WO2001056810A1

WO2001056810A1 - Binder mechanism

Info

Publication number: WO2001056810A1
Application number: PCT/CH2001/000019
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eduard Zust; Max Hug
Original assignee: Eduard Zust; Max Hug
Priority date: 2000-01-31
Filing date: 2001-01-11
Publication date: 2001-08-09
Also published as: AU2001221410A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a binder mechanism that is characterized by a novel, especially easy to handle construction of the lever mechanism. The inventive mechanism allows for easy insertion and turning over of documents in the opened state and has a stable construction that is inexpensive to produce and that meets today's demands on ergonomics and esthetics. The inventive binder mechanism is based on the proven base construction that consists of a baseplate (1), alignment pegs projecting above said baseplate and a bearing block (31), and uses a two-part actuator device that preferably consists of a pressure element (36) and a guide element (38) and that actuates a leaf spring (10) that opens or closes the fold-down ring (11).

Description

file mechanism

The invention relates to a folder mechanism, in particular one that enables the insertion and relocation of documents in the open state.

The mechanics of common folders are based on a lever mechanism. Two protruding alignment pins are attached to a base plate, into which the perforated documents are arranged. A folding bracket that can be pivoted to a limited extent serves to open and close the document area and is moved via an actuating lever with the aid of a bearing block and a spring. However, a relatively large swivel path of the actuating lever is required to open the folder, so that when the folder is open, it reaches the vicinity of the folding handle and thus hinders the insertion and transfer of documents from the right to the left side.

Attempts have been made to lift this restriction of use through technical changes. In the published patent application DE 41 20 720 AI an attempt is made to shorten the swivel path of the actuating lever by aiming for an optimal transmission ratio between the folding handle and the actuating lever during the movement phase of the actuating lever and by applying the force necessary for closing with a small lever movement. For this purpose, in addition to a corresponding modification of the actuating lever head in the area of the bearing block, a sliding curve element is connected to the folding bracket.

The published patent application DE 41 33 961 AI chooses another way to achieve the desired goal. she tries to remove the actuating lever from the area of the folding handle so far that it is possible to insert and move documents freely. This is achieved in that the actuating lever consists of two lever parts which can be displaced or pivoted relative to one another, of which the front lever part is fastened to the bearing block with a joint, while the rear lever part carries the handle. The handle can be moved in the open position of the actuating lever by pivoting the second lever part from the vicinity of the folding bracket. The subsequent closing of the mechanics requires several work steps.

The published patent application DE 196 46 467 AI tries to enable the trouble-free insertion and relocation of documents by means of an arrangement which builds on the conventional mechanics and uses a modified actuating lever which can be rotated by approximately 180 °. This allows the folder opening process to be divided into two phases. In a first phase, the operating lever is only raised so far that the alignment pins are accessible and documents can be removed or inserted. By turning the operating lever to the opposite position, documents can also be folded in the second phase.

In the published patent application DE 196 02 099 AI, a file mechanism is described in which a wedge-shaped slider is used instead of an ordinary actuating lever, which allows the leaf spring to be progressively raised and the folding handle to be opened when it is pulled out, without moving parts in the vicinity of the opened folding lever bring to. The laid-open document DE 44 28 112 AI is based on the idea that the actuating lever comes to lie outside the central area of the file mechanism by an additional sliding movement when the folding handle is opened. This is intended to make the actuating lever shorter than in otherwise comparable file mechanisms and to reduce the disruptive approach of the folding handle and actuating lever in the open state. However, it is unclear whether this goal can be achieved at all with the mechanism disclosed in this document, since the actuating lever in the open position according to the figures in this document is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the folding handle and blocking the hook-in opening is therefore not excluded.

The laid-open specification DE 44 15 371 AI describes a file mechanism according to the preamble of claim 1, in which documents can be inserted and relocated even when the actuating lever is pivoted a relatively long way in the open state. The laid-open document is based on the idea that by using an additional trigger member which is detachably coupled to the actuating lever, the folding bracket can be opened without the actuating lever having to be moved into the open position. With this approach, on the one hand, inserting and relocating the documents in the open state is not hindered by the operating lever, on the other hand, this can be used as usual to open the folding handle when the release link is coupled to the operating lever. The subsequent closing of the mechanics requires multiple pivoting movements of the actuating lever and the trigger member.

The present invention has as its object to create a folder mechanism that enables the insertion and relocation of documents in the open state and is easy to use.

The object is achieved with the aid of the inventive training features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The proposed folder mechanism consists of several parts. On the base plate, which is attached to the folder cover, several, preferably two, alignment pins are fastened, into which the documents to be inserted are arranged. Also attached to the base plate are the folding handle, which pivots away to the side when the folder mechanism is opened and releases the alignment pins, as well as the actuating device that is responsible for the opening process. The actuating device consists of at least two mutually couplable, relatively movable actuating elements, namely on the one hand from a metal element with two lever arms, which can be moved against each other via a joint, from a suitably cut one-piece plastic element or from a one-piece plastic or metal element, which with a turret and a connecting rod is linked. On the other hand, fourthly, the actuating device can consist of a pressure element made of plastic, which is fitted into a guide element and can snap into it. The actuating device of these variants is also connected to a leaf spring and the folding bracket via correspondingly shaped bearing blocks. It can be converted into the open position or the closed position by a simple relative movement between the actuating elements, preferably a pivoting movement. The proposed folder mechanism and the function described in the introduction are shown below with the aid of explanatory drawings. Show it:

1 is a plan view (Fig. La) and two side views (Fig. Lb and Fig. Lc) of the folder mechanism with a plastic element as an operating lever in the closed and in the open state,

Fig. 2 is a plan view (Fig. 2a) and two side views

(Fig. 2b and Fig. 2c) of the folder mechanism with a two-part metal element as

Operating lever in the closed and in the open state,

3 shows two side views of the file mechanism with a one-piece actuating lever, a rotating element and a sliding element in the closed (FIG. 3a) or in the open state (FIG. 3b),

Fig. 4 shows two side views of the folder mechanism with a one-piece operating lever and a rotating element without a sliding element in the closed

(Fig. 4a) or in the open state

(Fig. 4b),

5 shows a top view (FIG. 5a) and a front view (FIG. 5b) of the folder mechanism with the pressure and guide element in the closed state,

6 shows two side views of the file mechanism with the pressure and guide element in the closed (FIG. 6a) or in the open state (FIG. 6b), as well as the section c (FIG. 6c) through parts of the pressure and guide element (see FIG. 6a ). 1 shows the first variant of the file mechanism. On the base plate 1, which is attached to the folder cover, two alignment pins are attached, in which the documents to be inserted are arranged. The actuating device made of elastic plastic and designed as an actuating lever 3 consists of two actuating elements, namely a pressure piece 4 and a relief piece 5, and is fastened to the bearing block 7 via a joint 6. The pressure piece 4 and the relief piece 5 are connected to one another via a small lever point 8. To ensure that the pressure and tensile forces in the lever point 8 remain as small as possible, care was taken in the shaping that the connecting piece between the pressure piece 4 and the relief piece 5 is as narrow as possible. The further you go from the pressure point, the more the material has to be stretched on one side and compressed on the other side. So that you can make the connector so narrow, one has selected a one-piece operating lever 3 (consisting of the pressure piece 4 and the relief piece 5) made of glass fiber reinforced plastic in this variant, which combines a high resistance with sufficient elasticity. A variant is to use a pivot bearing with bolts instead of the lever point and to provide the upper lever area with a steel tip. The front upper lever area is therefore heavier than the rest of the lever and automatically moves back to its original position when closed due to its increased weight. The bearing block 7 is fastened on the base plate 1 and has a notch 9 in the upper region, into which the relief piece 5 of the actuating lever 3 engages in the closed state. When opening the folder mechanism by depressing the Relief piece 5, the actuating lever 3 is moved somewhat downward, so that the relief piece 5 can emerge from the notch 9. As a result, the actuating lever 3 releases a leaf spring 10 which is fastened to the base plate 1 and the folding bracket 11 which is movably connected to the base plate 1. Pushes away. This movement of the folding bracket 11 makes the filing pins and thus the documents accessible. Due to the fact that the actuating lever 3 cannot be moved as far up as desired due to the boundary surface 12 on the bearing block 7, a disturbance of the folding bracket 11 by the actuating lever 3 is excluded. When opened, the documents can be easily inserted and relocated. The folder mechanism is closed by simply depressing the pressure piece 4 and is completed when the relief piece 5 snaps into the notch 9 in the bearing block 7.

2 shows the second variant of the folder mechanism. On the base plate 1 are the alignment pins, the leaf spring 10 and the bearing block 13, which has a notch 14 for the closed position. A guide is drilled vertically into the bearing block 13, which receives the guide pin 15, which connects the folding bracket 11 to the upper arm 16 of the actuating device designed as an actuating lever. The upper arm 16 of the actuating lever is connected to the bearing block 13 via a joint 18 and to the lower arm 17 of the actuating lever via a second joint 19. In the closed state, the lower arm 17 of the actuating lever engages in the notch 14 of the bearing block 13 via a tooth 20. If the lower arm 17 of the actuating lever is moved upward, the tooth 20 is released from the notch 14 so that the on the base plate 1 attached leaf spring 10 can the folding bracket 11 to the side and push the guide pin and the operating lever upwards. The upward movement of the actuating lever is limited by a contact of the tooth 20 with the bearing block 13, so that in this second variant, too, the actuating lever 11 cannot interfere with the folding lever 11. The closing of the folder mechanism is initiated by simply depressing the upper arm 16 of the actuating lever and is completed with the engagement of the tooth 20 of the lower arm 17 in the notch 14 of the bearing block 13.

3 describes the third variant of the folder mechanism. The alignment pins are attached to the base plate 1. The actuating element of this variant, which is designed as a one-piece actuating lever 26, is made of plastic or metal and is placed on the pivot point 27 of the carrying element 22, which is attached to the bearing block via rivets 30. The side slots 28 additionally recessed in the actuating lever 26 serve to absorb the deformations when the actuating lever 26 is pressed onto the pivot point 27 during assembly. Connected to the actuating lever 26 via a guide pin 25 is the other actuating element designed as a connecting rod 24, which is held by the stationary rotary head 23 and which deflects the movements of the actuating lever 26 during opening or closing of the folder onto the leaf spring 10 or the folding bracket 11. When the folder mechanism is opened, the actuating lever 26 is pulled upward about the pivot point 27 and forces the connecting rod 24 to move around the rotary head 23, so that the leaf spring 10 is released, which finally moves the folding bracket 11 sideways. The lifting of the actuating lever 26 and thus the deflection of the folding bracket 11 is carried out by the Limited guide slot 29 in which the guide pin 25 runs. In the open state, a disturbance of the folding bracket 11 by the actuating lever 26 is excluded. The insertion and relocation of the documents is facilitated by a sliding element 21 which is attached to the carrying element 22. The folder mechanism is closed by simply depressing the actuating lever 26, which forces the connecting rod 24 to move onto the leaf spring 10, which is returned to the starting position together with the folding bracket 11. The closing of the folder mechanism, like the opening, is limited by the guide slot 29.

4 shows a modification of the third variant. It builds on the basic principle described in FIG. 3, but dispenses with the additional sliding element to facilitate the insertion and relocation of documents in the open state. The fourth variant can thus be seen as a cheaper alternative to the third variant, which nevertheless uses the advantages of this construction as far as possible.

5 and 6 show the fifth variant of the folder mechanism. On the base plate 1, the alignment pins 2, the folding bracket 11 and the bearing block 31 are fastened, which consists of a stamped and bent metal element from the base plate 1, to which the two actuating elements, namely the pressure element 36 and the guide element 38, are attached. The pressure element 36 consists of an elongated main part, to which the pressure point 33 for opening the file mechanism and the pressure point 32 for closing are attached in the rear region. The pressure element 36 is supplemented by a locking bolt 35 made of metal, which is slightly on both sides of the pressure element 36 protrudes. The pressure element 36 is movably connected to the guide element 38 via a plastic bolt 34, which has an opening 40 in the rear area into which the locking bolt 35 of the pressure element 36 protruding laterally can snap in the closed state. To open the folder mechanism, the pressure point 33 is pressed down a little. The pressure wedge 37 forces the arms 39 of the guide element 38 to a slight lateral movement (Fig. 6c), which is sufficient to expose the locking bolt 35 of the pressure element 36, so that the tensioned leaf spring 10, which is attached to the base plate 1, the Push the folding bracket 11 aside and move the pressure element 36 upwards. Since the pressure element 36 is held in the guide element 38 and is restricted in its freedom of movement by this, it cannot be guided upwards at will. A disturbance of the folding bracket 11 by the pressure element 36 in the open state is not possible, so that the documents can be inserted and folded in this state without problems. The folder mechanism is closed by simply depressing the pressure point 32. The laterally protruding locking bolt 35 moves with the pressure element 36 downward and pushes the arms 39 of the guide element 38 slightly to the side in order to then snap into its opening 40.

The proposed folder mechanism has significant advantages over the common folder mechanism and over the folder mechanism described in the patent literature. All variants of the proposed file mechanism allow both problem-free single and folding of documents in the open state and are particularly Simpl ^'to handle, that is to be converted from the open position to the closed position and vice versa by initiating a simple pivotal movement. This is a major advantage when individual document sheets have to be selectively removed from the folder or inserted selectively, since there is no need to close and reopen the folder. Another important advantage of the proposed folder mechanism is the stable and inexpensive structure. The proven basic structure of the common folders can be used without any problems. It was important to set up a structure that can be mastered as far as possible with the conventional manufacturing steps and thus minimizes the likely conversion costs when converting into industrial products. In the fifth variant, the entire base plate of the conventional folder mechanisms is still used. The pressure element 36 and the guide element 38 can be joined together on the plastic bolt 34 and interlocked, in order then to be placed on the bearing block of the conventionally producible base plate in one work step. As a result, the production processes in folder production are not modified, but only supplemented. The stability of the lever mechanism was also important. An additional advantage of the proposed invention is the ergonomic and aesthetic benefit that can be drawn from the folder mechanism. The workflows in everyday use are simplified, as there is no need to open and close the folder multiple times when selectively inserting and relocating documents. In addition, the use of suitable plastics in different colors offers the opportunity to respond to common ergonomic requirements, such as color coding as a thematic guidance system in everyday use, or to aesthetic preferences.

Claims

claims

1. folder mechanism with a plurality of spaced-apart alignment pins (2), a folding bracket (11) which can be transferred from an open position into a closed position and vice versa, which in its closed position interacts with at least some of the alignment pins (2), a bearing block (7, 13 , 22, 31) and with an actuating device (3, 4, 5; 16, 17; 24, 26; 36, 38) connected to the bearing block (7, 13, 22, 31) and acting on the folding bracket (11), which has at least two actuating elements (4, 5; 16, 17; 24, 26; 36, 38) which can be coupled to one another and are movable relative to one another, the folding bracket (11) being triggered by triggering a simple, limited relative movement between the actuating elements from its closed position can be transferred into its open position, characterized in that the at least two

Actuating elements (4, 5; 16, 17; 24, 26; 36, 38) are designed and arranged in such a way that the folding bracket (11) can be moved from its open position into its closed position by triggering a further simple relative movement between the actuating elements.

2. folder mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the one and the further simple relative movement between the actuating elements (4, 5; 16, 17; 24, 26; 36, 38) is a pivoting movement of at least one of the actuating elements.

3. folder mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the one actuating element An actuating device designed as an actuating lever (3) is a pressure piece (4) pivotably mounted on the bearing block (7) and the other actuating element is a relief piece (5) connected to the pressure piece (4) via a preferably small lever point (8) and that the bearing block (7 ) has a notch (9) in its upper area, in which the relief piece (5) releasably engages in the closed position.

4. folder mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that on the bearing block (7)

Boundary surface (12) for limiting the movement of the pressure piece (4) is provided.

5. folder mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the one actuating element of the actuating device designed as an actuating lever on the bearing block (13) pivotally mounted upper arm (16) and the other actuating element an articulated with the upper arm (16) connected lower arm (17) and that the bearing block (13) receiving a guide pin (15) has a notch (14) into which a tooth (20) of the lower arm (17) engages releasably in the closed position.

6. folder mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that the movement of the actuating lever upwards by a contact of the tooth (20) with the bearing block (13) is limited.

7. folder mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the one actuating element Actuating device, an actuating lever (26) pivotably mounted on a bearing block designed as a support element (22) and the other actuating element a connecting rod connected to the actuating lever (26) via a guide pin (25)

(24), which is held by a fixed rotary head (23) and the movements of the actuating lever

(26) deflected onto the folding bracket (11).

8. folder mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that the deflection of the actuating lever (26) is limited by a on the support element (22) formed guide rail (29) in which the guide pin (25) runs.

9. folder mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the one actuating element

An actuating device is a guide element (38) connected to the bearing block (31) and the other actuating element is a pressure element (36) which is pivotably mounted on the guide element (38), that the pressure element (36) is an elongated main part, to which in the rear area a pressure point

(33) for opening and a pressure point (32) for closing are attached, and a locking bolt

(35), which preferably protrudes laterally from both sides of the pressure element (36) and releasably engages in an opening (40) provided in the rear region of the guide element (38) in the closed position.

10. folder mechanism according to claim 9, characterized in that the pressure point (33) for opening has a pressure wedge (37), the arms (39) of the When the pressure point (33) is pressed down, the guide element (38) forces it to move slightly to the side, which is sufficient to release the locking bolt (35) of the pressure element (36).

11. folder mechanism according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the pressure element (36) in

Guide element (38) held and restricted by this in its freedom of movement.