US2976871A

US2976871A - Loose leaf binder

Info

Publication number: US2976871A
Application number: US686668A
Authority: US
Inventors: Potts John
Original assignee: Wilson Jones Co
Current assignee: Wilson Jones Co
Priority date: 1957-09-27
Filing date: 1957-09-27
Publication date: 1961-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 1978-03-28

Description

March 28, 1961 J. POTTS 2,976,871

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Sept. 27, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I f w,,,,...,..,.

p 019 Q 'm 4 lllllllll i lllll I IN VEN TOR.

BY Jam Pam.

March 28, 1961 J. POTTS 2,976,871

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Sept. 27, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. John 13 5f:-

LOOSE LEAF BINDER John Potts, Chicago,

pany, Chicago, 11].,

11]., assignor to Wilson-Jones Coma corporation of Massachusetts This invention relates to a loose leaf binder of the type having oppositely disposed sheet retaining prongs secured to opposite edges of centrally hinged back sections, and is particularly concerned with means for means for opening and closing the binder to facilitate sheet changes.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior co-pending application Serial No. 668,993, filed July 1, 1957, and now abandoned.

Loose leaf binders of the type to which the present invention is directed are used extensively to hold sheets put out by various legal service publishers, and mailed about once a week to subscribers of such services. The number of sheets contained in each mailing may vary from a few sheets to a few hundred sheets. The subscriber must insert the new sheets in the binder in the proper places, and must also remove the sheets that are to be replaced by the newly inserted sheets.

The sheet changes in legal service binders occur so frequently that post binders are not satisfactory, and most publishers insist on ring or prong binders, although ring binders are generally limited to a capacity of about three inches. Although the loose leaf binder of the present invention may be made in a wide range of sheet capacities, the invention is intended primarily for binders of large capacity, for example, binders having a capacity of from three to six inches. Binders of such capacity have considerable weight when fully loaded.

It is an object of this invention to provide a sturdy binder of large capacity with as little weight as possible to facilitate handling of the fully loaded binders by the subscribers.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and efiicient means for closing the binder and securely latching the hinged back sections to prevent accidental spilling of the sheets.

A further object of the invention is to provide easily operated means for unlatching the back sections of the binder to permit sheet changes to be made.

A further object is to provide a neat, attractive removable outer back that will not interfere with the normal use of the binder and will protect the binding material of the outer back and any lettering placed thereon against excessive wear by preventing sharp bending of the binding material when the binder is opened.

A further object is to provide equalizing plates at each end of the binder that will keep both outer plates spaced equally from the hinge of the inner plates when the binder is opened or closed, to prevent sharp bending of the binding.

The structure by means of which the above noted objects and other advantages of the invention are attained will be described in the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, showing a preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a loose leaf binder em- 2,976,871 Patented Mar. 2 1961 bodying the invention, the covers being shown in open position, and the sheet retaining mechanism being just released from latched position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the binder, with the latch just released from latching position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary and elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, similar to Fig. 4, and taken generally along the same line, but showing the binder in latched position;

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the equalizing plate;

Fig. 7 is a detail bottom perspective view of the inner back section with the cover members hinged thereto;

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the outer back section of the binder;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view, taken along the line 9-9of Fig. l; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary cross sectional view, showing the binder in open position.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates an inner back comprising two

plates

3 and 4 arranged in edge to edge relationship and provided with

integral hinge lugs

5 and 6, respectively, depending from their adjoining edges. The offset of the

hinge lugs

5 and 6 from the plane of the

plates

3 and 4 produces an important beneficial result in connection with the binding of the outer cover, as hereinafter described. The

plates

2 and 3 are hinged together by a hinge pintle 7 passing through the aligned

hinge lugs

5 and 6. The

plates

3 and 4 are provided respectively with integral

upstanding abutments

8 and 9 adjacent the hinge lugs Sand 6. Theadjacent edges of these abutments are adapted to serve as stop members when the inner back section is closed, to prevent the inner edges of the

plates

3 and 4 from passing below the horizontal plane in which the

plates

3 and 4 are supposed to be confined when they are latched in closed position.

The outer edges of the

plates

3 and 4 are provided 9 V respectively with depending flanges 1t), 11,

upstanding projections

12, 13, and

hinge lugs

14, 15. It should be noted that the

back plates

3 and 4 are identical in cross sectional configuration. The back plates are made of aluminum, and are extruded in strips about to feet in length. The extrusion die is not shown, but it will be understood that it is provided with a mandrel adjacent each edge of the discharge opening to extrude a continuous hinge lug adjacent each longitudinal edge of the back plate. lengths for the back plates, and the continuous hinge lugs are then punched out to provide the desired hinge lug structure.

Preferably the hinge lugs are of uniform length, but uniformity is not required. In assembling the back plates, one back plate is reversed end for end, relative to the other, and the

hinge lugs

5 and 6 at the inner longitudinal edges of the

back plates

3 and 4 fit together in axial alignment. The hinge pintle 7 is extended through the

hinge lugs

5 and 6 to hold the back plates in pivotal relationship.

The hinge lugs 14 and 15 at the outer longitudinal edges of the back plates are preferably spaced identically. A cover 16 has secured thereto a hinge plate 17 provided with hinge lugs 18 arranged to fit between the hinge lugs 14. The

hinge lugs

14 and 18 do not have to be the same size or require identical spacing, as long as the spacing will permit them to be axially aligned. A hinge pintle 19 extending through the

hinge lugs

14 and 18 pivotally secures the cover '16 to the outer longitudinal The strip is sawed into the desired edge of the plate 3. A cover 29 is similarly hinged to the outer longitudinal edge of the plate 4. The cover has a hinge plate 22 provided with integral hinge lugs 23. A hinge pintle 24 extending through the aligned

hinge lugs

15 and 23 secures'the cover pivotally to the outer longitudinal edge of the plate 4.

Each

back plate

3 and 4 has a plurality of apertures 25 adjacent its outer lon itudinal edge. Each aperture 25 extends through the

projection

12 or 13 and into the depending flange iii or iii. In Fig. 7 of the drawings three apertures are shown in the plate 3, and two in the plate 4. The longitudinal spacing between the apertures 25 preferably corresponds to a standard spacing for sheets of a size to fit in the binder. A plurality of sheet retaining prongs 26,, preferably of aluminum, each has one end fixed in the apertures 25, as shown in Fig. 9. Each flange 1t) and 11 has a dovetailed recess 27 extending transversely through the flange in lateral alignment with each aperture 25. The lower end of each prong 26 has a transversely extending dovetailed recess 28 adapted to be aligned with the recess 27 and form a continuation thereof when the end of the prong 26 is positioned properly in the aperture 25.

A wedge shaped spline 29 is fitted into the

recesses

27 and 28 to secure the prongs 26 in place. The splines extend longitudinally of the flanges 10 and i1 and are preferably of approximately the same length as the flanges. The cross sectional area of the spline equals the total cross sectional area of both

recesses

27 and 28 to provide a tight fit and prevent the prongs 2s from wobbliug.

The prongs 26 may be staked in place in any suitable manner. For example, aligned threaded transverse recesses may be provided in the

flanges

10 and 11 and in the prongs 26. Set screws may then be threaded into the aligned recesses to secure the prongs securely in place.

The free end of each prong is preferably pointed, as indicated at 30, to facilitate impalement of the sheets (not shown) thereon. The prongs 26 are each curved arcuately so that the overlapped portions thereof are always in alignment when the binder is viewed in end elevation. The sheets used in legal services are generally of cheap, thin paper, and the arcuate alignment of the prongs prevents tearing of the sheets adjacent the punched holes through which the prongs must move.

The latching mechanism is shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inelusive. bar 32, secured to the back plate 4 in any suitable manner, as, for example, by rivets 33, is offset, as indicated at 34, to position the free end of the latch in a plane just above the plane of the top surface of the

abutments

3 and 9. The resilience of the latch holds the free end 35 juxtaposed against the top surface of the abutments. The free end 35 is provided with an aperture 36 adapted to fit over the pin 31 when the

back plates

3 and 4 are in their closed position, as shown in Fig. 5, and prevent them from swinging upwardly around the hinge pintl-e 7.

A release rod 37 is held against the back plate 3 by a pair of longitudinally aligned

sleeves

33 and 39 which have

lateral flanges

40 and 41, respectively, secured to the plate 3 by rivets 42 and 43. The

sleeves

38 and 39 are spaced apart to form a gap in proximity to the latch 32. The gap exposes the portion of the release rod 37 which extends under the free end 35 of the latch. The portion of the release rod positioned beneath the free end 35 of the latch is bent angularly, as indicated at 44. The outer end of the rod 37 is bent to form a handle 45 adjacent one end of the sleeve 38 to facilitate manipulation of the rod and also to prevent longitudinal dis placement of the rod in one direction. The opposite end of the rod is bent against one end of the sleeve 39, as indicated at 46, to prevent longitudinal displacement of the rod 37 in the opposite direction.

Rotation of the rod 37 causes theangularly bent por- A resilient latch in the form of a transverse tion 44 to raise the free end 35 of the latch to disengage the latch aperture 36 from the pin 31 to permitthe back

plates

3 and 4 to move pivotally about the hinge pintle 7 to open the binder. The sheet retaining mechanism may be closed by lifting the covers and pressing them inwardly against the prongs 26. The sheet retaining mechanism may also be closed by grasping the

covers

16 and 20 and pulling them outwardly. In either case, the latch aperture 36 will move into alignment with the pin 31 and the resilience of the latch will cause the aperture 36 to snap down over the pin 31 to latch the sheet retaining mechanism in closed position.

The binder as described above is an operative structure, but an outer back 47 is preferably provided to enhance the appearance of the binder and to protect the surface of desks, upon which the binder may be handled, from the

hinge sleeves

5 and 6. The outer back comprises two

separate members

48 and 49 bound together in laterally spaced relationship by a sheet 54 of fabric or leather adapted to harmonize with the binding of the

covers

16 and 20. The binding material provides a flexible hinge for the outer back.

The

outer back members

48 and 49 each comprise a flat plate 51, a longitudinal flange 52, and a pair of end flanges 53. The end flanges each have a slightly elongated slot 54-. Theends of the flanges it and ill are provided with apertures 55 adapted to be aligned with the slots 54 when the inner hack 2 is positioned in the outer back. Screws 56 extending through the slots 54 are threaded into the apertures 5'5 to secure the outer back in place. The slots 54 permit a slight lateral movement of the screws 56 when the inner and outer backs are moved pivotally. This slight lateral movement of the screws 56 relative to the slots 54 is necessary because the pivotal movement of the outer back is around a different pivot than the pivotal movement of the inner back. The outer back may be easily removed from or attached to the rest of the binder stincture.

The fabric sheet 59 provides a convenient surface for lettering to identify the binder. When the binder is opened, as shown in Fig. 10, the fabric 50 is folded loosely adjacent the hinge pintle 7 to prevent cracks that would mar the appearance of the lettering on the outer back. An equalizing plate 57 is mounted on each end of the hinge pintle 7 to prevent the outer back members from moving unequally about the pivot formed by the flexible fabric 56. If one side of the outer back were permitted to move more than the other side the fabric 50 might get caught between the inner edge of one back plate and the flat portion of the other. In such event, the fabric 50 would be subjected to excessive wear, even though the hinge at the inner edges of the back plates 3 is oflset to provide space for the fabric to bend on a wide radius.

Each of the equalizing plates has an aperture 58 for mounting it on the hinge pintle 7 and a pin 59 projecting perpendicularly from each end thereof. Each end flange 53 has an aperture so into which one of the pins 59 is adapted to fit. The screws 56 secure the

outer back members

48 and 49 to the inner back so that the equalizing plates cannot be displaced when the hinge pintle 7 projects through the aperture 58 and the pins 59 project through the apertures 60.

The equalizing plates 57 pull the inner edges of the

outer back members

48 and 49 upwardly equally and prevent the fabric 50 from bending at a sharp angle when the outer back sections are moved into the open position of the binder shown in Fig. 10. The oflset of the hinge lugs 5 and 6, each of which depends from the inner longitudinal edge of its back plate, spaces the inner surface of the back plates adjacent the hinge when the binder is in the position of Fig. 10 to allow plenty of room for the flexible hinge between the outer back sections and cooperates with the equalizing plates .57 to prevent a sharp bend in the fabric 50. The absencerof ashaip to be restricted to the exact construction described, ex-

cept as limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A loose leaf binder comprising two inner back plates, a hinge pintle securing said inner back plates in pivotal relationship, two outer back plates secured to said inner back plates, a flexible binding material connecting said outer back plates, and an equalizing plate secured to said hinge pintle and each of said outer back plates to keep said outer back plates spaced equally from said hinge pintle when said inner back plates are moved pivotally about said hinge pintle to open or close said binder.

2. A loose leaf binder comprising an outer back having two outer back plates, a flexible binding material connecting said outer back plates, an end flange extending perpendicularly to each end of each of said back plates, two inner back plates positioned in said outer back in edge to edge relationship, a hinge pintle pivotally securing said inner back plates together, an end flange extending perpendicularly to each end of each of said inner back plates, each end flange of each inner back plate being parallel to and adjacent an end flange of a corresponding outer back plate, means securing corresponding end flanges together, and an equalizing plate secured to said hinge pintle and each adjacent end flange of said outer back plate to keep said outer back plates spaced equally from said hinge pintle when said inner back plates are moved pivotally about said hinge pintle to open or close said binder.

3. A loose leaf binder comprising an outer back having two outer back plates, a flexible binding material connecting said outer back plates, an end flange extending perpendicularly to each end of each of said back plates, an aperture in each of said end flanges, two inner back plates positioned in said outer back, means securing said outer back platesto said inner back plates, a hinge pintle pivotally securing said inner back plates together, an equalizing plate secured to each end of said hinge pintle, and a pin projecting perpendicularly from each end of each of said equalizing plates, each of said pins extending into one of said apertures to keep said outer back plates spaced equally from said hinge pintle when said inner back plates are moved pivotally about said hinge pintle to open or close said binder.

4. A loose leaf binder having a pair of extruded inner back plates having integral hinge lugs projecting from each longitudinal edge, a hinge pintle extending through the hinge lugs on the inner longitudinal edges to hinge said inner back plates together along said inner longitudinal edges, an integral depending flange extending longitudinally along the outer longitudinal edge of each of said plates, means for securing sheet retaining prongs to each of said flanges, an outer back fitting over said inner back plates, and means extending longitudinally of said binder for securing said outer back to the ends of said flanges.

5. A loose leaf binder having a pair of extruded inner back plates having integral hinge lugs projecting from each longitudinal edge, a hinge pintle extending through the hinge lugs on the inner longitudinal edges to hinge said inner back plates together along said inner longitudinal edge, an integral depending flange extending longitudinally along the outer longitudinal edge of each of said plates, a dovetailed recess extending longitudinally in each of said flanges, a plurality of sheet retaining prongs each having one end extending into one of said flanges, each of said prongs transversing one of said recesses, a spline fitting in each of said dovetailed recesses and engaging the prongs traversing said recesses to secure said sheet retaining prongs to each of said flanges, an outer back fitting over said inner back plates, and means extending longitudinally of said binder for securing said outer back to the ends of said flanges.

6. A loose leaf binder having a pair of extruded inner back plates hinged together along one longitudinal edge, an integral flange extending longitudinally along the outer longitudinal edge of each of said plates, means for securing sheet retaining prongs to each of said flanges, an outer back fitting over said inner back plates, said outer back comprising two outer back plates, means for securing the outer longitudinal edges of said outer back plates to the ends of said flanges, and an equalizing plate secured to the hinge connection between said inner back plates and to the inner edge of each of said outer back plates to keep the outer back plates spaced from said hinge connection.

7. A loose leaf binder comprising a pair of inner back plates having an offset hinge along adjoining longitudinal edges, an outer back secured to said inner back plates, said outer back comprising a pair of outer back plates having spaced longitudinal edges secured together by a fabric hinge, said oflset hinge being adapted to allow said inner back plates to swing about said offset hinge to open position, and an equalizer plate secured to said offset hinge and each ofsaid outer back plates to maintain uniform spaced relationship between said offset hinge and said spaced longitudinal edges of the outer back plates when said inner back plates are swung about said offset hinge to prevent sharp bending of said fabric hinge.

8. A loose leaf binder comprising an inner back and an outer back each provided with a longitudinally extending center hinge, said outer back having upstanding flanges on each end, said flanges having slots, and means extending through said slots into engagement with said inner back to secure said outer back to said inner back, said slots permitting slight movement of said outer back relative to said inner back when both of said backs are moved about said hinges.

9. A loose leaf binder comprising an inner back and an outer back each provided with a longitudinally extending center hinge, said inner back having depending flanges extending longitudinally along its outer edges, each of said flanges having an aperture in each end, said outer back having flanges at each end, said flanges each having a slot adapted to register with said apertures, screws extending through each of saidslots and into the aligned aperture to permit simultaneous pivotal movement of said inner and outer backs about said hinges, and abutments on said inner back adjacent its center hinge to prevent pivotal movement of the inner longitudinal edges of said inner back section below the horizontal plane of the closed position of said inner back.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 697,571 Trussell Apr. 15, 1902 995,035 Schultze June 13, 1911 1,391,780 Krag Sept. 27, 1921 2,129,224 Martin Sept. 6, 1938 2,661,004 Ehlke Dec. 1, 1953