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US 6,203,229 B1Granted
Bolt action ring binder assembly
OwnerCharles B. Coerverinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ring binder (100) has a center spine (102) and end leafs (104). A ring assembly (10) attaches to the spine includes a cover piece (12) and bolts (14, 16) on each of which are formed binder ring halves (18a-18b, 20a-20b, 22a-22b). The bolts are mounted on the cover piece and movement relative to each other to close and open the binder. A latching mechanism (50) formed on a distal end (44) of each ring half interlocks the ring halves together when the binder is closed. A guide finger (62) on each bolt aligns each bolt to the cover piece when the bolts are moved to close the binder rings, this action aligning the latching mechanism so the ring halves readily interlock with each other. A thumb pad (52) formed on each of the bolt releasably engages with the cover piece to lock the bolts in a binder ring closed position.
Claims15
A bolt action ring assembly for use in a ring binder comprising:
- a cover piece;
- a pair of bolts on each of which are formed portions of at least one binder ring, the bolts being mounted to said cover piece for movement relative to each other to move the binder ring portions formed thereon into and out of contact with each other to close and open the ring binder;
- latching means formed on a distal end of each ring portion for interlocking the portions together when the binder ring is closed;
- and,
- guide means formed on each bolt for aligning each bolt with respect to the cover piece when the bolts are moved in a direction to close the binder ring, aligning of the bolts further aligning the latching means whereby the ring portions on each bolt readily interlock with each other to latch the ring in a closed position;
- and
- a user operable release for locking a bolt in a binder ring closed position and for releasing the bolt when the binder is to be opened, said release comprising a thumb pad attached to said bolt by an arm, said release being receivable in a recess formed in said cover piece, an outer end of the release being greater in height then an inner end thereof, and an upper surface of the release being contoured to generally conform to the shape of a person's thumb pad to facilitate operation by a user when the user presses on the release with their thumb or finger, said recess having a shape generally conforming to that of an inner end of said release for this end of the release to fit into said recess, and a pin formed on an underside of the release and an opening formed in a base of the recess, the pin fitting into the opening to capture and hold the release in place, a user pressing down on the back of the release to raise the inner end thereof upward and releasing the pin from the opening to free the bolt for movement by the user.
4 more elements
A bolt action ring assembly for use in a ring binder comprising:
- a cover piece formed of a copolymer material such as polypropylene;
- a pair of bolts on each of which are formed portions of at least one binder ring, the bolts being mounted to said cover piece for movement relative to each other to move the binder ring portions formed thereon into and out of contact with each other to close and open the ring binder, the bolts being formed of an acetal material;
- latching means formed on a distal end of each ring portion for interlocking the portions together when the binder ring is closed;
- and,
- guide means formed on each bolt for aligning each bolt with respect to the cover piece when the bolts are moved in a direction to close the binder ring, aligning of the bolts further aligning the latching means whereby the ring portions on each bolt readily interlock with each other to latch the ring in a closed position.
2 more elements
A ring binder comprising:
- an outer cover including a center spine portion and end leafs extending from each side of the spine;
- and,
- a ring assembly attached to the spine, the ring assembly including a cover piece, a pair of bolts on each of which are formed portions of at least one binder ring, the bolts being mounted to said cover piece for movement relative to each other to move the binder ring portions formed thereon into and out of contact with each other to close and open the ring binder, latching means formed on a distal end of each ring portion for interlocking the portions together when the binder ring is closed, a finger guide means formed on each bolt for aligning each bolt with respect to the cover piece when the bolts are moved in a direction to close the binder ring, aligning of the bolts further aligning the latching means whereby the ring portions on each bolt readily interlock with each other to latch the ring in a closed position;
- and,
- a release means formed on each of the bolts and releasably engaging the cover piece to lock the bolts in a binder ring closed position, said release means including a thumb pad attached to said bolt by an arm and receivable in a recess formed in said cover piece, an outer end of the pad being greater in height then an inner end thereof, and an upper surface of the pad being contoured to generally conform to the shape of a person's thumb pad to facilitate operation by a user when the user presses on the pad with their thumb or finger, said recess having a shape generally conforming to that of an inner end of said pad for this end of the pad to fit into said recess, a pin formed on an underside of the pad and an opening formed in a base of the recess, the pin fitting into the opening to capture and hold the pad in place, a user pressing down on the back of the pad raising the inner end thereof upward and releasing the pin from the opening to free the bolt for movement by the user.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.