Improvements in Binders for Papers and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd July, 1899-Accepted, Eth Sept., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Binders for Papers and the like.
We, ROBERT JAMES COPELAND, and ALBERT EDWY CHATTERSON, both of
75, Queen Street West, in the City of Toronto, in the Province of Ontario, Canada,
Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
-
This invention relates to binders, and has for its object to provide a compact,
efficient and inexpensive binder of that class wherein loose sheets are removably
hold in place between a lower strip provided with one or more posts, which are
generally employed to engage the sheets, and an upper apertured strip sliding
on said post or posts. The invention consists of the features and combination of
features hereinafter set forth and more particularly specified in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, are shown a
preferred embodiment of the invention and some of the various modifications
of which the various features are susceptible.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a binder embodying the invention, parts being removed
and broken away.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation, the upper strip being in central vertical section.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of a modification of the upper strip, the casing of which
is removed.
Figs. 5 and 6 show modified arrangements in sectional elevation.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the binder.
1 is a strip provided with the fixed posts 2 and 3, designed, in the best form of
the invention, to engage the loose sheets 4 by passing through apertures formed in
the sheets. 5 is another strip between which and the strip 1 the sheets 4 are
removably held. The strip 5 is provided with apertures 6 and 7 to receive tho
posts 2 and 3, so that the strip 5 may slide on these posts and be removed there-
from when desired. In order that tho strip o may be locked securely on the posts
at any desired distance from the strip 1, the strip 5 is provided with grippers
adapted to engage and disengage the posts. These grippers comprise pieces,
each of which is secured at one end to the strip 5 and has its other end free to
move to and from the strip near one of its apertures and so as to engage and
disengage the post passing through that aperture. The grippers are generally
spring-actuated in one direction, so that they tend normally to engage or disengage
the posts as the case may be. In the drawings all the grippers except those in
Fig. 6 are shown as spring actuated and normally tend to engage the posts. The
strip 5 carries means for controlling the position of the grippers whereby the
grippers may be made to engage and disengage the posts, as desired. In the
best form of the grippers shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and numbered 8 and 9, they
consist of short stiff spring plates having their outer ends secured to the strip 5
outside the apertures 6 and 7 by convenient means, as by the screws 9 and 10.
The opposite ends of the grippers face inward and are free to move to and from
the strip, being so located that they are adapted by their movement to engage

page_text: and disengage the posts extending through the apertures 6 and 7. As shown in
Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the grippers tend normally to engage the posts 2 and 3, the re-
siliency of the spring plates tending to keep the grippers down on the face of the
strip 5. In order that the grippers may be made to engage and disengage the
posts, as desired, the strip 5 carries means adapted to control the position of the
grippers. When the grippers are spring-actuated, the controlling means will
serve to move the grippers in one direction only, the spring tension operating to
move the grippers in the other direction. If, however, as shown in Fig. 6, the
grippers are without spring actuation, then the controlling means will move the
grippers in both directions. The spring tension, when employed by the grippers,
may be so arranged as to cause the grippers to disengage the posts, if desired.
In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the controlling means for the grippers 8 and 9 comprise
reciprocating plates carried by and sliding on the upper face of the strip 5. In
Figs. 1 and 2 the plates are numbered 11 and 12. Their outer ends have slots 13
and 14, so that they may work to and fro across the posts 2 and 3, and the outer
edges of the plates are beveled so that they may slide under the inner ends of
the spring grippers 8 and 9 and lift them from engaging position. The inner
ends of the plates 11 and 12 are recessed at 15 to receive a key whereby the plates
may be moved outward to engage the grippers. The plates 11 and 12 have
also a spring 16, operating to keep the plates pressed inward and
out of engagement with the grippers. When the key is disengaged from
the plates the spring 16 returns the plates inward. The plates 17 and 18 in Fig. 3
are similar to the plates 11 and 12 except that the bevels at their outer edges are
more gradual and the spring grippers pressing upon these bevels operate to press
the plates inward and out of engagement with themselves. The plates 17 and 18,
therefore, do not require a spring such as 16. A casing 19, provided with a key-
hole 20 and resting on the blocks 21 and 22, is secured to the strip 5 and encloses
the grippers and their controlling devices.
.
In Fig. 5 is shown grippers comprising pivoted plates 22 and 23, pressed down-
ward by springs 24 into engaging position, and engaging the posts on their inner
sides. These grippers are turned on their pivots out of engagement with the
posts by the sliding plates 25 and 26, which engage the inner ends of the grippers,
and have a return spring 16.
In Fig. 6 the grippors 27 and 28 are pivoted like the grippers 22 and 23 in
Fig. 5, but they are without spring tension and are differently controlled. Their
position is controlled by the circular cam disc 28 fixed on the spindle 29, and
working in the bifurcated ends 30 and 31 of the grippers. When the spindle is
given a partial turn by a key in one direction, the grippers are moved by the
disc 28 into engagement with the posts and when the spindle is turned back the
disc moves the gripper out of engagement with the posts. The strips 1 and 5
are usually hinged to covers 32 in the usual manner. The posts 2 and 3 are
preferably made of short separate sections 33, detachably connected together, end
to end, so that the posts may be increased and diminished in length as required.
In this way the binder may be made to accommodate any number of sheets desired.
These sections are preferably similar, so as to be interchangeable, each having a
threaded recess in one end and a screw 34 of corresponding size in the other end.
Each section generally has an aperture 35 for turning it.
In some cases only one gripper may be employed to engage a post, which post
may be fixed at the middle of the lower strip and may or may not be employed
to engage sheets. It will also be observed that the posts 2 and 3 need not
necessarily be employed to engage sheets, as other posts fixed to the lower strip
may be used for this purpose.
It will be noted that the grippers are operated, in the constructions shown in
the drawings, simultaneously and from a common point,. and when a key. is
employed to actuate the controlling devices, as herein described, all tampering
with the binder by unauthorized persons may be prevented.
Various changes besides those specifically noted may be made in the arrange-

page_text: ment and construction of the features embodying the invention, many of which
will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In a binder, the combination of a strip provided with posts; a strip provided
with apertures to receive the posts and adapted thereby to slide on said posts;
grippers carried by the apertured strip and so located that they are adapted to
engage and disengage the posts; and means carried by t the aportured strip for
controlling the position of said grippers.
2. In a binder, the combination of a strip provided with posts; a strip provided
with apertures to receive the posts and adapted thereby to slide on said posts;
spring grippers carriod by the apertured strip and so located that they are adapted
to engage and disengage the posts; and means carried by the apertured strip for
controlling the position of said grippers.
3. In a binder, the combination of a strip provided with posts; a strip provided
with apertures to receive the posts and adapted thereby to slide on said posts;
grippers carried by the apertured strip and so located that they are adapted to
engage and disengage the posts; and means carried by the apertured strip for
simultaneously controlling the position of said grippers.
4. In a binder, the combination of a strip provided with posts; a strip provided
with apertures to receive the posts and adapted thereby to slide on said posts;
spring grippers carried by the apertured strip and so located that they are adapted
to engage and disengage the posts; and means carried by the apertured strip for
simultaneously controlling the position of said grippers.
7.
5. In a binder, the combination of a strip provided with posts; a strip provided
with apertures to receive the posts and adapted thereby to slide on said posts;
grippers comprising short stiff spring plates carried by the apertured strip and
80 located that they are adapted to engage and disengage the posts; and means
carried by the apertured strip for controlling the position of said grippers.
6. In a binder, the combination of a strip provided with posts; a strip provided
with apertures to receive the posts and adapted thereby to slide on said posts;
grippers carried by the apertured strip and so located that they are adapted to
engage and disengage the posts; and means carried by the apertured strip for
controlling the position of said grippers and adapted to slide on said strip to and
from the grippers.
7. In a binder, the combination of a strip provided with posts; a strip provided
with apertures to receive the posts and adapted thereby to slide on said posts;
spring grippers carried by the apertured strip and so located that they are adapted
to engage and disengage the posts; and means carried by the apertured strip for
controlling the position of said grippers, and adapted to slide on said strip to
and from the grippers.
8. In a binder, the combination of a strip provided with posts; a strip provided
with apertures to receive the posts and adapted thereby to slide on said posts;
grippers comprising short stiff spring plates carried by the apertured strip and
50 located that they are adapted to engage and disengage the posts; and means
carried by the apertured strip for controlling the position of said grippers and
adapted to slide on said strip to and from the grippers.
9. In a binder, the combination of a strip provided with posts; a strip provided
with aperturos to receive the posts and adapted thereby to slide on said posts;
grippers carried by the apertured strip and so located that they are adapted to
engage and disengage the posts; and means carried by the apertured strip for
controlling the position of said grippers and arranged and adapted to be operated
at a single point..
10. In a binder, the combination of a strip provided with posts; a strip provided
with apertured to receive the posts and adapted thereby to slide on said posts;

page_text: grippers comprising short stiff spring plates carried by the apertured strip and so
located that they are adapted to engage and disengage the posts; and means
carried by the apertured strip for controlling the position of said grippers and
arranged and adapted to be operated at a single point.
11. In a binder, the combination of a strip provided with posts; a strip provided
with apertures to receive the posts and adapted thereby to slide on said posts;
grippers carried by the apertured strip and so located that they are adapted to
engage and disengage the posts; and means carried by the apertured strip for
controlling the position of said grippers and adapted to slide on said strip to and
from the grippers and operative from a single point.
12. In a binder, the combination of a strip provided with posts; a strip pro-
vided with apertures to receive the posts and adapted thereby to slide on said
posts; grippers comprising short stiff spring plates carried by the apertured strip
and so located that they are adapted to engage and disengage the posts; and
means carried by the apertured strip for controlling the position of said grippers,
said means comprising a pair of plates adapted to slide on said strip to and from
the grippers and having their outer ends beveled so as to engage the free ends of
the grippers and thereby operate them.
13. In a binder, the combination of a strip provided with posts; a strip provided
with apertures to receive the posts and adapted thereby to slide on said posts;
grippers comprising short stiff spring plates carried by the apertured strip and
so located that they are adapted to engage and disengage the posts and tending
normally to engage the posts; and means carried by the apertured strip for
controlling the position of said grippers, said means comprising a pair of plates
adapted to slide on said strip to and from the grippers and having their outer ends
beveled so as to move under the free ends of the grippers and disengage them
from the posts.
14. In a binder, the combination of a strip provided with posts; a strip pro-
vided with apertures to receive the posts and adapted thereby to slide on said
posts; grippers comprising short stiff spring plates having their outer ends
secured to the apertured strip outside the apertures and their inner ends facing
inward and free to move to and from the strip, said grippers being so located
that they are adapted to engage and disengage said posts, and normally tending to
engage the posts; a pair of plates carried by the apertured strip adapted to slide
on said strip to and from the grippers and having their outer ends beveled so as
to move under the free ends of the grippers to disengage them from the posts;
and a casing carried by the apertured strip enclosing said grippers and said pair
of plates.
15. In a binder, the combination of a strip provided with a post; an apertured
strip adapted to slide on said post; a gripper carried by the apertured strip
having one end secured to said strip and the other end free to move to and from
the strip and so located as to engage and disengage the post; and means carried
by the strip for controlling the position of the gripper.
16. In a binder, the combination of a strip provided with a post; an apertured
strip adapted to slide on said post; a spring gripper carried by the apertured
strip having one end secured to said strip and the other end free to move to and
from the strip and so located as to engage and disengage the post; and means
carried by the strip for controlling the position of the gripper.
17. In a binder, the combination of a strip provided with a post; an apertured
strip adapted to slide on said post; a spring gripper comprising a short stiff spring
plate carried by the apertured' strip having one end secured to said strip and the
other end free to move to and from the strip and so located as to engage and
disengage the post; and means carried by the strip for controlling the position
of the gripper.
18. In a binder, the combination of a strip provided with a post; an apertured
strip adapted to slide on said post; a spring gripper comprising a short stiff
spring plate carried by the apertured strip having one end secured to said strip

page_text: and the othor end free to move to and from the strip and so located as to engage
and disengage the post; and means carried by the strip for controlling the position
of the gripper, and a casing for said apertured strip enclosing the gripper and
its operating means.
19. In a binder, a strip provided with one or more posts consisting of a
plurality of short separate sections detachably connected end to end, whereby said
post or posts may be increased or diminished in length as desired.
20. In a binder, the combination of a strip provided with posts; separate
removable sheets engaged by said posts; a strip provided with apertures to receive
the posts and adapted thereby to slide on said posts; grippers carried by the
apertured strip and so located that they are adapted to engage and disengage
the posts; and means carried by the apertured strip for controlling the position
of said grippers.
21. In a binder, the combination of a strip provided with posts; separate
removable sheets engaged by said posts; a strip provided with apertures to receive
the posts and adapted thereby to slide on said posts; grippers comprising short
stiff spring plates carried by the apertured strip and so located that they are
adapted to engage and disengage the posts; and means carried by the apertured
strip for controlling the position of said grippers.
22. In a binder, a strip provided with one or more posts consisting of a plurality
of short separate sections detachably connected end to ond, whoroby said post or
posts may be increased or diminished in length as desired; and separate removable
sheets engaged by said posts.
Dated this ord day of
www
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicants,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicants,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.