PIN POINT MOUNTING SYSTEM

Background of the Invention^-,

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a simplified mounting system for the storage and display of information element filing panels, and more particularly to such a mounting system that utilizes a previously existing extruded or other border construction formed on the filing panels to engage with a spaced apart longitudinal pair of cooperating mounting members, by providing either a series of opposing pins or a series of apertures formed in the cooperating members to receivably engage the upper and lower portions of the filing panel border construction. Description of the Prior Art

The information explosion coupled with the computer revolution has resulted in the development of new -technological systems to enable a user to obtain reasonably prompt access to vast collections of generated data. Two of the more common information handling techniques, micrographic and magnetic media, are provided with a similar form of data storage for those applications requiring a high frequency of access to different data collections by the systems operator.

In the micrographics industry, the storage method utilizes a number of small, flat sheets of microfilm known as microfiche, each sheet approximately 4" X 6" in size and containing rows of microimages, consisting of pages of printed matter. The sheets themselves are normally stored in constructions known as panel files. Each file is provided with a plurality of panels or frames having multiple, individual pockets, with a separate microfiche received by each pocket. The overlapping, individual pockets formed on both sides of the panel permit the storage of many pieces of microfiche within . the one panel. The pockets are overlapped in such ^' a manner as to permit the upper titled portion of each microfiche to be visible and easily accessible to the systems operator.

Additional details concerning the structure of these panel files may be found in my .earlier United States Patent No. 4,232,463, the disclosures of which are specifically incorporated by reference herein.

The typical microfiche informational storage system consists of a great many panel files collected together and maintained in some specified order, utilizing an apparatus permitting the display and easy access to the individual panels. Such display devices have previously included the familiar three-ring binders and various types of rotary stands or planar racks. Similar panels and methods of mounting are also provided for the various types of magnetic media, although the panel itself may assume various different forms, depending upon the design of the particular media. Regardless of the particular configuration, advantageous design feature for these ^"" storage and display devices is the ability to remove specific individual panels from the storage device.

In the case of the three-ring binder, the insertion and removal of individual panels is obtained in a conventional manner by providing three holes in the microfiche storage panel that are in turn received by the three rings of the binder. These three-ring binders are somewhat satisfactory for the smaller collections of storage panels, however, as the number of storage panels increases, the three-ring binders rapidly become too_ cumbersome to be easily used. Rotary stands and wall and desk mounted racks have been utilized in the past to overcome this deficiency of the binders. The microfiche and magnetic media storage panels are traditionally received on the rotary stands and racks by utilizing metal rods and clips attached to the panel inner mounting binder. These rods or clips are received by apertures located in the rotary stands and racks. The clips and rods permit the pivoting of the storage panel within the retaining aperture, greatly assisting access to

both sides of the panel. However, use of the separate rods and clips is not without its problems.

The microfiche and magnetic media storage panels are typically provided with an extruded member attached to each lateral side. The back or mounting edge has such a member with a vertical throughbore formed therein. This bore permits the easy attachment of a metal clip to the top and/or bottom thereof. More commonly, however, the bore is used to receive a metal supporting rod, the rod being sufficiently long so as to project from both ends of the extruded bore when fully inserted therein. These protecting ends would be inserted into holes provided in upper and lower segments of the rotary stand or rack, permitting the easy pivoting of the panel about this metal axis. In the case of the magnetic media, although the storage panel may assume many different forms, and the extruded plastic edge member may be formed of sheet material, the inserted metal or plastic rod remains the principal mounting method.

These individual rods and clips represent an added manufacturing expense, and with as many as fifty to one hundred or more rods or clips required for each conventional rotary stand, a significant additional manufacturing expense is required. In addition to the material costs, these rods must be mechanically inserted into position, with the continuing need to remove and- reinsert these rods every time a storage panel is temporarily removed from the rack or stand.

For the vast majority of such storage panel constructions, there is typically nothing to retain the rod within the extruded or otherwise constructed bore of the filing panel. Once the panel is removed from the rack or stand, the rod is easily separated from the panel. Whether or not the rod in fact falls out or otherwise becomes completely separated from the storage panel ^' , substantially increasing the likelihood of loss or

misplacement, the ability of the rods to slide about in the bore makes handling the individual panels a constant irritation. Additionally, insertion of the rod into the mounting stand is often a clumsy process - in many cases requiring the bending of both the panel and the rod. If the rod should be lost, there is no way to re-mount the panel until a replacement rod is located.

Summary of the Invention The present invention has as an underlying objective,

10 the improvement of the heretofore known types of mounting systems for .microfiche and magnetic media storage panels by the provision of a system that makes use of the extruded or otherwise formed panel structure, permitting the easy insertion and removal of the panel from the racks i _t - and stands without the requirement for separate retaining members.

This goal is inventively achieved by providing parallel arrays of opposing pins or apertures suitable for being received by or receiving, respectively, the upper

2o and lower portions of the extruded or otherwise formed edge of the storage or filing panel. Where arrays of pins are provided, the pins are received by the upper and lower end portions of the throughbores. By slightly modifying the extruded edge adjacent the throughbore, removing a

25 rectangular section immediately adjacent the bore for both the upper and lower panel portions, a pair of outwardly- projecting, pin-like formations are created. The pin is essentially the reinforced area surrounding the throughbore, and is generally cylindrical in shape. These

30 projecting formations may then be received by corresponding apertures in the parallel arrays. Whether the throughbore is heing received by opposing pins, or whether the tips of the throughbores themselves constitute the pins, it is the extruded lateral border that is

35 fulfilling the structural and functional roles previously requiring the separate metal support rods.

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In a preferred design for the utilization of the separately formed, projecting pins, the upper pin is made longer than its opposing lower counterpart, thereby permitting the filing panel to be received and mounted by inserting the upper pin a sufficient distance into the bore so as to clear the top of the lower pin. The mounting operation is completed by then lowering the storage panel onto the shorter bottom pin while the upper pin remains within the upper portion of the bore. Thereafter, the subsequent removal of the filing panel requires only the initial lifting the panel a sufficient amount to again clear the top of the lower pin, enabling it to be removed therefrom.

Although it is not required to obtain a satisfactory mounting under the present invention, to prevent the accidental removal of a filing panel, various quick- release locking mechanisms can be employed. One such mechanism provides a spring or magnetically biased locking ring located within the upper array of pins. During the insertion of the storage panel, the locking ring is raised to its open position. Upon the seating of the panel on the lower pin, the locking ring is permitted to assume its unbiased, lower position, the biasing force thereafter preventing the inadvertent raising and removal of the panel from the lower pins.

An alternative mounting system makes use of a metal lock-clip that is permanently affixed to the upper array of pins. The ^' clip is designed so as to permit the insertion of storage panels onto the upper pins when the clip is in its "up" position. After the mounting of the panel(s), the clip is then snapped into its lower position, preventing the inadvertent raising of the panels from the upper pins. The lock-clip is designed to utilize the spring tension created by the bending of the clip to achieve a stable configuration in both the upper-unlocked and the lower-locked positions.

In addition to the rotary stands, planar desk stands, and -the various mounting panels, the present mounting system can utilize flexible members to form the parallel arrays upon attachment to a variety of differently shaped surfaces, or to freely flex permitting the unhindered turning of the panels when used in a book-like configuration. The precise configuration of these corresponding arrays of either pins or holes is thus related to the individual design requirements of each particular user of these storage systems, and not to any design requirements of the present invention. This wide adaptability greatly increases the usefulness of the present invention, making it available to virtually any storage mounting situation likely to arise. Various other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the ^"" ensuing detailed description, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a side perspective view showing a rotary mounting stand having storage panels mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, in section and with portions omitted, showing a rotary mounting stand with a storage panel shown mounted thereon in phantom; Figure 3 is a top perspective view of a storage panel showing a data element within one of the pockets;

Figure 4 is a partial perspective view showing the raising of the locking ring on a rotary mounting stand prior to the insertion of a storage panel thereon; Figure 5 is a partial side perspective view showing the insertion of a storage panel on the upper pins of a rotary mounting stand with the locking ring in a raised, unlocked position;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the locking ring of the rotary mounting stand in a lowered, locked position;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the locking ring of the rotary mounting stand as received by and contributing lateral support to the upper mounting pins; Figure 8 is a side perspective view showing the relationship (slightly exaggerated) between the upper and lower mounting pins of a rotary mounting stand, as demonstrated by two adjacently mounted storage panels;

Figure 9 is a side perspective view, from above, showing the planar mounting rack attached to a vertical structure, with storage panels mounted thereon;Figure 10 is a side perspective view, with portions omitted,* showing a planar mounting rack according to the present invention;

Figure 11 is a partial elevational view, in section, taken along the line 11-11 of Figure 10, showing the interaction of a spring clip with the upper bracket portion of the mounting rack and a filing panel received by an upper pin thereof;

Figure 12 is a perspective view, from above, showing a flexible mounting array according to the present invention, with an alternate configuration for the array shown in phantom;

Figure 13 is a side elevational view, with portions omitted, showing a pair of flexible mounting arrays according to the present invention, with an initial, inserted position and a final mounted position for a mounted filing panel shown in phantom; and

Figure 14 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a flexible mounting array according to the present invention.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring first to Figure 3, a filing panel 5 is shown, provided with a central data element storage portion 7. A plurality of overlapping flaps 9 are formed in the storage portion 7, each of which are able to receive a separate data element 10. Although the data

element 10 is shown here as a microfiche, it will be understood that a variety of data elements of widely differing forms, both micrographic and magnetic, may be . used in connection with the present invention. An extruded side channel 12 is attached to one side or edge of the data storage portion 7, with an extruded mounting channel 13 attached to the other lateral side or opposite edge .of storage portion 7. While, in the preferred embodiment, the bindings or channels 12, 13 are extruded, they may be molded or otherwise formed or pressed from virtually any material that will bind the edges of the panel 5. The mounting channel 13 is of a conventional design having three apertures 16 formed in a channel portion 17 of the mounting channel 13. In addition, a longitudinal bore 15 is formed along the outer, lateral edge of the mounting channel 13.

In Figure 1, a number of filing panels 5 having multiple data elements 10 received therein are shown mounted on a rotary mounting stand 20. The rotary stand 20 consists of a base 21 supporting a central column 22. A top mounting portion 24 is attached to an upper end of the central column 22, and contains an upper array of pins 26 formed in an upper pin platform 27. Additional lateral support is provided to the upper pins 26 by a locking ring 28 received thereon. The supportive function of the locking ring 28 is more clearly shown in Figure 7, with a« plurality of pin receiving apertures formed in the locking ring 28. The apertures 25 receive and surround each individual upper pin 26 at an intermediate location between the pin platform 27 and the distal tips of the upper pins 26.

Returning to Figure 1, the top mounting portion 24 and the central column 22 are both received and supported by a rotating table 33 attached to the base 21. Surrounding the central column 22, and also formed on the rotating table 33 is a lower array of pins 35. The rotating table

33 permits the central column 22 and the top mounting portion 24, along with any filing panel 5 mounted thereon, to freely rotate about a central vertical axis, greatly simplifying access to the individual filing panels 5. As is shown more clearly in Figure 2, any conventional rotational means 39 may be provided between the rotating table 33 and the base 21. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention heavy duty needle bearing mounting is utilized as the rotational means. The central column 22 is shown as consisting of an outer cylinder 42 surrounding an inner supporting core 44. The inner core 44 includes reduced-diameter threaded ends that receive an upper nut 55 and a lower nut 56, securing both the top mounting portion 24 and the base 21 to the central column 22. Additional structural details of the mounting portion

24 are shown in Figure 2. The locking ring 28 is attached to an upper hand grip 29, utilizing at least two but preferably four locking retention members 51. The retention member 51, preferably a screw, is enclosed within an outer core 52, which is in turn slidably received by apertures 54 formed in the upper pin platform 27. The retention member 51 and outer core 52 connect the locking ring 28 with a lower surface.57 of the upper hand grip 29. Surrounding the outer core 52 between the locking ring 28 and the upper pin platform 27 is a coiled- spring 53 of sufficient diameter so that it is unable pass through the -platform apertures 54, thus biasing the locking ring 28 in its lower position. By raising the upper hand grip 29 to position A shown in Figure 2 , the coiled springs 53 apply a force tending to cause both the locking ring 28 and the hand grip 29 to return to their lower, unbiased positions upon the release of the upper hand grip 29 by the user. This is more clearly illustrated in Figure 4.

The user in Figure 4 has applied an upward force to the upper hand grip 29, causing the simultaneous upward movement of the hand grip 29 and the attached locking ring 28. The locking ring retention member outer core 52 is now visible between the upwardly displaced upper hand grip 29 and the stationary upper pin platform 27. While in this upper position, the locking ring 28 permits access by the filing panel 5 to the greatest vertical extent of the upper pins 26 possible - essentially the entire length of the upper pins 26. This access to the entire length constitutes part of the self-locking mechanism that tends to restrain the inadvertent removal of the filing panels 5. In Figure 4, the filing panel 5 is shown with the longitudinal bore 15 of the extruded mounting channel 13 immediately adjacent to one of the upper pins 26.

Related Figures 5 and 6 illustrate ^' the locking mechanism provided by the locking ring 28. In Figure 5, the longitudinal bore 15 of the filing panel 5 has been received by one of the upper array of pins 26. The locking ring 28 and the hand grip 29 are both in the upper, biased position. In Figure 6, the upper hand grip 29 has been released, permitting the return of the locking ring 28 to its lower, unbiased position. In this lower position, the locking ring 28 permits. access by the filing panel 5 to only a limited vertical extent of the upper pins 26. Indeed, as shown in Figure 6, the longitudinal- bore 15 of the filing panel 5 is shown as engaged with only a small, lower portion of one of the upper pins 26. The usefulness of this construction may be readily understood by once again referring to Figure 2.

As is shown by Figure 2, the length of the upper and lower arrays of pins 26, 25 are not equal, with the upper pins 26 being substantially longer. This enables the lower portion of the filing panel 5 to clear the upper portion of the lower pins 35 when the upper pins 26 are fully inserted into the longitudinal bore 15. To complete

-li¬ the mounting, the filing panel 5 is then lowered onto the lower pin 35, which is thereby inserted into the lower end of the longitudinal bore 15. The upper pins 26 are sufficiently long to maintain engagement with the upper portion of the longitudinal bore 15 upon the final seating of the filing panel 5 on the lower pins 35. The two extreme positions for the filing panel 5 are shown in Figure 2. Position 5A illustrates the relationship between the filing panel 5 and the upper and lower pins 26, 35 upon the filing panel 5 being fully inserted onto the upper pin 26. Such a configuration would occur either during insertion of the filing panel 5 onto the rotary stand 20 or just prior to its removal therefrom. Position 5B illustrates the fully-seated position for the filing panel 5, with the locking ring 28 in its fully lowered position. To now place the filing panel 5 in Position 5A, the locking ring 28 must first be raised into its upper, biased position. The locking ring 28 virtually eliminates the possibility of inadvertent removal of the inserted finling panels 5 from the rotary mounting stand 20.

Figure 2 also illustrates another, aspect of the relationship between the upper pins 26 and lower pins 35. The lower pins 35 are not vertically superimposed over the upper pins 26, but rather the lower pins 35 are located at a slightly greater distance from a central axis. This ingenious pin placement creates what is known- as pyramidal mounting, illustrated by Figure 8. Although somewhat exaggerated. Figure 8 illustrates the pyramidal mounting of the filing panels 5, causing the adjacent filing panels 5 to remain in an open position, regardless of their location on the stand. This feature greatly assists the operator in quickly and accurately searching for, retrieving, and refiling data elements from the filing panels 5. Figure 9 generally illustrates an alternate method for mounting file panels utilizing the present invention. A

panel-mounting rack 70 is shown attached to a vertical planar surface 71, such as a wall. The mounting rack consists of a rear support stand 76 attached to the vertical surface 71, with a base 72 and an upper retention assembly 77 formed thereon. A plurality of filing panels 5 are shown attached to the panel-mounting rack 70, with a number of individual pockets 10 formed in each filing panel 5.

Figure 10 shows further details of the panel-mounting rack 70. The base 72, formed on a lower portion of the

10 panel-mounting rack 70 is provided with a lower array of pins 74. The upper pin retention assembly 77 formed on an upper portion of the rear support stand 76, consists of an upper pin mounting bracket 78 and a spring-retention clip 81. An upper array of pins is formed on the upper pin

15 mounting bracket 78. One or more mounting apertures 83 may be provided in the rear support stand 76 to assist in attaching the panel mounting rack 70 to a suitable structure. Additional details concerning the construction and operation of the upper pin retention assembly 77 are

20 shown in Figure 11.

The spring-retention clip 81, essentially formed out of a sheet of metal, functions much like a spring. A first end portion 82 of the spring-retention clip 81 is

- ₅ formed into an angle β of preferably approximately 75° and received by a rear lateral edge 87 of a top portion 88 o£ the upper pin mounting bracket 78. A second end portion 83 is formed into an angle α of approximately 45°, and rests against the upper array of pins 79 when in a closed

30 position. A spring-receiving recess 85 is provided in the front portion of the upper pin mounting bracket 78 immediately above the upper array of pins 79. The second end portion 83 is received by the spring-receiving recess 85 when in its open position. A final angle γ is -formed

3 in the spring-retention clip 81 between angles α and β and is of a suitable dimension for engagement with a front

lateral edge of the pin-mounting bracket 78. By utilizing the various angles and receiving surfaces, the retaining clip is stable whether in its open or closed position, the open position referenced by the letter "B" in Figure 11. Furthermore, because the angle δ is greater than 90°, a vertical force applied to the end portion 83 will not move the clip 81 from Position A to Position B, and thus an upward force on the panel 5 will not release the clip 81. However, an operator can easily lift the end 83 upwardly and outwardly, permitting movement of the spring clip 81 to Position B.

The underlying principle behind the retention system of the panel-mounting rack 70 is substantially analogous to that principle underlying the retention system utilized by the rotary mounting stand 20. For both the insertion and the removal of the filing panel 5 from the rack 70 or the stand 20, the filing panel 5 is first fully caused to be inserted onto the upper pin 79. The filing panel 5 is now in the position denoted as 5A' in Figure 11, and the spring clip 81 is in its open positon noted by position "B". Thereafter, the filing panel 5 has been lowered onto the corresponding lower pins 74 (not shown in Figure 11), and assumes position 5B'. The spring clip 81 is then lowered into its lower or closed position, preventing the subsequent lifting of the filing panel 5. Removal of the filing panel 5 requires the reversal of these steps -~ beginning with the lifting of the spring-retention clip 81 to its open position.

An additional mounting structure utilizing the present invention is illustrated in Figure 12. A flexible mounting array 101 is provided and consists of a plurality of individual mounting units 105. The mounting units 105 are each partially separated from one another by a linear, vertical recess 107 formed along each lateral side of the mounting unit 105, which recess 107 forms a "living hinge" in the plastic material. The recesses 107 permit the

horizontal articulation of the flexible mounting array 101, to assume mounted positions such as position "C" shown in Figure 12.

. Figure 14 shows additional structural details for each mounting unit 105. A mounting base 119, having one or more apertures 121 formed therein, permits the placement of the flexible array 101 against a selected planar surface. A shelf 115 projects outwardly from the mounting base 119 and is provided with a mounting pin 111 formed on a lower surface 113 of the shelf 115. Similarly constructed mounting units are formed for the lower mounting array, however, as before, the mounting pins for the lower array are shorter than mounting pins 111 (See Figure 13).

In Figure 13, the flexible mounting array 101 is shown as installed on the vertical supporting structure 129. The flexible mounting system consists of an upper array 101A and a lower array 101B. An upper mounting pin 131 is formed on the upper array 101A and a corresponding lower mounting pin 133 is formed on the lower array 10IB. As was the case in the previous embodiments, the upper mounting pin 131 is longer than the lower mounting pin 1,33. Similarly, the method of inserting the filing panel 5 is analogous to the previously-discussed methods. For either the insertion or the removal of the filing panel.5, the panel 5 is raised to its highest position on the upper__ mounting pin 131, denoted as position "D" in Figure 13, which permits the lower edge of the filing panel 5 to clear the top of the lower mounting pin 133. The upper mounting pin .131 and the lower mounting pin 133 in effect cooperate to form hinges for mounting the filing panel 5. The insertion of the filing panel 5 is completed by lowering the panel 5 onto the lower mounting pin 133. The filing panel 5 is maintained in this position, with the force of gravity resisting the upward movement of the filing panel 5. Advantageously, the flexible arrays 101

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may be installed in the spine of a binder, replacing the typically found rings. If, in this arrangement, the binder spine is flexible, when the binder is opened, the spine and arrays 101 will curve, providing, in effect, a cylindrical support for the arrays 101 and their associated panels 5. The employment of a quick-release locking mechanism, such as those previously described, in conjunction with this flexible system, provides a preferable method for locking the panels 5 onto the arrays 101.

The inventive provision of the upper and lower pin interrelationship, provides a sufficiently secure mounting for the filing panels whether in the flexible mounting array, or in the previously-discussed rotary stands or mounting racks. The first and second pin arrays cooperate to form hinges for mounting the filing panels. The additional locking features provided in those previously described embodiments represent supplemental security devices, and are not necessary to practice the present invention.

While I have disclosed exemplary structures to illustrate the principle of the present invention, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon, all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art. —