Abstract:
There is disclosed a metal fitting ( 100, 100   a,    100   b ) adapted to be secured to a base member by at least an eyelet ( 102, 102   a,    102   b ), in which the metal fitting ( 100, 100   a,    100   b ) includes at least an aperture ( 106, 106   a,    106   b ) adapted to receive at least part of the eyelet ( 102, 102   a,    102   b ), in which at least one tab ( 108, 110, 108   a,    108   b ) extends from a periphery of the aperture ( 106, 106   a,    106   b ) into the aperture, and the tab ( 108, 110, 108   a,    108   b ) is adapted to engage with a flared portion ( 112, 112   a,    112   b ) of the eyelet ( 102, 102   a,    102   b ) to secure the metal fitting ( 100, 100   a,    100   b ) with the base member. There is also disclosed a document holder formed of such a metal fitting as attached to a base member.

Description:
FITTINGS FOR USE IN FILES  
         [0001]    This invention relates to a fitting for holding documents, and in particular such a fitting adapted to hold documents and be secured to a base article, and a document holder with such a fitting secured to a base article.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    [0002]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the way in which a prior art metal file fitting, generally designated as  1 , has up to now generally been attached to a file  3  made of cardboard. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a part of the prior art metal file fitting  1  shown in FIG. 4. In the case of the prior art metal fitting  1  herein, for example, the fold at each end of a metal document retention bracket  1   c , which has the shape of a rectangle with the left-hand end open, is attached to a lateral edge  1   b  of a rectangular stainless base  1   a  by means of a tensioning coil spring  1   d.  Near each longitudinal end of the rectangular stainless base  1   a  is a small holes  1   e  into which an eyelet  2  can be inserted. The eyelets  2  are tube-shaped metal parts inserted into the small holes  1   e  made in the metal fitting  1  and the file  3 , and pressed through from one end to form a joint between the holes.  
           [0003]    In recent years the disposal of manufactured goods has become an issue. For example, when disposing of files with the prior art metal fitting  1  attached, the metal fitting  1 , which cannot be incinerated, has to be removed from the cardboard file  3 , which is combustible, and destroyed separately.  
           [0004]    For this reason, when removing the prior art metal fitting  1  from the card file  3 , such measures as filing off the flared part of the eyelets  2  had to be used, making the process complicated.  
           [0005]    It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a fitting for use in files which simplifies the detachment of the fitting from the file when the part of the file made of cardboard or plastic and its metal part are separated for disposal.  
           [0006]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fitting for use in files that can be removed from a file relatively easily, even without resorting to measures such as filing down the flared part of the eyelet.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    According a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a document holding mechanism adapted to be secured to a base member by at least one securing member, wherein said mechanism includes at least an aperture adapted to receive at least part of said securing member, and wherein at least one engagement member extends from a periphery of said aperture into said aperture, said engagement member being adapted to engage with a flared portion of said securing member to secure said mechanism with said base member.  
           [0008]    According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a document holder including a document holding mechanism secured to a base member by at least one securing member, wherein said mechanism includes at least an aperture receiving at least part of said securing member, and wherein at least one engagement member extends from a periphery of said aperture into said aperture, said engagement member being engaged with a flared portion of said securing member to secure said mechanism with said base member. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    An embodiment of a fitting according to the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a plan view of a metal file fitting according to the present invention;  
         [0011]    FIGS.  2 A(i) to  2 D(ii) show the steps whereby the metal file fitting shown in FIG. 1 is removed from a file;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing other forms of application of the metal file fitting shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a prior art metal file fitting attached to a file; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a part of a prior art metal file fitting shown in FIG. 4. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]    In order to solve or at least to mitigate the problem discussed above, in a metal fitting  100  in the form of a document holding mechanism according to the present invention, and as shown in FIG. 1, a shaft of an eyelet or rivet  102  is inserted through a hole in a base cover (not shown) into a rectangular metal base  104  of the metal fitting  100 , which may be made of stainless steel or other metal. The metal base  104  is formed with two apertures  106 , each has a generally rectangular tab  108  and a generally semi-circular tab  110  extending into the aperture  106  from a periphery thereof. The tabs  108 ,  110  are formed integrally with the metal base  104 . A flared upper part  112  of the eyelet  102 , which may be formed by deformation of an upper end of the eyelet  102 , catches the rectangular tab  108  and the semi-circular tab  110  so that the eyelet  102  cannot be withdrawn from the metal fitting  100 . Another end of the eyelet  102  may be formed a head which engages the base cover.  
         [0016]    By adopting this pattern of the aperture  106 , when the metal fitting  100  is to be removed, the rectangular tab  108  in the aperture  106  can be prised upwards by using a tool with a sharp point (such as a screwdriver) so that the flared part  112  of the eyelet  102  can be easily withdrawn, enabling the removal of the metal fitting  100  from the base cover.  
         [0017]    The fitting  100  includes a metal document retention bracket  114 , which is shaped like a rectangle with the left-hand end open. Folds  116  at both ends of the retention bracket  114  are each attached by means of a tensioning spring  118  to a lateral edge  120  of the metal base  104 .  
         [0018]    FIGS.  2 A(i) to  2 D(ii) show the steps for removal of the metal file fitting  100  from the file. FIGS.  2 A(i) and  2 A(ii) are respectively an oblique perspective view and a plan view illustrating the position when the shaft of the eyelet  102  has been inserted into the aperture  106 . The flared part  112  of the eyelet  102  is anchored by the rectangular tab  108  in the aperture  106  so that the eyelet  102  cannot be removed from the metal base  104 .  
         [0019]    When the metal fitting  100  is to be removed from the file, as is shown by an oblique perspective view FIG. 2B(i) and a plan view FIG. 2B(ii), the fitting  100  may be moved, e.g. being pushed, relative to the base cover, so that the tip of the tab  108  in the aperture  106  formed in the fitting  100  approaches the rim of the flared part  112  of the eyelet  102 .  
         [0020]    Then, and as shown in an oblique perspective view FIG. 2C(i) and a corresponding plan view FIG. 2C(ii), the tab  108  in the aperture  106  is prised up with a sharp-pointed tool, e.g. a screwdriver. Subsequently, as shown in an oblique perspective view FIG. 2D(i) and a corresponding plan view FIG. 2D(ii), the metal file fitting  100  is moved back so that the rim of the flared part  112  of the eyelet  102  approaches the tab  108  that has been prised up as described above. To the extent necessary, the part of the semi-circular tab  110  that is engaged with the flared part  112  of the eyelet  102  can be prised up with a sharp-pointed instrument, so as to be disengaged from the eyelet  102 . The fitting  100  may then be removed from the base cover, e.g. by being prised by the same sharp-pointed tool.  
         [0021]    When it comes to prising up the above flared part  112 , it is also possible, as shown in FIGS.  2 B(i) and  2 B(ii), to do this without moving the metal file fitting  100 .  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3A shows an example of a variation of a fitting  100   a,  in which the number of tabs  108   a  in the aperture  106   a  differs from that of the fitting  100  discussed above. In this example, there are formed four tabs  108   a,  which are generally equidistant from each other. When the metal file fitting  100   a  is to be removed, the four tabs  108   a  are prised upwards with a sharp-pointed instrument. The tabs  108   a  are then disengaged from a flared part  112   a  of an eyelet  102   a . The metal file fitting  100   a  may then be prised upwards at a generally right angle to the file and can be easily removed.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 3B shows another example of a variation of a fitting  100   b , in which both the number and shape of tabs  108   b  extending into an aperture  102   b  differ from that of the metal fittings  100 ,  100   a  discussed above. In this example, eight peak-shaped tabs  108   b  are formed. The peak-shaped tabs  108  are generally triangular in shape with a vertex thereof pointing towards a centre of an aperture  106   b . When the metal file fitting  100   b  is to be removed, the peak-shaped tabs  108   b  are prised upwards with a sharp-pointed instrument, so as to disengage the tabs  108   b  from a flared part  112   b  of an eyelet  102   b.  The metal file fitting  100   b  may then be prised upwards at a generally right angle to the file and can be easily removed. By adopting this peak-shaped configuration, the tabs  108   b  are easier to prise upwards.  
         [0024]    As has been explained above, with a metal file fitting made in accordance with the present invention, that is to say where the shaft of an eyelet can be inserted into an aperture of a rectangular metal base of the metal file fitting, which aperture having at least one tab onto which the flared part of the eyelet catches, so as to prevent withdrawal, the flared part of the eyelet can be easily withdrawn by prising up one or more of the tab(s) extending into the aperture, the metal file fitting can be conveniently removed from the file.  
         [0025]    It should be understood that the above only illustrates examples whereby the present invention may be carried out, and that various modifications and/or alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention. In particular, while the present invention has been described in the context of a document holding mechanism with a spring-loaded document retention bracket engaged with a metal base, it is envisaged that the present invention may also be used in a ring binder mechanism in which a pair of carrier plates, to which a number of half-rings are mounted, are carried by a housing for pivoting movement. The ring binder mechanism may be secured to a base cover to form a ring binder. In a known ring binder mechanism, each longitudinal end of the mechanism is provided with a round hole through which a rivet may be inserted. An end of the rivet may then be deformed to secure the ring binder mechanism to the base cover. The present invention may thus be employed in such a ring binder mechanism, e.g. by providing one or more prisable tabs extending from a periphery towards the centre of the hole formed at each longitudinal end of the ring binder mechanism.  
         [0026]    It should also be understood that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations.