The invention concerns a movable ring binder support for use in connection with transparencies on text projectors. The transparencies are to be able to be used successively and in a random order, whilst being able to be fitted into a ring binder.

The invention facilitates the systematic use of transparencies on text projectors by the transparencies having a fixed position in the ring binder while in use. This will enhance the quality of the teaching or the like where the transparencies are part of the program. The binder support in accordance with the present invention will be an invaluable aid during teaching and conferences where text projectors are used.

Text projectors are common in many contexts, such as school where they are used to visualize the teaching in numerous subjects. They are also used more and more during meetings and courses. They place great demands on a clear and easily understandable presentation technique.

There are numerous problems that can arise when many transparencies are to be presented one after the other. As the film is transparent, there can be a confusion of text and illustrations if transparencies adhere to one another. It is also difficult to keep the transparencies that have been used in order. This is especially true when they are to be presented in a different order from the one they already in, or a transparency that has been used before is to be shown.

Patent specifications DK 127 349, DE 1 497 633, US 3 536 393, DE 2 058 214, US 3 709 590, US 4 203 659, DE 3 401 556, GB 2 060 193 are known examples of where the above problems in connection with transparencies on text projectors can be solved.

All these specifications have solutions which are based on mechanical contact between the illuminated surface of the

text projector. This is an inferior solution which fixes the transparencies to the text projector and prohibits any adjustments on the two sides.

The above-mentioned specifications mean that the transparencies must be presented in a predetermined order. The split -ings do not permit any changes or the insertion of other transparencies, thus these solutions are inflexible when in use.

None of the known patent specifications use a normal twin ring loose-leaf binder which can be opened and closed while in use. In German patent specification 3 401 556 there are two open rings which have an opening on the back edge. The transparencies here have to be inserted in the reverse order that they are used and this order cannot be changed. This means that it is difficult to change transparencies; an operation which requires both hands. Furthermore all the used transparencies must be lifted up each time a new one is to be folded over. The model is to be used from the left seen from the front, and transparencies are inserted in the rings with the ring holes on their longest edge. Once used transparencies hang vertically, they prevent any adjustments or focusing to the right of the illuminated surface.

The present invention seeks to eliminate the drawbacks found with known techniques for this application.

This can be done with a device which is in accordance with that stipulated in Claim of Patent 1. Other advantageous features are stated in the subsidiary claims.

The invention is described in the following with reference to the enclosed illustrations, where Fig. 1 shows a perspective sketch of a ring binder support in accordance with the present invention, with a ring binder mounted complete with transparencies, Figs. 2-4 show the cross section of a ring binder support in accordance with the present invention where the sketch indicates the principles,

Fig. 5 shows a cross section of a second design of a ring binder support in accordance with the present invention, with a ring binder mounted complete with transparencies,

Fig. 6 shows a cross section of a detail of the lower part of the design presented in Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 shows a front section of the upper part of the design presented in Fig. 5,

Fig. 8 shows a cross section of the upper part of the design presented in Fig. 5, Fig. 9 shows a top perspective of a third ring binder support in accordance with the present invention, designed as a frame model,

Fig. 10 shows a top perspective of a fourth ring binder support in accordance with the present invention, designed as a single_arm frame model,

Fig. 11 shows a cross section of a fifth ring binder support in accordance with the present invention, designed as a folding model,

Fig. 12 shows the design on Fig. 11 in its folded position, Fig. 13 shows a cross section of a sixth ring binder support in accordance with the present invention, designed as an automatic model,

Fig. 14 shows a top perspective of the design in Fig. 13.

Referring to Fig. 1 in more detail, there is a ring binder support 1 connected to a text projector 2. The ring binder support consists of a horizontal element 3, located under the text projector 2. Connected to the horizontal element 3 there is a vertical element 4, which again is connected to a horizontal plate 5. The horizontal plate 5 has a ring binder of known design 6 with transparencies 7 placed upon it. The vertical element 4 consists of telescopic tubes 4a and 4b respectively, which are both adjustable and can be secured into position by a locking device 8. This means that the plate 5 can be regulated 20 cm up or down in relation to the horizontal element 3. The horizontal element consists of two arms that can be pressed

towards or away from the text projector 2 so that the entire ring binder support 1 is moved at the same time. The use of this will become evident from Figs. 2-4.

Prior to use, the required number and selection of transparencies 7 with holes are placed in a ring binder of known design. The ring binder with the transparencies is placed on the support 5. The height is regulated by the regulating/locking device 8 so that the ring binder support 1 fits the text projector 2 and the ring binder 6 that are used. The ring binder support 1 is then pressed towards the text projector 2, so that the rings in the binder protrude onto the glass plate on the text projector 2. A transparency 7 is folded over onto the surface of the text projector 2. As Fig. 2 indicates it could be useful to regulate the height of the ring binder support 1 so that the rings on the ring binder are placed just over the surface of the text projector 2.

After a transparency has been shown, the ring binder support is pulled backwards, 15-20 cm for instance, this will mean that the transparency will fall because of its own weight. The ring binder support 1 can be pressed forwards again to show the next transparency. If required, the change of transparency can be done manually with a clearing of 5-10 cm between the binder support and the text projector. The device enables operators to go through the transparencies 7 while the ring binder is in the recessed position away from the text projector 2. Anything between 1-200 transparencies can be used successively on the text projector providing that there is room in the ring binder. Fig. 5 shows a design of a ring binder support 1 in accordance with the invention with a ring binder 6 and transparencies 7. The text projector 2 is placed on a support such as a table or the like 10, which also functions as a track for the horizontal movement of the ring binder support 1. In the track 10 there are a number of bearings 11 which can be ball bearings or similar. The lower element 3 is designed so as to run easily on these bearings 11. The lower element 3 is to be an elongated unit which has another

elongated unit 4b perpendicularly located on it. Element 4b consists of the internal telescopic tube in the vertical element. Figs. 7-8 show that the vertical element consists of two arms 4 each with their own locking arrangement 8. The upper part also -consists of a support device 9 for ring binders 6. The ring binder 6 is fitted into the support device 9 and lowered onto the plate 5.

Figs. 9-10 each show two designs of a device in accordance with the invention, these are the so-called frame models. Fig. 9 shows the top perspective of the a twin-armed version where the ring binder support is held and guided by two arms 3. The design in Fig. 9 has the same principle as Fig. 1 as far as the lower element 3 is concerned. However, the upper element consists of a frame 5 for holding the binder 6 with the transparencies 7 in position. A similar design of the upper element 5 is shown in Fig. 10. Here only a single lower arm 3 is incorporated in the design.

Fig. 11 shows a further design, a so-called folding model, where the lower element 3 is permanently mounted in a two-part ball-bearing track in the bottom of a case under the text projector 2. If the binder plate 5 is lifted from a vertical to a horizontal position, the binder plate can be placed alongside the vertical element 4. In the gap between the lower horizontal arm 3 and the vertical arm 4b there is a joint 12 that allows the entire ring binder support to fold from a vertical to a horizontal position so that it can be placed in the case under the text projector 2. Height regulation is also possible by means of the regulation/locking device 8.

Figs. 13-14 show an automatic version of the ring binder support, where the binder plate 5 is connected to a drive mechanism with a motor 13 which leads the ring binder forwards and backwards along roller tracks. The transparencies are lifted by an arm 14 and placed on the text projector 2. When the device moves backwards, the transparencies are folded down to a vertical position by an arm 15 at the same time as the plate 16 on arm 17 stops the

eturn of the upper transparency, this creates a fold which arm 18 moves under before arm 14 advances and places the next transparency on the text projector.

Apart from the above description with examples of the various means of designing the invention, the following points will both sum up and indicate additional advantages:

- The movable ring binder support has no disturbing contact with the illuminated surface of the text projector while in use. Only the transparency makes contact with the illuminated surface of the text projector.

- The movable part of the ring binder support is placed on a plate under the text projector, and thereby uses the weight of the text projector, 12_15 kg, as a stabilizing factor during the use of the ring binder support.

- The movable ring binder support can be operated by a single hand for laying the transparencies. The used transparencies fall vertically by their own weight.

- The movable ring binder support is designed for use with standard twin ring binders, letter files with a Radon mechanism which can open and close to change transparencies even if they are placed in the ring binder support. This provides a flexible solution that is suitable for all teaching purposes. - When the ring binder support is furthest from the text projector, the user can leaf through the transparencies whilst these are in the ring binder and select a certain transparency for use.

- At the top of the ring binder support there is a notch for the ring binder to hold it firm with the bottom cover vertical. The ring binder can be moved in both lateral directions within this notch to focus/adjust the text projector.

- Even though the movable ring binder support is operated from the front, with transparencies on their longest side, the transparencies can also be turned 90° from the same position.

- The used transparencies remain undisturbed in the upper part of the binder until use.

- Used transparencies remain hanging vertically from the rings after use, and even with 200 transparencies these will only take about 3 cm of the 7 cm available on the rings which still hang 4 cm in over the illuminated surface of the text projector.

- Because of the binder notch and the focusing mirror on the top of the text projector, focusing/adjustment can occur in four directions after the transparency has been placed on the illuminated plate.

- On the horizontal part of the ring binder there is an area of 8 x 23 cm free behind the transparencies 7. This could be used for a marking system with a list of contents for each 20-40 transparencies and equivalent Transparent Index Tabs with transparent letters or numerals attached to the reverse. If each twentieth transparency is placed inside a transparent plastic envelope with an opening on the bad ^* edge, the contents list can be folded into this during transport of the ring binder. If up to 200 transparencies are being used, this will be a useful aid which will permit a full overview at any time. This particular aid is already on the market so is not any part of the present invention.

- As the movable ring binder support is an independent system which has no mechanical contact with the text projector, the invention can be used with all types of text projectors on the market today.

- On the quadratic model, which is the most usual, the movable ring binder support will function best when it is placed in the front with a letter file model format 1/6, 232 x 285 with a Radon mechanism, where transparencies are placed in the file with hole on the short edge. The back width should be 70 mm. With the 5 cm high travelling models, the movable ring binder support can be located under a stand/table which compensates for the height of the standard models, the travelling version of the text projector is then placed on the top of the stand/table.

- With the latest oval text projector models, the movable ring binder support can be used from one side with the A4 letter file model, back width 70 mm. Here the transparencies are inserted into the binder with holes on the longest edge.

- All ring binders in A4 size can be used directly on the ring binder support, but it would nevertheless be advantageous to have a special ring binder that takes better care of the film transparencies in full length format 1/6, 232 x 360 with a Radon mechanism.