Ring Binder

The present invention relates to a ring carrier or "ring metal" for holding pages to a spine of a ring binder. In particular, the invention relates to a ring metal having a flexible cover sheet with diversely shaped regions along its length.

In a conventional ring binder a plurality of openable circular rings are arranged along a length of a ring metal which itself is secured to a spine or side panel of the cover of the ring binder. The rings are attached at their base ends to a respective one of a pair of hinged leaves which conform to a cross sectional "V" shape. At a central intersection between the two hinged leaves the hinge leaves provide interlacing tabs which prevent the leaves from becoming separated. Syrrounding the hinged leaves and extending the length of the ring metal is a resilient arcuate cover portion or "shield" having hooked lateral edge portion which clamp the hinged leaves into either an upright V configuration when the rings are open or a downward V configuration when the rings are closed. The resilient clasping of the shield provides for a "snapping" between the ring open and ring closed positions. Additionally, this resiliency holds the rings in a closed condition during usage.

It is a problem in designing ring binders that the interlacing tabs associated with the V-shaped leaves can overextend upwardly and foul or dent the shield from beneath, especially if the rings are forcibly spread apart.

It is known in the prior art to provide on the shield, between the rings along the length of the shield, a dimple or a downward indentation which creates an upward displacement stop for the hinged leaves. This stop is sized to limit the upward movement of the V-shaped hinged leaves to that position which prevents contact of the tabs with the underside of the shield. Such a design is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,552,478.

A re-enforced cover member having longitudinally arranged arcuate sections connected to, overlapping or blended into polygonal cross sections is not shown.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an easily assembled ring metal for a ring binder which also provides a sturdy and reliable mechanism for opening and closing the rings associated therewith.

The objects are inventively achieved in a ring metal for a ring binder having varied cross sectional profiles along an axial length of the ring metal. Between rings a segmental or polygonal arch section is arranged, and at each ring an arcuate arch section or band section is provided. The segmental arch section maintains a lower vertical clearance than the arcuate arch sections thereby limiting the upward displacement of V-shaped hinged leaves when the rings are opened. Thus, by limiting the overhead height for the V-shaped hinged leaves, the tabs associated with the conventional hinged leaves which are axially located in the arcuate arched sections, stop short of fouling the arcuate arched sections when the rings are opened. Thus, the tabs cannot puncture or otherwise push against the arcuate arch section of the binder.

By immediately transitioning from the arcuate arch section to the polygonal section a rib is created at that location which strengthens the cover across the width of the cover which improves the tension of the finished binder.

During assembly, before the hooked lateral edges are formed, the shield extends downwardly in two parallel straight edge portions or "legs". The hinged leaves are placed within the shield and then the legs are bent inwardly to form the hooked lateral edge portions. It is advantageous to maintain these legs in parallel orientation during assembly. The ribs add rigidity to the shield and keep the legs parallel, therefore easing the assembly process.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ring metal of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along II--II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along III--III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of a shield of the ring metal of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along V--V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a alternate embodiment of a shield;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken generally along line VII--VIII of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a partial exploded view of a spring clip and the shield of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 1 shows a "ring metal" or a ring carrier 10 of the present invention. The ring metal is normally attached to a spine portion or a side cover portion of a loose leaf ring binder. The ring metal holds a plurality of openable rings 12, 14, 16 arranged axially along the metal. The rings penetrate at a base end through a cover 20 at notches 21 and are attached to hinged leaves 22, 24 shown in FIG. 2. Mounted on opposite ends of the ring metal are release levers 28, 30 which can be rotated to force the hinged leaves into an upward V configuration or forced the hinged leaves into a downward V configuration. The operation of the leaves 22, 24 and the levers 28, 30 is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,157, issued May 26, 1992.

The shield 20 of the invention comprises, in the preferred embodiment, five regions. At the location of each ring 12, 14, 16 the shield has an arcuate cross section at the bands 32, 34, 36. Between the bands the shield comprises segmental or polygonal cross sections at the intermediate sections 42, 44. In the preferred embodiments the bands 32, 34, 36 immediately transition into the adjacent intermediate sections 42, 44 respectively. This can be accomplished in a stamping operation. The immediate transition or discontinuity creates ribs 45 which strengthen the shield 20 in a widthwise direction.

FIG. 2 shows the opened ring 14 having ring halves 14a, 14b attached at base ends 14c, 14d to the hinged leaves 22, 24 respectively. In the configuration of FIG. 2 the hinged leaves have been forced in an upward V shape. The hinged leaves 22, 24 are resiliently clasped by the shield 20 which has hooked lateral edge portions 20a, 20b which surround outside lateral sides of the hinged leaves 22, 24. Before the edge portions 20a, 20b are formed they are directed straight down as legs 20a, 20b, shown dashed. This allows space for the installation of the hinged leaves 22, 24. During assembly the ribs 45 add stiffness to the shield to help retain the legs 20a, 20b in a parallel orientation. A top portion 22a, 24a respectively of the hinged leaves 22, 24 abuts a top segment 42a of the intermediate section 42 when the rings are opened. The intermediate section 42 comprises the top segment 42a and opposite side segments 42b and 42c in a polygonal or straight line segmental configuration. The intermediate section 44 is identical.

Typical for hinged leaf construction are interlacing tabs 22b, 24b respectively which prevent the hinged leaves from separating at their interface. In the invention, these tabs can be located in the band sections 32, 34, and 36. As pointed out as a problem in the prior art, when the rings are stretched open under some force these tabs 22b, 24b can sometimes dent the shield 20 from beneath. As a part of the present invention, when the upper portions 22a, 24a land on the top segment 42a the tabs 22b, 24b, which are located in the arcuate bands 32, 34, 36, fall short or striking the arcuate bands 32, 34, 36 and thus denting is prevented. This is further demonstrated with reference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show in plan view and sectional view the arrangement of the shield 20 shown in FIG. 1. In this section the outer bands 32, 36 immediately transition into sixth and seventh outer sections, 46, 48 which also have polygonal cross sections.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show an alternate embodiment of a shield 20' in plan and sectional view where the outer bands 32, 36 and sixth and seventh outer sections 46, 48 of FIG. 4 have been replaced by rounded arcuate bands 32', 36' extending outwardly to the edge of the shield 20' and which transition down to rounded apertures 50, 52 for attaching the ring metal to the binder, such as by rivets.

FIG. 8 shows an advantageous method of attaching the ring metal 10 to a binder cover 60. A steel spring clip 62, or a plurality of such clips, is used. The spring clip 62 is riveted to the cover 60 at an aperture 64 through a base 65. The clip has lateral side walls 66, 68 extending upward from the base 65. The side walls 66, 68 are bent off outwardly in release levers 70, 72. The side walls 66, 68 also have tabs 74, 76 cut and bent therefrom inwardly which, when the metal 10 is installed overlie the shield 20, hold the metal 10 to the cover 60. The base and side walls also have locator tabs 78, 80 cut and bent therefrom which register with locator notches 82, 84 located in opposite hooked lateral edge portions 20a, 20b (84 not shown but located in hooked lateral edge portion 20b opposite notch 82).

To install the ring metal 10, the release levers 70, 72 are depressed, thus separating the tabs 74, 76. The ring metal 10 is pressed onto the clip 62 with the locator tabs 78, 80 registering with the locator notches 82, 84. The levers are released and the tabs 74, 76 spring over the shield 20.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, those of skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made thereto without the departing from the scope and sprite of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.