Support device for a binder system

The invention relates to a binder system which includes as a single integral unit a support device for supporting a pair of binder strap securing means as well as suspension means, for suspending the system in either a mode of horizontal filing or lateral filing. In addition, the support device makes provision for a cover sheet to be clamped relative to the device along an edge portion thereof.

This invention relates to a support device for a binder system and to a 
binder system including such a support device. 
The applicant is aware of various binder systems which are in use today for 
binding together stacks of paper sheets for filing or like purposes. The 
systems generally include a support device, a binder strap securing means 
displaceably engaged with the support device and at least one binder strap 
which can pass through corresponding apertures in a stack of paper sheets 
and which can be secured relative to the support device by the strap 
securing means for holding a stack of paper sheets in a bound manner. In 
addition, binder systems often include suspension means whereby these 
systems can be suspended within a filing cabinet or the like. Cover sheets 
may also be associated with such systems so that a stack of paper sheets 
can be bound together between such cover sheets forming part of the binder 
system. 
Binder systems of the above kind, known to the applicant, are all of a 
complex construction which is difficult to manufacture and accordingly 
expensive. This is particularly so when suspension means and/or cover 
sheets are combined with such systems in which case the support device of 
the system must be specially adapted and modified. The support device is 
in fact, usually of such a construction that suspension means and/or cover 
sheets cannot easily be combined therewith. 
It is an object of this invention to provide a support device for a binder 
system which is simple in construction and which can easily accommodate 
the provision of suspension means for the system, and cover sheets. 
According to the invention there is provided a support device for a binder 
system which comprises an elongate body member and which defines in 
cross-section along its length 
a first channel section for supporting at least one binder strap securing 
means; 
a second channel section for supporting suspension means for the suspension 
of the binder system; and 
a flange for clamping an edge portion of a cover sheet between the flange 
and an adjacent wall of the body member. 
In a particular arrangement the flange may project from the first channel 
section with the second channel section being disposed along the free end 
of the flange. In effect, the flange therefore defines a web portion 
joining together the first and second channel sections. 
In the above arrangement, a cover sheet may thus be clamped between the 
flange and an outer wall of the first channel section. 
The second channel section may be adapted to locate two suspension brackets 
at opposite ends thereof for supporting a binder system on a pair of 
spaced support rails of a horizontal filing system. In particular, the 
suspension brackets may be slidably located within the second channel 
section so that they can be displaceable between a retracted inoperative 
position and an extended operative position in which a binder system can 
be suspended. 
Alternatively or in addition, the second channel section may be adapted to 
locate a third suspension bracket intermediate between its opposite ends 
whereby a binder system can be suspended from a single support rail of a 
lateral filing system. The third suspension bracket may be pivotally 
located within the second channel section so that it is pivotally 
displaceable between a retracted inoperative position in which the entire 
bracket lies within the channel section and an operative position in which 
it projects from the channel section. 
The flange and/or the adjacent wall of the body member between which a 
cover sheet can be clamped may include a clamping rib to penetrate a 
surface zone of a cover sheet during clamping to thereby improve the 
clamping effect of the flange. 
Furthermore, the support device may be adapted so that the binder strap 
securing means can be pivotally supported in the first channel section to 
be pivotally displaceable between an unlocked position in which it can 
project from the support device, and a locked position where it lies 
within the channel section, each strap securing means having locking means 
for locking it in its locked position and each strap securing means having 
locating means for locating a binder strap thereon. 
The first and/or second channel section may define lip formations 
projecting towards one another from opposite walls of the channel 
sections. The lip formations may cooperate to facilitate the location of 
the suspension means and binder strap securing means relative to the 
second and first channel sections respectively. The locking means of the 
strap securing means may thus also be adapted to co-operate with the lip 
formations of the first channel section to lock the strap securing means 
in its locked position. 
The support device may be of a resiliently flexible material such as a 
synthetic plastics material. Preferably, the support device may be of a 
plastically deformable material such as a suitable metal material such as 
aluminium. The entire device may thus be formed by a single extrusion 
operation with few additional operations required to completely form a 
binder system. 
The invention accordingly extends to a binder system including a support 
device in accordance with the invention, a pair of binder strap securing 
means to co-operate with the support device and a pair of binder straps, 
securable within the first channel section defined by the support device, 
by means of the strap securing means. 
Each strap securing means may have a pivot zone to support the securing 
means pivotally in the first channel section of the support device so as 
to be pivotally displaceable between an unlocked position where it 
projects from the support device and a locked position where it lies 
within the channel section, each strap securing means having locking means 
for locking it in its locked position and each strap securing means having 
locating means for locating a binder strap thereon. 
The locating means of the strap securing means may be an elongate groove 
extending along the length of the securing means and in which a binder 
strap is receivable. The binder strap may be locatable in the groove by a 
friction fit, or alternatively, the groove and the strap may include 
complementary formations to locate them relative to one another. The 
binder strap may be an elongate flexible member. 
In particular, the locating means may be such that a binder strap can be 
threaded into the locating means but unthreading is resisted if tension is 
applied to the strap in an axial direction. Also, the pivot zone of each 
strap securing means may be provided by pivot axes slidably located in the 
first channel section of the support device. 
The strap securing means may be moulded of a synthetic plastics material. 
The binder system may further include suspension brackets located at 
opposite ends of the second channel section of the support device to 
permit the suspension of the system in a horizontal filing system. 
Alternatively or in addition, the binder system may include a third 
suspension bracket located within the second channel section of the 
support device intermediate its opposite ends to permit the suspension of 
the binder system in a lateral filing system. 
The suspension brackets may all be displaceable between an operative 
position in which binder systems can be suspended and an inoperative 
position. In particular, the suspension brackets may be displaceable in 
the manner hereinabove described with reference to the support device. 
The binder system may additionally include a cover sheet located within the 
support device between the flange and an adjacent wall portion of the 
device. 
The invention also extends to a method of forming a support device in 
accordance with the invention which includes the steps of extruding an 
elongate strip having the cross-section of a support device, and severing 
the strip at required lengths to provide support devices.

With reference to the drawings and particularly FIGS. 1 to 4, reference 
numeral 10 refers generally to a part of a binder system for the storage 
of loose leaf computer or like sheets, not showing its suspension means. 
The binder system includes a first support device 12 for supporting a pair 
of binder strap securing means 14 (only one being visible) in the binder 
system 10. 
The support device 12 comprises an elongate body member 13 extruded out of 
a suitable aluminium alloy, having an elongated lipped first channel 
section body portion 16, an elongated clamping flange 18 extending 
integrally from the body portion 16 and an elongated lipped second channel 
section body portion 19 disposed along the free end of the flange 18. 
The support device 12 is extruded in elongated lengths in the form shown in 
FIG. 4 of the drawings with the clamping flange 18 extending at an angle 
to the body portion 16. 
The elongated lengths can then be cut at spaced intervals to provide body 
members 13 of appropriate lengths for use. 
The body member is formed out of an aluminium alloy which is plastically 
deformable to allow the clamping flange 18 to be displaced between its 
inoperative position as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, and a clamping 
position as shown in the remaining FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings, to clamp 
an edge portion 20 of a cover sheet 22 between the clamping flange 18 and 
the body portion 16 thereby securely locating the support device 12 on the 
edge portion 20 of the cover sheet 22. 
The clamping flange 18 may be displaced into its clamping position in a 
suitable press. While so being displaced, threading apertures 24 may 
simultaneously be punched at spaced intervals along the length of the 
support device 12, through the clamping flange 18, the edge portion 20 and 
the base wall 26 of the body portion 16. The punching of the apertures 24 
may clearly be effected at any time during the manufacturing process of 
the binder system 10. 
The body portion 16 is further defined by the base wall 26, by a pair of 
opposed side walls 28, and by lip formations 30 which project inwardly 
from the opposed side wa11s 28. Similarly, the body portion 19 is defined 
by a base wall 27 projecting from the flange 18, a pair of opposed side 
walls 29 and lip formations 31 which project inwardly from the side walls 
29. 
Referring particularly to the mounting of the securing means 14 on the 
support device 12 and particularly the body portion 16 each binder strap 
securing means 14 has a pair of pivot axles 32 extending outwardly in 
opposed directions adjacent a pivot end 34 of the securing means 14. 
The pivot axles are shaped, as can be seen particularly in FIG. 4 of the 
drawings, to pivotally locate each securing means 14 in the channel 
section of the body portion 16, with the pivot axles co-operating with the 
lip formations 30 to locate the securing means 14 in position. 
Each securing means 14 is pivotally displaceable between its unlocked 
position as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, where it extends transversely 
to the length of the support device 12, and its locked position as shown 
in the remaining FIGS. 2 to 4 of the drawings, where it lies within the 
lipped channel section of the body portion 16. 
Each securing means has locking means in the form of locking shoulders 36 
which are shaped to co-operate with the lipped formations 30 to locate the 
securing means 14 in its locked position. 
Each securing means 14 further includes a locating groove 38 which extends 
the length of the securing means 14 for removably receiving a binder strap 
40 to locate the binder strap 40 on the securing means 14 during use. 
Each locating groove 38 is provided with a plurality of axially spaced 
locating grooves 42 for co-operating with complementary locating ridges 44 
provided at axially spaced intervals along the length of the binder strap 
40 to locate the binder strap 40 in the locating groove 38 against axial 
displacement along its length. 
Each locating groove 38 is defined by a pair of opposed side walls which 
diverge outwardly towards the base of the groove, thereby allowing the 
binder strap 40 to be forced into the locating groove 38, but combatting 
inadvertent dislodgement of the binder strap 40 from the locating groove 
38. 
Each securing means 14 is provided with a pair of gripping flanges 46 which 
can be gripped for displacing the securing means 14 into its unlocked 
position. 
The binder system 10 further includes a pair of binder straps 40 which are 
moulded out of synthetic plastics material, for use with the separate 
securing means 14. 
Each binder strap 40 has a shoulder formation 48 at its one end, and a 
threading formation 50 at its opposed end, and is of resiliently flexible 
synthetic plastics material. The formation 50 is adapted for threading 
through apertures 24 as is hereinafter described. 
Referring now also to FIGS. 5 and 6 a complete binder system 10 is shown in 
these drawings in two operative modes of suspension. In particular, in 
FIG. 5, the system is shown in a mode of lateral suspension whereas in 
FIG. 6 the system is shown in a mode of horizontal suspension. 
Referring generally to FIGS. 5 and 6, the complete binder system 10 
incorporates two support devices 12.1 and 12.2 as described above. The 
device 12.1 may have a front cover sheet 22.1 secured thereto whereas the 
device 12.2 may have a rear cover sheet 22.2 secured thereto. The cover 
sheets 22.1 and 22.2 have score lines (not shown) provided thereon to 
enhance folding of the sheets into the configuration shown. Both devices 
12.1 and 12.2 together with their cover sheets 22 may have apertures 24 
formed therein as above described so that a binder strap 40 can be 
threaded therethrough. 
In practice two binder straps 40 (not shown) may be threaded through 
apertures 24 and corresponding apertures in a pack of sheets 52 to be 
bound together. The binder straps 40 are first threaded through apertures 
24 in the support device 12.2 until the shoulder formations 48 at one end 
thereof engage the base wall 26 of the device 12.2 within the channel 
defined by the device 12.2. The binder straps 40 are then threaded through 
the pack of sheets 52 and finally through the support device 12.1 which 
has a securing means 14 mounted thereon for engaging the binder straps 40 
and binding the sheets 52 as is hereinafter described. 
Referring particularly to FIG. 5, a first suspension bracket 54 is 
pivotally received within the channel section body portion 19 of each 
support device 12.1 and 12.2 intermediate their ends. In their operative 
configuration shown the brackets 54 project above the body portions 19 and 
define hook formations 56. These brackets 54 are further slightly offset 
from a central position between the ends of the devices 12.1 and 12.2 and 
can engage a suspension bar 58 of a filing system 60 by means of the hook 
formations 56. When so suspended the entire binding system 10 will tend to 
pivot in the direction of arrow 62 so that the support devices 12.1 and 
12.2 engage the stop bar 64 and thus hold the entire system 10 in the 
suspended configuration shown. 
When not in use, the brackets 54 can be pivoted to lie within the channel 
section body portion 19 as shown in FIG. 6 in which configuration it is 
completely out of the way. Pivotal axes for the brackets 54 may be defined 
by complementary dimple formations in the brackets 54 and side walls 29 of 
the channel section body portion 19. 
Referring particularly to FIG. 6 opposing horizontal suspension brackets 66 
are slidably received within opposite ends of the channel section body 
portion 19 of the support devices 12.1 and 12.2 respectively. In their 
operative configuration the brackets 66 extend from the devices 12.1 and 
12.2 and define hook formations 68 whereby opposing suspension bars 70 of 
a filing system 72 can be engaged for suspending the binder system 10. 
When not required for use, the brackets 66 can slide into the channel 
section body portions 19 of the devices 12.1 and 12.2 into an inoperative 
configuration in which they are complete out of the way. In this 
configuration, the brackets lie entirely within the channel section body 
portions 19 as shown in FIG. 5. Complementary dimple formations (not 
shown) in the brackets 66 and side walls 29 of the body portion 19 may 
engage one another in the operative configuration of the brackets 66 thus 
defining the correct operative position and preventing the brackets to 
slide completely from the support devices 12.1 and 12.2. 
The dimple formations described above may be formed into the devices 12 at 
any time after the extrusion of these devices by any suitable press or 
stamping operation. 
At least one of the channel section body portions 19 of the devices 12.1 or 
12.2 may also receive an identification support means 74 slidable therein 
whereby identification tags 76 can be located (see FIG. 6). 
It will be understood that the filing systems 60 and 72 can comprise 
modular units adaptable for the two modes of suspension described and the 
invention accordingly extends to modular units for filing systems of the 
kind described above. These units 60, 72 may be securable to one another 
so that complete filing systems for any quantities of filing material can 
be provided. 
In use, after threading of the thongs 40 as above described, and with the 
securing means 14 mounted on the support device 12.1 in their unlocked 
position, where they project normally to the length of the support device 
12.1, the binder straps 40 can be forced into the locating grooves 38 
where they will be clamped against inadvertent withdrawal because of the 
diverging shape of the side walls defining the locating grooves 38 (See 
FIGS. 1 to 4). 
In this position the ridges 44 of the binder straps 40 will co-operate with 
the locating grooves 42 to locate the binder straps 40 in the locating 
grooves 38 against withdrawal as a result of tension applied to the binder 
straps 40 along their polar axes. 
Thereafter, each securing means may be pivotally displaced about the pivot 
axles 32 into their locked positions to lock the front cover sheet 22.1 
relatively to the bottom cover sheet, thereby clamping the sheets between 
the front and bottom cover sheets 22.1 and 22.2 respectively. 
Because the pivot axles 32 are spaced from the pivot ends 34 of the 
securing means 14, during pivotal displacement of each securing means 14 
into its locked position, tension will be applied to each binder strap 40 
thereby shortening its effective length between the bottom and front cover 
sheets, and thereby providing a tensioned clamping action to clamp the 
sheets firmly in position between the front and bottom cover sheets. 
To release the binder straps 40, the securing means 14 may be displaced 
into their unlocked positions, the binder straps may be displaced 
laterally out of the locking grooves 38, and the front cover sheet 22 may 
then be unthreaded from the binder straps 40. 
It is an advantage of the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the 
drawings, that the support devices 12 can be readily and effectively 
formed by cutting off appropriate lengths from an elongated strip of 
extruded aluminium alloy. 
The embodiment as illustrated in the drawings provides the further 
advantage that since the support devices 12 are formed by extrusion out of 
a suitable aluminium alloy, the edges of the lip formations 30, 31 can be 
smoothly rounded thereby preventing these edges causing damage or injury. 
The embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the drawings provides the 
further advantage that the support device 12 can be effectively and firmly 
clamped onto edge portion 20 of the cover sheets 22, and that threading 
apertures 24 can at the same time be provided at any desired spaced 
intervals along the length of the support devices 12. 
It will be appreciated that, if desired, the edge portions 20 may 
additionally be secured to the base wall 26 and the clamping flange 18 by 
means of a suitable adhesive. 
The embodiment as illustrated in the drawings provides the further 
advantage that the threading apertures can be provided at any desired 
intervals to suit a wide range of threading apertures provided in computer 
sheets, for which the system 10 is particularly useful, of various types, 
and that the securing means 14 can be displaced along the length of the 
support device 12 to utilise appropriate threading apertures. 
The embodiment as illustrated in the drawings provides the further 
advantage that the securing means 14 can be locked and unlocked in a 
simple and effective manner, that the binder straps 40 can be positively 
located in the locating grooves 38 in a simple and effective manner, and 
that the binder straps 40 can be tensioned during displacement of the 
securing means 14 into their locked positions, thereby providing a firm 
clamping action for clamping computer sheets in position in the binder 
system 10. 
It will be appreciated that, if desired, instead of the binder straps 40 as 
illustrated in FIG. 1, binder straps may be used having threading 
formations at both opposed ends. In this embodiment of the invention, it 
will be appreciated that support devices 12.1 and 12.2 will be provided 
with securing means 14 as described above. 
Although the support devices are preferably of an aluminium alloy or like 
plastically deformable material they may also be of a resiliently flexible 
plastics material in which case the resilience of the plastics material 
permits clamping of cover sheets 22. However, particularly where binder 
systems 10 carry heavy loads, rigidity of the support devices 12 is 
essential and resilient materials not preferable. 
The flange 18 and/or the adjacent wall of the body member 13 between which 
the cover sheets 22 are clamped may have a clamping rib 80 to penetrate a 
surface zone of a cover sheet during clamping to improve the clamping 
effect (see FIG. 4 only).