Abstract:
The invention provides a shield for use on at least a portion of the exterior of a ring binder. The shield can have a hardness greater than the underlying panel of the binder. In some embodiments, at least a portion of a ring mechanism is mounted on an exterior side of the binder to act as the shield. For example, the chassis of the ring mechanism can be mounted on an exterior surface of the binder while at least one ring extends through an aperture in the binder to the interior side of the binder. Particularly, the chassis can be coupled to a mounting surface on the exterior surface of the binder&#39;s spine panel.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/464,267, filed Apr. 21, 2003. The contents of Application No. 60/464,267 are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention relates to binders, and more particularly to ring binders.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The support panels of a conventional ring binder, which are sometimes referred to collectively as a flat, are typically constructed of plastic, cardboard, or cardboard wrapped with vinyl. The flat typically includes a front panel, a rear panel, and a spine panel connecting the front panel to the rear panel either directly or via hinges formed by vinyl wrapping. Conventional ring binders also employ a ring mechanism mounted on the interior of the flat to allow a user to insert documents into the binder and securely store them. The ring mechanism typically includes a chassis, a ring actuator positioned in the chassis, and one or more rings coupled to the actuator.  
           [0004]    The chassis of the ring mechanism is mounted on an interior surface of the flat and is typically an elongated piece of metal defining a curved shroud that terminates in opposing curled lateral edges abutting the interior surface of the flat. The ring actuator (e.g., typically consisting of one or two hinge blades) is positioned in the chassis, and the rings are attached to the actuator. The rings extend into the interior of the binder through one or more apertures in the shroud of the chassis.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention provides a shield, and more preferably a hardened shield on at least a portion of the exterior surface of a ring binder. In one embodiment the shield is located on the exterior surface of the binder&#39;s flat (e.g., on the spine panel) and is defined by the chassis of a ring mechanism. The chassis, which is typically made from a metal (e.g., spring steel) or a hard plastic material, provides a hardened exterior surface on the flat, and more specifically, on the spine of the binder. The shield can cover at least 50%, preferably 75%, and more preferably 90% of the surface of the spine. Preferably, the chassis is curved to make the binder easier to grasp and hold than traditional planar spine configurations. Furthermore, using a metallic chassis to define a portion of the spine&#39;s exterior provides a unique and aesthetically pleasing look when compared to typical casebound binders, molded binders, or vinyl binders.  
           [0006]    In one embodiment, the spine panel defines an aperture extending through the spine panel, and the ring mechanism includes a ring and/or trigger lever extending through the aperture into the interior of the binder.  
           [0007]    The chassis can have a substantially continuous, longitudinally-extending surface terminating in two spaced-apart, longitudinally-extending edges. The space between the edges defines an elongated opening in the chassis. A ring actuator (e.g., hinge blades) is positioned within the chassis, and the rings are coupled to the actuator.  
           [0008]    Further aspects of the present invention, together with the organization and operation thereof, will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements have like numerals throughout the drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    The present invention is further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate certain embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application or construction to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Rather, the invention disclosed in the accompanying drawings is illustrated by way of example only. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The various elements and combinations of elements described below and illustrated in the drawings can be arranged and organized differently to result in embodiments which are still within the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0010]    In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a ring binder embodying the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the ring binder illustrated in FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a section view taken along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view, partially in section, of the ring binder illustrated in FIG. 1 with the panels of the ring binder in an open position;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a ring binder embodying the invention; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of yet another alternative embodiment of a ring binder embodying the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]    [0017]FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a ring binder  10  embodying the present invention. The ring binder  10  includes a flat  12  having a front panel  14 , a rear panel  16 , and a spine panel  18  interconnecting the front and rear panels  14 ,  16 . The flat  12  can be made of a variety of materials that are well known in the art. For example, the flat  12  can be made of cardboard, plastic, cardboard wrapped in vinyl, and the like. By way of example only, the illustrated flat  12  is cardboard of the type used in what is typically referred to as a casebound binder.  
         [0018]    The binder  10  includes a shield defining an exterior surface of the binder&#39;s spine. In the illustrated embodiment, the shield is defined by a portion of a ring mechanism  22 , and more specifically by a chassis  24  of the ring mechanism  22 . However, those skilled in the art will understand that the shield of the binder  10  need not be formed by the ring mechanism  22 , but rather can be a separate component secured to the binder to define a portion of the flat&#39;s exterior surface (see, e.g., FIG. 6 and related discussion below).  
         [0019]    The ring mechanism  22  illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 includes components that are similar to typical prior art ring mechanisms. However, the components of the ring mechanism  22  are configured differently from prior art ring mechanisms. The ring mechanism  22  includes the chassis  24 , a ring actuator in the form of hinge blades  32  positioned in the chassis  24 , and one or more ring halves  38  that cooperate to define rings  39 . While three rings  39  are shown in the illustrated embodiment, fewer or more rings can be used.  
         [0020]    As best seen in FIG. 3, the illustrated chassis  24  is made of metal and has spaced-apart crimped or bent edges  28 . A body portion B of the chassis  24  extends between the edges  28  and is curved in a cross-section taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the chassis  24 . The body portion B of the chassis  24  defines an interior concave surface  30  and an exterior convex surface  31 .  
         [0021]    The chassis  24  can be made of substantially any material, such as metals, plastics, and the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the chassis  24  is made of steel, which is substantially harder than the cardboard material of the flat  12 . The chassis  24  can also have a variety of finishes, textures, colors, and surface treatments. For example, the chassis  24  could be wrapped in cloth, fabric, vinyl, or coated with plastic, rubber, resin, paint, and the like. Different metallic finishes, such as polished chrome, brushed chrome, brushed nickel, polished brass, polished bronze, and the like can also be used. The chassis  24  can include various patterns of ribs, dimples, protrusions, and the like as well. The finish, texture, color, and surface treatments of the chassis  24  can be selected to facilitate grasping and holding the binder  10 , to increase the durability and strength of the binder  10 , to provide an organizational or differentiating system for a plurality of binders  10 , and/or to achieve the desired aesthetic characteristics of the binder  10 .  
         [0022]    Those skilled in the art will also understand that the specific shape of the chassis  24  can be modified from that shown in the figures. For example, while the illustrated chassis  24  is elongated along a longitudinal axis and curved about that axis, the chassis of other embodiments can have substantially any suitable cross-sectional shape, provided it remains suited for operation as part of the ring mechanism  22 . For example, the shape can be two or three dimensional, such as substantially flat, triangular, bowed or arched about one or more axes, boxed (or other multisided shape), rippled, crimped, dimpled, and the like. Furthermore, although the illustrated chassis  24  has a substantially rectangular perimeter as viewed in FIG. 1, the chassis of other embodiments can have substantially any perimeter shape. For example, the perimeter can be oval-shaped, polygonal-shaped (e.g., diamond-shaped), or irregularly-shaped (e.g., wavy, jagged, etc.).  
         [0023]    As noted above, the illustrated ring actuator includes one or more hinge blades  32  housed within the chassis  24 . As shown in FIG. 3, two hinge blades  32  are positioned within the chassis  24 . The structure and operation of the illustrated hinge blades  32  is well understood in the art. Each hinge blade  32  has an inner end  34  and an outer end  36 . The hinge blades  32  are coupled to the chassis  24  such that the crimped edges  28  of the chassis  24  retain the respective outer ends  36  of the hinge blades  32 . As the ring mechanism  22  is opened and closed, the hinge blades  32  pivot about their respective outer ends  36  such that the inner ends  34  move toward or away from the interior surface  30  of the chassis  24 . One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that in alternative embodiments, the ring mechanism  22  may include only one movable hinge blade  32 , or may operate using other know ring actuators.  
         [0024]    Still referring to FIG. 3, each ring half  38  is mounted to a respective hinge blade  32  to open and close the rings  39  upon actuation of the hinge blades  32 . In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the hinge blades  32  are actuated by manually opening and closing the rings  39 . Unlike prior art ring mechanisms, each ring half  38  extends away from the interior surface  30  of the chassis  24  and does not extend through the body portion B of the chassis  24 . Rather, the ring halves  38  extend out of the chassis  24  through the elongated opening defined between the edges  28 . Thus, the ring mechanism  22 , and more specifically the orientation of the ring halves  38 , is reversed from prior art ring mechanisms, where the ring halves extend away from the chassis edges and through openings formed in the body portion of the chassis.  
         [0025]    As best shown in FIG. 3, the ring mechanism  22  is mounted on the spine panel  18  such that the crimped edges  28  of the chassis  24  engage the exterior surface of the spine panel  18 , and the body portion B of the chassis  24  extends from the exterior surface of the spine panel  18 . As such, the combination of the chassis  24  and the spine panel  18  form the overall exterior spine surface of the binder  10 . The spine panel  18  encloses the chassis  24 , thereby retaining the hinge blades  32  inside the chassis  24  and protecting the user from the movement of the hinge blades  32 . Although the chassis  24  is described and illustrated as being located on the exterior surface of the spine panel  18 , the chassis  24  could alternatively be located on the exterior surface of the front panel  14  or the rear panel  16 .  
         [0026]    The spine panel  18  includes a plurality of apertures  40  in the form of slots configured to receive the respective rings  39 . As the ring mechanism  22  is being mounted on the spine panel  18 , the rings  39  are aligned with the respective apertures  40  and inserted through the apertures  40 , thereby passing from the exterior of the binder  10  into the interior of the binder  10 . As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the periphery of each aperture  40  is defined by a grommet  44 . The grommets  44  can be made of metal, plastic, resin, composites, rubber, and the like. The grommets  44  reinforce the apertures  40  and provide a finished, aesthetically-pleasing look to the binder  10 .  
         [0027]    Fasteners  26  in the form of rivets or other suitable mounting members (e.g., screws, bolts, adhesives, and the like) are used to mount the mounting mechanism  22  to the spine panel  18 . Alternatively, if the flat is made of molded plastic, an integral plastic post can be used to locate the ring mechanism  22 , and once located, the end of the plastic post can be deformed to secure the ring mechanism  22  to the binder.  
         [0028]    In the illustrated embodiment, the chassis  24  covers a majority of the exterior surface of the spine panel  18 . More specifically, the chassis  24  covers both the majority of the height H and the width W of the spine panel  18 . It should be appreciated, however, that the chassis  24  could cover more or less of the height H and width W of the spine panel. In the illustrated embodiment, the chassis  24  is about 90% to 100%, and more preferably about 95% to 98%, of the height H of the spine panel  18 . Furthermore, the chassis  24  is about 70% to 100%, and more preferably about 80% to 90%, of the width W of the spine panel  18 .  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a ring binder  10 ′ that is substantially the same as the ring binder  10 , with the following exceptions. Like parts have been given like reference numerals. The rings  39  of the ring mechanism  22 ′ are opened and closed either by manual actuation of the ring halves  38 , or by using trigger levers  41  and  42 . Like the rings  39 , the trigger levers  41 ,  42  are also reversed from the normal orientation on prior art ring mechanisms. Specifically, the trigger levers  41 ,  42  extend away from the body portion B of the chassis  24  without ever passing through or around the exterior surface  31 .  
         [0030]    The first trigger lever  41  is shown extending through an aperture in the form of a slot  43  located a short distance from the bottom edge of the spine panel  18 , in much the same manner as the rings  39  extend through the apertures  40 . A grommet  44  can be used to line the slot  43 . The second trigger lever  42 , located near the top edge of the spine panel  18 , is shown extending through an aperture in the form of a notch  45  formed in the top end of the spine panel  18 . Either of these arrangements can also be used separately on any given binder  10 ′. Other alternatives for trigger lever positioning are also contemplated. For example, the trigger levers could extend completely around the outer edge of the spine panel  18 , or the trigger levers could be positioned on the exterior of the binder  10 ′.  
         [0031]    While two specific embodiments of the present invention are illustrated and described above, it is understood that other configurations of the present invention could be used without deviating from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the ring mechanism  22  could interconnect the front and rear panels  14 ,  16  without requiring any spine panel  18 . In such an embodiment, the ring mechanism  22  could be coupled directly to one edge of each of the front panel  14  and the rear panel  16  to form the spine of the binder. The connecting edges of the front panel  14  and the rear panel  16  could be directly bonded, crimped, pressed, or hinged to a portion or edge of the chassis  24 .  
         [0032]    In such an embodiment, the ring mechanism  22  would be modified to enclose the chassis  24 , thereby preventing the hinge blades  32  from falling out of the chassis  24  and protecting the user from the moving components, i.e., the hinge blades  32 , of the ring mechanism. For example, the edges  28  of the chassis  24  could be extended toward each other to form a wall that can close or substantially close the chassis  24  and form a housing for the hinge blades  32 . Alternatively, an additional plate can be positioned between the edges  28  of the chassis  24  to close the chassis  24  and form a suitable housing.  
         [0033]    Finally, it should also be understood that while the shield on the exterior surface of the binder  10  is defined by the chassis  24  of the ring mechanism  22 , other binders may achieve the benefits of an exterior shield without using the ring mechanism  22  to define the shield. Instead, a separate piece of material  50 , which can be made from the same materials and can have the same shape, size, finishes, textures, and surface treatments discussed above, can be secured to the exterior surface of the flat  12  (see FIG. 6) to achieve the desired advantageous characteristics described above. The separate shield piece  50  may or may not be harder than the material used for the flat  12 .  
         [0034]    Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.