US3756626A

US3756626A - Looseleaf binder

Info

Publication number: US3756626A
Application number: US00166697A
Authority: US
Inventors: C Anderson
Original assignee: DONKER PRODUCTS Inc
Current assignee: DONKER PRODUCTS Inc
Priority date: 1971-07-28
Filing date: 1971-07-28
Publication date: 1973-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 1990-09-04

Abstract

A rod type periodical binder having rod holding brackets formed of plastic. The rods are held in spaced elongated slots at least two of which are formed in each bracket. Struts are formed between the slots to strengthen the brackets.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Anderson 1 Sept. 4, 1973 [54] LOOSELEAF BINDER 1,818,302 8/1931 Cardoza 281/47 [75] Inventor: Carl D. Anderson, Northfield, lll. [73] Assignee: Donker Products, Inc., Chicago, Ill. Primary Exami"e' Rbert Peshock Attorney-Howard T. Markey, Alfred H. Plyer, Jr. [22] Wed: July 1971 and Edward M. Keating et al.

Appl. N0.: 166,697

'IIIIILIIIIIIIII.

[57] ABSTRACT A rod type periodical binder having rod holding brackets formed of plastic. The rods are held in spaced elongated slots at least two of which are formed in each bracket. Struts are formed between the slots to strengthen the brackets.

4 Claims, 4Drawing Figures LOOSELEAF BINDER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to a rod type periodical binder and more particularly with a binder having rods holding brackets formed of plastic.

An object of this invention is a rod type periodical binder having rod holding brackets which may be inexpensively formed of plastic yet which will be sturdy enough to securely hold the periodical binding rods in position.

Another object is a rod type periodical binder having rod holding brackets which do not have to be manufactured or assembled to close tolerances.

Another object is a rod type periodical binder which permits the use of shorter binding rods.

Other objects may be found in the following specification, claims and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rod type periodical binder embodying the novel features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged top plan view of a portion of the binder back and a rod holding bracket;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the binder showing the bracket of FIG. 2 with several periodicals held in place; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a binder ll embodying the novel features of this invention. The binder includes a pair of

covers

13 and 15 formed integrally with a back 17. The periodicals 19 or other paged materials such as magazines, catalogs and the like are held between the covers by rods 21 in the manner shown in FIG. 3. The rods are held in the binder by brackets 23.

The brackets 23 of this invention are molded or otherwise formed from a suitable plastic such as natural polypropylene. Each bracket includes a flat base portion 29 and an upstanding elongated portion 31 which is arcuate in cross-section. A pair of

elongated slots

35 and 37 of generally rectangular cross-section are formed in the upstanding arcuate portion of each bracket adjacent to the flat base portion 29. The slots are separated by a strut or stanchion 39 formed integrally with upstanding arcuate and flat base portions of the bracket. The lower edge-41 of each slot is flush with the top surface 43 of the flat base portion. The brackets are fastened to the back 17 of the binder adjacent the opposite ends thereof by means of rivets 47 which pass through openings (not shown) which may be molded or otherwise formed in the back 17 and flat base portion 29 of the brackets.

When a bracket 23 is attached to the back 17 in the manner-shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the upstanding elongated portion 31 of the bracket cooperates with the back 17 to form an upstanding housing to receive the ends of the rods 21 when the rods are inserted through the

elongated slots

35 and 37 of the brackets.

The use, operation and function of this invention are as follows:

This invention permits the use of low cost plastic brackets 23 in a rod type periodical binder rather than the previously used metal brackets. The provision of at least two elongated

rod receiving slots

35,37 in each bracket rather than one permits the use of shorter rods. It also permits a reduction in the depth of the housing 31 which receives the rods since the shorter slots require less overhang of the rods. The minimum length of rod which will not accidentally disengage from the.

housing especially when the rods are not holding periodicals 19 is determined by the distance between one corner of a slot and the diagonally opposite corner of its matching slot in the other bracket. Since the slots of this invention are shorter, the rods may be shorter and will require a shorter depth of housing.

The use of more than one elongated slot in each bracket allows the installation of a strut 39 to add additional strength to the bracket. Although two

elongated slots

35 and 37 have been shown in the bracket, it should be understood that a greater number may be provided depending on the width of the back 17 and length of the bracket 23. The height of the

slots

35, 37 is greater than the diameter of the rods 21 in order to permit movement of the rods away from the top surface 43 of the flat base portion 29 of the bracket to accommodate periodicals of various thicknesses.

Whereas, the preferred form of the invention has been described and shown, it should be understood that there are modifications, alterations and changes which may be made without departing from the teachings of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be only limited by the claims attached hereto.

I claim:

1. A rod-type periodical binder having a pair of covers joined to a back, a pair of rod-holding brackets, each formed of plastic with a bracket positioned adjacent each end of the back, each bracket having a flat base portion terminating in an inner free edge and an arcuate upstanding portion formed integrally therewith and extending arcuately up and over from the outer edge thereof, said flat base portion over-lying the back and being fastened thereto, said upstanding portion cooperating with said back to form an elongated housing open at each end, at least two laterally elongated slots formed in the inner portion of said upstanding portion and extending along the length thereof in an end-to-end relationship with the slots of one bracket opening towards and generally aligned with the corresponding slots of the other bracket, a strut formed in each of the upstanding portions between the slots, and a plurality of metal rod each having the opposite ends thereof extending through the aligned slot of the upstanding portions and terminating in the elongated housings thereof.

2. The periodical binder of claim 1 further characterized in that the bottom edge of each slot of the upstanding portions of each bracket is level with the upper surface of said flat base portion.

3. The periodical binder of claim 1 further characterized in that the width of each slot is substantially greater than the diameter of one of said metal rods.

4. A rod-holding bracket formed of plastic to be positioned and secured adjacent the inner end of the back of a periodical binder, the bracket having a generally flat base portion terminating in an inner free edge and an arcuate upstanding portion formed integrally with the outer free edge and extending arcuately beyond the portion and extending along the length thereof in an end-to-end relationship, and a strut formed in the upstanding portion between the slots.

Claims

4. A rod-holding bracket formed of plastic to be positioned and secured adjacent the inner end of the back of a periodical binder, the bracket having a generally flat base portion terminating in an inner free edge and an arcuate upstanding portion formed integrally with the outer free edge and extending arcuately beyond the outer free edge, the inner area of the upstanding portion being otherwise open so as to cooperate with the back of a binder to form an elongated housing, at least two laterally elongated slots formed in said upstanding portion and extending along the length thereof in an end-to-end relationship, and a strut formed in the upstanding portion between the slots.