US2832348A - Loose leaf binder - Google Patents

Description

April 29, 1958 R. G. DEMAREST, JR 2,832,343

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed March a, 1951 a Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. I Ru s5 51.1. G. DEMHPESfiJ/i'.

A ril 29, 1958 R. e. DEMAREST, JR 2,832,343

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed March 8, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. RUSSELL (i DEM/QRESEJE fl TTORNE Y April 29, 1958 R. a. DEMAREST. JR 2,832,348

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed March a, 1957' s Sheets-Sheet 5 Hv M;

INVENTORQ RUSSELL 6. flEM/mkesgh United LOOSE LEAF BINDER Russell G. Demarest, Jr., Glen Rock, N. J.

Application March 8, 1957, Serial No. 644,791

7 Claims. (Cl. 129--8) This invention relates to loose leaf binders and is directed particularly to a loose leaf binder that is capable of conveniently holding papers having a wide variety of shapes and sizes.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a loose leaf binder of the above nature in which the cover members cooperate, when the binder is closed, to form a rigid boxdike container for the papers enclosed.

It is another object of my invention to provide a loose leaf binder of the character described wherein the papers are held by means of a single elongated post hole, rather than a plurality of spaced binder ring holes.

It is another object to provide a loose leaf binder of the character described which includes a fiat rectangulur central side member and flat front and back cover members hinged to the longitudinal edges of said side member and movable from positions in a common plane with said side member to spaced parallel positions perpendicular to said side member, outer edges of said cover members being provided with right an ular wall sections adapted to interfit for forming a complete enclosure about papers held in the binder.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a loose leaf binder of the character described wherein the papers are held by a post and link ring structure extending through a single elongated hole in the papers, said link ring structure extending from a point on the central side member to a point on the back cover member, whereby the papers when spread at each side of loose leaf binder in open condition will be with their adjacent longitudinal edges in substantialy abutting engagement.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a loose leaf binder structure of the above nature, selfcontained means for perforating papers with holes of proper size and shape and located at the proper position for binding.

A further object is to provide a loose leaf binder of the above nature which will be simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, compact, and very eiiicient and durable in use.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating one form in which the invention may conveniently be embodied in practice.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a top view of a loose leaf binder according to the invention shown in closed condition,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the loose-leaf binder shown in Fig. 1, taken along the line 2-Z2 thereof in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 3 is a side elevations view similar to Fig. 2 but taken along the line of Fig. l in the direction of the arrows,

d-d of Fig. l in the direction of the arrows,

Patented Apr. 29, 1953 once Fig. 5 is a top view of the loose leaf binder shown in open condition,

Pig. 6 is a side elevational view of the .loose leaf binder shown in Fig. 5 taken along the line 66 thereof in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 77 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 8 is a view, on an enlarged scale, and with por- J tions of the binder covers broken away, illustrating in front elevation the post and link structure for holding the loose leaf papers in the binder,

Fig. 9 is a vertical crosssectional view taken along the line 9-2? of Fig. 8 in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 16 is a horizontal cross'sectional view taken along the line 1ti-lll of Fig. 8 in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 11 is a plan view of one of the links comprising the link structure for holding the loose leaf papers,

Fig. 12 is a front elevational view thereof,

Fig. 13 is an exploded end view of a series of links illustrating their interfitting relationship,

Fig. 14 is a partial inside view of the front cover member of the loose leaf binder, illustrating the use of the device for perforating papers to fit on the post and link structure, and

Fig. 15 is an elevational view on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 15-l5 of Fig. 14 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the loose leaf binder embodying the invention comprises a fiat rectangular central side member lit, preferably of a light weight metal such as aluminum, to the longitudinal edges of which are hinged, as by piano hinges 11 and 12, a pair of front and back cover members 13 and M, respectively, also of metal.

The front cover member 13 is provided with an upstanding rectangular top horizontal side member 15 and an upstanding rectangular vertical side member 16 of equal height (see Figs. 5 and 6). The lower horizontal edge of the front cover member 13 has hinged to it as by a piano hinge 17 a rectangular bottom horizontal side member 18 which can be folded flat against the upper surface of said front cover member as illustrated in Fig. 5

when the binder is in use, and which can be positioned at right angles to said front cover member in abutting relation to an inwardly projecting portion 19 of the vertical side member 16 when the binder is to be closed, as is hereinbelow more fully described.

The back cover member 14, which is slightly less in height and slightly greater in width than the front cover member 13, is provided with an upstanding .top horizontal side member 29 of a height somewhat less than the height of the side members and 16 forming part of the front cover member 13. The outer vertical edge of the back cover member 14 is integrally formed with an upstanding short flange 21, the upper end of which is spaced from the outer end of the side member 20 (see Figs. 5 and 6). Thus, when the binder is closed as illustrated in Figs. 1-4, the sidemember 15 of the front cover member 13 will overlap above the top side member 20 of the back cover member 14, and the side member 16 of said front cover member will fit in front of the flange 21 of said back cover member, whereby a rigid boxlike enclosure is provided for the contained papers.

The post and link structure for the loose leaf binding of papers within the binder comprises a pair of spaced hollow posts 22; 23 secured in upright position against the insides of the central side member 10 and the back cover member 14, respectively in horizontally aligned disposition (see Figs. 5, 6, and 10). The posts 22 and 23 are elongated in cross-sectional shape, and have spaced asaaaae parallel sides 24, formed with semi-cylindrical end portions 26 of greater diameter than the spacing between said sides (see Figs. 9, 10).

An articulated link structure 27 adapted to releaseably interconnect the posts 22, 23 is provided, said link structure comprising a first link structure portion 28 associated with the post 22 and a second link structure portion 29 associated with the post 23 (see Figs. 7 and 8).

The link structure portions 28 and 29 are comprised of individual links 30 (see Figs. ll, 12, and 13), preferably formed of cast metal. Each link 3% comprises an elongated central portion 31, slightly arcuate in the transverse direction and rounded at its forward side, wherein there is provided an opening 32. Each end of the link 30 is formed with an integral cylindrical member 33 of greater diameter than the thickness of the central portion 31, and arcuate to the same degree and in the same direction as said central portion. The cylindrical mem bers extend beyond the rear of the central portion 31 and are formed with curvatures 34 thereat. openings 35 are provided in the rearWardly-extending portions of the cylindrical members 33. The front portions of the cylindrical members 33 are curved as indicated at 36 to complement the curvature 34 at the rear of the next following link when assembled by means of pins 37 as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8.

The articulated link structure portions 28 and 2) are constrained to axial movement Within their respective post 22 and post 23 by means of a cross pin 37a extending through the lowermost one of their links 3% and guided in vertical slots 38 in the sides of said posts (see Figs. 9 and 10).

The link structure portion 28 terminates at its outer end in a half-link 38:; provided with three plugs 3% adapted to fit into and be frictionally held within complementary socket holes 41'; provided in a half-link at the outer end of the link structure portion 29.

The link structure portion 29 is short enough so that when disconnected from the link structure portion it can be dropped completely into its post 23 when the binder is to be closed, as illustrated by the withdrawn position of said link structure portion in Fig. 7. In order that the link structure portion may readily be pulled outwardly of its post 23, said post at each side of its upper end is provided with an arcuate cut-out 42 (see Figs. 9

and 10). The spacing between the posts 22 and 23 and the lengths of the link structure portions 28 and 29 are such that when the binder is in open condition, as illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, and 8, it will be possible to plug said link structure portions together for enabling paper to be passed from one post side to another as desired only when they are in their uppermost positions with respect to their individual posts, and in this position the front and back curved portions 36 and 34 of adjacent link members 39 will lock at their lowermost ends to provide a substantially rigid structure.

The posts 22 and 23 are so spaced and positioned that paper sheets P lying at each side of the binder will have their inner vertical edges in abutting disposition, so that substantially a continuous paper surface is presented for convenience in using two sheets for a single drawing, for example.

Self-contained means is provided for forming the elongated rectangular post openings 43 in the paper P to be bound (see Figs. 5, 10) said means comprising a scoring member 44 having outwardly-struck linear edges 44 in the form of a rectangle, said scoring member being afiixed against the inner surface of the front cover member 13 near the upper left-hand corner (see Figs. 5, 14, and 15). A rectangular scoring tool 46 is also provided, said tool normally being held by a spring clip 47 secured against the outside of the side wall 16. In use a sheet of paper P to be perforated for binding is pushed into the upper left-hand corner of the front cover member 13 in abut- Aligned vertical 4 ment with the side walls 15 and 16 (see Fig. 14) and the tool 46 is then run up and down the paper at the zone above the scoring member 44, as illustrated in Fig. 15. This will produce a scored rectangle on the paper which can readily be pushed out to leave the desired opening for binding. It will be noted that the scoring member 44 is so positioned on the front cover member 13 that the opening 43 in the paper formed as described above will be in position for proper spacing in the binder. Since the paper openings 43 are rectangular their edges will contact the posts 22 and 23 only at three points at each.

of the cylindrical end portions 26 thereof, whereby minimum friction results to ensure ease in passing the paper from one post to the other over the link structure 27.

' The link structure 27, being substantially of the same I described, the outwardly-extending end of the link structure portion 23 will overlie the top of the post 23 and fall loosely at rest against the top of whatever papers are contained in the loose leaf binder (see Fig. 7). In closed condition, the link structure potrion 2% is so close to the upper end of the post 23 as to prevent accidental falling off of papers bound thereon.

Though only one form in which the invention may be embodied in practice is described in this specification, it is to be understood that this form is given by way of illustration only, and that the invention is not limited to the particular disclosure, but may be modified and embodied in various other equivalent forms without departing from its spirit. In short, the invention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which it is desired to obtain Letters Patent is:

l. In a loose leaf binder, the combination comprising, a backing member having a pair of spaced longitudinal edges, a front cover member hinged to one of said spaced longitudinal edges, a back cover member hinged to the other of said spaced longitudinal edges, side wall means on said front and back cover members operative to interfit to form a box like enclosure when said front and back cover members are swung into spaced parallel alignment with each other, and releasable means interconnecting said backing member and one of said cover members for binding loose leaf paper wherein said releasable binding means comprises a first upright hollow post secured to said backing member, a second upright hollow post secured to said back cover member, and link means interconnecting said hollow posts, wherein said link means comprises a first articulated link structure constrained at one end to axial movement Within said first post, and a second articulated link structure constrained at one end to axial movement within said second posts and interconnectable plug and socket at the other ends of said first and second link structures.

2. In a loose leaf hinder, the combination comprising, a backing member having a pair of spaced longitudinal edges, a front cover member hinged to one of said spaced longitudinal edges, back cover member hinged to the other of said spaced longitudinal edges, side Wall means on said front and ba k cover members operative to interfit to form a iBC'X-llrifi enclosure when said front and back cover members are swung into spaced parallel alignment with each other, and releasable means interconnecting said backing member and one of said cover members for binding loose leaf paper wherein said releasable binding means comprises a first upright hollow post secured to said backing member, a second upright hollow post secured to said back cover member, and link means interconnecting said hollow posts, wherein said link means comprises a first articulated link structure constrained at one end to axial movement within said first post, and a second articulated link structure constrained at one end to axial movement within said second posts and interconnectable plug and socket means at the other ends of said first and second link structures, wherein one of said articulated link structures is short enough to be completely contained by its constraining post.

3. In a loose leaf binder, the combination comprising, a backing member having a pair of spaced longitudinal edges, a front cover member hinged to one of said spaced longitudinal edges, a back cover member hinged to the other of said spaced longitudinal edges, side wall means on said front and back cover members operative to interfit to form a box-like enclosure when said front and back cover members are swung into spaced parallel alignment with each other, and releasable means interconnecting said backing member and one of said cover members for binding loose leaf paper wherein said releasable binding means comprises a first upright hollow post secured to said backing member, a second upright hollow post secured to said back cover member, and link means interconnecting said hollow posts, wherein said. link means comprises a first articulated link structure constrained at one end to axial movement within said first post, and a second articulated link structure constrained at one end to axial movement within said second posts and interconnectable plug and socket means at the other ends of said first and second link structures, wherein the articulated link structure constained by the post extending from said back cover member is short enough to be completely contained therein and short enough to allow over passage of the articulated link structure extending from the remaining post when said cover members are swung into spaced parallel alignment for closing the binder.

4. In a loose leaf binder, the combination comprising, a backing member having a pair of spaced longitudinal edges, a front cover member hinged to one of said spaced longitudinal edges, 21 back cover member hinged to the other of said spaced longitudinal edges, side wall means on said front and back cover members operative to interfit to form a box-like enclosure when said front and back cover members are swung into spaced parallel alignment with each other, and releasable means interconnecting said backing member and one of said cover members for binding loose leaf paper, wherein said releasable binding means comprises a first upright hollow post secured to said backing member, a second upright hollow post secured to said back cover member, and link means interconnecting said hollow posts, said hollow posts are of a cross-sectional shape having spaced parallel sides and circular ends of greater diameter than the spacing between said sides.

5. In a loose leaf binder, the combination comprising, a backing member having a pair of spaced longitudinal edges, a front cover member hinged to one of said spaced longitudinal edges, 21 back cover member hinged to the other of said spaced longitudinal edges, side wall means on said front and back cover members operative to interfit to form a box-like enclosure when said front and back cover members are swung into spaced parallel alignment with each other, and releasable means interconnecting said backing member and one of said cover members for binding loose leaf paper wherein said releasable binding means comprises a first upright hollow post secured to said backing member, a second upright hollow post secured to said back cover member, and link means interconnecting said hollow posts, wherein said link means comprises a first articulated link structure constrained at one end to axial movement within said first post, and a second articulated link structure constrained at one end to axial movement within said second posts and interconnectable plug and socket means at the other ends of said first and second link structures, said link structures are constrained at one end thereof to their respective posts by means of pins at the extremities of said one ends guided in longitudinal slots in said posts.

6. In a loose leaf binder, the combination comprising, a rectangular backing member, a front cover member hinged at one edge to one longitudinal edge of said rectangular backing member, a back cover member hinged at one edge to the opposite longitudinal edge of said rectangular backing member, side walls on said front and back cover members operative to interfit to form a boxlike enclosure when said front and back cover members are swung into spaced parallel alignment with each other, a first hollow post secured in upright position on the inside of said backing member, a second hollow post secured in upright position on the inside of said back cover member and in horizontal alignment with said first post and disconnectable articulated link mechanism interconnecting said hollow posts for securing loose leaf paper, wherein said hollow posts and said link mechanism are of a crosssectional shape having spaced parallel sides and circular ends of greater diameter than the spacing between said sides.

7. In a loose leaf hinder, the combination comprising, a rectangular backing member, a front cover member hinged at one edge to one longitudinal edge of said rectangular backing member, a back cover member hinged at one edge to the opposite longitudinal edge of said rectangular backing member, side walls on said front and back cover members operative to interfit to form a boxlike enclosure when said front and back cover members are swung into spaced parallel alignment with each other, a first hollow post secured in upright position on the inside of said backing member, a second hollow post secured in upright position on the inside of said back cover member and in horizontal alignment with said first post and disconnectable articulated link mechanism interconnecting said hollow posts for securing loose leaf paper, wherein said link mechanism comprises a first articulated link structure connected at one end for sliding axial movement within said first post, and a second articulated link structure connected at one end for sliding axial move ment within said second post, and plug and socket means at the other ends of said link structures.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 660,811 Dunning Oct. 30, 1900 1,426,657 Long Aug. 22, 1922 FOREIGN PATENTS 330,804 Germany Jan. 13, 1921 212,832 Great Britain Mar. 20, 1924

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