Patent Application
20070140780
Aspects of the invention relate to binder mechanisms for holding articles and more particularly to ring binder mechanisms for holding loose-leaf papers and the like.
Ring binders are employed to hold articles, typically loose-leaf papers, documents, and the like. Conventional loose-leaf binders include binder mechanisms having ring segments that abut to form closed loops. The ring segments are separated to facilitate inserting or removing the article to and from the binder. Levers are often employed to help separate the ring segments between the opened and closed positions. Locking mechanisms are also employed to limit inadvertent opening of the rings.
According to one aspect of the invention, a binder mechanism for binding articles is provided. The binder mechanism includes a base and an elongate ring support rotatably mounted to the base. The elongate ring support includes a plurality of ring members adapted to receive the article. The elongate ring support has an open configuration and a closed configuration. The binder mechanism further includes a locking arrangement having a locking tab disposed on the elongate ring support, and an elongate slide lock slidably mounted relative to the base. The slide lock includes a lock structure having a lock detent defining a cavity thereunder that is constructed and arranged to receive the locking tab when the slide lock is in a first position so that the locking tab is held in the cavity by the lock detent and the elongate ring support is held in the closed configuration. The lock structure also includes a ramp disposed adjacent the cavity that is constructed and arranged to cooperate with the locking tab such that, when the slide lock is moved to a second position and the locking tab is freed from the cavity, the locking tab is urged by the ramp to rotate the elongate ring support toward the open configuration. The locking arrangement also includes a spring disposed between the slide lock and the base. The spring biases the slide lock toward the first position. An over-center spring and lever arrangement cooperates between the base and the elongate ring support and is constructed and arranged to bias the elongate ring support toward a closed direction when the elongate ring support is at least partially in the closed configuration and to bias the elongate ring support toward an open direction when the elongate ring support is at least partially in the open configuration. An opening mechanism cooperates with the slide lock and is constructed and arranged to move the slide lock to the second position. The opening mechanism includes a button and a lever arm pivotally mounted to the base in a manner whereby downward motion of the button results in upward motion of the lever arm. A cam is rotatably mounted to the base and cooperates between the lever arm and the slide lock such that upward movement of the lever arm causes the cam to rotate and push on the slider lock toward the second position.
According to another aspect of the invention, a binder mechanism for binding articles is provided. The binder mechanism includes a base having a mounting surface and an elongate ring support rotatably mounted to the base. The elongate ring support includes a plurality of ring members adapted to receive the article. The elongate ring support has an open configuration and a closed configuration. An opening mechanism is mounted to the base and cooperates with the elongate ring support and is constructed and arranged to move the elongate ring support to the open configuration. The opening mechanism includes a button having a generally horizontal surface that, when the opening mechanism is in a rest position, the horizontal surface is generally parallel to the mounting surface of the base.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, a binder mechanism for binding articles is provided. The binder mechanism includes a base having a mounting surface and an elongate ring support rotatably mounted to the base. The elongate ring support includes a plurality of ring members adapted to receive the article. The elongate ring support has an open configuration and a closed configuration. A cover is constructed and arranged to cover at least a substantial portion of the base and the elongate ring support. The cover includes a cutout and the cover and base define a profile. An opening mechanism is mounted to the base and cooperates with the elongate ring support and is constructed and arranged to move the elongate ring support to the open configuration. The opening mechanism includes a button having a rest position and is disposed at least partially within the cutout. The button is substantially flush with the base and cover so as to be substantially within the profile when the button is in the rest position.
According to still another aspect of the invention, a binder mechanism for binding articles is provided. The binder mechanism includes a base having a mounting surface and an elongate ring support rotatably mounted to the base. The elongate ring support includes a plurality of ring members adapted to receive the article. The elongate ring support has an open configuration and a closed configuration. A cover is constructed and arranged to cover at least a substantial portion of the base and the elongate ring support. The cover includes a cutout and the cover and base define a profile. An opening mechanism is mounted to the base and cooperates with the elongate ring support and is constructed and arranged to move the elongate ring support to the open configuration. The opening mechanism includes a button having a rest position and is disposed at least partially within the cutout. The button has a generally horizontal surface that, when the opening mechanism is in a rest position, the horizontal surface is generally parallel to the mounting surface of the base. The button is substantially flush with the base and cover so as to be substantially within the profile when the button is in the rest position.
According to still another aspect of the invention, a binder mechanism for binding articles is provided. The binder mechanism includes a base and an elongate ring support rotatably mounted to the base. The elongate ring support includes a plurality of ring members adapted to receive the article. The elongate ring support has an open configuration and a closed configuration. The binder mechanism also includes a locking arrangement having a locking tab disposed on the elongate ring support and extending laterally therefrom, and an elongate slide lock slidably mounted relative to the base. The slide lock includes a lock structure having a lock detent defining a cavity thereunder that is constructed and arranged to receive the locking tab when the slide lock is in a first position so that the locking tab is held in the cavity by the lock detent and the elongate ring support is held in the closed configuration. The lock structure also includes a ramp disposed adjacent the cavity that is constructed and arranged to cooperate with the locking tab such that, when the slide lock is moved to a second position and the locking tab is freed from the cavity, the locking tab is urged by the ramp to rotate the elongate ring support toward the open configuration.
Various embodiments of the present inventions provide certain advantages. Not all embodiments of the invention share the same advantages and those that do may not share them under all circumstances.
Further features and advantages of the present inventions, as well as the structure of various embodiments of the present inventions are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, similar features are represented by like reference numerals. For purposes of clarity, not every component is labeled in every drawing. In the drawings:
The inventions are not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The inventions are capable of being arranged in other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.
Aspects of the inventions are described below with reference to illustrative embodiments. It should be understood that reference to these illustrative embodiments is not made to limit aspects of the inventions in any way. Instead, illustrative embodiments are used to aid in the description and understanding of various aspects of the inventions. Therefore, the following description is intended to be illustrative, not limiting.
Broadly, the invention is directed to a binder mechanism. The binder mechanism has a base that can be attached to binder panels and includes an elongate ring support rotatably mounted to the base. The elongate ring support includes a one or more ring members that receives an article, such as one or more sheets of loose-leaf paper and other such articles. The ring support can be opened to allow the article to be placed on the rings and closed and locked, as desired.
The binder may include a locking arrangement having a locking tab disposed on the elongate ring support, and an elongate slide lock slidably mounted relative to the base. The slide lock includes a lock structure having a cavity that receives the locking tab when the slide lock is in a first position so that the locking tab is held closed. A ramp is disposed on the slide lock and cooperates with the locking tab such that, when the slide lock is moved to a second position and the locking tab is freed from the cavity, the locking tab is urged by the ramp to rotate the elongate ring support toward the open configuration.
An opening mechanism may be employed that moves the slide lock to the second position. The opening mechanism includes a button and a lever arm pivotally mounted to the base in a manner whereby downward motion of the button results in upward motion of the lever arm.
The button may have a generally horizontal surface that, when the opening mechanism is in a rest position, the horizontal surface is generally parallel to the mounting surface of the base. In addition or in the alternative, the button may be substantially flush with the base and a cover of the binder mechanism so as to be substantially within the profile when the button is in the rest position.
An over-center spring and lever arrangement may be employed. The arrangement biases the ring support toward a closed direction when the ring support is at least partially in the closed configuration and biases the ring support toward an open direction when the ring support is at least partially in the open configuration.
It should be appreciated that various combinations of the above-described features can be employed together; however several aspects of the present invention are not limited in this respect. Therefore, although the specific embodiments disclosed in the figures and described in detail below employ particular combinations of the above-discussed features, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited in this respect, as the various aspects of the present invention can be employed separately, or in different combinations. Thus, the particular embodiments described in detail below are provided for illustrative purposes only.
Also, any or all of the these aspects may be employed in a binder mechanism, such as in a three-ring binder mechanism for holding loose-leaf papers and the like; however, the present inventions are not limited in this respect, as aspects may be used in retaining other items included to be bound. Various aspects and embodiments of the inventions will now be described in more detail with respect to the accompanying figures. In some of the figures that follow, specific numerical values are used to describe the numbers of elements and/or performance/size parameters. It should be appreciated that such values are not necessarily limiting, but rather, are merely exemplary only.
As shown in the illustrative embodiment in
In addition to covering the internal components of binder mechanism 20, cover 50 may be designed to give binder mechanism 20 a sleek profile. As shown in the illustrative embodiment in
Cover 50 may be constructed from any material or combination thereof and may have any color and any degree of transparency and translucency, as the present invention is not intended to be limited in this respect. For example, the cover may be made from a metal, plastic, composite, or any other material. In one embodiment, cover 50 is made from stamped sheet metal, while in other embodiments, cover 50 is made from a co-molded plastic. In an alternative embodiment, cover 50 is made from a combination of materials, such as a metal and/or plastic coated with a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). In addition, the material of cover 50 may be any color and may render cover 50 completely opaque, somewhat translucent or completely transparent. In one embodiment, (as shown in
To allow for certain components of binder mechanism 20 to be operable and/or user accessible, cover 50 includes cutouts, such as ring cutouts 56, through which rings 30 may extend. Cutouts may have different sizes and shapes to allow for different elements to extend therethrough. In some embodiments, ring cutouts 56 may have a larger profile to allow movement of ring segments therewithin, such as longer ring cutouts or slots 57 which accommodate movable ring segments 32, as shown in the embodiment in
As shown in the embodiments depicted in
In addition to cutouts for rings 30, cover 50 may include a button cutout 58 through which button 70 may extend, so that button 70 is user accessible, as will be explained below. In one embodiment, as shown in
As shown in the illustrative embodiment in
The portion of binder mechanism 20 that a user may contact to open binder mechanism 20 is user interface 72 of the button. As shown in the embodiment in
In one embodiment, as shown in the figures, the user interface 72 includes a generally horizontal surface (which may be contoured as described above, yet still be generally horizontal) that, when the button is mounted to the base and is in the rest position, the surface is generally parallel to the mounting surface of the base. The rest position of the interface is defined as the position it is in when the slide lock is in the first position, as will become apparent below.
In one embodiment, as shown in the figures, the interface 72 is configured to follow the profile of the cover such that the interface is substantially flush mounted with the base and cover when the interface is in the rest position. In this regard, as noted, the cover is constructed and arranged to cover at least a substantial portion of the base, the elongate ring support, the locking arrangement and the over-center spring and lever arrangement. The cover, however, includes a cutout that is adapted to receive the interface. When the button is mounted to the base and the interface portion of the button is within the cutout, the interface remains substantially within the profile formed by the cover and base such that the interface is substantially flush with the base and cover when the button is in a rest position whereby the slide lock is in the first position, as will become apparent below.
To open binder mechanism 20, button 70 may be configured so that user interface 72 is pushed downwards by a user, as depicted in the embodiments of
In some embodiments, user interface 72 is moved in a downward direction. This downward direction is translated to an upward direction about button pivot 74. In one embodiment as is shown in
The opening arrangement further includes a connection arm 76. As shown in the embodiment depicted in
As shown in the embodiment of
Cam button portion 82 cooperates with arm 76. In some embodiments, as depicted in
Cam 80 is connected to the base via a cam pivot 84. In some embodiments as shown in
Cam 80 further includes cam slide lock portion 86. As shown in the embodiments of
To both lock the movable ring segments closed and encourage these segments to open, a slide lock is provided. While most elements of the binder mechanism are fixed to or may rotate with respect to the base, in one embodiment, the slide lock moves laterally with respect to the base. As shown in the embodiments of
The portion of slide lock 90 which receives a force against the spring bias (e.g., from cam 80) is slide tab 92. As shown in the embodiments of
To bias slide lock 90 so that it may retain the movable ring segments in a closed and locked position, slide lock 90 may include spring 94 at one end thereof. In the embodiments depicted in
Lock structure 96 may be designed to retain the movable ring segments in closed position, to assist in moving the movable ring segments into an opened position, and inhibit slide lock 90 from completely returning to its fully biased positioned (e.g., the position depicted in
In these embodiments, each lock structure 96 may include a lock detent 100 defining a cavity 98 thereunder, a ramp 102 and an opening surface 104 on lock detent 100. Cavity 98 may be designed to hold lock tab 112 when the binder mechanism is in a closed position. Lock detent 100 may be positioned above cavity 98 to inhibit lock tab 112 from rotating upwards (thereby inhibiting the binder mechanism from opening).
The opening surface cooperates with lock tab 112 to inhibit the slide lock from returning to its fully biased position. Because the slide lock may be biased in direction A, if the lock tab were to fully clear the lock structure, so that the lock tab was above the lock structure (e.g., not in the cavity or on the ramp), there may not be a structure to inhibit the spring from biasing the slide lock too far in direction A, such that the lock tab may not be able to reenter the lock structure upon closing, as will become apparent hereinafter. As shown in the embodiments of
Ramp 102 may be positioned adjacent cavity 98 and lock detent 100, such that as soon as slide lock moves in direction B and detent 100 clears lock tab 112, lock tab 112 encounters ramp 102. Ramp 102 may be angled upwards from the base of cavity 98 at an angle of 35 degrees to encourage lock tab 112 to move upwards and may end when the surface of ramp 102 reaches the height of the bottom of lock detent 100. In one embodiment, ramp 102 may be long enough to position lock tab 112 just upwards enough to urge the binder mechanism open. It should be appreciated that the ramp may have any angle, such as 25-50 degrees, less than 25 degrees and more than 50 degrees, any length and any location relative to the lock detent and the cavity, as long as ramp may assist in opening the binder mechanism, as the present invention is not intended to be limited in this respect.
As shown in the embodiment depicted in
To synchronize the movement of all the movable ring segments and to enable the movable ring segments to be controlled by a single control mechanism, such as one lock structure 96, the binder mechanism may include a rotating holder, to which all of the movable ring segments may be supported or connected. As shown in the embodiment depicted in
Rotating holder may be designed to rotate with respect to the base. As shown in the embodiments of
The portion of the rotating holder which controls the opening and locking of the movable ring segments is the lock tab. Lock tab 112 may be a portion of rotating holder 110 which may be bent so that the major surface of lock tab 112 is perpendicular to the length of rotating holder 110. As explained, this major surface of lock tab 112 may interact with opening surface 104 of slide lock 90 to prevent spring 94 from biasing slide lock 90 into its fully biased position. In addition, when the binder mechanism is in a closed position, a top surface 113 of lock tab 112 may abut against lock detent 100 to inhibit movable ring segments 32 from opening. Although the embodiments shown in the figures depict rotating holder having three lock tabs 112, it should be appreciated that the rotating holder may include any number of lock tabs, which may or may not correspond to the number of lock structures or movable ring segments, and these lock tabs may be positioned anywhere along the rotating holder, as the present invention is not intended to be limited in these respects.
To releasably retain papers or other documents or materials, movable ring segments may be movable from a closed position wherein they contact other ring segments to form, a substantially closed loop to an opened position wherein they are spaced from the other ring segments to form an opening in the loop so that items may be inserted. As shown in the embodiments of
As shown in the embodiments depicted in
In order to assist in both biasing the movable ring segments into an opened position and biasing the non-movable ring segments into a closed position, an over-center spring may be used. As depicted in the embodiments of
It should be appreciated that the over-center spring may include any over-center mechanism incorporating any type of biasing mechanism, such as a coil spring or gas spring, and/or any include two separate biasing mechanisms to accomplish the function of biasing the movable ring segments open in the opened position and closed in the closed positions, as the present invention is not limited in this respect. In addition or alternatively, although over-center spring 120 is shown in the embodiments of
As discussed above, slide lock moves laterally with respect to the base. To permit the slide lock to move freely while maintaining all of the components within a slim binder mechanism profile, slide lock includes a cutout 106 to accommodate spring 120, as shown in the embodiment depicted in
The binder mechanism 20 further includes a base. The base may be used as a means of attachment to connect the binder mechanism to a binder 10, as a means of fixed and/or rotatable attachment for the internal components of the binder mechanism and/or together with the cover, as a means of encasing the components of the binder mechanism. In some embodiments as shown in
Although base 60 is depicted as an integrally formed component with all of the above-mentioned elements, these elements may be formed separately from the base and/or from one another. For example, in one embodiment, the non-movable ring segments may be connected to a separate structure (not shown) which is then connected to the base. In another embodiment, the spring projection may be attached to the cover, as opposed to the base. The present invention is not intended to be limited in any of the above-mentioned respects.
The movable ring segments may cooperate with non-movable ring segments to form a loop, to releasably retain papers or other articles. As shown in the embodiments of
The operation of the binder mechanism will now be explained. As described briefly above, the binder mechanism may be repeatedly convertible between a closed position, wherein second ends 37, 39 of respective ring segments 32, 34 are proximate on another, as shown in the embodiment of
As is shown in the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 2, 4-6 and 11, the binder mechanism is in a closed position; thus, second ends 37, 39 of respective ring segments 32, 34 are proximate one another. As can be seen in the embodiments depicted in
If a user were to pull on movable ring segments 32 in an attempt to open the binder mechanism, the binder mechanism is held in a closed position. As may be seen in the embodiment of
Referring to
As discussed above, when the binder mechanism is in the closed position, lock tab 112 may be held within cavity 98 by lock detent 100. As can be seen in
In this unlocked position, a user may manually open the binder mechanism by pulling movable ring segments 32 away from non-movable ring segments 34. Once a user exerts enough force on movable ring segments 32 to overcome the over-center spring bias (e.g., rotates rotating holder 110 and over-center spring protrusion 114 just enough so that apex-like structure 114 may come even with center 122 (zero-bias position); which will be explained further below), movable ring segments 32 will be pushed open by an opened position bias of over-center spring 120. Although in the depicted embodiments, the unlocked state is maintained by the user maintaining the semi-depressed state of the button, it should be appreciated that the binder mechanism may include any arrangement and/or be configured to retain the binder mechanism in the unlocked state upon releasing the button, as the present invention is not limited in this respect.
As button 70 is depressed past the unlocked position, wherein lock tab 112 is clear of lock detent 100, lock tab 112 may encounter ramp 102. As slide lock 90 is moved further along direction B, ramp 102 may push lock tab 112 upwards. Because lock tab 112 may be in a fixed relationship with rotating holder 110 and rotating holder may be in a fixed relationship with protrusion 114, as lock tab 112 is moved upwards, protrusion 114 is moved upwards as well. As may be seen in the embodiment of
As the ramp 102 continues to urge lock tab 112 upward, apex-like structure 115 moves above center 122, and the opened position bias of over-center spring 120 pushes protrusion 114 upwards. In particular, face 128 pushes against surface 116 to snap protrusion 114 and movable ring segments 32 into an opened position, as may be seen in the embodiment depicted in
When a user removes a depressing force from button 70, the spring bias acting on slide lock 90 moves slide tab 92 in direction A, which exerts a force in direction A on cam slide lock portion 86 causing cam 80 to pivot about cam pivot 84. Cam button portion 82 then exerts a downwards force on connection arm 76, causing button 70 to pivot about button pivot 74. User interface 72 moves upwards. As may be seen in
To close the binder mechanism, the user pushes on movable ring segments 32 just enough to overcome the opening bias of over-center spring 120. In particular, as soon as a user pushes apex-like structure 115 just below center 122, the closing bias of over-center spring 120 may take over and face 130 pushes downwards on surface 117 to snap close the movable ring segments 32. As top surface 113 of lock tab 112 passes just below the bottom edge of opening surface 104, spring 94 biases slide lock 90 further along direction A and cavity 98 may surround lock tab 112, such that lock detent 100 resides again on top of lock tab 112, as depicted in
It should be appreciated that any suitable materials, such as metals, plastics, rubbers, woods, foams, or any other material, may be used in forming one or more of the components of the binder mechanism, as will be apparent to one of skill in the art, as the present invention is not intended to be limited in this respect. Further, some components may be made from one material while other components may be made from another material or one component may be made from more than one material, as described above with respect to cover 50, as the present invention is not intended to be limiting in this respect. Further, button 70 may be made from sheet metal and covered and/or co-molded with a rubber or plastic material, such as TPE to create a softer or more cushioned feel and/or more grip for the user. Button 70 may also be formed with a hole through which a rubber or plastic or other suitable cushioning and/or gripping material may be inserted. In another example, the entire binder mechanism may be made from sheet metal to improve durability and reduce cost; however, to dampen any noise that the ring segments may make when they close together, rubber or plastic may be applied at suitable locations, such as at the ends of the ring segments. Further, to limit papers from being caught on the dampening material (e.g., rubber or plastic) of the rings, the dampening material may be centrally located on the surfaces of the ends of the rings surrounded by metal, so that the papers may only contact the smooth metal.
In addition or alternatively, certain portions of the binder mechanism may be optimally designed for different types of manufacture, as the present invention is not intended to be limited in this respect. For example, slide lock 90, as shown in the embodiments of
Although the figures depict embodiments wherein certain elements are located in certain relative locations along the binder mechanism, it should be appreciated that any element may be located anywhere along the binder mechanism, as the present invention is not intended to be limited in this respect. For example, the button need not be located at one end of the binder mechanism and may be located in the middle of the binder mechanism.
In addition or alternatively, although the figures depict embodiments with certain numbers of each element (e.g., three locking structures, one button, three rings, one over-center spring), it should be appreciated that the binder mechanism may have any number of each element, as the present invention is not intended to be limited in this respect. For example, the binder mechanism may have one, two, three, four, five or more rings. In another embodiment, each movable ring segment may be controlled by its own opening locking arrangement or alternatively, a binder mechanism may include only one opening/locking arrangement for all of the rings.
Although the figures depict embodiments wherein only one of the two ring segments may move, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited in this respect as both segments of the rings may move relative to one another and relative to another fixed object, such as the base or the cover. In some embodiments, rings may include only one ring segment which may form a loop with the cover or another part of the binder mechanism, as opposed to a second ring segment.
It should be appreciated that various combinations of the above-described embodiments can be employed together, but several aspects of the invention are not limited in this respect. Therefore, although the specific embodiments disclosed in the figures and described in detail employ particular combinations of features, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited in this respect, as the various aspects of the present invention can be employed separately, or in different combinations. Thus, the particular embodiments described in detail are provided for illustrative purposes only.
It should also be appreciated that a variety of features employed in the art of binders may be used in combination with or to modify the above-described features and embodiments.
The foregoing written specification is to be considered to be sufficient to enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention. While the best mode for carrying out the invention has been described in detail, those skilled in the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative embodiments including those mentioned above as defined by the following claims. The examples disclosed herein are not to be construed as limiting of the invention as they are intended merely as illustrative of particular embodiments of the invention as enabled herein. Therefore, systems and methods that are functionally equivalent to those described herein are within the spirit and scope of the claims appended hereto. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in addition to those shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description and fall within the scope of the appended claims.
