US2853078A - Tray binder - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 23, 1958 O. E. NABHOLZ TRAY BINDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 28, 1958 //v VENTO/Z UPI/IE E. Nam/0.42

- ATTOP/VEJG Sept. 23, 1958 o. E. NABHOLZ TRAY BINDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 28, 1958 ATTUPNEKS United States Patent TRAY BINDER Orvie E. Nabholz, Shellsburg, Iowa, assignor to Le Febure forporation, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, -a corporation of owa Application January 28, 1958, Serial No. 711,628

3 Claims. (Cl. 129-16) This invention relates to a tray binder adapted to hold file cards and the like, and more particularly one in which the sectional dividers are locked in position and can be moved only by deliberate action of the operator.

It is a primary object of my invention to provide a device in which the front and rear covers can be moved only when the dividers are also free for movement.

It is also another object of my invention to provide a device in which the covers may be moved toward or away from each other in unison without disturbing the position of the dividers.

It is yet another object of my invention to provide a device in which the cover moving mechanism is shielded whenever the dividers are locked in position.

It is yet another object of my invention to provide a device in which the dividers are firmly held in the tray, even when free for relative movement back and forth therein.

Other and further features and objects of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the accompanying drawings and following specifications, wherein is disclosed a single exemplary embodiment of the invention, with the understanding, however that such changes may be made therein as fall within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view in perspective of the device showing the guard shield in open position and the crank inserted for operative movement of the binder covers.

Figure 2 is a partial front view in perspective showing the guard shield in closed position in relation to the crank mechanism which moves the binder covers.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the device in perspective showing portions of the frame, dividers and binder covers cut away to disclose the locking mechanism.

Figure 4 is a view in cross section showing the lock-- ing mechanism in open position, and

Figure 5 is a view in cross section showing the locking mechanism in closed position.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figure 3, a device constructed according to my invention is primarily comprised of a base portion indicated generally at 11, a rail portion 12 mounted on the base portion and positioned at some distance above the base being adapted to surround the contents of the tray binder, a front and back cover 13 and 14, and a plurality of dividers such as 15 positioned on the base between the rail members and between the binder covers.

The base member includes four channels, such as 16 and 17, which are the two outside channels, and 18 and 19 which are the inside channels, and provide the track for the front and rear binder covers 13 and 14. Between these two inside channels are a pair of threaded rods 20 and 21. One of these rods 20 is operatively connected to the front binder cover 13 by a saddle member such Patented Sept. 23, 1958 "Ice as 22 which is threaded to receive the rod. The binder cover 13 is fastened to this saddle member. It will be noted that this binder cover is hinged at 23. The rear binder cover is similarly mounted on a saddle member and operatively connected to rod 21. It is conventional practice to turn these two rods 20 and 21 through a small gear case 24, through the medium of a crank such as 25.

The dividers, such as 15, are provided with two downwardly extending tabs 26 and 27. The center portions of these tabs are notched as at 28 and 29, the tabs extending downwardly into the cavity formed by channels 16 and 18 on one side and 17 and 19 on the other side.

Also in these two cavities are longitudinal rods 30 and 31. These rods are formed with a series of radially positioned cone-like protruding pins or cars such as 32 and 33 on rod 30, and 34 and 35 on rod 31. They extend radially for a greater distance than the cross-sectional radius of the notches 28 and 29. These two rods are adapted to be rotated in unison in a 60 degree arc to a point where the ears extend downwardly in such a position that the open ends of the notches 28 and 29 will clear them. In this manner the dividers may be freely moved manually along the longitudinal distance of the rods when the ears are extending downwardly. However, when the ears in the rods are turned to a more nearly horizontal position, the dividers cannot be moved for more than a limited distance between two adjacent ears.

Bearing in mind the fact that the dividers normally are locked in position in relation to the longitudinal bars, it becomes at once apparent that a mechanical conflict exists if the threaded rods 20 and 21 are rotated in order to move the binder covers back and forth. Obviously if the two covers are brought together by the movement of the crank 25, serious strains will be set up between the dividers and the ears if the operator attempts to move the covers without unlocking the dividers.

To prevent such action, I have provided a shield member 36 which is adapted to be positioned in front of the crank opening 37. On this cover is a small handle 38. This cover and handle are operatively connected to the longitudinal bars 30 and 31. The shield is attached to a crossbar 39 which in turn is pivotally mounted on the upper ends of two substantially vertical bar members 40 and 41. These two bars in turn are mounted at 42 and 43 on the longitudinal locking bars 30 and 31. The last mentioned bar members are all positioned within the rail portion 12. The shield itself extends outwardly beyond the rail portion and downwardly over the main base 11. The bar assembly is adapted to be moved parallel to the front rail and turns the two longitudinal rods 30 and 31 through a 60 degree arc. The horizontal movement of the bar 39 is limited by the rails 44 and 45 to limit the movement of the rods.

When the ears of the bars are radially downward and the dividers free to move longitudinally of the bars, the shield is away from the crank opening. As the shield is moved crosswise of the tray into position in front of the crank opening, the ears turn into a horizontal position and fix the dividers in relation to the bars and the base member of the tray.

It will be apparent, then, that the operator cannot insert the crank unless the shield and associated bars have been moved into an open position. It is this mechanism which prevents the inadvertent forcing of the binder covers against the dividers in a locked position.

The dividers are also notched at the edge, as indicated at 48, in order to mate with the side rail members such as 44. In this way, even though the dividers are free to move longitudinally of the tray, they still will not slip upwardly and out of the tray itself. To secure their removal, it is necessary to move the rail members 44 or 45 sideways. In order to do this, the rail members themselves are slidably mounted in the front vertical sup ports 46 and 47 for limited sidewise movement.

From the foregoing description, the operation of the device will be fully apparent.

Although I have described a specific embodiment of my invention, it is apparent that modifications thereof may be made by those skilled in the art. Such modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a tray binder, a base member including longitudinal spaced-apart channel portions, threaded rods positioned longitudinally of said base member between the channels thereof, a crank opening in said base coextensive with said rods, crank means adapted to be operatively attached to said rod members through said opening, hinged binder covers operatively connected to said rods adapted to move longitudinally thereof within said base member, a plurality of dividers positioned between said binder members, said dividers having tabs thereon extending downwardly into said base member between said spaced-apart channel portions, locking means comprising rods having a plurality of ears thereon, said rods being positioned longitudinally of said base member adjacent said downwardly extending binder tabs, said rods further having upwardly extending rod portions, a cross bar pivotally attached to said upwardly extending rod bars, and shield means formed integrally and downwardly of said cross bar, the angular relationship between said ears, upwardly extending bars and cross bars being such that the movement of said cross bar will cause said shield member to alternately cover and expose said crank opening as said ears engage or disengage said tabs.

2. In a tray binder, a base member, a plurality of threaded rods in said base member, binder covers mounted on said base and operatively connected to said rods for longitudinal movement in relation to said base, an opening in said base member in communication with said rods, dividers positioned between said binder covers, locking means pivotally mounted longitudinally of said base member having ear means radially positioned thereof to fixedly engage said dividers, and shield means rotatable on said locking means and positioned to selectively cover said opening when said dividers are fixedly engaged by said ear means.

3. In a device of the type described, a rectangular base member, threaded rod means positioned longitudinally in said base member, one end thereof extending outwardly from said base member, crank means removably positioned on said rod means, binder covers mounted on said base member, a. portion of said covers being threaded to engage said rod, a plurality of longitudinally slidable dividers positioned between said covers, movement limiting rod means rotatably mounted longitudinally in said base adjacent said dividers and having ears thereon positioned to be selectively rotated into the path of longitudinal movement of said dividers, shield means mounted on said limiting means outwardly therefrom for transverse movement in relation to said base and positioned to be selectively interposed between said threaded rod means and said removable crank coincident with the movement of said ears.

No references cited.

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