AU2008101051A4

AU2008101051A4 - A binding system

Info

Publication number: AU2008101051A4
Application number: AU2008101051A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Allan Boolkin
Original assignee: ACCO AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd
Current assignee: ACCO AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2005-06-30
Filing date: 2008-10-27
Publication date: 2008-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-30
Also published as: AU2005202890A1; AU2008101051B4; AU2005202890B2

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Innovation Patent Applicant(s): ACCO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD Invention Title: A BINDING SYSTEM The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to me/us: P57458AU.l Pat Set PMeg Apoicafioo 200-109c (S) 00 -2- CA BINDING SYSTEM 0Technical Field 0 The present invention relates to a binding system for a folder. The binding system can be generally used to V) directly hold items in the folder such as pages, cards, paper sheets, photographs, transparencies, plastic sheets or sheet protector sleeves made of plastic. Such folders 00 can be used in all manner of domestic, educational or Cl commercial situations.

Background Art A number of methods exist for binding reports or plastic sleeves for display. One method provides a display book with separate front and back flat covers which have a plurality of sheet protector sleeves made of plastic positioned therebetween. The covers and the sleeves have holes located therethrough, and via which is inserted a plastic comb to hold the covers and sleeves together. Normally the comb comprises a plurality of Ushaped rings or teeth that are joined to a rod, and both the rod and a distal portion of the U-shaped rings or teeth are arranged to slide in a track in a respective side of an elongate base plate which forms the spine of the folder. Sliding of the comb relative to the base plate allows disengagement of the comb from the base plate, and enables the removal (or insertion) of additional sleeves for retention by the U-shaped rings or teeth.

These binders, although convenient, do not provide for an aesthetically pleasing presentation because the comb and base plate tend to easily rotate relative to the 00 -3folder into various positions. This makes the display CI folders difficult to arrange on a shelf with the base O plates aligned vertically. This can look untidy and can make it difficult to read a folder label placed on the 5 panel spine. If the exposed comb experiences an impact, the comb rings can be broken, thus rendering the folder Suseless.

Summary of the Invention 00 CI In a first aspect the present invention provides a binding system for a folder having a front portion, a back portion, and a spine portion located between and adjoining the front and back portions, the system comprising: a binding member located within the folder, the member including an elongate comb having teeth arranged to bind at least one planar article by passing through respective apertures in the planar article; and at least one fastener, arranged for fastening the binding member to the folder.

The concealment of the binding member inside the folder when closed in use can protect the binding member from an impact and possible breakage, which can otherwise cause a failure of the opening and closing function of the folder.

In the present specification, when the term "folder" is used it broadly includes any size or shape of a storage device which has an outer cover made up of a front portion, a back portion, and a spine portion located between and adjoining the front and back portions, and wherein the folder is arranged for the storage of generally planar articles such as paper sheets, cards, placards, photographs, computer discs, transparencies, 00 -4- C plastic sheets, film and the like. The spine portion need C not necessarily be made of the same material as the front or back portions.

In one embodiment, the binding system is mounted adjacent on the spine portion.

In an embodiment, the fastener comprises a rivet ttV mounted along the spine portion to extend therethrough in use and into fastening engagement with the binding member.

These fasteners can be arranged in many 00

OC

configurations.

CI In an embodiment, the teeth extend from a base of the comb along respective curved paths through the respective apertures of the planar article, each tooth having a free tip arranged in use to be located adjacent to the base such that the tooth is substantially ring shaped.

In an alternative form of this embodiment, the elongate base plate can be fastened along the folder back portion in use, and parallel and adjacent to the spine, with the fastening plate located on an opposite side of and along the folder back portion in use. The fastening plate and binding member need not be parallel to the spine portion. For example, these can run perpendicular to the spine portion, or align along a margin of the folder.

In any of these embodiments, the system can be used with a unitary folder formed from a single sheet of material, for example plastic, which comprises the front, back and spine portions of the folder.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method for binding at least one planar article within a folder having a front portion, a back portion, and a spine portion located between and adjoining the front and back portions, an elongated comb being fastened within the folder and the method comprising binding the at least one planar article to the comb.

00 In an embodiment, the one or more fasteners can CI comprise one or more securing elements. In one form of O this embodiment, the or each securing element is a rivet, but in other forms can be an adhesive, welds or screws.

In any of the foregoing embodiment, the folder may be a display book folder arranged for removably binding one n or more sheet members.

Brief Description of the Drawings 00 C' Embodiments of a binding system for a folder will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a binding system for a folder, in accordance with the invention, the binding system shown in conjunction with a folder; Figure 2 shows a plan view of a cover of the folder of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows an end view of the binding system of Figure 1; Figure 4a shows a plan view of an elongate fastening plate of the binding system of Figure 1; Figure 4b shows a side view of the elongate fastening plate of Figure 4a; and Figure 5a shows a plan view of an elongate base plate of the binding system of Figure 1; 00 -6- Figure 5b shows a side view of the elongate base CI plate of Figure 5a; and

O

Figure 6 shows an underside plan view of an elongate comb of the binding system of Figure i.

t Modes for Carrying out the Invention Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a folder 00 cover 10 which is made up of three portions: a rectangular CI front cover panel 12, a similarly-sized rectangular back cover panel 14 and an elongate rectangular spine panel 16 that is located to adjoin each of the front 12 and back 14 cover panels along a respective score or hinge line 18, 20. The folder cover is also shown in Figure 2.

A binding system 22 is also shown in Figure 1 for mounting to the folder cover 10. The binding system 22 is provided in two main parts. The first part is a binding member, which is itself made up of two portions. A first portion of the binding member is shown in the form of a rectangular and elongate base plate 24 which is generally H-shaped in cross-section, as shown in more detail in Figure 3. Opposing elongate side edges 26, 28 of the base plate 24 are each arranged with a respective recess or cavity 30, 32 therealong. The second portion of the binding member is an elongate comb 34 which is slidably mounted to the base plate 24. The comb 34 is made up of a series of evenly spaced apart U-shaped rings 36 which are mounted (at one end 38 of the U-shaped ring) to a web in the form of an elongate rod 40, whilst at the other end of each respective U-shaped ring 36 is a small lateral tab 42. When fitted to the base plate 24 in use, the rod is slidably mounted in one of the recesses 30, whilst the lateral tab 42 of each respective U-shaped ring 36 is 00 -7- C slidably mounted in the recess 32 of the opposing elongate CI side edge 28.

UIn use the elongate comb 34 can be disengaged from the base plate 24 by sliding so that the lateral tabs 42 of the U-shaped rings 36 are free from the side edge 32 recess of the base plate 24. In that position, planar V articles such as paper or plastic sheets etc that have a side edge which is perforated with a row of holes, can be located onto the U-shaped rings 36, and then the elongate 00

OC

comb 34 can be slidingly re-engaged with the base plate (1 24. In this way a number of generally planar articles can be mounted and stored in the folder. Such a comb 34 and base plate 24 arrangement is known in the art as a 'display book' folder which is arranged for removably binding one or more sheet members.

When in position the elongate base plate 24 is located along the spine panel 16 of the folder cover and facing into what forms the inside region of the folder when closed (ie within the space defined by the front cover panel 12, back cover panel 14 and spine panel 16).

Therefore in use, the elongate comb 34 is also facing the inside region of the folder and is protected by and concealed within the folder.

The second part of the binding system is a fastener which functions to mount the binding member to the folder.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings (Figures 3, 4a and 4b), the fastener is present as an elongate plate 44 which functions as a backing plate, and is located on an opposite side of the spine panel 16 of the folder and outside of what forms the inside region of the folder when closed (ie the inside being the space defined by the front cover panel 12, back cover panel 14 and spine panel 16).

In the embodiment shown, the elongate plate 44 is fastened to the base plate 24 of the binding member by four 00 -8- O fasteners, each in the form of an integral projection 46 CI arranged on one side of the elongate plate 44, and each Oprojection 46 having an enlarged head end 48. The 0 projections 46 are positioned along a longitudinal centreline of the elongate plate 44. Each head end 48 is shown in the form of a split pin made of a resilient plastic material which is deformable from a rest position to a position in which the head end 48 can be narrowed in width so as to pass through a corresponding hole 50 in the 00 elongate base plate 24 of the binding member. Once the CI head end 48 is inserted through a respective hole 50, it resiliently urges back to its normal rest position and thereby facilitate locking of the split pin at the base plate 24 of the binding member.

During assembly of the folder 10 and binding system 22, the elongate fastening plate 44 is located on one side of the folder 10 and is then placed in fastening engagement with the binding member positioned on the other side of the folder 10 by passing the or each split pin through a plurality of corresponding holes 52 formed in the folder 10 along the spine panel 16. Each split pin is then placed in locking receipt in corresponding holes defined in the base plate 24 at which each head end 48 of the split pin is retained, as previously described.

In other embodiments, there can be a different number of split-pin fasteners arranged on the fastening plate, for example for engaging three or more corresponding and equally spaced apertures in the binding member. However, other arrangements for different numbers of fasteners, either equally or unequally spaced, are possible.

In other embodiments the fastener(s) may be present in forms other than split pins that are integrally formed with an elongate plate, and made of materials other than 00-9- C resilient plastic so long as the fastener(s) can mount the CI binding member to the folder.

OFor example, there can be any number of discrete 0 fasteners in the form of rivets or screws which fasten the fastening (backing) plate to one side of the folder, and a binding member (for example, the elongate base plate 24) V to the other side of the folder (typically at the inside region of the folder when closed). In still other forms, the rivets or screws need not be arranged to fasten to a 00 single fastening plate, but to a number of smaller, CI discrete fastening plates or to other forms of mounting for the rivet or screw, which may be something as simple as an internally threaded socket located in the spine panel 16. In such embodiments the use of an elongate plate (such as 44) is not necessarily required, and if present, is only to enhance aesthetics and/or spine stiffness. Alternatively, the one or more fasteners can comprise the use of other securing elements such as an adhesive. Also, any combination of any two or more of these types of fasteners may also be used.

In other embodiments, forms of the binding member and fastening plate can be positioned in other configurations on the front or back cover panels, or spine portion of the folder. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the fastening plate and binding member are located on opposite sides of the spine portion 16 of the folder 10. In an alternative embodiment, the binding system can be fastened along the folder back portion 14 in use, and parallel and adjacent to the spine, still with the fastening plate 44 located on an opposite side of and along the folder back portion 14 in use.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the binding system is arranged for use with a unitary folder formed from a single sheet of material, for example plastic, 00 C which comprises the front 12 and back 14 cover and the CI spine panel 16 portions of the folder 10. In still other embodiments, each of these three portions of the folder need not be made of the same material, for instance the spine may be of a different material (such as a more rigid plastic) compared to the material of each of the front and V back covers. In still other embodiments, the spine portion may not be a panel per se, but merely a joint between front and back cover portions.

00

OC

In still other embodiments, the second portion of the binding member may not necessarily be an elongate comb but can be another form of holding means, for example with teeth or openable rings etc. In these embodiments (or indeed in the embodiment utilising an elongate comb), the individual elements which hold the planar articles need not have equally spaced binding elements therealong, for instance in situations where the perforated holes in the side edge of the planar articles are irregularly spaced.

Now that a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in some detail it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the binding system has at least the following advantages: The binding system represents an aesthetic improvements on known binding systems of this type because of the concealment of the binding member within the closed folder, and provision of a sleek appearance of folder with unobtrusive binding system elements; (ii) The fastening of the binding member to the fastening plate fixes the orientation of the binding member in relation to the cover of the folder, to provide for a more attractive appearance when stored; and 00 -11- S(iii) The concealment of the binding member inside C the folder when closed in use can protect the O binding member from an impact and possible 0 breakage.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations tt and modifications other than those specifically described.

For example any shape of folder and binding system is also within the scope of the invention, and need not be 00

OC

restricted to the particular form of the preferred CI embodiment described. All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.

In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology has been resorted to for the sake of clarity.

However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar technical purpose. Terms such as "inside", "outside", "peripheral", "adjacent", "parallel" and the like are used as words of convenience to provide reference points and are not to be construed as strictly limiting terms.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments.

Claims

2. A binding system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the binding member is mounted on the spine portion.
3. A binding system in accordance with claims 1 or 2, wherein the fastener comprises a rivet mounted along the spine portion to extend therethrough in use and into fastening engagement with the binding member.
4. A binding system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the teeth extend from a base of the comb along respective curved paths through the respective apertures of the planar article, each tooth having a free tip arranged in use to be located adjacent to the base such that the tooth is substantially ring shaped. 00 -13- C1 5. A method for binding at least one planar O article within a folder having a front portion, a back portion, and a spine portion located between and adjoining the front and back portions, an elongated comb being fastened within the folder and the method comprising V) binding the at least one planar article to the comb. 00 ^-i 0q