WO1991011333A2

WO1991011333A2 - A filing system including one or more removable ring mechanisms

Info

Publication number: WO1991011333A2
Application number: PCT/GB1991/000153
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Paul Hayes-Pankhurst; Paul James Fearis; David Mark Steed
Original assignee: I.P. Innovations Limited
Priority date: 1990-02-05
Filing date: 1991-02-01
Publication date: 1991-08-08
Also published as: GB9101202D0; AU7233291A; WO1991011333A3; GB2241676B; GB2241676A; GB9002533D0

Abstract

An improved filing system is described comprising a box-shaped holder (27) having a base (28) hinged to a lid (29) by hinge (30) and held in a closed position by hinged latches (31) on the base which connect with catches (32) on the lid. Adjacent hinge (30) is a rib (33) having a series of notches (34) for spacing punched holes of different size papers to be filed, and a retaining lip (35) moulded integral with the holder (27). The papers are held in ring mechanisms (17) which comprise a base (18) and two arms (21, 22) held in the closed position by jaws (23, 24). The base (18) has a toe (19) and a heel (20) which removably clip under lip (35) and rib (33) respectively. The holder is used as a portable filing system the contents of which are removable with the ring mechanisms (17) without disturbance, for storage and access at different locations.

Description

A FILING SYSTEM INCLUDING ONE OR MORE REMOVABLE

RING MECHANISMS

This invention relates to an improved filing system and more particularly to a portable file the contents of which are removable, without disturbance, for storage and access at different locations. The invention also relates to a releasable ring mechanism removably located in the improved filing system.

One known form of filing system for holding filed papers is a file case with one or more spring clips, each having mating ends, mounted on a sprung metal lever. When the filed papers are to be removed from the file, the spring clips are opened by the sprung metal lever and the papers are removed separately or in a sheaf, whereafter the spring clips are closed manually.

Another known filing system is a cover having a sprung lever arch, in which the punched papers are threaded onto the arms of the lever, which are closed together by the action of the lever. Both the aforementioned known filing systems have the disadvantage that the spring clips or lever arms, when closed, frequently do not align so that the papers are inclined to become separated, particularly when there are a large number of papers threaded onto the spring clips or lever arms.

Two further known forms of filing systems for holding loose papers are the split pin, which after repeated use becomes difficult to use and it becomes extremely difficult to file or remove the papers from the clip. The other filing system is the basic tag string with a metal or plastics ferrule at each end facilitating the threading of the papers into a bundle and which retain the bundle on the tag string. These two filing systems have the disadvantage that the split pin and tag string allow the filed pages to pull through the pin or string unless attached to a cardboard file.

An aim of the present invention is to provide an improved filing system and ring mechanism which overcomes the disadvantages of the above mentioned prior art systems.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a filing system comprising a file holder hinged to enclose the contents of the file, at least one of the inside edges of the file holder having retaining means to removably receive one or more ring mechanisms having means to releasably secure their open ends together.

Preferably, the holder is box-shaped with an integral base and lid hinged to form a closed container, the retaining means being integral with the holder and formed adjacent the box hinge for receiving one or more ring mechanisms.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a ring mechanism for retaining punched papers. comprising a base and two arms forming the ring, locking means being provided adjacent ^• the free ends of the two arms to releasably secure the open ends of the arms together.

Conveniently, the ring mechanism is moulded in one piece from a resilient plastics material to provide an inherent resiliency to the mechanism.

The filing system may include a rigid support for removably, receiving one or more ring mechanisms as set forth in the two preceding paragraphs, the length of the support being adjustable to accommodate the support in file holders or filing cabinets.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, ^• by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment of a ring mechanism according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a box-shaped holder fitted with three ring mechanisms of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2a is an underneath perspective view of the ring mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig.3 is a similar view to Fig. 2 on a reduced scale with a bar support for two ring mechanisms;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a filing cabinet draw and a bar support; Fig. 5.is a side elevation of a second embodiment of a ring mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a box-shaped holder fitted with two ring mechanisms of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an accessory, in the open position; for use with the filing system of the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a similar view to Fig. 7 of the accessory in a closed position; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a box- shaped holder with two accessories for punching holes in papers;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view .of a pen or pencil holding accessory for use with the filing system of the present invention; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a box-shaped holder fitted with the pen or pencil holding accessory of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a further accessory for use with the filing system of the present invention.

The first embodiment of the ring mechanism 1 shown in Fig. 1 comprises a base having a toe 2 and heel 3 shaped to be releasably mounted in a holder as will be hereinafter described. The ring mechanism further comprises two arms 5 and 6 which are urged to the open position as shown in Fig. 1, by a spring 4. The free ends of the arms 5 and 6 have interlocking jaws 7 and 8 respectively which close to form a ring for example for papers to be filed. The ring mechanism is moulded in one piece from a resilient plastics material, the underside of the ring mechanism being moulded as shown in Fig. 2a to fit in a retaining means, for example, in a box-shaped holder 9.

The retaining means is in the form of a shoe 10 having a curved shape lip li at one end and a rib 12 at the other. One or more^' of the retaining means may be moulded integrally with the holder 9 and the ring mechanism may be releasably secured in the shoe 10 by inserting the toe 2 into the curved lip 11 and pressing the heel 3 below the rib 12, as shown in Fig. 2. In the embodiment shown the holder 9 has four shoes 10 but it may have any convenient number.

The box-shaped holder 9 may be used to file a number of papers by unlocking each ring mechanism and placing the papers to be filed, . having a corresponding number of punched holes, onto the ring mechanism. The ring mechanisms are then locked by engaging the interlocking jaws of the arms of each ring mechanism. To remove the papers, the individual rings may be unlocked and the paper or papers removed, however if the whole sheaf of filed papers is to be removed from the file, the ring mechanisms may be- released from their respective shoes and the undisturbed papers and ring mechanisms removed from the holder.

In a modification the ring mechanisms, two of which are shown in Fig. 3, are mounted on a rigid support bar 13 having hook shaped members 14 slidably arranged at the ends of the bar to adjust the length of the bar to be accommodated in the box-shaped holder 9. The two ring mechanisms 1 embrace the bar 13, and are secured in their respective shoes 10 to hold the ring mechanisms and bar in the holder. The papers filed on the two ring mechanisms may be collectively removed in one sheaf by releasing the ring mechanisms holding the undisturbed sheaf of papers from their respective shoes whereupon the papers may be readily transferred to, for example, a filing cabinet draw 15, as shown in Fig. 4.

The ends of the bar 13 may be adjusted to suit the width of the cabinet draw in which it is suspended by the end hooks 14 engaging the sides 16 of the cabinet draw. Instead of the ends of the bar being slidable they may be hinged to fit into the holder 9 and opened out to fit the filing cabinet draw 15.

In a second embodiment of the ring mechanism shown in Fig. 5 the mechanism 17 is moulded in one piece from a resilient plastics material and comprises a base 18 with a toe 19 and a heel 20. The two arms 21 and 22 are held in the open position by the inherent resiliency of the plastics material and have interlocking jaws 23 and 24 respectively, the arm 21 having a grooved gripping sur ace 25 which is pushed to release the jaws. The base 18 has an integrally formed spring 26 to hold the ring mechanism in a retaining means in a box-shaped holder 27 shown in Fig. 6.

The holder 27. comprises a base 28 and a lid 29 which are hinged together by an integral hinge 30 and can be held in a closed position by hinged latches 31 on the base, which connect with integrally moulded catches 32 on the lid. Adjacent the hinge is a rib 33 which has a series of notches 34 positioned to locate the spacing of the standard punch holes in different size paper. Spaced from the rib 33 is a retaining means comprising a longitudinal lip 35 under which the toe 19 of the ring mechanism 17 is located, the heel 20 being pressed to engage the underside of the rib 33. The required number of ring mechanisms 17 are located in the retaining means 35 and positioned against the desired notches 34.

A clamping accessory for use with the filing system of the present invention is shown in Figs. 7 and 8 and comprises a one piece plastics moulding of elongated rectangular form having a base 36, a clamping, member 37, with an aperture 37a, which is hinged at 38 to the base has an upright 39 and is provided with a ratchet teeth 40. The free longitudinal edge of the clamping member 37 is bent up at 41 to provide a grip for -locking or releasing the clamp. The upper surface of the clamping member 37 is provided with a series of parallel ribs 42 which also facilitate gripping of the clamping member when closing the jaws formed by the base 36 and the clamping member 37 so that the upright 39 engages in the aperture 37a and locks the clamping member to the ratchet teeth 40.

The base 37 has a - toe portion 36a and a heel portion 36b which can releasably engage the retaining means 33 and 35 in the box-shaped holder 27 (see Fig. 6).

The clamping accessory is used to clamp a pad of papers in the portable file.

Fig. 9 shows a. further accessory for use with the filing system of the present ' invention and comprises a one piece plastics paper punch 70 having an upper jaw 71 and a lower jaw 72 the upper jaw includes a cylindrical projection 73 whch engages a correspondingly shaped hole in the lower jaw to form a punch. The rear of the punch has a curved shoe 74 with a toe portion 75 and a heel portion 76, the shoe 74 has a curved rib 77 which engages notches 78 in a rib 79 formed in the lid 80 of a box- shaped holder 81. The rib 79 together with a lip 82 form a retaining means for the accessory when the toe and heel of the accessory is clipped into the retaining means as shown by the hand illustrated in the drawing.

In use the punch accesories are located by the notches in the holder at the required spacing for the punched holes and the papers are inserted between the upper and lower jaw for the papers to be punched with holes. The punched papers are then filed in the usual way on the ring mechanisms in the filing system.

Figs. 10 and 11 show an alternative clamping accessory with means to clip a pen or pencil in the holder. The clamp 43, which may also be used for holding a pad of paper 44, comprises a base 45 having two shoes 46 for securing the clamp in the retaining means moulded with the holder 47. The clamp 43 has a spring tongue 48 having a gripping edge 49 to clamp the pad 44 in the base 50 of the holder 47, the lid 51 of the holder having locking means to lock the holder with its contents in the closed position. The upper surface of the tongue 48 has an aperture 52 through_^, which the spring 53 projects and the sides of the aperture have a series of grooves or ribs 54 to facilitate the gripping of the clamp 43 when opening or closing it. The side shoes 46 have integrally moulded half-loops 55 to grip a pen or pencil 56 as shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 12 illustrates the use of the filing assembly with another accessory in the form of a computer software package. The base 57 of the holder 58 has a carrier 59 to hold two sizes of computer discs, i.e. a 5h inch floppy disc 60 and a 3 inch floppy disc 61. The carrier 59 may be made of a polythene material which has a gusset 5 62 opening into a number of pockets 63 for the discs or protective envelopes carrying the discs. The lid 64 of the holder 58 may be used to carry a computer manual 65 of e.g. operating instructions for the software program contained on the discs, or users notes concerning the

10 program. The carrier 59 clips under projections 66 moulded into the base 57 on all four sides.

The filing system allows papers to be easily fitted onto ring mechanisms which are so designed that their jaws are sprung apart and with very little effort can be

15 closed in such a way that to pull them apart without first unlocking the jaws will cause them to remain more firmly fixed together the greater the force applied to pull them apart. The ring mechanisms can be used singly or in any greater numbers that are considered desirable.

20 They are removably fitted into retaining means which are moulded integrally with a holder for the filed papers, preferably in the form of a case made of a plastics material. The case may accommodate a set of two, three or four ring mechanisms to receive papers punched with

25 holes at the necessary distance•along the borders of the papers to be threaded onto- the ring mechanisms. When the required number of papers have been fitted onto the ring mechanisms, each mechanism can then be closed simply by pressing the two jaws together until the jaws interlock

30 with each other and are held in the locked position by the tension of the spring in the base of the mechanism which, is also capable of holding the jaws apart when not locked together.

The holders in which the papers are kept are

35.preferably in three depths to accommodate one, two or three rows of ring mechanisms. ^' The benefit of such an arrangement is that when a. file has been filled but is still alive, some or all of the sheaf of papers together with their ring mechanisms attached can be readily transferred to the next file up in depth with the newly filed papers on a new set of ring mechanisms whilst keeping them and the full file within the same holder.

The ring mechanisms are also designed to fit onto a rigid bar support which has the same number of moulded retaining grips as the holders into which the ring mechanisms will clip. The bar support will be of such a length that it will lie across the sides or arms in a filing cabinet drawer supporting the filed papers in a suspended position without the need for special holders normally required to support complete files. The length of the rigid bar may be imprinted or embossed with ruler markings so that when not being used to file papers it can be used as a ruler.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A filing system comprising a- file holder (27) hinged to enclose the contents of the file, characterised in- that at least one of the inside edges of the file holder (27) having retaining means (33, 35) to removably receive one or more ring mechanisms (17) having means (31, 32) to releasably secure their open ends together.

2.. A -filing system as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the file holder (27) is box-shaped with an integral base (28) and lid (29) hinged (30) to form a closed container, the retaining means (33,35) being integral with the holder and formed adjacent the box hinge (30) for receiving one or more ring mechanisms (17).^'

3. A filing system as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that it includes an accessory comprising a rigid bar (13) for attachment of one or more ring mechanisms (17), the ends of the bar (13) having means (14) to suspend it in a filing cabinet drawer.

4. A filing system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that it includes an accessory comprising a spring loaded clamp (43) including a base (45) having two shoes (46), each shoe having a half loop (55), the forward end of each shoe having a toe portion and the rear end a heel portion, and a pivotable tongue (48) with a gripping edge (49) which is sprung towards the base to form a clamp.

5. A filing system as claimed in Claim 4, characterised in that the upper surface of the tongue (48) has an aperture (52) through which the spring (53) projects, the upper surfaces adjacent to the aperture having grooves and or ribs (54) to form a friction gripping surface.

6. A filing system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that it includes an accessory comprising a carrier sheet (59), the carrier having a series of pockets (63) joined at two opposite sides by gussets (62) permitting the pockets (63) to be opened away from the carrier (59) to receive contents in the pocket or pockets (63) and closed into the plane of the carrier sheet (59)."

7. A filing system as claimed in Claim 6, characterised in that the carrier sheet (59) has two series of gussetted pockets (63) of different sizes.

8. A ring mechanism for retaining punched papers characterised in that it comprises a base and two arms (5 and 6) forming the ring, locking means (7 and 8) being provided adjacent the free ends of the two arms to releasably secure the open ends of the arms together.

9. A ring mechanism as claimed in Claim 8, characterised in that it is moulded in one piece from a resilient plastics material . to provide an inherent resiliency to the mechanism.

10. A ring mechanism as claimed in Claim 9 characterised in that the arms (5 and 6) are urged to their open position by a spring (4) .

11. A ring mechanism as claimed in Claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the base has a toe portion (2) at one end and a heel portion (3) at the opposite end.

12. A ring mechanism as claimed in any of Claims 9 to 11, characterised in that the locking means is a shaped jaw (7) on one arm (5) interlocking with a complimentary shaped jaw (8) on the other arm (6).