WORLD WIDE STATIONERY MFG. CO., LTD. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20130236233 | RING MECHANISM HAVING ROBUST LOW-PROFILE HOUSING - A ring mechanism for holding loose-leaf pages has an elongate housing having a central portion and longitudinally extending sides on opposite sides of the central portion. Hinge plates are supported by the housing for pivoting movement. Rings for holding the loose-leaf pages, each include a first ring member and a second ring member. The first ring member is mounted on and moveable with one of the hinge plates relative to the second ring member between a closed position and an open position. The housing has an opening extending laterally inward toward a center of the housing for receiving one of the first ring members. The housing has a vault-forming portion at the inner margin of the opening. The vault-forming portion of the housing is spaced from a longitudinal centerline of the housing and raised above longitudinally adjacent portions of the housing spaced the same distance from the centerline. | 09-12-2013 |
20120230755 | RING BINDER MECHANISM - A ring mechanism has pivoting hinge plates supported by a housing so pivoting of the hinge plates can open and close rings for holding the loose-leaf pages. The mechanism has an actuator including a lower arm for moving the hinge plates to open the rings and an upper arm for moving the hinge plates to close the rings. The upper arm has a hook thereon. An intermediate connector comprises a cross bar captured by the hook on the actuator. The intermediate connector connects a travel bar to the actuator so movement of the actuator to pivot the hinge plates causes longitudinal movement of the travel bar in the housing. A locking element is moveable with the travel bar between a locking position and non-locking position. | 09-13-2012 |
20110170942 | RING BINDER MECHANISM HAVING DUAL TIME BUFFER ACTUATOR - A ring mechanism has an elongate housing and rings for holding loose-leaf pages. Each ring has ring members mounted on pivoting hinge plates for movement between open and closed positions. An actuator has opening and closing arms extending from an actuator body for opening and closing the rings. The mechanism has a travel bar moveable between a locked position in which a locking element blocks pivoting movement of the hinge plates and an unlocked position. The actuator has a flexible arm positioned to push the travel bar toward the locked position when the actuator closes the rings. At least a portion of the flexible arm is adapted to deform during closing in a manner that includes rotation in a first direction relative to the body of the actuator. Movement of the actuator to close the rings includes rotation of the actuator in the first direction relative to the housing. | 07-14-2011 |
20110110703 | READY LOCK RING BINDER MECHANISM - A ring binder mechanism has a housing and hinge plates supported for pivoting movement by the housing. The mechanism has rings, each including a first ring member mounted on a first hinge plate and a second ring member. The first ring member is movable relative to the second ring member between open and closed positions. The mechanism has a travel bar and a locking element that are free of fixed connection to the hinge plates and movable in translation relative to the housing and hinge plates. The travel bar blocks pivoting motion of the hinge plates when the ring members are closed. An elongate link connects a pivotable actuating lever to the travel bar such that pivoting motion of the actuating lever produces translational movement of the travel bar. The elongate link is oriented so it extends longitudinally relative to the housing. | 05-12-2011 |
20110085846 | Ring Binder Mechanism - A ring binder mechanism includes an elongate plate having a longitudinal axis. Hinge plates are supported by the plate for pivoting relative to the elongate plate. Ring members are mounted on the hinge plates and moveable between a closed position and an open position. A control structure is supported by the elongate plate and controllably pivots the hinge plates to move the ring members between the closed and open positions. The control structure has a travel bar connected to the hinge plates for moving the hinge plates between the closed and open positions. A spring biases the travel bar toward the closed position. | 04-14-2011 |
20110020053 | RING MECHANISM HAVING GUIDE FOR TRAVEL BAR - A ring mechanism has a housing having a guide formed by tabs extending down from a plateau of the housing. The guide is elongate in a direction extending lengthwise of the housing. Some of the tabs are spaced apart from each other longitudinally. The housing supports pivoting hinge plates. The mechanism has rings for holding loose-leaf pages. Each ring includes first and second ring members. The first ring member is moveable with the pivoting motion of one of the hinge plates between a closed position and an open position. A travel bar is restrained by the guide for longitudinal movement relative to the housing between a locked position and an unlocked position. The travel bar includes at least one locking element formed as one piece with the travel bar. The locking element is adapted to block movement of the hinge plates in the locked position of the travel bar. | 01-27-2011 |
20100284729 | Ring Binder Mechanism - A ring binder has housing including a central portion and lateral sides. Hinge plates are held between the lateral sides of the housing. Each of multiple rings includes at least one ring member mounted for movement with the hinge plates between closed and open positions. An actuator is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the housing and engageable with the hinge plates for opening rings. In one embodiment, the housing defines a stop engaged by the actuator upon arrival of the actuator at a terminal position when the actuator has opened the rings. The engagement between the surface of the actuator and the stop limits pivoting movement of the actuator relative to the housing in the opening direction beyond the terminal position. In another embodiment, the actuator is constructed for quicker response of the binder to movement of the actuator to open the rings. | 11-11-2010 |
20100278583 | RING BINDER MECHANISM - A ring binder mechanism has a housing supporting first and second hinge plates and rings, each ring including first and second ring members. The first ring member is mounted one of the hinge plates and moveable with the hinge plate relative to the second ring member between closed and open positions. An actuating lever for opening the rings is mounted on a pin secured to the housing. Pivoting of the actuator moves a travel bar relative to the hinge plates. A blocking element is secured to the travel bar for conjoint movement therewith between a locking position in which the blocking element blocks pivoting movement of the hinge plates to open the rings and a non-locking position in which the blocking element does not block pivoting movement of the hinge plates to open the rings. A torsion spring on the pin biases the actuating lever to its closed position. | 11-04-2010 |
20100232867 | RING BINDER MECHANISM - A ring mechanism has housing supporting pivoting hinge plates. The mechanism has rings for holding loose-leaf pages. An actuator is mounted on the housing for causing pivoting motion of the hinge plates to open the rings. The mechanism includes a travel bar and intermediate connector connecting the travel bar to the actuator so movement of the actuator to pivot the hinge plates causes longitudinal movement of the travel bar. The intermediate connector and travel bar are formed as one piece and have a living hinge adapted to allow the intermediate connector to pivot relative to the travel bar. The mechanism has a locking element moveable with the travel bar between a locking position and non-locking position. The living hinge is constructed to maintain a substantially constant spacing between the intermediate connector and the travel at points of connection of the living hinge to the intermediate connector and travel bar. | 09-16-2010 |
20100166491 | LEVER FOR A RING BINDER MECHANISM - A ring mechanism for retaining loose-leaf pages includes a housing and hinge plates supported by the housing. Rings for retaining the loose-leaf pages are mounted on the hinge plates for movement with the hinge plates between an open and closed position. A lever is mounted on the housing and includes a first portion and a second portion. The second portion is disposed to engage the hinge plates and move the rings from the closed to the open position. The hinge plates are supported by the housing so that at least one of the hinge plates is in continuous engagement with the second portion of the lever when the rings are in the closed position. The at least one hinge plate has an upper surface facing toward the housing and a lower surface facing away from the housing and is in continuous engagement with the second portion of the lever. | 07-01-2010 |
20100166490 | ACTUATOR FOR A RING BINDER MECHANISM - A ring binder mechanism includes an elongate housing and a ring support supported by the housing for movement relative to the housing. The ring support has an upper surface and a lower surface. A plurality of rings is provided for holding loose-leaf pages. Each ring includes a first ring member and a second ring member. The first ring member is mounted on the ring support for movement with the ring support relative to the housing between a closed position and an opened position. An actuator is mounted on the housing for pivotal movement relative to the housing for moving the rings from their closed position to their opened position. The actuator has a snap-lock connection with the housing. | 07-01-2010 |
20100054850 | LEVER FOR A RING BINDER MECHANISM - A ring mechanism for retaining loose-leaf pages includes a housing and ring members for holding loose-leaf pages that are moveable relative to the housing between an open and closed position. An actuation system moves the ring members and includes hinge plates pivotally mounted on the housing and an actuator actuating pivoting movement of the hinge plates. A travel bar of the actuation system is moveable by the actuator between a locked position blocking pivoting movement of the hinge plates and an unlocked position allowing pivoting movement of the hinge plates. The actuation system is adapted to deform while moving the travel bar from the locked position toward the unlocked position to delay the pivoting motion of the hinge plates from the movement of the actuator. | 03-04-2010 |
20100003070 | RING MECHANISM HAVING FOLD-DOWN RINGS - A ring mechanism includes a housing, a plurality of rings for holding loose-leaf pages, and a plurality of locking elements. Each ring is supported by the housing and includes a first ring member and a second ring member. The first ring member is moveable relative to the second ring member between a closed position and an opened position. Each ring is moveable relative to the housing between an upright configuration in which the ring stands generally upright from the housing and a fold-down configuration in which the ring generally lies against the housing. Each locking element is associated with one of the rings and moveable relative to the housing between a locked position wherein each of the rings is locked in the upright configuration and an unlocked position wherein each of the rings is moveable between the upright configuration and the fold-down configuration. | 01-07-2010 |
20090274509 | RING BINDER MECHANISM WITH SLIDING HINGE PLATE - A ring binder mechanism includes a housing and first and second hinge plates supported by the housing for pivoting movement relative thereto. A first ring member is mounted on the first hinge plate and moveable with the pivoting motion of the first hinge plate relative to a second ring member between a closed position and an opened position. An interlocking formation locks the first ring member and second ring member in the closed position. An actuator is mounted on the housing for movement relative to the housing. The actuator is adapted to pivot the first and second hinge plates and to translate the first hinge plate relative to the second hinge plate in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing. | 11-05-2009 |
20090274508 | RING BINDER MECHANISM - A ring mechanism for retaining loose-leaf pages comprises a housing, hinge plates, and ring members mounted on the hinge plates for retaining pages on the mechanism. An actuating lever is pivotally mounted on the housing for engaging the hinge plates and pivoting them to selectively move the ring members between an open position and a closed position. A travel bar is operatively connected to the lever for selective movement between a position in which locking elements of the travel bar block the pivoting movement of the hinge plates and a position in which the travel bar allows the hinge plates to pivot. The lever is configured to deform when pivoting the hinge plates to close the ring members to delay movement of the travel bar and locking elements to the blocking position from the onset of pivoting motion of the hinge plates. | 11-05-2009 |
20090169287 | RING MECHANISM BIASED TO CLOSED AND LOCKED POSITION - A ring binder mechanism that retains loose-leaf pages and has ring members that readily lock together in a closed position, preventing accidental opening of the ring members and loss of pages. The mechanism comprises a housing that supports two hinge plates for pivoting motion that brings the ring members to either an open position or the closed position. The mechanism further comprises a control structure supported by the housing for causing the pivoting motion of the hinge plates. A spring plate is engageable with the control structure for urging the control structure to move toward a position blocking pivoting motion of the hinge plates when the ring members move to the closed position. | 07-02-2009 |
20090116896 | Ring Binder Mechanism with Pen Holder - A ring binder mechanism, including a holder assembly adapted for releasably securing a writing implement to the ring binder mechanism. The holder assembly includes a holder and a bracket. The holder is sized and shaped to hold objects such as writing implements (e.g., pens and pencils). The bracket uses tabs for insertion into holes in a housing of the ring binder to mount the holder to the ring binder mechanism. | 05-07-2009 |
20090110470 | RING BINDER MECHANISM WITH POLYMERIC HOUSING AND ACTUATOR - A ring binder mechanism includes a housing and a ring support supported by the housing for movement relative thereto. Each ring of a plurality of rings includes first and second ring members. The first ring member is mounted on the ring support for movement with the ring support relative to the housing between a closed position and an opened position. An actuator is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the housing for moving the rings from their closed position to their opened position. The actuator includes a lower arm having a contact surface engageable with a lower surface of the ring support when the rings are in their opened position and out of engagement with the ring support when the rings are in their closed position. The contact surface defines an angle between its outer surface and a horizontal plane between about 16 degrees and about 55 degrees. | 04-30-2009 |
20090072113 | SUPPORT STAND FOR STRUCTURES THAT HOLD PAGES AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME - A stand for supporting a structure for holding one or more loose leaf pages, such as a notebook, has a mounting member for securing the stand to the structure. A support member is secured to the mounting member and is moveable between a stowed position and a support position. The support member is disposed at a relatively larger angle relative to a mounting surface of the mounting member in the support position and at a relatively smaller angle relative to the mounting surface in the stowed position. The support member comprising at least one leg moveable between a stowed position and a support position. The leg defining in part a base of the support member. The base has a relatively wider width when the leg is in the support position and a relatively narrower width when the leg is in the stowed position. | 03-19-2009 |
20090060631 | RING BINDER MECHANISM WITH POLYMERIC HOUSING AND TRAVEL BAR - A ring binder mechanism has an elongate housing constructed of a polymeric material. The housing has a central portion and lateral sides extending downwardly along either side thereof. A ring support is disposed between the lateral sides and is supported thereby for movement relative to the housing. Each of a plurality of rings includes first and second ring members. The first ring member is mounted on the ring support for movement between a closed position and an open position. The mechanism includes a control structure movable relative to the housing. The control structure is adapted to releasably lock the first member in the closed position by blocking movement of the ring support. The control structure comprises a travel bar moveable in translation relative to the housing. The travel bar includes a locking element for engagement with the ring support to block movement of the ring support. | 03-05-2009 |
20090060630 | RING BINDER MECHANISM WITH POLYMERIC HOUSING - A ring binder mechanism has a resilient polymeric housing. The housing has a central portion and lateral sides extending downwardly along either side of the central portion. A metal ring support is supported between the lateral sides for movement relative to the housing. Each of a plurality of rings includes a first ring member mounted on the ring support for movement therewith to open and close the rings. The housing applies a spring force biasing the ring support toward the open position when the first ring member is proximate its open position and biasing the ring support to the closed position when the first ring member is proximate its closed position. The housing spring force is the only spring force applied to the ring support that moves the ring support. | 03-05-2009 |
20090041532 | READY LOCK RING BINDER MECHANISM - A ring binder mechanism that retains loose-leaf pages. The mechanism includes a housing and hinge plates supported by the housing for pivoting about a pivot axis relative to the housing. The mechanism further includes rings that hold the loose-leaf pages. Each ring includes two ring members. A first ring member is mounted on a first hinge plate and can move therewith relative to a second ring member. In a closed position, the two ring members form a substantially continuous, closed loop for allowing loose-leaf pages retained by the rings to be moved along the rings from one ring member to the other. In an open position, the two ring members form a discontinuous, open loop for adding or removing loose-leaf pages from the rings. Additionally the mechanism comprises an actuator that is pivotally mounted on the housing and can move relative to the housing for controlling the pivoting motion of the hinge plates and closing the ring members. A travel bar has a connection to the actuator for blocking the hinge plate's pivoting motion when the ring members are closed. The connection between the travel bar and actuator permits the actuator to move in a range without actuating corresponding movement of the travel bar. | 02-12-2009 |
20090035053 | Ring Binder Mechanism with Plastic Housing and Locking Structure - A ring binder mechanism has an elongate housing including an upper, plastic housing element and a lower housing element underlying the upper housing element. A ring support is disposed between the upper and lower housing elements and supported by the housing for movement relative to the housing. Rings mounted on the ring support include a first ring member and a second ring member. The first ring member is moveable relative to the second ring member between a closed position and an opened position. A control structure is movable relative to the housing for producing the movement of the ring supports that brings the ring members to the closed position. The control structure is adapted to releasably lock the ring members in the closed position by blocking movement of the ring support that moves the ring members to the opened position. | 02-05-2009 |
20080298883 | Ring Binder Kit and Fastening System - A fastening system for securing a ring mechanism on a substrate has a tubular support post, an expansible retainer, and a generally pin-shaped expansion member. The tubular support post has a sidewall with an inner surface defining a central passage through the support post. The expansible retainer has a head portion with a hole therethrough, and at least two flexible fingers extending longitudinally from the head portion. The flexible fingers collectively have an inner surface that together with the hole defines a central passage extending through the expansible retainer and have a cross-sectional dimension. The expansion member has a cross-section that is greater than the cross-sectional dimension of at least a portion of the central passage of the expansible retainer to urge and retain the flexible fingers transversely outward from a relaxed condition to a deflected condition in engagement with the sidewall of the support post. | 12-04-2008 |
20080298880 | Page Turning Assist Device with a Holder - A page turning assist device for use in turning loose leaf pages retained on rings of a ring mechanism includes a base having opposite side margins and being more rigid than the loose leaf pages. At least one aperture in one of the side margins of the base is sized and shaped for receiving a corresponding one of the rings therethrough to permit the base to slide along the ring for use in turning the loose leaf pages on the ring mechanism. A holder is mounted on the base for generally conjoint movement with the base on the ring. The holder is adapted for releasably securing an object to the base for movement with the base. | 12-04-2008 |
20080286035 | Ring Binder Mechanism Having Blocking Device - A ring binder includes a housing, a driving mechanism moveable relative to the housing, and rings for holding the loose-leaf pages. Each ring has a first ring member and a second ring member moveable relative to each other between a closed position and an opened position. A ring actuator is positionable relative to the housing and operatively connected to the driving mechanism for moving the ring members between their closed and opened positions. A blocking device blocks the ring members in their closed position against movement to their opened position. The blocking device is positionable relative to the housing between a blocking position wherein the ring members are inhibited by the blocking device against movement from their opened position, and an unblocking position wherein the ring members are selectively moveable from their closed position to their opened position by positioning of the actuator. The blocking device is operable independent of the actuator. | 11-20-2008 |
20080267691 | RING BINDER MECHANISM - A ring binder mechanism that retains loose-leaf pages and has ring members that gently close and readily lock together. The mechanism comprises a housing that supports two hinge plates for loose pivoting motion, moving the ring members between an open position and a closed position. A lever causes the pivoting motion of the hinge plates such that the lever is pivotable between a first position in which the ring members are closed and a second position. A spring is engageable with the lever for urging the lever to move the control structure toward the first position. | 10-30-2008 |
20080199246 | Ring Binder Mechanism having Plastic Housing - A ring binder mechanism for retaining loose-leaf pages has a housing, hinge plates, and ring members mounted on the hinge plates for retaining pages on the mechanism. The housing includes a plastic upper housing element and a lower housing element underlying the upper housing element. The lower housing element may be a single piece or multiple pieces. An actuating lever may be pivotally mounted on the housing for engaging the hinge plates and pivoting them to selectively move the ring members between an open position and a closed position. | 08-21-2008 |