US2862504A - Loose leaf binders - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 2, 1958 k H. E. HUT ZELMAN 2,362,504

' LOOSE LEAF BINDERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 11, 1954 INVENTOR. Howard E fluke/mar? ATTORNEY Dec. 2, 1958 H. E. HUTZELMAN 2,862,504

LOOSE LEAF BINDERS 5 sheets-sheets Filed Feb. 11, 1954 ATTORNEY United States Patent 6 LOOSE LEAF BINDERS.

Application February 11, 1954, Serial No. 409,740

.7 Claims. c1. 1z9 1 -This invention relates to a device for use as a binder for looseleafmaterial and more particularly to a device that i'sof the nature of an open top receptacle. its present form, the invention provides support and anchorage for loose sheets or cards and enables access to such sheets or cards as readily and as visibly as the pages of a fullyopen book.

Many kinds of binders have heretofore been utilized for securing loose sheets in a compact manner. Some of these are merely intended for protective storage and are not of the class to which the invention is directed. The others are intended to secure a quantity of loose sheets in such manner as to enable reference access thereto. Loosfi heets, such as data sheets, forms, ledgers, manuals, etc., are provided with punched holes through which rings project, the rings being generally anchored at the connection of the binder covers. These rings are made to open centrally to enable withdrawal and replacement of the sheets. Ledger type binders, as distinguished from the ring type, employ pins or posts carried by a rigid back, the pins being separable to enable sheet removal and replacement. 1

The most apparent objection to many of the current binders or holders for loose leaf material lies in the fact that they are not designed to enable sectional or unital removal and replacement. By way of example, let it be assumed thata large volume of sheet material is contained between two covers. It frequently becomes necessary to remove many sheets in order that those it is desired to remove will be removable at the fixed place of separation of the rings, as in the snap ring binder. Also, with ledgers it is necessary to remove a cover, and possibly certain sections of the inter-fitted pins, to enable removal of'desired intermediate sheets. While this objection may seem of little consequence in binders having relatively few sheets, it is of great concern with respect to large binders and particularly those necessitating frequent change, revision, and replacement of forms, data, etc. It has developed in the past that many sheets have become damaged, torn, lost, or, at best, misplaced, in a binder wherein access to sheet removal is possible at only one place.

The invention is therefore directed to and has for one of its objects the provision of a supporting binder for loose leaf material that is of such construction as to give full viewability to both faces of each and every sheet by enabling turning the sheet through substantially 180.

Another and very important object of the invention lies in the provision of a supporting binder that permits separation of the sheet holding rods at any desired place in order that one or more given sheets may be removed without displacing the other sheets held in the binder.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a binder that will accommodate a large volume of sheet material without in any way restricting convenience of access and viewability, or selective removal and replacement.

Other objects and advantages of the inven'tionwill be we Y C more fully understood from a consideration of the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; in which- 7 Fig.1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the invention and shows the anchoring rods in position to enable removal or insertion of loose leaf sheets;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, with the rods in position to prevent displacement of the sheets;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the device;

Fig. 4 is a right end view of the device showing the crank by means of which the separation point of the rods may be adjusted with respect to the loose leaf material anchored thereby;

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a View looking down into the device, the top plates being broken away for this purpose, and is taken substantially as suggested by the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing details of the crank mechanism for shifting the position of separation of the sheet carrying rods;

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of the device, the rod separating lever being shown in the opposite position from that of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the rod supporting frame to have been moved by means of operation .of theframe adjusting crank;

I Fig. '10 shows the rod supporting frame as viewed substantially on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view showing the rack and pinion structure by which the frame is extendable to separate the leaf holding rods; and

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary detail in solid and dotted line, showing the means for holding the rod operating leverin either of two positions.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral'10 is employed to generally designate a receptacle-like binder for loose leaf material. For a clearer understanding of the invention, the binder may be said to be of box-like structure having a central depressed base'11'ai1d end platforms 12 and 13. For convenience in use, the platforms 12 and 13 are inclined downwardly toward the front 14 of the device. Centrally of the length'of the front 14 in slot 15. The inner vertical edges 16 of the platforms constitute upstanding sides to the base 11 and'cooperate to provide an area in which the anchored edges of the sheets are located. To facilitate furtherdescription, the device is defined as having a rear wall 17 and end Walls 18. The box-like structure is hollow and contains certain of the operative structure of the device. 7

Referring more particularly to Fig. 6 of the drawings, wherein the base 11 and top walls 12 and 13 are broken away, it will be noted that the device is provided with a pair of'substantially identical U'shaped members 19 and 20 which together form a rectangular frame 21. These membersinclude ends 22 and side flanges 23.' The side flanges 23 of member 19 are overlapped by the the corresponding side flanges of member 20 and these members are held together by means of pins 24 that project through corresponding slots 26 in the members. The purpose of this pin and slot structure is to enable relative endwise movement of 'the members to permit endwise expansion or contraction of the frame 21. Each of the flanges 23, substantially centrally of its position of overlap with the corresponding flange, is formed with a lengthwise notch 27 (see Fig. 11) the notch of one flange opening upwardly and the notch of the other flangeopening downwardly. The base walls of thesenotches are in the form of opposed racks, having'teeth 28 and 29. The arrange me nt of these racks is such that suflicient space 'therebetween enables inserting an elongated pinion 31.

This pinion extends entirely'throu'ghthe space within the frame and terminates at the front of the frame in a shaft 32 that inturn projects through the slot 15 in the 'front' wall "14, beingfitted with a lever '33. The rear eiidof the pinion 31fixedly mounts a disk3'4 (see Fig. 12). At one point in the circumference of this-disk is an ear 36, to which one endof a'link37 is pivotally pinned. The other end of this link is engaged by one end of a spring 38. As may be seen in'Figs. 6 and 9, the other end of this spring is engaged with a bracket 41, carried by a'side'fiange of the member20. 'Again referring to Fig. 12, and comparing the full and dotted line positions shown therein,'it-wil1 beseen that by rotatingthe pinion 180, by meansof the lever 33,'the disk and-"spring act to yieldingly holdthe pinion-in either of two rotated positions.

A set of loose leaf mounting rods 42 are secured at their-corresponding ends to the end 22 of member 19. The other ends of these rods are apertured, substantially as suggested at 43 in Fig. 11. Another-set of rods 44 are carried by the end 22 ofmember 2tl-and the inner ends of these rods are provided with pins 46 which are intended to project into the openings 43 of the previously described rods under certain conditions 'of operation. The

inner portions of the sets'of-rodsproject through openings in the vertical walls or edges 16 of the platforms andarethus supported for endWise movement as 'the frame 21 may be expanded or contracted.

Beneath the platform 13 is located structure by means of which theentire frame 21 may be moved in the direction of its length. This structure consists of a shaft 47, one end of which projectsthrough the end wall 18 and is fitted with a crank 48. A considerableportion of the shaft is threaded, as at 49. This portion projects through a 'threadedopening in the end 22 of member 20. The shaft is prevented 'endwise'movement by reason of its interfitting with a securing plate 51 in the wall 18 (see Fig. 7). Rotation ofthecrank 48, in one direction or the other, causes the threaded portion'49 toefltect endwise travel of the frame 21.

For a clearer understanding of the many advantages of the structure above described, a brief statement of the operation thereof is set out. It will of course be understood that the rods 42 and'44 are spaced apart a distance equivalent to the spacing of the holes punched in sheets or cards, such as indicated at' 52 in Fig. 1. To mount the sheets-on the device, the lever 33 is rotated from the position of Fig. 3 to that'of Fig. 8. This 180 rotation of thelever causes the pinion to move member '19 in an endwise outward direction and the-other member 20, in the opposite direction. This of course separates rods 42 and 44 at their meeting points, leaving a space therebetween to enable inserting the sheets. Again referring to Fig. 1, it may be assumed that a large quantity of sheets or cards have been placed on the rods 42 to such an extent that the sheets substantially'fill the exposed-portion ofthe rods. To enable mounting additional'sheets, the operator merely flips the lever 33 to a position to bring the pin ends into contact with each other, thus preventing displacement ofthe sheets, and then rotates the crank 48 in a direction to move the entire frame-lets say, toward therplatform '13. The lever '33-may now be rotated to expand the frame 21 and separate the pins 'andadditional sheets may now be "mounted on the pins 42. In this manner, the'entire base 11 maybe filled with loose leaf material.

'Shouldfthe material carried by the device, as is often the case, include'data, price, or other sheets that are constantly subject to change, it will be evident that removal and replacement of anygiven sheet or group of sheets may be easily made without the necessity of re moving an additionalwquantity of sheets. For example, shouldit be desired to 'remove one or more sheets at one end of the-entire mass of materiaL-it is merely necessaryto turn the crank in a direction to move the separation points of the rods toward one or the other of the platforms 12and '13. 'When thishasbee'n done,th'e' lever 33 may be rotated to separate the pins and the desired sheet or sheets removed.

The platforms 12 and 13 are arranged and inclined to render the device most accessible for use. It may be assumed that the platforms 12 and 13 are the equivalent of the covers of a book or binder-when in open position and thus the loose leaf sheets will readily lie on either or both ofthese platforms in the manner of'thepages of fully open'book. This, of course, enables full'visibility of all printed matter or otheritems-thatmay appear on one face or the other of the mounted sheets, and by means ofthe downward incline of the platforms, the sheets are further conveniently viewable.

it is pointed out that the number of rods 42 and 44 shown may be varied in accordance with the use to which the device may be put. Small size loose leaf materialmay need the support of only three rods, whereas large size data, ledger, and other sheets may requirethe support of four or more rods. The invention is 'primarily'idirected, therefore, to the provision of a device which, while mounting a large quantity'of loose'leaf material, still enables selective insertion and removal of any part of such rnaterial'without in any way sacrificing theviewability of both sides ofeach sheet'comprising the material.

Although'applicant has shownand described only one formof the invention, it'will be'apparent; as suggested above iii-connection with the number of mounting rods,

that the device may be'modified'inother respects to accommodate it to varioususes and that-suchmodification is contemplated as being within the spirit and scopeof the-invention insofaras set outin the annexed claims.

Having thus-set forth my-invention, what "I claim-as new and for which I desireprotection by Letters Patentis:

l. A binder-for mounting a plurality of loose sheets-or leaves that have a series of holes in their common marginal edges, said binder comprising a-base, a central-areaof said base serving to receive said sheet edges, sets of rods in said base, the rods of each set in part overlying said central area and being of equal number and arrangement and adapted to projectthrough the marginal holes insa'id sheets, a movable part'frame member supporting each set of rods, sides on each member overlappingto provide a frame,means for securing the framemembers in either of two selective relative positions with corresponding ends or" the rods of each set inspaced or abutting relation, a shaft having threaded engagement with one end of-said frame, a crank 0n: the other end of saidshaft'ithat projects through one end'of said base, said shaft being-rotatable to move said frame in a directionto locate thecorresponding rod ends at anypointithrougho'ut thewidth-nof said central area.

2. A binder for mountinga plurality .ofloose'sheets or leaves that are provided with a series ofmarginalholes, said binder comprising a base, a recessed area-centrally of said base for receiving corresponding marginal edges of said "sheets, the end portions of said base providing platform-like areas upon which the free portions ofsaid sheets may rest, an identical set of rods mounted in-each of said end portions, the rods of-each set being of like number'and arrangement to project through said holes to anchor said sheets, a movable part frame member supporting each set of rods,- a shaft mounted pinion, gear in .saidbase, one end of the shaft extending'beyond the front of said base and having a lever by which to rotate said gear,-a rack on each member, theracks being inopposed relation and engaged-with saidgear and enabling simultaneous movement of said members in opposite dis rections by manipulation -of said lever to effect engagement or disengagement of the endsof the rods of one set with those of the-other set, a shaft havingthreadedengagement with one of the frame memb'ers,and means for rotating said shaft located exteriorly of an end of said base, said shaft, when rotated, causing the members and pinion to move as one in thedirectionofthe length of said rods whereby to locate the engaged ends of the rods at any desired point throughout the width of said recessed area.

3. A binder for mounting a plurality of loose sheets or leaves that have a series of holes in their common marginal edges, said binder comprising a base having end portions provided with opposing walls defining between them a central area for receiving said sheet edges, a set of rods mounted within each end portion of said base, the rods of each set projecting through the adjacent one of said walls and in part overlying said central area and being movable with respect to said base to cause the adjacent ends of each set to abut to form continuous rods extending the full width of said central area, means connected with and operable to simultaneously move the sets of rods into and out of abutting relation to enable engagement or disengagement with the holes in said sheets, and further means connected with and operable to adjust said rods to locate said ends, when in abutment, at any desired point throughout the width of said central area.

4. A binder for mounting a plurality of loose sheets or leaves that have a series of holes in their common marginal edges, said binder comprising a base having end portions provided with opposing walls defining between them a central area for receiving the edges of said sheets, a set of substantially identical rods in each end portion projecting through the adjacent one of said walls and in part overlying said central area and having ends abutting to form continuous rods extending the full width of said central area, means in said base mounting each set of rods for movement with respect to said central area, a manually operable member engaged with the means of each set for'moving the sets into and out of abutting relation to enable their engagement or disengagement with the holes in said sheets, and further means in said base connected with said rod mounting means and operable to move all of said rods in a common direction whereby to locate the ends thereof at any desired point throughout the width of said central area.

5. A binder for mounting a plurality of loose sheets or leaves that are provided with a series of marginal holes, said binder comprising a base having end portions provided with opposing walls defining between them a recessed area centrally of said base for receiving corresponding marginal edges of said sheets, rods movably mounted in said end portions, said rods projecting through said opposing walls into said area and including interfittable ends which render them continuous between said opposing walls and across said area when interfitted, means connected with and operable to simultaneously move the rods in the end portions to separate their ends, and further means connected with all of said rods operable to move them to locate said ends, when interfitted at any desired point within the limits of said recessed area.

'6. A binder for mounting a plurality of loose sheets or leaves that are provided with a series of like marginal holes, said binder comprising a base having end portions provided with opposing walls defining between them a central depressed area for receiving the marginal edges of said sheets that are provided with said series of holes, said end portions providing platform-like areas upon which the free portions of said sheets may rest, an identical set of rods movably mounted in each of said end portions, the rods of each set being of like number and arrangement projecting through the adjacent one of said walls and through said holes to anchor said sheets, means connected with each set of rods for moving the adjacent ends of corresponding rods into and out of abutment with each other, and further means in said base connected with each set of rods and operable to simultaneously move all of said rods in the direction of their length to locate said ends, when in abutment, at any desired point between the end portions of said base.

7. A binder for mounting a plurality of loose sheets or leaves that have a series of holes in their common marginal edges, said binder comprising a base having end portions provided with opposing walls defining between them a central area for receiving said sheet edges, a set of rods mounted in each end portion of said base and projecting through the adjacent one of said walls and extending over said central area, the rods of each set being identical in number and relationship and adapted to project through said holes and secure the sheet edges within said central area when the corresponding ends thereof abut, movable frame-like members within said base supporting said sets of rods, means engaged with and manually operable to move said members in a direction to selectively eflect abutment or separation of the sets of rods, and further means connected with and operable to simultaneously move said members as one and in a common direction whereby to locate the point of abutment of said rods at any place within the limits of the width of said central area.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 977,682 Seivert Dec. 6, 1910 1,628,159 Lacey May 10, 1927 2,017,742 Weatherly Oct. 15, 1935 2,519,192 Lincke Aug. 15, 1950

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