Document holder

A novel loose-leaf holder is provided for binding documents such as a multi-leaf computer printout and mounting the same in a suspension-filing and/or storing system. The holder comprises a plastic body which is molded as an integral unit and comprises two side sections which are connected together by a hinge section so that they can be swung toward and away from one another, and document mounting posts carried by one side section and engageable by the other side section. Manually releasable locking means are provided for locking the two side sections together so as to captivate documents which are mounted on the binding posts.

This invention relates to document holders and more particularly to devices 
for binding and filing documents and other sheet materials. 
THE PRIOR ART 
Holders for loose-leaf sheet materials are well known. Document holders 
designed for use in suspension filing systems are also well known. The 
prior art further includes document holders designed for binding and 
filing computer printouts. Such devices are exemplified in U.S. Pat. Nos. 
3,865,445, 3,540,832, 3,884,586 and 3,628,877. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The primary object of this invention is to provide a new plastic document 
holder which is designed to be used as a binder for loose-leaf sheet 
materials such as catalog and reference manual pages, ledger sheets, 
computer printouts, drawings, prints and the like. 
Another object is to provide a device which is designed to be used as a 
multi-document carrier in a suspension filing system of the type 
comprising a single support hanger or two side support rails. 
Still another object is to provide a document holder which comprises two or 
more integral document-mounting posts. 
A further object is to provide a novel document holder which can be made 
wholly of a molded plastic, has only a few moving parts, can be adapted to 
accommodate documents of different sizes, offers the capability of 
attachment and detachment of documents, is sturdy, relatively light 
weight, and adapted for use in a suspension filing system, and can be made 
in different colors or provided with distinctive indicia to facilitate 
storage in readily identifiable groups. 
These and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a 
document holder that comprises two opposed side sections which are 
connected to one another by an integral hinge so that they can be swung 
toward and away from one another, document mounting posts carried by one 
side section and engageable by the other side section, and locking means 
for releasably locking the two side sections together whereby to captivate 
documents that are mounted on the binding posts. The two side sections are 
formed with hook means for mounting the holder to a suitable support 
hanger on the rails of a suspension filing system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a 
hanging type document holder which is adapted for use in a suspension 
filing system and designed to bind loose-leaf sheet materials, including a 
computer printout 2 of the type which is folded accordianwise into a 
plurality of folds or sheets. The holder comprises two opposite side 
sections 4A and 4B and a hinge section 6 which are made of a suitably 
flexible plastic and are molded as one piece. By way of example but not 
limitation, the plastic may be polyethylene or polypropylene. When the 
holder is in its closed condition, i.e., with its side sections 
confronting and locked to one another as hereinafter described, it forms 
in cross-section a document receiving channel 8 (FIG. 9) with the channel 
being inverted when the holder is in use to store documents in a 
suspension filing system. More particularly, side sections 4A and 4B 
comprise side walls 12A and 12B each having one edge formed integral with 
hinge section 6, and side limbs 14A and 14B formed integral with the other 
edge of side walls 12A and 12B. As seen best in FIG. 6, side limbs 14A and 
14B are disposed at like obtuse angles with respect to side walls 12A and 
12B respectively. Additionally side sections 4A and 4B comprise 
longitudinally extending partitions 16A and 16B respectively which extend 
at a right angle to the limbs and additional longitudinally spaced 
reinforcing struts 18A and 18B which are disposed at right angles to the 
limbs and partitions 16A and 16B. The opposite ends of side sections 4A 
and 4B are closed off by end walls 19A and 19B respectively that extend at 
a right angle to limbs 14A and 14B. 
Still referring specifically to FIGS. 1-7 and 9, two posts 20 are formed 
integral with (or preformed and secured to) limb 14B adjacent its two ends 
and two holes 24 are formed in limb 14A in alignment with and positioned 
to receive posts 20. Preferably each hole 24 is formed with a tapered 
countersink 26 on the inner side of limb 14A. 
Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 6-9, the holder is molded flat, i.e. with 
the side sections separated and the limbs 14A and 14B being substantially 
co-planar, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The hinge section 6 is formed so 
that in its as-molded condition (FIGS. 6 and 7) it is characterized by a 
thickness at its center less than that of limbs 14A and 14B, whereby it is 
capable of yielding to provide the requisite hinge action. In the 
preferred embodiment of the invention the thickness of the hinge section 
is made less than that of limbs 14A and 14B by providing a groove 28 on 
its outer side and forming a flat surface 30 where the inner surfaces of 
side walls 12A and 12B would normally intersect. As a consequence of such 
a construction, the hinge section 6 is capable of being flexed and 
distended so as to permit the side sections 4A and 4B to be swung together 
into the closed position (FIGS. 1 and 9); at the same time the hinge 
section has enough strength and toughness to withstand the flexing 
involved in repeatedly opening and closing the holder. When the side 
sections are swung into closed position, the flat surface 30 folds along 
its length into two like halves which come into face to face engagement 
with one another as shown at 31 in FIG. 9. Surface 30 folds along a line 
33 (FIG. 3) which is substantially the middle of groove 28. When the 
holder is in its closed condition, the side walls 12A and 12B and hinge 
section 6 form an arch of generally triangular shape as seen in FIG. 9. 
The upper portion of the holder defined by side walls 12A and 12B is 
characterized by a hook section identified generally by numeral 32. The 
latter is formed by molding the holder so that in its flat as-molded 
condition it has a generally heart-shaped hole 34, (FIGS. 2 and 3) with 
one-half of the hole being formed in side wall 12A and limb 14A and the 
other half being formed in side wall 12B and limb 14B, and hook-like 
projections 36A and 36B on side walls 12A and 12B. Hook section 32 
confronts plate sections 40A and 40B on side section 4A and plate sections 
42A and 42B on side section 4B. Plate sections 40A and 42A are flat 
triangular sections that are integral with and extend at right angles to 
side walls 12A and 12B respectively, while plate sections 40B and 42B are 
portions of partitions 16A and 16B respectively. When the holder is in its 
closed condition, the edge of plate sections 40A and 40B and projection 
36A confront and engage the edges of plate sections 42A and 42B and 
projection 36B respectively, whereby projections 36A and 36B form a 
rounded hook and plate sections 40A, 42A and 40B, 42B form two angularly 
disposed surfaces that facilitate engaging the hook with a hanger or 
retaining member not shown. 
Preferably, but not necessarily, the side sections 4A and 4B also are 
constructed so that when they are swung together they will form a hook 44 
at each end of the holder, whereby the holder may be supported by the two 
rails of a conventional suspension filing system, e.g., like the holder 
shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,628,877. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the opposite 
ends of side walls 12A and 12B and limbs 14A and 14B have integral 
hook-shaped extensions 44A and 44B which comprise (1) surfaces 46A and 46B 
that extend at an acute angle to groove 28 and at a right angle to side 
walls 12A and 12B and limbs 14A and 14B respectively, and (2) surfaces 48A 
and 48B that are extensions of the outer surfaces of side walls 12A and 
12B and surfaces 50A and 50B that are extensions of the outer surfaces of 
limbs 14A and 14B respectively. When the side sections 4A and 4B are swung 
together so that extensions 44A are brought into engagement with 
extensions 44B, the surfaces 46A and 46B form inclined surfaces that close 
off the opposite ends of the arch formed by side wall sections 12A and 12B 
and hinge section 6. Although the extensions 44A and 44B are shown as 
being hollow due to cavities 52 (FIG. 3), it is to be understood that they 
could be made solid. 
Locking mean are provided for releasably locking the side sections 4A and 
4B in the closed condition of FIGS. 1 and 9. For this purpose the 
partition 16A is formed with a relatively thick base section 56 along its 
entire length and the side section 4A is formed with a selected number, 
e.g., four as shown, of apertures 58 spaced along its length. Each of the 
apertures 58 is elongate lengthwise of the holder and is formed through 
the base section 56 as shown. A pair of ribs 60 and 62 is molded on the 
outer side of partition 16A along opposite sides of each aperture 58. The 
ribs 62 associated with the first and last apertures 58 are formed with an 
L-shaped cross-section as shown in FIG. 3. Side section 4A also is 
provided with a longitudinally extending groove identified generally at 64 
formed in the outer surface of limb 14A. Groove 64 is of L-shaped 
cross-section and thus comprises a relatively shallow section 64A and a 
right angle relatively deep section 64B. The latter section of groove 64 
intersects all of the apertures 58. The shallow section 64A of groove 64 
terminates in relatively wide end sections 64C. The purpose of apertures 
58 and groove 64 is to accommodate a multi-latch locking unit identified 
generally by the numeral 68 (FIGS. 1 and 10). 
This multi-latch locking unit comprises an elongate bar 70 of which makes a 
snug sliding fit in the L-shaped groove 64. Bar 70 has an L-shaped 
cross-section and thus comprises a first section 70A which fits slidably 
in groove section 64A and a second section 70B which fits slidably in 
groove section 64B. The locking unit also comprises a plurality of 
latching elements each consisting of a flat body section 72 which is 
formed integral with section 70B of bar 70 and has a hook 74 at one end 
and a wedge-shaped detent 76 projecting on one side. A spring means also 
is provided to bias the locking unit to a locking position. The spring 
means may be a discrete component formed separately from the locking unit. 
Preferably, however, it is formed as an integral part of the locking unit. 
Accordingly the locking unit is made of a resilient plastic or metal 
material and one or more of the latch elements is provided with a spring 
in the form of a resilient finger 78 that is an integral part of the latch 
element and is located at a side opposite the side at which hook 74 is 
located. In the illustrated embodiment only one of the latch elements has 
a spring finger 78. 
An additional feature of the locking unit is formation of an enlargement of 
the section 70A at each end of bar 70 so as to provide two buttons 80 
which are serrated as shown at 81 to facilitate manual operation of the 
locking unit. The buttons 80 fit in the wide end portions 64C of groove 64 
and one sized so that they can move longitudinally but not laterally of 
the end portion 64C. The sections 70A and 70B of bar 70 are sized so that 
they will make a close sliding fit with the portions 64A and 64B 
respectively of groove 64. The function of detents 76 is to retain the 
locking unit in operative disposition with side section 4A of the holder. 
The sloping surfaces 82 of detents 76 allows the latter to be forced 
through the apertures 58 while the flat end surfaces 84 of the detents 
coacts with the confronting surface of the base section 56 to retain the 
locking unit in operative relation with side section 4A (see FIG. 9). It 
is to be appreciated that the holder is made of a material that has just 
enough resiliency to allow detents 76 to be forced through apertures 58. 
The latch elements extend through the apertures 58 and are sized so that 
(a) they can be moved in the apertures lengthwise of the holders and (b) 
they project beyond the edges of partition 16A and struts 18A far enough 
to lock to catches provided on the other side section 4B as hereinafter 
described. The spring finger(s) 78 of the locking unit engages the rib(s) 
60 and they coact to bias the locking unit away from the rib(s) 60 toward 
the rib(s) 62, i.e., toward the right in FIGS. 1 and 5. 
Referring now to FIGS. 2-7 and 9, the other side section 4B is provided 
with means adapted to be engaged by and connect to the locking unit so as 
to maintain the holder in a closed condition. In the embodiment of FIGS. 
1-10 such means comprises a plurality of catches, one for each latch 
element carried by locking unit 58. More specifically, the limb 14B of 
side section 4B is provided with four apertures 88 which are elongated 
lengthwise of the holder body and are located in alignment with 
corresponding ones of apertures 58 of side section 4A. For reinforcement 
purposes and also to provide the necessary catches, the partition 16B is 
formed with four flat projections 90 on the side facing away from struts 
18B. Projections 90 will terminate flush with the edge surface of 
partition 16B except that three of them have an extension 92 at one end 
that protrudes beyond the edge surfaces of partition 16B and struts 18B. 
Each of the projections is hollow and defines a hole of rectangular 
cross-section which is an extension of an aperture 88. In addition, one 
side of each projection 90 is formed with an inside lip 94 (FIGS. 3 and 4) 
that is shaped so that it can function as a catch for one of the latch 
elements previously described. 
Following is a description of how the locking unit and the catches 
cooperate to retain the holder in the closed condition. When the side 
sections 4A and 4B are swung toward one another, the bevels 74A of hooks 
74 engage the slanted upper surfaces 94A of catches 94 and notwithstanding 
the bias presented by spring finger 78, they are cammed lengthwise of the 
holder away from the catches far enough to pass around the catches. As 
soon as this occurs, spring finger 78 moves the locking unit lengthwise of 
the holder away from extension 92 so as to place the hooks 74 in 
interlocking relation with catches 94. To open the holder to remove or add 
documents, it is necessary to manually engage buttons 80 and thereby slide 
the locking unit lengthwise in a direction (leftward in FIG. 1) to cause 
the hooks 74 to be disengaged from catches 94, whereupon the side sections 
4A and 4B may be swung away from one another to the position shown in 
FIGS. 6 and 7. Extensions 92 serve as stops. When the side sections 4A and 
4B are swung into closed position, the initial engagement of hooks 74 with 
catches 94 results in a force that urges side section 4A to distort and be 
displaced longitudinally relative to side section 4B. Such action is 
prevented by extensions 92 which move along side of and preferably engage 
ribs 60 when the holder is swung to closed position, as shown in FIG. 5. 
It is to be noted that the posts 20 are located so that they will be able 
to penetrate the sprocket holes 96 which form part of a conventional 
computer printout. It should be appreciated also that the posts 20 may be 
located so that the holder may function as a two-ring loose-leaf binder. 
Similarly, the posts 20 may be omitted and replaced by three posts 20A 
that permit the holder to function as a three-ring binder. In this 
connection it is to be noted that limb 14A may be formed with three 
additional holes 24A in anticipation of the mold for the holder body being 
modified to produce posts 20A instead of posts 20. 
Of course, it is not necessary for the posts to be molded as an integral 
part of the holder body. Instead the posts may be preformed and secured in 
holes provided for that purpose in limb 14B. 
An additional optional feature of the invention is to provide means for 
holding a label with indicia identifying the documents attached to the 
holder. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 this is achieved by forming one of the 
end walls 19B with a flat extension 19C that serves as a tab to which an 
identifying label may be attached by a suitable adhesive. A relatively 
stiff backing sheet 98 also may be mounted on posts 20 to facilitate 
handling and also to protect the edges of the bound documents. 
The embodiment shown in FIGS. 11-18 is generally the same as the embodiment 
described above but differs primarily in its locking means. In this second 
embodiment the locking is achieved by two latch elements 100A and 100B 
which are mounted in opposite ends of limb 14A. Latch elements 100A and 
100B are made of a resilient plastic and are molded as mirror images of 
one another. Each comprises a body section 110 which has a first 
wedge-shaped hook 112 on one edge at one end and a second wedge-shaped 
hook 114 on the same edge but closer to its other end. The latter end is 
formed integral with a flat button 116 having a knurled outer surface 118. 
Also formed integral with body section 110 is a finger 120 which functions 
as a leaf spring. The latch elements are mounted in the two end walls 19A 
of side section 4A. For this purpose end walls 19A are made thicker than 
in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-16 and additionally they are formed with like 
openings 122 that are elongated in a plane extending at a right angle to 
partition 16A. Openings 122 extend through the limb 14A but are reduced in 
size at that end so as to form two opposed overhangs or lips 124 and 126 
(FIGS. 12 and 17). Additionally, at each end of the holder the outer 
surface limb 14A is formed with a shallow rectangular depression 128 which 
intersects the opening 122 at that end. Latch elements 100A and 100B are 
inserted into openings 122 from the outer side of limb 14A, with the 
spring fingers 120 yielding toward the body sections 110 enough to permit 
the hooks 114 to pass by the lips 126. As soon as spring fingers 120 have 
passed by lips 124, they spring away from body section 110 against 
partition 116 and thereby cause the hooks 114 to interlock with lips 126 
in the manner shown in FIG. 17. Buttons 116 prevent the catches from 
moving completely through openings 122. 
In order for latch elements 100A and 100B to interlock with side section 
4B, an opening 130 is formed in each of the end walls 19B which are made 
thicker than those of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-10. Openings 130 are 
elongate transversely to the partition 16B and may but need not extend 
through the outer surface of limb 14B. At the inner side of each opening 
130 a lip 132 is formed which preferably but not necessarily is bevelled 
as shown at 134. Lips 132 function as catches and interact with hooks 112 
of the latch elements to lock the holder closed. The bevels 134 act as 
cams to force the latch elements to move toward partition 16B so that 
hooks 112 can pass around and interlock with catches 132 when the side 
sections 4A and 4B are swung into closed positions. The holder is opened 
by manually shifting the buttons in the depressions 128 in a direction to 
compress springs 120 and hooks 112 to clear catches 132. Springs 120 
automatically return the latches to the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 17 
when the buttons are released. 
FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a further optional feature of the invention. In 
this case the holder is formed with document mounting posts 20B whose free 
ends are slotted to form two sections 138 and also have a peripheral 
flange 140. The post-receiving holes 24A are sized so that the split ends 
of the posts must contract radially by deflection of sections 138 in order 
for the peripheral flange 140 to be able to pass through. The sections 138 
spring apart again as soon as the flange 140 has cleared holes 24 and 
thereupon the flanges interlock with the outer surface of limb 14A to help 
keep the holder closed. To avoid possible injury to persons handling the 
holder, the limb 14A may be molded with a circular rib 142 on its outer 
surface concentric with each hole 24A. Each rib is formed so that it 
projects beyond the end of the post 20B that is received by the associated 
hole 24, as shown in FIG. 13. 
FIG. 18 illustrates a further option of having the label-supporting tab 
formed as a separate and detachable member. In this case one of the end 
walls 19B of side section 4B is formed with a dovetail 146 and a label 
holder 148 is formed with a mating dovetail groove 150. Dovetail 146 and 
groove 150 are sized to make a tight sliding fit so that a suitable force 
is required to detach the label holder. 
The holders herein described may be suspended by means of its end hooks 44 
from a pair of parallel side rails, so that it and its contents may be 
stored in a file drawer in the manner of a hanging folder. It also may be 
suspended by means of its hook section 32 form a suitable hanger.