GB2229398A - Filing binder for paper sheets - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a binder for filing. and more particularly to a binder for filing which is used for binding sheets of paper in a file.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventionally, sheets of paper are bound in a file comprising a front cover, a back cover and a spine, in such a manner that a binder is mounted mainly at the inside of the spine and filing bores provided at one widthwise side of each sheet are inserted onto binder rods provided at the binder.

The binder has been prposed which supports at one widthwise,side of a base fixed to the spine of the file a swinging plate having first binder tubes, provides an engaging member having second binder rods insertable into the first binder tubes respectively, and swingably supports at the other widthwise side of the base a locking member for locking the engaging member at the binding position-.

The above-mentioned proposed binder has its components composed mainly of metal. Meanwhile, the file binding the sheets of paper will be burnt as it is, in other words, without removing them from the binder. in order to save 2 - trouble of burning.

In this case, the binder of metal will not be burnt even when the sheets of paper are completely burnt, thereby requiring extra time for disposal of the metallic binder.

The binder has previously been proposed and the in vention thereof has been filed with the Japanese Patent Office which forms the components of burnable synthetic resin so that the file together with the binder binding the sheets of paper is burnable (Japanese Utility Model Application No. Sho 62-13.340).

Such proposed binder, which forms its components of synthetic resin. is deteriorated in strength more than those formed of meta:llic material, thereby creating the problem in strength of the projecting base of the respective first binder tubes projecting from the outer surface of the swinging plate. In other words, each first binder tube is blind and each second binder rod is somewhat smaller in length than a hollow of the binder tube from the closed end.thereof.

In brief, when the second binder rods are inserted into the first binder tubes, vacancy is produced between the end of each second binder rod and the bottom of each first binder tube.

Therefore. when the file with the binder is accidentally dropped. an impact load by the sheets of paper bound by the binder collectively acts on the roots of first binder tube and second binder rod so that the roots thereof are subjected to the concentrated load as the shearing load. As the result, there is a problem that the hollow root of first binder tube may be broken down.

Even when the root is not broken, the first binder tube and second binder rod are subjected to the bending moment caused by the falling of file. As the result, the engaging member engaging with the engaging portion of locking member may move lengthwise of the base, whereby the locking member unintentionally disengages from the engaging member and the swinging plate is slanted with respect to the base. On the impulse of the moment, the second binder rods escape from the frist binder tubes to scatter the sheets of paper bound thereby.

Furthermore, the former proposed binder is mounted to the spine through a plurality of calking bores formed at the base and outside the first binder tubes. Hence, for example, when the file with the binder is accidentally dropped, an impact load by the sheets of paper acts as the bending moment onto a lengthwise intermediate portion of the base, thereby creating the problem in that the lengthwise intermediate portion of the base may be broken down.

In other words, the calking bores are positioned outside the first binder tubes and in the vicinity of both the lengthwise ends of the base respectively thereby being spaced at a large interval from each other. Hence, the intermediate portion of the base is weak in mounting structure with respect to the bending. Therefore, when the file is accidentally dropped while putting the spine above and the sheets of paper suspended by the first binder tubes, an impact load by the sheets of paper acts as a bending force on the base between the calking bores.through the first binder tubes and second binder rods. Hence, there is a fear that the intermediate portin of the base is broken down.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A main object of the present invention is to provide a binder for filing which can be burnt together,iith a file binding therein sheets of paper and, even when the file is accidentally dropped, can prevent first binder tubes at the binder from being broken down by an impact load caused when dropped.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a binder for filing which, even when the file is accidentally dropped, can prevent an engaging member and a locking member from unintentionally disengaging from each other by an impact load given when the file is dropped.

Still another object of the-invention is to provide binder which,even when the file is accidentally dropped, li, can prevent a base from being broken down by the impact load given when the file is dropped.

The binder for filing of the invention, is provided with; a base having at one widthwise side thereof rising portions; a swinging plate supported at the other widthwise side of the base in relation of being swingable tothe rising posi- tion and the outwardly slanting position with respect to the base; at least one pair of first binder tubes erected upright at the swinging plate and swingable together therewith; an engaging member which has at least one pair of second binder rods insertable into the first binder tubes respectively and is opposite to the swinging plate; a locking member swingably supported to the base at one widthwise side thereof and outside the rising portions and engageable with the engaging member to lock the first binddr. tubes and second binder rods in the binding position; and a spring for biasing the locking member to the rising portions; and characterized in that the above-mentioned components are formed of burnable synthetic resin, the swinging plate is provided with communicating bores in continuation of tubular bores at the first binder tubes, and the second binder rods each are long enough to be inserted into each communicating bore beyond the tubular bore at each first binder tube when they are inserted thereinto.

Accordingly, since the components of the binder are formed of burnable synthetic resin, the file with the sheets of paper bound by the binder can be burnt as a whole. Since the second binder rods perforates through the tubular bores at the first binder tubes so as to be inserted into the communicating bores at the swinging plate, the tubular bores are closed throughout the entire length thereof. thereby making the first binder tubes solid in section using the second binder rods as the aggregate respectively. As the result, strength of each first binder tube, especially of the root thereof, can be raised. so that, in a case where the file having the binder mounted to the spine, is accidentally drop ped, even when the root of first binder tube is subjected to the shearing load, the shearing load is dispersed to the swinging plate through the second rods, thereby exactly preventing the root of each first binder tube from being broken down.

In the aforesaid construction. it is preferable that the second binder rods are formed of metal and that the same are connected at the lengthwise ends so that the continous. portion is fixed along the engaging member.

The present invention is further characterized in that the engaging member at the binder for filing is provided with fitting portions fitted to the rising portions when the engaging member is locked by the locking member, and between each rising portion and each fitting member is provided an engaging control surface which. when the engaging member 11 k is subjected to a lengthwise load so as to allow the fitting portion to interfere with the rising portions, displaces the engaging member toward the engaging portion at the locking member. thereby increasing a retaining force of the engaging member caused by the engaging portion.

Since the binder has the above-mentioned construction. when the file having the- sheets of paper bound by the binder is accidentally dropped while putting the binder perpendicularly to the floor, an impact load by the sheets of paper is given to the first binder tubes and second binder rods and acts as the bending moment on the first binder tubes. so that even when the engaging member is intended to move relative to the base lengthwise thereof, the fitting portions interefere with the rising portions and the engaging member is displaced toward the engaging portion at the locking member, thereby increasing the engaging force of the engaging member caused by the engaging portion. Hence, there is no fear that the engaging member is unintentionally unlocked from the locking member, whereby the sheets of paper can be kept bound without being scattered.

Also. the present invention j:s further characterized in that the base has a plurality of mounting bores for fixing the base to the file. the mounting bores being provided at the base lengthwise thereof and inwardly from the positions where the first binder tubes erected at the swinging plate supported to the base are erected.

Since the binder of the invention is of such construction, when the file is accidentally dropped while putting the spine with the binder above and suspending the sheets. of paper so that the base is subjected to the bending moment through the binder, the load acting thereon can efficiently be transferred to the spine from fixing pins inserted into the mounting bores at the base and fixed to the spine of the file. thereby reducing the bending forceacting on the base so as to exactly prevent the base from being broken down.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon a reading of the following detailed specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig.1 is a front view of a binder for filing of the invention, Fig.2 Fig. 3 Fig.4 is a rear view thereof, is a bottom view of the same, is a sectional view taken on the line IV-IV in Fig.1, Fig.5 is a view explanatory of the opening state of a swinging plate, Fig.6 is a front view of an engaging member, 1 4' 9 - Fig.7 is a plan view thereof, Fig.8 is a view explanatory of a relation between each rising portion at a base and the engaging member, and Figs.9 and 10 are views explanatory of the fal-ling state of a file.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A binder of the present invention, as shown in Figs.3. 9 and 10, is used to be fixed by calking fixing pins to be discussed below to a spine 103 of a file 100 comprising a front cover 101, a back cover 102 and the spine 103. A base 1 fixed to the spine 103 is rectangular as shown in Figs.1 and 2 and provided at one widthwise end of the base 1 with two rising portions 2 erected integrally therewith and extending lengthwise thereof and at the one and the other widthwise ends with bearings lb and la each semicylindrical and open downwardly. A swinging plate 3 is supported to the bearing la through a first pivot pin 5 in relation of being swingable in the rising position as shown in Fig.3 and the outwardly slanting position as shown in Fig.S.

The swinging plate 3 is integrally provided at one widthwise end thereof with a bearing 3a for supporting the first pivot shaft 5. and at the other widthwise end and at both lengthwise end portions with a pair of first binder tubes 4 projecting therefrom. Between the swinging plate 3 and the base 1 is interposed a first spring 6 supported to the first pivot shaft 5, thereby permanently biasing the swinging plate 3 to be slanted outwardly of the base 1.

Also. at one widthwise end of the base 1 and outside the rising portions 2, a locking member 7 for locking at the binding position an engaging member 8 to be discussed below. is swingably pivoted to the base 1.

The locking member 7 is supported through a second pivot shaft 10 to the downwardly open bearing 1b at one widthwisi end of the base 1 in relation of being swingable in the rising position shown in Fig.3 and in the outwardly slanting position in Fig.5 and provided at one widthwise end with a bearing 7a integral therewith, and at an.intermediate portion of the other widthwise end, i.e., the utmost end with an inwardly projecting engaging portion 71. Between the locking member 7 and the base 1 is interposed a second spring 10a supported to the second pivot shaft 10, the second pring 10a permanently biasing the locking member 7 to abut against the outer surface of each rising portion 2, in other words, to rise upright, so that the locking member 7 engages at its rising position with the engaging member 8 and locks it. The engaging member 8 locked by the locking member 7 at the binding position, as shown in Figs.6 and 7, is long corresponding to the swinging plate 3 and mounts onto both the lengthwise sides a pair of second z !l.

11.

binder rods 9 insertable into the f irst binder tubes 4 respectively. In the state where the second binder rods 9 are inserted into the first binder tubes 4 respectively, the swinging plate 3 swings to allow the engaging member 8 to enter the inside of each rising portion 2. and during the entering thereto, the locking member 7 retains at the engaging portion 71 thereof the engaging member 8, thereby locking the same inside the rising portions 2.

Although the second binder rods 9 may be formed of synthetic resin integrally with the engaging member 8, it is preferable from the viewpoint of strength to constitute them of metal rods.

In this case, as shown in Figs.6 and 7, the pair of second binder rods 9 are connected at one lengthwise ends to form a continuous portion 91, which is press-fitted into a mounting groove 81 formed at the rear surface of engaging member 8 and fixed therealong. The mounting grooves 81 is open 82 at an intermediate portion, so that the continuous portion 91 is exposed at the opening 82 and adapted to engage with the engaging portion 71 at the locking member 7.

The base 1, swinging plate 3 having the first binder tubes 4, locking member 7, and engaging member 8, are formed of flammable synthetic resin, such as polypropylene. and a plurality of calking bores 11 are provided at the base 1 between the binder tubes and rods 4 and 9. so that fixing pins 12 are used to calk the base 1 to the spine 103 at the file 100.

The swinging plate 3. as shown in Fig.1, are provided with communicating bores 31 communicating with the tubular bores 41 and the second binder rods 9 each are long enough to perforate through thetubular bore 41 and be inserted into the communicating bore 31 when each rod 9 is inserted into each tube 4.

In other words, when the second binder rods 9 are inserted into the first binder tubes 4, the tip of each binder rod 9 enters into the communicating bore 31 at the swinging plate 3 beyond the tubular bore 41, thereby reinforcing the root of each first binder tube 4.

Next, explanation will-be given on operation of the binder of the invention constructed as above-mentioned.

At first, when sheets 104 of paper are bound to or removed from the binder, the locking member 7 is moved in swinging motion from the position depicted with the phantom line to that by the solid line as shown in Fig.5, thereby unlocking the locking member 7 from the engaging member 8. Then, the swinging plate 3 automatically outwardly turns around the first pivot shaft 5 by the first spring 6 and is kept about horizontal as shown by the s6lid line in Fig.5 and each first binder tube 4 is positioned vertically, in other words, in a rising manner.

1 k In such state, the second binder rods 9 are pulled out from the f irst binder tubes 4 and the sheets 104 of paper are bound thereto or removed therefrom.

Next, the second binder rods 9 at the engaging member 8 are inserted into the first binder tubes 4 and the swinging plate 3 is turned around the first pivot shaft 5 so as to rise upright, whereby the engaging member 8 swings together with the swinging plate 3 to approach the locking member 7 and contact therewith. at which time the locking member 7 is urged to swing outwardly against the second spring 10a as shown by the solid line in Fig.5, whereby the engaging member 8 enters inside the rising portions2. After the entering of engaging member 8, the locking member 7 returns to the rising position by operation of the second spring 10a, so that the engaging portion 71 of locking member 7 engages with the engaging member 8, in particular, the continuous portion 91 of the second binder rods 9 fixed to the- engaging member 8, whereby, as shown in Fig.4, the engaging member 8 is locked at the binding position and -.the sheets 104 of paper are held in bound condition.

Since the second binder rods 9 perforate through the tubular bores 41 of first binder tubes 4 and enter into the communicating bores respectively, the communicating bores31are closed throughout the.. entire length thereof, so that the first binder tubes 4 are solid in section using the second 1 binder rods 9 as the aggregate. As the result, strength of the first binder tubes 4. especially. the roots thereof, is raised. whereby even when the file with the binder is accidentally dropped in the directions as shown by 6e arrows in Figs.9 and 10 and the root of each first binder tube 4 is subjected to a shearing lo ad, the load is dispersed to the swinging plate 3 through each second binder rod 9, thereby exactly preventing the root of each first tube 4 from being broken down.

In the above-mentioned construction, each rising portion 2, as shown in Fig.8, is about trapezoid and provided at both lengthwise ends with inclined faces 21 and the engaging member 8 is provided with fitting portions 83 to be fitted to the rising portions 2 respectively. The opposite faces of the fitting portions 83 opposite to the inclined faces 21 are formed in inclined faces 84. so that the respective inclined faces 21 and 84 form control inclined faces and,.- -ahen the engaging member 8 is subjected to a load acting lengthwise thereof and the fitting portions 83 interfere with the inclined faces 21 at the rising portions 22. the engaging member 8 is f6rcibly displaced toward the engaging portion 71 of the locking member 7 to thereby increase a retaining force of the engaging portion 71 for the engaging member 8.

Accordingly, since the control inclined faces are provided between the rising portions 2 and the fitting N 1 portions at the engaging member 8, when the file 100 with the sheets 104 of paper bound by the binder is accidentally drop ped, for example, vertically as shown in Fig.10, the sheets 104 of paper move downwardly to transfer an impacit load to the first and second binder tubes and rods 4 and 9. the load being transferred as the bending moment to the roots of the first binder tubes 4. AS the result, the engaging member 8 moves relative to the base 1 lengthwise downwardly thereof. When the engaging member 8 moves relative to the rising portions 2 lengthwise thereof, the inclined faces 21 at the rising portions 2 interfere with the inclined faces 84 so as to convert the movement of engaging member 8 toward the-, engaging portion 71 at the locking member 7, thereby increasing an engaging force of the engaging portion 71 with the engaging member 8.

Hence, the engaging portion 71 at the locking member 7 can strongly engage with the engaging member 8, whereby an unintentionally release of the locking member 7 by the lengthwise movement of engaging member 8 with respect to the base 1 can reliably be prevented.

Accordingly, it is prevented that. as in the conventional example, the engaging member 8 moves relative to the base 1 lengthwise thereof and the engaging portion 71 at the locking member 7 unintentionally disengages from -.the engaging member 8 so that the swinging plate 3 is slanted by the first spring 6 with respect to the base 1 and, on the impluse of the 16 moment, the second binder rods 9 escape from the first binder tubes 4 to thereby scatter the sheets 104 of paper.

Also. the calking bores 11 are provided at the base 1 inside the binder tubes and rods 4 and 9 and in'the vicinity of the positions where the binder tubes and rods 4 and 9 are disposed, and the bores 11 are spaced lengthwise of the base and at smaller intervals respectively, so that, even when the file 100, as shown in Fig.9, is accidentally dropped while putting the spine 103 above to suspend the sheets 104 of paper and the base 1 is subjected to the bending load through the binder tubes and rods, the load applied thereon can efficiently be transferred to the spine 103 of file 100 through the fixing pins fixed to the spine 103 of the same, thereby reducing the bending load acting on the base 1 and reliably preventing the base 1 from being broken down.

As seen from the above, the file 100 binding thereto the sheets 104 of paper can be burnt as they are without removing the sheets from the binder, in which the binder of the invention is also burnt so as to save extra time of throwing away the not-burnt binder after burning the file. Moreover, while the'binderis formed of the burnable synthetic resin. the binder rods 9. even when subjected to the impact load, is prevented from being broken down, whereby the binder is provided which has no fear that the engaging -member 8 is unlocked from the locking member 7 to scatter the sheets of paper, or the base 1 is broken down.

While an embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, the i. nvention is not limited to be specific construction thereof, which is merely exemplary in the..specification rather than is defined.

1 k - 16

Claims (6)

What is claimed is:

1. A binder for filing which binds sheets of paper into a file. provided with a base having rising portions erected at'one width wise side of said base, a swingin plate supported at the other widthwise side of said base,: in relation of being swingable in the rising position and the outwardly slanting position with respect to said base, at least one pair of first cylindrical binder rods erected upright at said swinging plateand swingable together therewith, an engaging member having at least one pair of sec ond binder rods and opposite to said swinging plate, a locking member swingably supported to one widthwise side of said base and outside said rising portions and having an engaging portion engageable with said engaging member to lock said first and second binder rods in the binding position, and a spring for biasing said locking member toward said rising portions, said binder characterized in that said components are formed of burnable synthetic resin. said swinging plate is provided with communicating bores in continuation of tubular bores at said first binder rods, and each of said second binder rods 4 14 I, - lq - is long enough to extend beyond said tubular bore and enter into said communicating bore.

2. A binder for filing according to claim 1, wherein said second binder rods are formed of metal.,

3. A binder for filing according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said second binder rods are continued at one lengthwise ends with each other, said continuous portion being fixed along said engaging member.

4. A binder for filing according to any preceding claim, wherein said engaging member is provided with fitting portions to be fitted into said rising portions when locked by said locking member, and between said rising portions and said fitting portions are provided engaging control faces which, when a load lengthwise of said engaging member acts on said engaging member and said fitting portions interfere with said rising portions, displace said engaging member toward said engaging portion at said locking member, thereby increasing a retaining force by said engaging portion to said engaging member.

5. A binder for filing according to any preceding claim, wherein said base has a plurality of mounting bores through which said base is fixed to said file, - Ixe said mounting bores being provided at said base lengthwise thereof and inwardly from the positions where said first binder rods are erected on said swinging plate supported to said base. 1

6. A binder for filing which binds sheets of paper into a file, substantially as described in conjunction with the drawings.