US3591300A - Universal sheet lifter - Google Patents

Universal sheet lifter Download PDF

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Publication number
US3591300A
US3591300A US752861A US3591300DA US3591300A US 3591300 A US3591300 A US 3591300A US 752861 A US752861 A US 752861A US 3591300D A US3591300D A US 3591300DA US 3591300 A US3591300 A US 3591300A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
ring
binder
lifter
sheet
sheet lifter
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US752861A
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English (en)
Inventor
Lewis R Beyer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
LEWART COMPANY 3562 WEST 69TH STREET CLEVELAND OHIO 44102 A OHIO CORP
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
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Publication date
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Publication of US3591300A publication Critical patent/US3591300A/en
Assigned to LEWART COMPANY, 3562 WEST 69TH STREET, CLEVELAND, OHIO 44102 A OHIO CORP. reassignment LEWART COMPANY, 3562 WEST 69TH STREET, CLEVELAND, OHIO 44102 A OHIO CORP. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: BEYER, LEWIS, R.,
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42F—SHEETS TEMPORARILY ATTACHED TOGETHER; FILING APPLIANCES; FILE CARDS; INDEXING
    • B42F13/00—Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots
    • B42F13/40—Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots combined or formed with other articles, e.g. punches, stands
    • B42F13/408—Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots combined or formed with other articles, e.g. punches, stands with sheet rests or sheet lifters

Definitions

  • lnclined surfaces on the two parts engage portions of sheets carried by the rings and move the sheets about the ring when the binder covers are closed.
  • UNIVERSAL SHEET LIFTER This invention relates to sheet lifters or followers which are used to facilitate the closing of looseleaf binders.
  • Looseleaf binders are manufactured and used in a variety of styles and sizes. These styles and sizes vary in ring diameter, ring spacing and/or the number of rings used.
  • a sheet lifter is secured to the rings of the binder adjacent each cover.
  • the sheets held by the binder rings are positioned between the two sheet lifters.
  • the function of the sheet lifters is to help move the sheets along the rings when the covers of an open binder are closed. This prevents the sheets from being caught at the base of the rings, between the rings and the covers, which tears the apertures of the sheets and makes it difficult to close the covers.
  • improved lifters of the type disclosed in the aforementioned patent are preferably formed of plastic by injection molding techniques, which require relatively expensive dies.
  • Custom made lifters therefore, are usually limited to the flat, cardboard-type lifter that can be individually cut to length and punched to accommodate the desired spacing and number of binder rings.
  • Flat lifters do not function in a satisfactory manner at best, and the larger number of closely spaced rings typical of special binders make it all the more difficult to close the covers of the binder.
  • Even for standard binders the need for different sheet lifters for the twoand three-ring binders requires separate manufacture, handling, and larger inventories.
  • the present invention overcomes the above problems by providing a universal lifter, that is, a lifter that is usable with looseleaf ring binders having any number of rings or any spacing, and that can be constructed for use with rings of any diameter.
  • the preferred sheet lifter device of the present invention incorporates inclined surfaces to effectively slide the sheets carried by the rings of the binder upward along the sheet lifter and about the rings as the covers of the binder are closed, so that resistance to closing of the covers and pinching or tearing of the sheets is avoided.
  • the universal sheet lifting device of the present invention is comprised of two sheet lifter parts that are relatively small and are secured to a single ring of a binder rather than extending along a binder in the conventional manner.
  • the two parts are aligned with each other across a single ring and across the ring back of the binder, one part being adjacent each cover of the looseleaf binder.
  • Each part is comprised ofa flat body portion with an upwardly offset back portion.
  • An aperture in each part is provided adjacent the back portion to receive the ring of a binder. The aperture is elongated toward the front of the associated part to permit pivoting of the part with the cover.
  • a gradually inclined surface extends upward and rearward from the flat body portion of each part toward the back portion preferably adjacent the aperture, and serves toeffectively slide sheets outward along the lifter and about the rings when the lifter is pivoted during the closing of the binder cover.
  • the two parts of the sheet lifting device are connected together at back portions in a manner that prevents the two parts from pivoting out of alignment with each other across the ring, i.e., from pivoting about the ring in the plane of the lifter or cover, but which permits pivoting about axes parallel to the cover hinges.
  • two such sheet lifting devices are used on two-spaced rings, one adjacent each opposite end of a looseleaf binder.
  • a single such device used on a ring in the middle of the binder is adequate.
  • Different ring diameters are accom modated by an expandable connection between the two parts that permits the distance between the back edges of the parts to be varied.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a lifter with two parts adapted to associate with opposite covers of a ring binder, and which is secured in use to a single ring ofa binder and in which the two parts will pivot with the associated binder covers but will remain aligned with each other across the ring back.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a lifter with two sheet lifter parts flexibly interconnected so as to extend across a ring of a ring binder, the flexible interconnection being constructed so that the space between the two parts can be varied to accommodate different diameter rings.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a lifter, as described above, that has inclined surfaces to effectively lift sheets when the two parts are pivoted with the covers of a binder.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sheet lifter embodying the present invention, shown associated with a ring of a looseleaf ring binder;
  • FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the sheet lifter and ring binder of FIG. ll;
  • FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the sheet lifter and ring binder of FIG. 2, showing the relationship of the parts with the ring binder in a closed position;
  • FIG. 4 is an end elevational view similar to FIG. 2 showing the sheet lifter of FIG. 2 with a ring binder having rings of larger diameter;
  • FIG. 5 is an end elevational view similar to FIG. 2, showing a sheet lifter of a modified construction
  • FIG. 6 is an end elevational view similar to FIG. 5 showing another modified construction of a sheet lifter embodying the present invention.
  • a preferred embodiment of the sheet liftezr of this invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 and is shown in operative association with a ring 112 of a looseleaf binder 14.
  • the binder 14 is conventional and includes a backing or spine 15 to which two cover leaves I6, 17 are hinged as at 18, 19.
  • the binder includes two or more rings 12, only one of which is shown, and each of which comprises two arcuate segments with uppermost portions that mate when the rings are in closed position.
  • the lowermost portions of the rings are connected to a spring mechanism (not shown) to provide the conventional snap-action ring operation.
  • the spring mechanism is housed by longitudinal cover plate 20 securely attached to the inside surface of the binder backing IS.
  • the cover plate 20 has an outer surface 21 through which the binder rings 12 project.
  • loose sheets typically carried by the rings 12 in the binder M have been omitted from FIG. 1, but are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • the sheets. S are typically paper, and include holes through which the binder rings extend.
  • a single lifting device is associated with the binder on the center ring.
  • two lifting devices are used on rings adjacent opposite ends of the binder to assure a balanced lifting force on the sheets.
  • FIG. 2 when the looseleaf binder I4 is open, the sheet lifting device 10 extends outward in opposite directions from the binder backing l5 and cover plate 20 of the ring assembly, along the inside surface of the covers l6, l7, beneath the sheets S of paper. As shown in FIG.
  • the lifter is a unitary device, preferably molded of plastic, such as polypropylene, linear polyethylene, or the like that will form a relatively stiff sheet lifter but which is flexible and tough if thin so that integral hinged portions that will withstand repeated flexing can be provided by forming grooves in the material.
  • the lifter 10 includes two parts 26, 28 of identical construction secured by an integral connector 29. Because the two parts 26, 28 are identical, only part 26 will be described in detail. Corresponding portions of part 28 will be identified by similar reference numerals, with a prime designation.
  • the sheet lifter part 26 includes a flat, bladelike body portion 30 with a front edge 32, a back edge 34, a top surface 36 and a bottom surface 38.
  • the thickness, of the front edge 32 is tapered upwardly and outwardly as best shown in FIG. 2.
  • the front and back edges are parallel.
  • the body port-ion 30 includes a front part 30a that contacts the cover of the looseleaf ring binder with which the lifting device is used, has a back part 30b.narrower than the front part to accommodate its use with a binder in which the rings are relatively closely spaced, and the narrower back part 30]) includes an upwardly inclined terminal portion 30c so that the back edge 34 is upwardly offset from the flat body portion comprised of parts 30a, 30b.
  • the inclined portion 30c extends at an obtuse angle from the flat part 30b.
  • the substantial width of the front edge 32 tends to either position the lifter, or maintain the lifter already positioned, with the front edge parallel to the binder cover hinges as soon as pivoting forces are applied to the lifter by the cover. This is because the forces are applied primarily against the front edge and are equalized across the width when the edge is parallel to the binder hinge.
  • a single aperture 40 is formed in the body portion 30 and is contained partially in the inclined portion 300 and is elongated along the flat body portion 30b in a direction toward the front edge 32.
  • the aperture 40 is wide enough to receive a ring 12 of the binder and is elongated between a back edge 46 and a front edge 47 a distance sufficient to permit the sheet lifter part 26 to pivot with the adjacent cover of the binder to a closed position, without necessitating travel of the lifter about the binder ring. See FIG. 3.
  • Narrow tracks 42, 43 extend upward from the top surface 36 of the sheet lifter part 26 along opposite sides of the elongated aperture 40.
  • Each track 42, 43 has an upper inclined surface 44, 45, respectively, that extend from the flat body portion 30b to the upwardly inclined portion 300 and which terminate adjacent the upper back edge 34.
  • the lower forward edge of each inclined surface 44, 45 is located slightly to the rear of the front edge 47 of the elongated aperture 40.
  • a continuation 48,49 of each track 42, 43, respectively, extends from the end of the inclined surfaces 44, 45 toward the front edge 32 of the body portion 30 and projects a slight distance above the top surface 36.
  • the continuations 48, 49 are optional and serve only as stiffening elements.
  • the connector 29 between the two parts 26, 28 of the lifter 10 joins the two back edges 34, 34'.
  • the connector 29 is flexible in a direction that permits pivoting of the two parts 26, 28 with the covers of a Iooseleaf binder and is relatively stiff in a transverse direction to inhibit pivoting of the two parts in the planes of the flat body portions 30, 30' so that the two parts remain aligned across the backing 15, in proper relationship with the associated ring 12 to pivot with the binder covers.
  • the connector 29 is advantageously formed ofa thin, relatively wide, ribbon of suitable length to permit the parts 26, 28 to be spaced across the back and to be located one on each side of the associated ring 12.
  • the ribbonlike connector 29 preferably has a hinged connection to the parts 26, 28 formed by a score line or groove 52, 52' at thejuncture with each back edge 34, 34, to assure flexibility about axes parallel to the hinges l8, 19 of the binder 14.
  • the substantial width of the ribbonlike connector 29 makes it difficult for the parts to pivot about the ring in the plane of the flat body portions 30.
  • the length of the connector 29 can be selected to accommodate the particular ring diameter.
  • a connector 29a is provided that is relatively flat or straight and which locates the inner ends of the two parts 26, 28 in proper location for a particular ring diameter.
  • the connector is hinged to the parts 26, 28 at score lines or grooves 52a, 52a.
  • the connector 29 is provided of sufficient length to permit the inner edges 34, 34' of the lifter parts 26, 28 to be spaced sufficient to accommodate the largest diameter rings in popular demand.
  • the connector constructions shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 will accommodate varying ring diameters.
  • the connectors are constructed to be above the back edges 34, 34' of the lifter parts, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, so that the back edges will be located against the cover plate 20 of the ring binder when the covers are I closed, as shown in FIG. 3. This maximizes the ring space available for sheets S.
  • FIGS. 1 to 4 utilizes an accordion pleated ribbonlike connector 29 to provide maximum expansion for large diameter rings while maintaining the connector compact so that it will fit within small diameter rings, without interfering with the inner edges ofsheets carried by the rings or with the rings themselves.
  • the connector 29 is initially molded or otherwise formed to a compact condition as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and can be stretched to an expanded condition for use with large rings. Hinges formed by score lines or grooves 54 between flat sections 55 of the pleated connector 29 facilitate expansion.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates the lifter 10 of FIG. 2 associated with a ring 12 of larger diameter than the ring 12, and illustrates the manner in which the ribbonlike accordion pleated connector 29 expands to accommodate the larger ring diameter.
  • a sheet lifter 10b is shown in FIG. 5 with a curved connector 29b of sufficiently small radius to provide adequate sheet space within rings of relatively small diameters while allowing for limited expansion to accommodate larger diameter rings.
  • the connector 29b is hinged to the parts 26, 28 at score lines or grooves 52b, 52b.
  • the connectors 29, 29b are preformed to a compact configuration suitable for use with small rings, such as the standard size rings of 1 inch diameter, and are stretched when used to the greater spacing required for larger diameter rings, as shown in FIG. 4.
  • the expandable connectors need not be resilient, since the sheet lifters are typically used with the same binder, once installed, and need not return to a compact configuration.
  • the purpose of the sheet lifting device is to lift the inner edges of the sheets of paper in a looseleaf binder from a position adjacent the bottom of the binder rings, as shown in FIG. 2, to a position adjacent the upper central portion of the rings, as shown in FIG. 3, when the binder covers are closed.
  • the two parts 26, 28 of the lifter 10 are pivoted from a flat, open, position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to an upright closed position as shown in FIG. 3, the front edge 32 of each slides along the inner surface of the associated cover leaf of the binder and each part 26, 28 pivots relative to the ring 12, adjacent the back edge 34, 34'.
  • the back edges 34, 34' move slightly downward during this pivoting and as the relatively flat body portions 30a, 30b swing upward toward the vertical, the ring 12 partially extends through the elongated apertures 40.
  • the front edge 47 of the aperture 40 is spaced a sufficient distance from the back edge 46 of the aperture so that it does not contact the outer surface of the ring 12 and limit the pivoting.
  • the back edge 46 of the elongated aperture in the inclined portion 30c will contact the inside surface of the ring 12. As long as the front edge of the aperture does not contact the ring 12, there is no tendency for the sheet lifter to travel about the ring to a higher position.
  • the sheet lifter device 10 is installed by opening the ring 12 with which it is to be used and inserting each spaced end of the open ring into an aperture 40, 40' with the connector 29 between the spaced ends of the ring. Sheets S are then placed on the ring and the ring is closed. With large diameter rings, the accordion pleated spacer 29 or the curved spacer 29b is expanded during installation to accommodate the greater distance across the ring so that the back edges 34, 34 are adequately spaced to lie adjacent the lower inner portions of the ring 12 rather than more centrally, where the effective length of the apertures 40, 40 would be shortened.
  • the tracks need not be narrow.
  • the body of the sheet lifter itself may be formed essentially of two planar members, one corresponding to the flat body portion 300 and the other extending therefrom at an obtuse angle corresponding with the upper inclined surfaces 44,45 of the tracks 42, 43.
  • the aperture 40 can be formed directly in this inclined surface.
  • the particular shape of the flat portion of the lifter parts, especially the portions: 30a, 3011 may be varied from that shown, but a substantial width of the front edge portion 30a, somewhat wider than the back portion 30b, is desirable to help keep the lifter aligned across the binder.
  • the back portions 30b and 30c should be wide enough for adequate strength, but otherwise must be sufficiently narrow to fit between the closest rings of looseleaf binders with which the lifter is to be used. Rigidity of the narrow back portion 30b is enhanced by the preferred construction in which the inclined surfaces are provided by tracks perpendicular to the flat surface, which increase the section modulus.
  • a sheet lifter device for use with a looseleaf ring binder and adapted to be secured in the binder only by a ring of the binder that extends through apertures of the device, said device comprising:

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US752861A 1968-08-15 1968-08-15 Universal sheet lifter Expired - Lifetime US3591300A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US75286168A 1968-08-15 1968-08-15

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US3591300A true US3591300A (en) 1971-07-06

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US752861A Expired - Lifetime US3591300A (en) 1968-08-15 1968-08-15 Universal sheet lifter

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US (1) US3591300A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1266438A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4373825A (en) * 1980-10-10 1983-02-15 Zabielski Ray F Looseleaf page lifter
US4420271A (en) * 1980-10-10 1983-12-13 Zabielski Ray F Centerline-attached looseleaf notebook page lifter
US4573822A (en) * 1984-02-27 1986-03-04 Allen Dell K Sheet lifter for a loose leaf binder
US5106222A (en) * 1990-06-27 1992-04-21 Acco World Corporation Embossed cover for ring binder mechanism
US5549406A (en) * 1994-11-21 1996-08-27 Cohen; Abner B. No-bind page lifter clip
US6558064B1 (en) 1999-10-26 2003-05-06 Specialty Loose Leaf, Inc. Ring binder sheet positioner
US20040057774A1 (en) * 2002-09-25 2004-03-25 Soon Huat Lim Punchless file
US20050036825A1 (en) * 2003-08-14 2005-02-17 Pangburn Daniel Wesley Ring-center pivot loose-leaf binder page lifter
US7399136B2 (en) 2006-01-06 2008-07-15 Staples The Office Superstore Llc Molded binder
US7524127B2 (en) 2005-12-12 2009-04-28 Staples The Office Superstore, Llc Ring binder mechanism
US7527449B2 (en) 2005-12-12 2009-05-05 Staples The Office Superstore, Llc Ring binder mechanism
CN111409380A (zh) * 2020-04-28 2020-07-14 得力集团有限公司 一种新型活页文件夹

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2035284A (en) * 1934-11-02 1936-03-24 Trussell Mfg Co Sheet lifter to facilitate the closing of ring books
US2090231A (en) * 1934-01-27 1937-08-17 Stationers Loose Leaf Company Loose-leaf ring binder
US3019486A (en) * 1957-12-20 1962-02-06 Phillips Petroleum Co Method of making plastic hinge
US3087498A (en) * 1962-01-16 1963-04-30 Vogel Rudolf Holder device
FR82640E (fr) * 1962-03-26 1964-03-20 Prache Auger Centreur de feuillets formant protecteur amovible de couverture et revêtement de mécanisme de reliure à anneaux ouvrants
US3165337A (en) * 1963-03-15 1965-01-12 Sydney S Leibowitz Book covers
US3366118A (en) * 1966-08-29 1968-01-30 Lewis R. Beyer Sheet lifter
US3493310A (en) * 1967-12-29 1970-02-03 Stationers Loose Leaf Co Sheet lifter for looseleaf ring binder

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2090231A (en) * 1934-01-27 1937-08-17 Stationers Loose Leaf Company Loose-leaf ring binder
US2035284A (en) * 1934-11-02 1936-03-24 Trussell Mfg Co Sheet lifter to facilitate the closing of ring books
US3019486A (en) * 1957-12-20 1962-02-06 Phillips Petroleum Co Method of making plastic hinge
US3087498A (en) * 1962-01-16 1963-04-30 Vogel Rudolf Holder device
FR82640E (fr) * 1962-03-26 1964-03-20 Prache Auger Centreur de feuillets formant protecteur amovible de couverture et revêtement de mécanisme de reliure à anneaux ouvrants
US3165337A (en) * 1963-03-15 1965-01-12 Sydney S Leibowitz Book covers
US3366118A (en) * 1966-08-29 1968-01-30 Lewis R. Beyer Sheet lifter
US3493310A (en) * 1967-12-29 1970-02-03 Stationers Loose Leaf Co Sheet lifter for looseleaf ring binder

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4373825A (en) * 1980-10-10 1983-02-15 Zabielski Ray F Looseleaf page lifter
US4420271A (en) * 1980-10-10 1983-12-13 Zabielski Ray F Centerline-attached looseleaf notebook page lifter
US4573822A (en) * 1984-02-27 1986-03-04 Allen Dell K Sheet lifter for a loose leaf binder
US5106222A (en) * 1990-06-27 1992-04-21 Acco World Corporation Embossed cover for ring binder mechanism
US5549406A (en) * 1994-11-21 1996-08-27 Cohen; Abner B. No-bind page lifter clip
US6558064B1 (en) 1999-10-26 2003-05-06 Specialty Loose Leaf, Inc. Ring binder sheet positioner
US20040057774A1 (en) * 2002-09-25 2004-03-25 Soon Huat Lim Punchless file
US20050036825A1 (en) * 2003-08-14 2005-02-17 Pangburn Daniel Wesley Ring-center pivot loose-leaf binder page lifter
US6908248B2 (en) * 2003-08-14 2005-06-21 Daniel Wesley Pangburn Ring-center pivot loose-leaf binder page lifter
US7524127B2 (en) 2005-12-12 2009-04-28 Staples The Office Superstore, Llc Ring binder mechanism
US7527449B2 (en) 2005-12-12 2009-05-05 Staples The Office Superstore, Llc Ring binder mechanism
US7399136B2 (en) 2006-01-06 2008-07-15 Staples The Office Superstore Llc Molded binder
CN111409380A (zh) * 2020-04-28 2020-07-14 得力集团有限公司 一种新型活页文件夹

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Publication number Publication date
GB1266438A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-03-08

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: LEWART COMPANY, 3562 WEST 69TH STREET, CLEVELAND,

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:BEYER, LEWIS, R.,;REEL/FRAME:004735/0845

Effective date: 19870420