Abstract:
A lever-arch type file mechanism is disclosed as including a base, two rings secured to and extending upwardly from the base for engaging holes in pieces of paper, each ring including a post fixed to the base and an arch movable relative to the post, and a lever assembly operable to move the arches relative to the posts between a ring-closed configuration in which the rings are closed and a ring-open configuration in which the rings are open, and a lever of the lever assembly is pivotable downwardly from a first position (J) to a second position (K) to move the rings from the ring-closed configuration to the ring-open configuration, and subsequently pivotable downwardly from the second position to a third position (L) to move the rings from the ring-open configuration to the ring-closed configuration. The lever is also pivotable upwardly to move the rings from the ring-closed configuration to the ring-open configuration. The lever is pivotable downwardly to effect a pulling force on a first point on a link to move the link to rotate in a first direction, and the lever is pivotable upwardly to effect a pushing force on a second point on the link to move the link to rotate in the same first direction. The link is releasably engageable with another link which is carried by the lever.
Abstract:
A ring binder mechanism for retaining loose-leaf pages has a housing, hinge plates, and ring members mounted on the hinge plates for retaining pages on the mechanism. The housing includes a plastic upper housing element and a lower housing element underlying the upper housing element. The lower housing element may be a single piece or multiple pieces. An actuating lever may be pivotally mounted on the housing for engaging the hinge plates and pivoting them to selectively move the ring members between an open position and a closed position.
Abstract:
Ring binder mechanism with special pronged fasteners secured thereto for fastening it to a binder, the special fastener per se, and a method of making the fasteners involving sheet metal stamping.
Abstract:
A ring binder adapted to be secured to an article by at least one integral rivet, the ring binder comprising a substantially rigid integral upper plate supporting a pair of pivotable lower plates to which a plurality of ring members are mounted, the rivet comprising (1) a barrel that is in direct engagement with the upper plate and (2) a plurality of claws for securing the article, wherein at least 75% of said claws extend away from a longitudinal axis of the barrel. Also disclosed is a rivet adapted to secure a ring binder to an article, the rivet comprising (1) a barrel for engaging the ring binder and (2) a plurality of claws for securing the article, wherein at least a majority of the claws generally extend away from a longitudinal axis of the barrel.
Abstract:
A ring binder is disclosed as including a curved upper plate supporting a pair of pivotable hinged leaves to which a number of half-rings are attached, and two pivotable actuating levers for moving the pair of hinged leaves between a first position in which the half-rings are closed and a second position in which the half-rings are open, in which the actuating lever.includes an aperture, and a cushion engaged with each actuating lever, in which the cushion has a first body part and a second body part, in which part of the first body part extends through the aperture of the actuating lever to engage with the second body part.
Abstract:
A ring binder includes a substantially rigid curved upper plate supporting a pair of hinged leaves. A plurality of ring members are secured to the hinged leaves for engaging corresponding holes in sheets of material retained by the ring binder. An actuating lever is located at each end of the curved upper plate for actuating the hinged leaves to open and close the ring members. Each actuating lever includes a tab having a pair of spaced-apart apertures therein. A cushion member is located on the tab, which includes an inner cushion part and an outer cushion part which are interconnected by a pair of connecting parts which extend through the spaced-apart apertures in the tab to securely attach the cushion member to the tab. The cushion member is engaged by the fingers of a user to pivot the actuating lever in order to move the ring members between the open position and the closed position. The cushion member is a soft pad of resilient material such as rubber or soft plastic. The cushion member provides improved tactile characteristics to the actuating lever, making the actuating lever comfortable to use. The cushion member also minimizes the feedback of undesirable shock forces produced by the snap action of the rings when opening and closing the rings.
Abstract:
A binder assembly includes a sheet retaining device having a plurality of rings for engaging corresponding holes in sheets of material retained by the sheet retaining device. The sheet retaining device is attached to a cover member by a fastener having a portion which is insertable into apertures in the sheet retaining device and securable thereto by pressing. The fastener includes a rectangular base having deformable claws which become embedded in the cover member when installed to securely hold the sheet retaining device to the cover member. The embedded claws are concealed from an outer surface of the cover member, thereby improving the exterior appearance of the binder assembly.
Abstract:
A fastener apparatus for releasably fastening a sheet retaining apparatus to a cover member includes a plate member secured to the cover member and having an aperture therein. A pin member is reciprocally mounted to the sheet retaining apparatus, with a portion of the pin member being selectively positionable in the aperture to secure the sheet retaining apparatus to the cover member. Thus, the sheet retaining apparatus is readily assemblable and disassemblable from the cover member repeatedly by a user. Thus, the sheet retaining apparatus and the cover member may be shipped in an unassembled condition in a very compact package for later assembly by the consumer.