US1885461A - Loose leaf binder - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 1, 1932. J. L. M MiLLAN LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Sept. 23. 1929 HTTDRIYEYS Patented Nov. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN L. MCMILLAN, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO M PANY, or SYRACUSE, NEW QEK, A C O AT 0 pMILLAN BOOK M- NEW YORK LOOSE LEAF BINDER Application filed September 23, 1929. Serial No. 394,529.

This invention relates to a new and improved loose leaf binder.

My invention is particularly well adapted for use with that type of loose leaf binder in which the opposed sets of prongs or rings are carried on opposed housings which are hingedly connected together so that the opposite sets of prongs may be moved towards and from each other to permit the shifting or changing of the loose leaves carried in the binder.

In this type of binders, covers are provided and thes covers are hingedly connected to the housings so that the book may be opened and closed irrespective of whether or not the housings are moved about their hinge.

In all of the binders of this type known to the art, it has been necessary to grasp the housings themselves when it is desired to move them about their hinge for the purpose of moving the opposed sets of prongs towards or from each other.

With a book of any considerable size, it is diflicult to manipulate the housings by grasping the housings themselves particularly when it is desired to move the prongs from the open to the closed position.

The main object of my invention is to provide a loose leaf binder of the type described which is so constructed that the prongs may be returned from the open to the closed position by the simple expedient of closing the covers without the necessity of grasping the housings themselves.

Other objects and advantages relate tothe size, shape and relation of parts all as will more fully appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is an end elevation of my improved binder with the prongs in the open position.

Figure ,2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 3 with parts broken away to show detailed structure. 7 v

Figure 3 a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Although my invention is adapted to be used with various types of binders which have rear housings hingedly connected together I have, for the purpose of explaining my invention, here shown a type of binder comprising a rear housing 1 and an opposed rear housing 2 approximately rectangular in crosssection and having their inner longitudinal lower edges connected by a piano hingeB.

On the upper outer longitudinal edge oi housing 1 I provide a cover 4 connected to housing 1 by a piano hinge 5. I also pro? vide on the upper outer longitudinal edge of housing 2 a cover 6 connected to housing 2 by a piano hinge 7.

Although I have here shown on housing 1 a single prong 8, it will be understood that a plurality of such prongs 8 are provided on housing 1 in spaced relation.

I also provide on housing 2 a plurality of prongs 9 in spaced relation and in staggered relation to prongs 8 although I have here shown only one of such prongs 9.

The top and inner side of housing l is formed from a metal strip 10, the lower end of which carries ears forming part of piano hinge 3. The upper and outer end 11 of strip 10 extends vertically and outwardly beyond the outer ends of prongs 8, end 11 being'pro-v vided with apertures through which prongs 8 extend. These prongs 8 and 9 comprise separate sets at opposite sides of the binder and extend downwardly through openings in the respective strips 10' and 13 and suitable sleeves 25 aflixed to the inner face of the outside longitudinal side of corresponding housings 1 and 2. The lower ends of prongs: 9 extend inwardly towards the inner side of the housing 2 and'have their inner ends welded or otherwise secured to the bottom wall of the housing 2 to maintain said prongs in fixed relation. The lower ends of prongs 8 extend inwardly toward the inner side of the housing 1 and have their inner ends bent upwardly and extending through suitable apertures in a slidable bar 26 movable longitudinally of the binder for swinging each prong 8 to cause simultaneous longitudinal movement of the upper ends of the prongs of this set relative .to the prongs of the other set;

The outer edge of the portion 11 is disposed in a horizontal plane slightly above the plane in which the piano hinge 5 is disposed and approximately in the same vertical plane.

Referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that with this arrangement of parts, cover 4 may be moved downwardly without interference but it can be moved upwardly about the hinge 5 only to the point where the hinge member 12 carried by it, contacts with the portion 11 and it then cannot be moved any further in that direction.

A similar arrangement of parts is provided for housing 2 in which the strip 13.

forming the top and inner side of housing 2 carries on its lower edge ears for hinge 3 and has an upwardly and outwardly extending portion 14 through which prongs 9 6X- tend and which'has its upper edge disposed in a horizontal plane slightly above piano hinge 7 and in approximately the same vertical plane.

Cover 6, with this arrangement of parts, may be moved downwardly without interruption but it may be moved upwardly above hinge 7 only to the point where the hinge member 15 carried by it, contacts with the portion 14.

Although not essential, I prefer to provide in housing 1, a plurality, although only one is here shown, of braces 16 to insure that the strip 10 will be at all times held rigidly in position.

I also prefer to provide in housing 2, similar braces 17 for the purpose of securing strip 13 rigidly in position.

-Braces 16 are secured to the bottom of housing 1 as by welding and are secured to strip 10 as by screws 18.

Braces 17 are secured to the bottom of housing 2 as by Welding and to strip 13 as by screws 19.

For the purpose of holding housings 1 and 2 in any desired relative position, I provide a latch 20.

WVhen the binder is in the open position, as shown in Figure 1, the covers 4 and 6 will normally be in the position in which they are shown by dotted lines. When it is then desired to close the binder, covers 4 and 6 will be raised about their hinges 5 and 7 to the point where the hinge member 12 on cover 4 will contact with the portion 11 and the hinge member 15 on cover 6 will contact with the portion 14. The covers will then be in the position shown in heavy, lines on Figure 1. If the covers 4 and 6 are then moved upwardly, cover 4 will carry with it housing 1 and cover 6 will carry with it housing 2 to cause housings 1 and 2 to be moved about theirhinge 3 towards each other and into the closed position.

I have just described the closing operation as being accomplished by the upward movement of both covers 4 and 6, but it will be apparent'that such closing movement may be accomplished by the upward movement of only a single cover as, for example, cover 4 inasmuch as housing 2 will be held against movement due to the fact that portion 14 will come into contact with hinge member 15 on cover 6 and cover 6 will be held against movement due to the fact that it is in position on the desk or other support on which the binder rests.

The great advantage of my invention resides in the fact that it is much simpler, easier and quicker to close a book of this type by the manipulation of the covers themselves than it is to manipulate the rear housings and then when they have been closed manipulate the covers themselves. That is to say, the closing of the book is accomplished in one operation as against the two which are necessary with any other binders of this type known to the art.

It will be understood that my invention is adapted to be used with any type of binder which has hinged rear housings and it will also be understood that the size, shape and relative position of the stop portions 11 and 14 may be varied as desired provided only that they are so positioned as to limit the movement of covers 4 and 6 about their hinges 5 and 7 It will also be understood that although I have here described portions 11 and 14 as extending the length of housings 1 and 2, yet the same result may be accomplished by providing spaced stops of varying number, for although I have shown and described a specific structure and form of part as an exemplification of an embodiment of my invention, I do not desire to restrict myself to the exact size, shape or relationof parts as various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a loose leaf binder, opposed housings hingedly connected together, a plurality of prongs carried on each housing, a cover hinged to the outer longitudinal edge of each housing, each of said housings including a plate having a longitudinally extending fiat portion and an upwardly and outwardly extending edge portion, said edge portion having apertures to permit the passage therethrough of the prongs carried'on the housing, and said edge portion extending outwardly into approximately the plane of the outer side of the housing and above the hinge of the covercarried on the housing.

2. In a loose leaf binder, opposed housings hingedly connected together, a plurality of prongs carried on each housing, a cover hinged to the outer longitudinal edge of each housing, each of said housings including an upwardly and outwardly extending plate, the upper edge portion of said plate having apertures to permit the passage'therethrough of the prongs carried on the housing and said JOHN L. MCMILLAN.

Images