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(11) | EP 1 798 056 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Fork mechanism and method of use thereof |
| (57) A fork mechanism comprises two seats (1) with fork pins (108), the two seats connect
each other by a hinge (2). One seat is disposed with a fastener (3) with a bayonet;
another seat is disposed with a supporting slice (4). A thrust bar (5) capable of
sliding along the hinge shaft is disposed on the supporting slice, and the thrust
bar is disposed with a clipping slice (6) matching the bayonet of the fastener.
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FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a fork mechanism, more particularly to a fork mechanism made of little material and used conveniently and its using method. The invention also relates to a stationery retainer, such as for retaining items such as sheet-like materials such as paper.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Known fork mechanisms usually use two hinge connections; they are therefore large in size, and high in transport and manufacturing cost. Furthermore, when the known existing fork mechanisms are opened or closed, the moving direction is perpendicular to the hinge shaft, so the operation steps are numerous.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] An object of the invention is to overcome at least to a certain extent the defaults of the known fork mechanism which are complex in structure, big in size, high in transport and manufacturing cost, complex and difficult to open, and to provide a new fork mechanism using a hinge connection, such as a single hinge connection, which can lower cost greatly and can be opened conveniently.
[0004] The present invention is set out in the independent claims. A number of optional features are mentioned in the dependent claims. According to a preferred construction there is provided a fork mechanism comprising two seats with fork pins, the two seats connected to each other by a hinge. One seat is disposed with a fastener with a bayonet (or latch); another seat is disposed with a supporting slice (or support) member. A thrust bar 9 (or a thrust member) capable of sliding along the hinge shaft is disposed on the supporting slice, and the thrust bar is disposed with a clipping slice (or a member) matching the bayonet (or the latch) of the fastener. Preferably, the thrust bar is disposed with a slip groove. A spring which can make the thrust bar home is preferably disposed in the slip groove. A limiting slice (or limiting member) capable of being inserted into the slip groove is disposed on the supporting slice.
[0005] Preferably, the clipping slice (or the member) is disposed (or provided) from inside to outside with two bayonets (or latches).
[0006] Preferably, the hinge is disposed with a torsion spring, which can bounce the seat, or bias the seats away from one another.
[0007] In a using method for the fork mechanism, when the fork mechanism is used, for example with sheet-like stationery such as a pile of paper sheets and/or a stationery folder, the thrust bar is pushed in the direction of the hinge shaft so that the clipping slice (or the member) on the thrust bar disengages the bayonet (or the latch) of the fastener, in order to open the fork mechanism (or stationery retainer).
[0008] Preferably, when the fork mechanism disposed with two bayonets (or latches) inside and outside (or latches with first and second latch positions) on the fastener is used, the thrust bar is pushed in the direction of the hinge shaft so that the clipping slice (or the member) on the thrust bar disengages the inside bayonet (or the first latch) of the fastener at first, thereby the fork mechanism is half opened. Then, the clipping slice (or member) on the thrust bar disengages the outside bayonet (or the second latch), thereby the fork mechanism is fully opened.
[0009] Advantageously, because of the fork pin seat connected with the single hinge, the material used and the plating area are reduced by 30% and 20% respectively compared with existing production, and the transport volume is reduced by about 50% compared with existing production. So the aggregate cost is lowered greatly. Furthermore, with the folder opening structure of the thrust bar pushed in the hinge shaft indirection or a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the hinge, the opening step of the folder is extremely simple.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0010] The present invention may be carried out in various ways and a preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which:
Figure 1 is an upward view, a front view, a plan view, a right view and a left view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a decomposed structural view of the embodiment of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a structural view of the embodiment of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a structural view from another visual angle of the embodiment of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a cutaway view of the embodiment of Figure 1;
Figure 6 is a half-opened state reference view of the embodiment of Figure 1;
Figure7 is a half-opened state reference view from another visual angle of the embodiment of Figure 1;
Figure 8 is a half-opened state cutaway view of the embodiment of Figure 1;
Figure 9 is a full-opened state reference view of the embodiment of Figure 1;
Figure 10 is a full-opened state reference view from another visual angle of the embodiment of Figure 1;
Figure 11 is a full-opened state cut away view of the embodiment of Figure 1;
Figure 12 is a using state reference view 1 of the embodiment of Figure 1;
Figure 13 is a using state reference view 2 of the embodiment of Figure 1;
Figure 14 is a using state reference view 3 of the embodiment of Figure 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] The preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention will be described by cooperation of the drawings. As seen in Figures 1-5, a fork mechanism (or stationery retainer) comprises two seats 1 with fork pins 108 (or stationery engagers), the two seats 1 connecting each other by a hinge 2. One seat 1 is disposed with a fastener 3 with a bayonet or latch. Another seat is disposed with a supporting slice 4 (or support member. 4). A thrust bar 5 (or thrust member 5) capable of sliding along the hinge shaft (or hinge axis) is disposed on the supporting slice 4, and the thrust bar 5 is disposed with a clipping slice 6 (or a latch engaging member 6) matching the bayonet of the fastener 3.
[0012] The thrust bar 5 is disposed with a slip groove 7. A spring 8 which can make the thrust bar 5 home (or which can bias the thrust member to a home position) is disposed in the slip groove 7. A limiting slice 10 (or movement limiting member 10) capable of being inserted into the slip groove 7 is disposed on the supporting slice 4. The fastener 3 is disposed from inside to outside with two bayonets. The hinge 2 is disposed with a torsion spring 9, which can bounce the seat 1, or which can bias the seats 1 apart.
[0013] As seen in Figures 6-13, which show a way or method of using the fork mechanism or stationery holder, when the fork mechanism is used, the thrust bar 5 is pushed in the direction of the hinge shaft so that the clipping slice 6 on the thrust bar 5 disengages the bayonet of the fastener 3, in order to open the fork mechanism. When the fork mechanism disposed with two bayonets inside and outside on the fastener 3, the thrust bar 5 may be pushed in the direction of the hinge shaft so that the clipping slice 6 on the thrust bar 5 disengages the inside bayonet of the fastener 3 at first, in order to half open the fork mechanism. Then, the clipping slice on the thrust bar may disengage the outside bayonet, in order to fully open the fork mechanism. Next, a perforated paper or other sheet material may be put on one side fork pin seat 1, and the other fork pin seat 1 may be pushed in the direction perpendicular to the hinge shaft, such that the clipping slice 6 enters into the outside bayonet and the inside bayonet of the fastener 3 in turn, in order to clip and/or retain the paper 100 or other sheet-like material. A folder 102 may be attached to the seats 1 using fasteners 104 (such as rivets or screws and nuts) attached through apertures 106 on seats 1.
1. A fork mechanism comprising two seats (1) with fork pins (108), characterised in that: the two seats connect each other by a hinge (2), one seat is disposed with a fastener
(3) and at least one bayonet is disposed on the fastener, another seat is disposed
with a supporting slice (4) a thrust bar (5) capable of sliding along the hinge shaft
is disposed on the supporting slice, and the thrust bar is disposed with a clipping
slice (6) matching the bayonet of the fastener.
2. The fork mechanism according to Claim 1, characterised in that: the thrust bar (5) is disposed with a slip groove (7) a spring (8) which can make
the thrust bar home is disposed in the slip groove, and a limiting slice (10) capable
of being inserted into the slip groove is disposed on the supporting slice.
3. The fork mechanism according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterised in that: the fastener (3) is disposed from inside to outside with two bayonets.
4. The fork mechanism according to any preceding claim characterised in that: the hinge (2) is disposed with a torsion spring (9), which can bounce the seat,
or which is arranged to bias the seats apart.
5. A method of using the fork mechanism according to any one of Claims 1-4 characterised in that: when the fork mechanism is used, the thrust bar (5) is pushed in the direction of
the hinge shaft so that the clipping slice (6) on the thrust bar disengages the bayonet
of the fastener (3) in order to open the fork mechanism.
6. A method of using the fork mechanism according to Claim 3, characterised in that: the thrust bar (5) is pushed in the direction of the hinge shaft so that the clipping
slice (6) on the thrust bar disengages the inside bayonet of the fastener (3) at first,
in order to half or partly open the fork mechanism, then the clipping slice on the
thrust bar disengages the outside bayonet, in order to fully open the fork mechanism,
next a perforated paper (100) is put on one side seat (1) and the other side fork
pin seat (1) is pushed in a direction perpendicular to the hinge shaft, the clipping
slice enters into the outside bayonet and the inside bayonet of the fastener in turn,
thereby the paper is clipped.
7. A stationery retainer, such as for retaining sheet-like material, comprising two seats
(1) each having at least one stationery engager (108), characterised in that: the two seats are connected to one another by a hinge (2); one seat has a fastening
member (3), at least one latch being disposed on the fastening member; an operating
member (5) being provided which is provided with a latch engaging member (6) arranged
to selectively engage the latch.
8. A stationery folder (102) including a device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to
4 and 7.
9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, 7 and 8 which includes only one
hinge (2).