AU2015347859B2

AU2015347859B2 - Binding tool

Info

Publication number: AU2015347859B2
Application number: AU2015347859A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Yoshiteru Arimoto; Shinichi Iwamoto; Kanji Tanaka
Original assignee: Lihit Lab Inc
Current assignee: Lihit Lab Inc
Priority date: 2014-11-10
Filing date: 2015-11-05
Publication date: 2020-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 2035-11-05
Also published as: WO2016076204A1; CN106029396B; JP6147910B2; JPWO2016076204A1; CN106029396A; AU2015347859A1

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to make it possible to provide a binding tool that can be assembled easily. The binding tool 10 comprises binding ring members 12 and 14 that have binding rings, a holding member 16 for connecting the pair of binding ring members, and opening/closing members 18 biasing the binding ring members in the opening direction. In the binding ring members, multiple binding rings are vertically arranged on base sections 30 and 40 in the axial direction of the base sections and holes for inserting the foot sections 210 of the holding member 16 so as to move freely are formed on the base sections to the inside of binding rings. The holding member 16 has pairs of foot sections 212 and 222 formed as left and right sections. The binding ring members are formed so as: to be connected to the holding member 16 by the foot sections 212 on one side of the holding member being inserted into first holes 34 of one binding ring member 12 to the inside of the binding rings and the foot sections 222 on the other side of the holding member 16 being inserted in second holes 44 of the other binding ring member 14 to the inside of the binding rings; and to lock or unlock the binding ring engagement sections 32 of the binding rings by moving the one binding ring member and the other binding ring member in opposite directions.

Description

[Document Name] Description

[Title of Invention] Binding Device

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a binding device, and in particular to a binding device used as, for example, a ring binder or a file.

[0002]

[Background Art] A convention binding device constituting the background of the present invention is provided with a plurality of openable and closable binding rings, a holding member provided with a length allowing the binding rings to be disposed at intervals, an operating member having a surface on which the respective binding rings are fixed in parallel at intervals and fixed to inside of the holding member such that the binding rings are fixed to the holding member, and an opening/closing member biasing the binding rings in a direction of opening the binding rings, where the operating member is composed of a pair of operating pieces, one base portions of the binding rings are fixed to one operating piece while the other base portions of the binding rings are fixed to the other operating piece, and the operating member is fixed by the holding member such that when the binding rings are closed, abutting edges of the operating pieces are held in an abutting state at a position spaced from an inner face of the holding member, while when the binding rings are opened, the abutting edges are held facing in a direction approaching the inner face of the holding member.

[0002a]

[Prior Art Documents] A reference herein to a patent document or any other matter identified as prior art, is not to be taken as an admission that the document or other matter was known or that the information it contains was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of any of the claims.

[0002b] Where any or all of the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprised" or "comprising" are used in this specification (including the claims) they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components, but not precluding the presence of one or more other features, integers, steps or components.

[Patent Document]

[0003]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-046130

[0004] However, the conventional binding device has a structure where the binding rings are plugged from inside of the holding member into through-holes of the holding member. The conventional binding device having such a structure is time-consuming for plugging the plurality of curved binding rings into the through-holes of the holding member.

[0005] Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a binding device which can be assembled easily.

[Summary of Invention]

[0006] A binding device according to the present invention is a binding device including binding ring members having a plurality of binding rings; a holding member coupling a pair of binding ring members to each other, and an opening/closing member biasing the binding rings in an opening direction or a closing direction of the binding rings, wherein the binding ring members have base portions provided with a plurality of binding rings upright installed in an axial direction of the base portions, and formed with hole portions or recesses to be freely plugged with foot portions of the holding member inside the binding rings; the holding member has a pair of foot portions formed so as to part right and left; and the binding ring members are formed such that one foot portion of the holding member is plugged into the hole portion or the recess of one binding ring member inside the binding rings and the other foot portion of the holding member is plugged into the hole portion or the recess of the other binding ring member inside the binding rings so that the binding ring members are coupled to the holding member, and latching or unlatching of binding ring engaging portions of the binding rings is performed by moving one binding ring member and the other binding ring member in directions opposite to each other. The holding member is preferably formed with a retaining projection for preventing the foot portion from going off from the hole portion or the recess of the binding ring member. The base portion of the binding ring member is preferably provided with a width extending outward beyond a right edge and/or a left edge of the holding member. The binding ring members are preferably formed such that the hole portions or the recesses to be plugged with the foot portion of the holding member extend in a longitudinal direction of the base portions, and latching or unlatching of the binding ring latching portions at free ends of the binding rings is performed by moving one binding member and/or the other binding member in a longitudinal direction of the base portions of the binding ring members.

[Effect of Invention]

[0007]

According to the invention, it is made possible to provide a binding device which can be assembled easily. According to the invention, a possibility that the foot portions of the holding member go out from the binding ring members is reduced. According to the invention, the binding rings of the binding ring members are made thick to be strengthened. According to the invention, the binding rings of the binding ring members can be opened and closed easily.

[0008] The above-described features and merits of the present invention will become apparent from the following explanation about a mode for carrying out the invention made with reference to the drawings.

[Brief Description of the drawings]

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one example of a binding device for a ring file which is a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where binding rings of the binding device shown in FIG. 1 have been closed; FIG. 3 is a bottom illustration showing the state where the binding rings of the binding device shown in FIG. 1 have been closed; FIG. 4 is a plan illustration showing the state where the binding rings of the binding device shown in FIG. 1 have been closed; FIG. 5 is a partial plan illustration showing a state where the binding rings of the binding device shown in FIG. 1 have been opened; FIG. 6 is partial front illustration showing the state where the binding rings of the binding device shown in FIG. 1 have been closed; FIG. 7 is a partial rear illustration showing the state where the binding rings of the binding device shown in FIG. 1 have been opened; FIG. 8A is a sectional illustration taken along line H-H in FIG. 5 and showing the state where the binding rings of the binding device shown in FIG. 1 have been opened; FIG. 8B is a sectional illustration taken along line J-J in FIG. 5 and showing the state where the binding rings of the binding device shown in FIG. 1 have been opened; FIG. 9 is a sectional illustration taken along line E-E in FIG. 4 and showing the state where the binding rings of the binding device shown in FIG. 1 have been closed; (A) of FIG. 10A is a sectional illustration taken along line A-A in FIG. 4 and showing the

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state where the binding rings of the binding device shown in FIG. 1 have been closed, and (B) of FIG. 10A is a sectional illustration showing opening and closed states of a bound object S; FIG. 10B is a sectional illustration taken along line B-B in FIG. 4 and showing the state where the binding rings of the binding device shown in FIG. 1 have been closed; FIG. 10C is a sectional illustration taken along line C-C in FIG. 3 and showing the state where the binding rings of the binding device shown in FIG. 1 have been closed; FIG. 10D is a sectional illustration taken along line D-D in FIG. 4 and showing the state where the binding rings of the binding device shown in FIG. 1 have been closed; FIG. 11 is a partial front illustration showing the state where the binding rings of the binding device shown in FIG. 1 have been opened; FIG. 12 is a sectional illustration taken along line A-A in FIG. 4 and showing the state where the binding rings of the binding device shown in FIG. 1 have been opened; FIG. 13 is a sectional illustration taken along line B-B in FIG. 4 and showing the state where binding rings of the binding device shown in FIG. 1 have been opened; FIG. 14 is a plan illustration of a holding member; FIG. 15 is a vertically-sectional illustration of the holding member; FIG. 16 is a detailed view of a section I in FIG. 15; FIG. 17 is a plan illustration of binding ring members of a binding device in an opened state; FIG. 18 is a plan illustration of the binding ring members of the binding device in a closed state; FIG. 19A is a plan illustration showing a latching portion of a binding ring; FIG. 19B is a bottom illustration showing the latching portion of the binding ring; FIG. 19C is a side illustration showing the latching portion of the binding ring; FIG, 20A is a side illustration of one binding ring member; FIG. 20B is a side illustration of the other binding ring member; FIG. 21 is a partially-enlarged bottom illustration of the binding ring member; FIG. 22 is a partially-enlarged side illustration of the binding ring member; FIG. 23 is a partially-enlarged sectional illustration of the binding ring member; FIG. 24 is a frontillustration of the binding ring member; FIG. 25 is an illustration of a cross section (a section taken along F-F in FIG. 15) of the holding member; FIG. 26 is an illustration of a cross section (a section taken along G-G in FIG. 15) of the holding member; FIG. 27 is a sectional illustration showing how to assemble the holding member and the binding ring member to each other; FIG. 28 is a perspective illustration of an opening/closing member;

2016.03.15 (Original)

FIG. 29 is a perspective illustration of a button member; FIG. 30 is a plan illustration of the button member; FIG. 31 is a bottom illustration of the button member; FIG. 32 is a right side illustration of the button member; FIG. 33 is a vertical sectional illustration of the button member; FIG. 34 is a front illustration of the button member; FIG. 35 is a rear illustration of the button member; FIG. 36 is a plan illustration showing a state where the button member has been attached to the holding member and an operating member; FIG. 37 is a bottom illustration showing the state where the button member has been attached to the holding member and an operating member; FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional illustration showing the state where the button member has been attached to the holding member and the operating member; FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional illustration showing the state where the button member has been attached to the holding member and the operating member; FIG. 40 is a vertical sectional illustration showing how to cause the button member to act; FIG. 41 is a vertical sectional illustration showing how to cause the button member to act; FIG. 42 is a plan illustration showing how to cause the button member to act; FIG. 43 is a bottom illustration showing how to cause the button member to act; FIG. 44 is a front illustration showing one example of a binding device which is another embodiment; FIG. 45 is an explanatory diagram of a binding device; and FIG. 46 is an explanatory diagram of a binding device.

[Mode for carrying out the Invention]

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one example of a binding device for a ring file which is a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where binding rings of the binding device shown in FIG. 1 have been closed. FIG. 3 is a bottom illustration showing the state where the binding rings of the binding device shown in FIG. 1 have been closed. FIG. 4 is a plan illustration showing the state where the binding rings of the binding device shown in FIG. 1 have been closed. FIG. 5 is a partial front illustration showing a state where the binding rings of the binding device shown in FIG. 1 have been opened. FIG. 6 is partial front illustration showing the state where the binding rings of the binding device shown in FIG. 1 have been closed. FIG. 7 is a partial rear illustration showing the state where the binding rings of the binding device shown in FIG.1 have been opened.

[0011] A binding device 10 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is additionally attached to a cover 510 of a file / binder 500. The cover 510 is composed of a cardboard or another relatively hard sheet material. The cover 510 is provided with a front cover 512, a back cover 514, and a spine 516 positioned between the front cover 512 and the back cover 514, where the front cover 512 is consecutively installed on the spine 516 via a thin hinge portion 518 and the back cover 514 is consecutively installed on the spine 516 via a thin hinge portion 520. The binding device 10 is fixed to an inner surface of the spine 516 positioned inside a left and right pair of the thin hinge portion 518 and the thin hinge portion 520 formed at an approximately central portion of the cover 510. As a fixing method, there is a fixing method for achieving integration with the spine by inserting fixing tools T such as a bolt and a nut, an eyelet or the like into attachment holes 260 (described in detail later) formed in a holding member 16 of the binding device 10 in a longitudinal direction thereof at intervals. Incidentally, it is preferable that, as the fixing tool, a rod-shaped member such as a bolt and a nut, a screw, an eyelet, a rivet, or the like is used.

[0012] The binding device 10 is provided with a first binding ring member 12 and a second binding ring member 14 paired with the first binding ring member 12 which are made of synthetic resin and have a pair of approximately annular half rings constituting a plurality of annular binding rings arranged in parallel; a holding member 16 having a width which allows the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 to be provided at intervals, respectively; an opening/closing member 18 biasing the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 in an opening direction thereof; and a button member 20 provided at one end of the first binding ring member 12 and one end of the second binding ring member 14 on one end side of the holding member 16 for opening the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14.

[0013] The binding device 10 includes binding ring members (the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14) having a plurality of binding rings (first binding rings 22 and second binding rings 24); the holding member 16 coupling a pair of binding ring members (the first binding ring

2016.03.15 (Original)

member 12 and the second binding ring member 14) to each other; and the opening/closing member 18 biasing the binding rings (the first binding rings 22 and the second binding rings 24) in an opening direction or in a closing direction, wherein the binding ring members (the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14) have base portions (a first base portion 30 and a second base portion 40) provided with a plurality of binding rings (first half rings 50 and second half rings 60) upright installed in an axial direction of the base portions (the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40), and formed with hole portions or recesses to be freely plugged with foot portions 210 of the holding member 16 inside the binding rings; the holding member 16 has a pair of foot portions (first foot portions 212 and second foot portions 222 )formed so as to part right and left; and the binding ring members (the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14) are formed such that one foot portion (the first foot portions 212) of the holding member is plugged into a first hole portion 34 or the recess of one binding ring member (the first binding ring member 12) inside the binding rings (the first half rings 50) and the other foot portion 222 of the holding member 16 is plugged into a second hole portion 44 or a recess of the other binding ring member (the second haft ring member 14) inside the binding rings (the second half rings 60) so that the binding ring members are coupled to the holding member 16, and latching or unlatching of binding ring engaging portions 32 of the binding rings (the first half rings 50 and the second half rings 60) is performed by moving one binding ring member (the first binding ring member 12) and the other binding ring member (the second binding ring member 14) in directions opposite to each other.

[0014] The binding device 10 is of a multi-hole type having a plurality of binding rings and is of a multi-hole type where first binding rings 22 and second binding rings 24 are arranged in parallel at fixed intervals, such as a two-hole type composed of a first binding ring 22 and a second binding ring 24, a three-hole type, four-hole type, or thirty-hole type.

[0015]

[Binding Ring Member] A binding rings of the binding device 10 are of openable and closable thirty-hole type provided with a first binding ring member 12 constituting main binding rings and a second binding ring member 14 constituting secondary binding rings. The first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 are provided with the same structure point-symmetrical about the centers thereof in the longitudinal direction. The first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 are each formed of synthetic resin integrally.

The first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 are configured such that the binding ring engaging portions 32 thereof can be released by the button member 20 or twisting performed by with fingers of a user. Such a configuration is adopted that when the binding rings are closed, the first binding ring member 12 constituting the main binding rings is closed, for example, by directly nipping the same with a thumb and a first finger of a user, and such a configuration is adopted that when the first binding ring member 12 is operated in a closing direction by nipping the first binding ring member 12 with two fingers of the user, the second binding ring member 14 constituting the secondary binding rings is moved following the movement of the first binding ring member 12.

[0016] In the first binding ring member 12, a plurality of first half rings 50 are upright installed on the base portion 30 in the axial direction of the base portion 30 such that a plurality of first binding rings 22 and a plurality of second binding rings 24 are arranged in parallel in alignment with each other in the longitudinal direction of the holding member, and first hole portions 34 or recesses in which a foot portion 210 of the holding member 16 described later are movably plugged are formed in the base portion 30. The first half rings 50 are arranged in parallel in alignment with each other at fixed intervals in the longitudinal direction of the first base portion 30. In the second binding ring member 14, a plurality of second half rings 60 are upright installed on the base portion 40 in the axial direction of the base portion 40 such that a plurality of first binding rings 22 and a plurality of second binding rings 24 are arranged in parallel in alignment with each other in the longitudinal direction of the holding member, and second hole portions 44 or recesses in which a foot portion 210 of the holding member 16 described later is plugged movably are formed in the base portion 40. The second half rings 60 are arranged in parallel in alignment with each other at fixed intervals in the longitudinal direction of the second base portion 40.

[0017] The binding ring member is provided with such a width that the base portion reaches outside of a left end and/or a right end of the holding member 16 and such a length that the first half rings 50 and the second half rings 60 are arranged in parallel in a plural fashion. The first binding ring member 12 has such a width that the base portion 30 reaches outside of a left end of the holding member 16 and such a length that the first half rings 50 are arranged in parallel in alignment with each other in a plural fashion.

[0018] In the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14, attachment holes 260 for movably attaching the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 outside the holding member 16 positioned in an intermediate portion between the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding member 14 are formed at fixed intervals in the longitudinal directions of the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14.

[0019] In the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14, binding ring engaging portions 32 for performing engagement and disengagement of the first half rings 50 and the second half rings 60 opened/closed are formed in the first binding rings 22 and the second binding rings 24. The binding ring engaging portions 32 are formed at free ends of the first half rings 50 and free ends of the second half rings 60 and they are positioned at tops in approximately central portions of the first binding ring 22 and the second binding ring 24.

[0020] The first binding ring member 12 is formed such that the first hole portion 34 or the recess into which the foot portion 210 of the holding member 16 constituting the binding ring attaching portion 26 is plugged extend in the longitudinal direction of the first base portion 30 and latching or unlatching of the first binding ring latching portion 36 at the free end of the first half ring 50 constituting the binding ring engaging portion 32 is performed according to movement of the base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 in the longitudinal direction. The second binding ring member 14 is formed such that the second hole portion 44 or the recess into which the foot portion 210 of the holding member 16 constituting the binding ring attaching portion 26 is plugged extend in the longitudinal direction of the second base portion 40 and latching or unlatching of the second binding ring latching portion 46 at the free end of the second half ring 60 constituting the binding ring engaging portion 32 is performed according to movement of the base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 in the longitudinal direction.

[0021] The first hole portion 34 is formed inside the first half ring 50 upright installed on an outer edge 30b of the first base portion 30. The first hole portion 34 is a through-hole having larger than an outer circumference of a foot main body 214 of the foot portion 210 of the holding member 16 described later, and a clearance is provided between the first hole portion 34 and the foot main body 214.

A row of the plurality of first hole portions 34 is made parallel with a row of bases of the first half rings 50 in the vicinity of inside of the first half rings 50, and the respective first hole portions 34 are arranged among the plurality of first half rings 50. The second hole portion 44 is formed inside the second half ring 50 upright installed on an

9a

2016.03.15 (Original)

outer edge 40b of the second base portion 40 The second hole portion 44 is a through-hole having larger than an outer circumference of a foot main body 224 of the foot portion 210 of the holding member 16 described later, and a clearance is provided between the second hole portion 44 and the foot main body 224. A row of the plurality of second hole portions 44 is made parallel with a row of bases of the second half rings 60 in the vicinity of inside of the second half rings 60, and the respective second hole portions 44 are arranged among the plurality of second half rings 60.

[0022]

[Holding Member] The holding member 16 has an approximately rectangular shape in plan view provided with a length allowing the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 to be provided in parallel with a predetermined interval. The holding member 16 is provided with an approximately arc-shaped bound object mounting portion 200 in section having a central portion bulging inward from the vicinity of the outside in the longitudinal direction from regions for fixing the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14, and both sides of the bound object mounting portion 200 are provided with a pair of foot portions 210 formed in a left and right branching manner. The holding member 16 is molded integrally from synthetic resin.

[0023] The holding member 16 has a pair of foot portions (a first foot portion 212 and a second foot portion 222) suspended from both edges of a top portion (the bound object mounting portion 200) in the longitudinal direction thereof so as to part left and right in a widthwise direction of the top portion (the bound object mounting portion 200). The first foot portion 212 and the second foot portion 222 are parallel with each other and constitute an approximately symmetrical shape. The first foot portion 212 extending from one edge (the left edge) of the top portion (the bound object mounting portion 200) downward is formed with a first projection 216 extending from the foot main body 214 outward (leftward). The foot main body 214 is prismatic. The second foot portion 222 extending from the other edge (the right edge) of the top portion (the bound object mounting portion 200) downward is formed with a second projection 226 extending from the foot main body 224 outward (rightward). The foot main body 224 is prismatic.

[00241 The holding member 16 has a width corresponding to a distance between the first hole

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portion 34 of the first base portion 30 and the second hole portion 44 of the second base portion 40 in a state where the bound object mounting portion 200 makes the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 parallel with each other. In the holding member 16, a plurality of first foot portions 212 and a plurality of second foot portions 222 constituting a binding ring attaching portions 26 are arranged at both ends of the bound object mounting portion 200 in the widthwise direction thereof in parallel in alignment with each other at fixed intervals in the longitudinal direction of the bound object mounting portion 200. The holding member 16 is coupled to the first binding ring member 12 by plugging the foot main bodies 214 of the first foot portions 212 formed in one end (the left end) of the bound object mounting portion 200 in the widthwise direction thereof into the first hole portions 34 formed in the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 in alignment with each other. The holding member 16 is coupled to the second binding ring member 14 by plugging the foot main bodies 224 of the second foot portions 222 formedin one end (the right end) of the bound object mounting portion 200 in the widthwise direction thereof into the second hole portions 44 formed in the second base portion 40 of the first binding ring member 14 in alignment with each other. One foot portions (the first foot portions 212) of the holding member 16 are plugged into the first hole portions 34 or recesses of one binding ring member (the first binding ring member 12) and the other foot portions (the second foot portions 222) of the holding member 16 are plugged into the second hole portions 44 or recesses of the other binding ring member (the second binding ring member 14), so that the holding member 16 is coupled to the binding ring members (the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14). In the holding member 16, one foot portions (the first foot portions 212) are arranged side by side in parallel with the first hole portions 34 of the first binding ring member 12 and the first half rings 50, and the other foot portions (the second foot portions 222) are arranged side by side in parallel with the second hole portions 44 of the second binding ring member 14 and the second half rings 60. That is, in the holding member 16, one foot portions (the first foot portions 212) and the other foot portions (the second foot portions 222) are arranged side by side in parallel with the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 arranged in parallel and joined, and are arranged side by side in parallel the first hole portions 34 and the first half rings 50 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second hole potions 44 and the second half rings 60 of the second binding ring member 14. The first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 are attached to the holding member 16 such that they can move in a staggered manner in the longitudinal direction of the holding member 16. The first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 move along the parallel direction of the foot portions 210 of the holding member 16 and the parallel direction of the first hole portions 34 and the second hole portions 44 and along the longitudinal directions of the bound object mounting portion 200 of the holding member 16 and the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14.

[0025] The holding member 16 is formed so as to be capable of moving one binding ring member (the first binding ring member 12) and the other binding ring member (the second binding ring member 14) in directions opposite to each other to perform latching or unlatching of the binding ring engaging portions 32 (the first binding ring latching portion 36 and the second binding ring latching portion 46) of binding rings (the first binding ring 22 and the second binding ring 24.

[0026] In the holding member 16, retaining projections (first projections 216 and second projections 226) for prevention of falling off from the hole portions (the first hole portions 34 and the second hole portions 44) or the recesses of the binding ring members (the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14) are formed in the foot portions 210. The first projections 216 of the first foot portion 212 are plugged into the first hole portions 34 of the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 to be disposed in the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 in a region below the bases of the first half rings 50 on the outer edge 30b side of the first base portion 30. A first side wall 204 of the first foot portion 212 of the holding member 16 is opposed to an inner face of the first half ring 50 of the first binding ring member 12. The second projections 226 of the second foot portion 222 are plugged into the second hole portions 44 of the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 to be disposed in the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 in a region below the bases of the second half rings 60 on the outer edge 40b side of the second base portion 40. A second side wall 206 of the second foot portion 222 of the holding member 16 is opposed to an inner face of the second half ring 60 of the second binding ring member 14.

[0027] Side walls 202 holding the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ringmember 14 slidably are provided on both ends of the bound object mounting portion 200 of the holding member 16 so as to extend approximately from one end to the other end of the bound object mounting portion 200 in the longitudinal direction thereof. The side walls 202 of the holding member 16 are provided with first side walls 204 of the first foot portions 212 suspended from one end (the left end) of the bound object mounting portion 200 and second side wall 206 of the second foot portions 222 suspended from the other end (the right end) of the bound object mounting portion 200. The first side walls 204 are formed on outer faces of the first foot portions 212 and the second side walls 206 are formed on outer faces of the second foot portions 222. The plurality of first side walls 204 of the first foot portions 212 are arranged in parallel in a plane shape. The plurality of the second side walls 206 of the foot main bodies 214 are arranged in parallel in a plane shape.

[0028] In the holding member 16, a plurality of foot portions 210 are arranged in parallel at equal intervals and binding ring insertion holes (first binding ring insertion holes 240 and second binding ring insertion holes 242) are bored among the plurality of foot portions 210. That is, the first binding ring insertion holes 240 are formed among the plurality of first foot portions 212 arranged in parallel, and the binding ring insertion holes 242 are formed among the plurality of second foot portions 222 arranged in parallel.

[0029]

[Base Portion of Binding Ring Member] The first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 have a pair of first base portion 30 and second base portion 40 formed in an approximately rectangular shape in plan view.

[0030] The first base portion 30 is formed inside with an approximately linear abutting edge 30a caused to abut on the second base portions 40 paired therewith, and it is formed outside with an approximately linear outer edge 30b approximately parallel to the abutting edge 30a. The second base portion 40 is formed inside with an approximately linear abutting edge 40a caused to abut on the second base portions 30 paired therewith, and it is formed outside with an approximately linear outer edge 40b approximately parallel to the abutting edge 40a. The first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 is formed in a longitudinal direction thereof with the outer edge 30b parallel to the first side wall 204 of the holding member 16, and it is formed in an inner edge with the abutting edge 30a causing the pair of first base portion 30 and second base portion 40 to abut on each other in parallel with the outer edge 30b. The second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 is formed in a longitudinal direction thereof with the outer edge 40b parallel to the second side wall 206 of the holding member 16, and it is formed in an inner edge with the abutting edge 40a causing the pair of second base portion 40 and first base portion 30 to abut on each other in parallel with the outer edge 40b.

[0031] The first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 is provided with a length approximately equal to the length of the holding member 16 in the longitudinal direction, and it is provided with a width equal to half or more than the width of the holding member 16. The first binding ring member 12 is provided with the abutting edge 30a opposed to the second binding ring member 14 and a binding ring attaching edge (the outer edge 30b) positioned on the opposite side of an edge facing the second binding ring member 14 in the widthwise direction. The first base portion 30 has first half rings 50 upright installed on the outer edge 30b. The abutting edge 30a opposed to the second binding ring member 14 and the binding ring attaching edge (the outer edge 30b) positioned on the opposite side of the abutting edge 30a in the widthwise direction are spaced from each other by a length equal to or more than a half of the width of the bound object mounting portion 200 of the holding member 16. The first base portion 30 is provided with a length where the abutting edge 30a of the first binding ring member 12 reaches an inner face of the bound object mounting portion 200 of the holding member 16 when the first binding ring 22 and the second binding ring 24 are opened.

[0032] The second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 is provided with a length approximately equal to the length of the holding member 16 in the longitudinal direction, and it is provided with a width equal to half or more than the width of the holding member 16. The second binding ring member 14 is provided with the abutting edge 40a opposed to the first binding ring member 12 and a binding ring attaching edge (the outer edge 40b) positioned on the opposite side of an edge opposed to the first binding ring member 12 in the widthwise direction. The second base portion 40 has second half rings 60 upright installed on the outer edge 40b. The abutting edge 40a opposed to the first binding ring member 12 and the binding ring attaching edge (the outer edge 40b) positioned on the opposite side of the abutting edge 40a in the widthwise direction are spaced from each other by a length equal to or more than a half of the width of the bound object mounting portion 200 of the holding member 16. The second base portion 40 is provided with a length where the abutting edge 40a of the second binding ring member 14 reaches an inner face of the bound object mounting portion 200 of the holding member 16 when the first binding ring 22 and the second binding ring 24 are opened.

[0033] The first base portion 30 is an inclined face where a lower face on the outside of the first base portion 30 rises toward the outside (the left side) in the widthwise direction. The inclined face of the first base portion 30 comes in contact with an upper face of the first projection 216 of the foot portion 210 to restrict an opening angle when the first binding ring 22 and the second binding ring 24 are opened. The second base portion 40 is an inclined face where a lower face on the outside of the second base portion 40 rises toward the outside (the right side) in the widthwise direction. The inclined face of the second base portion 40 comes in contact with an upper face of the second projection 226 of the foot portion 210 to restrict an opening angle when the first binding ring 22 and the second binding ring 24 are opened.

[0034] The first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 are be point symmetrical to each other regarding a middle M (shown in FIG. 3) in the longitudinal direction of the abutting edge 30a and the abutting edge 40a, and they are bendably engaged each other in inner edges thereof when they are arranged on outer peripheral edges of the holding member 16 in parallel in the longitudinal direction.

[0035] Further, the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40 are caused to abut to each other in a horizontal face state when a force is not applied thereto, that is, they are directed in directions separated from the inner faces of the bound object mounting portion 200 of the holding member 16 (the abutting edge 30a and the abutting edge 40a are positioned on a plane Pxy shown in FIG. 45), or in a mountain fold manner, namely, in a direction approaching the inner face of the bound object mounting portion 200 of the holding member 16 (the abutting edge 30a and the abutting edge 40a are positioned above a plane Pxy shown in FIG. 45), and are arranged to get from inside of the holding member 16 up to a periphery thereof positioned at outside thereof so as to maintain the horizontal face state or the mountain fold state. The plane Pxy is a plane including lateral axes Y1 and Y2 and longitudinal axes X1 and X2 (shown in FIG. 45) where the respective binding rings (the first half rings 50 and the second half rings 60) of the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 go through portions (four portions) fixed to the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40.

[0036] In the first binding ring member 12, the bases of the first half rings 50 constituting the first binding rings 22 and the second binding rings 24 are consecutively installed on a surface (namely, the upper face) of the first base portion 30 on the side of the bound object mounting portion 200 of the holding member 16. Further, the bases of the second half rings 60 constituting the first binding rings 22 and the second binding rings 24 are consecutively installed on a surface (namely, the upper face) of the other second base portion 40 on the side of the bound object mounting portion 200 of the holding member 16.

[0037] Attachment holes 260 are formed in the bound object mounting portion 200 of the holding member 16 as well as the abutting edge 30a of the first base portion 30 and the abutting edge 40a of the second base portion 40. Two or plural attachment holes 260 are formed at proper intervals in the holding member 16 as well as the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40 in the longitudinal directions. The attachment hole 260 formed in the holding member 16 is formed to have a shape suitable for fixing the binding device 10 firmly by a fixing tool for attachment to a cover 510. The attachment hole 260 formed in the holding member 16 is formed in a cylindrical shape suitable for movements of the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40 performed when the first half rings 50 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second half rings 60 of the second binding ring member 14 are opened/closed. For example, the cylindrical attachment hole 260 is set to have a diameter loosely inserted into a circular space formed by uniting semi-circular holes formed in the abutting edge 30a of the first base portion 30 and the abutting edge 40a of the second base portion 40.

[0038] In the embodiment, the attachment holes 260 are provided with first attachment holes 262 formed in the bound object mounting portion 200 of the holding member 16 and second attachment holes 264 formed in the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40. The first attachment hole 262 includes a cylindrical portion suspended from the bound object mounting portion 200, and a fixing tool, for example, a rivet is inserted into a through-hole of the cylindrical portion.

The second attachment hole 264 is formed with a hole with a hexagonal shape or an oval shape in plan view larger than the first attachment hole 262 so as to provide a space for movements of the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40 between the same and an outside face of the cylindrical portion of the first attachment hole 262. The attachment holes 260 are formed at three regions of a central portion, a near side portion and a far side portion.

[0039] The first binding ring member 12 is provided such that an engaging portion 62 and an engaging portion 64 for causing a pair of first base portion 30 and second base portion 40 to engage with each other project from the abutting edge 30a of the first binding ring member 12 toward the abutting edge 40a of the second binding ring member 14, and the second binding ring member 14 is provided such that an engaging portion 72 and an engaging portion 74 for causing a pair of first base portion 30 and second base portion 40 to engage with each other project from the abutting edge 40a of the second base portion 40 toward the abutting edge 30a of the first binding ring member 12. The engaging portion 62 and the engaging portion 64 of the first binding ring member 12 and the engaging portion 72 and the engaging portion 74 of the second binding ring member 14 are formed to extend below the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40 opposed to each other so that the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 are swung about the abutting edge 30a and the abutting edge 40a.

[0040] The engaging portion 62 and the engaging portion 64 of the first binding ring member 12 and the engaging portion 72 and the engaging portion 74 of the second binding ring member 14 are formed in an approximately L shape in section provided with a rising portion protruded toward the inner face side of the bound object mounting portion 200 of the holding member 16 by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14, and a pressing portion protruded from a tip of the rising portion. Further, the pressing portion is provided with a function of preventing a pair of the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 from coming off.

[0041] Further, when the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 are closed, as shown in FIG. 10, the first binding rings 22, the second binding ring 24 of the first binding ring member 12 and the first binding rings 22, the second binding ring 24 of the second binding ring member 14 are held in a state where the abutting edge 30a and the abutting edge 40a are directed to a direction in which they have been spaced from the inner face (the inner face of the bound object mounting portion 200) of the holding member 16 (namely, in a horizontal state), and the abutting edge 30a of the first base portion 30 and the abutting edge 40a of the second base portion 40 have been caused to abut on each other. Simultaneously therewith, when the first binding rings 22, the second binding ring 24 of the first binding ring member 12 and the first binding rings 22, the second binding ring 24 of the second binding ring member 14 are opened, as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 14, the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 are held in a space within the holding member 16 such that the abutting edge 30a and the abutting edge 40a face in a direction where they have approached the inner face (the inner face of the bound object mounting portion 200) of the holding member 16 (namely, in a mountain fold state) and the abutting edge 30a and the abutting edge 40a have been caused to abut on each other.

[0042] Further, the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 are slidably arranged so as to be capable of moving the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 in a direction where they have approached the inner face of the bound object mounting portion 200 of the holding member 16, namely, in the longitudinal direction of the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40 in the mountain fold state, that is, in a direction parallel to a line (X1 (shown in FIG. 45)) connecting a plurality of first binding rings 22 formed on the first base portion 30 and a line (X2 (shown in FIG. 45)) connecting a plurality of second binding rings 24 formed on the second base portion 40.

[0043] The first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 are formed with a movement restricting portion for restricting movements of the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 in the longitudinal direction in the vicinity of outside of an opening/closing member housing portion 100. The movement restricting portion is formed of a restricting recess 80 and a restricting projection 82 formed in the abutting edge 30a of the first base portion 30 and a restricting recess 90 and a restricting projection 92 formed in the abutting edge 40a of the second base portion 40. The restricting recess 80 is a notch with a U-shape in plan view recessed in the widthwise direction from the abutting edge 30a, and the restricting projection 82 is a projection with a U shape in plan view formed so as to be loosely fitted into the restricting recess 80. Formation is made such that the restricting projection 82 is loosely fitted into the restricting recess 80, and the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 are moved in a staggered manner in a longitudinal direction within the restricting recess 80. The restricting recess 90 is a notch with a U-shape in plan view recessed in the widthwise direction from the abutting edge 40a, and the restricting projection 82 is a projection with a U shape in plan view formed so as to be loosely fitted into the restricting recess 90. Formation is made such that the restricting projection 82 is loosely fitted into the restricting recess 90, and the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 are moved in a staggered manner in a longitudinal direction within the restricting recess 90.

[0044] In the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14, the opening/closing member housing portions 100 are provided so as to be recessed from a rear face side on the opposite side of the surface formed with the first binding rings 22 and the second binding rings 24 toward the surface side in order to house the opening/closing members 18. In the embodiment of the present invention, the opening/closing housing portions 100 are provided at two places of the near side and the far side spaced by a fixed distance from the center of the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 in the longitudinal direction. In the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14, the vicinity of the abutting edge 30a of the first base portion 30 is recessed in a direction in which the first binding ring member 12 projects and the vicinity of the abutting edge 40a of the second base portion 40 is recessed in a direction in which the second binding ring member 14 projects, so that the opening/closing member housing portion 100 composed of a recess 102 formed in the first binding ring member 12 and a recess 104 formed in the second base portion 40 is formed. The opening/closing housing portions 100 are formed at two places sandwiching a near side point M1 and a far side point M2 spaced by an equal distance from the central point in the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40 in the longitudinal direction. The recess 102 has a side of the abutting edge 30a deeply recessed, and an upper edge on the side of the first binding ring member 12 and a lower edge on the side of the second binding ring member 14 which are approximately parallel to each other, and it has an approximately triangular shape in plan view obliquely intersected with the abutting edge 30a.

The recess 104 has a side of the abutting edge 40a deeply recessed, and an upper edge on the side of the first binding ring member 12 and a lower edge on the side of the second binding ring member 14 which are approximately parallel to each other, and it has an approximately triangular shape in plan view obliquely intersected with the abutting edge 40a. The opening/closing member housing portion 100 is constituted of the recess 102 formed in the first binding ring member 12 and the recess 104 formed in the second base portion 40, which are formed point-symmetrically regarding the abutting edge 30a and the abutting edge 40a. The opening/closing member 18 is fixed to the opening/closing member housing portion 100 of the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 on the back face side positioned on the opposite side to the surface on which the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 have been fixed, and when opening the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14, the opening/closing member 18 is formed to change the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 in an opening direction so as to move the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40 within the holding member 16 in the longitudinal direction of the holding member 16 and hold the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40 in a direction where the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40 have approached the inner face of the holding member 16, so that the opening/closing member housing portion 100 is configured so as to house the opening/closing member 18 and achieve height reduction of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 according to the action of the opening/closing member 18.

[0045] The first half ring 50 attached to the first base portion 30 is provided with a sliding portion 136 so that a base on the side of the first base portion 30 mutually contacts with and slides on the holding member 16. The second half ring 60 attached to the second base portion 40 is provided with a sliding portion 138 so that a base on the side of the second base portion 40 mutually contacts with and slides on the holding member 16.

[0046]

[Opening/Closing Member] On the side of the abutting edge 30a within the recess 102 of the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and on the side of the abutting edge 40a within the recess 104 of the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14, the opening/closing member 18 changing the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 in an opening/closing direction is provided.

The opening/closing member 18 is bridged between the pair of the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 constituting the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 in a direction obliquely intersecting with a direction connecting base portions of the binding rings, namely, a plurality of first half rings 50 fixed on the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 at intervals and in a direction obliquely intersecting with base portions of the binding rings, namely, a plurality of second half rings 60 fixed on the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 at intervals so as to move a pair of the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 in directions reverse to each other and hold the opened/closed state of the binding rings, namely, the first binding rings 22 and the second binding rings 24. The opening/closing member 18 is composed of a helical tension spring, and it is provided with a coil portion 184, and a fixing tip portion 180 and a fixing tip portion 182 formed as hooks by raising the coil portion 184 from both ends thereof in a winding manner. As shown in FIG. 28, the opening/closing member 18 has a restricting arm portion 186 and a restricting arm portion 188 protruded in parallel in a circumferential direction of the coil portion 184.

[0047] In the opening/closing member 18, the fixing tip portion 180 subjected to a load is fixed to the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the fixing tip portion 182 is fixed to the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 in a state where the coil portion 184 in a closely contacting state at a non-load time in a closed state of the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 has been subjected to a tensile load so as to be stretched. In addition, in the closed state of the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14, the spring is subjected to a torsional moment about a center axis of the coil portion 184 (coil) in a direction of rotating the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 about the abutting edge 30a and the abutting edge 40a toward a direction from the opened state to the closed state, a load is applied to the spring, a bending stress is generated in an element wire of the coil, so that the fixing tip portion 180 is fixed to the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the fixing tip portion 182 is fixed to the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14. In this case, in the opening/closing member 18, the fixing tip portions 180 and 182 are fixed to an opening/closing member fixing portion 110 and an opening/closing member fixing portion 112, respectively, in a state where the coil portion 184 has been twisted by one time or more such that the number of windings of the coil portion 184 increases by one or more windings (the fixing tip portion 180 and the restricting arm portion 186 are twisted in an R

21a

2016.03.15 (Original)

direction and the fixing tip portion 182 and the restricting arm portion 188 are twisted in a Q direction (shown in FIG. 28(B)), as viewed from a state (shown in FIG. 28(B)) where a load such as a torsional moment is not applied to the coil portion 184. As a loading direction of a load applied to the spring, a configuration directing the coil portion 184 (coil) in a winding direction is adopted.

[0048] The restricting arm portion 186 and the restricting arm portion 188 are extended from sides of the fixing tip portion 180 and the fixing tip portion 182 fixed to the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 in a direction orthogonal to the center axis of the coil portion 184, and one restricting arm portion 186 and the other restricting arm portion 188 are protruded approximately in parallel with each other in the circumstantial direction of the coil portion 184 to be extended in directions reverse to each other, as shown in FIG. 28(B) in an original state where the torsional moment is not generated. Configuration is made such that a tip of the one restricting arm portion 186 abuts on a back face of the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 when the fixing tip portion 180 is fixed to the opening/closing member fixing portion 110 of the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12, a tip of the other restricting arm portion 188 abuts on the back face (the lower face) of the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 when the fixing tip portion 182 is fixed to the opening/closing fixing portion 112 of the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14, fixing to the opening/closing member fixing portion 110 and the opening/closing member fixing portion 112 is always made in a normal state without generating large inclination of the fixing tip portion 180 and the fixing tip portion 182 which are full center hooks. In the original state where no torsional moment is generated, the one restricting arm portion 186 and the other restriction arm portion 188 are formed to be parallel to each other.

[0049] One end of the fixing tip portion 180 of the opening/closing member 18 is latched and fixed to the opening/closing member fixing portion 110 formed on the back face (the lower face) of the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12, and one end of the fixing tip portion 182 of the opening/closing member 18 is latched and fixed to the opening/closing member fixing portion 112 formed on the back face (the lower face) of the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14. The opening/closing member fixing portion 110 is formed on a back face (a lower face) of the recess 102 of the opening/closing member housing portion 100 at a position shifted in a direction of movement of the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 when the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 are opened from points M1 and M2 (shown in FIG. 3) branched from the center M of the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 in the longitudinal direction, and the opening/closing member fixing portion 112 is formed on a back face (a lower face) of the recess 104 of the opening/closing member housing portion 100 at a position shifted in a direction of movement of the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 when the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 are opened from points M1 and M2 (shown in FIG. 3) branched from the center M of the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 in the longitudinal direction.

[0050] The opening/closing member 18 is obliquely bridged between the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 to be put in a stretched state when the abutting edge 30a and the abutting edge 40a of the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 lie in a horizontal state (shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10), that is, when the abutting edge 30a and the abutting edge 40a are held in a state where they are spaced from the inner face of the bound object mounting portion 200 of the holding member 16, and a force to recover to the original state acts in this state. The opening/closing member 18 is bridged in a direction obliquely intersecting with the respective longitudinal directions of the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14, namely, a line (a longitudinal axis X1 (shown in FIG. 45)) connecting regions fixing a plurality of first half rings 50 of the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and a line (a longitudinal axis X2 (shown in FIG. 45)) connecting a plurality of second half rings 60 of the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14.

[0051] The opening/closing member fixing portions 110 of the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the opening/closing member fixing portions 112 of the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 are formed so as to be point symmetrical regarding rotation axes which are the points M1 and M2 (shown in FIG. 3) branched from the center M of the abutting edge 30a and the abutting edge 40a in the longitudinal direction, and the fixing tip portion 180 is latched to the opening/closing member fixing portion 110 and the fixing tip portion 182 is latched to the opening/closing member fixing portion 112 due to equal lengths of the opening/closing members 18 from the points M1 and M2 (shown in FIG. 3) branched from the center M of the abutting edge 30a and the abutting edge 40a in the longitudinal direction, so that equal forces are applied to the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14. A distance between the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 caused to abut on each other in the abutting edge 30a of the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the abutting edge 40a of the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 is kept constant, the respective positional relationship of the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 is maintained in an optimal state by drawing the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14. Therefore, at an opening/closing time of the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 constituting the binding rings, when the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 are swung about the abutting edge 30a and the abutting edge 40a serving as pivoting shafts, even when the sum of the width of the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the width of the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 has become maximum, that is, even when the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 have become a plane state (a neutral state), proper gaps occur between an innermost edge of the first half rings 50 of the first binding ring member 12 and the first foot portion 212 of the holding member 16 and between an outermost edge (the outer edge 32b) of the second half rings 60 of the second binding ring member 14 and the second foot portion 222 of the holding member 16, so that the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 can be smoothly moved outside the first side wall 204 and the second side wall 206 of the holding member 16.

[0052] Further, a pair of the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 are moved in directions reverse to each other in the longitudinal direction of the holding member 16, so that the first binding rings 22 and the second binding rings 24 composed of the combination of the half rings are separated, and when the first half rings 50 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second half rings 60 of the second binding ring member 14 are separated, the opening/closing members 18 biases the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 to open the first half rings 50 and the second half rings 60.

2016.03.15 (Original)

[0053] Furthermore, according to elasticity of the opening/closing member 18, when the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 press the button member 20 to start openings of the first half rings 50 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second half rings 60 of the second binding ring member 14 or when the first half rings 50 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 are started to open manually, that is, when the respective binding ring engaging portions 32 (the first binding ring latching portion 36 and the second binding ring latching portion 46) of the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 are disengaged, an action in a direction of further stretching the stretched coil portion 184 of the opening/closing member 18 is generated, the first half rings 50 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second half rings 60 are moved in directions separating from each other (the first half rings 50 are moved in a direction 01, and the second half rings 60 are moved in a direction 02 (shown in FIG. 45)), and the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 are moved in directions reverse to each other (the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 is moved in the direction 01 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 is moved in the direction 02 (shown in FIG. 45)).

[0054] Further, the opening/closing member 18 acts so as to separate the first half rings 50 and the second half rings 60 from each other in the circumferential direction (a lateral axis Y1 and a lateral axis Y2 shown in FIG. 45). The twisted opening/closing member 18 acts to recover to its original state, as shown in a direction of an arrow in FIG. 45, and acts so as to separate the first half rings 50 and the second half rings 60 in the circumferential direction (the first half rings 50 are moved in a direction 03 and the second half rings 60 are moved in a direction 04 (shown in FIG. 45)).

[0055] Further, the opening/closing member 18 acts in a direction of shrinkage of the coil portion 184 which has been stretched due to the elasticity of the opening/closing member 18, and the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 are moved in a direction (an opposite direction to 01 (shown in FIG. 45)) of a position closing the binding ring engaging portions 32 (the first binding ring latching portion 36 and the second binding ring latching portion 46) and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 is moved in a direction (an opposite direction to 02 (shown in FIG. 45)) of a position closing the binding ring engaging portions 32

2016.03.15 (Original)

(the first binding ring latching portion 36 and the second binding ring latching portion 46). That is, the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 change from the plane state (the neutral state) to the mountain fold state. The first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 are rotated in an opening direction (the first half rings 50 are rotated in the direction 03 and the second half rings 60 are rotated in the direction 04) to be opened. When the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 are in an opened state, the opening/closing member 18 acts to hold the mountain fold state of the abutting edge 30a of the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the abutting edge 40a of the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 folded to each other, namely, an approaching state to the inside face of the bound object mounting portion 200 of the holding member 16.

[0056]

[Button Member] The first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 are provided with a button member 20 for moving the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 constituting an operating member in the vicinity of one end portions and/or the other end portions thereof. Next, the button member 20 will be explained mainly with reference to FIG. 29 and FIG. 41.

[0057] The button member 20 has a first arm portion 320 and a second arm portion 330 for moving the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40 in the opposite directions to each other so as to actuate in a direction in which the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 are arranged in parallel to open the first half ring 50 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second half ring 60 of the second binding ring member 14.

[0058] The first arm portion 320 is configured so as to move the one operating piece (the second base portion 40) to the side of the first arm portion 320, and the second arm portion 330 is configured to move the other operating piece (the first base portion 30) to the side opposite to the first arm portion 320.

[0059] The button member 20 is attached to the one end portion and/or the other end portion of the holding member 16 by the (first) pivoting shaft 300 and the (second) pivoting shaft 302 so as to rotate in a direction where the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 are arranged in parallel.

[0060]

2016.03.15 (Original)

The button member 20 is formed with a pressing portion 304 to be pressed with a finger on the side of spacing away from a central portion of the holding member 16 in the longitudinal direction and the second binding ring member 14 rather than the (first) pivoting shaft 300 and the (second) pivoting shaft 302 serving as a rotation center.

[0061] The button member 20 is formed with the first arm portion 320 and the second arm portion 330 on the central side of the holding member 16 in the longitudinal direction and the second binding ring member 14 side rather than a (first) pivoting shaft 300 and a (second) pivoting shaft 302.

[0062] The button member 20 includes a protruding portion 306 and a protruding portion 308 having flat faces opposed to the inside face of the bound object-mounting portion 200 of the holding member 16, and the (first) pivoting shaft 300 and the (second) pivoting shaft 302 are upright installed in a lateral direction on flat faces of the protruding portion 306 and the protruding portion 308 on the sides of the first side wall 204 and the second side wall 206 of the holding member 16. The (first) pivoting shaft 300 is approximately cylindrical, and is upright installed in a horizontal direction on a flat face of the protruding portion 308 opposed to the first side wall 204 which is one holding wall of the holding member 16. The (second) pivoting shaft 302 is approximately cylindrical, and is upright installed in a horizontal direction on a flat face of the protruding portion 308 opposed to the second side wall 206 which is the other holding wall of the holding member 16. The (first) pivoting shaft 300 and the (second) pivoting shaft 302 are upright installed in opposite directions to each other.

[00631 The button member 20 is integrally formed of synthetic resin having elasticity such as polyacetal. The first arm portion 320 and the second arm portion 330 are formed as strip-like bodies relatively thinner than the pressing portion 304, and have elasticity and restorability.

[0064] The (first) pivoting shaft 300 is rotatably inserted in a (first) pivoting hole 290 bored in the first side wall 204 of the holding member 16. The (second) pivoting shaft 302 is rotatably inserted in a (second) pivoting hole 292 bored in the second side wall 206 of the holding member 16. The (first) pivoting hole 290 and the (second) pivoting hole 290 are opposed to each other corresponding to the (first) pivoting shaft 300 and the (second) pivoting shaft 302 facing in

2016.03.15 (Original)

directions opposite to each other.

[0065] In the button member 20, the first arm portion 320 extending via above the (first) pivoting shaft 300 in an opposite direction to a direction of separating the binding ring engaging portions 32 (the second binding ring latching portion 46) of the second half ring 60 of the second binding ring member 14 (namely, on the near side), namely, toward the far side is consecutively installed on the pressing portion 304. In the button member 20, the second arm portion 330 extending via below the (second) pivoting shaft 302 in a direction of separating the binding ring engaging portions 32 (the first binding ring latching portion 36) of the first half ring 50 of the first binding ring member 12 namely, toward the far side is consecutively installed on the pressing portion 304.

[0066] The pressing portion 304 is formed in a tongue shape extending approximately in the same direction as a circular faces of the first half ring 50 and the second half ring 60 upright installed on the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14. In the pressing portion 304, a surface to be pressed by a finger faces the side of the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14, and a back surface faces the opposite side to the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14. A lower region of the back face of the pressing portion 304 is notched from a height position of the (first) pivoting shaft 300 and the (second) pivoting shaft 302 downward, and it is configured such that when the pressing portion 304 is pressed down, the button member 20 rotates to the back face side about the (first) pivoting shaft 300 and the (second) pivoting shaft 302.

[0067] The protruding portion 306 is a plate-like body projecting from a lower end portion of the pressing portion 304 from the right end side toward the first base portion 30 side, and includes a flat face on the first side wall 204 side. The protruding portion 308 is a plate-like body projecting from a lower end portion of the pressing portion 304 from the left end side toward the second base portion 40 side, and includes a flat face on the second side wall 206 side.

[0068] The (first) pivoting shaft 300 is a cylindrical body upright installed in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axes X1 and X2 (shown in FIG. 45) extending through portions where the bases of the first half rings 50 and the bases of the second half rings 60 are securely adhered to the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40 in a plane opposed to the first side wall 204 of the protruding portion 306. The (second) pivoting shaft 302 is a cylindrical body upright installed in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axes X1 and X2 (shown in FIG. 45) extending through portions where the bases of the first half rings 50 and the bases of the second half rings 60 are securely adhered to the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40 in a plane opposed to the second side wall 206 of the protruding portion 308.

[0069] The first arm portion 320 and the second arm portion 330 are protruded from a lower end portion of the pressing portion 304 toward the side of the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40 between the protruding portion 306 and the protruding portion 308. The first arm portion 320 is a strip-like body having elasticity and extending from the vicinity of the lower end portion of the pressing portion 304 near to the right end thereof toward the first base portion 30 side via above the (first) pivoting shaft 300. The second arm portion 330 is a strip -like body having elasticity and extending from the vicinity of the lower end portion of the pressing portion 304 near to the left end thereof toward the second base portion 40 side via dawn the (second) pivoting shaft 302. [0070] The first arm portion 320 has a first acting portion 332 extending over the (first) pivoting shaft 300 and an approximately linear first coupling portion 324 extending from the first acting portion 332 facing the second base portion 40 side toward the second base portion 40 side of the second binding ring member 14 at the same level at the far side of the (first) pivoting shaft 300. The first acting portion 332 acts so as to move the second base portion 40 while curving. The first acting portion 332 and the first coupling portion 342 are coupled nearer to the second base portion 40 side than the (first) pivoting shaft 300. Here, the term "above" indicates an extending direction of a circular face which the axis Z1 of the first binding ring member 12 and the axis Z2 of the second binding ring member 14 constitute (shown in FIG. 7).

[0071] The second arm portion 330 has a second acting portion 332 recessed below the (second) pivoting shaft 302 and extending while curving and an approximately linear second coupling portion 334 extending toward the second base portion 40 from the second acting portion 332. The second acting portion 332 and the second coupling portion 334 are coupled nearer to the second base portion 40 side than the (second) pivoting shaft 302. Here, the term "below" indicates a direction opposed to the extending direction of the circular face which the axis Z1 of the first half ring 50 of the first binding ring member 12

2016.03.15 (Original)

and the axis Z2 of the second half ring 60 of the second binding ring member 14 constitute (shown in FIG. 46).

[00721 The first acting portion 322 and the second acting portion 332 are arc-shaped and have elasticity, and they are configured to be restored to position the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40 at a position of closing the first half ring 50 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second half ring 60 of second binding ring member 14 when the pressing portion 304 is not pressed with a finger.

[00731 The (first) pivoting shaft 300 and the (second) pivoting shaft 302 of the button member 20 extend in a direction orthogonal to a direction (the direction X1 in FIG. 45) connecting the bases of the first half rings 50 provided on the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 in parallel at intervals and a direction (the direction X2 in FIG. 45) connecting the bases of the second half rings 60 provided on the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 in parallel at intervals. A direction (the direction X1 in FIG. 45) connecting the bases of the first half rings 50 of the first binding ring member 12 provided on the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 in parallel at intervals and a direction (the direction X2 in FIG. 45) connecting the bases of the second half rings 60 of the second binding ring member 14 provided on the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 in parallel at intervals. The first arm portion 320 and the second arm portion 330 of the button member 20 extend approximately along in a direction (the direction X1 in FIG. 45) connecting the bases of the first half rings 50 provided on the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 in parallel at intervals and a direction (the direction X2 in FIG. 45) connecting the bases of the second half rings 60 provided on the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 in parallel at intervals. The protruding portion 306 and the protruding portion 308 of the button member 20 extend approximately along in a direction (the direction X1 in FIG. 45) connecting the bases of the first half rings 50 provided on the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 in parallel at intervals and a direction (the direction X2 in FIG. 45) connecting the bases of the second half rings 60 provided on the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 in parallel at intervals. A slit is formed between the first arm portion 320 and the second arm portion 330 of the button member 20 so that the first arm portion 320 and the second arm portion 330 of the button member 20 acts individually. The slit cuts into the vicinity of the lower end of the pressing portion 304.

2016.03.15 (Original)

The first arm portion 320 has a slit formed between the same and the protruding portion 306 adjacent thereto, and the second arm portion 330 has a slit formed between the same and the protruding portion 308 adjacent thereto. The slit cuts into the vicinity of the lower end of the pressing portion 304.

[0074] The first arm portion 320 is attached to one operating piece (the second base portion 40) so as to be capable of moving the one operating piece (the second base portion 40) so as to open/close the binding ring engaging portion 32 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second half ring of the second binding ring member 14. The second arm portion 330 is attached to the other operating piece (the first base portion 30) so as to be capable of moving the other operating piece (the first base portion 30) so as to open/close the binding ring engaging portion 32 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 the second binding ring member 14. When the button 20 is not operated, the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 are maintained in their closed states, and the first coupling portion 324 of the first arm portion 320 is arranged in parallel with the second base portion 40 in an approximately plane shape and the second coupling portion 334 of the second arm portion 330 is arranged in parallel with the first base portion 30 in an approximately plane shape.

[0075] By pressing down a free end side of the pressing portion 304, the button member 20 moves the second base portion 40 consecutively installed to the first arm portion 320 to a side of spacing the binding ring engaging portions 32 (the first hole portion 34 and the second hole portion 44) of the first half ring 50 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second half ring 60 of the second binding ring member 14 away from each other, namely, to the near side, and moves the first base portion 30 consecutively installed on the second arm portion 330 to a side of spacing the binding ring engaging portions 32 (the first hole portion 34 and the second hole portion 44) of the first half ring 50 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second half ring 60 of the second binding ring member 14 away from each other, namely, to the far side.

[0076] The first insertion shaft 326 is a cylindrical shape protruded down from an under face of the first coupling portion 324, namely, in a direction orthogonal to a front face to which the base of the first half ring 60 of the second base portion 40 has been secured and a back face positioned in a back to back fashion thereto. The second insertion shaft 326 is a cylindrical shape protruded upwardly from an upper face

2016.03.15 (Original)

of the second coupling portion 334, namely, in a direction orthogonal to a front face to which the base of the first half ring 50 of the first base portion 30 has been secured and a back face positioned in a back to back fashion thereto.

[00771 The button member 20 is upright installed with a first insertion shaft 326 for attaching one operating piece (the second base portion 40) on the opposite side to the pressing portion 304 on the first arm portion 320 side. The first insertion shaft 326 is loosely inserted into a button member attachment hole 162 bored on the near side of the one operating piece (the second base portion 40) so as to be capable of moving the one operating piece (the second base portion 40) so as to open/close the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14.

[0078] The button member 20 is upright installed with a second insertion shaft 336 for attaching the other operating piece (the first base portion 30) to the side opposed to the pressing portion304 on the second arm portion 330 side. The second insertion shaft 336 is loosely inserted into a button member attachment hole 160 bored on the near side of the other operating piece (the first base portion 30) so as to be capable of moving the other operating piece (the first base portion 30) so as to open/close the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14.

[00791 In the first arm portion 320, the first coupling portion 320 is caused to abut against a upper face of the second base portion 40 on the near side, and the first insertion shaft 326 is inserted into a button member attachment hole 162 bored on the near side of the second base portion 40. In the second arm portion 330, the second coupling portion 334 is caused to abut against a lower face of the first base portion 30 on the near side, and the second insertion shaft 336 is inserted into a button member attachment hole 160 bored on the near side of the first base portion 30. The diameter of the button member attachment hole 242 is longer than the diameter of the first insertion shaft 326, and a gap is present between the button member attachment hole 242 and the first insertion shaft 326. The diameter of the button member attachment hole 240 is longer than the diameter of the second insertion shaft 336, and a gap is present between the button member attachment hole 240 and the second insertion shaft 3336. When the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 are opened/closed, the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40 are swung so that the abutting edge 30a of the first base portion 30 and the abutting edge 32a of the second base portion 40 can approach and separate from the bound object mounting portion 200 side of the holding member 16. When the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 are opened or closed, the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40 are moved in the direction (the direction X1 in FIG. 45) connecting the bases of the first half rings 50 provided on the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 in parallel at intervals and a direction (the direction X2 in FIG. 45) connecting the bases of the second half rings 60 provided on the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 in parallel at intervals, so that the abutting edge 30a of the first base portion 30 and the abutting edge 40a of the second base portion 40 can move close to the bound object mounting portion 200 side of the holding member 16 or move apart from the same.

[0080] The holding member 16 is formed with a space 250 for attaching the button member 20 for moving the opening/closing member 18 on one end portion and/or the other end portion thereof.

[0081] Attachment is made such that the space 250 rotates in a direction where the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 are arranged in parallel, namely, in the direction (the direction X1 in FIG. 45) connecting the bases of the first half rings 50 provided on the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 in parallel at intervals and a direction (the direction X2 in FIG. 45) connecting the bases of the second half rings 60 provided on the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 in parallel at intervals.

[0082] The holding member 16 is formed with a rotation angle restricting portion 252 for restricting a rotation angle of the button member 20 so as to follow the space 250.

[0083] Such a configuration is adopted that the rotation angle restricting portion 252 is a rod shaped one extending in a direction of widths of the holding member 16, and the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 at one end (the end on the near side) of the holding member 16, and a near side face (back face of a face to be pressed by a finger) of the pressing portion 304 of the button member 20 abuts on the rotation angle restricting portion 242 when the pressing portion 304 of the button member 20 is pressed down to be inclined.

The button member 20 is configured so as to be stopped at a proper angle by the rotation angle restricting portion 252.

[0084] The rotation angle restricting portion 252 formed following the space 250 constitutes a rod shaped pressing distance restricting portion extending in the widthwise direction of the holding member 16 for restricting a pressing distance of the button member 20.

[0085] When the surface of the pressing portion 304 is pressed down in order to open the binding ring engaging portion 32 of the first binding ring member 12 the second binding ring 24 and the second binding ring member 14, the button member 20 is rotated about the (first) pivoting shaft 300 and the (second) pivoting shaft 302 positioned nearer to the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 as well as the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40 from the lower region of the pressing portion 304 so that the tip (the free end) of the pressing portion 304 descends downward. At this time, since the first arm portion 320 has the first acting portion 322 slightly curved upward, the first acting portion 322 is drawn to a near side along the (first) pivoting shaft 300 so that the first coupling portion 324 draws the second binding ring member 14 and the second base portion 40 in the direction of the near side (the pressing portion 304 side). In the first arm portion 320, the pressing portion 304 side of the first acting portion 322 is rotated about the (first) pivoting shaft 300, and the second binding ring member 14 and the second base portion 40 are drawn to the near side (the pressing portion 304 side), so that the second base portion 40 is drawn to the button member 20 side by the first coupling portion 324. That is, the second base portion 40 coupled to the first arm portion 320 is moved to the near side due to pressing-down of the pressing portion 304 when the first arm portion 320 is pulled to the near side. One hand, the second arm portion 330 slides the second coupling portion 334 toward the first base portion 30 side on the near side of the first binding ring member 12 such that the second acting portion 332 slightly stretches to the far side. The pressing portion 304 side of the second acting portion 332 rotates about the (second) pivoting shaft 302 moving toward the first binding ring member 12, so that the second arm portion 330 presses the first base portion 30 toward the end portion of the holding member 16 positioned on the opposite side to the side on which the button member 20 is positioned by the second coupling portion 334.

That is, when the second arm portion 330 is pushed to the far side by pressing down the pressing portion 304, the first base portion 30 coupled to the second arm portion 330 is moved to the far side.

[0086] When the binding ring engaging portion 32 of the first binding ring member 12 and the binding ring engaging portion 42 the second binding ring member 14 starts opening by pressing the button member 20 with a finger, a pair of the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40 are moved in reverse directions to each other in the longitudinal direction of the holding member 16, so that the first half ring 50 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second half ring 60 of the second binding ring member 14 composed of the combination of the half rings are separated into the respective half rings from each other, and when the separation of the first half ring 50 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second half ring 60 of the second binding ring member 14 is performed, the opening/closing member 18 biases the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40 to open the first half ring 50 and the second half ring 60.

[0087]

[Binding Ring] The first binding ring member 12 is formed with first half rings 50 approximately J-shaped or semi-arc-shaped so as to obtain an approximately U-shape or an approximately circular shaped first binding rings 22 and first binding rings 24, and the second binding ring member 14 is formed with second half rings 60 approximately J-shaped or semi-arc-shaped so as to obtain an approximately U-shaped or an approximately circular shaped first binding rings 22 and the first binding rings 24. Tips of the first half rings 50 and tips of the second half rings 60, namely, tops of the first half rings 50 and the second half rings 60 are formed with binding ring engaging portions 32 (first binding ring latching portions 36 and second binding ring latching portions 46) such that material to be bound S such as a paper can be bound through insertion to binding holes bored in the material to be bound S such as a paper in advance.

[0088] In this embodiment, the first half rings 50 constituting the first binding ring member 12 and the second half rings 60 constituting the second binding ring member 14 have the same shape, namely, the same curvature (radius of curvature). The first half rings 50 constituting the first binding ring member 12 and the second half rings 60 constituting the second binding ring member 14 are coupled in an annular shape by latching the first binding ring latching portions 36 at free ends of the first half rings 50 and the second binding ring latching portions 46 at free ends of the second half rings 60 to each other.

[0089] The first half ring 50 extends from an upper face of the first base portion 30 upward and further upward beyond the bound object mounting portion 200 of the holding member 16 and it bends at a free end thereof inward (a central side in the widthwise direction of the bound object mounting portion 200) to extend. The second half ring 60 extends from an upper face of the second base portion 40 upward and further upward beyond the bound object mounting portion 200 of the holding member 16 and it bends at a free end thereof inward (a central side in the widthwise direction of the bound object mounting portion 200) to extend. The first half ring 50 is formed such that the first binding ring latching portion 36 at the free end thereof is positioned in the vicinity of a central portion in the widthwise direction of the holding member 16. The second half ring 60 is formed such that the second binding ring latching portion 46 at the free end thereof is positioned in the vicinity of a central portion in the widthwise direction of the holding member 16.

[0090] The first binding ring 22 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring 24 of the second binding ring member 14 are upright installed from the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40 so as to constitute a plane perpendicular to a plane Pxy including the lateral axes Y1, Y2, and the longitudinal axes X1, X2 (shown in FIG. 45) extending through portions (four places) at which the respective bases thereof are fixed to the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40. Further, a circular face constituted by an axis Z1 (shown in FIG. 46) of the first half rings 50 of the first binding ring member 12 and a circular face constituted by an axis Z2 (shown in FIG. 46) of the second binding rings member 14 are configured to be parallel to each other and be perpendicular to the plane Pxy extending through regions of the first half ring 50 and the second half ring 60 fixed to the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 17 to FIG. 23, the binding ring is composed of the first binding ring member 12 which is a main binding ring and the second binding ring member 14 which is a sub-binding ring following operation performed toward a closing direction of the first binding ring member 12 wherein they are directly closed by fingers of a user.

Further, the first binding ring member 12 is configured such that a plurality of first half rings 50 arranged in parallel are directed to the same direction (the direction 01 in FIG. 45) and the first binding ring latching portion 36 can be detached by a finger. The second binding ring member 14 is configured such that a plurality of second half rings 60 arranged in parallel are directed to the same direction (the direction 02 in FIG. 45) and the second binding ring latching portion 46 can be detached by a finger. Projections 130 at tips constituting the first binding ring latching portions 36 formed at tips of the first half rings 50 constituting the first binding ring member 12 and recesses 132 following the projections 130 are provided. The projections 130 and the recesses 132 are formed in a projecting manner and the recessed manner in directions reverse to each other so as to be engaged with the projections 140 at the tips constituting the second binding ring latching portions 46 and the recessed 142 following the projections 140 at the tips when the first binding ring latching portions 36 and the second ring latching portions 46 are closed. The projections 130 of the first binding ring member 12 are each formed with an inclined opposing face 132a having a curved projection face from the tip inward and an inclined opposing face 132b following the inclined opposing face 132a and gradually recessed from the projection portion 130 inward (namely, in an opening direction), so that the vicinity of the tip is formed in a hook shape and the first binding ring member 12 is wholly formed in a hooked nose shape. The recess 132 of the first binding ring member 12 has an inclined opposing face having a curved recessed face toward the tip from the base portion side to the tip. Further, projections 140 at tips constituting the second binding ring latching portions 46 formed at tips constituting the second binding ring member 14 and recesses 142 following the projections 140 are formed in a projecting manner and the recessed manner in directions reverse to each other so as to be engaged with each other when the first binding ring latching portions 36 and the second binding ring latching portions 46 are closed. The projections 140 of the second binding ring member 14 are each formed with an inclined opposing face 142a having a curved projection face from the tip inward, and an inclined opposing face 142b following the inclined opposing face 142a and gradually recessed from the projection portion 140 inward (namely, in an opening direction), so that the vicinity of the tip is formed in a hook shape and the second binding ring member 14 is wholly formed in a hooked nose shape. The recess 142 of the second binding ring member 14 is provided with an inclined opposing face having a curved recessed face from the base portion side to the tip.

[0092]

The projection 130 constituting the first binding ring latching portion 36 of the first half ring 50 are provided in a projecting manner toward the same direction, they are provided with curved projection faces formed from the tip portions to the base portion side. Further, the recess 132 constituting the first binding ring latching portion 36 of the first half ring 50 are formed in a recessed manner toward the same direction, they are each provided with curved recessed faces formed from the rear ends of the projection 130 to the base portion side. The projection 140 constituting the second binding ring latching portion 46 of the second half ring 60 are provided in a projecting manner toward the same direction, they are provided with curved projecting face formed from the tip portions to the base portion side. Further, the recess 142 constituting the second binding ring latching portion 46 of the second half ring 60 are formed in a recessed manner toward the same direction, they are provided with curved recessed portions formed from the rear ends of the projection 140 to the base portion side. The projection 130 and the recess 132 of the first half ring 50, and the projection 140 and the recess 142 of the second half ring 60 are formed in a point-symmetrical fashion.

[0093]

[Holding Member] A bulging portion 230 extending in the longitudinal direction of the bound object mounting portion 200 is formed in the bound object mounting portion 200 of the holding member 16, the bulging portion 230 bulges at a central portion and it is formed to extend in the longitudinal direction of the bound object mounting portion 200 such that when the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 rotate upwardly and the opening/closing member 18 moves toward an upper side, abutting on the inner face of the bound object mounting portion 200 is prevented. Further, the holding member 16 has first foot portions 212 and foot main body 224 extending in a direction close to an extending direction of the first base portion 30 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second base portion 40 of the second binding ring member 14 and provided on the opening/closing member 18 at an interval, a holding portion for holding the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 to the holding member 16 is formed by the first foot portions 212 and the foot main body 224 of the holding member 16, and the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 are configured so as to move along the first side wall 204 and the second side wall 206 when the first binding ring 22, the second binding ring 24 of the first binding ring member 12 and the first binding ring 22, the second binding ring 24 of the second binding ring member 14 are opened/closed.

[0094] As described above, the holding member 16 has a holding wall composed of the first side wall 204 and the second side wall 206 which extend in a direction close to a direction (the directions X1 and X2 in FIG. 45) connecting the base portions of the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 provided on the operating member 18 at an interval.

[0095] Next, a method for attaching the holding member 16 to the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 will be explained mainly with reference to FIG. 27. The first foot portion 212 of the holding member 16 is plugged into the first hole portion 34 of the first binding ring member 12. Next, the second foot portion 222 of the holding member 16 is plugged into the second hole portion 44 of the second binding ring member 14 while a space between the first foot portion 212 and the second foot portion 222 is being reduced. Since the holding member 16 is integrally formed of synthetic resin relatively having elasticity, after the first foot portion 212 and the second foot portion 222 are plugged into the first hole portion 34 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second hole portion 44 of the second binding ring member 14, they are recovered to their original states, so that the holding member 16 holds the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 in an aligned state (a state along X1 and X2 shown in FIG. 55). Thus, the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring member 14 are attached to the holding member 16.

[0096] As described above, the embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in the above explanation, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. That is, various modifications to the embodiment explained above can be performed regarding the mechanism, the shape, the material, the quantity, the position, the arrangement or the like without deviating from the technical idea and the scope of the object of the present invention, and these modification can be involved in the present invention. For example, as shown in FIG. 44, the shapes of the first binding ring 22 of the first binding ring member 12 and the second binding ring 24 of the second binding ring member 14 may have an approximately arc shape provided upward from the first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40 in a projecting manner. The first half ring 50 has a semi-circular shape slightly bulging outside beyond the outer edge 30b of the first base portion 30, and the second half ring 60 is made semi-circular so as

2016.03.15 (Original)

to slightly bulge outside beyond the outer edge 40b of the second base portion 40, so that the first half ring 50 and the second half ring 60 are caused to engage the binding ring engaging portions 32 to constitute the first binding ring 22 and the second binding ring 24 which are approximately circular. The opening/closing member 18 may be configured to function to close the first binding ring 22 and the second binding ring 24 or can have both a mechanism for functioning to open the first binding ring 22 and the second binding ring 24 and a mechanism for functioning to close them, unlike the above-described embodiment functioning to open the first binding ring 22 and the second binding ring 24.

[Industrial Applicability]

[0097] The binding device according to the present invention can be used as a binding device for binding a paper(s) such as a file / binder.

[Explanation of Reference Signs]

[0098] 10 Binding device 12 First binding ring member 14 Second binding ring member 22 First binding ring 24 Second binding ring 26 Binding ring attaching portion 32 Binding ring engaging portion 34 First hole portion 44 Second hole portion 36 First binding ring latching portion 46 Second binding ring latching portion 50 First half ring 60 Second half ring

30 First base portion 30a Abutting edge 40a Abutting edge 62, 64 Engaging portion 80 Restricting recess

2016.03.15 (Original)

82 Restricting projection 40 Second base portion 30b Outer edge 40b Outer edge 72, 74 Engaging portion 90 Restricting recess 92 Restricting projection 100 Opening/closing member housing portion 102, 104 Recess 110, 112 Opening/closing member fixing portion 130, 140 Projection 130a, 130b Inclined opposing face 132, 142 Recess 132a, 142a Inclined opposing face in projection 132b, 142b Inclined opposing face in recess 136, 138 Sliding portion 140a, 140b Inclined opposing face 160 (First) button member attachment hole 162 (Second) button member attachment hole

16 Holding member 200 bound object mounting portion 202 Side wall 204 First side wall 206 Second side wall 210 Foot portion 212 First foot portion 222 Second foot portion 214, 224 Foot main body 216 First projection 226 Second projection 230 Bulging portion 240 First binding ring insertion hole 242 Second binding ring insertion hole 250 Space 252 Rotation angle restricting portion

2016.03.15 (Original)

260 Attachment hole 262 First attachment hole 264 Second attachment hole 290 First pivoting hole 292 Second pivoting hole

18 Opening/closing member 180 One fixing tip portion of opening/closing member 182 The other fixing tip portion of opening/closing member 184 Coil portion 186 Restricting arm portion 188 Restricting arm portion

20 Button member 304 Pressing portion 306 Protruding portion 308 Protruding portion

320 First arm portion 322 First acting portion 324 First coupling portion 326 First insertion shaft 330 Second arm portion 332 Second acting portion 334 Second coupling portion 336 Second insertion shaft

500 File/binder 510 Cover 512 Frontcover 514 Back cover 516 Spine 518, 520 Thin hinge portion

Editorial Note 2015347859

Please considered Claim page 42 to replace as Page 43 as per assembly note

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

[Claim 1] A binding device comprising: binding ring members having a plurality of binding rings; a holding member coupling a pair of binding ring members to each other; and an opening/closing member biasing the binding rings in an opening direction or a closing direction of the binding rings, wherein the binding ring members have base portions provided with a plurality of binding rings upright installed in an axial direction of the base portions, and formed with hole portions or recesses to be freely plugged with foot portions of the holding member inside the binding rings; the holding member has a pair of foot portions formed so as to part right and left; and the binding ring members are formed such that one foot portion of the holding member is plugged into the hole portion or the recess of one binding ring member inside the binding rings and the other foot portion of the holding member is plugged into the hole portion or the recess of the other binding ring member inside the binding rings so that the binding ring members are coupled to the holding member, and latching or unlatching of binding ring engaging portions of the binding rings is performed by moving one binding ring member and the other binding ring member in directions opposite to each other.
[Claim 2] The binding device according to claim 1, wherein the holding member is formed with a retaining projection for preventing the foot portion from going off from the hole portion or the recess of the binding ring member.
[Claim 3] The binding device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the base portion of the binding ring member is provided with a width extending outward beyond a right edge and/or a left edge of the holding member.
[Claim 4] The binding device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the binding ring members are formed such that the hole portions or the recesses to be plugged with the foot portion of the holding member extend in a longitudinal direction of the base portions, and latching or unlatching of the binding ring latching portions at free ends of the binding rings is performed by moving one binding ring member and/or the other binding ring member in a longitudinal direction of the base portions of the binding ring members.