US2641261A

US2641261A - Loose-leaf binder

Info

Publication number: US2641261A
Application number: US193130A
Authority: US
Inventors: Uthurriague Juan Bernabe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-11-26
Filing date: 1950-10-31
Publication date: 1953-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 1970-06-09

Description

June 9, 1953 J. B. UTHURRIAGUE I LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Filed Oct. 3l, 1950 Patented Juney 9, 1953 LOOSE -LEAF BINDER Juan Bernab Uthurriague, Buenos Aires, Argentina v implication.OctoberY 31, 1950, Serial No..193,130 In Argentina November 26, 1949 d Claims. 1

The present Ainvention relates to a novel 'binder consisting of separable loose cov-ers with binding posts the locking a-ndunloching or which for the insertion or removal of loose leaves is automatic and which is especially adapted-for use with loose leaves having marginal perforations.

The principal shortcoming of nearly all common loose leaf binders is that the dualityV and condition of the book varies very largely in acm cordance with the number of loose leaves it contains.

Usually the binders are too loose when there are few leaves in the book and generally the binding is dangerously tight when the bool: is fairly full of loose leaves, both cases making retaining diicult.

This inconvenience is entirely eliminated by the present invention, which provides a method of binding the loose leaves that is entirely novel,

highly efficient and relatively economical, espe cially when due consideration is given to the simplicity and easy manipulation of this new device, the long service it is capable of rendering, the case of reconditioningy and low cost of any parts that may require replacement.

For easy comprehension of this invention a drawing is attached hereto wherein:

Fig. l is a longitudinal section oi" the binder as at line I--I in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a plan `of the upper part oi the binder.

Fig. 3 is a section through 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows the perforated edge of a loose leaf as usedin the binder herein described.

From the above figures it will be seen that this invention consists of a lower cover i provided with perforations 2 reinforced by means of eyelets oi suitable material 3. Two additional perforations are provi-ded il inthe neighborhood or the centre of the lower cover I.

The perforations 2 engage the cylindrical members 5 respectively, which members consists of an elastic material, such as India-rubber, the lower extremities of which are substantially enlarged as shown at 6. In order to hold the cylindrical members in position of loose attachment to the lower cover I, a washer or collar is provided which may be constituted by the outer head of eyelet 3 and which prevents the enlarged extremities E from being drawn into the perforations 2.

The elastic cylindrical members 5 are provided with rigid tubular sleeves of suitable material 'l which sleeves are iirmly attached at the upper extremities 8 of the elastic members 5 by adequate means, such as a pin 8a extending through the sleeve and the eyelet at the end of the elastic member.

The elastic members 5 have enlarged lower pore tions 9 the diameter of which is greater than that of the upper portions Ill.

The lower portions 8 may be further reinforced by means of a core of suitably thin but strong material l I, such as cobblers twine, which strengthens the elastic material in ii and prevents the lower portion of this material from being extended when the binding bars are drawn 'op wards before being bent over to lock the binder.

The loose leaves, shown at I2, are perforated near upper and lower edges and also in the vicinity of the center, to register with the perforations in the lower cover.

The upper cover is provided with the channels i3 the width of which is slightly in excess ci the outer diameter of the tubular sleeves land two fia-t springs I4 having their ends bent over at right angles are provided in the two channels i3 respectively which springs tend to press upwardly when the binders are in condition to remove or add loose leaves, thereby engaging the two loching bars l5 which latter are urged outwardly by the spring il imbedded in the upper cover which tends to press both the said locking bars I5 outwardly against the vertical portions of the said springs It.

The locking bars i5 are provided with eatensions i8 for manipulation by means of the linger and thumb of one hand.

A reinforcing cover-plate 2l is provided immediately underneath the upper cover of the binder. which has perforations corresponding the perforations Eil, in the upper cover. This coverplate has two longitudinal slots 22, the edges of which are beaded and serve as reinforcem ments for the edges of the slots out in the upper cover.

The action of this device is simple. When the cylindrical elastic members 5 are in a state of rest, the tubular sleeves l which are iixed upon them are ina vertical position, and the top cover and loose leaves can be removed or replaced as required.

The hat springs it are in raised position, there by preventing with their bentover ends the outward movement of the locking bars I5.

When the book is to be closed and locked, the upper cover is replaced and the tubular sleeves l are drawn upwards, one at a time, thereby stretching the elastic members 5 until the lower extremity of the sleeve l is above the upper cover. The sleeve 'l is then inserted along the channel i3. When the extremity of the sleeve l presses down upon the spring I4 it releases the locking bar I5 which enters the open end of the sleeve 'I and s holds it in the channel I3 thus pressing the upper binding cover firmly towards the lower cover and the loose leaves between them are securely bound. At the same time the beards of the springs I 4 enter the perforations 4.

To open the covers for the insertion or removal of loose leaves the two locking bar extensions I8 are pressed towards each other by the finger and thumb of one hand. `The flat springs I4 then push up the ends of the sleeves 'I forming the binding posts which assume a vertical position,A

thus enabling the top cover to be removed and exposing the loose leaves. The binding posts remain in the vertical position, being held there by the lower binding cover. At the instant oi escaping from the pressure of the ends of the tubular sleeves 'I the flat springs I4 impede the outward movement of the locking bar extensions I8 which therefore remain in the open position, ready to lock the posts upony the return of the sleeve ends when the book is being locked after loose leaves have been added orremoved.

As will be evident from the drawings (Fig. 4) the loose leaves that are used with the binder in accordance with this invention are also perforated in spaced position 4 which perforations register with those oi the lower binder -cover 4 and serve to receive the vertically downward bent extremities of the laminated springs I4 when the binder device is in locked position.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modiiications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims. i

Having described one embodiment of my invention and the method of employment of same, what I claim is:

1. A binder for loose leaf books, comprising a lower cover having two perforations, an upper cover, and elastic binding posts extending through said perforations, each of said binding posts having a cylindrical portion of elastic material provided at its lower end with an enlarged part of greater diameter than that of said perforations and a rigid tubular sleeve disposed around said cylindrical portion and fastened thereto adjacent the upper end thereof, a longitudinal channel in the upper cover adapted to receive said sleeves in horizontal position, a tubular member disposed centrally of said channel and enclosing a spring and a pair of locking bars adapted to be urged by said spring into locking engagement with said binding posts while in horizontal position, manipulating extensions on said locking bars, and laminated springs disposed in said channel, adapted to engage said locking bars and retain them in unlocked position.

2. A binder for loose leaf books, comprising a lower cover having two perforationa' an upper cover, and elastic binding posts extending through said perforations, each of said lbinding posts having a cylindrical portion of elastic material provided at its lower end with an enlarged part of greater diameter than that of said perforations and a rigid tubular sleeve disposed around said cylindrical portion and fastened 4 gitudinal channel in the upper cover adapted to receive said sleeves in horizontal position, a tubular member disposed centrally of said channel and enclosing a spring and a pair of locking bars adapted to be urged by said spring into locking engagement with said binding posts while in horizontal position, manipulating extensions on said locking bars, and laminated springs disposed in said channel, adapted to engage said locking bars and retain them in unlocked position, said cylindrical portion of elastic material being provided with a reinforcing core at its lower end. r

3. A binder for loose leaf books, comprising .a lower cover Vhaving two perforations, an upper cover, and elastic binding posts extending through said perforations, each of said binding posts having a cylindrical portion of elastic material provided at its lower end with an enlarged part of greater diameter than that of 4saidperforations and a rigid `tubular sleeve disposed around said cylindrical portion and fastened thereto adjacent the upper end thereof, a 1ongitudinal channel in the upper cover adapted to receive said sleeves in horizontal position, a tubular member disposed centrally of said channel and enclosing a spring and a pair of looking bars adapted to be urged by said spring into locking engagement with said binding posts while in horizontal position, manipulating extensions on said locking bars, and laminated springs disposed in said channel, adapted to engage said locking bars and retain them in unlocked position, said perforations in said lower cover being reinforced with eyelets.

4. A binder for loose leaf books, comprising a lower cover having two perforations, an upper cover, and elastic binding posts extending through said perforations, each of said binding posts -having a cylindrical portion of elastic material provided at its lower end with an enlarged part of greater diameter than that of said perforations and a rigid tubular sleeve disposed around said cylindrical portion and fastened thereto adjacent the upper end thereof, a longitudinal channel in the upper cover adapted to receive said sleeves in horizontal position, a tubular member disposed centrally of said channel and enclosing a spring and a pair of locking bars posed in said channel, adapted to engage said thereto adjacent the upper end thereof, a lonv locking bars and retain them in unlocked position, said covers having perforations in alignment with the ends of said laminated springs.

JUAN BERNAB UTHURRIAGUE.

4liefert-mes cited in the fue of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number y Name Date 826,460 Wirt July 17, 1906 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 187,438 Great Britain Oct. 26, 1922 468,870

Great vBritain July 14, 1937