GB2247433A - Ring file insert - Google Patents

Abstract

A flexible insert (1) for ring files is attached to a file sheet (2) and comprises a plurality of regularly spaced circular apertures (4) connected by cone-shaped cut outs (6) to an edge (5) of the member (1). The apertures (4) and cut outs (6) are shaped so that the member and sheet adjacent to the apertures (4) can flex during mounting of the sheet in a file without requiring the rings (3) to be opened. In this way, the file sheet can be mounted at different positions along the file axis. <IMAGE>

Description

FILE INSERT This invention relates to an insert for ring files or the like.

In ring files such as order books, it is quite common to have to enter the same two pieces of data on separate sheets necessitating writing out the same data twice. Another example is where a sales person may have to enter data concerning a visit on a customer sheet and the same data on a weekly time or analysis sheet. Of course, the use of carbon paper or pressure sensitive paper allows a second copy to be written at the same time so that there is only one data entry action. However, this assumes that the position of the data to be entered on the two sheets is on the same line within each sheet. In cases where this does not occur, a user must line up the two sheets manually and maintain them in that position during data entry, a process that is at best slow and often inaccurate.Consequently, the data is frequently not entered correctly, particularly where the data concerns ticking or crossing of boxes. Since the data entries are often to be first entered into a computer before analysis, any misalignment or inaccuracies can adversely affect subsequent computer analysis of the data.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a file insert member that overcomes the aforementioned problem in a simple and easy manner.

The inventive features of the present invention are set out in the characterising portion of claim 1.

In this way, the member can be mounted to or from the mounts in a file without opening the mounts themselves and possibly disturbing the file contents. Moreover, the file insert member can be easily and simply mounted at different positions along the axis of the mounts so that a particular line on a sheet attached to the member can be aligned at different positions to an already mounted sheet in a file.

Preferably the cut outs comprise a cone shaped slot connecting the location position to the member edge, the narrow part of the slot meeting the location position. Thus, the parts of the member remaining between the slots can flex whilst the mounts are pushed into the location positions whilst the narrow part of the slots retain the member in position on the mounts. To remove the member from the mounts, the member can be simply pulled from the file with the remaining parts flexing again.

Conveniently, the opening of the slot at the member edge is substantially twice the narrow part of the slot at the location position. Alternatively, the cone side defines an angle of substantially 110 degrees relative to the member edge. It will be understood that these parameters are dependent on the flexibility of the material comprising the member.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flexible file insert member is adhered to a file sheet or is integrally formed therewith.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of mounting a file sheet to a ring file in order to align a text location of the file sheet with another text location on a further file sheet already mounted in the ring file, the method comprising the steps of:locating a file insert member as defined above with mounts of the file such that the text location of said file sheet is aligned with said another text location; and pushing the insert member towards the mounts whereby the portion of the member adjacent said positions flexes during mounting to the mounts.

An example of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a file insert member embodying the present invention in use, Figure 2 illustrates the file insert member of figure 1 without the sheet.

Referring to figure 1, a file insert member 1 having a width a is adhesively attached to a file sheet 2. The file sheet is to be mounted to ring shaped mounts 3 provided at the spine of a file (not shown). The sheet 2 is to be mounted at different positions along the spine axis, that is to say higher up the spine axis in the direction of arrow X or lower down the spine axis in the direction of arrow Y.

Referring more specifically to figure 2, the insert member 1 comprises a series of regularly spaced location positions comprising apertures 4 having a size for receiving the ring shaped mounts 3. The apertures 4 are conveniently of circular form having a size of 5 mm diameter. Each aperture is connected to the member edge 5, to be adjacent to the spine in use, by a cut out 6 comprising a cone shaped slot. The apex of the cone shaped slot meets the apertures 4 such that the opening b of the slot into the aperture is smaller than the size of the mounts 3. It will be apparent that in order for the member 1 to be retained on the mounts 3, the dimension b should be less than the diameter of the aperture 4.

The centres of the apertures 4 are 7 mm from the edge 5 in a file insert member having a dimension a of 22 mm. The slot 6 opens symmetrically onto the apertures 4 and has a width c at the edge 5 of 8 mm. This leaves a remaining protrusion 7 between adjacent slots having a length d along the edge 5 of 8 mm. The angle P of the slot edge relative to the edge 5 is 110 degrees. These dimensions are suitable for a cellulose type plastics material having a thickness of 200 microns, although some variation in the dimensions can be required according to the plastics material comprising the member 1.

Nonetheless, care must be taken in selecting the dimensions in order to balance durability and resistance to tearing with the possibility of the plastics material cracking and not having sufficient flexibility to work effectively Referring more specifically to figure 1 again, to mount the sheet 2 to the rings 3, the edge 5 of the member 1 is aligned slightly over the rings, with the apertures 4 in line with respective rings. By the application of pressure down onto the file, perpendicular to the spine axis, the member can be pushed onto the rings. As the pressure is exerted, the remaining protrusion 7 between adjacent apertures 4 flexes to allow the aperture to be mounted to a ring.To de-mount the sheet 2 from the rings 3, the edge 5 of the member 1 is pulled away from the file, perpendicular to the spine axis, and the member pulls off the rings since the protrusions 7 flex out of the way to allow the rings to be released from the apertures.

Consequently, if line M on the sheet 2 is to be aligned with a line on an underlying sheet which is opposite ring N, the sheet is de-mounted from the rings 3, moved in the direction of arrow X from that shown by two rings, and then again mounted to the rings. Thus, exact alignment of the sheet 2 with an underlying sheet is assured. A similar process in direction of arrow Y is necessary to align line M on sheet 2 with a line on the underlying sheet which is opposite ring J. This is particularly important where data to be written includes ticking of boxes as may be seen on the sheet 2.

It will be understood that the embodiment illustrated shows an application of the invention in one form only for the purposes of illustration. In practice, the invention may be applied to many different configurations, the detailed embodiments being straightforward for those skilled in the art to implement.

It will be apparent that the present invention is not limited to ring files but may also be applied to D ring files and other files where appropriate. For example, the apertures 4 may be of elongate circular form (e.g. defining two U-shaped portions, back to back), being 8 mm in length in the direction of the arrows X and Y shown in Figure 1, and 5 mm wide. This alternative construction of the apertures 4 enables the insert member 1 to be used with mounts 3 having an elongate circular cross-section.

With an insert member 1 having apertures of elongate circular form, the centres of the apertures are preferably 8 or 9 mm from the edge of an insert member having a dimension a of 22 mm. The slot 6 preferably has a width c at the edge 5 of 8 to 9 mm, which leaves a remaining protrusion 7 of 5 mm.

Claims (8)

1. A flexible file insert member (1) comprising a plurality of location positions (4) for retaining the member to mounts (3) in a file; and a respective cut out (6) between an edge (5) of the member and each said location position, characterised in that said location positions are regularly spaced and the portion (7) of said member adjacent said positions flexes during mounting thereof to or from said mounts.

2. A member according to claim 1, wherein each said cut out comprises a cone shaped slot connecting the respective location position to the member edge, the narrow part (b) of the slot meeting the location position.

3. A member according to claim 2, wherein the opening (c) of the slot at the member edge is substantially twice said narrow part of the slot at the location position.

4. A member according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the cone side defines an angle of substantially 110 degrees relative to the member edge.

5. A member according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each said location position is substantially circular.

6. A member according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each said location position is of substantially elongate circular shape.

7. A member according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said member is made of plastics material.

8. A method of mounting a file overlay sheet to a ring file in order to align one or more data locations of the file overlay sheet with one or more further data locations of a file sheet already mounted in the ring file, the method comprising the steps of:locating the file overlay sheet according to any one of the preceding claims with mounts of the file such that the data location of said file overlay sheet is aligned with said further data location; and pushing the file overlay sheet towards the mounts whereby the portion of the file overlay sheet adjacent said positions flexes during mounting to the mounts.

8. A member according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the member is adhered to a file sheet (2) or is integrally formed therewith.

9. A method of mounting a file sheet to a ring file in order to align a text location of the file sheet with another text location on a further file sheet already mounted in the ring file, the method comprising the steps of:locating a file insert member according to claim 8 with mounts of the file such that the text location of said file sheet is aligned with said another text location; and pushing the insert member towards the mounts whereby the portion of the member adjacent said positions flexes during mounting to the mounts.

AMENbMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS CLAIMS 1. A file overlay sheet for a ring file or the like and having one or more data locations to be aligned in use with one or more further data locations of a file sheet already mounted in the file by movement of the overlay sheet along the file axis, the overlay sheet further including a plurality of location positions for retaining the overlay sheet to mounts in the file, and a respective cut out between an edge of the overlay sheet and each said location position; wherein said location positions are regularly spaced and portions of said overlay sheet adjacent said positions flex during mounting of the overlay sheet to or from said mounts.

2. A sheet according to claim 1, wherein each said cut out comprises a cone shaped slot connecting the respective location position to the sheet edge, the narrow part of the slot meeting the location position.

3. A sheet according to claim 2, wherein the opening of the slot at the sheet edge is substantially twice said narrow part of the slot at the location position.

4. A sheet according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the cone side defines an angle of substantially 110 degrees relative to the sheet edge.

5. A sheet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each said location position is substantially circular.

6. A sheet according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each said location position is of substantially elongate circular shape.

7. A sheet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said sheet is made of plastics material.