Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6739783
-
Patent Number
6,739,783
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, June 20, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, May 25, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Wellington; A. L.
- Henderson; Mark
Agents
- Lowe Hauptman Gilman & Berner LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 402 60
- 024 67 R
- 024 6711
- 024 675
- 024 677
- 024 506
- 024 517
- D18 34
- D19 86
- D19 88
-
International Classifications
- B42F300
- B42F1312
- B42F1336
-
Abstract
A binder comprises an operating member supported on a base, a pressing member movable toward and away from the base by the movement of the operating member, and locking means for locking the operating member when the pressing member is set in a binding position. The operating member has a first operating spot and a second operating spot, and the operating member is locked to hold the pressing member at the binding position when the first operating spot is pressed toward the surface of the base, and unlocked to move the pressing member away from the base when the second operating spot is operated similarly.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a binder, and more particularly to a binder capable of releasing, by an extremely simple operation, an operating member from a locked state when a pressing member is set in a binding position.
2. Related Art
As a conventional binder, for example, a type as shown in
FIG. 55
is known. In this binder
200
, a metal member is formed as a forming material. The binder
200
comprises a base
202
fixed inside of a cover sheet
201
, a pressing member
204
supported on this base
202
through a plurality of coupling shafts
203
, and an operating member
206
coupled to the pressing member
204
through a coil spring
205
.
The base
202
is composed of a setting plane
210
contacting with the inside of the cover sheet
201
, a support wall
211
standing upward from one end of this setting plane
210
, and a plurality of intermediate walls
212
formed by raising part of the setting plane
210
and disposed substantially parallel to the support wall
211
. The support wall
211
has a plurality of round holes
211
A. and a square hole
211
B for locking the operating member
206
.
The pressing member
204
is shaped with a downward C-shaped cross section. Specifically, it comprises a rectangular flat plane
204
A and a pair of side planes
204
B extending from both longitudinal side edges of the flat plane
204
A and having holes
204
C in a plurality of locations.
The coil spring
205
is provided around a pin
213
disposed between the support wall
211
and one of the intermediate walls
212
. One end side of the coil spring
205
penetrates through the hole
204
C located in substantially the center of the pressing member
204
, while the other end side is disposed so as to extend to the free end side at the lower side position of the operating member
206
. When the operating member
206
is in the prone position illustrated, the pressing member
204
applies a pressing force to paper P, whereas the operating member
206
always applies force in an upward or rising direction.
The coupling shaft
203
is in crank shaped, with one end side penetrating and extending through the holes
204
C located in both sides in the longitudinal direction of the pressing member
204
, and the other end side disposed between the support wall
211
and intermediate wall
212
. Accordingly, when the pressing member
204
moves closer to or away from the setting plane
210
of the base
202
, it is able to move while remaining parallel with the setting plane
210
.
One end side of the operating member
206
is supported on the pin
213
, penetrating through the coil portion of the coil spring
205
. In the side portion of the free end side of the operating member
206
, toward the front or nearer side in the drawing, a protrusion
214
corresponding to the location where a square hole
211
B is provided, and this protrusion
214
is hooked in the square hole
211
B so that the operating member
206
is maintained in a locked position.
In this binder
200
, however, when unlocking the operating member
206
, while pressing the free end side of the operating member
206
to the setting plane
210
side, a force must be also applied in a horizontal direction away from the support wall
211
(horizontal direction to the right side in FIG.
55
), thus requiring operation in two directions, thereby complicating the simple operation. In particular, if a large number of sheets are bound, the spring force of the coil spring
205
is strong such that applying operating force in two directions results in the pressing force being distributed, and it may be difficult to unlock. Such operation causes torsion in the operating member
206
so that the load on the base side is heavy, causing and the operating member
206
to deform or malfunction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is devised in light of such inconvenience, and it is hence an object thereof to provide a binder capable of locking and unlocking an operating member by applying force to the operating member in one direction only.
It is another object of the invention to provide a binder capable of locking and unlocking the operating member only by displacing a part of locking means.
To achieve these objects, the invention provides a binder comprising an operating member having one end supported on a base and the other end provided movably as a free end, a pressing member movable selectively toward and away from the base by the movement of the operating member, a spring member disposed between the pressing member and the operating member, and locking means for locking the operating member when the pressing member is set in a binding position, in which, when being selectively locked and unlocked, the operating member can be selectively locked and unlocked without changing the direction of the operating force during operation so that the convenience of operation is obtained.
Further, when being selectively locked and unlocked, the operating member can be selectively locked and unlocked without changing the direction of the operating force applied against the bias force of the spring member during operation, or the operating member can be locked and unlocked without changing the rotational trajectory of the operating member.
Moreover, the operating member of the invention has first and second operating spots(area, region or portion), in which the operating member is locked and the pressing member is held in the binding position when the first operating spot is operated in a specified direction, and the locking is released to move the pressing member away from the base when the second operating spot is operated in the specified direction. Such a configuration is convenient because the locking can be released by only operating the second operating spot in the same direction as the operating direction applied to the first operating spot. That is, unlike the related art, it is not necessary to apply pressing force and horizontal force simultaneously to the operating member. This enables operating force to be securely applied to the operating member. It relieves distortion from torsion and the like in the operating member.
The first and second operating spots in the invention can be divided by forming a slit in the operating member. As a result, the operating member may be formed in an extremely simple structure.
The operating member may be also composed by assembling a separate part for forming the second operating spot in the main body having the first operating spot. At this time, the separate part may be made of a piece member housed within the main body, with this piece member preferred to be provided movable in the unlocking direction but held so as not to fall out. In such a configuration, the operating force applied to the first and second operating spots is completely independent so that the accuracy of operation can be enhanced.
Further, the locking means comprises an extended shaft portion extending to the spring member and extending to the first and second operating spots, and a hook portion provided in the base selectively hooking the extended shaft portion, in which, when the first operating spot is pressed, the extended shaft portion engages on the hook portion so as to lock, and when the second operating spot is pressed, the axial position of the extended shaft portion is displaced to so as to release the lock. At this time, in the second operating spot, preferably, a contact member contacting a part of the extended shaft portion is provided so that the extended shaft portion can be displaced in the unlocking direction with the displacement of the contact member when the second operating spot is pressed. In such a configuration, a locking mechanism making use of an existing spring member may be employed, and deformation of the operating member can be reliably prevented as the extended shaft portion displaces the axial position by operation of the second operating spot.
The operating member may also have a guide portion for keeping the trajectory of displacement of the extended shaft portion constant. In such a configuration, stable displacement of the extended shaft portion is maintained such that a malfunction can be prevented.
In other aspect of the present invention, a binder comprises an operating member having one end supported on a base and the other end provided movably as a free end, a pressing member movable selectively toward and away from the base by movement of the operating member, a spring member disposed between the pressing member and the operating member, and locking means for locking the operating member when the pressing member is set in a binding position, in which the locking means comprises a first lock forming portion provided in the operating member, and a second lock forming portion provided at the base side to be hooked onto the first lock forming portion, and the locking of the operating member can be released by displacing the first lock forming portion or the second lock forming portion from the hooking position. In such a configuration, by applying an external force, for example, from a fingertip, to the second lock forming member, hooking of each lock forming portion can be released and the binding force to the pressing means can be released by the force of the spring member.
The first lock forming portion is a hole provided in the operating member, and the second lock forming portion comprises a standing member inserted in the hole and hooked onto the edge of the hole. Therefore, the binding position of the operating member is able to be locked by only moving the operating member to the binding position.
Alternatively, the first lock forming portion may comprise an outer edge of the operating member and the second lock forming portion may comprise a standing member to be selectively hooked onto the outer edge. In such a configuration, the lock means can be composed in a structure which obviates the need for a hole in the operating member so as to simplify the structure of the operating member.
Preferably, the tip of the standing member is provided so as to project from the upper side of the operating member when the operating member is in the binding position. As a result, the force for displacing the standing member may be easily applied to the standing member. Moreover, by maintaining the height or length of the standing member, the standing member can be displaced easily and locking can be released without requiring excessive force. It is also easy to set the operating member in the binding position.
The first lock forming member may be formed of a slide member movable within a range of the operating member in the extending direction of the operating member, and by movement of the slide member, hooking onto the second lock forming member can be released. In such a configuration, the hooking of each lock forming portion can be released smoothly.
Moreover, locking can be released by operating the first lock forming portion in the extending direction of the operating member. This enables an operating force can be applied easily to the first lock forming portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a schematic perspective view showing an entire structure of a binder according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is an exploded perspective view of
FIG. 1
FIG. 3
is a plan view of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 4
is a plan view of a base;
FIG. 5
is a front view of the base;
FIG. 6
is an enlarged left side view of
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 7
is an enlarged sectional view taken along line A—A in
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 8
is an enlarged sectional view taken along line B—B in
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 9
is a plan view of an operating member;
FIG. 10
is a front view of the operating member;
FIG. 11
is a bottom view of the operating member;
FIG. 12
is a back view of the operating member;
FIG. 13
is an enlarged sectional view taken along line C—C in
FIG. 9
;
FIG. 14
is an enlarged left side view of
FIG. 10
;
FIG. 15
is a plan view of a plate body for forming a pressing member;
FIG. 16
is a sectional view taken along line D—D in
FIG. 18
;
FIG. 17
is a front view of the plate body;
FIG. 18
is a bottom view of the plate body;
FIG. 19
is an enlarged sectional view taken along line E—E in
FIG. 18
;
FIG. 20
is an enlarged sectional arrow view taken along line F—F in
FIG. 18
;
FIG. 21
is a front view of a pressing piece for forming the pressing member;
FIG. 22
is a plan view of
FIG. 21
;
FIG. 23
is an enlarged sectional view taken along line J—J in
FIG. 21
;
FIG. 24
is a sectional view of the pressing member;
FIG. 25
is a plan view of the spring member;
FIG. 26
is a schematic perspective view showing an entire structure of a binder according to a second embodiment;
FIG. 27
is a partial schematic exploded perspective view of
FIG. 26
as seen from the side opposite of
FIG. 2
;
FIG. 28
is a side view showing a free end side spot of the operating member according to the second embodiment;
FIG. 29
is a schematic perspective view showing an entire structure of a binder according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 30
is an exploded perspective view of the binder according to the third embodiment;
FIG. 31
is a plan view of the operating member according to the third embodiment;
FIG. 32
is a front view of the operating member according to the third embodiment;
FIG. 33
is an enlarged sectional view taken along line K—K in
FIG. 31
;
FIG. 34
is an enlarged sectional view taken along line L—L in
FIG. 31
;
FIG. 35
is a left side view of
FIG. 31
;
FIG. 36
is an enlarged sectional view taken along line M—M
FIG. 31
;
FIG. 37
is a schematic perspective view showing an entire structure of a binder according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 38
is an exploded perspective view of
FIG. 37
;
FIG. 39
is an enlarged sectional view taken along line N—N in
FIG. 37
;
FIG. 40
is a schematic perspective view showing an entire structure of a binder according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 41
is an enlarged sectional view taken along line P—P in
FIG. 40
;
FIG. 42
is a schematic perspective view showing a locked state of an operating member and/or an entire structure of a binder according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 43
is a schematic perspective view showing an unlocked state the operating member of the binder according to the sixth embodiment;
FIG. 44
is a schematic perspective view showing an exploded state of a slide member;
FIG. 45
is a side view of the slide member;
FIG. 46
is a plan view of the slide member;
FIG. 47
is a bottom view of the slide member;
FIG. 48
is a left side view of
FIG. 45
;
FIG.
49
(A) is a plan view of the operating member, FIG.
49
(B) is the front view thereof;
FIG.
50
(A) is a back side view of the operating member, FIG.
50
(B) is an enlarged sectional view taken along line Q—Q in FIG.
50
(A);
FIG. 51
is a schematic sectional view explaining an initial operating method for locking the operating member;
FIG. 52
is a sectional view showing the slide member in a state contacting the standing member;
FIG. 53
is a schematic sectional view showing a state immediately before locking of the operating member;
FIG. 54
is a schematic sectional view showing a locked state of the operating member; and
FIG. 55
is a schematic perspective view showing a conventional binder.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings, the preferred embodiments will hereinafter be described below.
First Embodiment
FIG.
1
through
FIG. 26
show a binder according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.
1
and
FIG. 2
showing the entire structure and exploded perspective view thereof, a binder
10
comprises a base
11
, a lever-shaped operating member
12
supported by the base
11
, a pressing member
13
movable toward and away from the base
11
by the movement of the operating member
12
, a spring member
14
disposed between the pressing member
13
and the operating member
12
, locking means
15
for locking the operating member
12
when the pressing member
13
is set in the binding position shown in
FIG. 1
, and first and second coupling shafts
16
and
17
for supporting the pressing member
13
on the base
11
.
The base
11
is formed of a metal material. The base
11
, as shown in
FIG. 3
to
FIG. 8
, comprises a setting plane
20
extending in the vertical direction or lateral direction of a cover sheet, not shown, and a support wall
21
standing upward extending to one end in the longitudinal direction of the setting plane
20
. Inside of the setting plane
20
, fixing holes
22
are formed in both sides in its longitudinal direction, and by using these fixing holes
22
, the base
11
can be fixed to the specified cover sheet by using rivets, not shown. At four positions between the fixing holes
22
and
22
, as shown in
FIG. 4
, crescent raised portions
23
are formed, and fall-out resistance is applied to the documents to be bound by these raised portions
23
. Further, in substantially the middle in the longitudinal direction of the setting plane
20
, document end butts
24
and
25
are disposed by partially raising the setting plane
20
, and between these butts
24
and
25
, a first intermediate wall
26
and a bearing wall
27
are disposed, being formed similarly by raising. At one end in the longitudinal direction of the setting plane
20
(at the right end side in FIG.
4
), a second intermediate wall
28
is formed at a position substantially flush with the first intermediate wall
26
. Inside of the first and second intermediate walls
26
and
28
and bearing wall
27
, holes
30
,
31
, and
32
are formed, respectively. Moreover in the setting plane
20
, a rib-like protrusion
33
extending in the longitudinal direction is formed at the opposite side of the position where the support wall
21
is formed.
The support wall
21
comprises a first support wall
34
extending in the longitudinal direction of the setting plane
20
, and a second support wall
35
having the same shape as the second intermediate wall
28
at a position facing the second intermediate wall
28
. The first support wall
34
is formed of a raised plane
34
A, and a bent plane
34
B extending to the upper end of the raised plane
34
A horizontally toward the outside. Inside of the raised plane
34
A, holes
37
and
38
are formed respectively corresponding to the holes
30
and
32
formed in the first intermediate wall
26
and bearing wall
27
, and there is a hook portion
39
in a downward key shape forming a part of the locking means
15
. In the second support wall
35
, a hole
40
is formed corresponding to the hole
31
formed in the second intermediate wall
28
.
The operating member
12
is formed of a synthetic resin material. The operating member
12
comprises, as shown in
FIG. 10
to
FIG. 14
, a main body
42
of a flat rectangular plate, a pair of bearing blades
43
and
43
disposed at two positions in the longitudinal direction at one end side of the main body
42
, and a rib-shaped reinforcement portion
44
extending in the longitudinal direction of the main body
42
at the back side of the main body
42
. As shown in
FIG. 2
, the operating member
12
is rotatable, with one end supported by the base
11
and the other end as free end, by inserting a shaft
46
after alignment with the holes
32
and
38
of the bearing wall
27
and first support wall
34
, and the bearing holes
43
A of the bearing blades
43
and
43
.
At the free end side of the main body
42
, an L-shaped slit
48
is formed, and the inner side surrounded by the slit
48
is a first operating spot
50
(area, region or portion) for locking the operating member
12
, and the outer side, that is, the free end side is a second operating spot
51
for unlocking the operating member
12
. A downward hanging wall
53
is integrally provided at the lower side of the first operating spot
50
. The downward hanging wall
53
, as shown in
FIG. 14
, is provided so that its surface runs in the lateral direction of the main body
42
, and a notch
55
is formed for composing a guide portion from the outer edge (left side edge in the drawing). The notch
55
is inclined so as to be gradually lower in position as the notch depth increases.
At the lower side of the second operating spot
51
, a contact member
57
of an isosceles triangular profile is formed. The surface of the contact member
57
is also formed in the lateral direction of the main body
42
, and a slope edge
57
A is positioned at the lower side. The slope edge
57
A is provided at a relative position that crosses with the inclination direction of the notch
55
. In the base side of the operating member
12
, a spring receiving member
59
is provided, as indicated by dotted line in
FIG. 2
, at the lower side of the main body
42
. This spring receiving member
59
is L-shaped, with the direction of the vertical plane
59
A for forming the longer side in the longitudinal direction of the main body
42
, and its lower end horizontal plane
59
B for forming the shorter side disposed substantially parallel to the main body
42
.
The pressing member
13
, as shown in
FIG. 15
to
FIG. 24
, comprises a rectangular plate body
60
and two pressing pieces
61
and
61
attached to the lower side of the plate body
60
. At the lower side of the plate body
60
, as shown in
FIG. 18
, two rows of grooves
62
and
62
are formed in the longitudinal direction into which the pressing pieces
61
and
61
can be fit. In the cross direction of these grooves
62
and
62
, that is, in the lateral direction of the plate body
60
, bearing grooves
64
and
64
for receiving one end side each of the first and second coupling shafts
16
and
17
are formed in two positions in the lateral direction of the plate body
60
. At the intermediate position of these bearing grooves
64
and
64
, an intermediate bearing groove
65
having a wider groove width than the bearing grooves
64
is provided, and one end side of the spring member
14
is received in this intermediate bearing groove
65
. Herein, the bearing grooves
64
and
64
and intermediate bearing groove
65
are provided, as shown in
FIG. 17
, so as to release one side in the lateral direction of the plate body
60
, that is, the operating member
12
side.
At the inner side of the two rows of the grooves
62
and
62
, as shown in FIG.
16
and
FIG. 18
, a plurality of protrusions
62
A are formed to extend in the thickness direction of the plate body
60
, and these protrusions
62
A apply a strong pinching pressure in some areas to the pressing pieces
61
and
61
fitted in each groove
62
.
The pressing pieces
61
and
61
are slender metal pieces formed in the same shape. The pressing piece
61
has a shorter side direction width, that is, a vertical direction width as shown in
FIG. 19
to
FIG. 24
, wherein the lower end projects slightly from the lower side of the plate body
60
when it is fitted into the groove
62
of the plate body
60
. Inside of the pressing piece
61
, raised pieces
61
A are formed at appropriate intervals in the longitudinal direction of the pressing piece
61
. These raised pieces
61
A have an opposing relationship so that the projecting direction may be alternately directed to the opposite side in the longitudinal direction of the pressing piece
61
, and therefore when the pressing piece
61
is fitted into the groove
62
, each raised piece
61
A is housed within the pressing piece
61
, and a return force to restore the initial raising angle is applied evenly to the inner wall of the groove
62
. The upper edge of the pressing piece
61
is provided with bearing recesses
68
and
68
for forming a space for inserting one end side of the first and second coupling shafts
16
and
17
by mutually acting on the bearing grooves
64
and
64
, and an intermediate bearing recess
69
for forming a space for inserting one end side of the spring member
14
by mutually acting on the intermediate bearing groove
65
.
The spring member
14
comprises, as shown in FIG.
2
and
FIG. 25
, of a coil portion
70
, a linear shaft portion
71
extending from one end side of the coil portion
70
, a bent shaft portion
72
extending to the tip of the linear shaft portion
71
and directed in a direction almost orthogonal to the linear shaft portion
71
, and an extended shaft portion
74
extending from the other end side of the coil portion
70
for forming the locking means
15
. Inside the coil portion
70
, as mentioned above, the shaft
46
(see
FIG. 2
) penetrates, and the bent shaft portion
72
is inserted in the space formed by the intermediate bearing groove
65
and intermediate bearing recess
69
of the pressing member
13
.
The extended shaft portion
74
has a length so as to reach the free end side of the operating member
12
, being positioned at the lower side of the operating member
12
. The extended shaft portion
74
has a slight slope
74
A in the middle so as to penetrate through the notch
55
formed in the downward hanging wall
53
of the operating member
12
and pass in a position nearly contacting a slope edge
57
A of the contact piece
57
.
The pressing member
13
can be, as shown in
FIG. 2
, coupled to the base
11
and the operating member
12
through the crank-shaped first and second coupling shafts
16
and
17
. The first coupling shaft
16
has one end side thereof inserted into the hole
30
formed in the first intermediate wall
26
and the hole
37
formed in the first support wall
34
, and the other end side inserted into the space formed by one bearing groove
64
formed at the lower side of the pressing member
13
, and the bearing recess
68
of the pressing piece
61
. The second coupling shaft
17
has one end side thereof inserted in the hole
31
formed in the second intermediate wall
28
in the base
11
and the hole
40
formed in the second support wall
35
, and the other end side inserted into the space formed by other bearing groove
64
formed at the lower side of the pressing member
13
, and the bearing recess
68
of the pressing piece
61
. Herein, at the tips of the first and second coupling shafts
16
and
17
positioned in the pressing member
13
and the tip of the spring member
14
, slip-out prevention parts are preliminarily formed by crimping, not shown, so as not to slip out of the pressing member
13
when they are assembled in the pressing member
13
.
The assembling procedure of the binder
10
in this embodiment is described.
When assembling the pressing member
13
, by turning the plate body
60
of the pressing member
13
upside down, the one end sides of the first and second coupling shafts
16
and
17
are dropped into the bearing grooves
64
, while the bent shaft portion
72
of the spring member
14
is also dropped into the intermediate bearing groove
65
. From above, the pressing members
61
and
61
are inserted into the grooves
62
of the plate body
60
. At this time, at the end portions of the first and second coupling shafts
16
and
17
and the bent shaft portion
72
, since slip-out prevention parts are formed by crimping as mentioned above, the coupling shafts
16
and
17
and bent shaft portion
72
will not slip out of the pressing member
13
, and the pressing pieces
61
and
61
are also fitted firmly into the grooves
62
so as not to not fall out.
Consequently, the other end side of the first coupling shaft
16
is inserted into the holes
30
and
37
of the first intermediate wall
26
and first support wall
34
, and the other end side of the second coupling shaft
17
is inserted into the holes
31
and
40
of the second intermediate wall
28
and second support wall
35
. At the same time, the extended shaft portion
74
of the spring member
14
is set along the lower side of the operating member
14
, and the coil portion
70
is positioned between the bearing blades
43
and
43
of the operating member
12
. The shaft
46
is inserted by aligning the bearing holes
43
A of the bearing blades
43
and
43
and the holes
32
and
38
formed in the bearing wall
27
and first support wall
34
.
Finally, by crimping the tips of the first and second coupling shafts
16
and
17
projecting outside of the first support wall
34
and second support wall
35
, and the tip of the shaft
46
, slip-out prevention parts are formed, and the binder
10
is complete.
In the binder
10
thus assembled, by pressing the first operating spot
50
from above to the setting plane
20
side and rotating the operating member
12
in a substantially horizontal direction, the extended shaft portion
74
follows the upper shape of the hook portion
39
and moves from the initial axial position (dotted line position in
FIG. 14
) slightly to the right side, that is, the pressing member
13
side, and rides over the hook portion
39
, at which time it returns to the initial axial position and is caught by the hook portion
39
to be locked. At the same time, the pressing member
13
is set on the setting plane
20
of the base
11
at the binding position.
When releasing the binding action by the pressing member
13
, that is, when unlocking the operating member
12
, the second operating spot
51
is only pressed and operated to the setting plane
20
side, just like the first operating spot
50
. By this pressing operation, the second operating spot
51
is displaced in a direction of lowering the plane position independently, by formation of the slit
48
as mentioned above. By this displacement, being set lower than the position of the slope edge
57
A of the contact member
57
disposed at the lower side, the extended shaft portion
74
contacting therewith is displaced downward to the right side in
FIG. 14
so as to be disengaged from the hook portion
39
by this displacement.
Thus, when the extended shaft portion
74
is disengaged from the hook portion
39
to be unlocked, the operating member
12
is lifted by the spring force of the spring member
14
so as to set the pressing member
13
free. At the same time, the extended shaft portion
74
returns to the initial axial position.
Therefore, according to such a configuration of the first embodiment, when locking and unlocking by the extended shaft portion
74
and hook portion
39
, it is only necessary to press the free end side of the operating member
12
toward the setting plane
20
side, so the operation is very simple.
Other embodiments of the invention are described below. In the following descriptions, the same or similar parts as in the first embodiment are identified with same reference characters, and their description is omitted or simplified.
Second Embodiment
FIG. 26
to
FIG. 28
show a binder
10
in a second embodiment. This binder
10
is characterized by changing the position where the slit
48
is formed and inverting the positions of the first operating spot
50
and second operating spot
52
. Accordingly, the design is changed, that is, the downward hanging wall
53
is provided at the free end side of the operating member
12
, and the contact member
57
is provided at the inside thereof. The other configuration is substantially the same as in the first embodiment.
In this type of second embodiment, as well, the same advantages as in the first embodiment are obtained.
Third Embodiment
FIG. 29
to
FIG. 36
show a third embodiment. In this embodiment, the first and second operating spots
50
and
51
are disposed in the same positions as in the second embodiment, and the second operating spot
51
is formed of separate part.
More specifically, the second operating spot
51
comprises a piece member
80
made of a separate part. This piece member
80
comprises a flat portion
81
, a contact member
57
hanging down from the lower side of the flat portion
81
, and a pair of pawl members
82
hanging down from two locations on the outer circumference of the flat portion
81
from the intermediate position of the contact member
57
.
Near the free end of the main body
42
which composes the operating member
12
, a dent
84
for receiving the piece member
80
is formed. Within the spot of the dent
84
, a slot
85
for receiving the contact member
57
movably in the vertical direction is formed, and at both sides of the slot
85
(at right and left sides in FIG.
31
), mounting holes
86
and
86
for holding the pawl members
82
to prevent them from falling out upward are formed.
The piece member
80
is movable vertically while fall-out is within the dent
84
is controlled, and when this piece member
80
descends, the lower edge
57
A of the contact member
58
pushes down the extended shaft portion
74
(see
FIG. 36
) so that the extended shaft portion
74
is unlocked from the hook portion, not shown, at the base side. The piece member
80
is designed to be kept in the highest position while pressing force is not applied from the upper side, and a specific push-down space is formed between the lower side of the flat portion
81
and the upper side of the dent
84
. The other configuration is substantially the same as in the first and second embodiments.
According to the third embodiment, since the second operating spot
51
is composed of the piece member
80
made of a separate part from the main body
42
, the pressing operating force of the second operating spot
51
acts naturally and smoothly as the descending force of the piece member
80
so that the extended shaft portion
74
may be more reliably disengaged from the locked position.
Fourth Embodiment
FIG. 37
to
FIG. 39
show a fourth embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the composition of the locking means
15
is different, being designed to unlock the operating member
12
by operating the locking means
15
as specified.
That is, the locking means
15
has a hole
88
as a first lock forming portion formed at the free end side of the operating member
12
, and a standing member
89
as a second lock forming portion to be inserted in this hole
88
. Between the free end side inner side
88
A for composing the edge of the hole
88
and the free end of the operating member
12
, a passage
90
communicating with the hole
88
is formed.
The standing member
89
, as shown in an enlarged view in
FIG. 39
, comprises a base portion
89
A to be received in a holed protrusion
91
formed in the base
11
, a protrusion
89
B of a square column projecting on the base
11
from the upper side of the base portion
89
A, and a pawl portion
89
C provided on the upper outer side of the protrusion
89
B to be hooked in the passage
90
. The protrusion
89
B is formed in such length or height that upper end thereof may project above the upper side of the operating member
12
when the operating member
12
is set in a locked position. In the protrusion
89
B, meanwhile, the thickness in the lateral direction in
FIG. 39
is set smaller than the width of the hole
88
in the same direction, such that when an external force is applied from the direction of arrow F by touching the fingertip to the upper curvature of the protrusion
89
B, the upper portion of the protrusion
89
B is displaced to the right side so that the engagement between the pawl portion
89
C and the passage
90
can be released. At this time, since a slip preventive portion
89
D of a groove is provided in the upper curvature of the protrusion
89
B, when external force is applied the fingertip does not slip, and the external force can be applied securely. The other configuration is the same as in the foregoing embodiments.
Thus, according to the fourth embodiment, locking can be released only by applying a force in one direction, that is, direction F with respect to the standing member
89
. Moreover, as compared with the foregoing embodiments, the structure is simple and the manufacturing cost can be drastically reduced. Furthermore, since the standing member
89
is designed to extend by penetrating through the inside of the operating member
12
, when unlocked by a fingertip, the fingertip is positioned at the upper side of the operating member
12
, and therefore the operating member
12
is prevented from popping up forcibly by the force of the spring member
14
.
Fifth Embodiment
FIG.
40
and
FIG. 41
show a fifth embodiment of the invention. This invention relates to a modified example of the locking means
15
of the fourth embodiment, and is characterized by locking the operating member
12
without a hole in the operating member
12
.
That is, the free end side upper side
42
A at the outer edge of the operating member
12
is composed as the first lock forming portion, whereas the second lock forming portion is composed of the standing member
89
provided at the base side. The standing member
89
has a pawl portion
89
C to be hooked on the free end side upper side
42
A disposed at its upper inner side. With the protrusion
89
B of the standing member
89
substantially perpendicular, the pawl portion
89
C is hooked onto the free end side upper side
42
A and the pawl portion
89
C is displaced to the left side in
FIG. 41
so that the operating member
12
is unlocked. At the joining surface of the pawl portion
89
C and free end side upper side
42
A, an engaging portion
93
of zigzag teeth is formed, so that the engagement by the pawl portion
89
C does not release unexpectedly.
Therefore, according to the fifth embodiment, in addition to the advantages obtained in the fourth embodiment, the shape of the operating member
12
can be simplified. Moreover, locking can be released by simply pulling the tip side of the standing member
89
with a fingertip so operating force can be applied effortlessly. Furthermore, unintended unlocking can be avoided by the engaging portion
93
provided between the pawl portion
89
C and free end side upper side
42
A.
Sixth Embodiment
FIG. 42
to
FIG. 54
show a sixth embodiment of the invention. This embodiment relates to a modification of the locking means
15
in the fourth and fifth embodiments. That is, the locking means
15
in the sixth embodiment comprises a slide member
100
for composing the first lock forming portion disposed at the free end side of the operating member
12
, and a standing member
101
for composing the second lock forming portion disposed at the base
11
. The slide member
100
is, as shown in
FIG. 44
, fitted so as not to fall off in a rectangular mounting hole
103
provided at the free end side of the operating member
12
, and the standing member
101
is composed by partially raising the side of the base
11
.
The slide member
100
comprises, as shown in
FIG. 45
to
FIG. 48
, a flat slide plate
105
positioned at the upper side of the operating member
12
, a piece member
106
hanging down from the lower side of the slide plate
105
, and an accompanying arm spring
107
. The slide plate
105
has a wider area than the mounting hole
103
, and a protrusion
105
A is provided at one end side. When the slide plate
105
is pulled to the free end side of the operating member
12
by a fingertip, relative slipping of the fingertip and the slide plate
105
is prevented so that the operating effort can be securely applied to the slide plate
105
.
The piece member
106
is a plate having a length of about ½ of the length in the longitudinal direction of the slide plate
105
at the lower side of the slide plate
105
, and a thickness less than the shorter side direction width of the slide plate
105
. The surface of the plate is set on both sides in longitudinal direction of the slide plate
105
. In this piece member
106
, one end at the free end side of the operating member
12
is an outside hanging edge
106
A extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the surface of the slide plate
105
, and the other end at the opposite side is an inside hanging edge
106
D having a slope edge
106
C against the lower edge
106
B. The inside hanging edge
106
D has a notch
109
formed from the inside hanging edge
106
D toward the outside hanging edge
106
A. In addition, the piece member
106
has a shallow groove
110
formed at the slide plate
105
side as shown in FIG.
48
and FIG.
50
(B), and the plate thickness of the lower end side is set somewhat less, and is therefore easier to install in the mounting hole
103
. After fitting the slide member
100
in the mounting hole
103
, the operating member
12
is prevented from coming out of the mounting hole
103
while allowing slide movement in the longitudinal direction.
The arm spring
107
has its base end positioned near the piece member
106
, and its tip portion
107
A is directed in a direction away from the piece member
106
. The tip portion
107
A of the arm spring
107
is bent in a direction substantially parallel to the slide plate
105
, and its leading edge is provided so as to contact with the raised piece
112
for forming the mounting hole
103
.
The standing member
101
for forming the second lock forming portion has a pawl portion
104
bent in a direction for hooking onto the notch
109
of the piece member
106
. This standing member
101
is formed by partially raising the surface of the base
11
, or a standing member separately formed without this raising may be fixed through welding or other means.
The operating member
12
in the sixth embodiment is formed by processing a metal plate. This operating member
12
is composed by forming a side wall
115
hanging down from the end in the longitudinal direction of the main body
42
from the bearing blade
43
of the flat main body
42
to the vicinity of the mounting hole
103
. In substantially the middle of the side wall
115
, a notch recess
116
is provided so as to avoid positional interference with the coupling shaft
16
. The support wall
21
positioned at the end of the base
11
comprises a standing piece extending in the longitudinal direction of the base
11
, and the portion adjacent to the standing member
101
is formed so as to be lower in height.
In this structure, to lock the operating member
12
, as shown in
FIG. 51
, it is enough to apply a push-down force F by touching a fingertip to the free end side of the operating member
12
. When the operating member
12
is rotated and displaced so as to be gradually directed in the horizontal direction, the pawl portion
104
contacts with the slope edge
106
C of the piece member
106
. When push-down force is further applied, the piece member
106
is pushed to the free end side of the operating member
12
by the pawl portion
104
. As a result, the arm spring
107
curves and deforms, and the slide plate
105
slides to the free end side on the operating member
12
.
When the pawl portion
104
passes through the operating member
106
C and reaches the position of the notch
109
, the curved and deformed arm spring
107
produces a return force as it attempts to return to its original shape. At this time the pawl portion
104
hooks onto the notch
109
with a snapping sound, hence the operating member
12
is maintained in a locked state.
When unlocking, on the other hand, a fingertip is touched to the upper side of the slide plate
105
, which is pulled to the free end side of the operating member
12
. As a result, when the slide plate
105
slides to the free end side on the operating member
12
, the pawl portion
104
slips out of from the notch
109
. When this happens, by the spring force of the spring member
16
positioned at the lower side of the operating member
12
, the operating member
12
rotates so that its free end side may be positioned upward, and locking is released.
Therefore, the sixth embodiment also brings about the same advantages as the foregoing embodiments.
In the first to the third embodiments of the invention, as long as the operating member
12
can be locked or unlocked by applying an operating force in only one direction, the component parts may be changed freely. Also in the fourth to fifth embodiments of the invention, as long as the standing member
89
and operating member
12
can engage with each other, the shape and relative positions can be changed freely.
As described herein, the invention provides a binder which can be operated with a sense of extreme ease by locking or unlocking without changing the direction of force applied to the operating member, or the rotational trajectory of the operating member. In particular, in a configuration of an operating member provided with first and second operating spots so as to be capable of unlocking the second operating spot in the same manner as the operating direction of the first operating spot, locking can be released simply by operating the second operating spot. That is, unlike the related art, it is not necessary to apply pressing force to the operating member and moving force in the horizontal direction at the same time. Therefore the operating force to the operating member can be applied securely. It also eliminates deformation from torsion in the operating member.
Moreover, a slit is formed in the operating member to divide into first and second operating spots so that the structure of the operating member may be very simple.
Further, when the operating member is composed by assembling a separate part for composing the second operating spot in a main body having the first operating spot, for example, a piece member movable in the unlocking direction held so as not to fall off in the main body, the operating forces applied to the first and second operating spots are completely independent, thus enhancing the accuracy of the operation.
The second operating spot has a contact member contacting with a part of an extended shaft portion for composing the locking means, and is designed to displace the extended shaft portion in the unlocking direction with displacement of the position of this contact member. Therefore, by the operation of the second operating spot, the extended shaft portion can securely displace the axial position, and the locking state can be released securely. Deforming factors such as torsion on the operating member can be effectively absorbed by the extended shaft portion, thus enhancing the entire durability of the binder.
Further, a guide portion for keeping the trajectory of displacement of the extended shaft portion constant is provided in the operating member, and a stable displacement of the extended shaft portion is maintained so that malfunction can be prevented.
The locking means is composed of the first lock forming portion provided in the operating member, and the second lock forming portion to be hooked on the first lock forming portion provided at the base side. Locking of the operating member is released by displacing the first lock forming portion or second lock forming portion from the hooking position. Therefore, in such a configuration, simply by applying an external force from a fingertip to either lock forming portion, hooking of the lock forming portion can be released, simplifying the locking and unlocking operations.
In another configuration in which the first lock forming portion is formed of a hole provided in the operating portion and the second lock forming portion is formed of a standing member inserted in the hole to be hooked on the forming edge of the hole, the binding position of the operating member can be locked simply by moving the operating member to the binding position.
Also, in the configuration in which the first lock forming portion is formed of an outer edge of the operating member and the second lock forming portion is formed of a standing member to be hooked on the outer edge, the locking means can be composed without forming a hole in the operating member, thus simplifying the structure of the operating member.
When the tip of the standing member is formed to project from the upper side of the operating member at the binding position, the force for displacing the standing member can easily be applied to the standing member. Further, by keeping a specified height or length of the standing member, the standing member can be displaced easily and smoothly so that locking can be released without requiring excessive force.
Further, when the first lock forming portion is formed of a slide member, hooking on the second lock forming portion can be released smoothly.
In the configuration designed to unlock simply by operating the first lock forming portion in the extending direction of the operating member, operating force can be easily applied to the first lock forming portion.
Claims
- 1. A binder, comprising:a base; an operating member having a first end supported on the base and a second end movable relative to the base; a pressing member coupled to and driven by the operating member, said pressing member being movable toward and away from the base by movement of the operating member; a spring member connecting the base and the operating member; and first and second locking elements cooperating with each other in a locking position for locking the operating member when the pressing member is set in a binding position relative to the base; wherein the operating member has first and second operating spots, and the operating member is locked and the pressing member is held in the binding position when the first operating spot is operated in a specified direction, while locking of the operating member is released, enabling the pressing member to move from the binding position, when the second operating spot is operated in the specified direction; and wherein the first and second operating spots are divided by a slit formed in the operating member.
- 2. A binder, comprising:a base; an operating member having a first end supported on the base and a second end movable relative to the base; a pressing member coupled to and driven by the operating member, said pressing member being movable toward and away from the base by movement of the operating member; a spring member connecting the base and the operating member; and first and second locking elements cooperating with each other in a locking position for locking the operating member when the pressing member is set in a binding position relative to the base; wherein the operating member has first and second operating spots, and the operating member is locked and the pressing member is held in the binding position when the first operating spot is operated in a specified direction, while locking of the operating member is released, enabling the pressing member to move from the binding position, when the second operating spot is operated in the specified direction; and wherein the operating member comprises a main body having the first operating spot and a separate part that forms the second operating spot.
- 3. The binder according to claim 2, wherein the separate part is made of a piece member retained by the main body, and the piece member is movable in the specified direction without falling off the main body.
- 4. A binder, comprising:a base; an operating member having a first end supported on the base and a second end movable relative to the base; a pressing member coupled to and driven by the operating member, said pressing member being movable toward and away from the base by movement of the operating member; a spring member connecting the base and the operating member; and first and second locking elements cooperating with each other in a locking position for locking the operating member when the pressing member is set in a binding position relative to the base; wherein the operating member has first and second operating spots, and the operating member is locked and the pressing member is held in the binding position when the first operating spot is operated in a specified direction, while locking of the operating member is released, enabling the pressing member to move from the binding position, when the second operating spot is operated in the specified direction; the first locking element comprises an extended shaft portion extending to the spring member and extending to the first and second operating spots; the second locking element comprises a hook portion provided in the base for catching the extended shaft portion; and when the first operating spot is pressed in the specified direction, the extended shaft portion is moved to the locking position to be caught by the hook portion so as to lock the operating member, and when the second operating spot is pressed in the specified direction, the extended shaft portion is displaced from the locking position so as to release the locking of the operating member.
- 5. The binder according to claim 4, wherein the second operating spot comprises a contact member contacting with the extended shaft portion, and the extended shaft portion is displaced in an unlocking direction with displacement of the contact member when the second operating spot is pressed.
- 6. The binder according to claim 4, wherein the operating member comprises a guide portion for keeping a trajectory of displacement of the extended shaft portion constant.
- 7. A binder, comprising:a base; an operating member having, in a longitudinal direction thereof, a first end supported on the base and a second end movable relative to the base; a pressing member coupled to and driven by the operating member, said pressing member being movable selectively toward and away from the base by movement of the operating member; a spring member connecting the base and the operating member; and first and second locking elements cooperating with each other for locking the operating member in a locking position with the pressing member being accordingly set in a binding position relative to the base; wherein the first locking element is provided in the operating member, and the second locking element is provided on the base, and locking of the operating member is released by displacing one of the first locking element and the second locking element from a locked condition; the second locking element comprises a standing member having a close end portion connected to the base and an opposite, distal end portion which is flexible; and the first locking element is a hole provided in the operating member, and the distal end portion of the standing member is sized and shaped to be insertable into the hole and engage with an edge of the hole in the locked condition.
- 8. The binder according to claim 7, wherein the standing member has a projection and an inner wall of the hole has a groove for receiving and retaining the projection in the locked condition.
- 9. A binder, comprising:a base; an operating member having a first end supported on the base and a second end movable relative to the base; a pressing member coupled to and driven by the operating member, said pressing member being movable toward and away from the base by movement of the operating member; a spring member connecting the base and the operating member; and first and second locking elements cooperating with each other in a locking position for locking the operating member when the pressing member is set in a binding position relative to the base; wherein the operating member has first and second operating spots, and the operating member is locked and the pressing member is held in the binding position when the first operating spot is operated in a specified direction, while locking of the operating member is released, enabling the pressing member to move from the binding position, when the second operating spot is operated in the specified direction; and wherein the first locking element is attached to the operating member and the second locking element is formed on the base, the first locking element having at least one portion that is movable with respect to the operating member.
- 10. The binder according to claim 9, further comprising a guiding member for guiding the first locking element along a predetermined path into and out of the locking position.
Priority Claims (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
2000-206838 |
Jul 2000 |
JP |
|
2000-385682 |
Dec 2000 |
JP |
|
2001-076370 |
Mar 2001 |
JP |
|
US Referenced Citations (15)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
221945 |
Jun 1942 |
CH |
1172232 |
Jan 2002 |
EP |
27532 |
Mar 1910 |
GB |