US3734634A - Loose leaf binder - Google Patents

Abstract

A looseleaf binder having front and rear covers slidably connected so that the covers may undergo limited movement relative to each other to facilitate access to the sheets confined therebetween without releasing said sheets, said covers having angular overlapping back members carrying mounting means for said sheets, and confining means comprising a channel at least at one end of one of the back members, means on one of said members slidable in the channel, a flexible detachable or hinged latch securing said back members to each other without interfering with relative movement of said covers; and means preventing endwise displacement of the slidable means from the channel.

Description

[76] Inventor:

States atent 91 Unite Fenston [54] LOOSE LEAF BINDER William M. Fenston, 936 Fairview St., Shreveport, La. 71 104 [22] Filed: June 5, 1970 [2i] Appl. No.: 43,909

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 747,765, July 12,

1968, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. ..402/56, 402/74, 402/47,

[51] Int. Cl. ..B42f 3/00 [58] Field of Search ..402/56, 54

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 758,292 4/1904 Ayres ..402/56 2,472,969 6/1949 Guinane ..402/54 X Primary ExaminerJerome Schnall Attorney-Schley and Schley [57] ABSTRACT A looseleaf binder having front and rear covers slidably connected so that the covers may undergo limited movement relative to each other to facilitate access to the sheets confined therebetween without releasing said sheets, said covers having angular overlapping back members carrying mounting means for said sheets, and confining means comprising a channel at least at one end of one of the back members, means on one of said members slidable in the channel, a flexible detachable or hinged latch securing said back members to each other without interfering with relative movement of said covers; and means preventing endwise displacement of the slidable means from the channel.

4 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENIEU 3.734.684

sum 1 BF 2 mvmox 4 William M. Fension BY fl k A'ITORNEYS PATEmww-xzzlm INVENTOR WILLIAM M. FENSTQN ATTORNEY LOOSE LEAF BINDER This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 747,765, filed July I2, 1968, now abandoned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a novel loose leaf binder having posts extending between its front and rear covers and means loosely connecting the covers to permit limited relative movement of said covers whereby the sheets confined on the posts may be separated and/or spread apart to a greater extent. Overlapping back members, hinged to the covers, are detachably and slidably connected to each other by one or more angular latches to prevent accidental separation of the back members without interfacing with limited relative movement thereof, the latches being hinged or otherwise removably fastened thereto for slidably confining an extension on each of the other back members. A preferred embodiment of the latch having an elongate flange, a flange of relatively short length projecting transversely from one end of the elongate flange and a keeper on the shorter flange in overlying spaced relation to said elongate flange for securing the latch in closed position by engaging beneath the back member upon which said latch is mounted.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of said invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a portion of a loose leaf binder constructed in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is a broken, plan view of the back portion of the binder in an expanded position,

FIG. 3 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2',

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the latch for detachably connecting the overlapping back members of the binder,

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of a preferred embodiment of the invention in unlocked inoperative position,

FIG. 7 is a view, similar to FIG. 6, showing the preferred binder in locked operative position with its covers detachably connected,

FIG. 8 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view showing the coaction of one of the latches with the back members of the binder covers,

FIG. 9 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view showing this binder in expanded position, and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view ofa portion of the latch.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT In the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a loose leaf binder having front and rear covers 2 and 3 of the type which includes main plates or sections 4 and 5 and relatively narrow or oblong plates or sections 6 and 7 having their inner or upper longitudinal margins hinged to the inner margins of the main sections at 8 and 9. The opposite margins of the plates 6 and 7 are connected in right angular relationship to the inner margins or oblong back members of flaps l0 and 11 which are adapted to overlap and form a back for the binder 1.

The front plate 6 is of slightly greater width than the rear plate 7 to compensate for this overlapping relationship and permit the back flap 10 to be disposed externally of the back flap 11 as shown most clearly in FIGS. 3 and.4 It is noted that each of the covers 2 and 3, including its hinges, are of one-piece construction and are adapted to be formed of plastic or other suitable material capable of being deformed and/or molded to the desired configuration.

Two or more spaced pins or fingers l2 and 13 project laterally inward from the inner or upper longitudinal marginal portions of the plates 6 and 7 for overlapping engagement. The front pins 12 have flattened undersides 14 and the rear pins 13 have flattened topsides 15 whereby said pins are semicylindrical and coact to provide cylindrical posts for confining leaves, pages or sheets, shown in broken lines 16 in FIGS. 24, between the front and rear covers of the binder. These pins may be formed of any suitable material, such as metal or plastic.

Substantially coextensive, transverse channels 17 and 18 are formed integrally on the ends of the back flap 10 of the front cover 2 and are approximately semicircular in cross-section (FIG. 3) with their flat outer portions or top flanges 19 and 20 directed inwardly in overlying, parallel spaced relation to the inner face of said back flap. For accommodating a coacting latch or fastening element 21, the entire upper channel 17 is disposed outwardly of the upper end of the front cover and has its flat inner portion or bottom flange 22 projecting from the back flap as a planar extension thereof. Also, the upper channel is of a length less than the width of the back flap l0 and has its front end 23 spaced from the front plate 6, while the length of the lower channel 19 may be approximately equal to said flap width and the latter channel may project only a slight distance beyond the lower end of said flap.

A rectangular planar extension 24, in the form of a rectangular ear or lug, projects from the upper end of the back flap 11 at its outer longitudinal margin for slidable engagement in the channel 17 when the lower end of said flap is engaged to the channel 18 as shown in FIG. 2. Due to the telescoping connection, the front and rear covers 2 and 3 are moveable toward and away from each other to vary the spacing therebetween and facilitate access to the pages or sheets 16. As shown in FIG. 4, the space between the expanded covers may be sufficient to permit a page or sheet to lay approximately flat.

The latch or fastening element 21 is in the form of a clip (FIG. 5) which is semicylindrical and has a flat upper portion or top flange 25 and a flat lower portion or bottom flange 26 connected by an arcuate web 27 so as to be complementary to the channel 17 and its flanges l9 and 22. As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the latch is adapted to be frictionally engaged over the channel to prevent accidental separation of the front and back covers of the binder 1 and has an end flange or wall 28 upstanding from its bottom flange 26 for engaging the front end 23 of said channel. A similar flange or wall 29 upstands from the opposite end of the bottom flange from its upper margin in spaced parallel relation to said bottom flange as well as the top flange 25. If desired, the end flanges 28 and 29 may be integral with the arcuate web 27 as well as the bottom flange 26 of the latch.

A coextensive, semicylindrical head or lip 31 may be formed on the underside of the outer longitudinal margin of the top flange f the latch 21 for engaging over the outer margin of the top flange 19 of the channel 17. Manifestly, any suitable flexible material, such as plastic or metal, may be utilized in forming the latch so long as its top flange will flex inwardly and outwardly upon engagement and disengagement of said latch with the channel. It is readily apparent that the end flanges of the latch 21 prevent endwise displacement thereof from the channel 17 and that said flanges coact with the extension 24 of the back flap 11 to prevent separation of the front and back covers 2 and 3 and their respective back flaps without interfering with limited sliding movement of said flaps relative to each other. Also, the lug 30 of the end flange 29 provides a positive catch for preventing displacement of the extension 24 from the channel.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 6.l0, the most desirable loose leaf binder construction, is shown at 40 and includes front and rear covers 41 and 42, main plates or sections 43 and 44 and relatively narrow oblong plates or sections 46 and 47, respectively, having their inner or upper longitudinal margins hinged at 48 and 49 to the inner margins of the main sections. The opposite margins of the plates 46 and 47 are connected in right-angular relationship to the inner margins of a pair of overlapping oblong back members or flaps 50 and 51, and one of the plates, such as the plate 46, is of slightly greater width than the other plate 47 to compensate for this overlapping relationship and permit the back flap 50 to be disposed externally of the back flap 51 which may be of the same or different width. Each of the covers 41 and 42, including its hinges 48 and 49, may be of one-piece construction and are adapted to be formed of plastic or other suitable material capable of being deformed andlor molded to the desired configuration.

Two or more spaced pins or fingers 52 and 53 project laterally inward from the inner or upper longitudinal portions of the front and rear plates and for overlapping engagement. If desired, the undersides of the pins 52 and the topsides of the pins 53 may be flattened whereby saId pins are semicylindrical and coact to provide cylindrical posts for confining leaves, pages or sheets between the front and rear covers of the binder 40. Also, one or more coacting spaced ribs and grooves 54 and 55 may extend transversely of the back flaps to reinforce and guide the relative movement thereof. For detachably connecting the overlapping flaps 50 and 51 of the front and rear covers 42 and 43, an angular substantially coextensive latch or fastener 56 extends transversely of and is hinged or otherwise pivotally attached, as shown at 57, at least to one end of one of said back flaps or at both ends thereof. The latch or fastener 56 may be in the nature of a clip having flat flanges 58 and 59, which may be normal to each other, the latter or longer flange extending transversely of the back flap 50 and the other flange being of relatively short length.

A coextensive hook or keeper 60 projects inwardly from the outer end of the shorter flange 59 in spaced, overlying substantially parallel relation to the longer flange 58 which has one of its longitudinal margins connected to the adjacent end of the back flap by the flexible hinge 57. The keeper 60 has a flat face 61 for engaging the outer surface of the flap 50 when the latch 56 is swung inwardly to its closed position (FIGS. 7 and 8) to prevent accidental opening of said latch, inward movement of said latch being facilitated by an inclined surface 62 on the keeper opposite its flat face 61 which is adapted to ride over the margin of the back flap.

As illustrated, it is desirable to provide a planar extension or flange 63 on the flap 50 to minimize interference of the latch with the contents of the binder thereby disposing said latch outwardly thereof, however, this is not essential to the invention. Also, a rectangular planar extension 64, in the form of an ear or lug, projects from the contiguous end of the back flap 51 at its outer longitudinal margin for slidable continement by the latch 56 to permit telescoping thereof, whereby the covers 42 and 43 are moveable toward and away from each other to vary the spacing therebetween and facilitate access to the binder contents.

Due to the flexibility of the hinge 57, the latch is movable between its open position (FIG. 6) and its closed position (FIGS. 7 and 8) overlying the flange 63 of the flap 50 whereby the flanges 58 and 63 coact to provide a channel for confining the back flap 61. If desired, a flange may be provided on the cover plate 46 contiguous the flap extension or flange 63 for coaction with the latch 56 and supporting engagement with flange 58, when said latch is swung to its overlapping closed position, so as to space said flange from the ear or lug 64 and minimize frictional resistance to relative movement of the covers.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the detail of the illustrated construction, may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A loose leaf binder including front and rear covers, each having a hinged section at one end thereof, each section having an inner hinged edge and an opposite outer edge coacting post means extending transversely between saId hinged sections of the covers in overlapping relationship, complementary back members extending transversely of and connected to said outer edges of said covers in overlapping relation to each other,

means at the ends of one of the back members for slidably confining the ends of the other back member and permitting transverse movement of said members relative to each other to vary the distance between said hinged sections,

the slidable confining means comprising inwardly facing narrow channel means at least at one end of and extending transversely of one of said back members and having an outer flange connected to and forming an extension of said one end of said member and an inner flange hinged to the outer flange for movement between an open position and an overlapping closed position in which the outer flange and inner flange are in closely spaced parallel relation to define a narrow channel, an extension at least at one end of the slidably confined back member projecting into the channel, latch means including a flange integral with and at one end of said inner flange and adapted to extend across one end of said narrow channel in said forming position.

3. A loose leaf binder as defined in claim 1 wherein the slidable confining means has at least a major portion thereof disposed outwardly of the end margin of the back member upon which it is mounted so as to minimize interference with the contents of the binder and relative movement thereof.

4. A loose leaf binder as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for releasably securing said inner flange in channel forming position comprises an angular latch adapted to engage said outer flange.

Claims (4)

1. A loose leaf binder including front and rear covers, each having a hinged section at one end thereof, each section having an inner hinged edge and an opposite outer edge coacting post means extending transversely between saId hinged sections of the covers in overlapping relationship, complementary back members extending transversely of and connected to said outer edges of said covers in overlapping relation to each other, means at the ends of one of the back members for slidably confining the ends of the other back member and permitting transverse movement of said members relative to each other to vary the distance between said hinged sections, the slidable confining means comprising inwardly facing narrow channel means at least at one end of and extending transversely of one of said back members and having an outer flange connected to and forming an extension of said one end of said member and an inner flange hinged to the outer flange for movement between an open position and an overlapping closed position in which the outer flange and inner flange are in closely spaced parallel relation to define a narrow channel, an extension at least at one end of the slidably confined back member projecting into the channel, latch means including a flange integral with and at one end of said inner flange and adapted to extend across one end of said narrow channel in said closed position of said inner and outer flanges for preventing disengagement of the extension from said channel means and separation of said back members without interfering with limited relative movement thereof, said latch means having means for engaging said outer flange for releasably securing the hinged flange in parallel relation to the outer flange in said closed position.

2. A loose leaf binder as defined in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said channel means is formed of a material sufficiently flexible to facilitate movement of said inner flange into and out of channel forming position.

3. A loose leaf binder as defined in claim 1 wherein the slidable confining means has at least a major portion thereof disposed outwardly of the end margin of the back member upon which it is mounted so as to minimize interference with the contents of the binder and relative movement thereof.

4. A loose leaf binder as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for releasably securing said inner flange in channel forming position comprises an angular latch adapted to engage said outer flange.

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