US3728036A

US3728036A - Binding for perforated leaves made up of a singleplastic piece

Info

Publication number: US3728036A
Application number: US00090411A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Cott
Original assignee: RELIURE IND STD
Current assignee: RELIURE IND STD
Priority date: 1969-11-18
Filing date: 1970-11-17
Publication date: 1973-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 1990-04-17
Also published as: AU2240870A; ZA707756B; FR2067835A5; GB1326393A; ES192876U; NL7016914A; IL35648A; DE2057700A1; CS152383B2; CA920013A; IL35648A0; OA03526A; ES192876Y; BE759031A; CH528984A

Abstract

A binding for perforated leaves, including a base portion and shutters, opening rings for the perforated leaves formed of a resilient one-piece plastic construction, and reciprocable locking means positioned between the base and shutters and adapted to be actuated for controlled release of the leaves.

Description

United States Patent [191 Cott {451 Apr. 17, 1973 [5 BINDING FOR PERFORATED LEAVES [56] References Cited MADE UP OF A SINGLEPLASTIC UNITED STATES PATENTS PIECE 3,183,913 5/1965 Frodermann ..402/3l [75] Inventor: Gemges Emanuel Enghlenles' 3,612,709 6/1969 Miyamoto ..402/64 Bains, France [73] Assignee: Reliure Industrielle S.T.D., Ar- FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS gentheuil, France 1,576,584 6/1969 France ..402/33 [22] Filed: Nov. 17, 1970 Primary ExaminerRobert W. Michell [21 1 App! 90411 Assistant Examiner.l. H. Wolff Attorney-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 18, 1970 France ..6939668 [57] ABSTRACT A binding for perforated leaves, including a base por- U-S. l tion and hutters opening rings for the perforated [51] Int. Cl. ..B42f 3/04 leaves f d f a ili one-piece plastic construc- [58] FteldofSearch ..402/2123,3l33,6169

tion, and reciprocable locking means positioned between the base and shutters and adapted to be actuated for controlled release of the leaves.

9 Claims, 33 Drawing Figures PATEHTED APR 1 71375 SHEET 2 or a BINDING FOR PERFORATED LEAVES MADE UP OF A SINGLEPLASTIC PIECE An object of the invention is to provide a binding system which eliminates these disadvantages.

In the present state of known technique, similar bindings have already been put forward, but comprised of at least two pieces, the second part being used to lock the binding in the closed position; this second part involves an addition to the cost-price and the assembly, and its loss renders the binding useless.

A further object of the invention is to provide a binding system which eliminates these disadvantages, as well.

In the present state of known technique, again similar bindings have already been put forward, but with a fairly complicated structure, comprising a plurality of parts difficult to obtain and therefore burdensome and not very reliable.

The invention seeks the elimination of these and disadvantages also.

Consequently, the invention contemplates a binding with opening rings for perforated leaves, which is made of plastic and in a single piece, and which is achieved by moulding or by injection, and which comprises no other part or mechanism.

In short, the binding according to the invention is made up of a single plastic part forming side by side, parallel with the length of the binding, a base and two shutters, each in the form of an elongated rectangle, the base being one, by means of a thinned down part forming the hinge, with a median shutter provided with a set of half-rings and itself integral, by means of another thinned down part forming the hinge with a lateral shutter provided with the other set of half-rings; in the closed position of the binding, the two shutters are side by side above the base and the half-rings are in contact with each other two by two, with, in this closed position of the binding, reciprocal locking between the lateral shutter and the base; the opening of the binding is obtained by a controlled release of the said lock.

It will be noted that this structure according to the invention provides two important advantages; in the open position of the binding, the two hinges allow the shutters to be opened wide between themselves and between them and the base, readily freeing these parts of the single piece from each other, which allows it to be obtained by moulding and injection and which allows the base to be fastened by rivet or eyelet to the spine of a cover.

Moreover, in this open position of the binding, the two thinned down parts forming the hinges only develop weak or insignificant elastic pull; so the user can choose, as he pleases the degree of opening of the rings according to his desires of the moment, and the binding remains open like this without the need to hold it in position. I

More precisely the binding according to the invention is made up of a single plastic piece, comprising, according to the same cross-section respected throughout almost the whole length ofthe binding, a base provided, on one side and over at least a fraction of the said length, with a locking section with above an oblique facet wider at the bottom and provided, on the other side, with a projecting flange on the top of the base, this flange being limited, over the said length, by a longitudinal groove open towards the bottom and providing, over at least a fraction of the said length, a thin part, by means of which the flange is in one piece with a median shutter, returning back above the base in the closed position of the binding, bearing a set of half rings on its face opposite the base, limited, on the side opposite the said flange, by a longitudinal groove open towards the top and providing, over at least a fraction of the said length, a thin part by means of which the median shutter is integral with the lateral shutter, extending the median shutter above the base in the closed position of the binding, bearing the other set of halfrings on its face opposite the base, provided on its long free side with a flap bearing, over at least a fraction of the said length, a counter locking section, cooperating in the closed position of the binding with the said locking section of the base, with below an oblique facet narrower at the base cooperating with the said oblique facet of the base during the closing movement of the binding, the said base and the said lateral shutter being extended, over at least a short length of the binding outside the said cross-section, and the said lateral shutter forming a handling lever returning crosswise above the said base.

Thus, in order to close the binding, it suffices to press on the top of the shutters: the two oblique facets sliding one over the other while moving the flap of the lateral shutter, which they guide, away from he base, then the locking section and counter section ensure the closed position. In order to open the binding it suffices to press on the handling lever or levers; they rock and made the lateral shutter rock, which unlocks it and then lifts it Preferably, the binding according to the invention comprises two handling levers, that is to say one at each end of the binding, this although the action of a single one of these levers suffices to bring about the opening of the binding.

It is obvious to the technical man that, without departing from the framework of the invention, the binding may comprise a number other than two of handling levers, for example a single lever, placed for example at one end of the binding, or placed for example towards its centre or still for example to the right of the said lock.

The said lock is the closed position of the binding according to the invention may be made up of a counter section in the form of a lip, for example provided on the said flap of the lateral shutter engaging under the projection of a section, provided on he base for example, or by a groove and lug, or by oblique, rectilinear or curvilinear sides; these sections, as already stated, may exist along the whole length of the lateral shutter or along parts of this length, or yet again only over the length of the handling lever or levers. Preferably, in the case of the two handling levers (one at each end of the binding) these section and counter-sections exist at each end of the binding, over a length clearly greater than that of the handling lever, for example one-eighth to one-third of the total length of the binding; the base, over the intermediate length, instead of the said section, may form the release or guide or wedge according to questions of choice or expediency.

Methods of putting the invention into effect will be described with reference to the following figures by way of non-restrictive examples:

FIG. 1 is a general lateral view of a binding in the closed position (but without perforated leaves for the clarity of the drawing);

FIG. 2 is a side elevation, FIG. 3 and end view, and FIG. 4 a partial plan view, of the same binding in the closed position; 7

FIG. 5 is a section taken along line VV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective, detailing both FIG. 1 and FIG. 5:

FIG. 7, similar to FIG. 6, shows the same binding during its opening movement;

- FIG. 8, similar to FIG. 6 shows the complete opening of the same binding, and FIG. 9 is respectively similar to FIG. 5;

FIG. 10, similar to FIG. 5, shows the binding in the wide open position, for example for its moulding or for riveting in its cover;

FIG. 1 1 is a detail on a larger scale of FIG. 5, showing the cooperation of the two oblique facets at the closing of the binding;

FIG. 12 is a sectional detail on a larger scale taken on line XII--XII of FIG. 2;

FIG. 13, similar to FIG. 6, shows a projection of reduced length;

FIG. 14, similar to FIG. 11, shows another form of locking of the binding in the closed position;

FIG. 15, similar to FIG. 11, shows an improvement involving a closing-stop for the binding;

FIG. 16, similar to FIG. 5, shows an embodiment of reduced thickness;

FIG. 17, similar to FIG. 12, shows another embodiment of the handling lever:

FIGS. 18 and 19, similar to FIG. 12 show, respectively in the closed position of the binding and during its opening, another embodiment of the handling lever of the locking of the binding in the closed position;

FIG. 20 is a plan view of one embodiment of the binding according to the invention;

FIG. 21 is a plan view of the base of the binding according to FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a section taken in FIG. 20 along line XXII-XXII, that is to say to the right of the handling lever;

FIG. 23 is similar to FIG. 22 but in the open position of the binding;

FIG. 24 shows one phase of the opening movement of the binding according to FIG. 20;

FIG. 25 shows one phase of the closing movement of the binding according to FIG. 20;

FIG. 26 is a section taken in FIG. 20 along line XXVIXXVI, that is to say to the right of the outside ring;

FIG. 27 is similar to FIG. 26 but in the open position of the binding;

FIG. 28 is a section taken in FIG. 20 along line XX- VIII-XXVIII, that is to say between two rings;

FIG. 29 is similar to FIG. 28 but in the open position of the binding;

FIG. 30 is a section taken in FIG. 20 along line XXXXXX, that is to say to the right of the inside ring:

FIG. 31 is similar to FIG. 30 but in the open position of the binding;

FIG. 32 is a section taken in FIG. 20 along line XXXII-XXXII, that is to say between two inside rings;

FIG. 33 is similar to FIG. 32 but in the open position of the binding.

With particular reference to FIG. 1 therein is shown a binding according to the invention executed as a single piece of plastic material whose cross-section (FIG. 5) is the same over almost the whole length of the binding (the different parts being described further on); this single piece comprises a base which is flat and rectangular and forms the back of the binding which is mounted in the spine of the cover (if there is a cover); the base 1 is provided, on one of its two long sides, 2 having a flange with a flat face facing downwards, and an oblique facet 3 which narrows upwardly (flange 2 and facet 3 are clearly seen on the detail according to FIG. 11); the base 1 is provided, on the other ofits long sides, with a raised edge 4, projecting from the base, limited by a longitudinal groove 5 opening from the base side and leaving on the opposite side, and over at least a part of its length, a thin part 6 (FIGS. 5 and 6); this thin part 6, common to the base 1 and a median shutter 7, forms a hinge between these two parts of the single piece (its role will be described further on in connection with FIGS. 9 and 10 in particular); the median shutter 7 bears, on the side opposite to the base 1, a set of half-rings, each half-ring terminating in a wedge 9 engageable in the opposite half-ring, and it is limited by another longitudinal groove 11 opening from the side opposite to the base and leaving on the base side, and over at least a part of its length, another thin part 12 (FIGS. 5 and.6); this thin part 12 forms a hinge as well between the median shutter 7 and a lateral shutter 13, which bears, on the side opposite to the base, the other set of half-rings 14; the lateral shutter 13 is provided, on its long free side, with a flap 15, turned downwards, and forming a lip 16 turned towards the base 1, with an oblique facet 17 at the bottom, narrower at the bottom (clearly seen on the detail of FIG. 11).

In this embodiment of the binding, the median shutter 7 and the lip 15 of the lateral shutter 13 (FIG. 1 and 2) are a little shorter than the base 1: above each of the two ends of base 1, the lateral shutter 13 is extended by a transverse handling lever 18 (detail according to FIG. 12); the upper face of the lever 18 is preferably scored or milled at its end 19 so as to facilitate, and even to suggest, its movement by the user (as described further on) and the lower face 21 of the lever 18 is machined (FIG. 12) in order to form a cam supported on the base 1 during the opening movement (described further on). I

The working of this embodiment of the binding according to the invention will now be described.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 6 (and in particular to FIG. 5): in the closed position of the binding, on the one hand, lip 16 of the lateral shutter 13 is engaged and maintained under the flange 2 of base 1, on the other hand the half-rings 8 and the half-rings 14 are in contact with each other two by two: because of a suitable sizing of the different parts of the single piece and according to questions of choice or convenience, the locking in the closed position which has just been described may be achieved with very little or no force (which widens the field of plastic materials which can be used and which do not have to resist the said force), or on the contrary with an appreciable elastic locking (which allows the use of plastic materials forming elastic rings). In this latter case, the elastic stress is supplied in so far as concerns the

shutters

7 and 13 on one hand by the elasticity of the half-

rings

8 and 14, and on the other, to a lesser degree, by the elasticity of the flange 4 of base 1 and of the flap of the lateral shutter 13. More precisely, the half-rings 8 exert a force F1 (FIG. 5) on the half-rings 14, and the flange 2 of base 1 exerts on lip 16 of the flap 15 a force F2; these two forces F1 and F2 which are in the same direction have for resultant a force F3 on the lateral shutter 13 to the right of the hinge 12 between the shutters; symmetrically, force F'l (equal and opposite to F1) on the half-rings 8, and force F2 (equal and opposite to F2) on base 1, have as resultant a force F3 on the median shutter 7 to the right of its hinge 6; and the forces F3 and F'3 cancel each other out by elastically locking the various parts of the single piece. It will be noted that the

thin parts

6 and 12, being made of plastic, form hinges as already stated, to rotate the shutters around them, but form on the other hand connections which well resist stresses perpendicular to them.

To open the binding, the user exerts a force F5 (FIG. 12) on the scored part 19 of the lever 18; the lower section 21 pivoting on base 1, the result is a rotation R of lever 18, and of the shutter 13, which is integral with it, around the hinge 12, this being made possible by the elasticity of the half-

rings

8 and 14 which are made of plastic: the lip 16 of shutter 13 is thus released from the flange 2 of base 1 (FIG. 7) and the two shutters, now freed, open and likewise the half-rings open (FIG. 8). It will be noted, as already stated, because of the weakness of the elasticity of

hinges

6 and 12, this open position is maintained by itself, in any case without requiring an effort to maintain it in position by the user, who can devote his attention to the manipulation of the perforated leaves.

The binding (FIGS. 8 and 9) opened for adding or removing perforated leaves may be opened still further, for example as shown in FIG. 10, where the base 1 is easily accessible: on the one hand this facilitates the making of the binding by moulding or injection and on the other hand facilitates its mounting by a rivet or eyelet 22 in a cover when such a mounting is required. This wide-open position is also maintained by itself or without demanding an effort by the user to maintain the position.

To close the binding, it suffices to lower the shutters towards the base or to press on the file of perforated leaves: the oblique facet 17 of the flap 15 is presented on the oblique facet 3 of base 1, then slides over it (FIG. 11), thus guiding the lip 16, which hooks elastically under the flange 2 of base 1.

As already pointed out, the lip 16 and/or the flange 2 may exist over almost the whole length of base 1 or only over a part of this length (FIG. 13), or be subdivided into several parts.

The locking of the binding in the closed position may be formed, as described above, by the cooperation of the lip 16 of flap 15 of the lateral shutter 13 with the flange 2 of base 1, or by any other equivalent system; for example as shown in FIG. 13 this locking may be formed by the cooperation of a lug 24 of flap 15 with a groove 25 of base 1 (or yet again ofa groove of the flap with a lug ofthe base).

The binding according to the invention may be limited in its opening movement in a very simple way, by a stop 27 shown in FIG. 15, which prevents the binding from being closed more than recessary beyond the hooking of the lock. The same result is obtained, by reducing, even by almost eliminating altogether, the free height between the top of base 1 and the bottom of

shutters

7 and 13.

As already pointed out, instead of the two control levers which have just been described, the binding may comprise a different number of them, for example a single lever 18, placed at one end or towards the center, or to the right of the lock or locks.

The handling lever 18 may be positioned in an appreciably different manner; for example, as shown in FIG. 17, it may be provided with a right-angled return piece bearing on side 32 of base 1 and its scored part 19 may with advantage be made noticeably oblique: thus the user is guided to exert an oblique force F6, which facilitates the release of the lock along arrow S.

In short, the invention provides for the said locking of the binding in the closed position .by the lever itself: lip 16, with the oblique facet 17, is then placed on the inside face of the right-angled return piece 31 of lever 18, and flange 2, with the oblique facet 3, is then placed on side 32 of base 1; here also they may be replaced by a lock with lug and groove (as shown in FIG. 14). The invention provides for still another arrangement; as FIG. 18 shows, the right-angled return piece 31 of lever 18 is provided on the inner side with an oblique face 33 below which is an oblique facet 34 and base 1 is provided on its side with an oblique facet 35 below which is an oblique face 36; the two oblique faces 33 and 36 may be rectilinear or curvilinear. In the closed position they ensure by their cooperation the locking of the binding; for opening (FIG. 19), the said oblique force F6 of the user makes them slide one over the other with the pivoting of lever 18 (arrow S); for closing, the two

oblique facets

34 and 35 slide one over the other guiding the relative movement of the lateral shutter in relation to the base.

There will now be described, referring to FIGS. 20 and 33, a preferred embodiment of the invention, which is a particular combination, with arrangements, of certain of the arrangements already described. With reference to FIG. 20, which is a plan view of the closed binding, this binding is composed as a single piece of plastic material whose cross-section (FIGS. 22 and following) is appreciably the same over the whole length of the binding; this single piece comprises a flat rectangular base 1 serving as a support for the handling lever 18; base 1 forms the back of the binding, and it is fixed to the back of the cover, for example by using pierced holes 42 (FIG. 21) to receive eyelets; the base 1 is provided over about one-sixth from the end of one of its long sides, with a flange 2 having a flat face facing downwards, and with an oblique facet 3 which narrows upwardly (FIGS. 22 and 26); after an empty space (FIG. 28), the same edge of base 1 is provided, in the central part, with a guiding projection 43 (FIGS. 21 and 30-32); base 1 is provided, on the other of its two long sides with an edge 4 projecting from the base 1, limited by a longitudinal groove 5 opening from the base side, complete between and far from he rings (FIGS. 28 and 32), incomplete and leaving a thin part 6 here and there to the right of the rings (FIGS. 22, 26, 30); this thin part 6, common to the base 1 and the median shutter 7, forms a hinge between these two parts, as already described, but the reduction in its length in the present embodiment reduces its rigidity and strength, the same arrangement being made at the other side of the median shutter, with the other thin part 12; in short, corresponding to the partial flange 2 of base 1, on flap 15 of the lateral shutter 13, is a lip 16 and an oblique facet l7 limited in length. At each end of the binding, the handling lever 18, integral with flap l and the lateral shutter 13 bears a nipple 44 on part 21 of the base 1 (FIG. 22); thus, in the opening movement, from he closed position (FIG. 22) to the open position (FIG. 23) the nipple, under the action of force Fl 1 exerted on lever 18, pivots and moves while releasing flap of the flange 2 (FIG. 24); conversely, in the closing movement (FIG. 25) the oblique facets 3 and I7 slide one over the other under the action of force F12 exerted on the top of the binding, and guide the flap I5 and the shutters.

What I claim is:

1. A binding for perforated leaves comprising a body constituted as a single piece of plastic material including elongated base having opposite longitudinal edges, a first shutter hingeably connected to the base at one of the edges thereof, a second shutter hingeably connected to the first shutter, the hingeable connections between the base and first shutter and between the first and second shutters being provided by reduction of material thickness to form hinges there along, rings for perforated leaves constituted as individual half-rings on each of said shutters facing one another, said second shutter having a free edge proximate the other of said edges of the base, locking means on said free edge of the shutter and on said other edge of the base for locking the same together in a closed position of the binding, said half rings being positioned on the shutters for engageably closing in the closed position of the binding, and actuator means coupled to said second shutter in extending cantilever fashion for pivotably moving the second shutter with respect to the first shutter about the hinge connection therebetween to selectively release the locking means and then enable the first shutter to pivotably move with respect to he base about the hinge connection therebetween and provide an open position for the binding in which the half rings are separated from one another.

2. A binding as claimed in claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises a projection on said free edge of the second shutter for engaging at least a portion of the other edge of the base in locked position.

3. A binding as claimed in claim 2 wherein said locking means further comprises a tapering projection on said other edge of the base engaged with the projection on the shutter in the locked position.

4. A binding as claimed in claim 3 wherein at least one of said projections includes a lip for engaging the other projection.

5. A binding as claimed in claim 3 wherein said projections have oppsoed oblique faces.

6. A binding as claimed in claim 3 comprising means on said other edge of the base for engaging the locking means on the second shutter to guide the latter when it is bein brought to lockin position.

7. A tnding as claime in claim 3 comprising means on said means facing said base to engage the same and permit the means to unlock the locking means.

8. A binding as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base includes at said one edge thereof an upright projection to which said first shutter is connected, said upright projection having an upper inner edge at which a longitudinal groove is provided to form the reduction of material and the hinge connection between the base and first shutter.

9. A binding as claimed in claim 8 wherein a longitudinal groove is provided between the first and second shutters in the upper surface thereof to form the reduction material and the hinge connection between the shutters.

Claims

6. A binding as claimed in claim 3 comprising means on said other edge of the base for engaging the locking means on the second shutter to guide the latter when it is being brought to locking position.

7. A binding as claimed in claim 3 comprising means on said means facing said base to engage the same and permit the means to unlock the locking means.