US2329870A - Fastener - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 21, 1943. D. A. BRENNAN FASTENER Original Filed Dec. 16, 1940 for engaging and holding the Patented Sept. 21, 1943 UNITED YIFASTENER- Daniel A. Brennan, deceased, late of Chicago, Ill.,

" by Elmer L. Zwickel, executor, Chicago, 111., as-

. signor to Acco Products, Inc., Long Island City,

N. Y., a corporation of New York a Original applicationDecember16, 1940, Serial No. Q 370,372. Divided and this application July 22,

1942, Serial NO. 451,846

This application is a division of applicants co-pending application Serial No; 370,372, filed December 16, 1940;

' The invention relates broadly to a paper fas- :tener compressor of a type to be associated. with a base having spaced prongs adaptedto be extended through openings in a stack :of papers and bent over the top face of said stack for binding them together; and more particularly to a compressor including resiliently flexible means prongs in bent over concealed position. Y H

An object of the invention is to provide a resiliently flexible paper fastener compressor having novel means to cooperate with prongs of an asso-' ciated base to hold them together inbe'nt down position over the papers. v

Another object is to provide a; paper fastener compressor embodying resiliently flexible means manually depressible to efiect'disengagement of its prong engaging means from the prongs.

Another object is to provide apaper fastener compressor, of the type adapted to have yieldable gripping means engageable with prongs of an associated base, which is easy to assemble in place on a stack of papers, simple to operate, positive in operation, and inexpensive to manufacture. The foregoing and'such'other objects ofthe invention as will appear hereinafter as the description proceeds, will be more readily under;

stood from a perusal of the following specification, in which, reference is had to the accom-f panying drawing; wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the compressor showing it attached to! prongs of an associated base element.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of one of the two identical ends of another form of compressor, showing it associated with an underlying prong.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken 0 line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the form of fastener illustrated in Figs. 1 and. 2, the fastener includes: a base element II having spaced apart bendable prongs l2 at each end. The base element I I is. adapted to be placed against one face of a stack of loose sheets I3 with its prongs extending through aligned holes therein and bent down inwardly toward each other over and against the other face of said stack.

A compressor I5, formed of a strip of resiliently flexible sheet material such as, for example;

sheet steel, .-pressboard, plastic, or the like, is arranged over the bent down prong portions. I

Displacement of the compressor I5 is avoided by providing suitabledetents or lips, IE on the bottom face of the compressor,- preferably along each longitudinal edgethereof, which extend but ashort distance inwardly from each end." As shown, the lips I6 are arranged in, pairs spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the width of the prongs and suitably deformedto have a snapping or yieldable gripping engagement with the side; edges of the underlyingprongiportion adjacenttheir bends.

The compressor I5 preferably embodies means whereby thelips It may easily and quickly be disengaged from their gripping engagement with the'underlying prongs for remowal of the comp'r'esso'r, Such means preferably is provided adjacent each end thereof, and may include transf verse ribs IT-struck downwardly in the compressor body'onednwardly of and closely adjacent to the inner terminal of respective pairs of lips It. The ribs IT project below the bottom face of compressor 15 a distance slightly less than the d epth'of lips I8 so as to rest firmly upon-the .t'op surfacefof the underlying prong while said lips are in yieldable gripping engagement there- The medialportion of the compressor strip preferably is" depressed as at IB also'into'the plane o-f the ribs I'I.- As best shown in Fig, 2*, the centrally depressed portion I8 terminates a suitable distance short 'of-each rib IT was to define an elevated depressible bridge portion I9 inwardly of each rib ll. If desired the depressed medial portion I8 of the compressor may be suitably reinforced against flexing by an offset preferably in the form of a central longitudinal rib 2 I.

When the compressor is mounted securely in place both end portions thereof assume positions substantial as illustrated in the left hand end of the fastener shown in Fig. 2. In order to easily and quickly remove the compressor, the depressible portion I9 at each end is depressed manually, as illustrated at the right hand side of Fig. 2, causing the extreme end portion of the compressor'to flex upwardly angularly relative to the normal plane of the compressor. This upward flexing momentarily of the end portions of the compressor pulls the lips I6 out of engagement of the underlying prong and the compressor is freed for easy removal. The prongs may then be straightened and papers added to or removed from the stack.

It should be evident at this time that the instant structure permits a more firm gripping action by the lips [B then might ordinarily be practical with a one piece compressor inasmuch as positive means is provided integral with said compressor to effect separation of the parts.

The compressor illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is functionally and generally like that previously described. In this arrangement, short longitudinally extending ribs 22 are provided on the bottom face of the compressor one inwardly of and co-extensive with each detent or liplfi. These ribs, like the transverse ribs ll of the previously described device, rest against the top face of underlying prong portion I2 when the lipsare in yieldable gripping engagement with said prong. The portion of the compressor at each end between the ribs 22 may be provided with fining parts inwardly of each rib manually enan elevated portion or projection 23 so as to r facilitate manual depression of said portion to efiect outward spreading of the lips 16 to release the underlying prong portion.

Although exemplary forms of the improved compressor have been shown in the accompanying drawing and described in detail in the foregoing specification, it should be understood that each device may embody a variety of modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A fastener compressor comprising an elongated resiliently flexible strip adapted to overlie prongs of an associated base element after said prongs are bent down against the top face of a file of papers, transverse ribs on the bottom face of said strip one inwardly of each end adapted to bear against the prongs when the strip is in position thereover, a pair of lips on each end of said strip extending between said ribs and the associated ends, said lips being adapted to embrace said bent down prongs to hold the strip in place thereover, and a depressible portion in said strip inwardly of each rib effective when depressed to urge the end portions of the strip upwardly to disengage the lips from said prongs,

2. A compressor for paper fasteners comprising an elongated strip of sheet material adapted to overlie prongs of an associated base element after said prongs are bent down against the top face of a stack of papers to be bound, spaced longitudinal detents at each end of said compressor adapted to engage said prongs, a transverse rib adjacent each end of the compressor each projecting in the same direction as said detents, and

gageable to deflect the end portions angularly to the plane of the strip.

4. In a paper fastener compressor, in combination, spaced elements at the ends of said compressor adapted to yieldingly embrace prongs of an associated base member, and resilient means in said compressor associated with but spaced from said elements effective when depressed to disengage said elements from the prongs,

5. A fastener compressor comprising a strip of thin sheet material adapted to be positioned over at least one bent down prong of an associated base element, spaced lips on at least one end of said strip adapted to embracingly engage said prong, a pair of spaced longitudinal ribs at said end of the strip projecting in the same direction as and one adjacent each lip, and a projection between said ribs extending in the opposite direction from said ribs, pressure on said projection effecting release of said lips from the prong.

6. .A one-piece fastener compressor comprising a resiliently flexible strip having depending lips on its longitudinal edges extending inwardly longitudinally from each end adapted to cooperate with prongs of an associated base member, and a depressible portion in said strip between said lips at each end eifective to spread the lips apart transversely.

7. In a paper fastener compressor, in combination, spaced elements integral with the ends of said compressor adapted to yieldingly embrace the rongs of an associated base member, and resilient means in said compressor spaced from but associated with said elements effective when depressed to disengage said elements from the prongs. I

. ELMER L. ZWICKEL,- Emecutor of the Estate ofDanz'el ApBrennan, Deceased. i '1

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