Abstract:
Binder apparatus are disclosed. An example binder apparatus includes a housing, first and second carrier rails supported by the housing and a slider comprising slots or protrusions. The slider is movable between a first position and a second position, where (a) in the first position, the slider to secure the first and second carrier rails in a closed position, in the second position, and (b) the slider to enable pivotable movement of the first and second carrier rails. The binder apparatus also includes a lever including a groove and gear teeth. The groove is to receive ends of the first and second carrier rails to pivot the carrier rails between the closed position and an open position. The gear teeth are to matingly engage the slots or protrusions to transition the slider between the first position and the second position.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This patent claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/756,340, filed Jan. 24, 2013, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This patent relates to binders and, more specifically, to binder apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Binders are used to store loose leaf pages, documents, other materials, etc. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts an example binder in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  depicts example carrier rails that can be used to implement the example binder of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 3-5  depict different positions of an example lever, an example travel bar and the example carrier rails of  FIG. 2  that can be used to implement the example binder of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  depicts the example travel bar of  FIGS. 3-5  that can be used to implement the example binder of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  depicts example carrier rails that can be used to implement the example binder of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 8-10  depict different positions of an example lever, an example travel bar and the example carrier rails of  FIG. 7  that can be used to implement the example binder of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 11  depicts the example travel bar of  FIGS. 8-10  that can be used to implement the example binder of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Certain examples are shown in the above-identified figures and described in detail below. In describing these examples, like or identical reference numbers are used to identify the same or similar elements. The figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features and certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic for clarity and/or conciseness. Additionally, several examples have been described throughout this specification. Any features from any example may be included with, a replacement for, or otherwise combined with other features from other examples. 
     The examples disclosed herein relate to binder apparatus that enable closure members/rings to be relatively easily transitioned and/or secured in either an open position or a closed position. More specifically, the examples disclosed herein relate to example travel bars and/or levers that enable a lever to pivot and transition carrier rails from the open position to the closed position prior to moving a travel bar. The travel bar is used to lock and/or secure the binder apparatus in the closed position and/or unlock and/or enable the binder apparatus to move toward and be in the open position. In contrast to some known examples, the example binder apparatus may not include an intermediate connector(s) between the lever and the travel bar to enable travel bar movement delay. In some examples, to move the travel bar between the locked and unlocked positions, the lever includes teeth (e.g., a pinion) that mesh with teeth (e.g., a rack) of the travel bar. To enable travel bar movement delay, the lever includes portions without such teeth. 
     In operation, when the lever begins to transition the rings from the closed position to the open position, the lever teeth that are meshing with the travel bar teeth move the travel bar and/or its locking mechanism to unblock the movement of the carrier rails and enable the rings to open. In some examples, the non-toothed portions of the lever may be configured to enable the lever to transition the carrier rails from the fully open position toward the fully closed position prior to the travel bar being moved (e.g., the teeth of the lever are not engaged with the teeth of the travel bar). Specifically, the lever may be moved from the fully open position toward the closed position a substantial distance prior to the lever teeth engaging with and/or reengaging with the travel bar teeth. Moving the lever without moving the travel bar enables the carrier rails to be transitioned from the open position toward the closed and/or secured position prior to the travel bar moving, which substantially prevents the binder apparatus from malfunctioning (e.g., jamming, binding, etc.). In some examples, a spring and/or biasing apparatus is used to assist in moving the travel bar from the unsecured position toward and/or into the secured position. Additionally or alternatively, the spring may assist in positioning the travel bar teeth in a position where the lever teeth, moving from the open position toward the closed position, can reengage with and/or mesh with the travel bar teeth. The spring may be coupled between the binder housing and the travel bar or otherwise coupled to bias the travel bar. 
     The lever gears may be positioned above and/or below the pivot point of the lever. The pivot point may be differently positioned and/or the lever may have different shapes (e.g., circular, oblong, etc.) to change the movement of the travel bar relative to the movement of the carrier rails. In some such examples, the lever teeth may have different sizes and/or shapes to enable engagement to be maintained with the travel bar teeth as the lever is rotated between the open and/or closed positions. 
       FIG. 1  depicts an example binder apparatus  100  that may be used to store loose leaf pages, documents, other materials, etc. The binder  100  may include a housing  102 , one or more associated closure members  104  and a lever or actuating assembly  106 . To open and/or close the associated closure members  104 , the lever assembly  106  may be actuated in a direction generally represented by arrows  108  and/or  110 . Specifically, to open the associated closure members  104 , the lever assembly  106  is moved in a direction generally represented by arrow  108  and, to close the associated closure members  104 , the lever assembly  106  is moved in a direction generally represented by arrow  110 . However, the lever assembly  106  may be differently configured to open and/or close the associated closure members  104 . 
     The housing  102  includes a first side and/or portion  112 , a second and/or central portion  114  and a third side and/or portion  116 . The second portion  114  is coupled to and positioned between the first and third sides  112 ,  116 . Carrier rails  202 ,  204  ( FIG. 2 ) and/or  702 ,  704  ( FIG. 7 ) are positioned within the housing  102  such that a first longitudinal edge  201  ( FIG. 2 ) and/or  701  ( FIG. 7 ) of the first carrier rail  202 ,  702  is biased by the first side  112  and a second longitudinal edge  203  ( FIG. 2 ) and/or  703  ( FIG. 7 ) of the second carrier rail  204 ,  704  is biased by the third side  116 . Third and fourth longitudinal edges  210 ,  212  ( FIG. 2 ) and/or  710 ,  712  ( FIG. 7 ) of the carrier rails  202 ,  204 ,  702 ,  704  may be pivotably coupled via one or more tabs, for example. To enable the binder  100  to be opened and closed, the binder  100  includes the lever  106 ,  201  and/or  701 , a travel bar  302  ( FIG. 3 ) and/or  802  ( FIG. 8 ) and locking elements  304 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , in some examples, the carrier rails  206 ,  208  define a slot and/or cutout  214  through which the travel bar  302  extends. In the illustrated example, the travel bar  302  includes a first portion  301 , a second portion  303  and a third portion  305 . The first portion  301  is positioned adjacent the housing  102  and inward facing surfaces of the carrier rails  206 ,  208 , the second portion  303  extends through the slot  214  and the third portion  305  is positioned adjacent outward facing surfaces of the carrier rails  206 ,  208  such that the carrier rails  206 ,  208  are positioned between the housing  102  and the third portion  305 . 
     In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 2-6 , the lever  201  includes a handle  306 , a first aperture  308 , a groove, a second aperture and/or beak  310 , a first and/or toothed portion  312  and/or a second and/or non-toothed portion  314 . A pin is received in the first aperture  308  and apertures of the housing  102  ( FIG. 1 ) to pivotably couple the lever  201  to the housing  102 . Ends  316  of the carrier rails  206 ,  208  are positioned in the beak  310  to enable movement of the handle  306  to in turn transition and/or assist in transitioning the carrier rails  206 ,  208  between the open and closed positions. A travel bar portion and/or end  318  having teeth and/or other structures  602  is positioned adjacent the toothed and/or non-toothed portions  312 ,  314 . 
     In operation as shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , to open the binder  100 , the handle  306  is moved in a direction generally indicated by the arrow  320 , thereby moving a first end  402  of the beak  310  toward outward facing surfaces  406  of the carrier rails  206 ,  208 . When the first end  402  begins to transition the carrier rails  206 ,  208  from the closed position to the open position, the teeth  602  of the travel bar end  318  are positioned adjacent to and/or intermeshed with the toothed portion  312  of the lever  201 . As the handle  306  is further pivoted in the direction generally indicated by arrow  320 , the travel bar  302  and its locking elements  304  are moved and/or transitioned toward an unblocking position (e.g., moved toward an end of the binder  100  opposite the lever  201 ). Specifically, the locking elements  304  are moved via the longitudinal movement of the travel bar  302  to position the locking elements  304  adjacent apertures  216  defined by the carrier rails  206 ,  208  to enable and/or not block the carrier rails  206 ,  208  from pivoting toward the open position. 
     To close the binder  100  as shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , the handle  306  is moved in a direction generally indicated by arrow  322 , thereby moving a second end  408  of the beak  310  toward inward facing surfaces  410  of the carrier rails  206 ,  208 . In some examples, the non-toothed portion  314  of the lever  201  has a length, arc and/or is sized to enable the second end  408  to engage and transition the carrier rails  206 ,  208  toward the closed position prior to the toothed portion  312  engaging and/or intermeshing with the teeth  602  of the travel bar end  318 . After the toothed portion  312  engages the corresponding teeth  602  on the travel bar  302 , further movement of the handle  306  in the direction generally indicated by arrow  322  moves and/or transitions the travel bar  302  and the locking elements  304  toward the blocking position (e.g., moved toward an end of the binder  100  adjacent the lever  201 ). Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, the travel bar  302  is biased via a spring and/or biasing apparatus  324  in a direction generally indicated by arrow  320  and/or  322 . In the blocking position, the locking elements  304  may be positioned between the housing  102  and the carrier rails  206 ,  208  to prevent the carrier rails  206 ,  208  from pivoting and/or the binder  100  from opening. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8-11 , in some examples, the travel bar  802  includes a first portion  801 , a second portion  803  and a third portion  805 . The first portion  801  is positioned closer to the carrier rails  706 ,  708  than the third portion  805  and the third portion  805  is positioned closer to the housing  102  than the first portion  801 . The second portion  803  couples the first and third portions  801 ,  805 . 
     In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 7-11 , the lever  701  includes a handle  806 , a first aperture  808 , a groove, a second aperture and/or beak  810 , a first and/or toothed portion  812  and/or a second and/or non-toothed portion  814 . A pin is received in the first aperture  808  and apertures of the housing  102  ( FIG. 1 ) to pivotably couple the lever  701  to the housing  102 . Ends  816  of the carrier rails  706 ,  708  are positioned in the beak  810  to enable movement of the handle  806  to in turn transition and/or assist in transitioning the carrier rails  706 ,  708  between the open and closed positions. A travel bar portion and/or end  818  having teeth and/or other structures  1102  is positioned adjacent the toothed and/or non-toothed portions  812 ,  814 . 
     In operation as shown in  FIGS. 8-10 , to open the binder  100 , the handle  806  is moved in a direction generally indicated by the arrow  820 , thereby moving a first end  902  of the beak  810  toward outward facing surfaces  906  of the carrier rails  706 ,  708 . When the first end  902  begins to transition the carrier rails  706 ,  708  from the closed position to the open position, the teeth  1102  of the travel bar end  818  are positioned adjacent to and/or intermeshed with the toothed portion  812  of the lever  701 . As the handle  806  is further pivoted in the direction generally indicated by arrow  820 , the travel bar  802  and its locking elements  304  are moved and/or transitioned toward an unblocking position (e.g., moved toward an end of the binder  100  adjacent the lever  701 ). Specifically, the locking elements  304  are moved via the longitudinal movement of the travel bar  802  to position the locking elements  304  adjacent apertures  716  defined by the carrier rails  706 ,  708  to enable and/or not block the carrier rails  706 ,  708  from pivoting toward the open position. 
     To close the binder  100  as shown in  FIGS. 7-11 , the handle  806  is moved in a direction generally indicated by arrow  822 , thereby moving a second end  908  of the beak  810  toward inward facing surfaces  910  of the carrier rails  706 ,  708 . In some examples, the non-toothed portion  814  of the lever  701  has a length, arc and/or is sized to enable the second end  908  of the beak  810  to engage and transition the carrier rails  706 ,  708  toward the closed position prior to the toothed portion  812  engaging and/or intermeshing with the teeth  1102  of the travel bar end  818 . After the toothed portion  812  engages the corresponding teeth  1102  on the travel bar  302 , further movement of the handle  806  in the direction generally indicated by arrow  822  moves and/or transitions the travel bar  802  and the locking elements  304  toward the blocking position (e.g., moved toward an end of the binder  100  opposite the lever  701 ). Additionally or alternatively, in some example, the travel bar  802  is biased via a spring and/or biasing apparatus  824  in a direction generally indicated by arrow  820  and/or  822 . In the blocking position, the locking elements  304  may be positioned between the housing  102  and the carrier rails  706 ,  708  to prevent the carrier rails  706 ,  708  from pivoting and/or the binder  100  from opening. 
     The examples disclosed herein relate to binders including a lever having a geared mechanism to move a travel bar between a blocking position and a non-blocking position. 
     In some examples, teeth of the geared mechanism are positioned on a bottom surface of the lever. In such examples, in the closed position, the teeth of the lever are actively engaged with corresponding teeth of the travel bar and the blocking elements are aligned with a solid portion of (e.g., not an aperture) the binder carrier rails. As the lever is depressed (e.g., moved to open the binder), the lower beak of the lever engages and presses the carrier rails upward and the lever teeth/travel bar teeth engagement move the travel bar toward the non-blocking position. 
     In some examples, when the lever is fully depressed (e.g., the binder is fully open), the lever teeth do not actively engage the travel bar teeth and a biasing element urges the locking elements, via the travel bar, to be fully engaged in and/or adjacent to openings defined by the carrier rails. The blocking elements may remain adjacent the travel bar openings even though the biasing element is biasing the travel bar. 
     In some examples, because the lever teeth are not engaged with the travel bar teeth, initial movement of the lever to transition carrier rails from the fully open position to the closed position does not move the travel bar. As the lever is rotated prior to the lever teeth and the travel bar teeth engaging, in some examples, movement of the travel bar may be caused by the biasing element and the increase in space between the carrier rails and the binder housing as the carrier rails are pivoted toward the closed position. In some examples, once the lever teeth and the travel bar teeth engage, further movement of the lever in combination with the biasing element moves the travel bar toward the locked position. Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, as the lever is rotated prior to the lever teeth and the travel bar teeth engaging, the position of the travel bar may be maintained via an interaction between the apertures of the travel bar and the blocking elements. 
     In other examples, the lever teeth are positioned on the top of the lever. In such examples, when the binder is closed, the lever teeth are actively engaged with corresponding teeth/structures of the travel bar up until a transition point (e.g.,  FIGS. 4, 9 ). At the transition point, the lever teeth no longer engage and/or intermesh with the travel bar teeth to enable the travel bar to remain stationary and/or substantially not move as the lever begins to rotate and/or move from the open position toward the closed position. As the lever further rotates toward the closed position pivoting the carrier rails, a space and/or distance between a pivot axis of the carrier rails and an inner housing surface is increased. After sufficient space between the carrier rails and the inner housing surface is created, the lever teeth re-engage with the travel bar teeth to move the travel bar into the blocking position. 
     In any of the examples disclosed herein, the number, size and/or the position of lever teeth may be adjusted to change the timing and/or movement of the travel bar. In any of the examples disclosed herein, the travel bar may include a planar structure and/or a non-planar structure(s) (e.g., include steps, tapered surfaces, etc.). In any of the examples disclosed herein, the lever may include a circular/cylindrical portion, oblong/cylindrical portion, etc. 
     In examples in which the motion of the blocking travel bar includes a vertical component, the arc corresponding to the area may correspondingly deviate from a circular path to match the motion induced by the travel bar. In some examples, the blocking mechanism can be of any type known in the art, e.g., cavity filling between the rails and the housing, or blocking between the rails and tabs positioned on the bottom surface of the rails, or other. 
     Furthermore, although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling under the doctrine of equivalents.