GB2202178A - Hole punch - Google Patents

Abstract

A hole punch, for punching paper or other material for a six-hole filing system, comprises a base (1), a handle (2) and three dowel punches (3), supported by two rails (4), and each spring loaded by means of a spring (7) and a flange (6). The flange prevents the dowels from dropping out of the rails. The rod (5) acts upon the three dowels and creates a simultaneous downward movement of the dowels which are connected by a rod (8). A peg (11) and continuous edge (10) along the device each acts as a datum for the paper. The paper is inserted through a gap provided inside walls of the base, to abut the edge (10). The paper edge is located flush to the left edge of the base and the handle is pressed, causing three holes to appear in the paper. The paper is removed and turned over, the hole punched by dowel N DEG 3 being located on the peg (11), and a second set of holes is punched, providing the six holes which enable the paper to be inserted into the filing system. <IMAGE>

Description

HOLE PUNCH FOR A FILOFiX SYSTEM THIS MENTION RELATES TO A HOLE PUNCH FOR A FILOFAX R SYSTEM "Filofax"0is a filing system which incorporates all personal information (such as addresses & a diary) and any other information required in terms of social purposes. All the material is stored on paper which the file accomadates by way of six ring clips - two sets of three holes - and at any time this information is removable from the file, or new information (on paper material for example) be added to the system.

The file paper, or material stored in the file has, as mentioned, two rows of three holes. Any material to be stored in the file which hasn't this facility (i.e. six holes) requires that the paper be punched so that the file can accomodate the paper (or other thin material) in the correct manner.

According to the present invention there is provided a base, which has two side walls: Both have a discontinous edge to the base, this allows insertion of the paper or thin material onto the top of the base ready for punching. This gap runs continously to a lip or edge. Once inserted into the device the paper or thin material rests against this lip, as a means of ensuring that the two sets of punched holes are the same distance from the edge of the paper as each other, also provided are a handle, with a bar (so as to locate onto the three dowels), a means of connecting the handle and the base so as to allow the handle to pivot about the base, three dowel punches, for perforating the paper or thin material, and a means of ensuring that the dowels return to their normal position (i.e. so that further paper or thin material can be inserted for punching).

FILOFAX IS A REGISTERED TRADE MARK OF FILOFAX LTD.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 & 1A shows by front & end elevation, the device with the handle, base, three dowel punches, and its returning mechanism, and the locating peg for the second part of the punching mechanism (to be described later).

Figure 2 shows from an exploded view of one of the three punch dowels, also illustrated are the spring (to ensure that the handle is kept under a constant tension), the dowel pin (to ensure the three dowels move downwards in a simultaneous movement) and the two rails: these are fixed to the side walls of the base, and accomodate the above components.

Figure 3 illustrates the end part of the base, showing the locating peg to which the paper sits on (i.e. one of the punched holes from the first part of the punching operation). Also shown is the paper edge: the paper is punched only when the paper rests against this edge. This ensures the two rows of three holes are both a preset, or determined distance, from the edge of the paper, thus the two rows of three holes have the same centre line on each hole. This edge (and the locating peg) are necessary due to the device being able to punch six holes using only three punching dowels.

Referring to the drawings of the hole punch, it comprises a Base (1) and a handle (2) secured to each other so that the handle pivots about the base e.g. by fixing using an external circlip (for reasons of clarity this is not illustrated) The three dowel punches (3) are held in position by means of two rails (4), which according to the mechanism shown, are located so that the dowel uses a flange (6) to stop it from dislocating itself from in between the rails (4). The dowel (6) upon the handle returning to its upper most position rests against the underside of the top rail (4). To ensure simultaneous movement (i.e. a uniform movement of all three dowels), a locating rod (8) is inserted (above the top rail (4)) into the three punch dowels (3).The distance of the hole used to accomodate the punch dowel (shown 'A' in Fig 2) to the top rail (4) is such, that, upon pressing the handle (2), there is provided, sufficient clearence to allow the dowels to travel downwards, perforate the paper, and penetrate the thickness of the base (i.e. the dowels) and thus successfully punch three holes in the paper, without the locating rod (8) touching any part of the top rail (4). Upon releasing the handle when the paper or thin material has been perforated, the springs (7) decompress to their natural position (i.e. where they are under no strained condition).

On inserting the paper/material into the device (between the gap in the side walls of the base, and the top of the base itself, the paper rests against the lip (10). The edge located at the left edge of the base should be 'flush' with the base and the side wall of the base (i.e. so no material protrudes to the left of the gap).

The handle (2) is pressed downwards until the three dowel punches have fully perforated the paper. When this has been done, the handle is released and it returns to a position as shown in figure 1.

Three holes result in the paper or thin material. This is now removed from the device and is turned over so that the three punched holes now lie towards the of of the device. (So that an identical punchingprocess can be carried out in the same manner as the first).

Using the locating peg (11) rest the hole nearest to the side wall of the base onto it. (i.e. from left to right, the hole which lies the most left of the right hand side of the base should locate into the peg (11). The peg is used as a datum, the first set of three punched holes (now at the right side of the base) will, upon punching the second set of three holes, be a set or predetermined distance from each other upon pressing the handle (when the paper is located against the lip (10) and the hole towards the left of the device located on the peg (11)) the result is another three holes. The two sets of three holes punched, are, according to the design & correct use of the device, set from each other a distance which allows these six holes on the paper or thin material, to fit into the file, which accomodates its material using six holes at a distance as used in the device as described.

Claims (6)

QLIIMG

1. A hole punch comprising a base, with two side walls, and two rails (for locating three dowel punches), a handle (provided with a continuous bar: to locate onto the dowel punches), three dowel punches, held in position using a spring and a flange on each dowel, and simultaneous movement between each dowel ensured using a locating pin which connects the three dowel punches: and a means of a guide for the paper by a peg and paper lip to which the paper/material is ensured symmetrical holes throughout the punching process for the six holes.

2. A hole punch as claimed in claim 1 whereby three dowel punches can, by way of design, punch six holes using the symmetry of design of the file: the two rows of three holes are, in every dimension exactly the same as each other.

3. A hole punch as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the paper is positioned using a locating peg, and a paper guide consisting a raised edge on the base. The peg is positioned such that the first row of three holes punched in the paper or thin material be the same as the second row of three holes: thus the peg locates itself onto the punched hole in the paper or thin material, acting as a guide to which the second set of holes to be punched are measured against.

4. A hole punch as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the three dowels are connected using rod: this ensures the three dowels move in both an upwards and downwards motion simultaneously.

5. A hole punch as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the device accomodates paper or other thin material, punching one set of holes identical to the second row of three holes, at a determined distance from each of the holes.

6. A hole punch, as described herein with reference to Figs 1-3 of the accompanying drawings.