the structure shown in these three views, 9, l0 and H, thecarriers are moved laterally with respect to each other by merely rotating the shift disks l0 and, in order that said disks .may be readily manually rotated, each is provided with a projection 15 which extends from one side thereof adjacent the pivot H and.

is provided with an upwardly extended fingerpiece 16.

Although I have shown and particularly described the preferred embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown as various changes in. the form and relation of the parts thereof may readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a loose-leaf binder having a cover, a selfsupporting binder unit comprising a pair of interchangeable prong carriers, each having a base portion and leaf binding prongs formed integrally therewith, said carriers being arranged for relative transverse movement to bring said prongs from a closed ring-like position to an open spaced apart position, means integral with said base portions for guiding said transverse movement and for supporting said binder unit in the plane of said movement including a plurality of transverse raised sections defined by slots at each side and spaced apart a distance substantiallyequal to their width and arranged so that the bases of said carriers interlace with said guiding means and lie in two adjacent parallel planes, and means operatively connected with said carriers for transversely moving said carriers.

2. A device as described in claim 1 wherein said last named means includes a single cam plate movable longitudinally of said carriers and having a plurality of cam slots positioned and arranged to cooperate with drive members secured to said carriers.

3. In a loose-leaf binder having a cover, a.

self-supporting binder unit comprising a pair of interchangeable prong carriers, each having a base portion and leaf binding prongs formed integrally therewith, said carriers being arranged for relative transverse movement to bring said prongs from a closed ring-like position to an open spaced apart position, means integral with said base portions for guiding said transverse movement and for supporting said binder unit in the plane of said movement including a plurality of transverse raised sections defined by slots at each side and spaced apart a distance substantially equal to their width and arranged so that the bases of said carriers interlace with said guiding means and lie in two adjacent parallel planes, a pair of cam plates movably mounted on said carriers positioned at opposite ends thereof, each of said cam plates being provided With a plurality of cam slots, and drive means fixedly secured to said carriers positioned and arranged to cooperate with said cam slots so that movement of said cam plates will cause relativetransverse movement between said carriers.

4. In a loose-leaf binder having a cover, a selfsupporting binder unit comprising a pair of interchangeable prong carriers, each having a base portion and leaf binding prongs formed integrally therewith, said carriers being arranged for relative transverse movement to bring said prongs from a closed ring-like position to an open spaced apart position, means integral with said base portions for guiding said transverse movement and for supporting said binder unit in the plane of said movement including a plurality of transverse raised sections defined by slots at each side and spaced apart a distance substantially equal to their width and arranged so that the bases of said carriers interlace with said guiding means and lie in two adjacent parallel planes, means for producing relative transverse movement of said carriers comprising a shift plate rotatably mounted on one of said carriers, and means operatively connecting said shift plate with the other of said carriers.

JOHN A. STEELE.

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