GB2398273A

GB2398273A - Cam operated lever arch file

Info

Publication number: GB2398273A
Application number: GB0303015A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Eric Slater
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-02-11
Filing date: 2003-02-11
Publication date: 2004-08-18
Also published as: GB0303015D0

Abstract

Lever arch file 10 has a pair of two part arched document retaining loops 12, the movable parts 14 of which are resiliently biassed by a leaf spring 20 towards the open position. They are connected by link 15 engaged by spring 20. The loops may be held closed by cam lever roller 18 which bears on this link 15. A cam lever 41 is mounted on cover 11 and pivots in a plane perpendicular to the planes of the loops 12 through the spacings between the free ends (figure 2, 13a, 14a). The cam lever 41 has an operating part 42 and a handle 43 pivotally connected to it. To open the file, cam lever 41 is pivoted through first angle (figure 6, A) until part 42 engages with lever stop 47. The handle 43 is pivoted relative to the operating part through a second angle (figure 6, B) to be remote from the spacing of the free ends for document insertion or removal. Alternatively, a one part cam lever (figure 1,17) may be cranked (figure 2,22) to pass through the open loops. Further, the cam lever may have an integral helical operating part (figure 10,94) which bears on the link 15. It has a pivot (figure 10,92) so that it can move in a plane parallel to cover 11.

Description

DOCUMENT FILE

This invention relates to document files, and in particular to the larger document files generally referred to as lever-arch files.

Many types of document files are known, including wallets for a small number of documents, compartmentalized wallets for a greater number of files, ring binders for a medium number of documents and lever-arch files for a larger number of files. This larger number of documents is accommodated in a lever-arch file by means of two relatively tall, arched retaining loops of wire. Each loop is in two parts so as to be openable for insertion and removal of the documents. The loops are opened and closed by means of a cam lever. The documents are generally retained in stacked formation one above another on a fixed part of each loop. In order that a document may be inserted at or removed from the middle or bottom of the stack of documents in the file, the uppermost document or documents must firstly be either removed from the loops or moved over the loops to the movable parts. The loops may then be opened and the required document inserted or removed. To open the loops, the cam lever is raised to a loop release or open position. In this open position the cam lever lies adjacent one of the loops and thereby prevents the movement of documents from one part of each loop to the other. In consequence, if the insertion or removal operation is to be repeated in respect of several documents at different locations in the stack, the opening and closing of the loops must be effected for each differing location. This is a time consuming operation causing frustration for the person performing the operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a document file of the lever arch type that overcomes the problem described above.

The invention provides a document file having a pair of arched document retaining loops, each loop comprising two parts relatively movable between a closed position in which free ends of each part of a loop are in mutual contact and an open position in which those free ends are mutually spaced, movement of the parts being effected by a cam lever moving between respective closed and open positions, wherein the cam lever when in the open position is disposed remote from the spacing between the free ends of the loop parts.

Preferably, the parts of the loops are resiliently biased towards the open position. The document file may comprise a spring operable to bias the loop parts towards the open position. The spring may be a leaf spring. The movable part of the two loops may be connected by a connecting link, and the spring may engage the connecting link. The cam l lever may engage the connecting link, and may comprise a roller in engagement with the connecting link.

The cam lever may be pivotally mounted on a cover part of the document file. The cam lever may rotate in a plane perpendicular to the planes of the loops.

The cam lever may move through the spacings between the free ends of the loop parts in moving between the closed and open positions. The cam lever, when in the open position, may be diametrically opposed to that when in the closed position.

The cam lever may comprise an operating part and a handle part that are relatively movable.

The operating part may be pivotally mounted on the cover part, and the roller may be mounted on the operating part. The handle part may be pivotally mounted on the operating part.

Preferably, the operating part and the handle part are substantially in alignment when the cam lever is in the closed position. The cam lever may pivot through a first angle as the loops move from the closed position to their open position. The document file may have a lever stop disposed to limit the movement of the operating part to movement through the first angle.

The handle part may pivot through a second angle in pivoting relative to the operating part.

The second angle may be in the same plane as the first angle.

The cam lever may be provided with a first formation operable to resist movement of the handle part relative to the operating part from a position of alignment of the handle part and the operating part. The cam lever may be provided with a handle stop operable to prevent movement of the handle part relative to the operating part in a direction opposed to its movement through the second angle.

Alternatively, the cam lever may comprise a cam formation of helical form.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment in the closed position, Fig. 2 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 in the open loop position, Fig. 3 is a side view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 in the cam lever open position, Fig. 4 is a side view of a second embodiment in the closed position, Fig. 5 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig. 4 in the open loop position, Fig. 6 is a side view of the embodiment of Fig. 4 in the cam lever open position, Figs. 7 and 8 are cross-sections through the cam lever of Figs. 4 to 6 in the open loop and cam lever open position respectively, Fig. 9 is a side view of a third embodiment in the closed position, Figs. 10 and 11 are plan views of the embodiment of Fig. 9 in the closed and open positions respectively, and Fig. 12 is a side view of the embodiment of Fig. 9 in the open position.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3, there is shown a document file 10 having a cover 11. Mounted on the cover 11 are two arched wire loops 12 on which documents (not shown) are retained in conventional manner. Each loop 12 is in two parts, a fixed part 13 and a movable part 14 (Fig. 2). The fixed parts 13 are secured in upstanding disposition to the cover 11. The movable parts 14 of the two loops 12 are joined by a connecting part 15. In practice, the two movable parts 14 and the connecting part 15 comprise a single piece of wire, which is attached to the cover 11 by means of two bushes 16. This allows the movable parts 14 to pivot relative to the cover 11 and fixed parts 13. The movable part 14 is moved by means of a cam lever 17. The cam lever 17 is of L-shaped configuration and has a roller 18 at the apex that contacts the connecting part 15. The foot of the L-shaped cam lever 17 is pivotally mounted on a support 19, itself mounted on the cover 11 so that it can rotate in a plane perpendicular to the planes of the cover 11 and loops 12. A leaf spring 20 mounted on the cover 11 biases the connecting part 15 in an upwardly direction, i.e. towards the loop open position.

When the loops 12 are in the closed position shown in Fig. 1, the cam lever 17 is in a lowered position with the roller 18 pressing down on the connecting part 15 against the force of the spring 20. This forces the movable parts 14 in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 2 so that the free ends 13a, 14a of the loop parts 13, 14 are brought into contact with each other in order to retain documents on the loops 12. When the cam lever 17 is raised to the position shown in Fig. 2, the pressure of the roller 18 on the connecting part 15 is released and the spring 20 forces the loops 12 in an anti-clockwise direction to their open position. As this movement occurs, the free ends 13a, 14a become spaced as shown in Fig. 2. This enables documents to be removed from the fixed parts 13. Thus far, the operation of the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3 is conventional.

However, with a conventional cam lever in the position shown in Fig. 2, the handle part 21 of the cam lever 17 is adjacent one of the movable parts 14. This prevents documents from being moved between the fixed parts 13 and the movable parts 14. In the case of cam lever 17, it is configured, as at 22, so that the handle part 21 can pass through the spacing between the free ends 13a, 14a. This allows the cam lever 17 to be moved to the fully open position shown in Fig. 3. In this position, documents may be moved easily between the fixed parts 13 and the moving parts 14 in order that documents can be inserted at or removed from several different parts of a stack of documents retained in the document file 10. A loop stop 23 is provided to maintain the movable parts 14 in their open position when not contacted by the roller 18.

Referring now to Figs. 4 to 8, there is shown an alternative embodiment of document file 40.

Parts of document file 40 that are identical with those of document file 10 are identified by the same reference numerals. In this case however, the cam lever 17 of document file 10 is replaced by a cam lever 41. Cam lever 41 is in two parts, an operating part 42 and a handle part 43. The operating part 42 is of L-shaped configuration and has the roller 18 at the apex that contacts the connecting part 15. The foot of the L-shaped operating part 42 is pivotally mounted on a support 19. Handle part 43 is pivotally mounted at 44 on the operating part 42.

However, the pivoting action between the handle part 43 and the operating part 42 is restricted as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The cross-section of the end of the operating part 42 is lobular forming a groove 45 into which the circular cross-section of the end of the handle part 43 fits when the cam lever 41 is in the closed position shown in Figs. 4 and 7. In this position, the handle part 43 lies substantially in alignment with the operating part 42. To open the loops 12, the cam lever 41 is raised as described above. The upper lobe 46 resists the pivoting of handle part 43 relative to the operating part 42 until the cam lever 41 has moved through a first angle A and loops 12 reach their open position shown in Fig. 5. A lever stop 47 on the support 19 prevents any further pivoting of operating part 42 relative to the support 19.

Further pressure on the handle part 43 in the upwards direction causes the resistance provided by the upper lobe 46 to be overcome and the handle part 43 moves out of the groove 45 through a second angle B to the fully open position shown in Fig. 6 and 8. Again, with the handle part 43 in this position, documents may be moved easily between the fixed parts 13 and the moving parts 14 in order that documents can be inserted at or removed from several different parts of a stack of documents retained in the document file 10. In order to close the loops 12, the handle part 43 is moved back through the angle B until it contacts the upper lobe 46 of the operating part 42. The two parts 43, 42 then move in unison through angle A to close the loops 12. When the operating part reaches the closed position shown in Fig. 4, the resistance of the upper lobe 46 is again overcome and the handle part 43 moves into the groove 45. The lower lobe 48 is larger than the upper lobe 46 and serves as a handle stop to prevent further pivoting of the handle part 43 relative to the operating part 42 in a downward direction.

Referring now to Figs. 9 to 12 there is shown another alternative embodiment of document file 90. Parts of document file 90 that are identical with those of document files 10 and 40 are identified by the same reference numerals. In this case however, the cam levers 17, 41 of document files 10, 40 are replaced by a cam lever 91. In this case, cam lever 91 is pivotally mounted at 92 on the cover 11 to rotate in a plane parallel with the cover 11 and perpendicular to the planes of the loops 12. The cam lever 91 comprises a handle part 93 and, integrally formed therewith, an operating part 94. The operating part 94 is a substantially helical formation that contacts the connecting part 15. When the cam lever 91 is moved to the closed position shown in Figs 9 and 10, the operating part pushes down on the connecting part 15 against the force of the spring 20. The loops 12 are then retained in their closed position. If the cam lever 91 is then rotated in a clockwise direction as seen in plan view, to the position shown in Figs. 11 and 12, the spiral formation of the operating part allows the spring 20 to push the connecting part upwardly, thereby opening the loops 12.

By means of the invention, if the insertion or removal of documents from a stack on the fixed parts of the loops of a lever arch file, in particular several documents at different locations in the stack, such removal and the moving of documents from one part of the loops to the other is readily achieved. This reduces the time required to perform such an operation compared with that using known lever arch files, and reduces frustration for the person performing the operation.

Claims

1. A document file having a pair of arched document retaining loops, each loop comprising two parts relatively movable between a closed position in which free ends of each part of a loop are in mutual contact and an open position in which those free ends are mutually spaced, movement of the parts being effected by a cam lever moving between respective closed and open positions, wherein the cam lever when in the open position is disposed remote from the spacing between the free ends of the loop parts.

2. A document file according to claim 1, wherein the parts of the loops are resiliently biased towards the open position.

3. A document file according to claim 2, comprising a spring operable to bias the loop parts towards the open position.

4. A document file according to claim 3, wherein the spring is a leaf spring.

5. A document file according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the movable part of the two loops is connected by a connecting link.

6. A document file according to claim 5, wherein the spring engages the connecting link.

7. A document file according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the cam lever engages the connecting link.

8. A document file according to claim 7, wherein the cam lever comprises a roller in engagement with the connecting link.

9. A document file according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the cam lever is pivotally mounted on a cover part of the document file.

10. A document file according to claim 1, wherein the cam lever rotates in a plane perpendicular to the planes of the loops.

11. A document file according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the cam lever moves through the spacings between the free ends of the loop parts in moving between the closed and open positions.

12. A document file according to claim 11, wherein the cam lever, when in the open position, is diametrically opposed to that when in the closed position.

13. A document file according to claim 11, wherein the cam lever comprises an operating part and a handle part that are relatively movable.

14. A document file according to claim 13, wherein the operating part is pivotally mounted on the cover part.

15. A document file according to claim 14, wherein the cam lever comprises a roller and the roller is mounted on the operating part.

16. A document file according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the handle part is pivotally mounted on the operating part.

17. A document file according to claim 16, wherein the operating part and the handle part are substantially in alignment when the cam lever is in the closed position.

18. A document file according to claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the cam lever pivots through a first angle as the loops move from the closed position to their open position.

19. A document file according to claim 18, having a lever stop disposed to limit the movement of the operating part to movement through the first angle.

20. A document file according to claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the handle part pivots through a second angle in pivoting relative to the operating part.

21. A document file according to claim 20, wherein the second angle lies in the same plane as the first angle.

22. A document file according to any one of claims 16 to 21, wherein the cam lever is provided with a first formation operable to resist movement of the handle part relative to the operating part from a position of alignment of the handle part and the operating part.

23. A document file according to claim 20 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the cam lever is provided with a handle stop operable to prevent movement of the handle part relative to the operating part in a direction opposed to its movement through the second angle.

24. A document file according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the cam lever rotates in a plane perpendicular to the planes of cover part and the loops.

25. A document file according to claim 24, wherein the cam lever is pivotally mounted on a cover part of the document file.

26. A document file according to claim 25, wherein the cam lever comprises a cam formation of helical form.

27. A document file substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, Figs. 4 to 8 or Figs 9 to 12 of the accompanying drawings.