US3217372A - Data sheet binder - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 16, 1965 J. E. FELLOWES 3,217,372

DATA SHEET BINDER Filed April 2, 1962 5 tsheet l INVENTOR.

JOHN E. FELLOWES /nza, 9m,

Nov. 16, 1965 J. E. FELLOWES 3,217,372

DATA SHEET BINDER Filed April 2, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

JOHN E. FELLOWES fi wfi 9W, qmmwmmf ATTY'S.

Nov. 16, 1965 J. E. FELLOWES 3,217,372

DATA SHEET BINDER Filed April 2, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet s T 5 INVENTOR.

"1' JOHN E. FELLOWES Nov. 16, 1965 .1. E. FELLOWES DATA SHEET BINDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 2, 1962 INVENTOR.

JOHN E. FELLOWES fl/mzz, M5

Nov. 16, 1965 J. E. FELLOWES DATA SHEET BINDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 2, 1962 INVENTOR. JOHN E. FELLOWES mm Qawh M91, M

ATTY'S.

ID a United States Patent 3,217,372 DATA SHEET BINDER John E. Fellowes, Wheaton, Ill., assignor to Bankers Box Company, Franklin Park, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 184,308 4 Claims. (Cl. 24153) This invention relates to storage devices for multiple copy prepared packs of sheets for business records, whether blank or imprinted with data.

A device found increasingly useful in business record keeping is a data sheet which is provided with a row of relatively closely spaced openings along each of the right and left margins of the sheet. The openings provide a selection of pairs of openings to be used for binding the sheets together. Such sheets are originally connected together in packs containing any desired number of sheets, said sheets being folded upon one another in prearranged order to make possible the simultaneous production of a desired number of copies of an original data sheet. After the data is impressed upon the pack of sheets, said pack may be stored until it becomes necessary to distribute one or more copies therefrom. At this point, all of the sheets of a pack may be separated or burst from one another and those not distributed may be bound together and stored until needed. Alternatively, some of the sheets may be separated and distributed, the remaining sheets in the pack being left in connected state and bound with other such reduced packs in an appropriate storage device.

The binders and storage devices heretofore provided for data sheets of the type described have not been satisfactory in that such data sheets in common use are of many sizes, and are of dilferentlength and width dimensions in the same sheet. Available storage devices, however, are designed to accept but one size per device, and are not capable of binding burst and unburst data sheets, even of the same size. Thus it is necessary for the user to stock not only as many sizes of storage device as he has sizes of sheets but substantially twice that number to accept burst and unburst sheets of the same size. This in turn requires that each storage device be made as inexpensive as possible, with a consequent reduction in the quality of construction.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a binder for data sheets which is adjustable to accept a number of different sizes of such sheets, and regardless of whether they are burst or unburst.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a binder for data sheets which is stronger and stiffer than those heretofore used and which may be used to press and hold a marginal region of the sheets firmly together to facilitate handling and storage of the bound sheets.

A further object is to provide an expansible presser plate for a data sheet binder, said plate having a plurality of openings in the end regions thereof alignable with openings in data sheets through which adjustable binder posts, which themselves may be readily repositioned, may be passed, said plate being more rigid in a direction transverse to its general plane in any of its expanded settings than those heretofore proposed.

For ease of assembly of the data sheets with a binder, it is proposed to use binder posts made of polyethylene which is inherently resilient. Thus binder posts made of this material may be bent somewhat like a thong, and this characteristic is utilized in securing a presser plate to a stack of data sheets by bending the protruding end of the polyethylene post at right angles to itself over the presser plate and hooking said bent end under a tab provided for that purpose on the plate. Such tabs, however,

3,217,372 Patented Nov. 16, 1965 protrude above the presser plate and together with the excess length of the polyethylene binder post create protuberances which interfere with the stacking of bound data sheets upon one another. Stacking of bound data sheets, either one upon another, or in side-by-side relation is further hindered by the limpness of the sheets.

It is accordingly a further object of this invention to provide an improved rigid holder for bound data sheets which comprises an integral part of the means for binding the data sheets, and which supplies rigid covers and back for the bound data sheets to protect and enclose them, including all protruding parts of fasteners, and to facilitate the handling and storage thereof.

A specific object of this invention is the provision of a resilient binder post which is readily assembled with reference to the back of a binder by a snap-in action.

Yet another object is the provision of a modified form of binder which is well adapted for use with the presser plate disclosed and which has means for selectively securing the data sheets therein along a side or a top margin thereof.

When bound data sheets are stacked upon one another, the removal from a stack of a selected unit of bound data sheets located at the bottom of the stack involves raising and holding all of the bound sheets above the selected unit while the latter is being withdrawn. Such removal becomes increasingly diflicult as the size of the stack and its elevation above the floor increases.

Furthermore, should the data sheets be fastened into a hard covered binder in which the covers are in some fashion hinged to a fixed, hard back, the covers in all probability will not lie parallel to one another in the assembled binder, and hence a stack of such hard covered binders becomes unstable as its height increases.

It is a further object of this invention to provide storage cabinets of an inexpensive variety which may be erected from pre-cut sheets folded and interlocked to one another to form strong unitary structures.

An additional specific object of this invention is the provision of storage cabinets made from folded and interlocked pre-cut sheets which are constructed to conceal from the interior thereof the interlocking means so that movement of a binder in the cabinet is unobstructed by such means.

Another specific object of this invention is the provision of storage cabinets made from folded and interlocked precut sheets wherein novel shapes of tabs are used to produce a rigid interlocking effect in one plane to give rigidity to the cabinet, but which is yieldable in another and inconsequential plane to allow the tabs to be readily manipulated into mutually interlocking relation.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective plan view of an assembled data sheet binder made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the binder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a fragment of the binder of FIG. 1, showing the method of attachment of a proposed form of binder post used therein;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the presser plate central bar used in the binder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the presser plate central bar of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section through the presser plate central bar of FIG. 4, taken along the line 66 thereon and looking in the direction of the arrows at the ends of said line;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a slidable extension for the presser plate central bar of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 8, 9 and are respectively sections taken through the extension of FIG. 7 along lines 88, 99 and 10-10 thereon;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary plan view of the presser plate central bar of FIG. 4 with the slide of FIG. 7 assembled thereon in its retracted position;

FIG. 12 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 11, but showing the slide in its extended position;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a blank from which a binder file unit or cabinet can be made;

FIG. 14 is an end elevational view of an assembled binder file unit or cabinet showing the method of attachment to vertically adjacent units;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary side elevational view in section of a binder file unit and a vertically adjacent unit, the section being taken along line 1515 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a plan view, partly in section, of a foldedup binder file unit;

FIG. 17 is a front elevational view in section of a binder file unit assembled with respect to a vertically adjacent unit, the section being taken along line 1717 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of several folded-up binder file units showing how they may be both vertically and horizontally secured to one another;

FIG. 19 is a plan view of a top cover for a modified form of binder wherein the data sheets can be bound along either a side or atop edge; and

FIG. 20 is a plan View in perspective of an assembled binder incorporating the modification of FIG. 19.

Referring now to the drawing for a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, and particularly to FIGURES l and 2, it may be observed that the data sheets 20 to be bound together, either in the burst or unburst state, are very thin, substantially rectangular sheets of paper which may have various data imprinted and written thereon, such sheets having a row of perforations 21 formed along one marginal edge thereof, and a similar row of perforations 22 formed along the opposite marginal edge. Said perforations provide a selection of openings through which binder posts may be inserted for the purpose of fastening related stacks of such sheets together.

The binder for holding sheets 20 is comprised of relatively stiff fiber board made as a single unit and having a top panel 23, a bottom panel 24 and a back 25, said board being creased at 26 and 27 to permit the fiber board to be folded thereat to overlie respectively the top, bottom and back regions of the stack of sheets 20, as shown in FIG. 2.

Stack 20 is held in the binder by a pair of binder posts 28 and 29, each of which is preferably made from a rubber-like material such as polyethylene, so as to be flexible as well as spring-like. Binder posts 28, 29 pass through suitable openings in the bottom section 24 of the fiberboard binder, and then through selected aligned openings 22 in the stack 20 and in a presser plate shown generally at 30 overlying the perforated margin of the stack 20. Binder posts 28 and 29 are fastened to the presser plate 30 in the manner hereinafter to be described.

Referring now to FIGURE 3 for a detailed description of the method of fastening the binder posts to the bottom panel 24 of the binder, it may be observed that said panel 24 is formed with an opening 31 which is reinforced by a metal bushing 32 passing through opening 31 and fitting snugly therein, said bushing having a flange 33 formed in the lower end thereof. Flange 33 overlies the bottom surface 34 of panel 24. A metal washer 35 of approximately the same diameter as flange 33 overlies the opposite surface 36 of panel 24, and is threaded over the upper end 37 of bushing 32. Said upper end 37 is then expanded over washer 35 to lock said washer firmly in place against bottom panel 24.

Binder post 28 is preferably molded to have a substantially circular cross-section, a head 38 in one end thereof, a taper at its opposite end 39, and a circumferential bead 40 immediately adjacent expanded end 37 of bushing 32. The length of binder post 28 may be selected to provide a convenient length of post for the thickness of the stack 20 which it is intended to include in a given bnder. The diameter of post 28 between head 38 and bead 40 is such as to provide a snug fit in bushing 32. Bead 40 is compressible, so that when post 28 is inserted into bushing 32 with tapered end 39 forming the leading end of the post, bead 40 will contract as it is drawn through bushing 32 and will expand immediately upon passing end 37 of the bushing. At this point head 38 abuts upon flange 33, and post 28 is thus held against axial movement in bushing 32 between bead 40 and head 38.

It is contemplated that the binders with the data sheets 20 secured therein will be stored in file units or cabinets while resting upon the bottom panel 24. The binders may be withdrawn from such file units by a ring-type pull 141 (FIG. 2) suitably secured to bottom panel 24 and extending outwardly beyond the confines of the file unit so as to be assessible to the user.

The details of construction of presser plate 30 are shown in FIGS. 4 to 12 inclusive, to which reference is now made. It is contemplated that said presser plate shall be stiff to lend rigidity to the otherwise flabby data sheets 20, and yet shall be expansible to make possibile the use of a single size of presser plate for a number of different sizes of data sheets 20. To this end presser plate 30 is comprised of a central bar 41 preferably stamped from relatively heavy sheet stock so as to be resistant to bending stresses which may be imposed upon it by a stack 20 of data sheets when the presser plate is used to hold a stack in a binder. Central bar 41 has elongate ears 42, 43 formed in one end thereof and similar ears 44, 45 formed in the opposite end thereof. Said ears extend outwardly in the plane of the bar from the lingitudinal edges 46 and 47 of said bar. Substantially midway between the ends of the bar 41 is embossed a button 48 and at a predetermined distance inward from the ends of bar 21 are formed openings 49 and 50- each of a size large enough to allow a binder post 28 or 29 to pass therethrough.

The effective length of bar 41 is increased by the addition of slides to the ends thereof. As shown in FIG. 1, said slides are not identical in the form there shown, but may comprise a lefthand slide 51 and a righthand slide 52. It is contemplated that the presser plate 30 also be located on a stack by flanges 53 and 54 formed integrally with the slides and extending inwardly of a stack 20 to overlie closely a portion of the back edge regions 55 thereof. Flanges 53 and 54 inhibit movement of the presser plate relative to the stack in the plane of the data sheets.

For purposes of illustration, slide 52 will be described in detail, it being understood that slide 51 is substantially the same as slide 52, with the exception of the hand of certain of the tabs. Slide 52 is comprised of a sheet metal stamping which may be made of slightly thinner gauge metal than that of central bar 41. The central region of slide 52, as shown in FIG. 9, is generally C- shaped in cross-section, the edge regions 56 and 57 being bent around bar 41 to lock slide 52 thereto. The C-shaped cross-section provides rigidity to the slide. The righthand region of slide 52, as viewed in FIG. 7, is substantially L-shaped, as shown in FIG. 10, with the tab 53 forming one leg of the L and replacing the C-shaped edge region 56. The lefthand end of slide 51, as viewed in FIG. 7, is channel-shaped in section, as shown in FIG. 8, said end having flanges 58 and 59 extending at right angles to the general plane of the slide.

It is contemplated that flanges 58 and 59 will embrace edges 46 and 47 of the central bar 41, and that the central regions shown in cross-section in FIG. 9 and the end region shown in FIG. will be large enough to pass over the ears 44, 45. Thus the lefthand end of slide 51 as viewed in FIG. 7 is guided by edges 46, 47, and the central and righthand regions of slide 51 are guided by ears 44 and 45. It may be noted that ears 44 and 45 are of sufficient length to maintain a substantially parallel relation between the plane of slide 51 and the plane of bar 41 as the slide moves relative to the bar.

Slide 51 is shown assembled with respect to bar 41 in FIG. 11. It is shown in its innermost or completely retracted position. It may be observed that in such position edge 68 of slide 51 bears against button 48, and to avoid a possible concentration of stress at said edge 61 by a sudden retraction of the slide on bar 41, said edge is formed with a semi-circular notch 61 within which button 48 may be received. Thus button 48 constitutes a stop for limiting the inward or retracting movement of slide 51 on bar 41. In FIG. 12, slide 51 is shown in its extended position on bar 41. In this position, flanges 58 and 59 abut upon ears 44 and 45 so that said ears constitute stops for the outward or extending movement of slide 51 on bar 41.

Slide 51 has a pair of openings 62, 63 formed therein through which a binder post 28 may pass. In the form chosen to illustrate this invention, opening 62 is aligned with opening 50 in bar 41 when slide 51 is in its innermost retracted position. As shown in FIG. 11, in the innermost retracted position of slide 51, the righthand end 64 of slide 51 extends beyond the end of bar 41 so that opening 63, which is located in the overhanging end of the slide is also available for use with a binder post if desired. Thus irrespective of the spacing of the perforations 22 in data sheets 20, slide 51 may be extended to a position in which opening 63 is aligned with a selected perforation in data sheets 20, and hence a single size of presser plate 30 may be used with a large number of different sized data sheets. If it is desired to bind a stack of data sheets together along vertical edges, said presser plate may be extended to cause the openings 63 in the slides 51 and 52 to become aligned with appropriate perforations 21 and 22 to eflectuate such intended use.

The flexible resilient binder posts 28 and 29 have their free ends secured to presser plate 30 by causing said binder posts to be bent along the surface of their respective slides and then held under one or the other of hook- .shaped tabs 65, 66 struck outwardly from the slides 51 and 52. If the presser plate 30 is held firmly against a stack of data sheets 20 while a binder post 28 is pulled upward and then bent laterally and hooked under a tab 65, for example, the resilience in the binder post maintains a firm pressure upon the presser plate to hold said stack of data sheets 20 tightly together in a binder irrespective of slight changes in thickness of the stack due to changes in humidity or other causes.

It may be observed from FIG. 2 that bottom panel 24 and top panel 23 of the binder may frequently be in non-parallel relation with one another. This means that when such binders are stacked upon one another the upper binders tend to slide downward to the lefthand region of the binders immediately below, as shown in FIG. 2, due to the accumulated angularity of the top and bottom panels of the individual binders. This renders it difiicult to stack such binders, and furthermore, it renders it diflicult to withdraw a bottom binder from a stack of such binders. Y

A novel storage file for binders of the type disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown in FIGS. 13 to 18 inclusive, to which reference is now made. It is contemplated that said storage file will be constructed from single sheets of corrugated board appropriately cut and perforated so that when the flat sheet is properly folded up it will form a single rigid storage cabinet. Furthermore, it is contemplated that appropriate tabs and apertures will be provided on and in the sheet whereby a group of storage cabinets may be interlocked with one another to form storage file units having as many individual cabinets as desired, and having any desired arrangement of cabinets within a group.

It is contemplated that the cabinets will be supplied as pre-cut sheets of corrugated boards partially folded up, but still in flat form, so that relatively large quantities of the cabinets may be stored in a small space until needed. Thus, as shown in FIG. 13, a cabinet may initially comprise a sheet 67 of corrugated board having connected side panel 68, top panel 69, side panel 70 and bottom panel 71. Side panel 68 is defined by edge 72 of the sheet, and by creases 73, 74 and 75. Top panel 69 is defined by crease 74 and by creases 76, 77 and 78. Side panel 70 is defined by creases 77, 79, 80 .and 81, and bottom panel 71 is defined by creases 80, 82, and 83 and 84.

The top edge 85 of sheet 67, as viewed in FIG. 13, has rectangular notches 86, 87 and 88 formed therein, which divide the upper edge region of sheet 67 as viewed in FIG. 13 into rectangular flaps 89, 90, 91 and 92. A flap 93 extends outwardly from crease 83.

The bottom edge of the sheet 67 as viewed in FIG. 13 is notched to form a trapezoidal flap 94 extending from crease 75, a trapezoidal flap 95 extending from crease 78, to which is joined a rectangular tongue 96, a trapezoidal flap 97 substantially identical in form to flap 94 extending from crease 81, and a rectangular flap 98 extending from crease 84, said rectangular flap 98 having a trapezoidal notch 99 formed therein.

Top panel 69 has rectangular perforations 100, 101, 102 and 103 formed therein, defining rectangular portions of the panel which are intended to be removed to form similarly shaped openings in said top panel. Bottom panel 71 has perforations 104, 105, 106 and 107 defining trapezoidal tabs which are adapted to be folded outwardly at right angles to the plane of panel 71, along creases 188, 109, 119 and 111, respectively, creases 110 and 111 being in effect continuations of crease 84. To make it possible for the user to reach under tabs 104 to 107, to bend them outwardly, semi-circular perforations 112, 113, 114 and 115 are formed adjoining the perforations defining said trapezoidal tabs, the semi-circular perforations defining portions of the panel which may be removed and destroyed, if necessary, to create the required access openmgs.

It is contemplated that as supplied by the manufacturer, sheet 67 will be folded along crease 77, and flap 93 will be secured by an appropriate adhesive to panel 68 to form a partially folded-up double thickness blank which is approximately one-half the size of the sheet 67. These blanks may be stored in flat form until needed.

When it is desired to erect a cabinet, the partially folded-up blank is opened up to a box-like form, sheet 67 in this stage being folded along creases 74 and 80 as well as along creases 77 and 83 to provide a substantially rectangular box. The rear end of the rectangular box is then closed by folding flaps 94, 95, 97 and 98 along creases 75, 78, 81 and 84 respectively, in the manner shown in FIGS 14 and 15. It may be observed from FIG. 14 that the said flaps 94 to 98 inclusive are so folded as to interlock with one another and form a rigid rectangular cabinet out of what would otherwise be an indeterminate structure. Thus rectangular flap 98 is first folded up, then trapezoidal flaps 94 and 97 are folded up over rectangular flap 98, and trapezoidal flap 95 is folded down over flaps 94 and 97. At this point, the flaps are somewhat free to swing inward of the cabinet about their respective creases, and this freedom of movement is utilized to swing them inward until tongue 96 can be inserted behind notch 99. This locks the flaps together, the resilience in the creases serving to tend to swing the flaps outward toward their initial, unfolded positions. The above-noted rigidity of form of the cabinet results from the fact that the form of the flaps inhibits relative movement between the flaps and the interior surfaces of the panels forming the cabinet, when the flaps are folded as indicated. The movement of the last and locking flap s in a direction transverse to the plane in which rigidity is required.

It may be noted further, particularly from FIG. 15, that flaps 95 and 97 are slightly spaced to leave an opening 116 into which the tab 106' of a cabinet immediately above may be inserted, and held. Thus flaps 97 and 95 serve to hold a tab 106 between them in an upright position, which inhibits bending of the tab about its crease 110 in response to fore-an-d-aft forces which may be imposed upon the upper cabinet by the insertion of a binder thereinto or the removal of a binder therefrom. Said tab 106 is also concealed from, and out of possible contact with the binder to be inserted into the cabinet.

The forward flaps 89, 90, 91 and 92 are bent through substantially 180 to provide a double thickness of corrugated board at the mouth or open end of the cabinet. It is preferred that flaps 90 and 92 be bent inward first, and that flaps 89 and 91 be bent as shown in FIG. 17 so that the flaps 90 to 92 are held in place against their respective panels 69 and 71 by the edges of the flaps 89 and 91. It may be particularly noted from FIG. 17 that flap 89 is slightly spaced from its panel 68 to provide a space 117 therebetween, in which flap 93 is received. Thus flap 89 serves not only to hold flaps 90 and 92 in their folded positions, but it also serves to conceal flap 93 at the entrance end of the cabinet to avoid misdirccting a binder as it is inserted into the cabinet.

In addition to receiving the entrance end of flap 93, space 117 is used to retain tab 105' of the adjacent cabinet located immediately above, against panel 68 and thereby hold the said cabinets from relative movement laterally of one another, that is, transversely of the opening into the cabinets. Flap 91 is also spaced from its panel 70 to form an opening 118 into which the tab 104' of the cabinet immediately above may be inserted, and in which it may be held by flap 91 against panel 70.

It may be observed from the foregoing description that the tabs 104, 105, 106 and 107 serve to interlock and precisely locate cabinets which are superposed one upon the other. Since cabinets made of corrugated board or the like are weak when exposed to bending stresses but are strong when subjected to edgewise compressive stresses, the vertical sides of the cabinets are precisely located by the tabs upon one another to take advantage of such strength. Said cabinets may also be interlocked in side by side relation with the aid of round head brass fasteners 119 and 120. Said fasteners are adapted to pass through slits 121 and 122 respectively (FIG. 13) in side panels 68 and 70, said slits being located relatively close to the creases 73 and 79, so that when the fasteners are in place and flaps 89 and 91 are folded back, said flaps completely conceal the fasteners. In this manner, the fasteners interpose no obstruction to the movement of a binder into and out of a cabinet. Similar fasteners may be passed through slits 123 and 124 located near the creases 75 and 81 respectively to the rear of a cabinet.

The binders of FIGS. 1 and 2 may thus be received in cabinets of the type shown in FIGS. 13 to 18 inclusive, and when so used are adapted to bear suitable indicia applied to labels adhered to the backs 25 thereof. Suit able indicia may also be used on the interior of the backs so that when the binders are in their unfolded state, that is, prior to assembly with a stack of data sheets 20, the capacity of the binder may be marked thereon so that a binder appropriate for the size and quantity of data sheets 20 may be readily selected.

The binders made in accordance with the foregoing description are inexpensive yet sturdy, and may be readily stored prior to assembly without occupying much space. One size of binder and presser plate can accommodate many sizes of data sheets, both burst and unburst, and hence they may be produced in quantites which make possible a reduction in unit price so that a better quality of binder and presser plate may be had for a given price. The cabinets are =likewise sturdy and exceptionally rigid, and can be stored in flat form in which they occupy a minimum of space. Said cabinets may be interlocked together to form any desired shape of unit and thus can be made to fit any available shelf space.

The modified binder shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 is adapted to be used with a presser plate of the type shown in FIGS. 4 to 12, but differs from the binder shown in FIGS 1 and 2 in an important respect in that it has no back and hence utilizes only as much space as the quantity of sheets bound therein require, which may be either more or less than in the other form shown. A selection of edges, as between top and side edges, along which data sheets may be bound, is possible with this modification, as in the other form shown, and is highly advantageous.

The top or cover of the modified binder is shown in FIG. 19 and is comprised of a sheet 125 of hard fibrous material of rectangular form having a side edge 126 and a top edge 127. Located inwardly of edges 126 and 127 a distance slightly greater than the width of slides 51 or 52 (FIG. 1) are creases 128 and 129 which extend across the entire sheet 125. In the cover between crease 128 and edge 126 are disposed openings 130, 131 and 132, each protected by a flanged metal bushing or eyelet 133, 134 and 135, respectively, similar to that shown in FIG. 3. Opening 132 is also disposed between crease 129 and top edge 127. Two additional openings 136 and 137 are disposed in the cover between crease 129 and top edge 127, each said opening being likewise protected by a flanged metal bushing 138, 139, respectively.

The openings are so arranged that presser plate 30 may be applied over openings 130, 131 and 132 and cover 125, bent along crease 128, or it may be extended over openings 132, 136 and .137 and cover bent along crease 129 as desired. It is understood that a bottom cover 140 will be used, said cover having protected openings (not shown) aligned with openings 130, 131, 132, 136 and 137, and that resilient binder posts 28 and 29 will be used in the manner described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 to hold the covers 125 and 140 and sheets 20 together.

The form of binder shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 is more adaptable to both small and large stacks of data sheets than is the form of FIGS. 1 and 2, since its thickness is not fixed beforehand by a fixed back such. as 25 in FIG. 2, but is determined solely by the number of sheets bound therein. The form shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, therefore, makes more efficient use of space, although it is subject to such storing defects as were noted above in connection with binders in which the presser plate is exposed. For many uses its economies and advantages outweigh this objection.

I claim:

1. A presser plate for a data sheet hinder or the like, said plate comprising a rigid bar, a rigid slide mounted on one end of said bar and slidable thereon to change the effective length of the bar, stop means on the bar cooperating with the slide to limit sliding movement of said slide thereon, there being openings in the bar and slide adapted to be aligned in one position of the slide relative to the bar, said openings being adapted to receive a flexible binder post, and a hook-shaped tab adjacent the opening on the slide adapted to retain a flexible binder post therein.

2. A presser plate for a data sheet binder or the like, said plate comprising a rigid bar having laterally extending ears, a rigid slide mounted on one end of said bar and slidable thereon to change the effective length of the bar, said slide having a C-shaped cross-section over a predetermined length thereof embracing the ears on the bar and a channel section over another length thereof embracing the bar to one side of the ears, stop means on the bar cooperating with the slide to limit movement of the slide in one direction along said ears, there being openings in the bar and slide adapted to be aligned in One position of the slide relative to the bar, said openings being adapted to receive a flexible binder post, and a hook-shaped tab adjacent the opening on the slide adapted to retain a flexible binder post therein.

3. A presser plate for holding data sheets in a binder or the like, said plate comprising an elongated rigid bar, a pair of rigid slides mounted on opposite ends of the bar, ears extending outwardly of the sides of the bar on the end regions thereof, said slides each having a C-shaped cross-section throughout the greater portion of their length, said C-shaped cross-section being adapted to embrace and be guided by the ears on the bar, other portions on the slides having a channel section and adapted to embrace the rigid bar between said ears, stop means centrally disposed on said bar and adapted to limit movement of said slides inwardly of the ends of said bar, said slides extending beyond the ends of the bar and having openings therein to receive a binder post, and a hookshaped tab adjacent the opening on a slide and adapted to retain a flexible binder post therein.

4. A presser plate as described in claim 3, said slides having flanges extending transversely of the plane of the bar and adapted to locate a presser plate relative to a stack of data sheets held by the presser plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 433,337 7/ 1890 Fitzgerald.

448,411 3/1891 Copeland et al 129-12 507,478 10/ 1893 BoWry 24-153 1,308,647 7/1919 Stuck 312-107 1,983,307 12/1934 Regenhardt 312-107 2,409,426 10/ 1946 Feldrnann 281-29 2,532,313 12/ 1950 Innacelli 24-153 2,605,526 8/1952 Bader 24-453 2,773,504 12/ 1956 McGervey 129-41 3,026,876 3/1962 Peynado 129-41 FOREIGN PATENTS 246,209 10/ 1960 Australia. 747,113 3/ 1933 France.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH D. BEIN, Examiner.

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