A VARIABLE BINDING DEVICE OR SHEET HOLDER OF THE TYPE WITH RINGS FOR A FILE FOR DOCUMENTS WITH PERFORATED SHEETS

Abstract: A binding device or sheet holder of the ring type for a file for documents with perforated sheets, comprising at least one base plate (1), a pair of uprights (2), each provided with a terminating end with a retention enlargement (2a); a pair of straight elastic tubular elements (3), with an external diameter which is smaller than that of the holes (4) of the sheets (5), having a hollow portion (3a) and a solid portion (3b), one following the other. The hollow portion (3a), capable of receiving slidingly the enlargement (2a), has at its free end an elastically deformable travel limit (6) facing towards the inside and intended to engage in abutment manner with the enlargement (2a). The solid portion (3b) has at its free end a releasable engagement means, interacting with a corresponding means of the other elastic tubular element (3); the releasable engagement means being such that they do not interrupt the continuity of dimension and shape of the elastic tubular elements (3).

Description: A variable binding device or sheet holder of the type with rinps for a file for documents with perforated sheets — ooo — The present invention relates to a variable binding device or sheets holder of the ring type for a file for documents with perforated sheets, printouts or the like. Binding device of the ring type having the function of retaining loose perforated sheets, fascicles, printer printouts or the like, and which are threaded onto reclosable rigid curved elements of ring shape or other similar shape are known. The traditional ring binding devices have the disadvantage that the capacity of the sheets to be retained or bound in a removable manner is determined by the dimension, in general in height, of the rings which clearly has to be such that it is possible to turn the sheets. As is evident, this dimension conditions the dimensions of the back or the width and therefore the overall volume occupied by the file to which the binding device is applied. Therefore, the main aim of present invention is that of providing a sheet holder with rings which can make possible the variation of its height on the basis of the quantity of sheets to be contained, and which can thus be adapted to a variable-volume document file in the sense of increasing or limiting the width of its back by varying, in short, its dimensions, when the file is full or otherwise only partially full. Another aim of the present invention is that of providing a ring sheet holder which can be used for retaining perforated sheets with a centre distance between the holes which is different from the conventional one. According to the present invention, a binding device or sheet holder of the type with rings for a file for documents with loose perforated sheets, fascicles, printouts and the like, which comprises at least one base plate; at least one pair of uprights which are integral with the base plate, each provided with an upper terminating end with a retention enlargement; at least one pair of straight elastic tubular elements having an external diameter which is smaller than that of the holes of the sheets, and 2 comprising a hollow portion and a solid portion, one following the other, is provided. The hollow portion of each elastic tubular element is capable of receiving slidingly a retention enlargement and has at its free end an elastically deformable travel limit facing towards the inside which is intended to engage in an aboutment manner with the enlargement of an upright. The sofid portion of the elastic tubular element has at its free end a releasable engagement means, interacting with a corresponding means provided at the end of the other elastic tubular element; the releasable engagement means being such that they do not interrupt the continuity of dimension and shape of the elastic tubular elements. Advantageously, the retention enlargement is frustoconical and the hollow portion of each elastic tubular element has circumferential grooves, or other similar know means, for the vertical positioning in these at adjustable height of the elastic tubular element on the enlargement of an upright. Other aims and advantages of the present invention will became clear from the detailed description which follows with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof given by way of non-limiting example, and by making reference to the attached drawing figures, in which: Figure 1 shows a lateral view, partly in section, of the ring sheet holder according to the present invention; in this figure, the open configuration of the ring sheet holder is shown with dot/dash lines; Figure 2 shows a plan view from above, on enlarged scale, of the releasable engagement means for one embodiment of the ring sheet holder shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of pair of ring sheet holders which can be applied to a file for documents with perforated sheets; and Figure 4 shows, on enlarged scale, a longitudinal section of hollow portion of an elastic tubular element of the ring sheet holders according to a preferred embodiment, with an end of an upright on the inside. With reference to the drawings, and it particular to Figure 1 and 3, the overall appearance of the ring sheet holder according to the invention is shown, comprising, in an embodiment with two rings, a base plate 1, a double pair of uprights 2 fastened to the base plate 1, and a double pair of straight elastic tubular elements 3. The base plate 1 fulfils the double function of supporting the elements for retention of the sheets, as will be seen below, and of connecting the ring sheet holder to the associated file, if any. The connection of the base plate 1, which can be made of plastic material or of metal, to a file (not shown) can be of a type fixed in a conventional manner or otherwise of an adjustable type. A connection of adjustable type allows a variable spacing along the file, and between the elements for retention of the sheets, so as to adapt to the centre distance between the holes 4,4 of the sheets 5. In this case, the base plate 1 will be divided into two halves la, lb which can be moved away from one another and back towards one another according to the arrows A, A' (Figure 3). This movement of the two plate halves la, lb can take place, for example, on guides parallel to the back of the file, in the direction of the length, and integral with this, for example dovetail guides or in any case with a profile corresponding to that made in the bottom of the base plate 1, if appropriate provided with releasable stop means for holding in position the two plate halves (for simplicity, such guides have not been shown). The two plate halves la, lb can if appropriate be fixed to the file in a conventional manner. Fastened to the base plate 1, therefore, as stated above with reference to the case of a single base plate, is a double pair of uprights 2. The uprights 2 of one and the same pair can be made in a single piece with the base plate 1, or otherwise produced separately and fixed, conventionally, in a mutually adjustable manner on the base plate 1. As better shown in Figure 1, each upright 2 is provided with an upper terminating end with a frustoconical retention enlargement 2a. The enlargement 2a can clearly be made with a different shape provided that it carries out the function of retaining a straight elastic tubular element 3. Each straight elastic tubular element 3 has a hollow portion 3a and a solid portion 3b, one following the other. The hollow portion 3a of each tubular element 3 is capable of receiving slidingly the frustoconical retention enlargement 2a and has at its free end an elastically deformable travel limit facing towards the inside, intended to engage in aboutment manner with the frustoconical enlargement of an upright. This travel limit can be made with a frustoconical tongue 6 (Figure 1) with tapering facing towards the solid portion 3b of the tubular element. Advantageously, the hollow portion 3a of each elastic tubular element 3 has circumferential grooves 7 or similar, as shown in Figure 4, for the vertical positioning in these, at a height which is adjustable in relation to the elastic tubular element 3, of the base of the frustoconical enlargement 2a of the upright 2. The solid portion 3b of an elastic tubular element 3 has, at its free end, a releasable engagement means of the male/female type interacting with a corresponding releasable engagement means provided at the free end of the solid portion 3b of the other elastic tubular element 3. The releasable engagement means are such that they do not interrupt the continuity of dimension and shape of the elastic tubular elements 3 in order to avoid any obstacle in leafing through. In the embodiment presented by way of example, shown in Figure 2, the free ends 8 of the solid portions 3b of the elastic tubular elements 3 are semi- cylindrical; the releasable engagement means are constituted by a frustoconical through-hole 9 made diametrally in the semi-cylindrical end 8 of an elastic tubular element 3 and by corresponding ball 10, which can be engaged in the frustoconical hole 8, projecting from the flat surface of the semi-cylindrical end 8 of the other tubular element. In use, the straight elastic tubular elements 3 are pushed onto the uprights, forcing elastically the travel-limit tongues 6 onto the enlargements 2a. These will have the configuration shown at 3'. The sheets 5 are to be threaded with the holes 4 onto the elastic tubular elements 3' which advantageously remain straight (Figure 1). Subsequently, the elastic tubular elements 3 are joined with the releasable engagement means of the same pair and adjusted in height on the uprights 2 according to the arrows B, B', so as to retain the sheets 5, with a variable height adapted to the quantity of the same and so as to allow leafing through them. Clearly, the same configuration of elastic tubular elements 3 provided with releasable engagement means can be provided made in one single piece with the uprights 2 for ring sheet holders of the type which does not allow variations in height, so as to be capable of being used in conventional files which are not of variable or adaptable volume. However, this type of ring with fixed height also, obtained by means of the elastic tubular elements 3 permanently joined to the respective uprights, can be provided in association with a single base and support plate, or otherwise divided into two equal parts. Such base plate parts can therefore be fixed to the file at an adjustable distance depending on the type of sheet or printout for which they are intended, that it to say depending on the centre distance between the holes of the sheets to be used, or otherwise movable away from or towards one another slidingly on rails, if any, provided in the file. It is understood that numerous variations can be made to the binding device or ring sheet holder without for this reason leaving the scope of the present invention.

Claims: *fiπ? R 1. A binding device or sheet holder of the ring type for a file documents with perforated sheets, characterised in that it comprises at least: one base plate, a pair of uprights, fastened to the base plate, each provided with an upper terminating end with a frustoconical retention enlargement; a pair of straight elastic tubular elements, with an external diameter which is smaller than of the holes of the sheets, having a hollow portion and a solid portion, one following the other; the hollow portion of each elastic tubular element being capable of receiving slidingly a retention enlargement and having at its free end an elastically deformable travel limit facing towards the inside and intended to engage in aboutment manner with the enlargement of an upright; the solid portion of an elastic tubular element having at its free end a releasable engagement means, interacting with a corresponding means provided at the free end of the solid portion of the other elastic tubular element, the releasable engagement means being such that they do not interrupt the continuity of dimension and shape of the elastic tubular elements. 2. A binding device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the uprights are made in one single piece with the base plate. 3. A binding device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the uprights are made separately from the base plate and are fixed to it in mutually adjustable positions. 4. A binding device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the retention enlargement is frustoconical and the hollow portion of each elastic tubular element has circumferential grooves for the vertical positioning in these at adjustable height of the elastic tubular element on the frustoconical enlargement of an upright. 5. A binding device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the elastically deformable travel limit of the hollow portion of the elastic tubular element is a frustoconical tongue with tapering facing towards the solid portion of the elastic tubular element. 6. A binding device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the free ends of the solid portions of the tubular elements are semi-cylindrical and the releasable engagement means are constituted by a frustoconical through-hole made diametrally in the semi- cylindrical end of an elastic tubular element and by a corresponding ball, which can be engaged in the frustoconical hole, projecting from the flat surface of the semi-cylindrical end of the other elastic tubular element. 7. A binding device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a single base plate, provided with a double pair of uprights with the associated tubular elements, is mounted in a fixed position in the length direction of a file for documents. 8. A binding device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that a single base plate, provided with a double pair of uprights with the associated elastic tubular elements, is mounted in an adjustable position in the length direction of a file for documents. 9. A binding device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that a base plate, provided with a single pair of uprights with the associated elastic tubular elements, is mounted in an adjustable position in relation to another base plate, provided with a single pair of uprights with the associated elastic tubular elements, in the length direction of the file for documents. 10. A binding device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that one base plate, provided with a single pair of uprights with the associated elastic tubular elements, is mounted in an adjustable position in relation to another base plate, provided with a single pair of uprights with the associated elastic tubular elements, both being slidable on guides provided in the file parallel to the back, in the length direction of the file, if appropriate provided with releasable stop means for retention in position of the base plates. 11. A binding device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the elastic tubular elements are made in a single piece with the associated uprights for obtaining rings of non-valiable height for conventional files. 12. A binding device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the elastic tubular elements made in one single piece with the associated uprights for obtaining rings of non-variable height can also be associated with base plates in a number of parts which can be fixed in an adjustable position in the length direction of the back of the file for documents. 13. A binding device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the elastic tubular elements made in one single piece with the associated uprights for obtaining rings of non-variable heights can also be associated with base plates in a number of parts which are adjustable in position by sliding on rails in the length direction of the back of the file for documents.

Inventors: BOCCACCI ROBERTO, BOCCACCI, ROBERTO
Applicants: BOCCACCI ROBERTO, BOCCACCI, ROBERTO
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B42F13
IPC codes: B42F13