......DE....FRGB........NL........................
R
0551087
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
A1
19930714
EP
93100061.6
19930105
da
en
en
11/92
19920106
DK
19930714
199328
19930714
199328
5
5B 42F 13/40 A
5A 47B 23/04 B
de
Ständer für Ringordner
en
Device for supporting ring binders
fr
Dispositif support pour classeur à anneaux
1 6
DUE PLAST A/S
01592460
430 45
Bornholmsvej 2
DK-9670 Loegstoer
DK
Due Joern
Rugmarken 63
DK-9670 Loegstoer
DK
Nielsen, Leif
et al
00061101
c/o Lehmann & Ree A/S Ryesgade 3
DK-8000 Aarhus C
DK
DE
FR
GB
NL
A device comprises a plane plate (1) provided with flaps (2). The device is intended for holding the covers (13,14) of e.g. a ring binder (12), when the ring binder is opened for use in a displaying situation in which the insides of the covers are placed at an angle of beyond 180° in relation to each other.
In this state the covers (13,14) are placed between two flaps (2) with their utmost edges facing downwards, thus the spine faces upwards. The flaps on the device prevent the covers from sliding on the support by keeping the utmost edges on the covers (13,14). The angle between the insides of the covers is determined by the distance between the flaps (2).

Background of the Invention.
The present invention relates to a device for supporting ring binders, coil binders, or the like in an open state and comprising a plane plastic plate which connects at least two flaps for supporting the cover of the ring binder.
From SE Publication No. 348,068 such holder for books, brochures, signs, and the like is known, said holder consisting of a bottom part with a plane surface, and from this surface two legs at each end are oriented upwards and inwards towards the centre of the bottom part, and a top part consisting of two surfaces forming a V-shaped resilient element which is turned upside down and placed in the bottom part. Primarily this holder is usable in connection with articles to be displayed in a situation in which they comprise a substantially plane surface. Except the fact that the bottom part and the top part may be separated, the holder is inflexible in its presentation. A further drawback associated with the holder is that it is impossible e.g. to flip through a book being placed in the holder.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a device which may serve as support for an open ring binder, and which is simple in its outer presentation, and which may be folded up to a plane state when not in use, and thus being space-saving. According to the invention the ring binder device is preferably intended for being placed in a ring binder on the inside of the cover, thus the ring binder device always is on hand in connection with the use of the ring binder.
According to the invention this object is obtained in that the flaps are produced in one piece with the plane plate and are produced by means of substantially U-shaped cuts which are formed in the plate having the bottom of the Us facing each other, that an embossing of the material is made between the vertices of the legs of each U for forming a hinge connection between the flap and the remaining part of the plate, and that the hinge connection is arranged in such a way that the flaps may swing from a position where they are in level with the plane plate to a position where they form an acute angle with the plane plate.
Primarily, the device is used in connection with supporting ring binders or coil binders set up for use at displays, at lectures, or the like, where information is desired to be disclosed. The cover of the ring binder is swung, thus the insides of the cover form an angle of more than 180°, and the ring binder is placed on a support with the edges of the cover facing away from the spine placed on the support. To keep the cover of the ring binder from sliding on this support, the cover is placed between the flaps on the ring binder device which, thus, are situated between the ring binder and the support. In this situation the flaps on the ring binder device will be swung around the embossing in relation to the plane plate, thereby constituting stops for the cover.
Hereby, the use of the device is obtained in a very simple way compared to other supporting arrangements; like the one described in the above-mentioned SE Publication. However, according to the invention the device may only be used in connection with covers being so strong that they may stand by their own efforts as the device only ensures that the cover does not slide on the support. The device gives no support of the cover farther up the side.
When the device is not in use the flaps are swung to a position in which they are in level with the plane plate, and thereby, the device is space-saving. In this state the device may e.g. be placed in a ring binder, either into a pocket on the inside of one of the covers, into a file pocket placed in the ring binder, or into the rings themselves.

Brief Description of the Drawings.
The invention will now be further explained with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein
Fig. 1
illustrates an embodiment of a device according to the invention,
Fig. 2
illustrates an embodiment of a device provided with an other type of flaps,
Fig. 3
illustrates an alternative embodiment provided with slots,
Fig. 4
illustrates an alternative embodiment provided with cuts, and
Fig. 5
illustrates a ring binder placed in the device.
Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment of a device provided with flaps 2 which constitute an integrated part of a plane plate 1 which is made from plastic. The flaps 2 are made by forming a U-shaped cut in the plane plate 1 along a line 3 and two other lines 4. Between the two lines 4 a rectilinear embossing 5 is made which forms a hinge connection between the flaps 2 and the remainder of the plate 1. The flaps 2 may then be swung around the embossing 5.
The embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 will only provide a support if a force acting on the flaps 2 acts far down on the flap. The covers on a ring binder or a coil binder placed in the device will act on the flaps with a force far down and often all the way down at the embossing 5. Accordingly, no risk occurs of the flaps 2 swinging through 180°, and getting ineffective as support for the covers.
When the device is not in use the flaps 2 are swung back to a position in level with the plane plate 1, thus the device including the flaps, constitute a plane surface. Subsequently, the device may, if convenient, be placed into a pocket in the ring binder, and will not prevent the closing of the ring binder as the device now is totally plane.
The embodiment in Figure 1 is provided with two flaps, however, the device may alternatively be provided with more flaps which are placed along a part of or along the whole extension of the plane plate 1. Accordingly, a possibility is obtained that the covers may be placed between the different flaps, by means of which it is possible to vary the angle which is formed between the covers.
Furthermore, the hinge connection along the embossing 5 about which each flap 2 is swung, may be provided in order to maintain the flap 2 either in a closed position, in which the flap 2 is in level with the plane plate 1, or in an open position with a given angularity in relation to the plane plate 1.
Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment in which further embossings 8 are formed in each flap 2 for forming two flaps 6 which may be swung in relation to the remaining part of the flap 2. The flaps 6 are swung outwards towards an adjacent edge 7, away from the centre of the plate. At a swinging of approximately 90° in relation to the flap 2, the flaps 6 will act stabilizing as opposed to the forces being exposed to the flap 2 from the covers of the ring binder or the coil binder. The flaps 6 will prevent the flap 2 from swinging through a greater angle than 90°, irrespective of the size of the stress from the ring binder.
Each of the flaps 6 is swung around the embossing 8. If the device is made from plastic, this embossing 8 is provided in the form of a reduction of the thickness of the plate 1 like the embossing 5, about which the flap 2 is swung. Other methods for forming this embossing or hinge connection may be used, dependent the plastic material used and the requirement to the stiffness of the hinge.
Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment corresponding to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 in which, however, parallel to the embossings 5 of the flaps 2, three slots 9 are punched. These slots 9 are used for including a flap 2 on a successive device. If when using only one ring binder device it is impossible to place the ring binder with the desired angle between the insides of the covers, it will be possible to increase the distance between the two flaps 2 by means of the slots, said flaps may hold the covers.
According to the invention two ring binder devices, of which at least the one is provided with at least one slot 9, are engaged by leading the flap 2 on the one device through a slot 9 on the other device in such a way that they extend end to end. Accordingly, a ring binder device is provided with a great distance between the utmost flaps supporting the covers. By providing the ring binder devices with several slots 9, it gradually becomes possible to increase the distance between the flaps.
Figure 4 illustrates a further embodiment of the device in which the plane plate 1 does not constitute a rectangular surface, but is hourglass-shaped as it is provided with cuts 10. These cuts are formed by punching a part of a rectangular plate. The cuts may have many different shapes, and they make it possible to reduce the consumption of material.
Figure 5 illustrates a device like the device in Figure 1, however, in Figure 5 the device is provided with holes 11 along the one side so that the device may be placed into the rings of a ring binder or a coil binder.
According to the invention the thickness of the devices illustrated in the figures are of between 0,5 and 5,0 mm, preferably of between 0,5 and 2,0 mm. In order to have the possibility to keep the device in a ring binder or a coil binder, the longest side on the devices will be identical with or less than the longest edge of the cover. However, it will also be possible to form the device with a greater length than the longest side of the ring binder or the coil binder themselves.
Figure 6 illustrates a ring binder 12 placed in a device of the type illustrated in Figure 1. The covers 13,14 of the ring binder 12 abut the flaps 2, by means of which the two covers 13,14 cannot be displaced horizontally as they are held in place by the flaps 2. When the ring binder 12 is placed in this way, it may be used in a displaying situation in connection with passing on information. One cover 13 faces the person/persons to be informed, and when the information is passed on, the leaf 15 upon which the information stood, is turned over to the other cover 14 of the ring binder 12. Accordingly, it will be the following leaf which faces the person/persons to be informed.
The embodiments illustrated in Figures 1,2,3,4, and 5 are some examples of a ring binder device according to the invention. The individual parts as the flaps 2 and the plate 1, may be made in many other ways than those illustrated in the figures, as the illustrated embodiments may be combined arbitrarily. Accordingly, the embodiments in the Figures may not be understood as limiting.
In the above-mentioned specification the device is primarily described in connection with use together with a ring binder or a coil binder which are placed in such a way that they may be used in a displaying situation. However, this should not be understood as a limitation in the applications of the device. If other articles such as signs, books, calendars, or other information carriers could be used in connection with the device according to the invention, of course this will be within the protective extent of the invention.
1. Device for supporting ring binders, coil binders, or the like in an open state and comprising a plane plastic plate (1) which connects at least two flaps (2) for supporting the cover of the ring binder, characterized in that the flaps (2) are produced in one piece with the plane plate (1) and are produced by means of substantially U-shaped cuts which are formed in the plate having the bottom of the Us facing each other, that an embossing of the material is made between the vertices of the legs of each U for forming a hinge connection between the flap and the remaining part of the plate, and that the hinge connection is arranged in such a way that the flaps (2) may swing from a position where they are in level with the plane plate (1) to a position where they form an acute angle with the plane plate.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flaps (2) are made for swinging around a rectilinear axis (5).
3. Device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the flaps (2) may swing to the one or the other side of the plane plate (1).
4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hinge connection of the flaps (2) are made in such a way that the flaps are swung in relation to the plane plate (1) against an elastically resilient retraction force.
5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that parallel to a straight line (5) about which the flaps (2) swing, one or several slots (9) are provided having a greater length than the longest of the flaps (2) and having a width which is greater than the thickness of the flaps (2).
6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flaps (2) are provided with additional embossings (8) which run parallel to the legs of the U and that cuts are formed between the top of the legs of the U and the further embossings (8) for forming flaps (6) which are made for swinging in relation to the remaining part of the flaps (2).
7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plate (1) is made with a thickness of between 0,5-5,0 mm, preferably 0,5-2,0 mm.
8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plate (1) is hourglass-shaped.
9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that along one side edge the plate (1) is provided with holes (11) for being placed into the rings of a ring binder or a coil binder.
10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the longest edge of the plate (1) is identical with or less than the longest edge of the cover of the binding.