EP1837199A2 - Mécanisme de reliure à anneaux - Google Patents

Mécanisme de reliure à anneaux Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1837199A2
EP1837199A2 EP07103932A EP07103932A EP1837199A2 EP 1837199 A2 EP1837199 A2 EP 1837199A2 EP 07103932 A EP07103932 A EP 07103932A EP 07103932 A EP07103932 A EP 07103932A EP 1837199 A2 EP1837199 A2 EP 1837199A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ring
binder mechanism
housing
hinge plates
ring binder
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP07103932A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1837199A3 (fr
Inventor
Hung Yu Cheng
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
World Wide Stationery Manufacturing Co Ltd
Original Assignee
World Wide Stationery Manufacturing Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by World Wide Stationery Manufacturing Co Ltd filed Critical World Wide Stationery Manufacturing Co Ltd
Publication of EP1837199A2 publication Critical patent/EP1837199A2/fr
Publication of EP1837199A3 publication Critical patent/EP1837199A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42F—SHEETS TEMPORARILY ATTACHED TOGETHER; FILING APPLIANCES; FILE CARDS; INDEXING
    • B42F13/00—Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots
    • B42F13/16—Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots with claws or rings
    • B42F13/20—Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots with claws or rings pivotable about an axis or axes parallel to binding edges
    • B42F13/22—Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots with claws or rings pivotable about an axis or axes parallel to binding edges in two sections engaging each other when closed
    • B42F13/24—Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots with claws or rings pivotable about an axis or axes parallel to binding edges in two sections engaging each other when closed wherein one section is in the form of fixed rods
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
    • B42F—SHEETS TEMPORARILY ATTACHED TOGETHER; FILING APPLIANCES; FILE CARDS; INDEXING
    • B42F13/00—Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots
    • B42F13/16—Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots with claws or rings
    • B42F13/20—Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots with claws or rings pivotable about an axis or axes parallel to binding edges
    • B42F13/22—Filing appliances with means for engaging perforations or slots with claws or rings pivotable about an axis or axes parallel to binding edges in two sections engaging each other when closed

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a ring binder mechanism for retaining loose-leaf pages, and in particular to an improved ring binder mechanism for saving raw materials and adding or removing easily loose-leaf pages.
  • a ring binder mechanism is used to retain loose-leaf pages such as hole-punched papers in a file or notebook.
  • Chinese Patent Application No. 200510055025.2 filed by the applicant of this invention disclosed in Fig.15-18B a ring binder mechanism, wherein the ring binder mechanism comprises a plurality of rings comprising each two ring members.
  • the ring members mount on two adjacent hinge plates that join together about a pivot axis and pivot within an elongated housing.
  • the ring binder mechanism also comprises a rotatable control means with a protrusion mounted at the center of the elongated housing.
  • the protrusion of the control means acts on the two hinge plates to drive the two hinge plates to pivot downwards until the ring members mounted to the hinge plates close and lock together.
  • a spring attached to the hinge plates pivots the hinge plates upwards through a coplanar position to open the ring members.
  • the ring binder mechanism of the prior art uses more raw materials, resulting in a higher production cost and a heavier weight and thus increasing the cost for package and shipment. Furthermore, when the ring binder mechanism of the prior art opens, the opening between the free ends of the two ring members is not enough to facilitate adding or removing loose-leaf pages. Furthermore, the ring binder mechanism of the prior art is generally attached to the cover of a file or notebook and the like only at two longitudinal ends, there is also a problem that its attaching to the cover of a file or notebook and the like is not convenient and firm. Thus, there needs an improved ring binder mechanism.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide a ring binder mechanism, in which the raw material for producing the ring binder mechanism may be remarkably decreased such that the costs for production, package and shipment of the ring binder mechanism can be greatly decreased.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a ring binder mechanism, in which the space between the free ends of two ring members is enough to facilitate adding or removing loose-leaf pages when the ring binder mechanism opens.
  • the ring sections for mounting to the hinge plate or the housing are straight and form an inside angle of less than 90° with respect to the plane that the ring sections for retaining loose-leaf pages locate.
  • the ring sections for mounting to the hinge plate or the housing are L-shaped and form an inside angle of 90° with respect to the plane that the ring sections for retaining loose-leaf pages locate.
  • two ring members of each of the rings are mounted correspondingly to two hinge plates.
  • the ring sections for mounting to the hinge plate or the housing of the two ring members of the two rings mounted near the longitudinal ends of the housing form respectively an inside angle of no more than 90° with respect to a plane on which the ring sections for retaining loose-leaf pages of the two ring members locate.
  • two hinge plates are disposed such that an angle between their outer surfaces is not more than 180°.
  • control means is disposed such the control means acts on the inner surfaces of two hinge plates.
  • two hinge plates are disposed such that an angle between their outer surfaces is not less than 180° when the ring binder mechanism closes.
  • control means is disposed such the control means act on the outer surfaces of two hinge plates.
  • the ring binder mechanism further comprises a spring for driving the hinge plates to pivot so as to open the ring members.
  • the spring has an arcuate shape projecting upwards and fits into the hinge plates such that the main portions projecting arcuately upwards in the middle of the spring abut against the outer surfaces of the interconnected hinge plates.
  • the shape and the size of the free ends of the ring members are selected to allow the control means to be turned from one end of the housing to the other end of the housing during opening of the ring binder mechanism.
  • the shape and the size of the free ends of the ring members are selected to prevent the control means from being turned from one end of the housing to the other end of the housing during opening of the ring binder mechanism.
  • two hinge plates have different widths.
  • two ring members of each of rings are different or asymmetric, and the long ring member is mounted to the narrow hinge plate while the short ring member is mounted to the wide hinge plate.
  • control means comprises a control lever and a cam portion for acting on the hinge plates.
  • the ring binder mechanism further comprises a plastic pad block for decreasing the friction between the cam portion and the hinge plates.
  • control lever and the cam portion of the control means are formed from plastics by injection molding.
  • one longitudinal edge portion of the housing is bent downwards to form a bend under rim, and the other longitudinal edge portion is provided along the longitudinal direction with a plurality of protrusions protruding towards the inside of the housing for supporting the hinge plates.
  • the housing is provided with flat extensions for mounting the ring binder mechanism onto a cover.
  • the other longitudinal edge portion and two longitudinal ends of the housing are provided respectively with flat extensions extending on the same plane.
  • two longitudinal edge portions of the housing are bent downwards to form the bend under rims for supporting the hinge plates.
  • a plurality of reinforcing ribs across the housing are formed on the housing.
  • the ring binder mechanism for retaining loose-leaf pages comprises: a housing with a top and an opened bottom substantially opposite to the top; two hinge plates supported by the housing for pivoting motion relative to the housing; a plurality of rings for retaining loose-leaf pages, each of the rings comprising two ring members, at least one of two ring members being mounted to the corresponding hinge plate and moveable with pivoting motion of the corresponding hinge plate relative to the other ring member between a closed position and an open position, at the closed position, the two ring members forming a substantially continuous, closed loop for allowing loose-leaf pages retained by the rings to be moved along the rings from one ring member to the other ring member, at the open position, the two ring members forming a discontinuous, open loop for adding or removing loose-leaf pages from the rings; and a rotatably mounted control means, the control means being rotatable to produce the pivoting motion of the hinge plates that brings the ring members to the closed position;
  • two ring members of each of rings are different or asymmetric, and the long ring member is mounted to the narrow hinge plate while the short ring member is mounted to the wide hinge plate.
  • each of the ring members comprises a ring section for retaining loose-leaf pages and a ring section for mounting to the hinge plate or the housing, the ring sections for mounting to the hinge plate or the housing of the two ring members of at least one of two rings mounted near the longitudinal ends of the housing are straight and form respectively an inside angle of less than 90° with respect to a plane on which the ring sections for retaining loose-leaf pages of the two ring members locate.
  • each of the ring members comprises a ring section for retaining loose-leaf pages and a ring section for mounting to the hinge plate or the housing, the ring sections for mounting to the hinge plate or the housing of the two ring members of at least one of two rings mounted near the longitudinal ends of the housing are L-shaped and form respectively an inside angle of 90° with respect to a plane on which the ring sections for retaining loose-leaf pages of the two ring members locate.
  • two ring members of each of the rings are mounted correspondingly to two hinge plates.
  • the ring sections for mounting to the hinge plate or the housing of the two ring members of two rings mounted near the longitudinal ends of the housing form respectively an inside angle of no more than 90° with respect to a plane on which the ring sections for retaining loose-leaf pages of the two ring members locate.
  • two hinge plates are disposed such that an angle between their outer surfaces is not more than 180°.
  • control means is disposed such the control means acts on the inner surfaces of two hinge plates.
  • two hinge plates are disposed such that an angle between their outer surfaces is not less than 180° when the ring binder mechanism closes.
  • control means is disposed such the control means acts on the outer surfaces of two hinge plates.
  • the ring binder mechanism further comprises a spring for driving the hinge plates to pivot so as to open the ring members.
  • the spring has an arcuate shape projecting upwards and fits into the hinge plates such that the main portions projecting arcuately upwards in the middle of the spring abut against the outer surfaces of the interconnected hinge plates.
  • the shape and the size of the free ends of the ring members are selected to allow the control means to be turned from one end of the housing to the other end of the housing during opening of the ring binder mechanism.
  • the shape and the size of the free ends of the ring members are selected to prevent the control means from being turned from one end of the housing to the other end of the housing during opening of the ring binder mechanism.
  • control means comprises a control lever and a cam portion for acting on the hinge plates.
  • the ring binder mechanism further comprises a plastic pad block for decreasing the friction between the cam portion and the hinge plates.
  • control lever and the cam portion of the control means are formed from plastics by injection molding.
  • one longitudinal edge portion of the housing is bent downwards to form a bend under rim, and the other longitudinal edge portion is provided along the longitudinal direction with a plurality of protrusions protruding towards the inside of the housing for supporting the hinge plates.
  • the housing is provided with flat extensions for mounting the ring binder mechanism onto a cover.
  • the other longitudinal edge portion and two longitudinal ends of the housing are provided respectively with flat extensions extending on the same plane.
  • two longitudinal edge portions of the housing are bent downwards to form the bend under rims for supporting the hinge plates.
  • a plurality of reinforcing ribs across the housing are formed on the housing.
  • each of the ring members comprises a ring section for retaining loose-leaf pages and a ring section for mounting to the hinge plate or the housing, and the ring section for mounting to the hinge plate or the housing and the ring section for retaining loose-leaf pages locate on the same plane.
  • the ring binder mechanism for retaining loose-leaf pages comprises: a housing with a top and an opened bottom substantially opposite to the top; two hinge plates supported by the housing for pivoting motion relative to the housing; a plurality of rings for retaining loose-leaf pages, each of the rings comprising two ring members, at least one of two ring members being mounted to the corresponding hinge plate and moveable with pivoting motion of the corresponding hinge plate relative to the other ring member between a closed position and an open position, at the closed position, the two ring members forming a substantially continuous, closed loop for allowing loose-leaf pages retained by the rings to be moved along the rings from one ring member to the other ring member, at the open position, the two ring members forming a discontinuous, open loop for adding or removing loose-leaf pages from the rings; wherein the housing is provided on one longitudinal edge portion with flat extension for mounting the ring binder mechanism onto a cover.
  • two longitudinal ends of the housing are provided respectively with a flat extension extending on the same plane.
  • the other longitudinal edge portion of the housing is bent downwards to form a bend under rim.
  • the one longitudinal edge portion is provided along the longitudinal direction with a plurality of protrusions protruding towards the inside of the housing for supporting the hinge plates.
  • the ring binder mechanism further comprises a rotatably mounted control means, the control means being rotatable to produce the pivoting motion of the hinge plates that brings the ring members to the closed position.
  • two hinge plates have different widths.
  • two ring members of each of rings are different or asymmetric, and the long ring member is mounted to the narrow hinge plate while the short ring member is mounted to the wide hinge plate.
  • each of the ring members comprises a ring section for retaining loose-leaf pages and a ring section for mounting to the hinge plate or the housing, the ring sections for mounting to the hinge plate or the housing of the two ring members of at least one of two rings mounted near the longitudinal ends of the housing are straight and form respectively an inside angle of less than 90° with respect to a plane on which the ring sections for retaining loose-leaf pages of the two ring members locate.
  • each of the ring members comprises a ring section for retaining loose-leaf pages and a ring section for mounting to the hinge plate or the housing, the ring sections for mounting to the hinge plate or the housing of the two ring members of at least one of two rings mounted near the longitudinal ends of the housing are L-shaped and form respectively an inside angle of 90° with respect to a plane on which the ring sections for retaining loose-leaf pages of the two ring members locate.
  • two ring members of each of the rings are mounted correspondingly to two hinge plates.
  • the ring sections for mounting to the hinge plate or the housing of the two ring members of two rings mounted near the longitudinal ends of the housing form respectively an inside angle of no more than 90° with respect to a plane on which the ring sections for retaining loose-leaf pages of the two ring members locate.
  • two hinge plates are disposed such that an angle between their outer surfaces is not more than 180°.
  • control means is disposed such the control means acts on the inner surfaces of two hinge plates.
  • two hinge plates are disposed such that an angle between their outer surfaces is not less than 180° when the ring binder mechanism closes.
  • control means is disposed such the control means acts on the outer surfaces of two hinge plates.
  • the ring binder mechanism further comprises a spring for driving the hinge plates to pivot so as to open the ring members.
  • the spring has an arcuate shape projecting upwards and fits into the hinge plates such that the main portions projecting arcuately upwards in the middle of the spring abut against the outer surfaces of the interconnected hinge plates.
  • the shape and the size of the free ends of the ring members are selected to allow the control means to be turned from one end of the housing to the other end of the housing during opening of the ring binder mechanism.
  • the shape and the size of the free ends of the ring members are selected to prevent the control means from being turned from one end of the housing to the other end of the housing during opening of the ring binder mechanism.
  • control means comprises a control lever and a cam portion for acting on the hinge plates.
  • the ring binder mechanism further comprises a plastic pad block for decreasing the friction between the cam portion and the hinge plates.
  • control lever and the cam portion of the control means are formed from plastics by injection molding.
  • each of the ring members comprises a ring section for retaining loose-leaf pages and a ring section for mounting to the hinge plates, and the ring sections for mounting to the hinge plate form respectively an inside angle of no more than 90° with respect to a plane on which the ring sections for retaining loose-leaf pages locate, the length of the hinge plates and thus the length of the elongate housing may be remarkably decreased by properly increasing the length of the ring sections for mounting to the hinge plates when the length between the rings at two longitudinal ends of the housing is constant.
  • the materials used for producing the hinge plates and the elongate housing may be decreased greatly such that the costs for production, package and shipment of the ring binder mechanism will be lowered remarkably.
  • the ring binder mechanism of another aspect of the invention since the two hinge plates is designed such that one hinge plate is wide while the other hinge plate is narrow, the angle range of movement of the narrow hinge plate is larger than the angle range of movement of the wide hinge plate when the ring binder mechanism changes from the closed position to the open position. Therefore, the ring members attached to the narrow hinge plate may open at a larger angle range with moving of the narrow hinge plate such that the opening distance between the free ends of the ring members becomes larger at the open position for adding or removing easily loose-leaf pages.
  • Fig.1-12 show a ring binder mechanism 100 according to a first embodiment of the invention.
  • the ring binder mechanism 100 generally comprises a housing 101, two rings 103, two hinge plates 105 and a control means 107.
  • the control means 107 is supported by the housing 101, and the rings 103 are mounted to the hinge plates 105. As described hereafter, the control means 107 may rotate relative to the housing to close and lock the ring binder mechanism 100 for retaining loose-leaf pages, or to open the ring binder mechanism 100 for adding or removing loose-leaf pages from the ring 103.
  • the housing 101 is elongated with a symmetrically, roughly arch-shaped cross section.
  • a flat top portion 109 is formed at the center of the housing top.
  • the housing 101 has a longitudinal axis, two opposite longitudinal edge portions 111 extending along the longitudinal direction and two longitudinal ends 113.
  • One longitudinal edge portion 111 of the housing 101 is bent slightly downwards to form a bend under rim 111a.
  • the other longitudinal edge portion 111 of the housing 101 and two longitudinal ends 113 form respectively with the flat extensions 111b, 113a, 113b extending in the same plane.
  • the other longitudinal edge portion 111 with the flat extensions 111b is provided along the longitudinal direction with a plurality of protrusions 115 projecting towards the inside of the housing.
  • the flat extensions extending in the same plane may be formed only at the two longitudinal ends 113 of the housing respectively.
  • the other longitudinal edge portion 111 is also slightly bent downwards to form the bend under rim.
  • the ring binder mechanism 100 may be fixed to the cover of a file or notebook by such fasteners as rivets through a hole in the housing.
  • fasteners as rivets through a hole in the housing.
  • the housing 101 may be made from metal or other suitable material as long as the material has enough rigidity to ensure the stably mounting of the components of the ring binder mechanism 100, and has enough resilience to allow it to function as a spring.
  • An opening 117 for receiving the control means 107 is formed on the flat top portion 109 of the housing 101, and projections 119 with aligned holes are formed at both sides of the opening 117.
  • the control means 107 may be pivotally mounted to the housing 101 by a pivot shaft 121 extending through the holes in the control means 107 and the projections 119.
  • the opening 107 and projections 119 are formed at the same time by punching and cutting the housing 101.
  • a plurality of reinforcing ribs across the housing 101 may be formed on the housing 101, and preferably the reinforcing ribs may be formed integrally on the housing 101 by punching.
  • pairs of cutouts 123 opposite to each other are provided between the two longitudinal edge portions 111 and the two longitudinal ends 113 of the housing 101 respectively for receiving the rings 103. It should be understood that the housing with various shapes such as an asymmetric housing and the housing with various reference numerals and shapes of opening or cutouts fall within the scope of the invention.
  • Each of the rings 103 comprises ring members 103a and 103b mounted respectively at two hinge plates 105. With the bend under rim 111a and the plurality of protrusions 115, the two hinge plates 105 are supported by the housing 101 to pivot to move the ring members 103a and 103b between a closed position and an open position.
  • the ring members 103a and 103b have a cross section of circular shape, and may be made from suitable metals such as steel.
  • the ring member 103a and 103b may form a substantially continuous, closed, "D"-shaped loop ring or loop for retaining loose-leaf pages and for allowing loose-leaf pages to move along the ring 103 from one ring member to the other.
  • the ring members form a discontinuous, open loop suitable for adding or removing pages.
  • both of the ring members may move, a mechanism having one movable ring member and one fixed ring member also falls within the scope of the invention.
  • a mechanism with more than two rings and with the rings that form other shapes e.g., both of the ring members have a semicircular shape) when closed also falls within the scope of the invention.
  • Each of the hinge plates 105 is a thin and elongate sheet with a length slightly shorter than the housing 101, and has an inner longitudinal edge 125, an outer longitudinal edge 127 and two longitudinal ends.
  • the two hinge plates 105 interconnect with each other along their inner longitudinal edges in parallel arrangement to form a central hinge with a pivot axis. This may be achieved in a well-known manner.
  • the interconnected hinge plates 105 are disposed within the housing 101 such that the outer longitudinal edge 127 of each of the hinge plates fits loosely between the top of the housing 101 and the corresponding bend under rim 111a and a plurality of protrusions 115 respectively. In this structure, although the hinge plates 105 are disposed within the housing 101, the hinge plates 105 may pivot about the pivot axis.
  • the pivot axis moves upwards (i.e., moves towards the flat top portion 109 of the housing 101), as shown in Fig.12.
  • the pivot axis moves downwards (i.e., moves away from the flat top portion 109 of the housing 101), as shown in Fig.8.
  • the hinge plates 105 are designed such that the angle between the outer surfaces of two hinge plates 105 (i.e., the surfaces facing away from the flat top portion 109 of the housing 101) is always less than 180° when the hinge plates 105 pivot within the housing 101, and the pivot axis never moves to a position lower than the coplanar position of the two hinge plates 105 (i.e., the position that the angle between the outer surfaces of the two hinge plates 105 is equal to 180°). Therefore, the resilience of the housing 101 always moves the pivot axis of the hinge plates 105 upwards and pivots the hinge plates 105 to open the ring members 103a and 103b instead of closing the ring members 103a and 103b.
  • the angle between the outer surfaces of the two hinge plates may be more than 180° when the ring binder mechanism closes.
  • the resilience of the housing moves the pivot axis of the hinge plates 105 downwards and pivots the hinge plates 105 to close the ring members 103a and 103b instead of opening the ring members 103a and 103b.
  • the hinge plates may be designed such that they pivot upwards and downwards to allow the pivot axis to pass through the coplanar position (180°) of the hinge plates.
  • the housing 101 supports the control means 107 to allow it to rotate relative to the housing 101.
  • the control means 107 of this embodiment comprises a control lever and a cam portion 131.
  • the control lever 129 and the cam portion 131 are formed integrally with each other by bending a metal sheet. However, they may be formed separately and then assembled together.
  • the cam portion 131 is defined by two separated cam sheets 133.
  • a correspondingly shaped pad block 135 is fitted between the two separated cam sheets 133.
  • the pad block 135 is fixed in the space between the two separated cam sheets 133 by two pins 137.
  • the pad block 135 is preferably made from plastics.
  • the control means 107 is pivotally mounted to the housing 101 by the pivot shaft 121 passing through the cam portion 131 of the control means 107 and the holes of the projections 119 of the housing 101.
  • the control means 107 may have other shapes.
  • the control means may be any suitable known structures that apply force to the hinge plates from the bottom side of the hinge plates (i.e., from outer surface of the hinge plates), such as the control means disclosed in the Chinese Patent Application No.200510055025.2 .
  • each of the ring members 103a and 103b of the ring binder mechanism 100 according to the invention does not locate on the same plane.
  • Each of the ring members 103a and 103b of the ring binder mechanism 100 according to the invention comprises respectively ring sections 103a' and 103b' for retaining loose-leaf pages, and ring sections 103a" and 103b" for mounting to the hinge plates 105.
  • the ring section 103a" and 103b" for mounting to the hinge plates 105 are mounted to the hinge plates 105 at an inside angle of no more than 90° with respect to the plane on which the ring sections 103a' and 103b'for retaining loose-leaf pages locate.
  • the ring sections 103a" and 103b" for mounting to the hinge plates 105 are generally straight, and form an inside angle of less than 90° with respect to the plane on which the ring sections 103a' and 103b'for retaining loose-leaf pages locate.
  • the ring sections 103a" and 103b" for mounting to the hinge plates 105 are generally "L" shape, and form an inside angle of about 90° with respect to the plane on which the ring sections 103a' and 103b' for retaining loose-leaf pages locate.
  • the ring binder mechanism 100 has more than two rings 103, two sections of each of ring members 103a and 103b of the rings 103 only near two longitudinal ends of the housing do not locate on the same plane. It should be noted that the ring binder mechanism with one of two ring members of one ring movably mounted to the hinge plate, and the other fixedly mounted to the housing also falls within the scope of the invention.
  • the control means 107 may move selectively the ring binder mechanism 100 to the closed and locked position (as shown in Fig.1-8) and the open position (as shown in Fig.10-12).
  • the control lever 129 of the control means of the ring binder mechanism as shown in Fig.10 is rotated down towards the housing such that the acting end of the cam portion 131 of the control means press down against two hinge plates 105.
  • the pivot axis of the hinge plates 105 moves downwards away from the flat top portion 109 of the housing such that the ring members 103a and 103b mounted to the hinge plates 105 join together with the pivoting motion of the hinge plates to form a closed loop for retaining loose-leaf pages.
  • the cam portion 131 of the control means 107 still keeps pressing against the hinge plates 105, the ring members 103a and 103b join together and can not separate with each other.
  • the hinge plates 105 is positioned such that the angle between their outer surfaces is at the maximum value but less than 180° (i.e., the pivot axis of the hinge plates locates above the coplanar position (180°)), as shown in Fig.8.
  • the control lever 129 of the control means of the ring binder mechanism as shown in Fig.6 is rotated upwards away from the housing such that the cam portion 131 of the control means separates from the two hinge plates 105.
  • the pivot axis of the hinge plates 105 moves up towards the flat top portion 109 of the housing such that the ring members 103a and 103b mounted to the hinge plates 105 separate with each other with the pivoting motion of the hinge plates.
  • the resilience of the housing 101 keeps the ring members 103a and 103b in the open state for adding or removing loose-leaf pages.
  • the hinge plates 105 are positioned such that the angle between their outer surfaces is at the minimum value, as shown in Fig.12.
  • each of the ring members 103a and 103b comprises the ring sections 103a' and 103b' for retaining loose-leaf pages and the ring sections 103a" and 103b" for mounting to the hinge plates 105 respectively, and the ring section 103a" and 103b" are mounted to the hinge plates 105 with an inside angle of no more than 90° with respect to the plane on which the ring sections 103a' and 103b'for retaining loose-leaf pages locate, the length of the hinge plates 105 and thus the length of the elongate housing 101 may be remarkably decreased by properly increasing the length of the ring sections 103a" and 103b" for mounting to the hinge plates 105 when the length between the rings 103 at two longitudinal ends of the housing is constant. As a result, the materials used for producing the hinge plates and the elongate housing may be decreased greatly such that the costs for production, package and shipment of the ring binder mechanism will be lowered remarkably.
  • Fig.14-18 show the ring binder mechanism 200 according to a second embodiment of the invention.
  • Components of the ring binder mechanism 200 of the second embodiment corresponding to components of the ring binder mechanism 100 of the first embodiment are represented by the same reference numerals, plus "100". The detailed description of the same structures in the second embodiment as those in the first embodiment will be omitted.
  • the ring binder mechanism 200 according to the second embodiment is substantially similar to the ring binder mechanism 100 according to the first embodiment except that the ring binder mechanism 200 comprises a spring 239 as shown in Fig.15.
  • the spring 239 is fitted onto the bottom of two hinge plates 205 for driving the hinge plates 205 to pivot so as to open the ring members 203a and 203b.
  • the spring 239 is made from a metal wire with a circular cross-section, and formed as a polygonal shape with an open end 243 and a closed end 245.
  • the closed end 245 is bent upward at about 90° for fitting into the notches 241 on one of the interconnected hinge plates 205.
  • the open end 243 of the spring 239 comprises two free distal ends which are formed by bending twice respectively, in which the first bending is to bend the metal wire upwards at about 90° and the second bending is to bend the bent distal ends outwards at about 90°.
  • Two free distal ends may be detachably fitted into the notches 241 on the other one of the interconnected hinge plates 205.
  • the main portions 247 in the middle of the spring 239 protrude upwards in a generally arcuate shape. When the spring 239 is fitted into the two hinge plates 205, the main portions 247 in the middle of the spring 239 locate substantially below and against the interconnected hinge plates 205.
  • the spring 239 is relatively slack when the hinge plates 205 are positioned such that the ring member 203a and 203b open.
  • the main portions 247 in the middle of the spring 239 which protrude upwards in a generally arcuate shape abut against the hinge plates 205 such that the angle between the outer surfaces of the hinge plates 205 is less than 180° (i.e., the pivot axis of the hinge plates locates above the coplanar position (180°) of the hinge plates 205).
  • the control lever 229 of the control means of the ring binder mechanism as shown in Fig.17 is rotated down towards the housing such that the acting end of the cam portion 231 of the control means 207 presses down against two hinge plates 205.
  • the pivot axis of the hinge plates 205 moves down away from the flat top portion 209 of the housing and pass through the coplanar position (180°) of the hinge plates 205, such that the ring members 203a and 203b mounted to the hinge plates 205 join together with the pivoting motion of the hinge plates to form a closed loop for retaining loose-leaf pages.
  • the spring 239 is biased properly to flatten the arcuate main portions 247.
  • the control lever 229 of the control means 207 of the ring binder mechanism 200 as shown in Fig.14 is rotated upwards away from the housing such that the cam portion 231 of the control means separates from the two hinge plates 205.
  • the biased spring 239 restores to its original shape and drives automatically the hinge plates 205 to pivot upwards through the coplanar position (180°) to open the ring members 203a and 203b.
  • the spring 239 drives the hinge plates 205 to pivot so as to open the ring member 203a and 203b and to keep the opened ring members 203a and 203b at the separated state. Therefore, the spring 239 has the same function as the resilience of the housing.
  • An advantageous effect of the mechanism 200 is that it is possible to decrease or eliminate the resilience of the housing and to apply force to the hinge plates 205 only by the spring 239. This allows the pivoting downwards of the hinge plates 205 and passing through the coplanar position (180°) more easily, thereby facilitating the closing of the ring binder mechanism 200. Furthermore, it is possible to open the ring binder mechanism without any manually operating the ring members.
  • Fig.19-23 show the ring binder mechanism 300 according to a third embodiment of the invention.
  • Components of the ring binder mechanism 300 of the third embodiment corresponding to components of the ring binder mechanism 100 of the first embodiment are represented by the same reference numerals, plus "200". The detailed description of the same structures in the third embodiment as those in the first embodiment will be omitted.
  • the ring binder mechanism 300 according to the third embodiment is substantially similar to the ring binder mechanism 100 according to the first embodiment except that the structure of the ring members has a little difference between them.
  • the free end of the ring member 103a prevents the control lever 129 of the control means 107 from rotating from one end of housing to the other end due to its overlength, i.e., the rotation position of the control lever 129 is limited so that it is inconvenient to add or remove loose-leaf pages.
  • the shape and size of the free ends of the ring member 303a and 303b are designed to allow the control lever 329 of the control means 307 to rotate from one end of the housing 301 to the other end of the housing 301, thereby facilitating adding or removing loose-leaf pages.
  • Fig.24-38 show the ring binder mechanism 400 according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.
  • Components of the ring binder mechanism 400 of the fourth embodiment corresponding to components of the ring binder mechanism 100 of the first embodiment are represented by the same reference numerals, plus "300". The detailed description of the same structures in the third embodiment as those in the first embodiment will be omitted.
  • the ring binder mechanism 400 according to the fourth embodiment is substantially similar to the ring binder mechanism 100 according to the first embodiment except that the structure of the hinge plates has a little difference between them. As shown in Fig.9, the widths of two hinge plates 105 of the ring binder mechanism 100 according to the first embodiment are equal to each other, as shown in Fig.8 and Fig.12.
  • the hinge plates 105 with equal width move in a relatively small range, which limits the opening distance between the free ends of the ring member 103a and 103b.
  • the widths of the two hinge plates 405 are designed such that one hinge plate is wide and the other hinge plate is narrow.
  • the angle range ⁇ A of movement of the narrow hinge plate 405 is lager than the angle range ⁇ B of movement of the wide hinge plate 405.
  • the ring members attached to the narrow hinge plate 405 may open at a larger range with moving of the narrow hinge plate such that the opening distance between the free ends of the ring members becomes larger at the open position for adding or removing easily loose-leaf pages.
  • the long ring member 403a is attached to the narrow hinge plate 405 while the short ring member 403b is attached to the wide hinge plate 405.
  • the housing 401 may have a symmetric shape, or an asymmetric shape as shown in Fig.38.
  • a ring binder mechanism in which the ring members 403a' and 403b' for retaining loose-leaf pages and the ring members 403a" and 403b" for mounting to the hinge plates 405 locate on the same plane and mount to the hinge plates perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the hinge plates also falls within the scope of the invention.
  • Fig.39-45 show the ring binder mechanism 500 according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.
  • Components of the ring binder mechanism 500 of the fifth embodiment corresponding to components of the ring binder mechanism 400 of the fourth embodiment are represented by the same reference numerals, plus "100". The detailed description of the same structures in the fifth embodiment as those in the fourth embodiment will be omitted.
  • the ring binder mechanism 500 according to the fifth embodiment is substantially similar to the ring binder mechanism 400 according to the fourth embodiment except that the ring binder mechanism 500 comprises a spring 539 as shown in Figs.39, 41, 42 and 44.
  • the spring 539 is fitted onto the bottom of two hinge plates 505 for driving the hinge plates 505 to pivot so as to open the ring members 503a and 503b.
  • the spring 539 is made from a metal wire with a circular cross-section, and formed as a polygonal shape with an open end 543 and a closed end 545.
  • the closed end 545 is bent upward at about 90° for fitting into the notches 541 on one of the interconnected hinge plates 505.
  • the open end 543 of the spring 539 comprises two free distal ends which are formed by bending twice respectively, in which the first bending is to bend the metal wire upwards at about 90° and the second bending is to bend the bent distal ends outwards at about 90°.
  • Two free distal ends may be detachably fitted into the notches 541 on the other one of the interconnected hinge plates 505.
  • the main portions 547 in the middle of the spring 539 protrude upwards in a generally arcuate shape. When the spring 539 is fitted into the two hinge plates 505, the main portions 547 in the middle of the spring 539 locate substantially below and against the interconnected hinge plates 505.
  • the spring 539 is relatively slack when the hinge plates 505 are positioned such that the ring member 503a and 503b open.
  • the main portions 547 in the middle of the spring 539 which protrude upwards in a generally arcuate shape abut against the hinge plates 505 such that the angle between the outer surfaces of the hinge plates 505 is less than 180° (i.e., the pivot axis of the hinge plates locates above the coplanar position (180°) of the hinge plates 505).
  • the control lever 529 of the control means of the ring binder mechanism as shown in Fig.43 is rotated down towards the housing such that the acting end of the cam portion 531 of the control means 507 presses down against two hinge plates 505.
  • the pivot axis of the hinge plates 505 moves down away from the flat top portion 509 of the housing and pass through the coplanar position (180°) of the hinge plates 505, such that the ring members 503a and 503b mounted to the hinge plates 505 join together with the pivoting motion of the hinge plates to form a closed loop for retaining loose-leaf pages.
  • the spring 539 is biased properly to flatten the arcuate main portions 547.
  • the control lever 529 of the control means 507 of the ring binder mechanism 500 is rotated upwards away from the housing such that the cam portion 531 of the control means separates from the two hinge plates 505.
  • the biased spring 539 restores to its original shape and drives automatically the hinge plates 505 to pivot upwards through the coplanar position (180°) to open the ring members 503a and 503b.
  • the spring 539 drives the hinge plates 505 to pivot so as to open the ring member 503a and 503b and to keep the opened ring members 503a and 503b at the separated state. Therefore, the spring 539 has the same function as the resilience of the housing.
  • An advantageous effect of the mechanism 500 is that it is possible to decrease or eliminate the resilience of the housing and to apply force to the hinge plates 505 only by the spring 539. This allows the pivoting downwards of the hinge plates 505 and passing through the coplanar position (180°) more easily, thereby facilitating the closing of the ring binder mechanism 500. Furthermore, it is possible to open the ring binder mechanism without any manually operating the ring members.
  • Fig.46-49 show the ring binder mechanism 600 according to a sixth embodiment of the invention.
  • Components of the ring binder mechanism 600 of the sixth embodiment corresponding to components of the ring binder mechanism 400 of the fourth embodiment are represented by the same reference numerals, plus "200". The detailed description of the same structures in the sixth embodiment as those in the fourth embodiment will be omitted.
  • the ring binder mechanism 600 according to the sixth embodiment is substantially similar to the ring binder mechanism 400 according to the fourth embodiment except that the structure of the ring members has a little difference between them. As shown in Fig.
  • the shape and size of the free ends of the ring member 603a and 603b are designed to prevent the control lever 629 of the control means 607 from rotating from one end of the housing 601 to the other end of the housing 601.
  • Fig.50-53 show the ring binder mechanism 700 according to a seventh embodiment of the invention.
  • Components of the ring binder mechanism 700 of the seventh embodiment corresponding to components of the ring binder mechanism 400 of the fourth embodiment are represented by the same reference numerals, plus "300". The detailed description of the same structures in the seventh embodiment as those in the fourth embodiment will be omitted.
  • the ring binder mechanism 700 according to the seventh embodiment is substantially similar to the ring binder mechanism 400 according to the fourth embodiment except that the pad block disposed between two separated cam sheets 733 of the cam portion 731 of the control means 707 and two pins for mounting the pad block are removed from the ring binder mechanism 700 according to the seventh embodiment of the invention, thereby further simplifying the production process and decreasing the production cost as desired.
  • Fig.54-57 show the ring binder mechanism 800 according to an eighth embodiment of the invention.
  • Components of the ring binder mechanism 800 of the eighth embodiment corresponding to components of the ring binder mechanism 400 of the fourth embodiment are represented by the same reference numerals, plus "400". The detailed description of the same structures in the eighth embodiment as those in the fourth embodiment will be omitted.
  • the ring binder mechanism 800 according to the eighth embodiment is substantially similar to the ring binder mechanism 400 according to the fourth embodiment except that the control lever 829 and the cam portion 831 of the control means 807 of the ring binder mechanism 800 according to the eighth embodiment of the invention are formed integrally from plastics by injection molding process, thereby further simplifying the production process and decreasing the production cost as desired.
  • Fig.58-63 show the ring binder mechanism 900 according to a ninth embodiment of the invention.
  • Components of the ring binder mechanism 900 of the ninth embodiment corresponding to components of the ring binder mechanism 400 of the fourth embodiment are represented by the same reference numerals, plus "500". The detailed description of the same structures in the ninth embodiment as those in the fourth embodiment will be omitted.
  • the ring binder mechanism 900 according to the ninth embodiment is substantially similar to the ring binder mechanism 400 according to the fourth embodiment except that the ring members 903a' and 903b' for retaining loose-leaf pages and the ring members 903a" and 903b" for mounting to the hinge plates 905 locate on the same plane and mount to the hinge plates perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the hinge plates 905.
  • no flat extension is formed on the longitudinal edge portions 911 and the longitudinal ends 913 of the housing 901.
  • Two longitudinal edge portions 911 are bent slightly downwards to form the bend under rims 911 a and 911b for receiving the outer longitudinal edges of two corresponding hinge plates 905.
  • Openings 949 are formed on the housing 901 near the two longitudinal ends 913 of the housing.
  • Cutouts 951 are formed correspondingly at the inner longitudinal edges of two interconnected hinge plates 905 respectively. Therefore, the ring binder mechanism 900 may be fixed to the cover of a file or notebook by such fasteners 953 as rivets.
  • Main components of the various embodiments of the ring binder mechanism according to the present invention are made from a suitable rigid material, such as metal (e.g., steel). But the ring binder mechanism made from a non-metal material, specifically including plastics, do not depart from the scope of this invention.

Landscapes

  • Sheet Holders (AREA)
  • Clamps And Clips (AREA)
EP07103932A 2006-03-15 2007-03-12 Mécanisme de reliure à anneaux Withdrawn EP1837199A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CNA2006100591685A CN101037069A (zh) 2006-03-15 2006-03-15 环形夹机构

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1837199A2 true EP1837199A2 (fr) 2007-09-26
EP1837199A3 EP1837199A3 (fr) 2008-08-13

Family

ID=38123950

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP07103932A Withdrawn EP1837199A3 (fr) 2006-03-15 2007-03-12 Mécanisme de reliure à anneaux

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1837199A3 (fr)
JP (1) JP2007245721A (fr)
CN (1) CN101037069A (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2011104305A1 (fr) * 2010-02-26 2011-09-01 Biella-Neher Holding Ag Mécanisme de classeur

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5540372B2 (ja) * 2009-05-29 2014-07-02 コクヨ株式会社 ファイル
JP7062221B2 (ja) * 2017-12-05 2022-05-06 コクヨ株式会社 綴じ具

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE816689C (de) * 1950-06-11 1951-10-11 Ludwig Breitrueck Aufreihvorrichtung fuer Briefordner
FR1313528A (fr) * 1962-02-02 1962-12-28 Leitz Fa Louis Mécanisme de reliure pour classeur de lettres
GB1326393A (en) * 1969-11-18 1973-08-08 Reliure Ind S T D Bindings
DE3133845A1 (de) * 1981-08-27 1983-03-17 Robert Krause Kg, 4992 Espelkamp Ringmechanik
CH675706A5 (en) * 1988-09-16 1990-10-31 Christian Wuethrich Document file sheet locking mechanism - has actuator for both ring stirrups for perforated sheets
US6146042A (en) * 1998-06-17 2000-11-14 World Wide Stationery Mfg. Co., Ltd. Sheet retaining device and method of packaging sheet retaining devices
EP1382464A1 (fr) * 2002-07-16 2004-01-21 World Wide Stationery Manufacturing Company Limited Classeur à anneaux

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE816689C (de) * 1950-06-11 1951-10-11 Ludwig Breitrueck Aufreihvorrichtung fuer Briefordner
FR1313528A (fr) * 1962-02-02 1962-12-28 Leitz Fa Louis Mécanisme de reliure pour classeur de lettres
GB1326393A (en) * 1969-11-18 1973-08-08 Reliure Ind S T D Bindings
DE3133845A1 (de) * 1981-08-27 1983-03-17 Robert Krause Kg, 4992 Espelkamp Ringmechanik
CH675706A5 (en) * 1988-09-16 1990-10-31 Christian Wuethrich Document file sheet locking mechanism - has actuator for both ring stirrups for perforated sheets
US6146042A (en) * 1998-06-17 2000-11-14 World Wide Stationery Mfg. Co., Ltd. Sheet retaining device and method of packaging sheet retaining devices
EP1382464A1 (fr) * 2002-07-16 2004-01-21 World Wide Stationery Manufacturing Company Limited Classeur à anneaux

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2011104305A1 (fr) * 2010-02-26 2011-09-01 Biella-Neher Holding Ag Mécanisme de classeur

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN101037069A (zh) 2007-09-19
JP2007245721A (ja) 2007-09-27
EP1837199A3 (fr) 2008-08-13

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20060008318A1 (en) Ring binder mechanism with reinforced hinge plates
GB2292343A (en) Ring binding tool
EP1795367B1 (fr) Outil de reliure pour documents
US7524127B2 (en) Ring binder mechanism
US20070134054A1 (en) Ring binder mechanism
US9352606B2 (en) Binder with a latterally extendable spine
US20070283542A1 (en) Method of Manufacturing a Ring Mechanism
EP1837199A2 (fr) Mécanisme de reliure à anneaux
US20080008519A1 (en) Ring for Ring Binder Mechanism
EP1834809B1 (fr) Reliure pour document
US6045286A (en) Metal ring binder with auxiliary springs
EP1968796A1 (fr) Mecanisme de reliure a anneaux
EP1960214A2 (fr) Mecanisme de reliure a anneaux
US20070274769A1 (en) Binder For Document
CA2463393C (fr) Mecanisme a anneaux avec extremites epointees
JP2008055909A (ja) リングバインダ機構
US6109813A (en) Ring binder with divided housings
EP2006117A1 (fr) Mécanisme de fichier de reliure à levier
JP4251112B2 (ja) 綴じ具及びファイル
EP2014481B1 (fr) Mécanisme de fichier de reliure à levier
MXPA06002642A (es) Mecanismo de carpeta de anillos.
KR100786676B1 (ko) 서류의 바인더
AU2010282118B2 (en) Paper-retaining mechanism
EP2479039A2 (fr) Mécanisme de rétention de papier
EP1980413A1 (fr) Mécanisme de fichier de reliure à levier

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL BA HR MK YU

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL BA HR MK RS

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: B42F 13/22 20060101ALI20080704BHEP

Ipc: B42F 13/24 20060101AFI20070817BHEP

AKX Designation fees paid
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8566

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20090214