AU2003229349A1 - A binder system - Google Patents

Description

WO 03/099577 PCT/AU03/00573 "A binder system" Field of the Invention This invention relates to a binder. More particularly, the invention relates to a binder for binding a stack of sheets so as to present the sheets in an aesthetically 5 pleasing manner. Background to the Invention Existing methods of binding involve securing multiple sheets along a common edge of the sheets to form a spine and may involve placing a cover over the front and/or 10 back surfaces of the stack to create a bound volume. Most binding methods require expensive and specialised machinery and accessories. Notwithstanding the use of such machinery and accessories, these methods often still produce an inferior quality of binding. Furthermore, certain methods of binding render the bound volumes difficult or 15 awkward to handle. This is due to the difficulty in folding a cover member of the binder away from the stack of sheets. Still other methods of binding change the dimensions of the stack of sheets significantly by introducing a spine that project beyond the original edge of the stack such as results with spiral binding. Spiral binding has the added disadvantage that the bound document is difficult to store, for example, 20 in a filing cabinet. Summary of the Invention According to the invention there is provided a binder for binding a stack of sheets, the binder including: 25 a planar member having a pair of opposed side edges and a pair of opposed ends; a spine zone defined in the planar member and extending between the opposed side edges; at least one securing zone defined in the planar member along a side of the spine 30 zone, the at least one securing zone defining a zone for securing means for securing the planar member to the stack of sheets; and a masking zone associated with the at least one securing zone, the masking zone being defined in the planar member adjacent the at least one securing zone such that the at least one securing zone lies intermediate the spine zone and its associated masking 35 zone, the masking zone defining a covering portion to be folded on to its associated securing zone so as to hide the securing means, in use.

WO 03/099577 PCT/AU03/00573 2 The spine zone may be demarcated in the planar member by a pair of spaced parallel spine defining lines. . The at least one securing zone may similarly be demarcated in the planar member by a line extending parallel to the spine defining lines. Likewise, the at least one masking zone may be demarcated in the planar 5 member by a line extending parallel to the spine defining lines. Each line demarcating a zone may be a line of weakness in the planar member formed by a line of perforations, a fold line or a line of reduced thickness. Instead, each line may simply be a demarcation on the planar member indicating preferred positions for folds to be made. 10 Preferably, the binder includes a securing zone with its associated masking zone defined on each side of the spine zone. A cover panel may be demarcated in the planar member between the at least one masking zone and the corresponding end of the planar member. In a preferred embodiment, the planar member may define a first, operatively front cover and a 15 second, operatively rear cover. The securing means may be in the form of one or more suitable fasteners such as, for example, staples or the like which may be used to secure the planar member to the stack of sheets. An area of the at least one securing zone for accommodating the securing means 20 may be debossed to impart a greater quality of finish to the binder. A surface of the at least one masking zone may be coated with an adhesive so as to remain in contact with the securing zone once folded on to it. For example, the adhesive may be a pressure-sensitive adhesive. The adhesive may be covered by a removable, non-adhesive backing sheet prior to use. 25 Brief Description of the Drawings The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 shows a plan view of a binder, in accordance with the invention, prior 30 to use; Figure 2 shows a three dimensional view of the binder, folded for use; and Figures 3 to 9 show steps involved in binding a stack of sheets using the binder of Figures 1 and 2.

WO 03/099577 PCT/AU03/00573 3 Detailed Description of the Drawings In the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally designates a binder, in accordance with the invention for binding a stack of-sheets 12. The binder 10 comprises a planar member 14 having a pair of opposed side edges 16 and 18 and a pair 5 of opposed ends 20 and 22. A spine zone 24 is demarcated in the planar member 14 by a pair of spaced, parallel spine defining lines 26 and 28. The lines 26 and 28 extend between the side edges 16 and 18 of the planar member 14 parallel to the ends 20,22. Further, the planar member 14 is substantially symmetrical about the spine zone 24. A securing zone 30 is defined outwardly, of, and along, each side of the spine 10 zone 24. Each securing zone 30 is demarcated in the planar member by a line 32 extending parallel to the spine defining lines 26 and 28. A masking zone 34 is also arranged outwardly of, and adjacent to, each securing zone 30. Each securing zone 30 therefore is arranged between the spine zone 24 and its associated masking zone 34. Each masking zone 34 is demarcated in the planar 15 member 14 by a line 36 extending parallel to the spine defining lines 26 and 28. Each masking zone 34 defines a covering portion to be folded on to its associated securing zone 30 so as to hide securing means in the form of a plurality of spaced staples 42 (Figures 4 and 5), in use, for securing the binder 10 to the stack 12, as will be described in greater detail below. 20 A cover panel 38 is defined between each masking zone 34 and one of the ends 20 or 22 of the planar member 14. Each cover panel 38 is demarcated in the planar member 14 by one of the lines 36 and the end 20 or 22 of the planar member 14, as the case may be. Each line 26, 28, 32 and 36 is defined in the planar member 14 by a region of 25 reduced thickness to form a fold line. An outer surface of each masking zone 34 carries a strip of adhesive (not shown). Each strip of adhesive is, prior to use, covered by a backing sheet 40. The planar member 14 may be made of any suitable material depending on the application and purpose of the binder 10. Typically, the planar member 14 is of a 30 cellulosic material such as a board material. The board material is about 200 gsm to 300 gsm board. If desired, the board may be coated with a plasticised coating. In use, a fold is made along each spine defining line 26 and 28 to form the spine 24 of the binder 10, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. An inner surface of the spine 24 acts as an internal abutment surface which is used to square and align the stack 35 of sheets 12 in thebinder 10.

WO 03/099577 PCT/AU03/00573 4 The stack of sheets 12 is inserted between the two cover panels 38, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, until a side of the stack 12 received between the two cover panels 38 abuts against the internal abutment surface of the spine zone 24. The cover panels 38 now sandwich the stack 12, the stack 12 lying completely within the bounds 5 of the cover panels 38. The stack 12 and the folded planar member 14 forming the binder 10 are secured together by inserting a plurality of longitudinally spaced staples 42 through the planar member 14 and the stack 12, the staples being introduced from a first of the securing zones 30 as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. At least that securing zone 30 10 forming part of a front cover of the bound document is, optionally, debossed (not shown) at intervals along the length of that securing zone 30 to produce recesses to accommodate a bridging part of each of the staples 42. Once the folded planar member 14 has been secured to the stack of sheets 12 via the securing zones 30, the backing sheet 40 is removed from the operatively top 15 masking zone 34 to expose the adhesive on its surface. The planar member 14 is folded in an S-fold type manner about the fold lines 32 and 36 to bring the adhesive into contact with the operatively outer surface of the associated securing zone 30, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. In the case where the adhesive is a pressure-sensitive adhesive, pressure is applied to the cover panel 38 in a region overlying the masking 20 zone 34 and the securing zone 30 in register with each other, as indicated by arrows 44 in Figure 7 of the drawings, to bond the masking zone 34 and securing zone 30 adhesively to each other. Debossing the securing zone 30 to accommodate the staples 42 allows the masking zone 34 to remain substantially undeformed by the staples 42 as tops of the 25 staples 42 are lower than, or flush with, the operatively outer surface of the securing zone 30. The binder 10 is turned over to expose the rear cover panel 38. The process of producing the S-type fold is repeated to form the back cover of the bound document in a similar manner to that described above. In other words, the backing sheet 40 is 30 removed from the back masking zone 34 to expose its adhesive. The planar member 14 is S-folded about the fold lines 32 and 36. Pressure is applied to the cover panel 38 overlying the securing zone 30 and masking zone 34 in register with each other to activate the adhesive to bond the securing zone 30 and masking zone 34 together. The planar member 14 is, preferably, dimensioned such that, when the folds 35 have been formed and the zones adhesively secured together, the ends 20, 22 of the WO 03/099577 PCT/AU03/00573 5 planar member 14 lie substantially in register with ends of the stack to improve the appearance of the finished, bound document. The binder 10 is provided in a range of widths of spine zones 24 to cater for various sizes of stacks of sheets 12. It will be appreciated that the manner of binding 5 the stack of sheets 12 is unaffected by the width of the spine zone 24 of the binder 10 selected for the binding operation. It is an advantage of the invention that presentation of a document constituted by the stack of sheets 12 is enhanced as both sides of the staples 42 are covered and hidden from view by the cover panel 38 on either side of the stack of sheets 12 while the 10 dimension of the stack of sheets 12 is not significantly altered. If desired, the front cover panel 38 has a window 46 defined therein. The front sheet of the stack may be a title page and a title 48 is printed on the front sheet of the stack 12 to lie in register with the window 46 to be visible through the window 46 of the front cover panel 38 of the binder 10. 15 The cover panels 38 also enhance the functionality of the bound document as the cover panels 38 fold away from the surfaces of the stack of sheets 12 with ease along the fold lines 36 providing unimpeded access to the greater part of each sheet of the stack. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations 20 and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Claims (11)

1. A binder for binding a stack of sheets, the binder including: a planar member having a pair of opposed side edges and a pair of opposed ends; 5 a spine zone defined in the planar member and extending between the opposed side edges; at least one securingzone defined in the planar member along a side of the spine zone, the at least one securing zone defining a zone for securing means for securing the planar member to the stack of sheets; and 10 a masking zone associated with the at least one securing zone, the masking zone being defined in the planar member adjacent the at least one securing zone such that the at least one securing zone lies intermediate the spine zone and its associated masking zone, the masking zone defining a covering portion to be folded on to its associated securing zone so as to hide the securing means, in use. 15

2. The binder of claim 1 in which the spine zone is demarcated in the planar member by a pair of spaced parallel spine defining lines.

3. The binder of claim 1 or claim 2 in which the at least one securing zone is 20 demarcated in the planar member by a line extending parallel to the spine defining lines.

4. The binder of any one of the preceding claims in which the at least one masking zone is demarcated in the planar member by a line extending parallel to the spine 25 defining lines.

5. The binder of claim 4 in which each line demarcating a zone is a line of weakness in the planar member. 30

6. The binder of claim 5 in which each line is a demarcation on the planar member indicating preferred positions for folds to be made.

7. The binder of any one of the preceding claims which includes a securing zone with its associated masking zone defined on each side of the spine zone. 35 WO 03/099577 PCT/AU03/00573 7

8. The binder of any one of the preceding claims in which a cover panel is demarcated in the planar member between the at least one masking zone and the corresponding end of the planar member. 5

9. The binder of any one of the preceding claims in which an area of the at least one securing zone for accommodating the securing means is debossed to impart a greater quality of finish to the binder.

10. The binder of any one of the preceding claims in which a surface of the at least 10 one masking zone is coated with an adhesive so as to remain in contact with the securing zone once folded on to it.

11. The binder of claim 10 in which the adhesive is covered by a removable, non adhesive backing sheet prior to use. 15