US 4,127,340 AGranted

Movable hinge binder

AssigneeAmerican Loose Leaf Corp.

InventorRobert E. Almgren

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Abstract

A binder mechanism having two longitudinal bars on which the page holding prongs are mounted. The bars are interconnected by two rectangular movable hinge members situated proximate opposite ends of the bars. The hinge members which have two right angle sections interconnected by a piano hinge are rotatably connected to the bars and define a rectangular box-shaped structure with the bars when the binder is in the locked position. Both hinge members and bars have a thin rectangular cross-section, the long dimension of which is vertically oriented when the hinge members and the bars are in the locked position. The hinge members pivot about pins which interconnect the hinge members to the bars to rotate to an open position with the piano hinge rotated 90.degree.. One hinge member then rotates about the piano hinge to open the binder so that the longitudinal bars are in a horizontal position and the prongs are vertically disposed. In this position, pages can be removed and inserted. A suitable locking mechanism is provided to releasably secure one of the supports to the backbone of the binder.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A binder mechanism for a loose leaf binder for holding pages in the binder, including a cover and backbone comprising:

support members carried by said cover and backbone;
prongs, for holding pages, projecting from said support members;
hinge means interconnecting said support members, said hinge means including at least two interconnected substantially right angular sections, each said right angular section including first and second perpendicular legs, said first legs being hingedly connected to each other and said second legs being connected to said supports;
rotative means being mounting said hinge means for rotation with respect to said support members and so as to permit rotation of said hinge means between a closed position for the binder mechanism wherein the prongs are closed and an open position for the binder mechanisms wherein the prongs are open and pages can be inserted;
said interconnection between said first legs being such that when said first legs are in said closed position said first legs are disposed in a first plane that is perpendicular to both a second plane within which the backbone of the binder is disposed and third and forth plane within which said support members lie;
said interconnection between said first legs furthermore being such that when said first legs are in said open position said first legs are disposed in a fifth plane that is perpendicular to said second plane within which the backbone is disposed, said support members being disposed in a sixth plane parallel to said second plane within which said backbone is disposed when said first legs are in said open position.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.