DEVICE FOR ACCOMMODATING PUNCHED SHEETS

Abstract

A device for accommodating punched sheets, in particular loose sheets of paper, and a folder, in particular a binder, having such a device is provided. The device comprises a base plate, at least two retainer bracket pairs designed to be openable and closable, each of which having a first bracket and a second bracket, wherein the at least two first brackets are connected to each other by a bracket connector that is connected to the base plate so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation that runs parallel to the base plate, and is connected to a pivot lever. The device further comprises a carriage that is displaceably mounted on the base plate, wherein the carriage has a link that guides the pivot lever and is designed such that, when the carriage is displaced, the link determines a rotational movement of the pivot lever about the axis of rotation, which is parallel to the base plate, in both directions of rotation.

Claims

1. A device for accommodating punched sheets, in particular loose sheets of paper, comprising: one base plate, at least two pairs of retaining brackets which are designed to be openable and closeable and each have a first bracket and a second bracket, wherein the at least two first brackets are connected to one another via a bracket connector which is connected to the base plate so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation extending parallel to the base plate and is connected to a pivot lever, and a carriage which is displaceably mounted on the base plate, wherein the carriage has a link which guides the pivot lever and is configured such that, when the carriage is displaced, the link determines a rotational movement of the pivot lever about the axis of rotation parallel to the base plate in both directions of rotation.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the link comprises a guide recess having a guide slot which is open on both sides, or a guide groove open on one side, or a guide rail.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the guide recess is designed to be straight in a section plane at least in sections along the displacement direction of the carriage.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the link is made integrally with the carriage.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the pivot lever has a guide end which engages in the link in the guide recess.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the link is adapted in section planes parallel to the base plate in the displacement direction of the carriage to the path of the guide end of the pivot lever in an arcuate manner.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the guide end of the pivot lever includes a ball head.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the guide recess is delimited by guide surfaces, including a closing guide surface and an opening guide surface, which are wider than the diameter of the ball head of the pivot lever.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the closing guide surface projects laterally beyond the opening guide surface.

10. The device according to claim 2, wherein the link has latching or clamping elements at at least one end of the guide recess for releasably fixing the pivot lever in an end position, in particular a spherical-shell-shaped recess, into which the ball head of the pivot lever engages for fixing in an end position.

11. The device according to claim 2, wherein the link has, at one end of the guide recess, a mounting channel through which the guide end of the pivot lever can be inserted into the guide recess when the carriage is mounted on the base plate.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein a locking element is arranged in the region between the guide recess and the mounting channel in order to prevent the guide end of the pivot lever from slipping out.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the bracket connector is formed in two parts, wherein both connector parts are connected to one another by a sleeve which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the pivot lever.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second brackets comprise bracket ends which are formed in a straight manner.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the bracket ends of the first or second brackets have elongated bracket tips, which are in particular longer than 1 mm.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the base plate has at least one bearing section for supporting the bracket connector, wherein the bearing section is formed integrally with the base plate.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises two, three or four pairs of retaining brackets.

18. A folder, in particular an erectable ring binder, comprising a front cover and a rear cover and a spine connecting the two covers to one another, having a device according to claim 1.

19. The folder according to claim 18, wherein a fixing device is arranged on the inside of the front cover, which and wherein the fixing device fixes at least one pair of retaining brackets in a folded state of the folder such that at least one fixing element fixes the bracket ends of the first or second brackets relative to one another in a straight region of the bracket ends.

20. The folder according to claim 19, wherein a fixing element is provided for a pair of retaining brackets, and wherein the fixing element fixes both bracket ends of the pair of retaining brackets by engaging over them.

21. The folder according to claim 20, wherein the fixing element is configured as a wedge-shaped latching element including rubber.

22. The folder according to claim 19, wherein the fixing device comprises two fixing elements for fixing two pairs of retaining brackets.

23. The folder according to claim 19, wherein the fixing device comprises a receiving device for a data storage unit.

24. The folder according to claim 19, wherein the front cover or the rear cover has a closing flap, which, together with the front cover, rear cover and spine, forms a cover of the folder and can be releasably fixed by magnets.

25. The folder according to claim 19 having a carrying strap.

Description

[0056] Embodiment examples of the invention are explained in more detail below by reference to the drawings, wherein:

[0057] FIG. 1a shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a device according to the invention having two pairs of retaining brackets in the open state in an axonometric view;

[0058] FIG. 1b shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a device according to the invention having two pairs of retaining brackets in the closed state in an axonometric view;

[0059] FIG. 2a shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a device according to the invention having two pairs of retaining brackets in the open state in a front view;

[0060] FIG. 2b shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a device according to the invention having two pairs of retaining brackets in the closed state in a front view;

[0061] FIG. 3a shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of an device according to the invention having two pairs of retaining brackets in the open state in a sectional side view;

[0062] FIG. 3b shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a device according to the invention having two pairs of retaining brackets in the closed state in a sectional side view;

[0063] FIG. 4a shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the carriage of the device according to the invention in a front view;

[0064] FIG. 4b shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the carriage of the device according to the invention in a rear view having a sectional progression Y-Y;

[0065] FIG. 4c shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the carriage of the device according to the invention and according to FIG. 4b in a sectional plan view along the sectional progression Y-Y;

[0066] FIG. 5a shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the link of the device according to the invention in a detailed axonometric view from the front left;

[0067] FIG. 5b shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the link of the device according to the invention in a detailed axonometric view from the front right;

[0068] FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a device according to the invention with two pairs of retaining brackets in an axonometric exploded view;

[0069] FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a device having two pairs of retaining brackets in the closed state and a fixing device of a folder according to the invention in an axonometric view;

[0070] FIG. 8a shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a device having two pairs of retaining brackets and a fixing device of a folder according to the invention in an axonometric exploded view from the rear right;

[0071] FIG. 8b shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a device having two pairs of retaining brackets and a fixing device of a folder according to the invention in an axonometric explosion view from the front bottom left;

[0072] FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a folder according to the invention in the closed state in a detailed side view;

[0073] FIG. 10 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a folder according to the invention in the closed state in a front view;

[0074] FIG. 11a shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a device according to the invention having three pairs of retaining brackets in the open state in an axonometric view;

[0075] FIG. 11b shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a device according to the invention having three pairs of retaining brackets in the closed state in an axonometric view;

[0076] FIG. 12a shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a device according to the invention having four pairs of retaining brackets in the open state in an axonometric view;

[0077] FIG. 12b shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a device according to the invention having four pairs of retaining brackets in the closed state in an axonometric view;

[0078] In the following part of the description of the invention, the same reference numerals are used for identical and equivalent elements.

[0079] FIGS. 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b and 6 show a device 1 for accommodating punched sheets, in particular of paper, paperboard, cardboard or plastic, having two pairs of retaining brackets 3. FIGS. 1a, 2a and 3a show this device 1 in an open state and FIGS. 1b, 2b and 3b in a closed state.

[0080] Each pair of retaining brackets 3 comprises a first bracket 31 and a second bracket 32, which can be closed to form a continuous retaining bracket, as shown in FIG. 1b. In this way, in the open state, as shown in FIG. 1a, punched sheets (not shown) inserted into device 1, which are threaded with their holes onto the first or second brackets 31, 32 and lined up by these as an orderly stack of sheets, can be turned from one side of device 1 to the other side. When device 1 is open, sheets can be inserted or removed. The first and second brackets 31, 32 are typically made of 4 mm thick metal rods and have straight bracket ends 33, 34. At the first bracket ends 33, elongated bracket tips 35 continue, which are approximately 4 mm long, for example, and which, when the pair of holding brackets is closed, engage in correspondingly formed recesses in the second bracket ends 34.

[0081] The device 1 has a base plate 2, which can be arranged, for example, on the inside of a back cover 12 of a folder, in particular fixed thereto, for which purpose the base plate has 2 through holes 24 for rivets or screws. On the base plate 2, a carriage 5 is displaceably mounted so that it can be manually moved along its longitudinal direction relative to the base plate 2 between the pairs of brackets 3 in the direction of movement B. For this purpose, the carriage 5 has on both longitudinal sides a handle 51, in particular a handle 51 which is dimensioned in particular for the engagement of a human finger and may also be shaped, for example, as an open loop, bow or other handle. The carriage 5 is slidably guided on both sides along longitudinal slots 25 in a bottom flange 52 of the carriage 5 on guide pins 22 on the base plate 2 and is held in a vertical direction to the base plate 2 by widened, flat round heads 23 of the guide pins 22. The guide pins 22 are preferably made integrally with the base plate 2 but could also be screwed or glued into the base plate. The carriage 5 is designed as an arched frame but could also be solid or with a central wall when adjusting the pivot guide.

[0082] Two bearing sections 21 are formed integrally with the base plate 2 and support a bracket connector 7 rotatable around a rotation axis A, which runs parallel to the base plate 2. The first brackets 31 are firmly connected to the bracket connector 7. In particular, the first brackets 31 are formed integrally, each with a connector part 71 or 72, which are inserted into the bearing sections 21 on both sides and mounted in them. The connector parts 71 and 72 are force-locked to each other via a sleeve 42 to form the bracket connector 7. The bracket connector 7 is connected to a pivot lever 4, which is preferably made in one piece with the sleeve 42 but can also be attached as a separate part to the sleeve 42 or directly to the bracket connector 7.

[0083] The rod-shaped pivot lever 4 projects at a right angle from the bracket connector 7 or the axis of rotation A in the direction of the carriage 5. At its free end, which serves as guide end 41, the pivot lever 4 forms a ball head. The geometry of the guide end 41 can also be a hemisphere, cylinder journal, block or an angled extension shaped in this way. The pivot lever 4 is preferably rigid but can also be designed with several links, in particular two links with a connecting joint, in order to be tiltable in the direction of the base plate 2 in relation to a link 6.

[0084] The carriage 5 has a link 6 with a guide recess 61, which is designed here as a guide slot open on both sides but could also be designed as a guide groove open on one side towards the lever 4. The guide recess 61 extends in the longitudinal direction of the carriage 5 obliquely to the base plate 2 and has a straight course in a longitudinal section of the carriage 5. The pivot lever 4 engages with the guide end 41, here the ball head, in the guide recess 61, so that the link 6 forms a link guide with the pivot lever 4. The guide end 41 of the pivot lever 4 is slidably guided in the guide recess 61 along guide surfaces, namely a closing guide surface 62 and an opening guide surface 63, on both sides, wherein the link guide may have a small play. Displacing the carriage 5 in one direction (in FIGS. 1a and 2a to the left) causes the pivot lever 4 to be pushed upwards from the opening guide surface 63 in the link 6 away from the base plate 2 and the retaining bracket pairs 3 to open, as shown by arrows in FIG. 2a. An opposite displacement of the carriage 5 (in FIGS. 1b and 2b to the right) causes the pivot lever 4 to be pressed downwards from the closing guide surface 62 in the link to the base plate 2 and the retaining bracket pairs 3 to close as shown by arrows in FIG. 2b. In this way, the link 6 determines the rotary movement of the lever 4 in both directions of rotation about the axis of rotation A.

[0085] In one end position (see e.g. FIGS. 1a, 2a, 3a, 11a, 12a), the pivot lever 4 is in an opening position at a maximum achievable angle to the base plate 2 at one end of the guide recess 61 and the retaining bracket pairs 3 are open. In a second end position (see e.g. FIGS. 1b, 2b, 3b, 9, 10, 11b, 12b) the pivot lever 4 is in a closed position at a minimum achievable angle to the base plate 2 at the other end of the guide recess 61 and the retaining bracket pairs 3 are closed.

[0086] In FIGS. 3a and 3b the link 6 is shown in a sectional view (blackened). Latching elements are provided at both ends of the guide recess 61 which fix the pivot lever 4 in the respective position in a detachable manner. The latching element is designed in each case as a ball-shell-shaped recess 64 or 65, into which the guide end 41 of the pivot lever 4, designed as a ball head, is latched. The opening guide surface 63 presses the pivot lever 4 into the recess 65 when the retaining bracket pairs 3 are open. A corresponding recess 53 for the pivot lever 4 is formed in the bottom flange 52 (see FIG. 1a, for example) so that said lever can come into a lying position parallel to the base plate 2. The closing guide surface 62 pushes the pivot lever 4 into the recess 64 when the retaining bracket pairs 3 are in a closed state. The guide surfaces 62, 63 are wider than the diameter of the ball head, wherein the closing guide surface 62 projects laterally, i.e. towards the pivot lever 4, over the opening guide surface 63. This allows the pivot lever 4 to be positioned unhindered, while it is guided along the link 6 with increasing angle to the base plate 2, without tilting in the guide recess 61. At the same time, it is ensured that the pivot lever does not slip out of the guide recess 61 even when the link guide is heavily loaded.

[0087] FIGS. 4a and 4b show carriage 5 with the link 6 having a guide recess 61 open on both sides of carriage 5. At the end of the guide recess 61, which corresponds to the opening position of the pivot lever 4, there is a mounting channel 66, which allows the guide end 41 of the pivot lever 4 to be inserted or threaded from the base plate 2 into the guide recess 61 during assembly of the device 1. The mounting channel 66 is open to the side of the pivot lever 4. A locking element 8 in the form of a cylindrical pin is arranged in the area between the guide recess 61 and the mounting channel 66 in a through hole 67 to block the mounting channel 66 and prevent the lever 4 from slipping out of the guide recess 61.

[0088] FIG. 4c shows the link 6 in a sectional plan view of carriage 5. The link 6 has a wedge-shaped basic body which widens in the direction of the opening position of the pivot lever. The two end positions of the pivot lever 4 and some intermediate positions of the ball head, which moves in a vertical projection on the base plate 2 with increasing angle of rotation of the pivot lever 4 on an arc path (see double arrow), are schematically indicated (dashed). The shape of the link 6 is adapted to this path of the guide end 41 of the pivot lever 4 in displacement direction B of the carriage. In this way it can be prevented that the pivot lever 4 slips out of the guide recess 61 with increasing opening of the retaining bracket pairs 3.

[0089] FIGS. 5a and 5b show an exposed detailed view of link 6, in which the through hole 67 for the locking element 8, the guide recess 61, the mounting channel 66 and the end recesses 64 and 65 can be seen in the opening guide surface 63 or the closing guide surface 62 for latching the pivot lever 4.

[0090] FIG. 6 shows the device with two pairs of retaining brackets 3 in an exploded view, wherein the second brackets 32 are connected to one another via a carrier plate 36, in particular made of metal. The carrier plate 36 is preferably cast into the base plate 2, wherein said carrier plate determines the distance and position of the second bracket 32 during casting. The carrier plate 36 can also be inserted into a corresponding recess on the underside of the base plate 2, wherein the second brackets 32 are inserted through through holes in the base plate 2.

[0091] FIG. 7 shows a device 1 with two pairs of retaining brackets 3 in the closed state and a fixing device 9 of a folder according to the invention (not shown). The fixing device 9 acts with fixing elements 91, which are designed as wedge-shaped beveled latching elements, preferably made of rubber, on the straight bracket ends 33, 34 of the first and second brackets 31, 32, in order to fix them relative to each other. The fixing elements 91 engage over the closing point between the first and second brackets 31, 32.

[0092] FIGS. 8a and 8b show device 1 according to FIG. 7 with two pairs of retaining brackets 3 and a fixing device 9 with two latching elements 91 in axonometric exploded views. The fixing device 9 has a receiving device 92 for a data storage unit 93, in particular an interchangeable one, and a connection for a cable 94 for reading and storing data.

[0093] FIGS. 9 and 10 show a folder 10 according to the invention, in particular a folder, having a front cover 11, a rear cover 12 and a spine 13 connecting the two covers 11, 12, wherein a device 1 according to the invention is arranged on the inside of the rear cover 12 and a fixing device 9 on the inside of the front cover 11. The front cover 11 and the rear cover 12 are adjoined by overlapping closing flaps 15, which allow the folder 10 to be closed and give it better stability. The movement of the closing flaps 15 is indicated by arrows in FIG. 9. As explained in connection with FIG. 7, the fixing device 9 fixes the retaining bracket pairs 3 in each case with one fixing element 91 by engaging over the two bracket ends 33,

[0094] FIGS. 11a and 11b show an embodiment of a device 1 for accommodating punched sheets, in particular of paper, paperboard, cardboard or plastic, having three pairs of retaining brackets 3.

[0095] FIGS. 12a and 12b show an embodiment of a device 1 for accommodating punched sheets, in particular paper, paperboard, cardboard or plastic, having four pairs of retaining brackets 3.

[0096] The representations and descriptions in and relating to FIGS. 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 4c, 5a and 5b also relate to the embodiment according to FIGS. 11a and 11b as well as to the embodiment according to FIGS. 12a and 12b, wherein the geometry of the carriage 5 and a handle 51 are designed differently. The descriptions in connection with the FIGS. 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 6, 7, 8a, 8b, 9 and 10 shall apply mutatis mutandis to these embodiments. The dimensions of the base plate 2 and the connection between the first brackets 31 and the bracket connector 7 or sleeve 42 are adjusted accordingly but functionally the same as for the embodiment with two pairs of retaining brackets 3.

[0097] At this point, it should be noted that all the parts described above are claimed separately and in each combination, in particular the details depicted in the drawings, to be essential for the invention. The person skilled in the art is familiar with modifications made thereto.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0098] 1 Device [0099] 2 Base plate [0100] 3 Pair of retaining brackets [0101] 4 Pivot lever [0102] 5 Carriage [0103] 6 Link [0104] 7 Bracket connector [0105] 8 Locking element [0106] 9 Fixing device [0107] 10 Folder [0108] 11 Front cover [0109] 12 Rear cover [0110] 13 Spine [0111] 14 Inside [0112] 15 Closing flap [0113] 21 Bearing section [0114] 22 Guide pin [0115] 23 Round head [0116] 24 Through hole [0117] 25 Longitudinal slot [0118] 31 First bracket [0119] 32 Second bracket [0120] 33 Bracket end [0121] 34 Bracket end [0122] 35 Bracket tip [0123] 36 Carrier plate [0124] 41 Guide end [0125] 42 Sleeve [0126] 51 Handle [0127] 52 Bottom flange [0128] 53 Recess [0129] 61 Guide recess [0130] 62 Closing guide surface [0131] 63 Opening guide surface [0132] 64 Recess [0133] 65 Recess [0134] 66 Mounting channel [0135] 67 Through hole [0136] 71 Connector part [0137] 72 Connector part [0138] 91 Fixing element [0139] 92 Receiving device [0140] 93 Data storage device [0141] 94 Cable [0142] A Axis of rotation [0143] B Displacement direction