US1398540A - Loose-leaf binder - Google Patents

Description

s. E. DAY. LOOSE LEAF BINDER. APPLICATION FILED AUG-30. I917.

Puma Nov. 29, 1921.

HTED STATES SOHUYLER E. DAY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

2" 0 all w 710m it may concern Y Be it known that I, SOHUYLER E. DAY, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to binding devices, and is more particularly applicable to loose leaf binders.

In a common form of loose leaf binder, a binding element is provided, comprising a ring or similar device adapted to hold the loose leaves, the ring being divided into sections or hooks, and in this manner being adapted to be opened or closed, to permit the placing on or removal from the ring of the loose leaves. I a

The ring is so arranged in the binding frame that its point of opening or closing is permanently located in the middle of the device. This, is a serious defect, because, of the group'of bound leaves those at'the sides cannot be removed as easily and conveniently as the others nor often times without causing others of the leaves to slip from the binding hooks; also, the capacity of the hooks is unduly limited.

Gbjects of the invention, therefore, are to provide a loose leaf binder in which leaves at the sides of the group of bound leaves may be installed, or from which they may be removed, as easily and conveniently and without disturbing the other leaves of the group, as those leaves, for example, in the middle of the group; whose capacity isgreatly increased; and to provide a device of the character referred to which shall be simple and easily manipulated, and which shall be economical in construction and operation. These and other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious and, in part, be made clear from the following description. The invention consists in the novel parts, improvements, combinations and features of construction, herein shown and described.

In the accompanying drawings, which are referred to herein and made part hereof, is illustrated one embodiment of the invention, the same serving in connection with the description herein to explain the principles of the invention. I

Of the drawings: Figure 1 is a to plan, partly in perspec- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented N 29, 1921, Application filed August 30, 1917. serial No. 188,907.

accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation, partly in per.- spective, of thebinder, showing thering or binding element in position upon its support, and the slotted wall in which the support has its reciprocatory movement;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical central section, partly in elevation, of a portion of the construction shown in Fig. 2, taken on the line 3-3 and looking in the direction of the arrows; V

Fig.4 is a vertical central section ,ofa ring, partly in perspective, certain other details also being shown, and different positions of the ring being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 5 is a crosssection of thebinder showing a binding element in an open posi; tion; and 1 Fig.-6 is a similar view, showing'the binding element in an open position and shifted laterally to a position convenient for manipulating leaves atv aside of the group. i Y A loose leaf binder, constructed in accord ance with one feature of the invention includes a binding element, arranged to be moved to different operative positions. In one'embodiment of this feature of the invention, said binding element comprises sections of a ring or similar construction adaptedto be joined to form a complete ring or device and to be opened and closed at will. A loose leaf binder, constructed in accord ance with another feature .of the invention, includes in combination, a plurality of said binding elements, supporting means for said elements, and means connecting said elements, whereby they may be moved to difierent operative positions in unison. These and other features of the invention will be more fully set forth in the followingadescription.

eferring now to the drawings in detail, there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same comprising, as shown, a usual back plate 10, to which the customary covers, not shown, maybe fastened in any suitable manner. J

Means are provided for holding the loose leaves, and while these means may be of any desired configuration and proportions, preferably and as shown, a binding element is employed, consisting, of a ring, divided, as

' tive, ofa loose leaf bindericonstructed in i customary, into halves or ring hooks, 11, 12, which are connected at their lower portions in a manner presently to be described, and which permits of their having an opening and closing movement. Said, hooks are adapted by means of a suitable tongue 13 and groove 14 to have a locking engagement at their upper portions.

Means are provided for connecting the hook rings 11 and 12, and for opening and closing them, as desired. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated, said means comprise a spring having a central coil 16, to which further reference will be made, and arms 17 and 18, connected to the respective hooks. While, so far as certain other features of the invention are concerned, said spring arms may be attached to said hook rings in any suitable manner, preferably and as shown, said hooks are made tubular in form, and the spring arms are forced, each into its respective hook, a dis tance sufiicient to insure their operative engagement with said hooks at all times. It will be seen that with these connecting means the ring hooks will normally be kept in closed position but with the application of suitable and convenient force may be pulled open, so as to permit the installation or removal of sheets.

Means are provided for mounting in the binder the binding elements, and for this purpose and in the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, a support or rod 19 is provided upon which the spring 16 is mounted, preferably not rigidly fastened thereto but freely revoluble thereupon. Said rod 19 is suitably sup ported in the binding frame, and is normally located midway of the back plate 10 from which it is spaced apart a distance sufficient to permit of a revoluble movement of the coil upon the rod. Also, to permit the ring to be opened or the sections spaced apart at their upper portions the required distance, the under sides of the lower portions of the hooks or sections are cut away a suitable distance.

Normally, the ring hooks are so disposed that the opening and closing point of the complete ring, which the cooperating hooks form, may be in a vertical plane, midway of the plate 10. This location of the opening and closing point or normal operative position of the binding element will be convenient for installing sheets in ormoving them from the middle of the group of sheets or leaves which are'to be held in the binder; and when the number of said leaves is limited, said location of the opening and closing point will permit of the manipulating of sheets or leaves at the sides of said group. In any construction of the art, ho vever, when the number of leaves has beenincreased beyond a certain limit, the leaves subject to severe usage.

at the sides of the group cannot be installed or removed without difficulty and often without disturbing the other leaves in the group, with the result that the device is rendered inconvenient to handle, its capacity is unduly limited, and the leaves are It will be noted, however, that in the construction of the present invention, thus far described, this difficulty is obviated because the binding element composed of the ring hooks 11, 12, connected by the springwith its arms 17 and 18, can be revolved upon the supporting rod 19, and thus the opening and'closing point of the ring be shifted laterally with respect to its normal vertical position. In other words, the binding element maybe moved to different operative positions. l/Vhen in a shiftedposition, the binding element can be opened and closed and the leaves added or withdrawn with the same ease and convenience of operation as when the opening and closing point is in its normal vertical position.

Said revoluble movement, however, is limited by the nature of the construction illustrated and thus far described, and therefore, to increase the distance which said opening and closing point may be shifted from its normal position, and in accordance with another feature of the invention, means are provided for shifting laterally the rod 19 in its support. Preferably and as shown, said support is fashioned as an upstanding wall 21 formed with a slot 22 therein extending a suitable distance from side to side, and, as shown, being in form slightly curved downwardly, following an are that facilitates the rotation and reciprocation of said binding element.

It will be obvious that by rotating or reciprocating the binding element with its supporting rod in this slottedrecess, the opening and closing point of the binding element may be shifted at will to any desired position within the limits of rotation or reciprocation of the binding element, and further that these limits will be generous enough to satisfy the demands of practice. If desired, moreover, the revolubility can be still further increased by cuttiin away a portion of an edge or the edges or said back plate 10, as illustrated in Fig. 1, to a suitable extent.

Preferably, a plurality of walls 21 is provided, as shown, one being furnished at each of the longitudinal ends of the back plate 10, and the rod 19 is mounted in both of said slots. Suitable members a reprovided for preventing endwise slipping of the rod 19, the same as shown, consisting of knobs 24, which also'serve another functtion, being convenient to use in moving said rod 19. l

While the binding elementmay be placed 130 these two being conveniently spaced apart.

It will be noted, however, that in order to work to the best advantage, the binding elements, whether two .or more, should be capable of acting in unison, so that the opening and closing points of said elements may be shifted simultaneously, as desired,

with relation to the axes of rotation or revolution of the binding elements.

Means are provided, therefore, for connecting said binding elements, so that they may be moved in unison, and the hooks of the respective rings opened or closedsimuh,

taneousl whether in their normal dosi tion or 1n an assumed osition. In the preferred embodlment of the invention and as shown in the drawings, said means comprise a pair of plates 26, each plate connectmg allthe hooks of the respective binding elements on its side of the common,

longitudinal axis of the said elements. The plates may be connected to the hooks in any suitable way, but preferably and as shown, each plate engages each hook on its side of said axis by being fitted into a recess formed in the lower portion ofthe hook and ex tending transversely thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of theidrawings.

The plates also serve as locking means for the springs. It will be noted that these lates fit snu l into their respective recesses b J. I

and that, when the plates are in horizontal alinement, their inner faces meet. Furthermore, when and a they are moved into positions above or below horizontal, the plates will rock on the upper or lower edges of their said inner faces, and assume a locking engagement against the force of the spring. This engagement, when the plates have assumed a certain position above horizontal, as when the rings are opened, will serve to lock the plates and hold the same in such locked position against the force of the spring, but the rings can then be closed by the application of superior force, the strength of the material and arrangement of the parts being regulated so as to require only the exercise of a convenient degree of force. As shown, also, the parts are so an ranged that, when a ring is in normal closed position, see Fig. 4, the plates 26 will have their inner edges depressed below horizontal, thus relieving the force of the spring in keeping the ring closed, and so avoiding the chance of accidental opening of the ring when in use.

Means are provided for maintaining at all times the mutual relative positions of the plates 26, said means, preferably and as shown, consisting of fingers 32, 33, pro jecting in pairs from the inner edges of the respective plates, and engaging the under surfaces of the opposite plates. Their operation will be obvious The invention in its broader aspects is not hmited to. the precise constructions shown and described, nor to any particular construction by which the same may be carried into effect, as many changes may be made in the details thereof without departing from the main principles of the invention or sacrificing its chief advantages.

I claim: f

1. In a. loose leafbinder, a binding ele ment comprising arms having elastic connections, and means upon which said elastic connections are revolubly arranged, where by said element may be moved to different operative positions. I

ment comprising arms havingelastic connections and adapted to be opened and closed, and means upon which-said elastic connections are revolubly arranged, whereby said element may be moved to different hooks.

4. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of a plurality of binding elements, each element comprising a pair of hooks having elastic connections and being adapted to be opened and closed, means upon which said elements are revolubly arranged, and means connecting said elements, whereby said elements may be moved inunison to different operative positions. 7

5. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of a plurality of binding elements, each ele ment comprising a pair of hooks having elastic connections and being adapted to be opened and closed, and means connecting said elements, whereby said elements be operated in unison. V I

6. In aloose leaf binder, the combination of a plurality of binding elements, each element comprising a pair of hooks having elastic connections and being adapted to be opened and closed, means upon which said elements are revolubly arranged, and means connecting said elements, whereby they may be operated and moved in unison to different operative positions.

7. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of a binding element provided with arms .90: 2. In a looseleaf binder, abinding ele-f having elastic connections and ,bein adapted to be opened and closed, means upon which said connections are mounted, and-a frame in which said last-named means is slidably arranged.

8. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of a plurality of binding elements provider each with arms having elastic connections adapted to be opened and closed, means upon which said elements are revolubly mounted, and a frame in which said last-named means is slidably arranged,

9.. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of a plurality of binding elements provided each with arms having elastic connections adapted to be opened and closed, means upon which said elements are revolubly mounted, means connecting said elements so that they may be operated in unison, and a frame in which the means upon which the elements are mounted is slidably arranged.

10. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of a frame, a plurality of binding elements provided with arms having elastic connections and adapted to-be opened and closed, and a support for the binding elements reciprocably mounted in said frame.

11. In a loose leaf binder, a binding element comprising arms having elastic connections consisting of a coiled spring, and a rod upon which said spring is revolubly mounted.

12. In a loose leaf binder, a binding element including arms having elastic connections comprising a centrally disposed coiled spring, a rod upon which said coiled spring is arranged, and a slotted member in which said rod is slidably mounted.

13. In a loose leaf binder, a binding element composed of a central coil and oppositely extended elastic arms, and rigid members in which said arms are respectively an ranged, a slotted frame, a rod arranged to be reciprocated in said frame, and said element being mounted upon said rod.

' 1 In a loose leaf binder, a plurality of binding elements provided each with arms having elastic connections and adapted to be opened and closed, means upon which said elastic connections are revolubly arranged, and means connecting said elements whereby they may be revolved in unison.

15. In a loose leaf binder, a plurality of binding elements provided each'with arms having elastic connections and adapted to be opened and closed, a slotted frame, means mounted in said frame and upon which said elastic connections are revolubly arranged,

and means connecting said elements whereby they may be revolved in unison, and whereby said elements may be reciprocated in unison in said slotted frame.

16. In a loose leaf binder, a binding element comprising in combination, a pair of ring hooks adapted to hold loose leaves, a spring member connecting said hooks and tending normally to keep said hooks in closed position, and means operating to keepsaid hooks in open position when said hooks have been opened to a certain predetermined degree. I

17. In a loose leaf binder, a binding element comprising in combination a pair of tubular ring hooks adapted to hold .loose leaves, and a spring member having a central portion arranged about a support and arms extending into the respective hooks a distance sufficient normally to keep said hooks in closed position and to maintain their operative position in said hooks when the latter are in open position.

18. A loose leaf binder including in combination, a support, a. pair of ring hooks, adapted to hold loose leaves, a spring member mounted upon said support and connecting said hooks and tending normally to keep said hooks in closed position, and means operating to keep saidhooks in open position when said hooks have been opened to a certain predetermined degree.

19. A loose leaf binder including in combination, a frame, a support mounted in a slot in said frame and arranged to have a re ciprocating movement therein, a pair of ring hooks adapted to hold loose leaves, a spring member mounted upon said support and connecting said hooks and tending normally to keep said hooks in closed position, and

' means operating to keep said hooks in open position when said hooks have been opened toa certain predetermined degree. 4

20. A loose leaf binder, including a frame having walls with slots formed therein, a rod slidably mounted in said slotted walls, a plurality of binding elements each mounted upon said rod and adaptedto revolve with the axis of the rod as the axis of revolution, and being adapted to be opened and closed, and a pair of plates arranged in recesses in and connecting said elements, whereby said elements may be moved in unison, and the opening and closing points of the respective elements shifted in unison.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

SOHUYLER E. DAY.

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