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US 7,063,477 B2Granted
Variable capacity binder
AssigneeMeadWestvaco Corporation
InventorsEdward P. Busam, Thomas B. Remm, John T. Schmidt, Jr., William T. Thorn, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A variable capacity binder including an outer cover and a binding mechanism including a plurality of spaced rings, each ring being shaped to be received through a hole of a piece of paper to couple the paper to the binding mechanism. Each ring is non-symmetrical with respect to at least one axis and has a longitudinal axis. The binding mechanism is pivotally coupled to the cover such that the longitudinal axis of each ring can be pivoted relative to the spine.
Claims42
A variable capacity binder comprising:
- an outer cover having a spine, a front panel coupled to said spine and a back panel coupled to said spine;
- a pair of spaced brackets that are coupled to and extend generally away from said cover;
- and
- a binding mechanism including a support strip pivotally coupled to said brackets and a plurality of spaced rings each of which is coupled to and spaced along a length of said support strip, each ring being shaped to be received through a hole of a piece of paper to couple said paper to said binding mechanism, each ring being asymmetrical with respect to at least one axis in a plane defined by said ring and having a longitudinal axis in said plane, said binding mechanism being pivotally coupled to said cover such that the longitudinal axis of each ring can be pivoted relative to said spine.
1 more element
A variable capacity binder comprising:
- an outer cover having a spine, a top cover coupled to said spine and a bottom cover coupled to said spine;
- and
- a binding mechanism including a support strip having a plurality of rings located thereon and spaced along a length of said support strip, each ring being shaped to be passed through a hole of a piece of paper to couple said paper to said binding mechanism, each ring being generally oval shaped and having a longitudinal axis, wherein said support strip is pivotally coupled to said spine along a pivot axis that extends generally parallel to a length of said spine such that said binding mechanism is pivotable between a low storage capacity position wherein the longitudinal axis of each ring is generally perpendicular to said spine and a high storage capacity position wherein the longitudinal axis of each ring is generally parallel to said spine.
A binder comprising:
- an outer cover having a front panel and a rear panel directly or indirectly pivotally coupled together such that one of said panels is pivotable relative to the other of said panels about a hinge line;
- and
- a binding mechanism for binding a plurality of loose leaf papers together and including a plurality of rings each including a pair of separable prong components, wherein said prong components of each ring can be separated to place paper into and remove paper from said binding mechanism, said binding mechanism being pivotable relative to said outer cover about an axis that extends generally parallel to said hinge line, and wherein said axis is spaced away from said cover by a distance at least equal to a width of one of said rings.
A binder comprising:
- an outer cover having a front panel and a rear panel directly or indirectly pivotally coupled together such that one of said panels is pivotable relative to the other of said panels about a hinge line;
- and
- a binding mechanism for binding a plurality of loose leaf paper together coupled to and generally not extending through said outer cover, said binding mechanism being pivotable relative to said outer cover about an axis that is entirely spaced apart from said outer cover and extends generally parallel to said hinge line and wherein said axis is spaced away from said cover by a distance at least equal to a width of one of said rings.
A binder comprising:
- an outer cover having a front panel and a rear panel directly or indirectly pivotally coupled together such that one of said panels is pivotable relative to the other of said panels about a hinge line;
- and
- a binding mechanism for binding a plurality of loose leaf papers together and including a plurality of rings each including a pair of separable prong components, wherein said prong components of each ring can be separated to place paper into and remove paper from said binding mechanism, said binding mechanism being pivotable relative to said outer cover about an axis that extends generally perpendicular to a plane defined by one of said rings wherein each ring is asymmetrical with respect to at least one axis in a plane defined by said ring and has a longitudinal axis in said plane, said binding mechanism being pivotally coupled to said cover such that the longitudinal axis of each ring can be pivoted relative to said cover.
A method for adjusting the capacity of a binder comprising the steps of:
- providing a binder including an outer cover and a binding mechanism including a plurality of spaced rings, each ring being shaped to be received through a hole of a piece of paper to couple said paper to said binding mechanism, each ring being non-symmetrical with respect to at least one axis in a plane defined by said ring and having a longitudinal axis;
- and
- pivoting said binding mechanism relative to said spine about a pivot axis such that the longitudinal axis of each ring is pivoted relative to said cover, wherein said pivot axis is spaced away from said cover by a distance at least eciual to a width of one of said rings.
A binder comprising:
- an outer cover having a front panel and a rear panel directly or indirectly pivotally coupled together such that one of said panels is pivotable relative to the other of said panels about a hinge line;
- and
- a binding mechanism for binding a plurality of loose leaf papers together and including a plurality of rings each including a pair of separable prong components, wherein said prong components of each ring can be separated to place paper into and remove paper from said binding mechanism, said binding mechanism being pivotable relative to said outer cover about an axis that extends generally perpendicular to a plane defined by one of said rings, wherein each ring is asymmetrical with respect to at least one axis in a plane defined by said ring, and wherein said pivot axis extends through each ring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.