Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Field of Invention
This invention relates to improvements in lightweight
collapsible support structures and more particularly to those
structures that include book covers or ring binders and the
like as integral parts thereof for displaying the contents
thereof or serving as an easel or other similar purpose.
Background to the Invention
Lightweight collapsible structures useful for a
variety of purposes have been disclosed in a number of United
States patents and Canadian patents exemplified by the
following:
U.S.P. 433,635 issued August 1890;
U.S.P. 844,066 issued February 1907;
U.S.P. 1,875,460 issued ~eptember 1932;
U.S.P. reissue patent 21371 issued February 1940;
U.S.P. 2,587,316 issued February 1952;
Can. Pat. 312,291 issued June 1931;
Can. Pat. 315,615 issued September 29, 1931;
Can. Pat. 641,733 issued May 1962.
This invention relates to improvements in such collap-
sible structures but particularly of the nature disclosed in my
United States patent no. 3,990,669 which issued ~ovember 9,
1976 and the Cana~ian counterpart, Canadian patent no. 1,010,008
issued ~lay 10, 1977.
Objects of the Invention
The principal object of this invention is to provide
an improved self-sustaining lightweight collapsible support
structure for a book cover or binder which is integrally
associated therewith so that it is adapted, if desired, upon
the book cover or binder being extended from a closed or folded
position to a substantially fully extended open position to be
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supported upon a suitable surface in inclined erect stable
configuration in order that its contents can be readily dis-
played or the cover used as an inclined working surface or
easel.
More particularly, it is an object of this invention
to provide a collapsible support structure which will fold
compactly with the book cover or binder either for carrying
same or for storage and upon opening of the book cover or
binder move automatically with the book cover or binder to
assume an independently erect stable configuration when the
cover or binder has reached the fully open position.
Another important object is to provide a collapsible
support structure of relative simplicity easily manipulated
from its folded or compact state into the independently erect
stable configuration.
Still another object is to provide a collapsible
support structure which in the fully exten~ed position can be
releasably locked in place to preserve its stability.
Still another important object is to provide a cover
or binder with support structure disposed therebelow therebv
providing for ready viewing of the contents thereof or pre-
sent ng a clear work surface and avoiAing interference with
enclosed pages or work sheets or the like when folde~ up.
Still another very importa~t object is to provide a
support structure capable of being fabricated from low cost
lightweight material using basic manufacturing steps and avail-
able apparatus requiring low labour content so as to ensure
efficiency of pro~uction and reduce costs of manufacture.
Features of the Invention
.
One feature of the invention resi~es in provi~ing
in combination with a cover, suitable as a book cover or as
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a binder or the like, which includes a stiff central panel
portion or spine of generally uniform quadrilateral perimetral
configuration arranged so as to present upper, lower and side
edges and a pair of stiff side panel portions flanking the
central panel portion and hingedly connected thereto along
opposite side edges for swinging movement from a fully closed
position to a fully open position with the panel portions in
extended side-by-side coplanar relation and reversely, of a
collapsible structure for supporting the fully opened cover
from below and in inclined relation upon a suitable-surface
including ~ central strut l.ocated rean~ardly and hingedly
connected adjacent its upper edge to the central panel portion
of the cover to swing from a position thereagainst to a
substantially upri~ht position therebelow, the central strut
carryin~ shiftable side strut formations extending to and
supporting each of the side panel portions of the cover
formation and adapted to move with the central strut and
central and side panel portions of the cover from the closed
to the fully opened position and reversely with the shiftable
side strut formations releasably anchorable against clisplace-
ment with the cover formation in at least the fully opened
position to stabilize the structure.
It is to be understood that with such arrangement, the
collapsible structure through manipulation closely embraces
the cover when closed and automatically assumes an extended
erect stable configuration locked against collapse when the
cover is fully opened.
Another feature resides in proviAing shiftable side
struts that include reinforcing panel portions hingedly con-
nected along fold axes lying substantiallv in the plane of therespective side panel portions of the cover so as to sliding1y
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abut therebelow over the ran~e of movement of the central strut
and associated panel portions of the cover from the folded
position to the substantially fully extended position and
reversely. Thus it will be appreciated that not only may a
book or binder include an integral collapsible supporting
structure but one of substantial strength so as to better
resist deformation or collapse in the fully erect disposition.
More particularly,it is another feature of this
invention that each flanking side panel of the cover formation
include an elongated slot formation of selected configuration
so as to present a channel formation with corresponding locking
pockets at the remote ends thereof to guide follower members
presented by respective shiftable side strut formations
throughout the range of relative movement of the components
with the locking pockets and cooperating follower members
being adapted to secure the components against dislodgment
not only in the fully extended position but in the fully
folded position so as to ensure uniform displacement and
avoid disto~tion in use.
Still another feature resides in providing support
structures which can be derived from substantially rigid sheet-
like panels having a reproducible perimetral configuration so
that they can be struck from flattened sheets of material in a
conventional die cutting or stamping operation and in which
fold axes can be simultaneously impressed or scored to define
the several hinge connections.
These and other objects and features are revealed in
the following description which is to be read in conjunction
with the sheets of drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred one piece
layout or b]ank from which structures embodying the invention
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~can be derived;
Figure 2 is a perspective view taken from the rear of
a combined cover formation and collapsible support structure
derived from the layout of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the structure of
Figure 2 with the cover formation and collapsible support
structure in the fully extende~ position;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of
Figure 3 taken from the front; and
Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the embodi-
ment of Figures 3 and 4 taken from the left in Figu~e 3 and
from the right in Figure 4.
Description of the Invention
The preferred embodiment of the invention as
illustrated in Figures 2 to 5 inclusive of the drawings takes
the form of a ring binder formation 12 provided with a
collapsible support structure indicated generally at 14, the
components of same preferably being integral and derived from
a blank or layout 16 illustrated in Figure 1.
The blank or layout 16 is struck from a suitable
sheet of stiff plastic, for example,polyethelyne'' of a sel-
ected thickness so as to ensure stability of the structure.
The layout 16 includes a first central panel portion 18 sep-
arated ~rom flanking side panel portions 20, 22 by fold axes
ind;'cated by broken lines 24, 26 which are provided either by
compressing the plastic sheet linearly during the die cutting
operation or by inscribing the layout with suitable knife
edges in another step.
Elongated slots 28, 30 extend through side panel
portions 20, 22 in a somewhat diagonal direction slots 28,
30 having in the preferred embodiment opposite symmetry and
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each terminating at their remote ends in ahchoring pockets 28a,
28b and 30a, 30b respectively for a purpose to be explained.
Hinged by an impressed or an inscribed fold axis 32
to the upper edge of central panel portion 18 is an elongated
strut or panel portion 34 which is adapted to abut up against
the rear surface of central panel portion 18 in the manner
revealed by Figure 2.
Two side strut formations 36, 38 flank central strut
3-4 and are separated therefrom by impressed or inscribed fold
axes 40, 42 which are parallel and in the preferred embodiment
illustrated in the drawings slightly more widely separated
than parallel fold axes 24, 26 separating side panel portions
20, 22 from central panel portion 18.
Strut formations 36, 38 include gusset panel portions
44, 46 respectively which present reinforcing panel portions 48,
50 being separated from gusset panel portions 44, 46 by
impressed or inscribed fold axes 52, 54.
It is to be appreciated that the fold axes 52, 54
extend diagonally from the intersection of respective fold
axes 40, 42 and fold axis 32 whereby as best seen in Figure 3
reinforcing panel portions 48, 50 can abut the rear surfaces
of side panel. portions 20, 22 in the disposition illustrate~..
Reinforcing panel portions 48, 50 are each provided
with openings therethrough as at 56, 58 respectively in which
follower pins 60, 62 are adapted to be anchored, as illustrated
in Figures 2 to 5 inclusive.
Follower pins 60, 62 include head portions 60a, 62a
respectively and suitably dimensioned shank portions 60b and 62b
respectively which shank portions are adaPted to be disposed
within elongated slots 28, 30 for sliding movement therealong
and secured against withdrawal therefrom by means of locking
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washers 64, 66 respectively fitted over and suitably secured to
the ends of shank portions 60b, 62b remote from the head
portions 60a, 62a in a manner so as to closely draw washers 64,
66 against the forward surfaces of side panel portions 20, 22.
It will be understood that follower pins 60, 62 reg-
ister within anchoring pockets 28a, 30a respectivelv of slots
28, 30 when the supporting structure 14 is collapsed against
the rear surfaces of central and flanking panel portions 18,
20, 22 of ring binder 12 as shown in Figure 2.
Further, it will be understood that follower pins 60,
62 register within locking pockets 28b, 30b respectively of
slots 28, 30 when the supporting structure 14 is in the fully
erect extended position and depends rear~ardly below the
inclined central and flanking panel portions 18, 20, 22 of
ring binder 12 as revealed particularly by Figure 3 and Figure
5 of the drawings.
It will be observed in Figure 2 that the ring
binder formation 12 is disposed so that the central and
flanking side panel portions 18, 20, 22 are not fully extend-
ed. In such disposition the collapsible support structure 14tends to lie next adjacent the rearward surfaces thexeof
suspended from fold axis 32 hinging elongated strut or panel
portion 34 to the upper edge of central panel portion 18.
Additionally, the flanking side panel portions 20,
22 and flanking side strut formations 36, 38 are held against
separation by the follower pins 60, 62 registered within
upper locating pockets 28a, 30a of elongated slots 28, 30.
It will be understood that the fold axes 24, 26 of
ring binder formation 12 and the fold axes 40, 42 of
collapsible support structure 14 are substantially coterminous
in the disposition shown in Figure 2 so that the composite
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article moves as unit towards the fully closed or folded
position. Thus, it is readilv apparent that the composite
folded article can be treated simply as a binder and handled
in the usual manner.
Supporting structure 14 illustrated in Figure 3 is
shown fully extended having been displaced rearwardly by open-
ing wide ring binder 12 to bring flanking side panel portions
20, 22 into side-by-side coplanar relation with central panel
portion 18.
Follower pins 60, 62 carried by the shiftable strut
formations 36, 3~ and registered in upper anchoring pockets
28a, 30a as shown in Figure 2 by slight shifting inwardly
of respective panel portions 20, 22 are released therefrom
and are guided by the narrow channels presented by elongated
slots 28, 30 under displacement downwardly in a so~ewhat
diagonal direction towards lowermost anchoring pockets 28b,
30b.
Such movement swings central strut 34 rearwardly
downwardly about fold axis 32 to present its lower~ost edge
66 to a supporting surface 68 as revealed by Figure 5 and
draws associated flanking side strut for~ations 36, 38 with
it likewise presenting their lowermost edges 68, 70 respect-
ively to surface 8~.
Follower pins 60, 62 at the lowermost extent of their
travel within slots 28, 30 are presented to anchoring pockets
28b, 30b and by slightly shifting panel portions 20, 22 are
urged into interlocking relation therewith so that central
and side panel portions 18, 20, 22 respectively are held
against dislodgment in substantially fully extended side-by-
side coplanar relation.
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The extended configuration exhibited by the preferredembodiment of the composite article of Fi~ures 3, 4 and 5 of
the drawin~s likewise place the lowermost edges 70, 72
74 of coplanar panel portions 18, 20, 22 in contact with
surface 80 and with follower pins ~0, 62 located within
anchoring pockets 28b, 30b the entire structure is rigidified
and assumes a substantial measure of stability.
So extended, the composite article illustrated
exposes the contents of the ring binder 12 for examination
or for viewing in the style of an easel or presents a work or
display surface for any suitable purpose.
The conventional three-ring structure 76 of binder 12
in the several Figures 2 to 5 inclusive is optional but
desirable where the structure is used as a notebook, since the
pages when turned tend to lie flat against the inclined sur-
faces presented by the coplanar panel portions 18, 70, 22.
Removal of the three-ring structure 76 provides an
extended flat surface for the mounting of drawings or for the
displaying of products and the like.
It will be observed that the outermost panel portions
48, 50 of collapsible support structure 14 are constrained
by respective slots 29, 30 and follower pins 60, 62 and
associated components in sliding abutment against the rearward
surfaces of flanking side panel portions 20, 22 throughout
the range of movement from the disposition or attitude of
Figure 2 to that of Figures 3 and 4.
This arrangement dictates controlled movement of the
components so that whether the support structure 14 is seized
and moved either into the collapsed or extended position the
associated binder formation 12 is correspondingly displaced.
Li~ewise, if the binder formation 12 is displaced the support
structure 14 is correspondingly altered.
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~13~i513
The positioning of slots 28, 30 is selected in the
preferred embodiment so that they are as widely separated as
possible which tends to afford maximum resistance of the
erected article to deformation or collapse. ~oreover, the
strength of the composite article can be enhanced through the
selection of more rigid or thicker sheet material for the
integral panel portions.
It is also to be understood that the several panel
portions derived from an integral sheet as revealed by Figure
1 can be separate and appropriately hinged together in any
suitable manner but that a one-piece blank or layout as
revealed by Figure 1 is preferred in that it minimizes costs.
The inclination of the binder panel portions 18, 20,
22 in the fully extended disposition of Figures 3, 4 and 5
can be altered by adjusting the relative dimensions of the
respective front panel portions 18, 20, 22 of binder formation
12 and central strut 34 of the support structure 14 as by
extending central strut 34 and associated flanking side strut
formations 36, 38 for example, to achieve a more upright
disposition and vice versa.
It is understood that variations or modifications
can be introduced into the preferred embodiment illustrated
and described herein by those persons skilled in this field
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention
as defined in the appended claims.
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