Releasable attachment for a ring metal to a ring binder
AssigneeU.S. Ring Binder, L.P.
InventorLuke Fuller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spring clip for mounting a ring metal to a ring binder wherein the spring clip is attached to a panel of the ring binder such as by a rivet, and the ring metal is snap engaged to the spring clips. The spring clips provide release levers for quickly and easily removing the ring metal from the ring binder for exchange or replacement. The ring metal can be provided with locator notches which register with locator tabs provided on the spring clip to locate the ring metal appropriately with respect to the ring binder and spring clips.
Claims14
A spring clip for holding a ring metal to a panel of a ring binder, The spring clip comprising:
- opposite side wall portions arranged for connecting to and extending away from said panel;
- clip portions extending inwardly from said side wall portions arranged and adapted to for overlying portions of said ring metal once installed;
- and
- lever means for spreading apart said clip portions said lever means comprising at least one release lever mounted to one of said side wall portions for releasing said metal ring from said spring clip.
A spring clip for holding a ring metal to a panel of a ring binder, the spring clip comprising:
- opposite side wall portions for connecting to and extending away from said panel;
- clip portions extending inwardly from said side wall portions arranged and adapted to overlie portions of said ring metal once installed;
- and
- means for spreading apart said clip portions mounted to one of said side wall portions for releasing said ring metal from said spring clip;
- and locator means engageable with corresponding locator means on said ring metal for accurately axially locating said ring metal to said spring clip;
- wherein said locator means comprises tabs extending upwardly from said flat base, and said corresponding locator means in said ring metal comprises notches which register with said tabs.
A spring clip and ring metal arrangement for mounting a ring metal to a ring binder, said ring metal attachable to a panel of the ring binder, comprising:
- a spring clip formed of a metal plate shaped into a general U-shape with out-turned lever portions, the side legs of said U-shape having clip portions extending inwardly therefrom to overlie said ring metal to hold said ring metal once installed to said spring clip;
- and
- means for locating said ring metal preselected axial alignment with said clip, said means disposed on said ring metal and said clip independent of said clip portions.
A method for releasably installing a ring metal to a ring binder comprising the steps of:
- providing a clip;
- attaching said clip to said ring binder on a panel portion thereof;
- providing that the clip have inwardly directed engaging portions for holding the ring metal;
- providing release levers for disengaging said engaging portions from said ring metal by spreading said disengaging portions apart;
- depressing said release levers to spread said engaging portions apart;
- placing said ring metal into position over said clip;
- pressing said ring metal against said clip;
- releasing said release levers to allow said engaging portions to proceed inwardly to engage said ring metal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.