US3307234A - File fastener - Google Patents

Description

March 7, 1967 R. s. MURPHY 3,307,234

FILE FASTENER Filed Sept. 21, 1 964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E a. J.

r l l I f INVENTOR. 9 /6 /Z /0 ,aW/wA/fi 5. MUZPHV March 7, 1967 R. s. MURPHY 3,307,234

- FILE FASTENER Filed Sept. 21, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,307,234 FILE FASTENER Raymond S. Murphy, Bakersfield, Calif., assignor to Intex Oil Company, Bakersfield, Calif a corporation of California Filed Sept. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 397,902 2 Claims. (Cl. 24153) This invention relates to a fastener for fastening documents in files.

It is a feature of this invention that a file fastener is achieved in a unitary one-piece construction.

It is a further feature of this invention that it is essentially an Acco fastener with the separate piece being discarded and replaced by interlocking means carried by the two tongues.

These and other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the annexed specification in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective elevation of the bottom piece prior to the attachment of the interlocking means;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 with the interlocking means having been cemented in place;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective of the device in its closed position;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary elevation in section taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective elevation of a file fastener embodying the present invention in modified form;

FIGURE 6 is a section taken along the line 66 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of this modified form in closed position; and

FIGURE 8 is a section taken along the line 8-8 of FIGURE 7.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the invention consists in a base plate 10, a tongue 11 attached at one end and a tongue 12 attached at the other end of the base plate. On the inner side of tongue 11 is ce mented a plastic member 13 and on the exterior of tongue 12 there is cemented a cooperative plastic member 14. As is shown in FIGURE 4, the plastic member 13 is provided with a pair of longitudinal grooves 15 and 16, while the plastic member 14 is provided with a matching pair of longitudinal ridges 17 and 18. The heads of the ridges 17 and 18 are larger than the openings in the grooves 15 and 16, but are received therein with a snap fit becaue being preferably formed of polyethylene plastic the member 13 has enough resiliency to receive the members 17 and 18. From FIGURE 3 it will be obvious that in use the tongues are bent down so as to have the tongue 11 overlying the tongue 12 as shown in FIGURE 3. It will thus be seen that a workable fastener is formed on one piece which permits discarding the separate locking piece in common use today.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURES 5 through 8, there is shown a modified embodiment of the invention in which there is a base plate 10a with tongues 11a and 12 attached to the ends thereof. The base plate 10a and tongues 11a and 12a are integral and formed of a plastic material in which is embedded one or more stiffening wires 20 and 21. In this embodiment the members 13a and 14a bear the grooves 15a and 16a and the member 14ar is provided with a matching pair of longitudinal ridges 17a and 18a which, like the other embodiment, have heads on the ridges larger than the openings in the grooves. The members 13a and 14a are integral with the base plate 10a and the tongues 11a and 12a and all formed of the same plastic material.

While there has been described what is considered a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and it is intended to cover herein all such changes and modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A file fastener comprising a base, a pair of tongues integral with said base and extending one from each end thereof, said base and tongues being formed of a malleable material, a first plastic member cemented to the inside of one of said tongues, and a second plastic member cemented to the outside of the other of said tongues, one of said plastic members having a pair of longitudinal grooves and the other of said plastic members having a matching pair of longitudinal ridges adapted to fit in said grooves to hold said tongues together when folded inwardly into contacting position.

2. A file fastener as set forth in claim 1 in which said ridges are provided with heads and in which said grooves have an opening smaller than said heads whereby said ridges enter said grooves only by stretching said grooves open.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,328,268 8/1943 Gelfand 24-l53 2,345,484 3/1944 Krumiwiede 24153 3,074,133 1/1963 Jones.

FOREIGN PATENTS 507,101 11/1951 Belgium. 1,007,056 2/ 1952 France. 1,176,188 11/1958 France.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A FILE FASTENER COMPRISING A BASE, A PAIR OF TONGUES INTEGRAL WITH SAID BASE AND EXTENDING ONE FROM EACH END THEREOF, SAID BASE AND TONGUES BEING FORMED OF A MALLEABLE MATERIAL, A FIRST PLASTIC MEMBER CEMENTED TO THE INSIDE OF ONE OF SAID TONGUES, AND A SECOND PLASTIC MEMBER CEMENTED TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE OTHER OF SAID TONGUES, ONE OF SAID PLASTIC MEMBERS HAVING A PAIR OF LONGITUDINAL GROOVES AND THE OTHER OF SAID PLASTIC MEMBERS HAVING A MATCHING PAIR OF LONGITUDINAL RIDGES ADAPTED TO FIT IN SAID GROOVES TO HOLD SAID TONGUES TOGETHER WHEN FOLDED INWARDLY INTO CONTACTING POSITION.

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