Loose Leaf Binder Storage System

Abstract

Loose leaf binders having laterally projecting flanges extending longitudinally along both side edges of the back of the binder are stored side-by-side in longitudinally disposed binder suspender assemblies mounted on a pair of longitudinally spaced transverse hanger rods. Each suspender assembly comprises a pair of transversely spaced longitudinal support members that extend from one hanger rod to the other hanger rod and a pair of transverse end caps that are detachably secured to the ends of the support members adjacent the hanger rods. The ends of the longitudinal support members and facing surfaces of the transverse end caps secured thereto are configured to define transverse openings through which the hanger rods extend. Longitudinal binder support rails are disposed on the facing surfaces of the transversely spaced longitudinal support members, said longitudinal support rails being adapted to support the laterally extending flanges on the back of a binder positioned between the longitudinal support members. Interlock means are provided for preventing relative transverse and vertical movement of the support members and end caps, and releasable latch means are provided for releasably securing the end caps to the support members.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to systems for storing loose leaf binders and similar books side-by-side in rack-like storage structures.

2. The Prior Art

It is frequently necessary to have readily available a large body of reference material that is bound temporarily or permanently in loose leaf binders and similar books. For example, such reference materials might include parts catologs, shop manuals, directories, financial records, maps, scientific periodicals and the like. The binders or books containing the reference materials must be readily available for use but nonetheless must be stored as unobstrusively as possible when not in use. To this end, the binders containing the reference materials are commonly stored side-by-side and back-side-up in rack-like structures so designed that any desired binder can be withdrawn from the rack for use. A familiar example of this type of storage system are the binders in which telephone directories are mounted by means of wires extending between the pages of the directory adjacent the directory binding, the binder being hingeably mounted in a cabinet-like structure commonly located near public telephones. When the reference material is in loose leaf form bound in loose leaf binders, the back of the binder is commonly secured to a backing member that, in turn, is pivotally mounted on a suitable frame or cabinet structure. Reference book storage structures of this general type are exemplified by the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 2,501,608 to Lyons and U.S. Pat. No. 3,659,820 to Slifstein and Baker.

None of the prior art storage systems for loose leaf binders and similar books known to us permit the reference book to be readily removed from the vicinity of the storage rack for use at some other location. After an intensive investigation of the problems of storing and retrieving loose leaf records and similar reference material, we have now devised a new loose leaf binder storage system that provides for convenient retention and simple retrieval of loose leaf binders and similar books as hereinafter described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The loose leaf binder suspension and storage system of the invention is designed to be used in conjunction with binders that have laterally projecting flanges that extend longitudinally along both side edges of the back of the binder. A plurality of these binders are stored side-by-side and back-side-up in the binder storage system. The binder suspension system comprises a pair of parallel longitudinally spaced hanger rods that extend transversely with respect to the binders, and a plurality of generally longitudinally disposed binder suspender assemblies mounted on the transverse hanger rods. Each binder suspender assembly comprises a pair of transversely spaced longitudinal support members that extend from one hanger rod to the other hanger rod, and a pair of transverse end caps one of which end caps is detachably secured to the ends of the support members adjacent one hanger rod and the other of which end caps is detachably secured to the opposite ends of the support members adjacent the other hanger rod. The ends of the longitudinal support members and the facing surfaces of the transverse end caps detachably secured thereto are configured to define transverse openings through which the adjacent hanger rod extends, said transverse openings advantageously being defined by matching transverse grooves formed in the ends of the support members and in the facing surfaces of the transverse end caps secured thereto. Longitudinal binder support rails are disposed on the facing inner surfaces of the transversely spaced longitudinal support members, the longitudinal binder support rails being adapted to engage and support the laterally extending flanges on the back of a binder positioned between the longitudinal support members. Interlock means are provided for the longitudinal support members and the transverse end caps secured thereto to prevent relative transverse and vertical movement of the support members and end caps. Releasable latch means are provided for the longitudinal support members and the transverse end caps for detachably securing these parts together.

The longitudinal support members are disposed generally inboard and the transverse end caps detachably secured thereto are disposed generally outboard of the transverse hanger members. The support rails of the longitudinal support members are advantageously formed with at least one upstanding stop lug adjacent each hanger rod to deter free movement of a binder supported by the support rails outwardly between and beyond the transversely spaced ends of the support members at each hanger rod. The longitudinal support members are advantageously formed with vertically cut away portions that expose to view the laterally projecting flanges along the side edges of the back of a binder supported by the support rails to permit manual retrieval of the binder.

The releasable latch means advantageously comprise upper and lower resilient latch hooks disposed at each end of each longitudinal support member that resiliently engage corresponding latch notches formed in the upper and lower surfaces of the end caps. The interlock means advantageously comprises a longitudinally extending tongue disposed on each end of each longitudinal support members and a matching tongue receiving recess formed in the facing surface of the end cap secured to said support member. Each end cap comprises a transverse spaced portion and two cap portions disposed at each end of said spacer portion. The spacer portion of each end cap determines the transverse spacing of the longitudinal support members, and each is advantageously provided with a label holder in which an identifying label for the binder may be received.

Loose leaf binders and similar books having the aforementioned lateral flanges on the side edges of the back of the binder can readily be inserted and suspended between the longitudinal support members, and they can readily be removed therefrom for use whenever desired. Other features of the binder suspension and storage system of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the loose leaf suspension system of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of one longitudinal support member with the end cap secured thereto;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of a longitudinal support member showing the end cap detached therefrom;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view of one end of a longitudinal support member showing how the end cap is secured to the support member, and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view along line 5--5 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The binder suspension and storage system of the invention is designed to store side-by-side and back-side-up a plurality of binder containing reference materials in readily accessible form. The binders are usually of the loose leaf type in which the reference materials are removably retained in the binder, although the binder can equally well be adapted to receive permanently bound materials. As shown best in FIG. 1, each binder 10 has a back 11 and front and rear covers 12 and 13 that are hingeably secured to the back 11. The back 11 of the binder 10 is of a special design in that it is provided with laterally projecting flanges 14 and 15 that extend longitudinally along both side edges of the back of the binder. The lateral flanges 14 and 15 are designed to be supported on shelf-like rails of the binder suspension system in the manner hereinafter described. The back 11 of the binder is advantageously formed of an extruded or molded thermoplastic material, and it has a predetermined lateral dimension or width of any of several pre-selected standard sizes, depending on the quantity of material to be placed in the binder.

The binder suspension system comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced parallel hanger rods 17 and 18 that extend transversely with respect to the back of the binder 10, and a plurality (generally one for each binder) of generally longitudinally disposed binder suspender assemblies 20 mounted on the transverse hanger rods 17 and 18 as hereinafter described. The transverse hanger rods 17 and 18 are spaced apart a distance sufficient to permit the binder 10 to pass vertically between the hanger rods. The hanger rods may be supported in any suitable manner, for example in an enclosed cabinet or an open frame structure. In the embodiment shown in the drawings the hanger rods 17 and 18 are secured to the corner posts 21 which, with the end rods 22, comprise a frame-like structure.

Each binder suspender assembly comprises a pair of transversely spaced longitudinal support members 24 and 25 that extend from one hanger rod 17 to the other hanger rod 18, and a pair of transverse end caps 27 and 28 secured thereto. One of the end caps 27 is detachably secured to the ends of the support members 24 and 25 adjacent the hanger rod 17 and the other end cap 28 is detachably secured to the opposite ends of the support members 24 and 25 adjacent the hanger rod 18. The ends of the longitudinal support members 24 and 25 and the facing surfaces of the transverse end caps 27 and 28 detachably secured thereto are configured to define transverse openings through which the hanger rods 17 and 18 extend, as clearly shown in the drawings. The facing surfaces 24a and 25a of the transversely spaced longitudinal support members 24 and 25 are provided with longitudinal binder support rails 30 and 31 that are adapted to engage and support the laterally extending flanges 14 and 15 on the back 11 of a binder 10 positioned between the longitudinal support members 24 and 25. Releasable latch means for the longitudinal support members 24 and 25 and the transverse end caps 27 and 28 are provided for detachably securing these parts together, and interlock means are provided to prevent relative transverse and vertical movement of the support members and end cap as hereinafter explained.

The transverse spacing of the transversely spaced longitudinal support members 24 and 25 is coordinated with the transverse dimension or width of the back 11 and the binder 10 so that the lateral projecting longitudinal flanges 14 and 15 of the binder will rest on and be supported by the binder support rails 30 and 31 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 of the drawing. To facilitate the manual insertion of the binder 10 between the longitudinal support members 24 and 25, and to facilitate removal of the binder 10 therefrom, the longitudinal support members are advantageously formed with vertically cut away or recessed portions 24b and 25b that expose to view the laterally projecting longitudinal flanges 14 and 15 along the side edges of the back 11 of the binder. In addition, the longitudinal binder support rails 30 and 31 are advantageously disposed a sufficient distance below the hanger rods 17 and 18 to permit the binder 10 to be removed from the suspender assembly by sliding the binder horizontally along the support rails 30 and 31. In this event, the support rails 30 and 31 are advantageously formed with upstanding stop lugs 32 that deter, but do not prevent, movement of the binder 10 outwardly between and beyond the transversely spaced ends of the longitudinal support members 24 and 25.

The transverse end caps 27 and 28 each comprises a transverse spacer portion 36 and two cap portions 37 one of which is disposed at each end of the spacer portion 36. The cap portions 37 of the end caps 27 and 28 are adapted to be secured to the ends of the longitudinal support members 24 and 25 so that the transverse dimensions of the spacer portion 36 of the end caps determine the transverse spacing of the longitudinal support members. As previously mentioned, the ends of the longitudinal support members 24 and 25 and the facing surfaces of the transverse end caps 27 and 28 secured thereto are configured to define transverse openings through which the hanger rods 17 and 18 extend. In the embodiment shown in the drawing each end of each longitudinal support member 24 and 25 is formed with a transverse groove 40, and the facing surfaces of the end cap 27 and 28 secured thereto are formed with matching transverse grooves 41, the transverse grooves 40 and 41 defining the transverse opening through which the hanger rods 17 and 18 extend. Although the grooves 40 and 41 shown in the drawing have a circular cross-section, they may have any other configuration suitable for the intended function of the grooves.

As previously mentioned, releasable latch means are provided for detachably securing the end caps 27 and 28 to the longitudinal support members 24 and 25. In the embodiment shown in the drawings the releasable latch means comprises a resilient upper latch hook 43 and a resilient lower latch hook 44 which extend longitudinally a short distance beyond the ends of the longitudinal support members 24 and 25 and which resiliently engage corresponding latch notches 45 and 46 formed in the upper and lower surfaces of the end caps 27 and 28. Interlock means are provided for preventing relative transverse and vertical movement of the longitudinal support members 24 and 25 and the end caps 27 and 28 secured thereto. In the embodiment shown in the drawings the interlock means comprises a longitudinally projecting lug or tongue 48 on each end of each longitudinal support member, the tongue 48 being received in the matching tongue receiving recesses 49 formed in the facing surfaces of the end caps 27 and 28 secured thereto. Other forms of the latch means and interlock structure equivalent to that shown in the drawing will be readily apparent to workers in this field.

The loose leaf binder suspension and storage system normally comprises a plurality of the binder suspender assemblies 20 mounted side-by-side on the hanger rods 17 and 18. Each suspender assembly is mounted on the hanger rods by placing a pair of longitudinal support members 24 and 25 between the hanger rods 17 and 18, and then securing a pair of end caps 27 and 28 to the ends of the longitudinal support members adjacent the hanger rods 17 and 18. In the embodiment shown in the drawing, each of the end caps is secured to the support members by placing the lower latch hook 44 in the lower latch notch 46 at the lower end of the end cap, and then pressing the upper end of the end cap inwardly as shown in FIG. 4 until the upper latch hook 43 engages the upper latch notch 45 of the end cap as shown best in FIG. 1. As noted, the width of the spacer portion 36 of the end caps 27 and 28 determines the transverse spacing of the longitudinal support members 24 and 25, and it matches the width of the back 11 of the binder 10 to be received in the suspender assembly. In addition, the spacer portion 36 is advantageously provided with a label holder 50 that is adapted to receive an identifying label for the specific binder received in the suspender assembly.

Claims

We claim:

1. Loose leaf binder suspension system for storing side-by-side and back-side-up a plurality of binders having laterally projecting flanges extending longitudinally along both side edges of the back of the binder, said system comprising:

a pair of longitudinally spaced parallel hanger rods that extend transversely with respect to the binders and a plurality of generally longitudinally disposed binder suspender assemblies mounted on said hanger rods,

each suspender assembly comprising a pair of transversely spaced longitudinal support members that extend from one hanger rod to the other hanger rod and a pair of transverse end caps one of which end caps is detachably secured to the ends of the support members adjacent one hanger rod and the other of which end caps is detachably secured to the opposite ends of the support members adjacent the other hanger rod, the ends of the longitudinal support members and the facing surfaces of the transverse end cap detachably secured thereto being configured to define transverse openings through which the adjacent hanger rod extends,

longitudinal binder support rails disposed on the facing inner surfaces of the transversely spaced longitudinal support members, said longitudinal support rails being adapted to engage and support the laterally extending flanges on the back of a binder positioned between the longitudinal support members,

interlock means for the support members and the end caps secured thereto for preventing relative transverse and vertical movement of said support members and said end caps, and

releasable latch means for the longitudinal support members and the transverse end caps detachably secured thereto.

2. The binder suspension system according to claim 1 in which the longitudinal support members are disposed generally inboard and the transverse end caps detachably secured thereto are disposed generally outboard of the transverse hanger members.

3. The binder suspension system according to claim 1 in which the longitudinal support members are formed with a vertically cut-away portion that exposes to view the laterally projecting flanges along the side edges of the back of a binder supported by the support rails of the support members to permit manual retrieval of said binder.

4. The binder suspension system according to claim 1 in which the support rails of the longitudinal support members are formed with at least one upstanding stop lug adjacent each hanger rod to deter free movement of a binder supported by the support rails outwardly between and beyond the transversely spaced ends of the support members at each hanger rod.

5. The binder suspension system according to claim 1 in which the ends of each longitudinal support member are each formed with a transverse groove and in which the facing surface of the transverse end cap secured to the end of said support member is formed with a matching transverse groove, said grooves defining a transverse opening through which the hanger rod extends.

6. The binder suspension system according to claim 1 in which the releasable latch means comprises upper and lower resilient latch hooks disposed at each end of each longitudinal support member that resiliently engage corresponding latch notches formed in the upper and lower surfaces of the end caps.

7. The binder suspension system according to claim 1 in which the interlock means comprises an outwardly extending longitudinal tongue disposed on each end of each longitudinal support member and a matching tongue-receiving recess formed in the facing surface of the end cap secured to said support member.

8. The binder suspension system according to claim 1 in which the end caps each comprises a transverse spacer portion and two caps portions one of which is disposed at each end of said spacer portion, said cap portions being adapted to be secured to the ends of the longitudinal support members.

9. The binder suspension system according to claim 8 in which the transverse spacer portion of the end cap is provided with a label holder that is adapted to receive an identifying label for the suspender assembly.

10. The combination of at least one binder having laterally projecting flanges extending longitudinally along both side edges of the back of the binder and a binder suspension system for storing side-by-side and back-side-up a plurality of said binders, said system comprising a pair of longitudinally spaced parallel hanger rods that extend transversely with respect to the binders and a plurality of generally longitudinally disposed binder suspender assemblies mounted on said hanger rods, each suspender assembly comprising a pair of transversely spaced longitudinal support members that extend from one hanger rod to the other hanger rod and a pair of transverse end caps one of which end caps is detachably secured to the ends of the support members adjacent one hanger rod and the other of which end caps is detachably secured to the opposite ends of the support members adjacent the other hanger rod, the ends of the longitudinal support members and the facing surfaces of the transverse end cap detachably secured thereto being configured to define transverse openings through which the adjacent hanger rod extends, longitudinal binder support rails disposed on the facing inner surfaces of the transversely spaced longitudinal support members, said longitudinal support rails being adapted to engage and support the laterally extending flanges on the back of a binder positioned between the longitudinal support members, interlock means for the support members and the end caps secured thereto for preventing relative transverse and vertical movement of said support members and said end caps, and releasable latch means for the longitudinal support members and the transverse end caps detachably secured thereto.