Method of Manufacturing a Ring Mechanism

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a ring mechanism for retaining loose leaf pages includes forming a generally planar frame element blank having ears with openings. The ears project from the blank and lie generally in the plane of the blank. The ears are bent so that the ears lie substantially in a plane forming an angle with the plane of the blank. Ring members are mounted on the blank. The ring members are adapted to mate with other ring members to form a closed ring for retaining the loose leaf pages. A hinge pin is inserted through the bent ears whereby a frame element made from the frame element blank is pivotable on the hinge pin.

1 . A method of manufacturing a ring mechanism for retaining loose leaf pages comprising: 
 forming a generally planar frame element blank having ears with openings, the ears projecting from the blank and lying generally in the plane of the blank;    bending the ears so that the ears lie substantially in a plane forming an angle with the plane of the blank;    mounting ring members on the blank, the ring members being adapted to mate with other ring members to form a closed ring for retaining the loose leaf pages;    inserting a hinge pin through the bent ears whereby a frame element made from the frame element blank is pivotable on the hinge pin.    
   
   
       2 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein forming the generally planar frame element blank comprises stamping the frame element blank from sheet metal.  
   
   
       3 . A method as set forth in  claim 2  wherein forming the generally planar frame element blank further includes stamping the sheet metal to form tabs, the ears being formed at opposite ends of the tabs.  
   
   
       4 . A method as set forth in  claim 3  further comprising bending the tabs out of the plane of the blank, the ears forming an angle with the tabs and the plane of the blank.  
   
   
       5 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising forming a bracket and connecting the bracket to the frame element with the hinge pin whereby the frame can pivot relative to the bracket.  
   
   
       6 . A method as set forth in  claim 5  wherein forming the bracket comprises forming the bracket from a sheet metal material and forming the frame element blank comprises forming the frame element blank from sheet metal less malleable than the sheet metal material forming the bracket.  
   
   
       7 . A method as set forth in  claim 6  wherein forming a bracket comprises rolling a portion of the bracket to form a knuckle for receiving the hinge pin.  
   
   
       8 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the frame element constitutes a first frame element, the method further comprising forming a second frame element in substantially the same way as the first element such that the second frame element has said other ring members mounted thereon and the first and second frame elements are pivotable relative to each other on the hinge pin.  
   
   
       9 . A method as set forth in  claim 8  further comprising forming the ring members at their distal ends to resist transverse displacement relative to each other when the ring members are engaged with each other.