Ring binder

Abstract
There is disclosed a ring binder adapted to be secured to a cover, the ring binder including an upper plate with a longitudinal axis; a pair of elongate plates supported by the upper plate; a number of ring members mounted to the elongate plates; and two rivets for securing the ring binder to the cover, in which each of the rivets includes a cylindrical body in direct engagement with the upper plate for attaching the rivet to the upper plate and an abutment plate adapted to abut the cover when the ring binder is secured to the cover; and a number of claws for securing the ring binder to the cover, in which the abutment plate includes a major surface, and the abutment plate includes at least one side edge from which a ridge member extends away from the major surface.
Description




This invention relates to a ring binder and, in particular, a ring binder adapted to be secured by at least one rivet to a base member.




Conventionally, a ring binder is securable to a cover by rivets having a head portion engageable with the cover and a tail portion which is deformable, e.g. by punching, to engage a barrel secured to an upper plate of the ring binder.




A disadvantage associated with such a conventional ring binder is that the assembling process is both laborious and prone to error. In the first place, it is necessary to provide the assemblers with rivets properly sized and shaped to fit both the barrels and the corresponding holes in the cover. The assemblers have to secure the ring binder to the cover by first inserting the rivet through the cover, then through the barrel in the ring binder and then to deform the tail of the rivet, e.g. by punching, to engage the upper plate of the ring binder.




It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a ring binder in which the aforesaid shortcomings are mitigated. It is also a further object of the present invention to provide a rivet to mitigate the aforesaid problems.




According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ring binder adapted to be secured to a base member the ring binder including a substantially rigid integral upper structure with a longitudinal axis; a pivotable lower structure supported by said upper structure; a plurality of ring members mounted to said lower structure; and at least one integral securing means for securing said ring binder to said base member, said at least one securing means including an engagement portion in direct engagement with the upper structure for attaching said securing means to said upper structure; an abutment portion adapted to abut said base member when said ring binder is secured to said base member; and a plurality of securing elements for securing the ring binder to the base member; said abutment portion including at least one major surface; and said abutment portion including at least one side edge from which a ridge member extends away from said major surface.




According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rivet for securing a ring binder to a base member, said rivet including an engagement portion adapted to be in direct engagement with said ring binder; an abutment portion for abutting said base member when said ring binder is secured to said base member; and a plurality of securing elements for securing the ring binder to the base member; said abutment portion including at least one major surface; and said abutment portion including at least one side edge from which a ridge member extends away from said major surface.











The present invention will now be discussed in further detail and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:





FIG. 1

shows an underside perspective view of a ring binder according to the present invention;





FIG. 2

shows an enlarged partial view of the ring binder shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIGS. 3A and 3B

show top perspective and underside perspective views of the rivet shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

;





FIG. 4

shows a transverse cross-sectional view of the ring binder shown in FIG.


1


.





FIGS. 1

,


2


and


4


show a ring binder according to the present invention, generally designated as


2


, as comprising a substantially rigid curved upper plate


4


supporting a pair of elongate plates


6




a


and


6




b


pivotally moveable relative to each other. Secured to the elongate plates


6




a


and


6




b


are three ring members


8


. At each end of the ring binder


2


is a lever


10


which may be pivoted outwardly, e.g. by a thumb, to act upon the underside of the elongate plates


6




a


and


6




b


and thereby to open the ring members


8


in the conventional manner. Engageable with an open depression


12


near each end of the curved upper plate


4


is a rivet


30


.




As shown more clearly in

FIGS. 3A and 3B

, the rivet


30


comprises a cylindrical body


32


having a narrower head


34


which is deformable to engage the depression


12


. The rivet


30


has a substantially flat plate


36


with a number of downwardly depending claws


38


, and at least one ridge member


39


, which extends away from at least one edge of the substantially flat plate


36


. The claws


38


may be deformed to engage a cardboard or plastic (e.g. PVC) cover


40


. The claws


38


are formed by being pushed out from the flat plate


36


. The claws


38


extend away, and are positioned equi-distantly, from the longitudinal axis


42


of the cylindrical body


32


. The cylindrical body


32


, head


34


, flat plate


36


and claws


38


are all integrally formed, so as to enhance the strength of the rivet


30


. When assembled, the flat plate


36


abuts against that surface of the cover


40


facing the ring binder


2


. Such an arrangement enhances the stability of the rivet


30


, hence the ring binder


2


, relative to the cover


40


.




It should be noted that the above only illustrates examples whereby the present invention may be carried out, and that further modifications and changes may be made to the above example without departing from the spirit of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A ring binder adapted to be secured to a base member, the ring binder including:a substantially rigid integral upper structure with a longitudinal axis; a pivotable lower structure supported by said upper structure; a plurality of ring members mounted to said lower structure; and at least one integral securing means for securing said ring binder to said base member, said at least one securing means including an engagement portion in direct engagement with the upper structure for attaching said securing means to said upper structure; a plurality of securing elements for securing the ring binder to the base member; and an abutment portion adapted to abut said base member when said ring binder is secured to said base member; said abutment portion including at least one major surface; and at least one side edge from which a ridge member extends away from said major surface.
  • 2. The ring binder of claim 1 wherein said ridge member is integrally formed with said abutment portion.
  • 3. The ring binder of claim 1 wherein said ridge member is integrally formed with said securing elements.
  • 4. The ring binder of claim 1 wherein said abutment portion includes at least two side edges from each of which a ridge member extends away from said major surface.
  • 5. The ring binder of claim 4 wherein said abutment portion includes four side edges wherein a respective ridge member extends from two opposite and substantially parallel side edges.
  • 6. The ring binder of claim 1 wherein the length of said ridge member extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said upper structure.
  • 7. A rivet for securing a ring binder to a base member, said rivet including:an engagement portion adapted to be in direct engagement said ring binder; a plurality of securing elements for securing the ring binder to the base member; and an abutment portion for abutting said base member when said ring binder is secured to said base member; said abutment portion including at least one major surface; and at least one side edge from which a ridge member extends away from said major surface.
  • 8. The rivet of claim 7 wherein said ridge member is integrally formed with said abutment portion.
  • 9. The rivet of claim 7 wherein said ridge member is integrally formed with said securing elements.
  • 10. The ring binder of claim 7 wherein said abutment portion includes at least two side edges from each of which a ridge member extends away from said major surface.
  • 11. The ring binder of claim 10 wherein said abutment portion includes four side edges wherein a respective ridge member extends from two opposite and substantially parallel side edges.
  • 12. The ring binder of claim 7 wherein the length of said ridge member extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said upper structure when said rivet is engaged with said ring binder.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
9517993 Sep 1995 GB
Parent Case Info

This is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/707,398, filed Sep. 4, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,807.

US Referenced Citations (18)
Number Name Date Kind
3098490 Wance Jul 1963
4552478 Cohen Nov 1985
5100253 Cooper Mar 1992
5106223 Kraus Apr 1992
5116157 Gillum et al. May 1992
5160209 Schuessler Nov 1992
5286128 Gillum Feb 1994
5755513 To May 1998
5755525 Chan May 1998
5810500 Whaley Sep 1998
5836709 Cheung Nov 1998
5842807 To Dec 1998
5879097 Cheng Mar 1999
5924811 To et al. Jul 1999
5971649 To Oct 1999
6007266 Cheng et al. Dec 1999
6033144 Ng et al. Mar 2000
6036394 Cheng Mar 2000
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number Date Country
196 02 813 Aug 1996 DE
1484908 Sep 1977 GB
Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 08/707398 Sep 1996 US
Child 09/164320 US