WO1999028100A1

WO1999028100A1 - Punch

Info

Publication number: WO1999028100A1
Application number: PCT/FI1998/000908
Authority: WO
Inventors: Juha-Pekka Puurunen
Original assignee: Puurunen Juha Pekka
Priority date: 1997-11-28
Filing date: 1998-11-20
Publication date: 1999-06-10
Also published as: FI974356A; FI974356A0; AU1238599A; FI105327B

Abstract

The invention relates to a lightweight punch (1) for sheets of paper or the like, by means of which the sheets are perforated for filing. The body (2) of the punch (1) is a uniform, preferably plastic-moulded piece, in addition to which the punch (1) comprises two punching tools (6) and press buttons (7) activating these. The punch (1) in accordance with the invention is fixed to the cover (17) of the folder, the cover thus acting as the base of a cut fragment space (9). For removal of the cut fragments, the upper member (15) is hinged (18) to the lower member (16), so that the closing flap (20) opens as the upper member (15) is lifted.

Description

Punch

This invention relates to a punch for perforating thin materials, such as sheets of paper or the like for attachment preferably in a folder or the like, as defined in the preamble of claim 1.

By far the most f equent way of recording memos or the like is to place sheets of paper in folders for filing. Despite the massive developments in electronic data processing, the amount of paper to be filed has hardly been affected by these. The most frequently used paper sheet is of the standard size A4, and the most common way of filing such a sheet of paper is to punch holes at one of the longitudinal edges and to attach the sheet in a folder or a binder by means of the holes. The most common way of attachment is to use two holes spaced at the 80 mm standard distance. There is a plethora of mechanisms for attaching the perforated papers, from strings to be tied to complex mechanisms. Folders for relatively large amounts of paper are usually equipped with a locking mechanism which can be opened and closed, comprising also a member for clamping a pile of sheets.

The filing of sheets of paper described above involves the problem of suitable punches not being always available when sheets are to be filed in folders or the like. The most commonly used punches have been manufactured by pressing from a metal sheet. The most common models have a base with matching holes for the punching tools. On the base, there is usually a plate forming a gap for feeding the paper sheet, to which plate sliding punching tools and springs lifting these have been fixed. Upmost in the device, there is a handle forming a lever which generates sufficient force for perforating also thicker bunches of paper. The springs bring the punching tools and the handle back to their upper position, after which the perforated papers are removed from the gap and punching can be resumed by placing the papers in the gap. Manual devices for punching thick bunches of paper operate as described above in most cases. They are of a more solid design, having frequently been assembled from cast or similar components and equipped with a longer handle. Various electrically operated punches have also been developed for the perforation of paper in abundance. The devices described above usually have the common feature of being intended for long-term use, over a period of several years.

There are also very simple punches made of plastic or the like on the market, which usually make one hole at the time. Such disposable punches do not usually have any space for storing cut fragments produced in the punching. It is difficult to make two holes with the device, because the distance between the holes might easily vary in manual operation. It is problematic to fit sheets of papers provided with such holes into a folder or a binder.

FI patent specifications 76014 and 78008 disclose simple punches having press button mechanisms for the perforation. The punches described in these specifications have no space for collecting cut fragments produced in the punching, so that the waste spreads freely into the environment as the holes are punched. US patent specification 5,403,108 discloses a paper punch which is affixed to a notebook or a similar cover. The device comprises several elements affixed to the cover, each of which make one single hole. The punching members can be connected with a removable cover, under which cut fragments from the punching are collected.

The object of this invention is to provide a device which can be placed in a folder or a binder for punching sheets of paper to be fixed to this. The life of the punch in accordance with the invention does not have to be longer than that of the folder to which it is fixed. For a punch connected to a folder to be conceivable, it has to be sufficiently inexpensive.

The invention is based on the fact that the punch is manufactured of just a few components made of moulded plastic or a similar material. In addition, it has a light structure and small outer dimensions. It also allows conventional elements to be left out. Since the punch is fixed to the cover, no separate base for the cut fragment space is needed.

More specifically, the punch in accordance with the invention is characterized by the features defined in the characterising clause of claim 1.

The body of the punch of the invention is made from one single solid piece of moulded plastic or a similar material. The body includes nearly all of the components required for the punch, such as the jaws, whose upper member is hinged at its back so as to be able to be turned. If the press buttons are made of the same material as the body, the punch comprises only three members: two punching tools and a body. The back of the upper jaw member forms a closing flap for the cut fragment space underneath the lower jaw member and the matching holes, which flap opens and closes the openings of the cut fragment space both from above and from the back as the upper jaw member is turned on the hinges. The punch has press buttons or the like, to which the punching tools are fixed, for lifting the punching tools into the upper position and for perforating holes. Since the punch body is fixed to the folder cover, it does not require any base plate, the cover acting as the base plate of the cut fragment space. If the body material is sufficiently flexible and resilient, the press buttons can be made of the same material as the body, in which case they are moulded or integrated in the body by any other technique. For the attachment of separate press buttons, the upper jaw members have grooves on their surface for engaging the press button perimeters. The body material is preferably selected so that the hinges of the upper jaw member can be made of it. The punch can have a lighter and cheaper design if both the punching tools have cut fragment spaces underneath the body with outlets for cut fragments on the top and at the rear. The input opening between the jaws has bevelled or rounded edges to facilitate the insertion of sheets. To enable the punching tool fixed to the upper jaw member to be accurately positioned relative to the matching hole in the lower jaw member, the upper member has a groove into which a protrusion on the lower member is pressed. To enhance the cutting properties of the punching tool, its cutting end has been provided with a groove which sharpens the cutting end.

Appreciable benefits are achieved by means of this invention. Punches pertain to office equipment, a punch being usually available at permanent work places. Under such circumstances, recording and filing in binders do naturally not involve any problems. By contrast, outside the office the punching of paper sheets does involve problems. The most common way has been to perforate the sheets with a sharp object or to press the sheet against pins acting as fastening means in the folder. The punch according to the invention has such a straightforward and economical structure that it can be fixed to the folder without incurring notable additional cost. Even if the punching power of the punch in accordance with the invention does not equal that of conventional perforating devices, it is still an incomparable improvement compared to manual perforation. Because of the great amount of paper, there is often an apparent need for punching during lectures, meetings, symposia and the like. In such situations, the punch of the invention is an excellent improvement on previous practice. Since it comprises but a few components, the manufacture of the punch of the invention is very inexpensive, and since it is made of plastic, the product is recyclable in its totality. The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to 1 accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 is a schematic top view of the punch of the invention when closed.

Figure 2 is a schematic top view of the punch of the invention when opened.

Figure 3 shows the punch of figure 2 cross-sectioned along line B-B.

Figure 4 shows the punch of figure 1 cross-sectioned along line A-A.

Figures 1-4 show one embodiment of the punch 1 in accordance with the invention. The body 2 can advantageously be moulded in one piece from plastic or a similar material. In the embodiment of figures 1-4, two distinct punches 4 have in a way been connected by the intermediate member 3 of the body 2. The intermediate member 3 determines the distance between the holes to be made by the punch 1. For the perforation, punching tools 6 sliding in the holes 5 of the body 2 have been provided, with press buttons 7 acting as their lifting means. The sheet to be perforated is placed underneath the punching tool 6, and by pressing the press button 7, a hole is made in the sheet of paper or the like. The punching tool 6 is pressed into the matching hole 8, pushing the cut fragments produced into the cut fragment space 9.

To guide a sheet or a bunch of paper, the body 2 has been shaped under the punching tools 6 in the form of jaws 10, against their back walls 11 of which the paper is pressed. To facilitate the insertion of the sheet, the input edges 12 and 13 of the jaws 10 are bevelled or rounded. The press buttons 7 are attached by means of grooves 14 to the upper member 15 of the jaws 10 if the press buttons 7 are made of a different material than the body 2. The cover 17 of the folder or the binder will serve as a base of the cut fragment space 9 under the lower member 16 of the jaws 10 when the punch is fixed to the cover 17 for instance by glueing. The upper member 15 is connected to the lower member 16 turning on hinges 18. The hinges 18 are preferably made of the same material as the entire body 2, so that the rear parts 19 of the upper and lower members 15, 16 are connected only at the hinges 18. The flap 20 at the rear part 19 of the upper member 15 closes the rear opening 22 of the cut fragment space 9 and the lower surface of the upper member 15 closes the upper opening 21. In order to position the punching tool 6 relative to the matching hole 8, the lower member of the jaws 10 has a protrusion 23, which is pressed into the groove 24 in the upper member 15 when the upper member 15 is turned on hinges 18 onto the lower member 16.

The punch in accordance with the invention is used as follows. A sheet or a bunch of paper is pushed against the back walls 11 of the jaws 10. Two holes are perforated at the desired locations by pressing the press buttons 7 alternately. If desired, the punch 1 can be fixed and held open while fixed to the fastening means of the folder. In that case, the locking pins or the like pass through the matching holes 8. When the punch 1 has been fixed to the cover 17 of the folder or the binder, the cut fragment space 9 is emptied by lifting the upper member 15 of the jaws 10, whereby the opening 21 or 22 opens and the waste can be removed by tilting the punch 1.

It is obvious to those skilled in the art that only one embodiment of the invention has been described above. The distance between the holes can for instance be adjusted by making the intermediate member 3 adjustable, without departing from the scope of the inventive idea. The separate cut fragment spaces 9 can of course be combined to form one single, larger cut fragment space. The punch design can naturally be different from that of the embodiment described above.

Claims

1. A punch for perforating thin materials such as sheets of paper or the like, comprising - a uniform body (2) preferably made of moulded plastic or the like, comprising at least two jaws (10), into which the paper sheets or the like to be perforated are inserted to be retained and in which the upper members (15) of the jaws (10) are hinged so as to be turned at their rear parts (19) to the lower members (16) of the jaws (10), - at least two punching tools (6) slidingly attached to the body (2) and matching holes (8) in the body (2) and

- means (7) for lifting the punching tools (6) into upper position and for pressing them into perforating position, characterized in that - the rear part (19) of the upper member (15) of the jaws (10) forms a closing flap (20) for the cut fragment space (9) underneath the matching holes (8) in the lower member (16) of the jaws (10), which flap opens and closes openings (21, 22) on top and at the rear of the cut fragment space (9) as the upper member (15) of the jaws (10) is turned on the hinges (18) and - the punch (1) has been fixed to a folder or a similar cover, preferably to its inside, so that the folder cover acts as a base plate (17) for the cut fragment space (9) underneath the matching holes of the body (2).

2. A punch as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the means for lifting the punching tools (6) into upper position and for pressing them into perforating position are press buttons (7) or the like.

3. A punch as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the press buttons (7) for lifting and lowering the punching tools (6) are integrated in the body (2) and made of the same material as this.

4. A punch as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the hinges (18) connecting the upper member (15) and the lower member (16) of the jaws (10) are made of the same material as the body (2), i.e. plastic or the like.

5. A punch as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the surface of the upper member (15) of the jaws (10) is equipped with grooves (14), into which the press button (7) perimeter engages.

6. A punch as claimed in claims 1-5, characterized in that both the punching tools (6) have distinct cut fragment spaces (9) under the body (2), the spaces having outlets (21, 22) on the top and at the rear for the removal of cut fragments.

7. A punch as claimed in claims 1-6, characterized in that the punch (1) is fixed to the cover (17) of the folder by glueing.

8. A punch as claimed in claims 1-7, characterized in that the punching tool (6) is fixed to the press button (7).

9. A punch as claimed in any of claims 1-8, characterized in that the body (2) has a groove (24) on the lower surface of the upper member (15) of the jaw

(10), into which groove a protrusion (23) on the upper surface of the lower member is pressed for positioning the punching tool exactly above the matching hole (8).

10. A punch as claimed in claims 1-8, characterized in that the cutting end of the punching tool (6) is provided with a sharpening groove, which facilitates the perforation of a sheet of paper or the like.