Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6527465
-
Patent Number
6,527,465
-
Date Filed
Friday, September 29, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, March 4, 200321 years ago
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 402 26
- 402 31
- 402 80 L
- 402 80 P
- 283 151
- 283 211
- 283 29
- 283 36
- 283 45
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A ring binder assembly is disclosed as including a ring mechanism, a connecting means secured to the ring mechanism, and at least one removable module frictionally engaging the connecting means. The connecting means is configured to receive the removable modules, wherein when the modules are removed the connecting means is maintained in a substantially tight configuration. The connecting means typically includes a rivet passing through an eyelet in the ring mechanism. In addition, the means to connect may also include the means to resilient secure the removable modules in place. The resilient means may include a compression spring housed in the eyelet biasing an upper washer downwardly towards the rivet.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to ring binders, and more particularly to a ring binder assembly that includes a means to connect modules to the assembly and in addition to resiliently secure the modules in place.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A typical ring binder assembly includes a ring mechanism attached to a cover by a rivet or other securing means well known in the art (hereinafter referred to as “assembly”). In most assemblies, the ability to attach and store materials thereto is limited to attaching the materials onto the rings by various modules or in the pockets provided in the inside covers. These modules permit the user to secure various office, home and/or school supplies to the binders. However, because these modules attach to the rings of the binders the ring capacity is used, limiting the amount of paper or other items that could be attached to the rings.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a ring binder assembly that allows various removable modules to be attached and secured to this assembly, which does not utilize the ring capacity. While it may be contemplated to provide longer rivets to allow the modules to be attached thereto. The longer rivets tend to be loose and rattle, which may cause the rivets to catch or snag on something, thereby breaking the rivet or binder. It is therefore also an object of the present invention to provide a means to maintain the rivets and ring binder assembly in a substantially tight configuration, such that when the modules are secured or removed from the binder, the binder or rivets do not rattle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a ring binder assembly that includes a spool-shaped washer positioned between the ring mechanism and the cover. If the ring mechanism includes eyelets, the washer may be integrally formed into the eyelet or provided as an independent piece. The modules may then be attached and removed from the mid-section of the spool-shaped washer. The spool-shaped washer provides adequate space for the modules and maintains the rivets and the ring binder assembly in a tight configuration, such that the rivets are not loose when the modules are removed or attached.
In another embodiment, each eyelet has a compression spring and a cone washer attached to the bottom of the eyelet. The compression spring biases the cone washer downwardly towards the rivet head maintaining the rivet in a substantially tight configuration and resiliently holding the modules in place. In this configuration, the modules attach directly to the rivets. Additional cone washers may be used to maintain adequate spacing between the cover, the modules and the eyelets.
Additionally, a telescoping eyelet may be incorporated. The telescoping eyelet includes an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve with a compression spring biasing the two sleeves away from each other. To prevent the sleeves from separating, the inner sleeve has an outwardly tapered edge and the outer sleeve has an indentation around the edge. When biased away from each other, the tapered edge and inside of the indentation engage each other preventing the two sleeves from separating. Moreover, the inner sleeve may also include a cone head integrally formed thereon.
Numerous other advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1
a
is a top view of a ring binder assembly in accordance with the prior art;
FIG. 1
b
is a side view of the ring binder assembly from
FIG. 1
a;
FIG. 1
c
is a rear view of the ring binder assembly from
FIG. 1
a;
FIG. 2
a
is an enlarged side view of the eyelet and spool-shaped washer in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2
b
is an exploded view of a ring binder assembly with a washer in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2
c
is a side view of the washer from
FIG. 2
a;
FIG. 2
d
is a top view of the washer from
FIG. 2
c;
FIG. 3
a
is a side view of
FIG. 2
a
with modules attached thereto;
FIG. 3
b
is a top view of a module;
FIG. 4
a
is a cross-sectional view of a module conventionally attached to a ring mechanism utilizing ring capacity;
FIG. 4
b
is a cross-sectional view of a module attached between the ring mechanism and the cover in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 5
a
is a cross-sectional view of a eyelet and washer integrally formed in a one piece construction;
FIG. 5
b
is a cross-sectional view of the integrally formed eyelet/washer from
FIG. 5
a;
FIG. 6
a
is a cross-sectional view of a telescoping eyelet in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 6
b
is a cross-sectional view of a telescoping eyelet attached to a ring mechanism with modules interconnected to the rivet;
FIG. 6
c
is a cross-sectional view of the telescoping eyelet when the modules are removed or prior to inserting the modules;
FIG. 7
is a cross-sectional view of the spring loaded eyelet attached;
FIG. 8
a
is another embodiment of the present invention illustrating a top view of a ring binder assembly with a two piece module that attaches between the ring mechanism and the cover by VELCRO® or other similar securing means;
FIG. 8
b
is a side view of
FIG. 8
a
, prior to attaching the second piece of the module;
FIG. 8
c
is a top view of the second piece of the module in accordance with
FIG. 8
a;
FIG. 9
a
is another embodiment of the present invention illustrating a top view of a ring binder assembly with a two-piece module that attaches between the ring mechanism and the cover by snaps or other similar securing means;
FIG. 9
b
is a side view of
FIG. 9
a
, prior to attaching the second piece of the module; and
FIG. 9
c
is a top view of the second piece of the module in accordance with
FIG. 9
a.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein, in detail, the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the invention and/or claims of the embodiments illustrated.
Referring to
FIGS. 1
a
-
1
c
, a conventional ring binder assembly generally designated as
10
typically comprises a ring mechanism
12
connected to a cover
14
by a connecting means
16
. Typically, the ring mechanism
12
includes a convex upper plate
18
having lateral edges
20
that are bent inward to form longitudinal seats
22
, which support a pair of pivotable lower plates
24
. Three rings
26
, each formed in two halves are typically mounted into the pivotable lower plates
24
. The ring mechanism
12
also includes a pair of actuating levers
28
that are attached to the ends of the ring mechanism
12
, in a manner well known in the art, such that when the actuating levers
28
are pivoted outwardly, the lower plates
24
pivot such that the ring halves
26
open. The connecting means
16
typically includes a pair of eyelets
30
secured through the ring mechanism
12
at each end, separately. Each eyelet
30
receives a rivet
32
, which also passes through the cover
14
, thereby securing the cover
14
to the ring mechanism
12
, forming the ring binder assembly
10
. It should be noted, that various other conventional ring mechanisms, such as those that incorporate more or less rings, ring mechanisms without actuating levers or ring mechanism without eyelets, may be employed herein without deviating from the spirit or scope of the invention.
Referring now to
FIGS. 2
a
and
2
b
and in accordance with the present invention a means for connecting modules between the ring mechanism and the cover is shown. More specifically, a washer
40
is provided between the ring mechanism
12
and the cover
14
. As stated above, in some ring binder assemblies the ring mechanism
12
includes an eyelet
30
. The washer
40
may in these types of assemblies be positioned between the eyelet
30
and the cover
14
,
FIG. 2
d
. The rivet
48
secures the ring mechanism
12
to the cover
14
. Continuing to refer to
FIG. 2
a
, once the rivet
48
is passed through the washer
40
and the eyelet
30
, the tail
50
of the rivet
48
is curled to engage the eyelet
30
, holding the rivet
48
in a substantially tight configuration with the ring mechanism
12
, such that the rivets tend not to rattle.
Referring now to
FIGS. 2
c
and
2
d
, the washer
40
is preferably spool-shaped and includes a cylindrical mid-section
42
, and cylindrical upper and lower portions,
44
and
46
respectively. The cylindrical mid-section
42
has a reduced diameter in relation to the larger diameters of the cylindrical upper portion
44
and lower portion
46
. However, the washer
40
may be a single diameter.
When the binder is assembled in accordance with the present invention, as illustrated in
FIG. 2
a
, modules
52
may be inserted between the ring mechanism
12
and the cover
14
, shown in
FIG. 3
a
. The modules
52
as depicted in
FIG. 3
b
include a groove
54
sized to frictionally engage the mid-section
42
of the washer
40
. This permits the modules
52
to be removed and replaced with other modules without disassembling the binder
10
. Since the modules
52
attach to the washer
40
the rivets
48
and the ring mechanism
12
may always remain in a tight configuration, thus overcoming. the shortcomings mentioned above.
The modules
52
may include numerous different configurations and designs. For example, the modules may include different designs or colors that are read or seen through a transparent cover. The modules may also have various sized or shaped pockets or holders that secure various items such as paper, CD-ROMs, floppy disks, VHS tapes, other office supplies and items. Each module
52
preferably has a scored edge
56
that aligns with the perforation
57
in the cover
14
, such that when the binder is closed the module
52
rests against the cover
14
, illustrated in greater detail below.
Since the modules
52
are attached between the ring mechanisms and the covers no ring capacity is used and the binder space is more properly utilized. As illustrated in
FIG. 4
a
a typically module
62
is attached through the rings
64
of a binder
60
. The module
62
is designed to hold a VHS tape
66
. As illustrated the module
62
utilizes a portion of the ring capacity that when the binder
60
is closed causes the VHS tape
66
to take up a majority of the binder space. However, as illustrated in
FIG. 4
b
, a module
70
as described above with a perforated edge
72
and capable of holding a VHS tape
66
, attaches between the ring mechanism
12
and the cover
14
. As illustrated the module
70
does not utilize any ring capacity. Moreover, when the binder is closed, the module
70
rests against the cover
14
leaving the binder space open.
Referring now to
FIGS. 5
a
and
5
b
, in another embodiment of the present invention an eyelet may be integrally molded with a spool-shaped washer, generally referenced as
80
. The eyelet/washer has a top portion
82
and a bottom portion
84
and is sized to receive a rivet
48
. The bottom portion
84
of the eyelet/washer
80
includes a spool-shaped washer that is sized to receive the modules as discussed above. The eyelet/washer
80
may also include protrusions
85
integrally molded into the eyelet/washer
80
that serve to separate the bottom portion
84
and the top portion
82
. When the eyelet/washer
80
is inserted through the ring mechanism
12
the top portion
82
is curled over the upper plate
18
and the protrusions
85
rest below the pivotable lower plates
24
, securing the eyelet/washer
80
in place. The inclusion of the protrusions
85
prevents the eyelet/washer
80
from sliding upwardly and downwardly within the ring mechanism
12
. It is important to note that while preferably the eyelet/washer
80
includes the protrusions
85
, other embodiments of the present invention may provide for an eyelet/washer that does not include such protrusions
85
.
It should also be noted that various other binders do not utilize eyelets. In such instances the ring mechanism attaches to the cover by crimping a rivet through the two. As such, the washer may be placed directly against the ring mechanism. The rivet would then pass through the cover, washer and the ring mechanism without using an eyelet.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in
FIGS. 6
a
,
6
b
and
6
c
, a means to resilient secure the modules
52
under a ring mechanism
12
is generally illustrated as
84
. The resilient securing means
84
is preferably a telescoping spring-loaded eyelet
90
, which includes an outer sleeve
92
that is attached or secured to the upper plate
18
of a ring mechanism
12
. The telescoping eyelet
90
also includes an inner sleeve
94
that has a cone head
96
integrally formed thereon. A compression spring
98
is positioned within the two sleeves and biases the two sleeves away from each other. To prevent the two sleeves from separating, the outer sleeve
92
includes an indentation
100
around its lower portion and the inner sleeve
94
includes an outwardly tapered edge
102
around its top portion. When biased away from each other, the indentation
100
engages the tapered edge
102
preventing the sleeves from separating. When a rivet
104
is passed through the telescoping eyelet
90
and secured to the ring mechanism
12
, the compression spring
98
maintains the cone head
96
downwardly towards the rivet head
106
. Various modules
52
may be attached onto the rivet
104
between the cone head
96
and the rivet head
106
, or between the cone head
96
and an independent cone washer
108
. When the modules
52
are removed,
FIG. 6
c
, the compression spring
98
biases the inner sleeve
94
downwardly against the cone washer
108
, thus maintaining the rivet
104
in a substantially tight configuration.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention and as illustrated in
FIG. 7
, the resilient securing means
84
includes a spring-loaded eyelet
110
positioned between the ring mechanism
12
and the cover
14
. As mentioned above the eyelet
110
is secured through the lower and upper plates
19
and
18
respectively, of the ring mechanism
12
. The spring-loaded eyelet
110
includes a compression spring
112
that biases an upper cone washer
114
downwardly towards a lower cone washer
116
. A rivet
118
, similarly described above, secures the ring mechanism
12
with the spring-loaded eyelet
110
and the upper and lower cone washers
114
and
116
to the cover
14
. Various modules
52
frictionally engage the rivet
118
between the upper cone washer
114
and the lower cone washer
116
. Since the spring
112
biases the upper cone washer
114
downwardly against the rivet head
120
, the modules
52
are resiliently held in position. Moreover, the rivet
118
is held in position thereby restricting movement or rattling of the rivet
118
when modules
52
are in place or removed. In various other embodiments, the lower cone washer
116
may be removed without materially affecting the scope of the invention.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, other means for connecting modules between the ring mechanism and the cover is illustrated and described below with reference to
FIGS. 8
a
-
8
c
and
9
a
-
9
c
. While the modules illustrated and described in the previous embodiments are unitary or single piece modules that click into the ring mechanism assembly, the modules may consist of a multi-piece arrangement. Referring to
FIGS. 8
a
-
8
c
, a ring binder assembly
130
includes a ring mechanism
12
and a cover
14
secured to each other by rivets
48
. The connecting means may include a pair of straps
132
, which is permanently or removably attached to the assembly between the ring mechanism
12
and the cover
14
. Each strap
132
would be made of or include a portion of VELCRO® or other similar type of securing material or means. A module
136
, which included a second strip
138
or portion configured to receive or attach to the first portion
134
, would then removably connect to the straps
132
. The module
136
may be designed to hold or secure various types of supplies.
Referring now to
FIGS. 9
a
-
9
c
, the connecting means may include a two-piece module with snaps. A first section
152
is attached to the assembly between the ring mechanism
12
and the cover
14
. The first section
152
would also include one portion of the snaps, for instance the female portion
152
. The second section
154
would then include the other or male
156
portion of the snaps. The second section
154
would also include the various pocket or holders. Since the second section
154
is removable, various different modules could be attached to the assembly by utilizing the snaps.
From the foregoing and as mentioned above, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific methods and apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.
Claims
- 1. A ring binder assembly comprising: a ring mechanism; a cover; a means to connect at least one removable module between the ring mechanism and the cover; and a means to secure together the ring mechanism, the connecting means and the cover; and a pair of eyelets secured through the ring mechanism, the pair of eyelets configured to receive the securing means and positioned against the connecting means, wherein the connecting means comprises a washer having a mid-section sized to frictionally receive the at least one module.
- 2. The ring binder assembly of claim 1, wherein the washer is spool-shaped.
- 3. The ring binder assembly of claim 2, wherein the securing means comprises a pair of rivets separately secured in a substantially tight configuration through one of the washers and its corresponding eyelet.
- 4. The ring binder assembly of claim 1 wherein the securing means further includes the means to resiliently secure the ring mechanism, the connecting means and the cover together, when at least one removable module is connected to or removed from the connecting means.
- 5. The ring binder assembly of claim 1 wherein the securing means and the connecting means comprises at least one rivet, each rivet having a rivet head and passes through the cover and the ring mechanism and wherein at least one removable module may connect to the rivet between the rivet head and the ring mechanism.
- 6. The ring binder assembly of claim 4 wherein the resilient securing means comprises:a pair of eyelets secured through the ring mechanism; an upper cone washer positioned against each eyelet; a compression spring housed in each eyelet and biasing the upper cone washer towards the rivet head such that the modules are resiliently secured relative to the rivet between the upper cone washer and the rivet head and wherein when the modules are removed from the rivet the compression spring biasing the upper cone washer towards the rivet head maintains the rivet in a substantially tight configuration.
- 7. The ring binder assembly of claim 6 wherein each eyelet further comprises:an outer sleeve having an indentation; an inner sleeve having an outwardly tapered edge and positioned within the outer sleeve; and the compression spring positioned within the outer and inner sleeves biasing the sleeves away from each other such that when the sleeves bias away from each other, the tapered edge engages the indentation preventing the two sections from separating from each other.
- 8. The ring binder assembly of claim 7, wherein the upper cone washer is integrally formed with the inner sleeve.
- 9. The ring binder assembly of claim 6 further comprising a lower cone washer positioned between the upper cone washer and the rivet head, wherein the modules engage the rivet between the upper and lower cone washers.
- 10. A ring binder assembly including a ring mechanism, a cover, and a pair of rivets secured in a substantially tight configuration through the cover and the ring mechanism, the assembly further comprising: a means to connect at least one removable module to the ring mechanism assembly between the ring mechanism and the cover; wherein the connecting means includes a pair of spool shaped washers each washer having a bore sized to receive one of the rivets.
- 11. The ring binder assembly of claim 10 further comprising:a pair of eyelets positioned through the ring mechanism and separately against one of the washers, each eyelet having a bore sized to receive the pair of rivets.
- 12. The ring binder assembly of claim 11 wherein the eyelet and the washer are integrally formed into a unitary piece.
- 13. A ring binder assembly including a ring mechanism, a cover, and a pair of rivets secured in a substantially tight configuration through the cover and the ring mechanism, the assembly further comprising a means to connect at least one removable module to the ring mechanism assembly between the ring mechanism and the cover, which connecting means includes a first means secured to the rivets between the ring mechanism and the cover and having a removable attachment device; and a second means also having a removable attachment device configured to be removably attached to the first means and including a module.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
1818999 |
Murphy |
Aug 1931 |
A |
1977897 |
Schlossen et al. |
Oct 1934 |
A |
3191604 |
Wance |
Jun 1965 |
A |