BINDER, AND FILE

Abstract

 A binder 1 includes a first operation portion 41 which is displaced from an unlock position for opening binding rods 3 to a lock position for closing the binding rods 3 when the first operation portion 41 is pushed down, a retaining mechanism 43 for retaining, in the lock position, the first operation portion 41 that has reached the lock position, and a second operation portion 42 for releasing retention of the first operation portion 41 by the retaining mechanism when the second operation portion 42 is pushed down.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a binder for a file for binding a plurality of sheets of paper or the like.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] There are various types of files for binding sheets of paper or the like. For example, each of the following Patent Documents discloses a file in which a pair of symmetrically turning binding rod elements forms an annular body for binding the paper or the like. The file is provided with an operation lever and the operation lever is pulled up to open the closed binding rods and is pushed down to close the open binding rods.

[0003] More specifically, each binding rod includes a fixed binding rod element standing on a base and a movable binding rod element turnably supported on the base, and tip end portions of both the binding rod elements open and close with respect to each other. The movable binding rod elements are elastically biased in such a direction as to move away from the fixed binding rod elements. At base end portions of the movable binding rod elements, a crankshaft protruding in a direction crossing a turning axis of the binding rod elements is interposed. On the other hand, the operation lever is substantially in an L shape in a side view and has one end pivoted to swing. A roller is attached to a right-angled portion of the operation lever. The roller performs a function of pressing the crankshaft of the movable binding rod elements to bring the binding rods into closed states.

[0004] If the operation lever is pushed down, an operating force presses the crankshaft through the roller and the movable binding rod elements are connected to the fixed binding rod elements against a biasing force. At this time, a line segment connecting the turning shaft of the operation lever and the roller is substantially orthogonal with the crankshaft, and the binding rods are maintained in the closed states by a toggle action.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-181846

Patent Document 2: International Publication No. WO2005/035265

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0005] To open binding rods, it is necessary to firmly grip an operation lever and pull the lever up strongly in the files in the above examples. This is because high friction is caused between the roller of the operation lever and the crankshaft of the binding rod elements by a toggle action described above, and a large operating force needs to be applied to release engagement between them.

[0006] Moreover, when the operation lever is pulled up, the whole file may be lifted up. In this case, the operation lever needs to be gripped with one hand and a cover or the like of the file needs to be held with the other hand, which requires both hands to operate.

[0007] It is an intended object of the present invention, which and has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems for the first time, to enhance usability of a binder and especially to make operation for opening binding rods easy.

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0008] A binder according to the present invention includes a binding rod which can be opened and closed to bind paper and an operation body which is displaced from an unlock position for opening the binding rod to a lock position for closing the binding rod to be retained in the lock position by a retaining mechanism when the operation body is pushed down. The retention of the operation body in the lock position by the retaining mechanism is released when the operation body is pushed down where it is in the lock position. With such a configuration, closing and opening of the binding rod can be carried out by the pushing-down operation with a finger. Especially, people with upper-limb disabilities may have difficulty in picking up the operation body with fingers in some cases. Since the binding rod of the binder according to the invention can be closed and opened only by the pushing-down operation and because the pushing-down operation can be carried out by using a body part other than fingers, the binder is highly effective as a universal design. Moreover, it is also possible to avoid lifting of the whole file due to the lifting operation of the operation lever.

[0009] More specifically, the binder includes the binding rod which can be opened and closed to bind paper, a first operation portion which is displaced from the unlock position for opening the binding rod to the lock position for closing the binding rod when the first operation portion is pushed down, the retaining mechanism for retaining, in the lock position, the first operation portion that has reached the lock position, and a second operation portion for releasing retention of the first operation portion by the retaining mechanism when the second operation portion is pushed down.

[0010] It is preferable that the first operation portion is elastically biased in a direction from the lock position toward the unlock position.

[0011] The binding rod may include a first binding rod element and a second binding rod element for turning with respect to the first binding rod element, open and close at the tip end portions of both the binding rod elements, and is provided with a pressed portion protruding from a base end portion of the second binding rod element in such a direction as to cross a turning axis. The first operation portion may have a tip end side turning up and down about a base end side thereof and is provided between the base end side and the tip end side with a pressing portion having a downward face for pressing the pressed portion from above. In this case, a toggle action is not used as in the conventional files and it is unnecessary to apply a large operating force to open the binding rod. Moreover, it is unnecessary to carry out a large turning operation of the operation body.

[0012] If the first operation portion and the second operation portion are disposed spaced apart from each other, there is a fear that a user becomes confused about how to use the binder. The retaining mechanism may include a latch for retaining the first operation portion on a base which is a foothold for the binding rod, the latch and the second operation portion may be movably supported on the first operation portion, and a latch receiver to be engaged with the latch may be provided to the base. In this case, the second operation portion can be reasonably disposed close to the first operation portion.

[0013] A finger laying area on which a finger can be laid may be set on the tip end side of the first operation portion, and a finger laying area on which the finger can be laid may be set on the second operation portion in a position displaced from the finger laying area of the first operation portion toward the base end side. In this case, the finger laying area of the first operation portion can be disposed near the tip end advantageous to the turning operation of the first operation portion, and the finger laying area of the second operation portion can be disposed to be naturally adjacent to the finger laying area of the first operation portion.

[0014] The latch and the second operation portion may be formed as an integral member, which simplifies the mechanism.

[0015] The latch and an elastic body for elastically biasing the latch in such a direction as to engage the latch with the latch receiver may be formed as an integral member, and the latch may move away from the latch receiver against the biasing force of the elastic body due to the operating force received by the second operation portion. In this case, the number of parts can be reduced.

[0016] The first operation portion may be in a hollow shape opened downward, the second operation portion may be housed in the first operation portion, and the latch may protrude downward from the first operation portion, which makes the whole operation body compact. Moreover, the relatively small parts such as the second operation portion and the latch are not conspicuously exposed, which adds to beauty.

[0017] The first operation portion may be provided with a window opened upward and the finger laying area of the second operation portion on which the finger can be laid may be exposed from the window. In this case, it is easy to push down the second operation portion.

[0018] The pressing portion may be integrally molded with the first operation portion, which reduces the number of parts and assembly man-hours.

[0019] An opening may be formed in a rising portion rising from the base, and a protrusion inserted into the opening in the rising portion to move up and down along an edge portion of the opening may be integrally formed with the first operation portion. In this case, engagement between the rising portion and the protrusion suppresses a rattle of the first operation portion against the base.

[0020] If the first operation portion is a metal molded article formed by pressing sheet metal, the first operation portion can be manufactured at a low cost and rigidity thereof can be suitably obtained. Since the binding rod and the base are normally made of metal, it is possible to achieve unity of the whole binder by also providing the first operation portion made of metal.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0021] According to the present invention, an operation for opening a binding rod is simplified and usability of a binder is improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] 

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an essential portion showing a file employing a binder according to a present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an essential portion of the file.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the binder according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of the binder.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the binder.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the binder.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the binder.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of the binder.

FIG. 9 is a side view of an essential portion showing a modification of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of an essential portion of the modification.

FIG. 11 is a side view of an essential portion showing a modification of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a side sectional view of the essential portion showing the modification.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an essential portion showing a modification of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a front sectional view of the essential portion showing the modification.

FIG. 15 is a side view of an essential portion showing a modification of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a side view of the essential portion showing the modification.

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view showing a modification of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a side sectional view of the modification.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an essential portion showing a file employing a binder according to a modification of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view of the modification.

FIG. 21 is a front sectional view of the modification.

FIG. 22 is a plan view of the modification.

FIG. 23 is a side view of the modification.

FIG. 24 is a side view of the modification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0023] 

1, 1x ... Binder

3, 3x ... Binding rod

35, 35x ... Pressed portion

4, 7, 4x Operation body (operation lever)

41, 71, 41x ... First operation portion

417, 741, 415x ... Pressing portion

42, 72, 42x ... Second operation portion

43, 73, 43x ... Latch of retaining mechanism

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0024] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. To simplify the description, a rotation center side of an operation lever 4, 4x is defined as the front and an operation portion 41, 41x side is defined as the rear. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a file employing a binder 1 of the present embodiment. A file is formed by attaching the binder 1 for binding a plurality of sheets of paper or the like to an inner face of a cover body 5.

[0025] The cover body 5 is a resin molded article, for example, including a back cover 51, a spine cover 52 connected to a side edge of the back cover 51 through a hinge, and a front cover 53 connected to a side edge of the spine cover 52 through a hinge. In the example shown in the figures, the binder 1 is attached to an inner face of the back cover 51 of the cover body 5 beside the spine cover 52.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 8, the binder 1 is mainly formed of a base 2 bonded to the cover body 5, binding rods 3 which rise from the base 2 to form annular bodies for binding paper and which can be opened and closed, and an operation lever 4 which is an operation body to be operated to cause opening and closing operations of the binding rods 3.

[0027] The base 2 is formed by pressing sheet metal, for example, and has cylinder portions 21 and 22 extending in a front-rear direction near a left side edge of the base 2. There are a plurality of cylinder portions 21 and 22 which are spaced apart in the front-rear direction. At a middle portion in a width direction of the base 2, cut and raised pieces 23, 24, and 25 for supporting the operation lever 4 are provided. A pair of left and right cut and raised pieces 23 and 24 on a front end side performs functions as bearings for turnably supporting the operation lever 4. In these cut and raised pieces 23 and 24, bearing holes 231 and 241 through which a support shaft 415 is inserted along the width direction are formed. The central cut and raised piece 25 performs a function as a stopper for restricting upward movement of the operation lever 4 beyond a certain distance. The central cut and raised piece 25 is higher than the cut and raised pieces 23 and 24 on the front end side. At an upper portion of the cut and raised piece 25, a protrusion 251 protruding rightward is formed. To the left of the central cut and raised piece, a spring 26 compressed from an upper left side to exert an elastic force is mounted. The spring 26 is a thin leaf spring made of metal, for example. Moreover, from a position displaced rearward from the central cut and raised piece 25, a hook-shaped latch receiver 27 protruding forward rises.

[0028] The binding rods 3 include first binding rod elements 31 and 32 and second binding rod elements 33 and 34 for turning with respect to the first binding rod elements 31 and 32, and tip end portions of both the binding rod elements 31, 32, 33 and 34 may close and open with respect to each other. In the present embodiment, the pair of binding rods 3 is disposed in front and rear positions. The first and second binding rod elements 31, 32, 33 and 34 are formed respectively by bending metal rods or pipes.

[0029] The first binding rod elements 31 and 32 are immovable elements having base end portions, i.e., lower end portions secured to the base 2, extend generally straight, and slightly curve leftward at positions near the tip ends. The tip ends of the first binding rod elements 31 and 32 are smaller in diameter than other portions. The front first binding rod element 31 stands in a front right corner portion of the base 2 and the rear first binding rod element 32 stands in a rear right corner portion of the base 2.

[0030] The second binding rod elements 33 and 34 extend straight from their base end portions, i.e., lower end portions to their middle portions and then curve wide rightward to form arches. Tip end faces of the second binding rod elements 33 and 34 are recessed so as to be able to house the small diameter portions of the tip ends of the first binding rod elements 31 and 32. The second binding rod elements 33 and 34 are bent in the front-rear direction at their base ends to form turning shafts 331 and 341. Terminal ends of the turning shafts 331 and 341 of the front and rear second binding rod elements 33 and 34 protrude in rightward directions crossing their axes to form a crank shape and are connected through a crankshaft 35. In other words, the second binding rod elements 33 and 34 are integral with each other. The second binding rod elements 33 and 34 are turnably supported on the base 2 with their front and rear turning shafts 331 and 341 housed in the front and rear cylinder portions 21 and 22, respectively. The crankshaft 35 is positioned between the front and rear cylinder portions 21 and 22 and covers the spring 26 from an upper left position. The crankshaft 35 functions as a pressed portion pressed from above by the operation lever 4.

[0031] The operation lever 4 includes a first operation portion 41 that is displaced between an unlock position for opening the binding rods 3 and a lock position for closing the binding rods 3, a retaining mechanism for retaining, in the lock position, the first operation portion 41 that has reached the lock position, and a second operation portion 42 attached to the first operation portion 41 to release the retention of the first operation portion 41 by the retaining mechanism.

[0032] The first operation portion 41 is a resin molded article, for example, forming an outer shell of the operation lever 4 and is hollow and opened downward. A tip end side, i.e., a rear end side of the first operation portion 41 turns up and down about a base end side, i.e., a front end side of the first operation portion 41. Specifically, a front end portion of the first operation portion 41 is expanded in the width direction and can house the pair of left and right cut and raised pieces 23 and 24 on the front end side of the base 2. Shaft holes 413 and 414 slightly expanded in a vertical direction are formed in side walls of the front end portion of the first operation portion 41 and the first operation portion 41 is pivoted on the base 2 by the shaft holes 413 and 414 and the support shaft 415 inserted through the bearing holes 231 and 241 of the cut and raised pieces 23 and 24. At this time, the central cut and raised piece 25 of the base 2 is also housed in the first operation portion 41. A slot 416 extending in the vertical direction is formed in a right side wall of the first operation portion 41 facing the central cut and raised piece 25. The protrusion 251 protruding from the central cut and raised piece 25 is inserted into the slot 416 and engaged with a lower edge of the slot 416 to thereby prevent upward movement of the first operation portion 41 beyond a certain distance. A left side wall facing the central cut and raised piece 25 has a thickness increased leftward and functions as a pressing portion 417 that presses the crankshaft 35 and the spring 26 with a downward face thereof. In positions of the side walls displaced rearward from the slot 416 and the pressing portion 417 and near an upper wall, bearing holes 418 and 419 for turnably supporting a latch 43 described below and the second operation portion 42 are formed. Then, an upper wall face near a rear end of the first operation portion 41 is set as a finger laying area 411 that a user can lay his/her finger on and push down. In a position displaced forward from the finger laying area 411, a window 412 vertically penetrating the upper wall is formed.

[0033] In the present embodiment, the retaining mechanism is for retaining the first operation portion 41 on the base 2 with the latch 43. The latch 43 and the second operation portion 42 are an integral member, and the member is housed in the first operation portion 41 and movably supported on the first operation portion 41. The latch 43 and the second operation portion 42 are a narrow plate-shaped body that is a resin article, for example. The latch 43 extends downward and has a hook 431 protruding rearward from a lower end portion thereof. A rear edge of the hook 431 is in a shape of a substantially oval arc in a side view. From left and right side faces near an upper end of the latch 43, pins 432 and 433 protrude. By inserting these pins 432 and 433 into the bearing holes 418 and 419 formed in the side faces of the first operation portion 41, the latch 43 is turnably supported on the first operation portion 41. From a position on a front side of the latch 43 and at an intermediate height between the pins 432 and 433 and the hook 431, a leaf spring-like elastic body 434 having a small vertical thickness and slightly curved upward extends in a forward and upward direction. A front end portion of the elastic body 434 comes in contact with the upper wall of the first operation portion 41.

[0034] The second operation portion 42 is joined to a rear side of the latch 43 and extends rearward. An upper face near a rear end of the second operation portion 42 bulges upward, protrudes from the window 412 of the first operation portion 41, and is exposed. This exposed portion functions as a finger laying area 421 which the user can lay his/her finger on and push down. The finger laying area 421 of the second operation portion 42 is just in front of and adjacent to the finger laying area 411 of the first operation portion 41.

[0035] Operation of the binder 1 according to the present embodiment when it is used will be described below. When the operation lever 4, i.e., the first operation portion 41 is lifted up into the unlock position shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, the binding rods 3 are in open states. In other words, a biasing force of the spring 26 pushes the crankshaft 35 up into an upper left position as shown in a chain line in FIG. 4, the second binding rod elements 33 and 34 turn leftward about the turning shafts 331 and 341, and the tip end portions of the second binding rod elements 33 and 34 move away from the tip end portions of the first binding rod elements 31 and 32.

[0036] If the user lays his/her finger on the finger laying area 411 and pushes down the first operation portion 41, the whole operation lever 4 turns downward about the support shaft 415 to reach the lock position shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 6. When the first operation portion 41 is lowered in the lock position, the binding rods 3 are in closed states. In other words, in the process of displacement of the first operation portion 41 to the lock position, the downward face of the pressing portion 417 presses the crankshaft 35 and moves the crankshaft 35 down into a lower right position while compressing the spring 26. As a result, the second binding rod elements 33 and 34 turn rightward about the turning shafts 331 and 341 and the tip end portions of the second binding rod elements 33 and 34 are finally connected to the tip end portions of the first binding rod elements 31 and 32.

[0037] When the first operation portion 41 reaches the lock position, as shown in FIG. 6, the hook 431 of the latch 43 of the retaining mechanism becomes engaged with the latch receiver 27 of the base 2 to retain the first operation portion 41 in the lock position. When the first operation portion 41 comes close to the lock position, the rear edge of the hook 431 comes in contact with the front edge of the latch receiver 27. If the first operation portion 41 further moves down, the hook 431 is pushed forward by the latch receiver 27, and the latch 43 and the second operation portion 42 turn about the pins 432 and 433 (clockwise in FIG. 7) in the first operation portion 41 in such a manner that the hook 431 escapes from the latch receiver 27. Simultaneously, the elastic body 434 with its front end portion in contact with the upper wall of the first operation portion 41 pushes against the upper wall and is elastically deformed to accumulate an elastic force. If the first operation portion 41 completely moves down to the lock position, the rear edge of the hook 431 moves away from the front edge of the latch receiver 27 and the force pushing the hook 431 forward is lost, and therefore the latch 43 and the second operation portion 42 turn reversely about the pins 432 and 433 (counterclockwise in FIG. 6) due to the biasing force of the elastic body 434 and return to original positions. As a result, the hook 431 becomes engaged with the latch receiver 27 from below.

[0038] If the user lays his/her finger on the finger laying area 421 to push down the second operation portion 42 when the first operation portion 41 is in the lock position, the latch 43 and the second operation portion 42 turn about the pins 432 and 433 (clockwise in FIG. 7) in the first operation portion 41 against the biasing force of the elastic body 434 and the hook 431 is displaced forward and moves away from the latch receiver 27. As described above, the spring 26 has been compressed and has accumulated the elastic force for pushing the crankshaft 35 to the upper left position. This means that the first operation portion 41 is elastically biased upward from the lock position toward the unlock position through the pressing portion 417 and the crankshaft 35. Therefore, when the retention due to engagement between the latch 43 and the latch receiver 27 is released, the operation lever 4 swiftly turns upward to reach the unlock position, and the second binding rod elements 33 and 34 turn leftward to bring the binding rods 3 into the open states.

[0039] According to the present embodiment, the binder 1 includes the binding rods 3 which can be opened and closed to bind paper and the operation body 4 which is displaced from the unlock position for opening the binding rods 3 to the lock position for closing the binding rods 3 to be retained in the lock position by the retaining mechanism when the operation body 4 is pushed down. The retention of the operation body 4 in the lock position by the retaining mechanism is released when the operation body 4. is pushed down when it is in the lock position. Therefore, closing and opening of the binding rods 3 can be carried out by the pushing-down operation with a finger. Moreover, it is.possible to avoid lifting of the whole file due to the lifting operation of the operation body 4.

[0040] The binder 1 includes the binding rods 3 which can be opened and closed to bind paper, the first operation portion 41 which is displaced from the unlock position for opening the binding rods 3 to the lock position for closing the binding rods 3 when the first operation portion 41 is pushed down, the retaining mechanism for retaining, in the lock position, the first operation portion 41 that has reached the lock position, and the second operation portion 42 for releasing retention of the first operation portion 41 by the retaining mechanism when the second operation portion 42 is pushed down. Therefore, the user can carry out the operations through intuition.

[0041] Since the first operation portion 41 is elastically biased in the direction from the lock position toward the unlock position, it is possible to swiftly bring the binding rods 3 into the open states with a single-touch operation of pushing down the second operation portion 42.

[0042] The binding rods 3 include the first binding rod elements 31 and 32 and the second binding rod elements 33 and 34 for turning with respect to the first binding rod elements 31 and 32, open and close at the tip end portions of both the binding rod elements 31, 32, 33, and 34, and are provided with the pressed portion 315 protruding from the base end portions of the second binding rod elements 33 and 34 in such a direction as to cross the axes of the turning shafts 331 and 341. The first operation portion 41 has the tip end side turning up and down about the base end side thereof and is provided between the base end side and the tip end side with the pressing portion 417 having the downward face for pressing the pressed portion 315 from above. Therefore, the toggle action is not used as in the conventional files and it is unnecessary to apply a large operating force to open the binding rods 3.

[0043] The retaining mechanism may include the latch 43 for retaining the first operation portion 41 on the base 2 which is a foothold for the binding rods 3, the latch 43 and the second operation portion 42 may be movably supported on the first operation portion 41, and the latch receiver 27 to be engaged with the latch 43 may be provided to the base 2. In this case, the second operation portion 42 can be reasonably disposed close to the first operation portion 41 and there is no fear that the user is confused about how to use the binder 1.

[0044] The finger laying area 411 on which the finger can be laid is set on the tip end side of the first operation portion 41 and the finger laying area 421 on which the finger can be laid is set on the second operation portion 42 in a position displaced from the finger laying area 411 of the first operation portion 41 toward the base end side. Therefore, the finger laying area 411 of the first operation portion 41 can be disposed near the tip end advantageous to turning operation of the first operation portion 41 and the finger laying area 411 of the second operation portion 42 can be disposed to be naturally adjacent to the finger laying area 411 of the first operation portion 41.

[0045] The latch 43 and the second operation portion 42 are formed as the integral member, which simplifies the mechanism.

[0046] The latch 43 and an elastic body 434 for elastically biasing the latch 43 in such a direction as to engage the latch 43 with the latch receiver 27 are formed as an integral member, and the latch 43 moves away from the latch receiver 27 against the biasing force of the elastic body 434 due to the operating force received by the second operation portion 42. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced.

[0047] The first operation portion 41 is in the hollow shape opened downward, the second operation portion 42 is housed in the first operation portion 41, and the latch 43 protrudes downward from the first operation portion 41, which makes the whole operation body 4 compact. Moreover, the relatively small parts such as the second operation portion 42 and the latch 43 are not conspicuously exposed, which adds to the beauty.

[0048] The first operation portion 41 is provided with the window 412 opened upward and the finger laying area 421 of the second operation portion 42 on which the finger can be laid is exposed from the window 412. Therefore, it is easy to push down the second operation portion 42.

[0049] The pressing portion 417 is integrally molded with the first operation portion 41, which reduces the number of parts and assembly man-hours.

[0050] The invention is not limited to the present embodiment described above in detail. For example, the first operation portion and the second operation portion may be formed as an integral molded article, and the first operation portion and the latch may be molded integrally. Such modifications in which the members are molded integrally are shown in FIGS. 9 to 14.

[0051] In the example shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a front edge portion of the second operation portion 42 is connected to the window 412 of the first operation portion 41 through a resin hinge, and the elastic body 434 is connected to a lower edge portion of the latch 43. To assemble the binder 1 after molding the member shown in FIG. 10, the elastic body 434 is bent up upward from a connection portion between the latch 43 and the elastic body 434 as shown in FIG. 9, and a tip end portion of the elastic body 434 is hooked on a rib 401 formed near the upper wall of the first operation portion 41.

[0052] In the example shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a front edge portion of the second operation portion 42 is connected to the rear end of the first operation portion 41 through a resin hinge, and the elastic body 434 extends up forward from a rear edge portion of the latch 43. To assemble the binder 1 after molding the member shown in FIG. 12, a pin 402 protruding sideways from a tip end portion of the elastic body 434 is locked in a locking hole 403 formed in a side wall of the first operation portion 41 as shown in FIG. 11. In this example, the finger laying area 411 of the first operation portion 41 is on the front side and the finger laying area 421 of the second operation portion 42 is on the rear side, which means a positional relationship in the front-rear direction between the finger laying areas 411 and 421 is reversed.

[0053] In the example shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, a turning direction of the second operation portion 42 and the latch 43 is different from that in the above embodiment. In other words, the pushed-down second operation portion 42 and the latch 43 turn about the axis extending in the width direction in the above embodiment while they turn about an axis extending in the front-rear direction in this example. In the example, an inner edge portion (left side edge portion) of the second operation portion 42 is connected to the first operation portion 41 through a resin hinge. The hook 431 of the latch 43 protrudes outward (rightward) from a lower end portion of the latch 43. The elastic body 434 is curved in an opposite direction to a protruding direction of the hook 431, and an upper end portion of the elastic body 434 is locked to a hook 404 provided to the first operation portion 41. Since the latch 43 turns leftward and rightward, the latch receiver 27 to be provided to the base 2 is oriented sideways as well.

[0054] In the binder for the file described above, the operation lever is the resin molded article and the base is the metal molded article. Therefore, if the operation lever is detachable from the base, it is convenient to separate the members into groups of different materials at the time of recycling or disposal. An example in which the operation body is detachable is shown in FIGS. 17 and 18.

[0055] In this example, a base 6 has cylindrical portions 61 and 62 extending in a front-rear direction near a left side edge of the base 6 and is provided with a shaft portion 63 and a rising portion 64 for turnably supporting an operation lever 7 at a middle position in a width direction. The shaft portion 63 on a front end side of the base 6 rises to form a hook shape protruding rearward and has a rear end edge bent into a substantially thin cylindrical shape to function as a support shaft extending in the width direction. The rising portion 64 at a center of the base 6 functions as a stopper for restricting upward movement of the operation lever 7 beyond a certain distance and as one of components of a coming off preventing means for preventing the operation lever 7 from coming off the base 6. A slot 65 penetrating the rising portion 64 in the width direction and extending in a vertical direction is formed in the rising portion 64. A part of the slot 65 in a position slightly displaced upward from a middle position is formed as an enlarged hole 651 having a larger groove width than the other part. In a position adjacent to a left side of the rising portion 64, a spring 66 compressed from an upper left side to exert an elastic force is mounted. Moreover, in a position displaced rearward from the rising portion 64, a latch receiver 67 for'retaining the operation lever 7 is provided.

[0056] The operation lever 7 includes a first operation portion 71 which is a lever main body, a detachable and attachable portion 74 which is detachable from and attachable to the first operation portion 71, a retaining mechanism for retaining, in the lock position, the first operation portion 71 that has reached a lock position, and a second operation portion 72 attached to the first operation portion 71 to release retention of the first operation portion 71 by the retaining mechanism. The first operation portion 71 has a hollow shape opened downward and has a tip end side, i.e., a rear end side for turning up and down about a base end side, i.e., a front end side. Specifically, a bearing portion 711 opened forward in a recessed groove shape in a side view is formed at a front end portion of the first operation portion 71, the shaft portion 63 provided to the base 6 is inserted into the bearing portion 711 in a direction orthogonal to an axis of the shaft portion 63, i.e. from a front side and held in the bearing portion 711 to thereby pivot the first operation portion 71. Then, a middle portion of the first operation portion 71 is mounted on the rising portion 64 of the base 6 with the detachable and attachable portion 74 interposed therebetween.

[0057] The detachable and attachable portion 74 is a member sliding along side faces of the rising portion 64 of the base 6 and functions as one of the components of the coming off preventing means for preventing the operation lever 7 from coming off the base 6. Near a lower end of the left side face of the detachable and attachable portion 74, a pressing portion 741 protruding leftward is provided. A downward face of the pressing portion 741 is substantially in a partially cylindrical shape. On front and rear sides of the pressing portion 741, protruding portions 742 and 743 smaller than the pressing portion 741 are provided. Near a lower end of the right side face of the detachable and attachable portion 74, a protrusion 75 protruding rightward is provided. The protrusion 75 includes a base portion 751 extending rightward and an enlarged portion 752 enlarged in the front-rear direction at a tip end portion of the base portion 751, the base portion 751 and the enlarged portion 752 forming a substantial L shape in a bottom view. A front-rear width of the base portion 751 is substantially equal to or slightly smaller than a front-rear width of the slot 65 formed in the rising portion 64 of the base 6. A front-rear width of the enlarged portion 752 is greater than the front-rear width of the slot 65 and is substantially equal to or slightly smaller than a front-rear width of the enlarged hole 651. The protrusion 75 is inserted from a left side into the slot 65 from the enlarged hole 651 in the rising portion 64, and a right side face of the detachable and attachable portion 74 is fitted on the left side face of the rising portion 64. The base portion 751 of the protrusion 75 is guided by the vertically extending slot 65 and therefore the detachable and attachable portion 74 can move up and down with respect to the base 6 in an area in which the slot 65 extends. An upper edge of the detachable and attachable portion 74 slightly bulges rightward like eaves and comes in contact with or comes close to an upper edge of the rising portion 64 when the detachable and attachable portion 74 reaches the lowest position. In an upper edge face of the detachable and attachable portion 74, a notch 744 in a wedge shape in a side view is formed.

[0058] In a left side wall of a middle portion of the first operation portion 71, an exposing hole 713 through which the pressing portion 741 of the detachable and attachable portion 74 can be inserted and exposed leftward and a plurality of recessed portions 714 and 715 in which the respective protruding portions 742 and 743 can be engaged are formed. From an upper wall, a protruding piece 716 which can be engaged in the notch 744 in the upper end face of the detachable and attachable portion 74 protrudes. By utilizing such a configuration, it is possible to attach the detachable and attachable portion 74 to the first operation portion 71. At this time, major parts of the rising portion 64 and the detachable and attachable portion 74 are housed in the first operation portion 71.

[0059] If the detachable and attachable portion 74 is attached to the first operation portion 71, engagement between a rear edge of the protrusion 75 and a rear edge of the slot 65 prohibits rearward displacement of the first operation portion 71 and therefore the shaft portion 63 of the base 6 does not come off the bearing portion 711 of the first operation portion 71. In other words, the operation lever 7 is prevented from coming off the base 6. The front end side and the rear end side of the operation lever 7 attached to the base 6 straddle, in the front-rear direction, the crankshaft 35 which is the pressed portion of the second binding rod elements 33 and 34 (i.e., the front end side is positioned on a back side of the' crankshaft 35 and the rear end side is positioned on a front side of the crankshaft 35), and the pressing portion 741 at the middle portion (technically at a position slightly displaced forward from the center in the front-rear direction of the operation lever 7) is positioned directly above the crankshaft 35.

[0060] The retaining mechanism is for retaining the first operation portion 71 on the base 6 with a latch 73. The latch 73 and the second operation portion 72 are an integral member and the member is housed in the first operation portion 71 and movably supported on the first operation portion 71. The latch 73 and the second operation portion 72 are a narrow plate-shaped body which is a resin molded article, for example. The latch 73 extends downward and has a hook 731 protruding rearward from its lower end portion. Pins 732 and 733 protrude from left and right side faces near an upper end of the latch 73.

[0061] In positions of the left and right side walls of the first operation portion 71, displaced rearward from the exposing hole 713 of the pressing portion 741, and near the upper wall, bearing holes 717 are formed. By inserting the pins 732 and 733 through the bearing holes 717, the latch 73 and the second operation portion 72 are turnably supported in the first operation portion 71. From an intermediate height position between the pins 732 and 733 and the hook 731 on the front side of the latch 73, an elastic body 734 having a small vertical thickness, slightly curved upward, and formed in a shape of a leaf spring extends up forward. A front end portion of the elastic body 734 comes in contact with the upper wall of the first operation portion 71. The second operation portion 72 is connected to a rear side of the latch 73 and extends rearward. An upper face of the second operation portion 72 near a rear end bulges upward and protrudes from a window 712 formed in the upper wall of the first operation portion 71.

[0062] In the modification shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the shaft portion 63 which is the center of turning of the operation lever 7 is provided to one of the base 6 and the operation lever 7, the bearing portion 711 in which the shaft portion 63 is inserted in the direction orthogonal to the axis and held is provided to the other, and the operation lever 7 is attached to the base 6 with the coming off preventing means for preventing the shaft portion 63 from coming off the bearing portion 711 interposed therebetween. Therefore, by removing the coming off preventing means, it is possible to easily detach the operation lever 7 from the base 6. The coming off preventing means is formed of the rising portion 64 rising from the base 6 and the detachable and attachable portion 74 detachable from and attachable to the operation lever 7. One of the rising portion 64 and the detachable and attachable portion 74 is provided with the vertically extending slot 65 and the other is provided with the protrusion 75 housed in the slot 65 and guided by the slot 65.

[0063] Although the retaining mechanism and the second operation portion are movably supported in the first operation portion in the above embodiment, the retaining mechanism and/or the second operation portion may be movably provided to the base of the binder instead. In other words, the latch may be provided to the base and the latch receiver may be provided to the first operation portion. In this case, the second operation portion for driving the latch may be provided to the base.

[0064] Moreover, the form of the retaining mechanism for retaining the operation body or the first operation body in the lock position is not limited to the latch. In an example shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, an expanding and contracting device 6 mounted with a ratchet similar to that of a known retractable ball point pen or the like is interposed as a retaining mechanism between the operation body 4 and the base 2. A lower end portion of the expanding and contracting device is pivotably mounted on the base 2 through a hinge. If the operation body 4 in the unlock position shown in FIG. 16 is pushed down, the expanding and contracting device 6 which received the pushing-down operating force through the operation body 4 contracts against an elastic biasing force of a spring mounted in the device 6 and the operation body 4 moves down to the lock position shown in FIG. 15. At this time, the expanding and contracting device 6 is maintained in the contracted state by the action of the ratchet to retain the operation body 4 in the lock position. If the operation body 4 is pushed down again when the operation body 4 is in the lock position, the expanding and contracting device 6 temporarily contracts further to drive the ratchet to release the contracted state and expands due to the elastic biasing force of the spring mounted in the device 6 to lift the operation body 4 up to the unlock position shown in FIG. 15. The operation body 4 in this example is not divided into the first operation portion for closing the binding rods and the second operation portion for releasing retention. Although the expanding and contracting device 6 is disposed near a rear end portion of the operation body 4 in the example, it may be disposed near a middle portion of the operation body 4.

[0065] A binder 1x shown in FIGS. 19 to 24 is characterized in that a first operation portion 41x is a metal molded article. The binder 1x in the example will be described below.

[0066] The binder 1x is mainly formed of a base 2x bonded to a cover body 5, binding rods 3x rising from the base 2x to form annular bodies for binding paper, and an operation lever 4x which is an operation body to be operated to cause opening and closing operations of the binding rods 3x.

[0067] The base 2x is formed by pressing sheet metal, for example, and has cylinder portions 21x and 22x extending in a front-rear direction near a left side edge of the base 2x. The cylinder portions 21x and 22x are spaced apart in the front-rear direction. At a middle portion in a width direction of the base 2x, a shaft portion 23x and a rising portion 24x for turnably supporting the operation lever 4x are provided.

[0068] The shaft portion 23x on a front end side of the base 2x rises to form a hook protruding rearward and has a rear end edge bent into a substantially thin cylindrical shape to function as a support shaft extending in the width direction. The rising portion 24x at a center of the base 2x functions as a stopper for restricting upward movement of the operation lever 4x beyond a certain distance and performs a function of suppressing a rattle of the operation lever 4x with respect to the base 2x in the width direction. An opening 25x penetrating the rising portion 24x in the width direction is formed in the rising portion 24x. A front edge 25x1 of the opening 25x is in a partial arc shape about a support shaft of the shaft portion 23x in a side view.

[0069] As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, in a position adjacent to a left side of the rising portion 24x, a spring 26x compressed from an upper left side to exert an elastic force is mounted. The spring 26x is a metal thin leaf spring, for example.

[0070] In a position displaced rearward from the rising portion 24x, i.e. , on an opposite side to the shaft portion 23x, a latch receiver 27x for retaining the operation lever 4x is provided. The latch receiver 27x rises to form a hook protruding forward.

[0071] The binding rods 3x include first binding rod elements 31x and 32x and second binding rod elements 33x and 34x for turning with respect to the first binding rod elements 31x and 32x, and tip end portions of both the binding rod elements 31x, 32x, 33x and 34x open and close with respect to each other. The first and second binding rod elements 31x, 32x, 33x and 34x are formed respectively by bending,metal rods or pipes.

[0072] Configurations of the binding rod elements 31x, 32x, 33x, and 34x are similar to those of the elements 31, 32, 33, and 34 of the binding rods 3 in the present embodiment described above. In other words, turning shafts 331x, 341x bent in the front-rear direction are formed at base ends of the second binding rod elements 33x and 34x turning with respect to the first binding rod elements 31x and 32x fixed to the base 2x, and ends of both the turning shafts 331x and 341x are connected by a crankshaft 35x. The turning shafts 331x and 341x are housed in the cylinder portions 21x and 22x provided to the base 2x, respectively. The crankshaft 35x is positioned between the front and rear cylinder portions 21x and 22x to cover the spring 26x from above. The crankshaft 35x functions as a pressed portion to be pressed by the operation lever 4x from above.

[0073] The operation lever 4x includes a first operation portion that is displaced between an unlock position for opening the binding rods 3x and a lock position for closing the binding rods 3x, i.e., a lever main body 41x and a retaining mechanism for retaining, in the lock position, the first operation portion 41x that has reached the lock position and a second operation portion 42x attached to the first operation portion 41x to release retention of the first operation portion 41x by the retaining mechanism.

[0074] The first operation portion 41 is a metal molded article formed by pressing sheet metal. The first operation portion 41x is in a hollow shape having left and right side walls and an upper wall and opened downward, and forms an outer shell of the operation lever 4x. In the example shown in the figures, an area including part of the right side wall in a middle position in the front-rear direction is notched. A rear end side of the first operation portion 41x turns up and down about a front end side of the first operation portion 41x.

[0075] The front end portion of the first operation portion 41x is expanded in the width direction, and bearing portions 413x and 414x in recessed hole shapes in a side view are formed to open forward in the opposite side walls of the front end portion. The shaft portion 23x of the base 2x is inserted from the front side into the bearing portions 413x and 414x, and then the metal sheets of upper sides of the bearing portions 413x and 414x are curved or bent downward to close the front openings of the bearing portions 413x and 414x. In this way, the first operation portion 41x and eventually the operation lever 4x can be turnably supported about the shaft portion 23x.

[0076] On a left vertical wall 410x at the middle portion in the front-rear direction of the first operation portion 41x, a bent portion 415x is provided. The bent portion 415x bends rightward from a lower end of the vertical wall 410x, then bends again leftward at a right end portion 415x1, and extends farther leftward than the vertical wall 410x as shown in FIG. 21. The front end side and the rear end side of the operation lever 4x straddle, in the front-rear direction, the crankshaft 35x which is the pressed portion of the second binding rod elements 33x and 34x (i.e., the front end side is positioned on a back side of the crankshaft 35x and the rear end side is positioned on a front side of the crankshaft 35x), and the bent portion 415x at the middle portion (technically at a position slightly displaced forward from the center in the front-rear direction of the operation lever 4x) is positioned directly above the crankshaft 35x. A downward face of the bent portion 415x functions as a pressing portion for pressing the crankshaft 35x and the spring 26x. Incidentally, a left end portion 415x2 of the bent portion 415x is slightly curved downward.

[0077] In addition, part of an upward face of the bent portion 415x near the right end portion 415x1 is cut and raised to form a protrusion 416x. The protrusion 416x protrudes slightly farther than the right end portion 415x1 of the bent portion 415x in a rightward direction and bends and rises upward at its right end, as shown in FIG. 21. As shown in FIGS. 22 to 24, at least a part 416x1 of the front edge at the right end of the protrusion 416x extends forward. The protrusion 416x is inserted from a left side into the opening 25x formed in the rising portion 24x at the center of the base 2x to move up and down along the front edge 25x1 of the opening 25x as the first operation portion 41x turns. The protrusion 416x comes in contact with an upper edge of the opening 25x to thereby prevent upward movement of the first operation portion 41x beyond a certain distance. Since the right end portion 415x1 of the bent portion 415x and the front edge portion 416x1 of the right end of the protrusion 416x face each other so as to sandwich the rising portion 24x (a peripheral edge portion of the opening 25x) from the left and right sides, engagement between the bent portion 415x, the protrusion 416x, and the rising portion 24x suppresses a rattle of the first operation portion 41x in the width direction against the base 2x.

[0078] In positions of the side walls displaced rearward from the bent portion 415x and near the upper wall, bearing holes 417x and 418x for turnably supporting a latch 43x and a second operation portion 42x, which will be described below, are formed. An upper wall face of the first operation portion 41x near the rear end is set as a finger laying area 411x which a user can lay his/her finger on and push down. In a position displaced forward from the finger laying area 411x, a window 412x vertically penetrating the upper wall is formed.

[0079] The retaining mechanism retains the first operation portion 41x on the base 2x with the latch 43x similarly to the embodiment described above. The latch 43x and the second operation portion 42x are an integral member, and the member is housed in the first operation portion 41x and movably supported in the first operation portion 41x. The latch 43x and the second operation portion 42x are a narrow plate-shaped body which is a resin molded article, for example.

[0080] The latch 43x extends downward and has a hook 431x protruding rearward from its lower end portion. From left and right side faces of the latch 43x near an upper end, pins 432x and 433x protrude. By inserting the pins 432x and 433x into the bearing holes, 417x and 418x formed in the left and right side walls of the first operation portion 41x, the latch 43x and the second operation portion 42x can be turnably supported in the first operation portion 41x.

[0081] From an intermediate height position of the front side of the latch 43x between the pins 432x and 433x and the hook 431x, an elastic body 434x in a shape of a thin leaf spring having a small vertical thickness extends up forward. A front end portion of the elastic body 434x comes in contact with the upper wall of the first operation portion 41x.

[0082] The second operation portion 42x is joined to a rear side of the latch 43x and extends rearward x. An upper face near a rear end of the second operation portion 42x bulges upward, protrudes from the window 412x formed in the upper wall of the first operation portion 41x, and is exposed. This exposed portion functions as a finger laying area 421x which the user can lay his/her finger on and push down. The finger laying area 421x of the second operation portion 42x is just in front of and adjacent to the finger laying area 411x of the first operation portion 41x.

[0083] Operations of the binder 1x when it is used will be described. When the first operation portion 41x is lifted up into the unlock position shown in FIG. 23, the binding rods 3x are in open states. In other words, a biasing force of the spring 26x pushes the crankshaft 35x up into an upper left position as shown in a solid line in FIG. 21, the second binding rod elements 33x and 34x turn leftward about the turning shafts 331x and 341x, and the tip end portions of the second binding rod elements 33x and 34x move away from the tip end portions of the first binding rod elements 31x and 32x. At this time, the left end portion 415x2 of the bent portion 415x curved downward is engaged with the crankshaft 35x to prevent further leftward movement of the crankshaft 35x and the second binding rod elements 33x and 34x.

[0084] If the user lays his/her finger on the finger laying area 411x and pushes down the first operation portion 41x, the whole operation lever 4x turns downward about the shaft portion 23x. In the process of displacement of the first operation portion 41x to the lock position, the downward face of the bent portion 415x presses the crankshaft 35 and moves the crankshaft 35x down into a lower right position while compressing the spring 26x. As a result, the second binding rod elements 33x and 34x turn rightward about the turning shafts 331x and 341x, and the tip end portions of the second binding rod elements 33x and 34x are finally connected to the tip end portions of the first binding rod elements 31x and 32x, as shown in a chain line in FIG. 21.

[0085] As the first operation portion 41x approaches the lock position, a rear edge of the hook 431x comes in contact with a front edge of the latch receiver 27x. If the first operation portion 41x further moves down, the hook 431x is pushed forward by the latch receiver 27x, and the latch 43x and the second operation portion 42x turn about the pins 432x and 433x in the first operation portion 41x in such a manner that the hook 431x escapes from the latch receiver 27x. Simultaneously, the elastic body 434x with its front end portion in contact with the upper wall of the first operation portion 41x pushes against the upper wall and is elastically deformed to accumulate the elastic force. If the first operation portion 41x completely moves down, the rear edge of the hook 431x moves away from the front edge of the latch receiver 27x and the force pushing the hook 431x forward is lost, and therefore the latch 43x and the second operation portion 42x turn reversely about the pins 432x and 433x due to the biasing force of the elastic body 434x and return to original positions. As a result, as shown in FIG. 24, the hook 431x of the latch 43x of the retaining mechanism becomes engaged with the latch receiver 27x of the base 2x to retain the first operation portion 41x in the lock position. With this configuration, the bent portion 415x restrains the crankshaft 35x and the second binding rod elements 33x and 34x to maintain the binding rods 3x in the closed states.

[0086] If the user lays his/her finger on the finger laying area 421 to push down the second operation portion 42x when the first operation portion 41x is in the lock position shown in FIG. 24, the latch 43x and the second operation portion 42x turn about the pins 432x and 433x in the first operation portion 41x against the biasing force of the elastic body 434x, and the hook 431x is displaced forward and moves away from the latch receiver 27x. As described above, the spring 26x has been compressed and has accumulated the elastic force for pushing the crankshaft 35x to the upper left position. This means that the first operation portion 41x is elastically biased upward from the lock position toward the unlock position through the bent portion 415x and the crankshaft 35x. Therefore, when the retention due to engagement between the latch 43x and the latch receiver 27x is released, the operation lever 4x swiftly turns upward to reach the unlock position shown in FIG. 23 and the crankshaft 35x and the second binding rod elements 33x and 34x released from retention by the bent portion 415x turn leftward to bring the binding rods 3x into the open states.

[0087] According to the example shown in FIGS. 19 to 24, the binder 1x includes the binding rods 3x which can be opened and closed to bind paper and the operation body 4x which is displaced from the unlock position for opening the binding rods 3x to the lock position for closing the binding rods 3x to be retained in the lock position by the retaining mechanism when the operation body 4x is pushed down. The retention of the operation body 4x in the lock position by the retaining mechanism is released when the operation body 4x is pushed down when it is in the lock position. Therefore, closing and opening of the binding rods 3x can be carried out by the pushing-down operation with a finger. Moreover, it is possible to avoid lifting of the whole file due to the lifting operation of the operation body 4x.

[0088] The binder 1x includes the binding rods 3x which can be opened and closed to bind paper, the first operation portion 41x which is displaced from the unlock position for opening the binding rods 3x to the lock position for closing the binding rods 3x when the first operation portion 41x is pushed down, the retaining mechanism for retaining, in the lock position, the first operation portion 41x that has reached the lock position, and the second operation portion 42x for releasing retention of the first operation portion 41x by the retaining mechanism when the second operation portion 42x is pushed down. Therefore, the user can carry out the operations through intuition.

[0089] Since the first operation portion 41x is elastically biased in the direction from the lock position toward the unlock position, it is possible to swiftly bring the binding rods 3x into the open states with a single touch for pushing down the second operation portion 42x.

[0090] The binding rods 3x include the first binding rod elements 31x and 32x and the second binding rod elements 33x and 34x for turning with respect to the first binding rod elements 31x and 32x, open and close at the tip end portions of both the binding rod elements 31x, 32x, 33x, and 34x, and are provided with the pressed portion 315x protruding from the base end portions of the second binding rod elements 33x and 34x in such a direction as to cross the axis of the turning shafts 331x and 341x. The first operation portion 41x has the tip end side turning up and down about the base end side thereof and is provided between the base end side and the tip end side with the pressing portion 415x having the downward face for pressing the pressed portion 315x from above. Therefore, the toggle action is not used as in the conventional files and it is unnecessary to apply a large operating force to open the binding rods 3x.

[0091] The retaining mechanism may include the latch 43x for retaining the first operation portion 41x on the base 2x which is a foothold for the binding rods 3x, the latch 43x and the second operation portion 42x may be movably supported on the first operation portion 41x, and the latch receiver 27x to be engaged with the latch 43x may be provided to the base 2x. In this case, the second operation portion 42x can be reasonably disposed close to the first operation portion 41x and there is no fear that the user is confused about how to use the binder 1x.

[0092] The finger laying area 411x on which the finger can be laid is set on the tip end side of the first operation portion 41x and the finger laying area 421x on which the finger can be laid is set on the second operation portion 42x in a position displaced from the finger laying area 411x of the first operation portion 41x toward the base end side. Therefore, the finger laying area 411x of the first operation portion 41x can be disposed near the tip end advantageous to turning operation of the first operation portion 41x and the finger laying area 411x of the second operation portion 42x can be disposed to be naturally adjacent to the finger laying area 411x of the first operation portion 41x.

[0093] The latch 43x and the second operation portion 42x are formed as the integral member, which simplifies the mechanism.

[0094] The latch 43x and an elastic body 434x for elastically biasing the latch 43x in such a direction as to engage the latch 43x with the latch receiver 27x are formed as an integral member and the latch 43x moves away from the latch receiver 27x against a biasing force of the elastic body 434x due to an operating force received by the second operation portion 42x. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced.

[0095] The first operation portion 41x is in the hollow shape opened downward, the second operation portion 42x is housed in the first operation portion 41x, and the latch 43x protrudes downward from the first operation portion 41x, which makes the whole operation body 4x compact. Moreover, the relatively small parts such as the second operation portion 42x and the latch 43x are not conspicuously exposed, which adds to the beauty.

[0096] The first operation portion 41x is provided with the window 412x opened upward and the finger laying area 421x of the second operation portion 42x on which the finger can be laid is exposed from the window 412x. Therefore, it is easy to push down the second operation portion 42x.

[0097] The pressing portion 415x is integrally molded with the first operation portion 41x, which reduces the number of parts and assembly man-hours.

[0098] The opening 25x is formed in the rising portion 24x rising from the base 2x, and the protrusion 416x inserted into the opening 25x in the rising portion 24x to move up and down along the edge portion of the opening 25x is integrally formed with the first operation portion 41x. Therefore, the engagement between the rising portion 24x and the protrusion 416x suppresses a rattle of the first operation portion 41x against the base 2x.

[0099] Since the first operation portion 41x is the metal molded article formed by pressing the sheet metal, it can be manufactured at a low cost and rigidity thereof can be suitably obtained. Since the binding rods 3x and the base 2x are made of metal, it is possible to achieve, unity of the whole binder 1x by also providing the first operation portion 41x made of metal.

[0100] Specific structures of other respective portions can be changed in various manners without departing from the gist of the invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0101] According to the present invention, an operation for opening binding rods is simplified and usability of a binder is improved.

Claims

1. A binder comprising:

a binding rod which can be opened and closed to bind paper; and

an operation body which is displaced from an unlock position for opening the binding rod to a lock position for closing the binding rod to be retained in the lock position by a predetermined retaining mechanism when the operation body is pushed down, the retention of the operation body in the lock position by the retaining mechanism being released when the operation body is pushed down where the operation body is in the lock position.

2. A binder according to claim 1,
wherein the operation body includes a first operation portion which is' displaced from the unlock position for opening the binding rod to the lock position for closing the binding rod when the first operation portion is pushed down and a second operation portion for releasing retention of the first operation portion by the retaining mechanism when the second operation portion is pushed down.

3. A binder according to claim 2, wherein the first operation portion is elastically biased in a direction from the lock position toward the unlock position.

4. A binder according to claim 3, wherein the binding rod includes a first binding rod element and a second binding rod element for turning with respect to the first binding rod element, opens and closes at tip end portions of both the binding rod elements, and is provided with a pressed portion protruding from a base end portion of the second binding rod element in such a direction as to cross a turning axis and
the first operation portion has a tip end side turning up and down about a base end side thereof and is provided between the base end side and the tip end side with a pressing portion having a downward face for pressing the pressed portion from above.

5. A binder according to claims 2, 3, or 4, wherein the retaining mechanism includes a latch for retaining the first operation portion on a base which is a foothold for the binding rod,
the latch and the second operation portion are movably supported on the first operation portion, and a latch receiver to be engaged with the latch is provided to the base.

6. A binder according to claim 5, wherein a finger laying area on which a finger can be laid is set on the tip end side of the first operation portion and
a finger laying area of the second operation portion on which the finger can be laid is set in a position displaced from the finger laying area of the first operation portion toward the base end side.

7. A binder according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the latch and the second operation portion are formed as an integral member.

8. A binder according to claim 7, wherein the latch and an elastic body for elastically biasing the latch in such a direction as to engage the latch with the latch receiver are formed as an integral member and
the latch moves away from the latch receiver against a biasing force of the elastic body due to an operating force received by the second operation portion.

9. A binder according to claim 5, 6, 7, or 8, wherein the first operation portion is in a hollow shape opened downward, the second operation portion is housed in the first operation portion, and the latch protrudes downward from the first operation portion.

10. A binder according to claim 9, wherein the first operation portion is provided with a window opened upward and the finger laying area of the second operation portion on which the finger can be laid is exposed from the window.

11. A binder according to claim 4, wherein the pressing portion is integrally molded with the first operation portion.

12. A binder according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11, wherein an opening is formed in a rising portion rising from the base and
a protrusion inserted into the opening in the rising portion to move up and down along an edge portion of the opening is integrally formed with the first operation portion.

13. A binder according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12, wherein the first operation portion is a metal molded article formed by pressing sheet metal.

14. A file formed by using the binder according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13,
wherein the binder is mounted on an inner face of a cover body formed by connecting a front cover, a spine cover, and a back cover.

Drawing