SPINE SUPPORT ATTACHABLE TO STORAGE DEVICE INCLUDING RING BINDER

Abstract: A spine element (10) and storage device (9) permanently and securely attached together to form a bar-hangable unit (8). The spine element (10) has an off-center hook (17) for hanging.

Description: SPINE SUPPORT ATTACHABLE TO STORAGE DEVICE INCLUDING RING BINDER Background of the Invention Binder spine attachments engageable with or bound in paper binders are well known. Binder spine elomentr. with such attachments for carrying or for use as hangers on racks have been used in the industry and proposed in various patents (U.S. Patent Nos. 3,950,048, 4,285,555, 4,306,736, and 4,445,799) . Summary of the Invention Broadly, the present invention is a binder spine element for attachment to and for supporting a ring binder or other storage device during transport and for storage on a rack support system. The configured molded plastic spine element includes a carrying handle, and a forward, an off- center, and a rear hook for supporting the binder on accommodating rack arrangements at these hook locations. It is a feature of the spine support element that its vertical spaced-apart side elements together with rivet wells as molded with the element frame provide support for heavy duty ring binder files or other storage device. It is also a feature of the invention that the binder spine is directly and permanently attached to the ring binder mechanism of the unit. The spine may be added or attached to existing binders or as part of the original unit as manufactured. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the spine support element; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the spine support element attached to a cover-bearing ring binder. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the spine without the ring binder attached; and Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Description of the Preferred Embodiment With respect to Figs. 1-4, and particularly Figs. 2 and 4, supportable ring binder unit 8 includes ring binder 9 and spine support element 10. Spine 10, in turn, comprises right and left vertical side panels 11, 12 respectively with handle apertures 11a, 12a in. side panels 11, 12. Panels 11, 12 include forward right and left wings lib, 12b respectively. Spine 10 is preferably fabricated of molded plastic but may be made of other material and may be assembled from a number of different parts. Frame element piece 14 includes forward bar engaging hook 16, central off-center bar engaging hook 17 and rear bar-engaging hook 18. Frame piece 14 is configured to include forward and rearward fastener cylindrical recess wells 20, 21 respectively to provide added strength and to receive rivets 22, 23 for fastening the spine element 10 to the ring binder 9. Support element 10 is shaped and configured to be hung on crossbar 15 which bar includes stabilizing bar body 15a, intermediate portion 15b and hook receiving section 15c. Ring binder 9 includes back cover spine 26, a right cover panel 25, left cover panel 27, conventional ring support plates 28, arcuate body 29, rings 31a-c and ring- opening triggers 33a, b, all comprising a spine mechanism. Forward rivet 22 includes upper head 22a, lover head 22b, and stem 22c. Rearward rivet 23 includes upper head 23a, lower head 23b, and stem 23c. Rivets 22 and 23 provide a permanent atttachment to spine element 10 so that spine element 10 remains a part of the unit at all times. Turning to Fig. 2, the upper profile of the support spine element 10 includes a shallow recess 35 for receiving an adhesive label or other marker. Also shown are wings lib, 12b and the rivet upper heads 22a and 23a. In Fig. 3, a bottom view of the support element 10 without a binder attached, shows recesses 20, 21 including bottom recess holes 22d and 23d for receiving rivet stems 21c and 22c. Also shown are forward reinforcing strengthening ribs 39, 40 and structure reinforcing crosspieces 41, 42, 43 and 44, each engaged with side panels 11, 12 to provide reinforcement support element io. In operation of,the binder unit to accomplish hanging support on bar 15 with spine support piece 10 attached, spine element 10 may be supported on spaced apart generally parallel rails 46, 47 employing both hooks 16 and 18 or may be hung on hook section 15c at an angle using only spine hook 16. Unit 8 may also be supported by off-center hook 17 engaging crossbar 15c with wings lib, 12b abutting the underside of rail 15a. To accomplish this position, spine element 10 is oriented until off-center forward-biased hook 17 is hung on hook 15c. Spine element 10 is then allowed to rotate in the direction of arrow a (Fig. 1) until the wings lib 12b engage the underside of section 15a to stabilize the spine 10 with its dependent ring binder 9 in generally horizontal hanging position. Spine support element 10 may be secured using rivets or similar fasteners to a box container or other storage device for hanging in a manner similar to ring binders as described above. Such a storage device v/ould include a side or panel configured and positionable adjacent the support element for attachment thereto to form a storage hanger unit.

Claims: Claims . 1. A spine element and storage device hanger unit for carrying and hanging the,unit on selected hanger bar arrangements with the storage device including a panel means comprising: a hanger element having rearward, central off- center or forward bar-engageable hook means; a storage device including a panel means configured to be positionable adjacent to the hanger element; attachment means for permanently attaching the hanger element to the storage device panel means. 2. A spine element and ring binder hanger unit for carrying and hanging the unit on selected hanger bar arrangements comprising a hanger element having rearward, central off- center and forward bar-engageable hook means; a ring binder including a spine mechanism; and attachment means for attaching the hanger element to the ring binder spine mechanism. 3. The ring binder hanger arrangement of claim 2 in which the hanger element is secured to the ring binder spine mechanism by rivets. 4. The ring binder hanger arrangement of claim 2 in which the hanger element is attached to the arcuate body of the spine mechanism. 5. The ring binder hanger arrangement of claim 2 in which the molded hanger element comprises a frame element and two (2) spaced apart generally parallel side pieces engaging the frame element. 6. The ring binder arrangement of claim 4 in which the frame element includes an upper angled handle means and a lower bottom means having reinforcing traverse ribs. 7. The ring binder of claim 5 in which the lover frame bottom means also includes longitudinal rib means. 8. The ring binder of claim 3 in which the hanger element is a molded plastic with reinforcing elements positioned therein.

Inventors: HUBBELL JOHN W, HUBBELL, JOHN, W.
Applicants: ACCO WORLD CORP, ACCO WORLD CORPORATION
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B42F13
IPC codes: B42F15