US1233912A - Paper-fastener. - Google Patents

Description

'l. RITTENHOUSB.

PAPER FASTENER.

APPLICATiON man APR. 2a. 1913.

Patented July 17, 1917.

q J J imme/who'll IRVIN RITTENHOUSE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A SSIGNOR TO HORACE F. CLARK, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1917.

Originai application filed March 10, 1910, Serial No. 548,339. Divided and this application filed. April 28,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TRVIN RITTENHOUsE, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Paper-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in paper fasteners v and more particularly to that type of paper fasteners described in my co-pending application, Serial No. 548,339, filed March 10, 1910, of whichthis application is a division.

The object of this inventionis to provide. a fastener consisting of a base member, a pliable fastening strip operatively associated with said base member, and a protecting plate cooperating with said pliable fastening strip.

A particular object of this invention is to provide a base member of such a character that a substantially flat surface will be presented to the bottom sheet of the plurality of papers desired to be secured by the fastener. Onedisadvantage of the former base member shown and described in my Patent Number 920,393, lies in the fact that a con tinuous binding surface is not presented to the lowermost sheet of the papers secured by the .fastener, so that there is a liability of any one or a number of the papers becoming loosened from the fastener, thereby destroying the binding of the file. The purpose 'of this invention is to obviate this difficulty and at the same time, provide a simple and eflicient means for retaining the fastening strip in operative association with the base member and also to provide means for properly guiding the fastening strip into correct alinement with the base member during the operation of its insertion into the base member as will be hereinafter more fully described.

To this and other ends the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described in a preferred form, reference now being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan v1ew of the base member showing the fastening strip in operative association therewith;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View of the base member to illustrate the means for retaining Serial No. 764,168.

the fastening strip in its operative position on the said member;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4.- is a view partly in section showing the complete fastener securing a bundle of papers.

As shown in the drawing, the basemember 1 consists of an oblong strip of metal, having a plurality of punched-in portions 2, arranged on each side of its longitudinal center line. These punched-in portions have their free ends 3 inclined inwardly toward the said longitudinal center line of the base member to provide a seat 4 on which rests the fastening strip 5 when in its operative position on the base memberj The fastening strip consists of an elongated member, preferably constructed of pliable metal, and of a length considerably greater than the base-member 1, in order to provide extensions (Sand 7, which, when properly assembled, as hereinafter fully set forth, form a pair of prongs adapted to pierce the papers desired to be secured by the fastener.

For the purpose of binding the plurality of papers on the other side of the file, there is provided a protecting plate 8 having openings 9 and 10 spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the length of said base member, which openings are designed for the reception of the extensions 6 and 7 of the base member 1. Between the inner edges of the openings 9 and 10 is a raised portion 11 which serves to strengthen the protecting plate and at the same time provides off-sets at the points 9 and 10, whereby the extensions 6 and 7 may be properly guided into the respective pin receiving openings in the protecting plate. That portion of the said plate between the outer edge of the openings and the edge of the plate is beveled slightly, to provide a gripping surface for engagement with the papers at these points respectively. At the same time, a guide is formed, whereby the extensions may be bent downward into intimate contact with the papers, and thus obviate the disadvantage of the prongs sticking up and mutilating contacting objects.

In operation, the fastening strip is inserted into the space between the under surface of the base member and the seat formed by the punched in portions 2 on each side of the longitudinal center line of the base member, until the extensions 6 and 7 are equal in their respective distances from the pposite edges of the base member. These extensions are then bent upwardly over the base member until they are in substantially a vertical position. The papers are then arranged one by one over the fastener, the up standing extensions forming means for piercing the papers. If desired, however, the papers may be previously punched, in

any suitable manner, in which case, it will only be necessary to msert the extenslons 1 contact with the uppermost sheet of the file.

As will be noted, the advantage of this form of base member, lies in the fact that with the l-exception of the punched-in portions, the entire flat surface of the base member is. presented to the lowermost sheet of paper, thereby securing a perfect binding contact at every point on the base member.

'Another advantage lies in the fact that the longitudinal punched-out portions form, in

'- effect, strengthening ribs, thus greatly incre sing the transverse tensile strength .of

the base member, and thereby greatly reducing the .danger of the base member becoming bent in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis. By presenting a flat surface to theifile, the disadvantage of a springing outward at the center of the base member, while the free ends of the 'fasteningstrip are being bent back and forth during the operation of lnsertlng additional sheets to the file or removing the same therefrom, 1s entirely obviated and the binding action of the base member upon the lowermost sheet is secured at all times.

What is claimed is:

1. A paper fastener comprising a base member having struck out parallel portions underlying the base and forming crotched guideways, the struck out portions having their inner ends spaced from each other and their outer ends spaced from the ends of the base, and a pin fastener adapted to have one face bear flush against the end surface of the base member when its side edges engage the crotches of the struck out portions, the pin fastener being arranged to engage the ends of the base member when bent up.

2. A paper fastener comprising a base member having two sets of struck out parallel portions underlying the base and forming two crotched guideways, the struck out portions having their inner ends spaced a considerable distance from each other and their outer ends spaced from the ends of the base, and a pin fastener formed of fiat metal having its face bearing flush against the end surface of the base member and its lower face and edges engaging the struck out portion and adapted to be bent upwardly and engage the ends of the base.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two'subscribing witnesses.

, IRVIN RITTENHOUSE.

Witnesses:

JAMES L. CRAWFORD, EDWARD S. WHITE.

(ta lies of this-patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, e WashingtomD. G.

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