US2498902A - Loose-leaf binder - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 28, 1950 s. SEGAL 2,498,902

' LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Filed Dec. 19, 1945 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 28, 1950 LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Samuel Segal, New York, N. Y'., assignor to Wil-v son-Jones 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 19, 1945, Serial No. 635,967

3 Claims.

otally interlocked therewith. Thus in certain instances the casing at least in part sustains the pivoted. triggers. In other instances the triggers while pivotally associated with the pivoted leaves require certain cooperation with the spring casing to carry throughv a complete operating cycle, namely, automatic opening of the half ring sections if closed and automatic closing of the half ring sections if opened. In certainv other aspects the triggers although interlocked. with the leaves and the spring casing involuntarily and undesirably separate from the binder. By the present invention and the dominant object thereof resides in the provision of an improved loose leaf binder wherein the triggers while pivotally associated with the pivoted leaves in. the spring cas- I ing are independent of any fulcrum cooperation by the latter for their effective operation. The invention has as a further object to provide. an easily operating yet eifective trigger pivetally interlocked solely with the spaced pi voted leaves of the binder and having means to actuate or rock the leaves. through a complete and full cycle of operation, namely, for opening the half rings if closed, and subsequently closing the half rings if open, however carrying through such complete cycle of operation independent of any fulcrum cooperation by spring casing. Another salient object resides in the provision of a. loose leaf binder wherein the triggers thereof. although. pivotally associated with companion-and uXtaposi-' tioned' rockable leaves, nevertheless are prevented from involuntarily disconnecting. therefrom. Other important objects, advantages, and functional and structural features of the invention will appear from the following detailed. specification considered in the light of the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the loose leaf binder showing the closure member partly broken away.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary and enlarged plan View of Fig. 1, however illustrating the closure member removed.

Fig. 3' is an end elevational view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View on the line 4-4 ofFig. 1 illustrating the companion rockable leaves converging downwardly and the half ring sections carried by the leaves closed or interlocked.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating the half ring sections opened and the companion or j-uxtapositi'oned' leaves converging upwardly.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line 6-4; of Fig. 2. v

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 'l--'! of Fig. 2'.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 8-43 of Fig. 2 showing the trigger in a normal position.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, however illustrating the trigger actuated or tilted. for setting the j-uxtapositioned and rockable leaves or half ring section carriers to diverge or open the half ring sections.

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view on the line l.l]l0 of Fi 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the trigger.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective View of one end of the companion and juxtapositioned rockable leaves.

. Fig. 13 is a fragmentary perspective View of the spring casing.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view on the line i l-M of Fig. 2.

Fig. 15 is an inverted, perspective and fragmentary view of one of the triggers, and

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view of one of the rockable leaves.

In accordance. with the invention, the loose leaf binder generally denoted L is characterized by the concave-convex spring casing ill which is preferably of relatively thin sheet metal sustaining the companion and juxtapositioned rockable or pivoted leaves II and 2 to which are appropriately secured the complementary but opposing half ring sections is and. M. The leaves which are of relatively thin and preferably of flat sheet metal may be considered as carrier means for the half ring sections. faces [5 of the leaves II and I2 are disposed in the longitudinal channels [6 defined by the arcll ate bottom wall of the casing and the upwardly but inwardly extending retaining lip-s ll. While the lips I1 retain the leaves H and M in the casing, the outside faces [5 of the leaves it and '2' are pivoted against the walls of the channels it which walls serve as fulcrum or hearing, means.

The outside longitudinal However, the inside longitudinal faces or sides I7 of the leaves II and I2 are contiguously disposed, that is, in side by side relation.

To facilitate proper operative alignment of the juxtapositioned leaves I I and I2 in the casing, positioning pins or spool shaped members I8 are utilized and these have their reduced portions or shanks I9 disposed in aligned notches 20 of the leaves II and I2 and the annular flanges 2I of the pins I8 straddle the companion leaves. By this arrangement, the leaves II and I2 although interlocked with the positioning pins I8 serve to maintain the inner longitudinal faces I! of the leaves I I and I2 in desired cooperative relation to permit these leaves to tiltably operate in unison as required.

For actuating the rockable or pivoted leaves I I and I2 in the matter of automatically opening or closing the complementary and mating half ring sections I3 and I4 simultaneously, a trigger broadly designated T is pivotally carried at the corresponding ends of the tiltable leaves II and I2. Specifically each trigger is desirably interlocked with corresponding ends of the rockable leaves and each comprises a crank shaped member or lever having a lower transversely curved arm or base broadly denoted 22 integrally merged with the upstanding or substantially vertical arm 23 provided with a finger receiving opening 24.

Extending upwardl or bent from the lower arm 22 and spaced from the manipulating vertical arm 23 of each trigger are the transversely disposed but spaced primary lugs 24 each having a laterally extending or overhanging lip or shoulder 25 spaced from arm 22 and defining therewith the spaced gaps 26 for receiving the terminal ears generally denoted 2'I of the leaves II and I2 to permit these ears to be seated against the ends of the base 22 or shoulders 28 when the trigger is assembled with the leaves. In such assembled relation the spaced primary lugs 24 are loosely arranged although movably guided in the spaced gaps 29 defined by the lobes 38 of the ears 2'! and the end faces 3I of the leaves, thus interlocking with the leaves I I and I2 since webs 32 of the ears 2! are disposed in the gaps 26 and are interlocked between the overhanging lips 25 and the shoulders 28.

For actuating the leaves I and II for either separating or closing of the half ring sections, each trigger also embodies a secondary and upstanding substantially T-shaped lug 33 which is integral with an extension 34 projecting from the lower arm 22 and which has the overhanging lips 35 defining with extension 33, spaced gaps 3G for receiving and loosely interlocking with the spaced portions 37 of the leaves adjacent the aligned notches 33 thereof. The reduced shank 39 of the T-shaped lug 33 is movably disposed although interlocked with the walls of the aligned slots 38, the arrangement being such that shoulders or lips 35 and shoulders 34 of the extension 34 straddle portions 31 of the leaves while shank 39 of the T-shaped lug 33 is tiltably disposed in the aligned slots 38.

To preclude crawling of the leaves II and I2 relative to the casing and longitudinally thereof projections 43 are squeezed out of the outer marginal portions of the leaves and these projections are rotatably or pivotally confined between the spaced Walls of the openings Or notches 4| interrupting the lips I1 which are straddled by the arcuate closure 42 and more particularly by the depending and arcuate lips 43 closely and resiliently embracing the lips ll of the casing. The

arcuate closure 42 includes aligned notches 44 for conveniently receiving the half ring sections. Normally the manipulator arms 23 of the triggers are substantially vertical when the half ring sections I3 and I4 carried by the leaves H and I2 are closed. In the closed relation of the half ring sections, leaves Ii and I2 converge downwardly (Fig. 4) To open the half ring sections an outwardly directed thrust is applied to either both or one of the triggers T and more particularly to the upstanding arms 23 thereof. By such action the arms 23 move outwardly, shoulders 34' of the lug 34 are tilted to abut the spaced portions Bl of the leaves II and I2, the spaced and overhanging lips or shoulders 35 of the T-shaped or secondary lug 33 move away from the spaced portion 3'! of the leaves, but the overhanging lips or shoulders 25 of the primary lugs 24 are tilted against the spaced webs or bearings 32 of the terminal 01 bent hooks 21. Webs 32 therefore constitute fulcrum means for spaced lips 25 for the trigger when the latter is actuated or tilted to open the half rings. But such opening is effected by reason of the spaced shoulders 34 abutting against the leaves II and I2, thus tiltably raising the adjacent inner margins thereof and consequently pivoting their outer margins against the inner surfaces of the casing I0 and specifically against the wall of the channels I6. Thus leaves II and I2 have been shifted to assume their tilted position indicated in Fig. 5 and therefore the half ring sections are Widely separated and the spring tension by the casing ID on the pivoted leaves hold the latter against accidental displacement when the half ring sections are fully opened or closed.

If the half ring sections are open the triggers T are now in a tilted position relative to leaves II and I2 (Fig. 9) and upon the application of an inwardly directed thrust or arms 23 or on one of them, lips 35 of the secondary lug 33 about the upper surfaces of the leaves II and I2 while the shoulders 28 of the arcuate base 22 tiltably or pivotally bear against the lower surfaces of the webs 32 which serve as fulcrum means. Consequently spaced lips 35 retract the inner margins of the leaves II and I2, that is, drive or shift the latter to pivot downwardly towards their normal position (Figs. 4 and 6) for returning the half ring sections to their closed position.

By the arrangement herein disclosed, the pivoted triggers T are sustained solely by the juxtapositioned and pivoted leaves I! and I2 and consequently require no independent fulcrum or bearing means of the casing in the matter of effectively carrying through a complete cycle of operation, namely, to efiect opening of the half rings when they are closed and to effect closing of the half rings when they are open. In either case and at all times the arms 23 characterize positive closure means for the ends of the casing Ill. It follows that in the matter of effecting a complete operating cycle rectilinear faces of the spaced lips 25 and the spaced shoulders 28 alternately pivoted against the leaves II and I2 while spaced lips 35 and the spaced shoulders 34' alternately actuate leaves or carriers means II and I2.

The webs 32 may be said to be along the outer margins of the leaves while spaced portions 31 adjacent the openings 38 may be said to be along the inner longitudinal margins of the leaves H and I2 which as previously stated are alternately driven by the spaced lower shoulders 34' of the extension 34 and by the upper shoulders or lips 35 of the T-shaped lug 33. While the corner portions or shoulders 28 of the base and the lips 25 of the spaced lugs 24 may bear alternately against the outer margins of the leaves I I and i2 when the trigger is tilted, the lugs 24 and the T-shaped lug 33 are loosely disposed in the openings or notches 29 and openings 38 to permit their tilting. However these lugs namely, 24 and 33 are substantially parallel and approximately normal to the base or arm 22 and in fact are also interlocked by the spaced portions of the leaves such as by lobes 21 and the ends 21 of the leaves and by the latter and portions 38 adjacent the openings 38. Hence the leaves may be said to straddle or interlock with th primary and secondary lugs 24 and 39, thus precluding their accidental removal longitudinally of the leaves.

Various changes may be made in details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages inherent therein.

I claim:

1. In a loose leaf binder wherein tiltable and juxtapositioned leaves are pivotally interposed and retained between spaced and longitudinally disposed sides of an arcuate spring casing and wherein said leaves carry complementary half ring sections, means to prevent displacement of said leaves relative to each other and to said casing, said leaves having ends provided with terminal ears each having a lobe and a web portion, said leaves including aligned openings adjacent said ends, a trigger sustained solely by said leaves and including a base having spaced primary lugs movably interposed between said ends and lobes and defining with said base vertically spaced shoulders movably straddling and interlocking with said webs and having an extension including a secondary lug movably disposed and guided in said aligned openings and defining with said extension vertically spaced actuating portions movably straddling but interlocking with inner marginal portions of said leaves adjacent said openings, and said trigger having an arm projecting above said casing, said arm being spaced longitudinally from said primary lugs and adapted to be manually urged away from or towards said casin whereby said spaced shoulders alternately pivot against said webs and whereby said spaced actuating portions alternately abut said inner marginal portion for pivotally displacing said leaves relative to said casing for opening or closing said complementary half ring sections.

2. In a loose leaf binder wherein tiltable and juxtapositioned leaves are pivotally interposed and retained between spaced and longitudinally disposed sides of an arcuate spring casing and wherein said leaves carry complementary half ring sections, means to prevent displacement of said leaves relative to each other and to said casing, said leaves having ends provided with terminal ears each having a lobe and a web portion, said leaves including aligned openings adjacent said ends, a trigger having a base, spaced primary lugs integral with said base and movably interposed between said ends and lobes and characterizing with said base spaced shoulders movably straddling but interlocking with said webs, an extension integral with said base, a secondary lug projecting from said extension and movably disposed and guided in said aligned openings, lip means projecting from said secondary lug and delining with said extension spaced actuating portions movably straddling but interlocking with inner marginal portions of said leaves adjacent said openings, and an arm integral with said base and projecting above said casing, said arm being spaced longitudinally from said primary lugs and adapted to be manually urged away from or towards said casing whereby said spaced shoulders alternately pivot against said webs and whereby said spaced actuating portions alternately abut said inner marginal portions for pivotally displacing said leaves relative to said casing for opening or closing said complementary half ring sections.

3. In a loose leaf binder wherein tiltable and juxtapositioned leaves are pivotally interposed and retained between spaced and longitudinally disposed sides of an arcuate spring casing and whereinsaid leaves carry complementary half ring sections, a tiltable trigger disposed at one end of said casing for tiltably and simultaneously displacing said leaves relative to said casing comprising a base disposed underneath said leaves, spaced primary lugs carried by said base and having overhanging lips defining with said base spaced gaps for movably receiving outer marginal portions of said leaves, an extension projecting from said base, a secondary lug projecting from said extension and having spaced overhanging shoulders spaced from said extension and defining therewith spaced gaps for movably receiving adjacent inner marginal portions of said leaves, said trigger having an arm integral with said base and projecting above said casing, said arm being spaced longitudinally from said primary lugs and adapted to be manually urged outwardly whereby said lips are tilted against said outer marginal portions and said extension abuts said inner marginal portions for tiltably displacing said leaves for separating said complementary half ring sections, and said leaves having spaced portions straddling said lugs for interlocking therewith and for movably guiding the latter relative to said leaves.

SAMUEL SEGAL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date ,124 Dawson June 15, 1926 1,927,113 Dawson Sept. 19, 1933 2,056,812 Unger Oct. 6, 1936

Images