USRE38731EExpiredUtility

Ring binder

84
Assignee: WORLD WIDE STATIONERY MFG COPriority: Sep 4, 1995Filed: Nov 29, 2000Granted: May 3, 2005
Est. expirySep 4, 2015(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Chun Yuen To
B42F 13/0066Y10T24/44573Y10T24/3611Y10T24/20Y10T24/3615Y10T24/44017Y10T24/497Y10T24/51Y10T24/3613
84
PatentIndex Score
14
Cited by
45
References
30
Claims

Abstract

A ring binder adapted to be secured to an article by at least one integral rivet, the ring binder comprising a substantially rigid integral upper plate supporting a pair of pivotable lower plates to which a plurality of ring members are mounted, the rivet comprising (1) a barrel that is in direct engagement with the upper plate and (2) a plurality of claws for securing the article, wherein at least 75% of said claws extend away from a longitudinal axis of the barrel. Also disclosed is a rivet adapted to secure a ring binder to an article, the rivet comprising (1) a barrel for engaging the ring binder and (2) a plurality of claws for securing the article, wherein at least a majority of the claws generally extend away from a longitudinal axis of the barrel.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1. A ring binder adapted to be secured to a base member, the ring binder comprising
 a substantially rigid integral upper structure;  
 a pivotable lower structure supported by said upper structure;  
 a plurality of ring members mounted to said lower structure; and  
 at least one integral securing means for securing said ring binder to said base member, said at least one securing means including 
 an engagement portion in direct engagement with the upper structure for attaching said securing means to said upper structure; and  
 a plurality of securing elements for securing said ring binder to the base member, at least 75% of said elements extending away from a longitudinal axis of the engagement portion.  
 
 
     
     
       2. A ring binder according to  claim 1  further characterized in that substantially all the securing elements generally extend away from the longitudinal axis of the engagement portion. 
     
     
       3. A ring binder according to  claim 1  further characterized in that the securing elements are positioned substantially equidistant from the longitudinal axis of the engagement portion. 
     
     
       4. A ring binder according to  claim 1  wherein the ring binder has a longitudinal axis and is further characterized in that the longitudinal axis of the engagement portion is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ring binder. 
     
     
       5. A ring binder according to  claim 1  further characterized in that the securing elements are deformable to secure the base member. 
     
     
       6. A ring binder according to  claim 1  further characterized in that each securing element comprises an arcuate sector. 
     
     
       7. A ring binder according to  claim 1  further characterized in that the engagement portion is substantially upstanding  extends away from the base member. 
     
     
       8. A ring binder according to  claim 7  further characterized in that the upper structure comprises a recess with which the  an upper end of the engagement portion is deformable to engage. 
     
     
       9. A ring binder according to  claim 1  further characterized in that the securing elements depend downward from a plate member of the securing means. 
     
     
       10. A ring binder according to  claim 9  further characterized in that the plate member is adapted to abut against the base member. 
     
     
       11. A ring binder according to  claim 9  wherein the ring binder has a longitudinal axis and is further characterized in that the plate member is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ring binder. 
     
     
       12. A ring binder according to claims  1 ,  9 ,  10  or  11  further characterized in that the engagement portion comprises an upper end deformably  deformable to engage the upper structure. 
     
     
       13. A ring binder according to  claim 1  further characterized in that the securing elements are positioned substantially equidistant from the longitudinal axis of the engagement portion;
 the securing elements depend downward from a plate member of the securing means, wherein said plate member is adapted to abut against the base member; and  
 the engagement portion comprises an upper end deformably  deformable to engage the upper structure.  
 
     
     
       14. A ring binder according to claims  9  or  13  further characterized in that the engagement portion is integrally formed with the securing elements. 
     
     
       15. A ring binder according to claims  8  or  13  further characterized in that the engagement member  portion is integrally formed with the plate. 
     
     
       16. A ring binder according to claims  1  or  claim  13  further characterized in that the plate is integrally formed with the securing elements. 
     
     
       17. A ring binder according to  claim 13  further characterized in that
 the engagement member  portion is integrally formed with the securing elements and the plate member; and  
 the plate member is integrally formed with the securing elements.  
 
     
     
       18. A ring binder adapted to be secured to a base member, the ring binder comprising:
   a substantially rigid integral upper structure;        a pivotable lower structure supported by said upper structure;        a plurality of ring members mounted to said lower structure; and        at least one securing fastener for securing said ring binder to said base member, wherein said at least one securing fastener is integral for enhanced strength, said at least one securing fastener including,      an engagement portion in direct engagement with the upper structure for attaching said securing fastener to said upper structure; and        a plurality of securing elements for securing said ring binder to the base member, at least  75   %  of said elements extending away from a longitudinal axis of the engagement portion.       
     
     
       19. A ring binder adapted to be secured to a base member, the ring binder comprising:
   a substantially rigid integral upper structure;        a pivotable lower structure supported by said upper structure;        a plurality of ring members mounted to said lower structure; and        at least one securing fastener for securing said ring binder to said base member, wherein said at least one securing fastener is integral for enhanced strength, said at least one securing fastener including,      an engagement portion in direct engagement with the upper structure for attaching said securing fastener to said upper structure, and        securing elements for securing said ring binder to the base member, the securing elements each having a free end located at an end of the securing fastener farthest from the engagement portion, at least  75   %  of said elements extending away from a longitudinal axis of the engagement portion.       
     
     
       20. A ring binder as set forth in  claim 19  wherein the securing elements all have substantially the same length. 
     
     
       21. A ring binder as set forth in  claim 19  wherein the free ends of the securing elements are substantially coplanar. 
     
     
       22. A ring binder as set forth in  claim 19  wherein the engagement portion comprises a generally tubular body having an upper end engaging the upper structure, the securing elements being located remotely from the upper end of the tubular body. 
     
     
       23. A ring binder as set forth in  claim 22  wherein the tubular body and securing elements are integrally formed. 
     
     
       24. A ring binder as set forth in  claim 23  wherein the tubular body and securing elements are formed as one piece. 
     
     
       25. A ring binder as set forth in  claim 24  wherein the securing fastener further comprises a flat plate engageable with the base member, and wherein the securing elements depend from the flat plate. 
     
     
       26. A ring binder as set forth in  claim 25  wherein the tubular body, the flat plate and the securing elements are integrally formed. 
     
     
       27. A ring binder as set forth in  claim 26  wherein the tubular body, the flat plate and the securing elements are formed as one piece. 
     
     
       28. A ring binder adapted to be secured to a base member, the ring binder comprising:
   a substantially rigid integral upper structure;        a pivotable lower structure supported by said upper structure;        a plurality of ring members mounted to said lower structure; and        at least one securing fastener for securing said ring binder to said base member, wherein said at least one securing fastener is integral for enhanced strength, said at least one securing fastener including,      an engagement portion in direct engagement with the upper structure for attaching said securing fastener to said upper structure, and        securing elements for securing said ring binder to the base member, the securing elements each having substantially equal length, at least  75   %  of said elements extending away from a longitudinal axis of the engagement portion.       
     
     
       29. A ring binder adapted to be secured to a base member, the ring binder comprising:
   a substantially rigid integral upper structure;        a pivotable lower structure supported by said upper structure;        a plurality of ring members mounted to said lower structure; and        at least one securing fastener for securing said ring binder to said base member, wherein said at least one securing fastener is integral for enhanced strength, said at least one securing fastener including,      an engagement portion in direct engagement with the upper structure for attaching said securing fastener to said upper structure, and        securing elements for securing said ring binder to the base member, the securing elements each having a free end located at an end of the securing fastener, the free ends of the securing elements being substantially coplanar, and at least  75   %  of said elements extending away from a longitudinal axis of the engagement portion.       
     
     
       30. A ring binder adapted to be secured to a base member, the ring binder comprising:
   a substantially rigid integral upper structure;        a pivotable lower structure supported by said upper structure;        a plurality of ring members mounted to said lower structure; and        at least one integral securing fastener for securing said ring binder to said base member, said at least one securing fastener including,      an engagement portion in direct engagement with the upper structure for attaching said securing fastener to said upper structure; and        a plurality of securing elements for securing said ring binder to the base member, at least  75   %  of said elements extending away from a longitudinal axis of the engagement portion,        said securing fastener being free from any intervening sleeve member between the fastener and the upper structure.

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