US3205894A - Floating ring loose-leaf binder - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 14, 196 E. c. RANKIN 3,25%:

FLOATING RING LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Original Filed May 8, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l 4'6 INVENTOR.

fdgrd CY dil B 1 Sept. 14, 1965 E. c. RANKlN FLOATING RING LC'QSE-LEAF 313mm Original Filed May 8, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG, 5

INVENTOR.

Edward L? fan/e212 United States Patent Claims. or. 12a-17 This application is a continuation of Serial No. 657,812, filed May 8, 1957, now abandoned.

This invention pertains to loose-leaf binders of the pivoted ring and prong type, and has as its principal object the provision of an improved prong or ring or stringer mechanism which is characterized for convenience as a floating ring structure by reason of the fact that each ring is of a peculiar reentrant U-shape consisting of a radial foot, a chordlike leg, and an arcuate prong or stringer, said floating rings being preferably used in pairs pivoted .on a single, central pintle rod through the radial portions with the result that excellent and substantially permanent radial alignment or concentricity of the prongs is achieved.

A further object is the construction of a binder mechanism employing a floating ring structure, as aforesaid, in conjunction with a cooperative clamp-plate assembly which is yieldingly attached to the cover structure and which rigidifies the binding prongs as well as the backbone of the binder.

Yet another object is the provision of certain cantileverlike extensions on some of the floating rings for resisting certain destructive stresses, together with manual latch means cooperable with the aforesaid cantilever extensions for controlling the opening range of the binding prongs.

Still another object is the provision of an integrallyformed binding ring structure which eliminates certain inaccurate and troublesome staking and swedging operations heretofore commonly required in prior ring structur-es wherein the prongs or rings were sought to be rigidly attached to some form of carrier or support which in turn was hingedly mounted in a set of covers.

A still further object is the provision of a one-piece binding ring of increased capacity and stability which can be manufactured by inexpensive stamping operations and which combines in one element the binding stringer or prong and a radial portion adapted to engage a single hinge pintle.

Additional objects and aspects of novelty and utility relate to details of the construction and operation of the embodiments hereinafter described in view of the annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a lateral section through a closed binder showing portions of a pair of floating rings in elevation;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 with the binder prongs open;

FIG. 2A is an elevational detail of one of the floating ring structures;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through a binder looking down upon a pair of floating rings (prongs) and latch means therefor, shown partly in elevation and partly in section;

FIG. 4 is an endwise, fragmentary elevation of the binder and a latch plate therefor;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a modified floating ring and latch means;

FIG. 6 is a perspective detail of the latch bar of the modified latch means of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary exploded perspective detail of the clamp-plate rigidifying means;

FIG. 8 is an operating detail of the modified latch bar structure with the floating rings fully open;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7 but showing the rings partially closed;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to that of FIG. 8 but showing the rings fully closed;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are elevational details of modified floating ring elements.

The binder depicted in FIG. 1 consists of a pair of covers 12 having multiple hinge connections with each other through a hinged backbone generally indicated at 13, the latter comprising two angular portions 13A and 13B hingedly joined by a median hinge 13X (usually the cover cloth) with each of the covers 12 hingedly joined to its respective backbone wing, as at 12X.

In FIG. 2 the binder is shown with the rings 14 in open condition to receive or release pages 15, the construction of one of the individual floating ring structures 14 being detailed in FIG. 2A from which it is seen that each socalled ring or stringer is somewhat U-shaped and consists of an arc 14A from one end of which projects an offset leg 14B in the manner of chord or half-chord of the circle of said arc, there being finally a diametricallyextending foot or radius portion 14C projecting from the leg back toward the center of said are and circle, the terminal region of this foot extension having a pintle hole 1 5D pienced therethrough.

Floating ring structures of the type shown in FIG. 2A are employed in complementary sets or pairs and are pivotally conjoined to a common central pintle rod 16, as in FIGS. 2 and 3, there being as many sets of these rings along the length of the pintle rod as may be required for a given size and load of sheets, five sets of rings being not uncommon.

The floating-ring principle as disclosed herein is predicated on the peculiarly diametrico-chordal offsetting of the arcuate stringer or prong portions plus the use of a single pivotal :axis which iscommon to all rings and is centrally disposed relative thereto, the principle extending further to the combination of such rings and common pivotal axis with a binder backbone having a central hinge axis closely paralleling and underlying the common pintle with or without additional multiple hinge joints for the backbone or covers.

The floating ring construction makes possible a greater sheet capacity without proportionately enlarging the binder assembly, while at the same time afiording fullopening for reading purposes, and a wide spread of the prongs for loading purposes.

The floating hinge axis is not connected to, or based upon, the backbone in the usual sense commonly encountered in ring binders; rather the covers are connected to the ring assembly (as will presently appear more fully) and only the ring or prong members are joined to the common pintle in a manner such that they could function for rudimentary binding purposes wholly free of the covers.

In order to procure good registry and meeting-alignment between the rings of each pair, there is provided a novel rigidifying means which embraces both the chordal and diametric portions of each ring, said means comprising, as depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, a top angle plate 20 of somewhat irregular S-shaped cross section having a back wall or flange 2.1 in which are cut a series of long lateral slots 22 each guarded by turned-out clamping margins or Wings 23 aligned with a short lateral cross notch 24 in the main plate body.

The edge of the clamp plate 20 opposite the large upstanding back flange 21 is turned down to provide a much narrower front toe flange 25 having a width about equal to the lateral width of the diametric foot extension 14C of the ring.

A short foot notch 26 (FIG. 7) therein is aligned with the corresponding slots 22 and 24, the aforesaid lateral width of the diametric foot projection fitting snugly into said short notch 26, with the chordal leg portions 148 of the ring likewise fitting snugly into the slots 24 and 22, it being noted that the wings 23 fit tightly against the sides of legs 14B and impart great stability and strength to the rings or prongs.

The aforesaid rigidifying means is completed by application of a bottom clamp plate 28 (FIGS. 2 and 7) to underlie the top plate 26 and clamp up against the toe flange and against the bottom edges of all diametric ring. feet 14C, against all of which the bottom plate is tightly held by rivets 29 (FIGS. 1 and 3).

In some binders light aluminum stock is used for the clamp plates and it is desirable to reinforce the top clamp plate as well as the attachments thereof to the backbone of the binder as by backing plates or strips 30 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which lie between the back flanges 21 and the backbone angle sections 13A (FIGS. 2 and 3) together with angles 31 (FIGS. 1 and 3) which are secured to the backbone by a floating attachment including rivets 32 backed by over-size resilient (e.g. rubber) washer means 33 and working in over-sized holes 34 (FIG. 6) through the back flange Z1, angles 31, and backing plate 30, said rivets being seated blind in the cover backbone. 7 As a result of the last-mentioned floating rivet attachment, stress on both the cover stock and the binding mechanism is relieved and absorbed by the resilient washers insofar as it is transmitted thereto by the somewhat movable rivets, this being a further feature of the floating construction.

In the construction of FIG. 2, the feet or diametric extensions 14C of the rings are stub-ended as at ME, and at both axial ends of the clamping assembly there are provided a pair of arcuate latching end plates 4-0, as in FIGS. 3 and 4, the innermost ones of which are provided in each instance with arcuate slots 41 (FIG. 4). which swing over a long latch rod 42 (FIG. 3) passing through all of said plates and having at one end a knob 43 for pulling the rod outwardly against a spring 44 to withdraw at least one detent portion 45 from one of the locking holes 46 (FIG. 4) in inner plate 40 to permit the rings to open, as in FIG. 2, for release or acceptance ofsheets, the shank of the knob 43, if desired, being also used as a detent exactly in the manner of the detent portion 45.

The form of floating ring shown in FIGS. 8 to 12 is a more rugged construction with a modified latch means. As depicted in FIG. 8, it will appear that the basic ring structure as to the stringer arc 14A, leg 14B, and foot 14C, is identical to that heretofore described, but instead of the feet being stub-ended they are provided with upwardly offset and outwardly-projecting cantilever latching and stop toes 14F so located and shaped as to bear down upon their respectively opposite top clamp plates when the binder covers are closed in the manner indicated in FIG. 10.

This construction affords a good margin of strength against crushing forces tending to press the rings toward each other past the normal position, as when the covers are slammed closed on a table surface or dropped in use or in shipment. Moreover, the cantilever extensions provide a firm closing stop in normal use, as Well as an opening stop in conjunction with the modified latch means now to be described, a principal part of which is depicted in FIG. 6 and consists of a long latch plate 50 having a pair of aligned and pierced ears 51 turned down at its ends and through which a short pivot rod 42 is passed (FIG. 8) to project through the pierced foot portions 14G (see FIG. 12) of at least two rings situated on the same side of the binder.

One long edge of the latch plate is turned up as at 54 (FIGS. 5 and 6) to form a locking and carnming abutment as well as a trough to bed a spring attachment including a rod 55 having a down-turned end keyed into a hole 56 in the plate, the rod being held down in place by engagement therewith of the loop end of a spring 57 passing through another hole 59 in the latch plate, the spring at its remaining end being anchored under tension on pintle rod 16 (FIG. 5), whereby the latch plate is normally urged to thrust its abutment edge 54 in a direction against its own cantilever finger so as to lie along a radial line through the common pintle rod 16 and the crotch formed between the two opposite cantilever fingers 14F, as shown in FIG. 5, when the covers are opened to the so-called reading position at which the ends of each cooperative pair of binding arcs or rings 14A14A (FIG. 5) are almost but not quite opened apart,.so as to permit maximum reading spread without danger of leaves falling out.

When the binder is opened to full reading position, as aforesaid, the abutment edge 54 of the latch plate will bear against an opposing cantilever toe, as in FIG. 5, and any further opening movement of the rings will be blocked.

If it is desired to spread the rings fully apart for loading, as in the condition of FIG. 8 it is merely necessary to grasp one of the endwise finger tabs 58 at either end of the latch plate, and raise the latter to clear and permit passage of the blocked cantilever toe, as in FIG. 9.

The latch operates automatically upon closing of the covers by reason of camming action between the end of the opposite cantilever finger and the angled abutment portion 54 of the, latch plate, which permits easy return of the finger past the latch without necessity of manual intervention, as in opening the latch.

The construction of FIGS. 11 and 12 discloses a form of floating ring especially adapted to fabrication by stamping from relatively thin stock including soft metals such as brass and aluminum.

In the form of FIG. 11 each of the component sections of the integral ring structure, including the are or stringer 14AX, the chordal leg 14BX, the diametric foot 14CX, and the cantilever toe extension 14FX are modified in cross section by ribbing or embossing for increased strength.

In the form of FIG. 12, only the arcuate stringer or ring 14AZ is modified in section by collateral embossing which is carried a short distance into the leg 14BZ past the junction of the are with the leg. This form is suitable for marginal Weights and hardness of metals like brass. Thin Weights of ferrous sheet stock will also give satisfactory service for reasonable abuse and loading when formed according to either FIGS. 11 or 12.

In the manufacture of binders of the class described, it has been the practice to fabricate the rings, prongs, or stringers separately and attach them to some form of back plate or base by means of staking, swedging, or welding.

The resulting structure, apart from the high cost involved in such methods, has been unsatisfactory because it is not possible in mass production to hold individually staked or swedged prongs to the same radius. Moreover, usage and abuse will frequently throw such rings out of alignment, in consequence of which meeting and smooth operation of the rings is lost and the bound sheets are more readily torn free or mutilated.

The disclosed floating-ring construction is economical to make and assemble and can be employed with other forms of backbone construction than the clamp-plate means described.

However, the clamp-plate means 20, 28, 30, and yieldable rivet means 32, is of particular commercial sig nificance in combination with the radial and chordal parts of the new ring, especially in binders of larger capacity, it being understood that a stack of bound sheets, say, three inches thick, represents a heavy load onthe binder backbone and all of the binding mechanism, and the stress to which a three-inch. capacity binder may be subject, apart from normal usage, is so considerable as to present serious. problems in designing commercially successful binders of this class, and cost and space factors additionally complicate these problems.

It will be seen that the problem of radial alignment and accuracy, such as is encountered in using swedged or staked rings, is economically and effectively solved by the common pintle means disclosed; and that such means, in conjunction with the reentrant radial foot and chordally offset leg and integral ring or stringer, makes possible a sheet capacity which is practically unlimited because the radial alignment problem is not affected in this construction by enlargement of size or loading; and in this connection the rings constructed with integrally extended cross-section, according to FIGS. 11 and 12, are useful even when steel stock is used for larger capacity binders.

Apart from considerations of capacity and strength of materials (the construction of FIGS. 11 and 12 permit use of such light materials as aluminum for certain capacities and styles of binder), the disclosed integral ring structure affords important manufacturing economies making possible the fabrication of the stringer or ring portion and the pivot portion in a single piece and by a singleoperation which accurately fixes the pivotal center and the angular attitude of the stringer at one time.

What is claimed:

1. A binding mechanism of the pivoted arcuate-prong class comprising one-piece prongs of wholly fiat stock arranged in cooperating pairs with the prongs of each pair mounted in substantially touching juxtaposition for opening and closing pivotal movement relative to each other about a common axis, said prongs being each independently formed and mounted as aforesaid and each consisting of a foot member extending oppositely from the foot member of the other prong of its pair from said common axis when the prongs of the pair are in a normally closed condition, each said foot member having a chordally-projecting leg extended at right angles therefrom and from which extends an arcuate binding prong the arc of which is substantially concentric with said axis, together with means providing a common pintle pivotally engaging the prongs of said pairs in the manner aforesaid at a point in the foot thereof concentric with said are, said mechanism including at least two sets of said pairs located at spaced positions along said pintle for pivotal movement of the prongs as aforesaid concentrically of said axis, together with clamp-plate means respectively disposed on opposite sides of said pintle and respectively clamping in a corresponding group chordal leg and foot portions of all of those binding prongs which lie on the appertaining side of the axis so that the clamp plate means for each group of prongs is movable therewith in the pivotal opening and closing operations thereof.

2. A construction according to claim 1, further characterized by the provision of a binder cover including a backbone having a central hinge dividing same into two relatively movable wings and each wing having a cover hjngedly joined thereto with all hinge axes parallel, said binding mechanisms being mounted in said binder with its common pivotal axis above and parallel to the central hinge axis of the binder cover, and the clampplate means of the respective said groups each being assembled with one of said wings, and secured by attaching means thereto for movement therewith responsive to hinging movement of said wings relative to each other.

3. A construction according to claim 2 in which said attaching means comprises loosely-fitted rivet means interconnecting each clamp-plate means with its appertaining backbone wing portion to permit limited relative self adjusting movement between the clamp-plate means and the appertaining wing to relieve certain internal stresses arising in connection with opening and closing movements of the binder covers including particularly the relative hinging action of said wings.

4. A construction according to claim 1 in which the respective foot members of one or more pairs of said binding members are each provided with a cantilever extension projecting to overlie and bear upon the clamp plate means located on the respectively opposite sides of said pintle in closed condition of said binding members in each instance, and to limit the movement of the binding members in closing direction and relieve stresses from forces acting in like direction.

5. A construction according to claim 4, further characterized by the provision of releasable latch means having pivotal support on at least one of the cantilever extensions and spring means acting on said latch means and urging the latter into blocking relation with the opposite cantilever extension in a certain partly-opened condition of said binding members to prevent full opening thereof, said latch means being movable out of said blocking relation to permit full opening of said binding members.

6. In a loose-leaf binding, a floating ring structure comprising at least one pair of flat-stock sheet stringers of the ring type each pair consisting of two complementary stringer arcs each having at one end a fiat leg depending therefrom substantially in the sense of a chord of the circle of said arc, and each said leg having projecting normally from its end remote from that joining the are a straight, flat radius member constituting a foot extending into the center for said arc, and pivot-axis means commonly joining in substantially touching sideby-side relation those portions of the foot of each stringer which are concentric with said center, whereby the arcs are pivotable into and out of open and closed binding relation relative to each other, together with means for rigidifying said ring structure and comprising rigid plate members secured together in pairs on opposite sides of said Pivot axis to clamp upon the respectively corresponding foot portions of each ring structure lying on the appertaining side of said pivot axis.

7. A construction according to claim 6 further characterized by the provision of stabilizing notches in certain of said plate members into which certain portions of the leg and foot portions of each appertaining ring structure are fitted in the clamped condition aforesaid.

8. In a loose-leaf binding mechanism of the class having pairs of divergently and convergently movable binding prongs pivoting about a central hinge axis, improvements characterized, namely: in that each prong of each pair is formed flat in one piece with three limbs one of which is a fiat arcuate binding prong; and the second of which is a fiat, straight leg depending from one end of the prong at an angle in the sense of a chord of its --arc; and the third limb of which is a flat, long foot extending back at right angles from the end of said leg remote from its attachment to the prong so as to underlie the arc of the prong in a diametric sense such that all parts of each prong are continuously fiat in a coplanar sense, said prongs being mounted in pairs side-by-side in touching proximity on a common pivot rod traversing the respective foot portions thereof near the ends of the latter remote from said legs, and at positions which are concentric with their respective prong arcs; and separate plate means c-onjoining the prongs lying on opposite sides of said rod and having slotted interfitting gripping engagement with the leg and foot portions of each conjoined prong such that the conjoined prongs and appertaining plate means are joined in a floating operative assembly solely by said common pivot rod.

9. In a loose-leaf binding mechanism, a binding ring structure including independently-formed ring-defining sheet stringers made flat on opposite sides in a continuously integral, thin, coplanar configuration so as to be mutually reversible for complementary mounting in pairs on a common pivot rod in side-'by-side touching contiguity to pivot toward and away from each other in ring-closing and opening action, each stringer having flat prong, leg, and foot conformations all contained between two closely parallel bounding planes defining their thinness and flatness, the conformations aforesaid comprising a fiat prong arc integrally merging at one end thereof into the correspondingly fiat coplanar portion of one end of said leg formation so that the leg depends from the arc in the manner of a chordal intercept therewith, said leg merging integrally into an angular prolongation which is flat coplanarly therewith and extends from an opposite end thereof and constitutes a pivot foot extending back below the prong a distance at least through the center for the arc thereof, such that said are is raised above the foot concentrically of said center; a pivot rod traversing the concentric portions of the pivot foot of each prong in all pairs, a major portion of one prong in each pair projecting laterally from the pivot rod on a side of the latter away from the side thereof from which the like major portions of its companion prong projects on the other side of said rod, and rigid connecting means having form independently of the prongs and rod and each respectively disposed on one of said last-mentioned sides of the pivot rod and respectively engaging portions of each of the prongs lying on the corresponding side of the rod therewith to secure such prongs in fixed assembly for joint pivotal travel in predetermined angular paths respectively contiguous to the like paths of travel of their paired companion prongs which are similarly fixed in assembly by the like rigid connecting means disposed as aforesaid on the other side of the pivot rod therefrom, the foot of at least one prong having a cantilever stopping toe projecting laterally beyond the far side of the pivot rod therefrom in a direction away from such foot and said center a distance to abut a portion of the rigid connecting means for the other assemblage of companion prongs on said far side of the rod therefrom whereby to limit the travel of either assemblage of prongs toward the other at a predetermined position in the prong-closing direction of travel thereof.

10. In a loose-leaf binding mechanism, a binding ring structure including independently-formed ring-defining sheet stringers made flat on opposite sides in a continuously integral, thin, coplanar configuration so as to be mutually reversible for complementary mounting in pairs on a common pivot rod in side-by-side touching contiguity to pivot toward and away from each other in ring-closing and opening action, each stringer having flat prong, leg, and foot conformations all contained between two closely parallel bounding planes defining their thinness and flatness, the conformations aforesaid comprising a fiat prong arc integrally merging at one end thereof into the correspondingly fiat coplanar portion of one end of said leg formation so that the leg depends from the arc in the manner of a chordal intercept therewith, said leg merging integrally into an angular prolongation which is flat coplanarly therewith and extends from an opposite end thereof and constitutes a pivot foot extending back below the prong a distance at least through the center for the arc thereof, such that said are is raised above the foot concentrically of said center; a pivot rod traversing the concentric portions of the pivot foot of each prong in all pairs, a major portion of one prong in each pair projecting laterally from the pivot rod on a side of the latter away from the side thereof from which the vlike major portions of its companion prong projects on the other side of said rod, and rigid connecting means having form independently of the prongs and rod and each respectively disposed on one of said last-mentioned sides of the pivot rod and respectively engaging portions of each of the prongs lying on the corresponding side of the rod therewith to secure such prongs in fixed assembly for joint pivotal travel in predetermined angular paths respectively contiguous to the like paths of travel of their paired companion prongs which are similarly fixed in assembly by the like rigid connecting means disposed as aforesaid on the other side of the pivot rod therefrom, the foot of at least two prongs on each side of the pivot rod and the two corresponding companion prongs of pairs which are located and respectively belong to pairs which are located at axially spaced-apart positions along the rod, being provided with a toe projection extending over and beyond the rod in crossed relation with the like toe projections of their respective companion prongs when the latter are in a predetermined position of the prongs in the direction of ring-opening movement thereof but not the open condition thereof, and latch means respectively having support on each of the two toe projections of prongs lying on the same side of the rod, and cooperating latch means likewise having support on each of the two toe projections of the two companion prongs lying on the other side of the rod, said latch means on the respective sides of the rod being releasably interengageable to limit opening movement of the prongs to said predetermined position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 643,380 2/00 Kendig et al. 129-17 736,338 8/03 Akass 129-17 796,759 8/05 Phillips et al l2424 1,222,058 4/17 Whitlock 129-17. 1,228,860 6/17 Whitlock 129-17 1,795,047 3/17 Schade 129-17 2,528,866 11/60 Dawson 129-17 FOREIGN PATENTS 830,009 5/38 France.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, NORTON ANSHER,

JEROME SCHNALL, Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. 6. IN A LOOSE-LEAF BINDING, A FLOATING RING STRUCTURE COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF FLAT-STOCK SHEET STRINGERS OF THE RING TYPE EACH PAIR CONSISTING OF TWO COMPLEMENTARY STRINGER ARCS EACH HAVING AT ONE END A FLAT LEG DEPENDING THEREFROM SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE SENSE OF A CHORD OF THE CIRCLE OF SAID ARC, AND EACH SAID LEG HAVING PROJECTING NORMALLY FROM ITS END REMOTE FROM THAT JOINING THE ARC A STRAIGHT, FLAT RADIUS MEMBER CONSTITUTING A FOOT EXTENDING INTO THE CENTER FOR SAID ARC, AND PIVOT-AXIS MEANS COMMONLY JOINING IN SUBSTANTIALLY TOUCHING SIDEBY-SIDE RELATION THOSE PORTIONS OF THE FOOT OF EACH STRINGER WHICH ARE CONCENTRIC WITH SAID CENTER, WHEREBY THE ARCS ARE PIVOTABLE INTO AND OUT OF OPEN AND CLOSED BINDING RELATION RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER, TOGETHER WITH MEANS FOR RIGIDIFYING SAID RING STRUCTURE AND COMPRISING RIGID PLATE MEMBERS SECURED TOGETHER IN PAIRS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID PIVOT AXIS TO CLAMP UPON THE RESPECTIVELY CORRESPONDING FOOT PORTIONS OF EACH RING STRUCTURE LYING ON THE APPERTAINING SIDE OF SAID PIVOT AXIS.

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