US2383062A

US2383062A - Post binder

Info

Publication number: US2383062A
Application number: US535618A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stanley G Johnson
Original assignee: BURKHARDT Co
Current assignee: BURKHARDT Co
Priority date: 1944-05-15
Filing date: 1944-05-15
Publication date: 1945-08-21
Anticipated expiration: 1962-08-21

Description

Aug; 21, 1945. I s. G. JOHNSON 3 9 POST BINDER I Filed May 15, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR. 554172;? 6. Jifsavz,

Aug 21, 1945.; s. a. JOHNSON 2,3&3,062

POST BINDER Filed May 15, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 21, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ros'r nnvnaa Stanley G. Johnson, Grosse Pointe, Micln, assignor to The Burkhardt Company, Detroit, Micln, a corporation of Michigan Application May 15; 1944, Serial No. 535,618

Claims.

locking it against withdrawal from the other of such portions in any one of. an infinite number of axially adjusted positions with respect thereto; the provision of a construction as above described in which the. locking means comprises a wedge, lock or cam member'pivoted with respect to one of the post members and constantly urged by spring means towards a position in which it is in binding engagement with respect to the other of the post members; the provision of a constructionas above described in which the lock member comprises a plate-like member received within the inner of the telescoping post members and has a pivotal connection with one side thereof, the opposite side of the inner post member being cut away to permit the lock member to project through and into a position in which it is capable. of bindingly engaging the bore of the other post member; the provision of a construction as above described in which means are provided for moving the lock member out of binding engagement with respect to the outer post member whereby to free the post members for relative axial withdrawing movements with respect to each other; the provision of a construction of the above described type in which the releasing means comprises a member projecting through the lock memher and formed for engagement therewith on that side of the center thereof opposite its poir'it of pivotal connection with the inner post member; and the provision of a construction as above described in which the releasing means for the lock mem-V ber is provided with a hooked end portion limiting its outward movement in th inner post and with respect to the lock member and affording contact with the lock member at the point of a 45 hook to facilitate the pivoting of the lock member out of locking position and against the force The above being among the objects of the pres- 5 ent invention, the same consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and then claimed, having' the above and other objects in view.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a suitable embodiment of the present invention and in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several different views,

Fig. iis aperspective view of a loose-leaf binder portions indicated generally at Ill and I2, respecenclosing a plurality of filler sheets and shown with one cover thereof in open position;

Fig. 2 is a view of the binder shown in Fig. 1

with one cover thereof removed and with portions of the filler sheets shown in partially separated relation with respect to the remainder thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken through the construction illustrated in Fig. lcentrally of the posts thereof and as on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary, transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 but with the filler sheets removed; a

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-4! of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 64 of Fig. 5 to better illustrate the construction of the wedge or looking member; and f Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary, partially sectioned view illustrating the wedge or locking member and the construction of and manner in which the releasing member cooperates therewith.

The present invention is applicable to both closed-back and open-back binders and in fact to any binder, regardless of its construction, as

long as it is capable of employing telescoping posts either solely for the purpose of clamping two relatively. movable parts together for the purpose of clamping loose leaf filler sheets therebetweemor additionally for alignment of such flller sheets by virtue of reception of the posts in aligned holes in such filler sheets. It may be applied to all of 'the posts of a multiple post loose-leaf hinder or to any number of such posts. However, because of the fact one such post will usually be suflicient to hold the separable parts of a loose-leaf binder together, it is usually desirable from the standpoint of economy in manufacture to employ only one of such locking posts, the remaining posts thus being of a non-locking type and, for this reason, this is the type of construction shown in the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, while one part of each of the telescoping posts may be carried by each of the relatively movable cover-carrying portions of such binder, the construction is equally applicable to those constructions in which a transfer bar is provided for mounting one-half of each telescoping post other than the locking post and this type of construction is shown in the drawings as preferable from the standpoint of v ease in manipulation of the filler sheets. It will thus be appreciated that the particular binder in which the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawings is shown in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense.

7 Now referring to the drawings, it'will be noted that the loose-leaf binder there shown includes 'a pair of stiff and preferably rigid L-sectioned tively, arranged in face-to-face relationship with a leg of each in parallel and overlapped relation with respect to a leg of the other and forming a channel between the remaining legs and within which the filler sheets, indicated generally at l4, are adapted to be received. A preferably rigid cover member indicated generally at I6 is hingedly secured to the forward edge of the portion l along a hinge line such as II and an opposed cover member indicated generally at 26 is hingedly secured to the portion I2 along a hinge line such as 22 which, in the particular case shown, is in closely adjacent parallel relationship with respect to the line of Junction between the two legs of the angle of the member l2.

While the particular construction of the members l0, I2, l6 and 20 is immaterial as far as the present invention is concerned, the particularcase shown by way of illustration and best brought out in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, indicates that the portions l0 and i2 comprise preferably stiif and rigid cores Illa and l2a, respectively, preferably formed of metal and extending over the whole contour of the respective members I0 and i2 and each completely encased in a flexible covering material lOb and l2b, respectively, and which, for instance, may comprise cloth or other suitable sheet fabric material, leather or the like. Likewise, the

cover portions

16 and 20 each comprises a stiff and preferably rigid core portion ila and 20a, respectively, which are encased by a continuation of the coverings Nb and, lib, respectively,the cores I61: and 20a being slightly spaced from the cores Illa and Ho, respectively, along their opposed edges so that the coverings v Ilb and IN) extending between them serve to provide the hinge lines l8 and 22, respectively.

Although, as previously mentioned, the two separable parts of all of the telescoping posts employed may be carried directly by the portions l0 and I2, respectively, in the particular construction shown a conventional transfer bar 36 isemployed and to which the corresponding portions of the non-locking telescoping posts are secured, such a construction being preferable for the reason that it facilitates the introduction and/or removal of individual sheets from the stack of filler sheets l4. Accordingly, in the construction shown, a pair of inner posts 32, onearranged adjacent each end of the portion II, are ,rigidly fixed at one end thereof to the forwardly projecting leg of the core Illa approximately midway the width thereof and project upwardly therefrom in parallelism with the remaining leg of the core loo. In turn the transfer bar 33 has rigidly fixed thereto midway between its side edges a pair of hollow posts 34 spaced from each other longitudinally of the transfer bar 33 in accordance with the spacing of the posts 32 and pro- ,iecting perpendicularly to the plane of thickness [of the transfer bar 36. The posts'34 are of an internal diameter suchas to be relatively closely but slidably received upon the posts 32 and this is the position which they assume in operation and as best brought out in Fig. 3'. It will be appreciated that the filler.sheets M are provided with openings therein spaced in accordance with the spacing of the

posts

32 and 34 and in which the posts 34 are received for the purpose of maintaining the various filler sheets in alignment with each other. Where the combined thickness of all of the filler sheets I4 is less than the effective length of a post 34, then ordinarily the free ends of the posts 34 will abut the portion ll, whereas if the combined thickness of the filler sheets i4 is greater than the length of the posts 34 then the hollow post 34 will necessarily terminate short of the member it when in assembled relation with respect thereto.

In order to hold the portions l6 and I2 together and to cause the transfer plate 30 to be pressed downwardly upon or against the corresponding margin of the stack of filler sheets l4 the following mechanism is provided. Midway between the

posts

32 and 34 and preferably arranged with its axis in a plane including the axes of the posts 32' and 34 a hollow post 40, best brought out in Figs. 4 and 5, is rigidly fixed to the portion l0. While .in the broader aspects of the invention any suitable means or method may be employed for securing the post 40 to the portion In, in the particular construction shown the lower end of the post 43 is provided with a radially outwardly projecting peripheral annular bead 42 which abuts against the inner face of the lateral flange of the core Ilia of the portion ill, the corresponding end of the post 43 projecting through an opening in the core Illa provided therefor and its outer end being flared outwardly as at 44 thus to clamp the core lUa between the bead 42 and the flared end 44.

Another hollow post 46 is similarly fixed at one end to the core l2 a of the portion I2 in such a position that when the portions l0 and I2 are arranged in complementary and operative relationship with respect to each other it is axially aligned with the post 40. The post 46 is of such size as to be relatively closely but slidably received within the post 40. In this connection it will be appreciated that although the

various posts

32, 34, 40 and 46 may be of any suitable cross-sectional configuration, for ease in production they are preferably cylindrical in cross-sectional configuration and such section is shown in the drawingsl It will be appreciated, of course, that the tiller sheets 14 and transfer bar 30 are perforated for reception of the

posts

46 and 46.

The post 46, as best brought out in Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive, is interiorly providedwith alocking member 50 adjacent its lower or outer end. This locking member in one direction, transversely as viewed in Figs. 5, 6, and '1, is slightly greater than the external diameter of the post 46. At one side in such direction it is provided with an outwardly projecting lug 52 which is loosely confined against movement longitudinally of the post 46 in an opening 53 provided in the wall of the post 46. The opposite edge is beveled as indicated at 54' so as to provide it with a chisel-like point 56, the bevel 64 providing clearance so as to permit binding engagement of the edge 36 with the inner surface of the outer post 40 as will hereinafter be better appreciated. The edge 56 is rounded as indicated in Fig. 6 so as to provide for more or less line contact between it and the inner wall of the outer post 40. The post 46 from the side thereof opposite the opening 42 is cut away as at 58 so as to permit the edge 56 to project therethrough and be afforded amaterial amount of movement longitudinally of the post 46 therein.

It will, of course, be appreciated that as far as the present invention is concerned it makes no diflerence whether, when the post 46 is assembled to the post 40 the lug 52 of the locking member 56 projects through the opening 63 sufllciently to engage the inner wall of the post 46,

or whether it isof such length as to preclude such engagement, the latter construction being shown by way of illustration. In any event it will be appreciated that the effective length of the locking member 56 is such that when the 'member' 56 is pivoted to the limit of its pivotal position in a counterclockwise direction of rotation as viewed in Figs. and 7 within the limits of the cut-away portion 56 the edge 56 will lie within the axially extended peripheral surface of the member 46, under which condifrom the position illustrated in Fig; 5 will bring the pointed end 66 thereof into engagement with the inner walls of the post 46, under which conditions any attempt to withdraw the post 46 from the post 46 will cause the pointed edge 56 to bite into the inner walls of the post 46 and cause the member 56 to be wedged between the

posts

46 and 46 thereby to effectively prevent withdrawal of the post 46 from the post 46 as long as such engagement exists.

The locking member 56 is constantly urged toward locking position by means of a coiled compression spring 66 received within the post 46 and maintained under compression between the locking member 56 and the post 46 at a point remote therefrom. While any suitable means may be provided to form an abutment for that end of the spring 66 opposite the locking member 56, in the construction shown the 'post 46 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposite indentations 62 therein, as best brought out in Fig. ,4, which formprojections on the interior of the post 46 which provide abutments for the corresponding end of the spring 66. Thus with the construction thus far described it will'be appreciated that the post 46 may be freely inserted into the post 46 and during such insertion although the spring .66 is constantly urging the locking member 56 towards a locking position, because of the angular relationship of the locking member 56 with respect to the axis of the post 46 it will slide freely down into the post 46 without offering any material resistance, but that any attempt to reverse the movement of the post 46 in the post 46 will cause the pointed edge 56 of the locking member 56 to bite into the inner wall of the post 46 and prevent such withdrawing movement. The ,locking member 56 thus acts in the nature of a ratchet permitting free movement between the

posts

46 and 46 in one direction only, and capable of locking the post 46 against withdrawal from the post 46 in any one of an infinite number of axially ad J'usted positions between them.

In order to release the locking member 56 from locking relation with respect to the post 46 and thereby permit the post 46 to be withdrawn from the post 46 the following mechanism is provided.

As best brought out in Figs. 4 to '7, inclusive,

' a bar member 16, preferably formed from sheet metal, extends downwardly through the hollowof the locking member 56.

point of Junction with the bar 16 is formed with an angular face 16 providing a hook-like portion having a point [6 which bears against the under-face of the locking member 56 on the opposite side of the center thereof from the lug 52 and at a point relatively close to the edge 56 The angularity of the surface 16 is preferably'such as to limit the pointof contact between the head 14 and the locking member 56 to the point 18.

The bar member 16 projects axially beyond the post 46 at the anchored end of the latter and is there provided with a ring 86 swiveled thereto, the ring 66 being a size greater than the bore of the post 46 so as to limit downward movement of the bar I6 therein and large enough to provide a finger hold for manipulating the bar 16.

It Will be appreciated that in assembly the bar member 16 is projected first through the locking member 56, then through'the spring 66. until the upper end thereof asviewed in the figurespro jects outwardlybeyond the fixed end of the post 46, upon which the ring 86 is inserted in the bar member 16 thereby to operatively locate the bar member 16 in place. The wedge or locking member 56 is of a minimum transverse dimension slightly less than the width of the cut-out portion y when the

posts

46 and 46 are in assembled relationship with respect to each other the spring 66 urges the locking member 56 into locking relationship with respect to the post 46 thereby to lock the posts '46 and 46 against axial separation. Under such conditions if the ring 66 is grasped and pulled outwardly away from the fixed end of the post 46 the point 18 of the head 14 of the bar member 16 in bearing against the locking member 56 will cause the locking member 56 to pivot about the pivotal connection of the lockin member 56 afiorded by the lug 52 received in the opening 53 of the post 46, and will withdraw the edge 56 of the locking member 56 out of engaging relationship with respect to the inner wall of the post 46.

Continued movement of the ring 66 outwardly away from the fixed end of the post 46 will bring the margin of the locking member 56 adjacent the pointed edge 56 thereof into contact with the upper wall of the cut-out portion 56 upon which the pull on the ring 56 will withdraw the post 46 from the post 46 and, ofcourse, will carry the portion I! of the binder outwardly therewith.

When the

posts

46 and 46 are in their interengaging and operative relation with respect to each other the bar member 16 is free to move downwardly. in the post 46 until, the ring 66 engages the fixed end of the post 46. In practice under such conditions the ring 86 is pivoted over into substantially flat contacting relationship with respect to the outer face of the portion I2 which thereupon permits the cover 26' to be folded over into opposed and complementary relationship with respect to the cover l6 so as to enclose the filler sheets l4 between them.

It will be appreciated from the above description that the present invention provides an extremely simple and emcient means by which the two parts or a telescoping post structure may be automatically locked against withdrawal with respect to each other by simply inserting the inner post member within the outer post member, and

that the construction is such as to enable these two members to be locked together in any one of an infinite number of axially adjusted positions with respect to each other and that, when locked together, they may be released from looking engagement with respect to each other and the two separate parts of the binder be simultaneously separated simply by applying a pull to the ring 80.

Having thus described my invention what I claim by Letters Patent is:

1. In a telescoping binder, in combination, a-

- locking member having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein, and means for releasing said locking member including a flat bar slidably but non-rotatably received in said slot, said bar having a lateral projection disposed below said locking member and extending in a direction away from the pivotal axis 01' said locking member, said lateral projection including an upper edge portion engageable with said locking member to release the same from looking position upon upward movement of said bar.

2. In a telescoping binder, in combination, a pair of hollow posts, one telescopically received within the other, the inner of said posts having an opening formed in the side wall thereof, an elongated locking member within said inner post pivoted thereto at one end for movement about an axis extending transversely of said postand on the side 01' said post opposite said opening, the opposite end of said locking member extending through said opening and being adapted to engage the inner surface of the outer post when in look ing position, yieldable means normally urging said locking member toward locking position, said locking member having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein, and means for releasing said locking member including aflat bar slidably but non-rotatably received in said slot, said bar having a lateral projection disposed below said looking member and extending in a direction away irom the pivotal axis of said locking member, said lateral projection having an upper edge defined by a surface which diverges downwardly and axis extending transversely of said post on the side opposite said opening, said locking member projecting through said opening and into engagement with the inner surface of the outer or said posts, spring means constantly urging said locking member towards engagement with the inner surface of the outer of said posts, and means for releasing said locking member from said engagement comprising a bar member extending through said locking member in slidable but non-rotatable relation therewith and having one end thereof,

projecting beyond the upper end of said inner post, the opposite end of said bar member having a head extending in a direction away from the pivotal axis of said locking member and being engageable with the under side of said locking member to release the same from locking position upon upward movement of said bar member.

4. In a telescoping binder, in combination, a pair of hollow posts one telescopically received within the other, the inner of said posts having an opening therein, a locking member within said inner post pivoted thereto at one end for movement about an axis extending transversely of said post on the side opposite said opening, said locking member being greater in length than the inner diameter of said outer post and having its opposite end beveled and projecting through said opening and into engagement with the inner surface or the outer of said posts, spring means eonstantly urging said locking member towards engagement with the inner surface of the outer of said posts, and means for releasing said locking member from said engagement comprising a bar member projecting through said locking member in slidable but non-rotatable relation therewith and having a head disposed below said locking member and extending in a direction away from the pivotal axis of said locking member and being engageable with the underside of said locking member to release the same from locking position upon upward movement of said bar member.

5. In a telescoping binder, in combination, a pair of hollow posts one telescopically received within the other, the inner of said posts having an opening therein, a locking member within said inner post pivoted thereto for movement about an axis extending transversely of said post on the side opposite said opening, said locking member projecting through said opening and into engagement with the inner surface of the outer of said posts, a plurality of projections in the bore of said inner post lying substantially in a common plane perpendicular to the axis of said ost and in spaced relation axially of said post from said locking member, a coil spring within said inner post maintained under compression between said projections and said locking member and constantly' urging said locking member towards eninwardly with respect to the adjacent surface of said locking member, said edge being engageable with said locking member to release the same from locking position upon upward movement or said bar.

3. In a telescoping binder, in combination, a pair of hollow posts one telescopically received within the other, the inner of said posts having an opening therein, a locking member within said inner post pivoted thereto for movement about an member to release the same from loclclng position upon upward movement of said bar member. V STANLEY G. JOHNSON.