US3018780A - Loose-leaf binder - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 30, 1962 s. R. GREENBLATT ETAL 3,

LOOSELEAF BINDER Filed May 15, 1961 United States Patent 3,l3,780 Patented Jan. 30, 1962 3,018,780 LOOSE-LEAF BINDER Sidney R. Greenblatt and Richard A. Guthman, Jr., At-

lanta, Ga., assignors to Montag, Inc., Atlanta, Ga., a corporation of Ohio Filed May 15, 1961, Ser. No. 110,088 3 Claims. (Cl. 129-23) This invention is directed to a novel binder which may be used to hold loose-leaf filler sheets in assembled superposed relationship during use. In particular, the invention is concerned with a binder wherein a writing instrument, either pencil, pen or other means, may be carried in the binder without danger of loss and wherein the closure means for locking the loose-leaf sheets in the binder also serves the function of retaining the particular writing instrument, whatever it may be, emplaced within the binder. By so combining the function of the filler lock or holder with this additional function, the binder which results is economical to manufacture, attractive in appearance and has particular utility where, due to the circumstances of use, it is most essential that a writing instrument be associated with it.

Having thus described the invention in general terms, consideration willnow be given to the attached drawing in describing the novel structure in detail.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a clipboard type of binder incorporating the novel structure.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1 and somewhat enlarged.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2 and somewhat reduced in size to correspond to FIG. 1.

The structure, as will be apparent in the drawings, has been illustrated as incorporated in a binder of the clip board type, so-called because the blank filler sheets rest on a rigid base such that the entire assembly can be used as a portable desk enabling the user to write thereon at any location. It is to be understood, however, that the invention may also be incorporated in binders or clipboards of any type, particular reference being made to that device shown in co-pending application Serial No. 92,583 filed March 1, 1961 by Robert Ensign et al.

The filler paper F is usually in the form of a pack of unconnected sheets, superposed one over the other and having at least a pair of holes drilled adjacent one edge, in this case, the top edge of the sheets.

Filler sheets F, then, rest on a base 1 formed of a rigid material, preferably a plastic. The base 1 is provided along two sides with small vertical shoulders 3 and 5 which gradually increase in height toward the top of the base, finally terminating in a pair of upstanding ears 7 and 9, adjacent to, and perpendicular with respect to the top edge of the base 1. Obviously, since the side edges of base 1 are parallel, the shoulders 3 and 5 and ears 7 and 9 are also parallel.

The ear 7 is provided a pair of apertures 11 and 12. The ear 9 is provided with but one aperture 12 which is equal in size and in co-aXial relation with respect to the aperture 12 in ear 7, such that these apertures serve as journals as will become apparent.

The aperture 11 is disposed below aperture 12 in ear 7, and is large enough to permit passage of normal writing instruments such as pencils, ball point pens and the like therethrough. This aperture is in communication with a tapered, elongated well or recess formed in the base 1 parallel to and adjacent the top edge of the base. It will be noted particularly in FIGS. 1 and 3,

that the well tapers in size such that its narrower portion conforms to the size of aperture 11 while the larger portion is of a size such as to be able to accommodate more than one such instrument.

The elongated well 13'is bounded at the upper mar' ginal edge of base 1 by a vertical wall 15 formed, as is well 13 integrally with the base. Wall 15, however, is somewhat reduced in thickness such as to be laterally yieldable. In other words, wall 15 may be flexed slightly from a true vertical position and will, because of the limited resilience of the material from which it is formed, have a pronounced tendency to spring back to a vertical position.

Asmay be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the base 1 is also provided with a pair of upstanding pins 17 and 19. These pins are arranged in spaced vertically co-planar relation on base 1 and are adapted to be engaged by the mentioned drilled holes in the filler F in a conventional manner.

Disposed over pins 17 and 19 and the elongated well 13, is a cover 21 also preferably moulded from a suitable plastic material. The cover 21 is journaled in apertures 12, 12. by trunnions 23, 25 formed integrally therewith, and isessentially of plate-like configuration such that it will completely overlie an area bounded by ears 7 and 9, wall 15 and extending a short distance beyond pins 17 and 19 over the upper edges of filler papers F. The under-surface of cover 21 rests against the tops of pins 17 and 19, and, if desired, may be provided with shallow dimples (not identified) adapted to coincide with the tops of the pins to assure locking of the filler paper F securely on these pins.

Since the cover 21 is pivotally mounted in cars 7 and 9, it is obvious it may be lifted or swung away from pins 17 and 19, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2, such that filler paper F may be removed or replenished at will.

Projecting downwardly from and formed integrally with cover 21 is a depending tab 30. This tab, as may be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, is configured such that it will completely cover or block aperture 11 when cover mem ber 21 is in closed position. Thus tab 30 is formed on cover 21 such that it will rest closely adjacent the upstanding ear 7 and serve to close the aperture 11 to prevent dislodgement of any writing instrument which may be inserted in the Well 13. It will also be noted that the wall 15, well 13, the top edge of filler F, along with cover 21, defines a compartment serving to house one or more writing instruments, and that, absent the aperture 11, it would be impossible without removing at least the greater majority of filler F to gain access to the instrument or instruments positioned in well 13. It will also be noted that the tapered shape of channel 13 assures that any such instrument will be accurately guided to aperture 11 when the binder or clipboard is tilted slightly to the right, as viewed in FIG. 1 and the cover 21 is raised enough for tab 30 to open aperture 11.

As has been mentioned the vertical wall 15 is resilient. This wall rests against the upper-rear most edge of the cover 21 and braces this member to a closed position against pins 17 and 19. In addition the cover is shaped, as seen in FIG. 2, in cross-section such that the mentioned edge is in effect an over-center cam such that when cover 21 is pivoted to an open position it will also be held in this position by the resilience of wall 15.

It is quite apparent that the structure described may readily be incorporated into any one of a variety of types of loose-leaf binders, clip-boards, and the like, particularly the structure disclosed in the aforesaid Ensign et al. application, therefore, the invention is limited only as is defined in the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In a binder structure for loose-leaf sheets having at least a pair of openings therein disposed adjacent a marginal edge, a base underlying said sheets, a pair of sheet engaging pins on said base for receiving the opening in said sheets, said pins being spaced from a marginal edge of said base, a cover means for holding the sheets on said pins, said cover means comprising a platelike member pivotally mounted on said base and being swingable from a position overlying said pins to a position spaced away from said pins, 21 pair of vertical ears on said base disposed adjacent said first mentioned marginal edge, normal thereto and in parallel spaced relation, a vertical wall defining said first mentional marginal edge and defining with said ears and the marginal edges of the sheets and said cover, a closed receptacle, an aperture in one of said ears, an elongated well disposed adjacent the vertical wall defining the edge of said base, said well tapering toward said aperture, and means No references cited.

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