A paper-retaining mechanism

Abstract

 A paper-retaining mechanism (10) is disclosed as including a base (12), two posts (14) fixed to the base, two arches (16) movable relative to the base and the posts between a closed position in which the arches are in contact with the posts to form two closed rings and an open position in which the arches are out of contact with the posts whereby the rings are open, and a switch (34) reciprocable along a straight line between a first position to move the arches to the closed position and a second position to allow the arches to move to the open position.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a paper-retaining mechanism and a document file incorporating such a mechanism.

[0002] Various paper-retaining mechanisms have been available. In one type of such conventional paper-retaining mechanisms generally called lever-arch type files mechanisms, a one-armed lever is pivotable to pivot a pair of arches relative to a pair of fixed posts, to allow pieces of hole-punched paper to be retrieved from or inserted into the file mechanism when the arches are out of engagement with the posts, and to retain the paper therein when the arches are engaged with the posts. The pair of arches are joined by an intervening crank on which a roller attached to the lever travels during pivotal movement of the lever, to effect opening or closing of the pair of rings. In operating such a conventional file mechanism, the lever is pivoted downwardly to close the ring pairs formed by the posts and arches and pivoted upwardly to open the rings.

[0003] A problem associated with such a conventional lever-arch type file mechanism is that when the lever is pivoted to an upper position to open the rings, the lever is in contact with or is at least very close to one of the arches, such that paper can only be inserted into or retrieved from the posts, but cannot be inserted into or retrieved from the arches.

[0004] It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a paper-retaining mechanism and a document file incorporating such a paper-retaining mechanism in which the aforesaid shortcoming is mitigated, or at least to provide a useful alternative to the public.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paper-retaining mechanism including a base; at least two post members fixed to said base; and at least two arch members movable relative to said base and said post members between a closed position in which said arch members are in contact with said post members to form two closed rings and an open position in which said arch members are out of contact with said post members whereby said rings are open;
characterized in including a switch reciprocatable along a substantially straight line between a first position to move said arch members to said closed position and a second position to allow said arch members to move to said open position.

[0006] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a document file including a substrate engaged with a paper-retaining mechanism, said mechanism including a base; at least two post members fixed to said base; and at least two arch members movable relative to said base and said post members between a closed position in which said arch members are in contact with said post members to form two closed rings and an open position in which said arch members are out of contact with said post members whereby said rings are open; characterized in including a switch reciprocatable along a substantially straight line between a first position to move said arch members to said closed position and a second position to allow said arch members to move to said open position.

[0007] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of an example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a paper-retaining mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention in a ring-closed configuration;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front perspective view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a rear perspective view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a front view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, showing the principle of operation of the mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a front view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 in a ring-open configuration;

Fig. 8 is a top view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a side view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a front perspective view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 11 is a rear perspective view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7; and

Fig. 12 is an exploded view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7.

[0008] A paper-retaining mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figs. 1 to 5, generally designated as 10. The mechanism 10 includes a generally planar base 12 to which are fixedly engaged two posts 14. A pair of arches 16 are joined with each other via a cranked rod 18. The arches 16 are integrally formed with and movable simultaneously with the cranked rod 18. It can be seen from Figs. 1, 4 and 5 that the cranked rod 18 has a bent portion 20 roughly mid-point between the two posts 14.

[0009] The arches 16 are engaged with the base 12 via a pair of clamps 22 on the base 12 for pivotal movement relative to the base 12 and the posts 14. A leaf spring 24 is engaged with the base 12 and acts on a lower side of the cranked rod 18. By way of such an arrangement, the arches 16 may be pivoted relative to the base 12 and the posts 14 between a closed position in which free ends of the arches 16 contact and mate with free ends of the posts 14 (as shown in Figs. 1 to 5) to form two closed rings for retaining pieces of hole-punched paper, and an open position in which the free ends of the arches 16 are out of contact with the free ends of the posts 14 (as shown in Figs. 7 to 11) to open the rings, thus allowing pieces of hole-punched paper to be retrieved from or inserted into the posts 14 and the arches 16. The leaf spring 24 biases the arches 16 towards the open position.

[0010] A bracket 26 is fixedly secured, e.g. by screws or rivets, to the base 12. The bracket 26 has two upstanding legs 28 and a platform 30 raised above and spaced apart from the base 12. The platform 30 has a straight slot 32 formed therein.

[0011] A sliding switch 34 is engaged with the bracket 26. In particular, the switch 34 has a push button 36 manually operable to reciprocate along the slot 32. The push button 36 is engaged on its underside with a block 38 with a lower surface 40 which is slanted relative to the base 12.

[0012] In operation, as shown in Fig. 6, the push button 36 is reciprocatable and slidable along the slot 32 of the platform 30, which lies on a plane parallel to the base 12, between the position shown in thicker lines and the position shown in thinner lines, both positions being between the rings formed by the posts 14 and the arches 16. During movement of the push button 36 between these two positions, the lower surface 40 of the block 38 is in constant contact with the bent portion 20 which is bent towards the switch 34.

[0013] As the lower surface 40 is slanted relative to the base 12, when the push button 36 is in the position shown in thicker lines, the lower surface 40 pushes the bent portion 20 downward, against the upward biasing force of the leaf spring 24, to pivot the arches 16 to the closed position, to close the pair of rings.

[0014] When the push button 36 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow L in Fig. 6 to the position shown in thinner lines, the arches 16 are allowed to be pivoted, by the upward biasing force of the leaf spring 24, away from the posts 14 to the open position to open the pair of rings, as shown in Figs. 7 to 11.

[0015] Fig. 12 shows various components forming the mechanism 10. The mechanism 10 may be fixedly engaged with a substrate (e.g. a cardboard cover) by screws or rivets to form a document file, for releasably retaining pieces of hole-punched paper.

[0016] It should be understood that the above only illustrates an example 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. For example, the push button 36, the block 38 and the bracket 26 may be made of plastics, metal, alloy, or a combination thereof, and the leaf spring 24 may be replaced by a resilient spring wire.

[0017] It should also be understood that various features of the invention which are here, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations.

Claims

1. A paper-retaining mechanism (10) including:

a base (12);

at least two post members (14) fixed to said base; and

at least two arch members (16) movable relative to said base and said post members between a closed position in which said arch members are in contact with said post members to form two closed rings and an open position in which said arch members are out of contact with said post members whereby said rings are open;

characterized in including a switch (34) reciprocatable along a substantially straight line between a first position to move said arch members to said closed position and a second position to allow said arch members to move to said open position.

2. A mechanism according to Claim 1 further characterized in that said substantially straight line along which said switch is reciprocatable lies on a plane generally parallel to said base.

3. A mechanism according to Claim 1 or 2 further characterized in that said arch members are joined with and movable simultaneously with a portion (20) bent towards said switch.

4. A mechanism according to Claim 3 further characterized in that said switch is in constant contact with said bent portion during movement of said switch between said first and second positions.

5. A mechanism according to Claim 3 when dependent on Claim 2 further characterized in that said switch includes a surface (40) which is slanted relative to said plane.

6. A mechanism according to Claim 5 further characterized in that said surface is in constant contact with said bent portion during movement of said switch between said first and second positions.

7. A mechanism according to any of the preceding claims further characterized in that both said first and second positions are between said rings.

8. A mechanism according to any of the preceding claims further characterized in that a platform (30) is fixedly engaged with and spaced apart from said base and that said switch is reciprocatable along a substantially straight slot (32) of said platform.

9. A document file including a substrate engaged with a paper-retaining mechanism according to any of the preceding claims.

Amended claims

Amended claims in accordance with Rule 137(2) EPC.

1. A paper-retaining mechanism (10) including:

a base (12);

at least two post members (14) fixed to said base;

at least two arch members (16) movable relative to said base and said post members between a closed position in which said arch members are in contact with said post members to form two closed rings and an open position in which said arch members are out of contact with said post members whereby said rings are open; and

a switch (34) reciprocatable along a substantially straight line between a first position to move said arch members to said closed position and a second position to allow said arch members to move to said open position;

characterized in that both said first and second positions are between said rings.

2. A mechanism according to Claim 1 further characterized in that said substantially straight line along which said switch is reciprocatable lies on a plane generally parallel to said base.

3. A mechanism according to Claim 1 or 2 further characterized in that said arch members are joined with and movable simultaneously with a portion (20) bent towards said switch.

4. A mechanism according to Claim 3 further characterized in that said switch is in constant contact with said bent portion during movement of said switch between said first and second positions.

5. A mechanism according to Claim 3 when dependent on Claim 2 further characterized in that said switch includes a surface (40) which is slanted relative to said plane.

6. A mechanism according to Claim 5 further characterized in that said surface is in constant contact with said bent portion during movement of said switch between said first and second positions.

7. A mechanism according to any of the preceding claims further characterized in that a platform (30) is fixedly engaged with and spaced apart from said base and that said switch is reciprocatable along a substantially straight slot (32) of said platform.

8. A document file including a substrate engaged with a paper-retaining mechanism according to any of the preceding claims.

Drawing