EP2524815B1

EP2524815B1 - Binder

Info

Publication number: EP2524815B1
Application number: EP12168553.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Julia Langhein
Original assignee: FILOFAX GROUP Ltd
Current assignee: FILOFAX GROUP Ltd
Priority date: 2011-05-20
Filing date: 2012-05-18
Publication date: 2015-07-08
Anticipated expiration: 2032-05-18
Also published as: GB2491124A; GB201108575D0; EP2524815A3; EP2524815A2

Description

The present invention relates to a binder for loose leaf papers, in particular a binder of the type known as a personal organiser.
Such personal organisers are very well known, being especially represented by the designs marketed under the trade mark FILOFAX (registered trade mark).
Such personal organisers comprise a cover and a binder structure which allows loose leaf papers to be releasably and exchangeably bound in the organiser. The loose leaf papers typically comprise diary pages, blank sheets, information and address lists.
The binder may comprise a plurality of binder loops comprising loop segments, typically formed of metal. For example, there may be at least two and maybe as many as six or eight binder loops. Binder loop segments preferably have a first, contacting position for engaging holes in the loose leaf papers and holding them in position, and a second, separated position, which allows the loose leaf papers to be removed.
Super type binder structures of this type typically have a binder base structure.
In conventional binders of this type, it is necessary to fix the binder to the covering material. For example, the binder structure may be fixed to the covering material. The binder structure may be fixed by any combination of rivets, glue or any other suitable permanent or removable fixing.
Fixing the binder structure to the covering presents an extra manufacturing step which can lead to complications and extra time required in manufacturing the binder. It can require extra materials or components to fix the binder structure to the covering. The present invention sets out to overcome this problem.
GB 566561 discloses a binder for loose leaf papers according to the preamble of claim 1.
The present invention also sets out to reduce the weight and bulk of a personal organiser.
According to the present invention, the present inventor has realised that the binder structure can be fixed to the covering by at least one of the binder loops.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a binder for loose leaf papers, according to claim 1.
The present invention further provides a method of assembling a binder for loose leaf papers, the binder being according to the invention, the binder being assembled by placing the binder loop segments in the second position, and engaging binder loop segments with respective holes of the covering and placing the binder loop segments in the first position so that the covering is engaged by the binder loops.
By fixing the binder structure to the covering by at least one of the binder loops, the connection is made simple and light.
It is found that the thickness of the binder can be decreased compared to conventional designs. In conventional designs, the thickness is not less than the diameter of the binder loops plus the thickness of two layers of cover. In the present invention it can be reduced to the diameter of the binder loops.
In the binder of the invention, it is found that the cover can be pulled to open the binder, in a simple and easy manner. This can reduce the need for bulky triggers. This in turn can reduce the length of the spine of the binder, making it smaller and can make the binder lighter.
The connection between the cover and the binder structure is found to be strong and reliable, even if heavy reinforcement of the cover is not used. This can reduce the weight of the binder.
Preferred and optional features of the invention will be described further below.
In the discussion below, the term "in" and "inside" and, correspondingly, "out" and "outside" are understood with reference to the binder when it is in a closed configuration, resembling a closed book.

Cover

The cover may be of any suitable configuration and material. For example, it may be formed of paper, leather, fabric or any combination of these materials. It may comprise synthetic polymeric material. The cover may be formed of relatively stiff or flexible material.
It may suitably have a generally rectangular configuration.
The cover suitably comprises a front cover section and a rear cover section. The front cover section and the rear cover section are preferably joined to one another. They may be joined by a permanent or releasable connection. They preferably comprise separate regions of a continuous sheet of cover material. They may abut one another via a hinge or fold or they may each abut a common spine section, for example through a hinge or fold.
For example, the front cover section and rear cover section may be fixed to one another by gluing, sewing, rivets, a zip fastener or any other suitable fixing.
Different parts of the cover may comprise parts of different stiffness. For example, a spine section of lower stiffness may be provided.
In a preferred embodiment, at least one part of the cover, for example a spine section provided between a front cover section and a rear cover section, may be formed of an elastic or extensible material. This may assist in assembling the binder of the invention, as described further below.
The cover may be reinforced in the area of the holes but it is an advantage of the present invention that the spine section does not need to be reinforced. This can make the binder of the invention lighter than conventional designs.

Binder Structure

The binder structure may be the same as, or operate in substantially the same way as a conventional binder structure.
In a preferred embodiment, the binder structure comprises at least two binder loops, each comprising two binder loop segments as described above, respective binder loop segments being fixed to a hinged plate. The hinged plate defines an axis about which the binder loop segments may be rotated into and out of the first and second positions. In order to bias the loop segments into the first or second position, the hinged plate may be urged by a tensioner which acts in a direction substantially normal to the hinge axis. In this way, the hinged plate tends to form a bent configuration. One bent configuration corresponds to the first position and the oppositely bent configuration corresponds to the second position. The hinged plate can be moved between the first and second configuration by pushing it into a flat configuration, against the biasing force of the tensioner, past a position of unstable equilibrium, after which the tensioner forces the hinged plate into the opposite bent configuration. Stop means may be provided for limiting the movement of the hinged plate at the first or second bent configuration. Preferably, stop means corresponding to the first position is simply provided by the abutment of the binder loop segments. The stop means for the second configuration may be provided by any suitable means. However, in a preferred embodiment, the mounting structure comprises a plate, the hinged plate being directed, in the second configuration, so that the hinge of the hinge plate moves towards the plate and stops when the hinge or a corresponding part of the hinged plate touches the plate. A user may move the loop segments between the first and second position either by manipulating the loops themselves or by operating members, such as a trigger or button in a manner known in the art. An advantage of the present invention is that the cover can engage the binder loop segments in such a way that the binder loop segments can be pulled apart by pulling a front cover section and a rear cover section away from one another.
As triggers or buttons can increase the length of the spine section, the present invention provides the advantage that, if triggers or buttons are omitted or made smaller, it is still easy to operate the binder by pulling the cover sections and the spine section can be made of a length which is closer to that of the papers to be held than conventional designs, making the binder less bulky.
According to the invention, there are at least two binder loops. They are preferably separated from one another along an axis which is parallel to the spine axis of the binder. They may be separated from one another by any suitable distance, for example a distance which is equal to at least half the height of the cover in the direction of the spine axis.
Preferably, there are more than two loops. For example, there may be three loops, four loops or more than four loops. The loops may be arranged into groups of loops. The loops may be arranged into groups of loops. For example, there may be a first group preferably comprising two or three loops and a second group, preferably comprising two or three loops.
According to the invention, the cover comprises holes for engaging the binder loops. The number of holes depends upon the system selected for engaging the binder loops with the cover, In a first embodiment of connection, each binder loop segment is engageable with two corresponding holes of the cover. Preferably, the binder structure is located on the inside of the cover, a binder loop segment passing out through a first hole, and then in to the inside of the cover through a second hole.
Preferably, a first binder loop segment engages a front cover section and a second binder loop segment of the same binder loop engages a rear cover section.
Preferably, each binder loop segment of a binder loop engages two respective holes, formed respectively in a front cover section or rear cover section of the cover.
When the binder is closed, this gives a distinctive appearance, with parts of the binder loop segments visible from the outside. Preferably, the ends of the binder loop segments meet at a position which, in the closed position, is inside the binder and therefore protected.
Preferably, every binder loop engages a respective pattern of holes. This gives a particularly secure mounting of the cover to the binder structure. It also allows the cover to fit smoothly over the binder structure.
In this first embodiment of connection, if both binder loop segments engage respective sets of holes of the cover, the two sets of holes may be spaced apart from one another so that the respective holes can be engaged with respective binder loop segments either at the same time or in succession. In this respect, it is noted that in many cases, the binder loops have diameters in the range 1 cm-4 cm and preferably 1.5-3.0 cm. Given the normal spacing of binder loop segments in the open position, this may require the holes to be placed from one another by a distance in the range 5-10 cm, more preferably 5.5-6.5 cm.
Where there are two holes for engaging a respective binder loop segment, they may be spaced apart by any suitable distance, for example 0.5 cm-3 cm, more preferably 1-2 cm.
The holes may be of any suitable size, for example their maximum dimension may be in the range 1-10mm, more preferably 1-5mm.
In order to allow two holes to engage the same binder loop segment, .the cover may comprise a fold, pleat or gusset. For example, the cover may comprise, adjacent a front or rear cover section, a gusset section. In this case, one hole may be formed in the front or rear cover section and the corresponding hole formed in the gusset section.
The gusset is suitably separated from an adjacent cover section or spine section by a fold line or area of greater flexibility. The gusset is found to have a number of advantages. It allows the cover to expand as more papers are added to the binder, increasing capacity. It allows a front and/or rear cover section to fold over a spine section, so that the binder can lie flat when open. A gusset section of greater flexibility may be provided to allow this to happen.
In this embodiment, the spacing of the holes may be such that, when the binder is closed, the spine section is spaced from the binder structure by a distance which is larger than conventional binders. For example, it may be spaced by at least 1 cm from the binder structure.
A pen or pen holder can be provided in this space.
In a further preferred embodiment, as noted above, a part of the cover which is located between the holes for engaging first and second binder loop segments of the same binder loop may be formed of an extensible material, for example an elastically extendible material. In this case, in the method of the invention, in order for the respective sets of holes to be engaged with respective binder loop segments, the cover can be stretched in a direction substantially normal to the spine axis. In this case, the binder structure is suitably located substantially adjacent to a spine section of the cover.
In this embodiment of connection, the cover will cover substantially all of the binder structure, apart from the sections of the binder loops located between the two holes.
In a second embodiment of connection, each binder loop segment engages just one respective hole in the cover.
In this embodiment, a substantial part of the binder structure may be exposed. Alternatively, it may be provided with an additional cover structure. For example, the additional cover structure may itself engage the binder loop segments by respective holes. In a preferred embodiment, the cover comprises a face cover section (being for example a front cover section or rear cover section). The cover face section comprises at least two holes for engaging respective binder loop segments. Further, there is a second cover section, joined to and extending from a part of the face cover section which is located further from an edge of the face cover section adjacent to the holes than the holes themselves. In this way, the second cover section covers the holes, the binder loop segments and as much as the binder structure as would otherwise be visible.
The face cover section second cover sections may lie adjacent to each other for substantially the whole length of the first cover section or for only a small part, depending upon how thick the cover is to be formed.
A combination of the first and second embodiments of connection may be formed. For example, on a front face, a respective binder loop segment may engage two holes of the cover whereas on a rear face, the respective binder loop may engage just one hole (or the opposite configuration may be used).
In a third embodiment of connection, the cover comprises one hole for engaging a respective first binder loop segment, the cover being configured to extend, in the closed configuration, around the front and the back of the binder covering, in the closed configuration, the edge of the binder which is remote from the binder structure. This forms a "wrap-around" configuration. For example, the cover may extend from the holes, around a spine region of the binder, covering the binder structure, around a front or rear face, around the opposite edge of the binder and the other of the rear or front cover.
A fixing may be provided for releasably fixing the front and rear covers in the closed position. In this embodiment, the fixing may comprise slots which are releasably engageable with exposed parts of binder loop segments.
In the present invention, an additional fixing may be provided between the cover and the binder structure. In this case, the additional fixing may comprise at least one rivet, an adhesive layer or any other suitable fixing. The present invention, in this case, provides the advantage that the additional fixing may not need to be as strong as conventional fixings. The invention may hold the cover and the binder structure in the correct configuration for adhesive to set, thereby speeding up the process of manufacture. The present invention provides a pleasing aesthetic appearance.
In all aspects of the present invention, the holes may be of any suitable configuration. They may be punched or formed by any other suitable means in the cover. They may have any suitable shape, being preferably circular but they may be in the form of slits or slots. It is simply required that they should permit the passage of a binder loop segment from one side of the cover material to the other. The holes may be reinforced. For example, there may be a reinforcing member which engages one hole or a plurality of holes. It may engage all the holes on one section of the cover, for example, the front cover section or gusset section. Reinforcing rings or eyelets may be provided. The reinforcing member may be of any suitable material such as metal.
The present invention will now be described further below by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Brief Description of Drawings

Figure 1 shows the components of a first embodiment of binder.
Figure 2 shows the first embodiment of the binder, when assembled, open.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the first embodiment, closed.
Figure 4 is an end view of the first embodiment, closed.
Figure 5 is an end view of the first embodiment, open.
Figure 5a is a sketch view of a step in the method of the invention of assembling the binder of the first embodiment.
Figure 6 shows a cover of a second embodiment.
Figure 7 is an end view of a cover of the second embodiment, closed.
Figure 8 is a plan view of the second embodiment of the cover, closed.
Figure 9 is an end view of a third embodiment of the cover, closed.
Figure 10 is a side view of a third embodiment of binder according to the invention, closed.
Figures 11, 12, 13 and 13A show views of a fourth embodiment of binder according to the present invention.
Figures 14-16 show views of a fifth embodiment of binder according to the present invention.
Figures 17-19 show views of a sixth embodiment of binder according to the invention.
Figures 20 and 21 show views of a seventh embodiment of binder according to the present invention.
Figures 22-24 show views of an eighth embodiment of binder according to the invention, closed.
Figure 25 shows components of a ninth embodiment of binder according to the invention.
Figures 25A and 25B show steps in the method of assembly of the binder according to the ninth embodiment of the invention.
Figures 26-29 show views of the ninth embodiment of binder according to the invention, assembled, and closed.
Figure 30 shows a step in the construction of a cover according to the tenth embodiment of the invention.
Figure 31 shows the cover of the tenth embodiment of the invention.
Figures 32-35 show views of the tenth embodiment of the invention, when assembled.
Figure 36 shows a cover of an eleventh embodiment of the invention.
Figures 37 and 38 show views of the eleventh embodiment, assembled and open.
Figure 39 shows a cover of a twelfth embodiment of the invention.
Figures 40 and 41 show views of the twelfth embodiment, assembled and open.
Figure 42 shows a cover of a thirteenth embodiment of the invention.
Figures 43-44 show views of the thirteenth embodiment, assembled.
Figure 45 shows a cover of a fourteenth embodiment of the invention.
Figures 46 and 47 show views of the fourteenth embodiment of binder according to the invention, assembled and closed.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows components of a first embodiment of the invention. It comprises a binder structure 1 which is of a type known in the art, comprising a base 2 with six binder loops 3 which are grouped into two groups of three. Each binder loop 3 comprises a pair of binder loop segments 4 and 4a which meet in the middle. Figure 1 shows the binder loop segments in a first, closed configuration. There is a second, open configuration in which the binder loop segments 4 are separated from one another, allowing loose leaf papers having an appropriate pattern of holes to be engaged with the binder loop segments 4 so that they can be held in the binder.
There is a cover 5. In this embodiment, the covers comprises a single, continuous sheet of material. The material may be any suitable material, for example fabric backed leather. It comprises a first, front cover section 6, a first gusset section 7, a spine section 8, a second gusset section 9 and a rear cover section 10. Holes 11 are formed extending through the material of the cover 5. The holes 11 are grouped into six sets for engaging respective binder loops, each set comprising two pairs of holes 11, each pair being for engaging a respective binder loop segment 4, 4a of a respective binder loop 3.
The sections of the cover are separated by dotted lines in the drawing. These may be formed as creases or they may simply be notional lines where, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, when assembled, the cover is folded.
According to the invention, as shown in Figure 5A, the binder is assembled by placing the binder loop segments 4 of the binder structure 1 in the second, open configuration. Then, the front cover portion is folded back towards the gusset portion 7 so that the holes 11 and 12 are aligned so that they can be passed over a first binder loop segment 4. Then, the cover comprising the spine section 8, second gusset portion 9 and rear cover section 10 is folded around the binder structure 2. In a subsequent step, the rear face 10 is folded back on the second gusset portion 9 so that the holes 13 and 14 are aligned and can be passed over the second loop segment 4a. In this way, the binder is assembled, resulting in a configuration as shown in Figures 2-5. It is noted that, in Figure 3, the face 6 which can be seen is the opposite face to the one visible in Figures 1 and 2.
Short sections of binder loop segment 4 can be seen in Figure 3 extending between holes 11 and 12. The binder is now ready for use and can be opened by a user to insert loose leaf papers.
During assembly of the binder of Figures 1-5, in order to allow the respective holes 11 and 12 and 13 and 14 to engage with the respective binder loop segments 4 and 4a, they have to be spaced apart from one another by a certain distance, which is why there is a space between the binder segment 8 and the binder structure body 2.
This space may be occupied, in use, by a pen or a pen holder.
Figures 6-12 show a further embodiment, in which this space can be eliminated. As shown in Figure 6, the cover of a second embodiment comprises a front cover 15, a spine section 16 of elasticated material and a rear cover section 17. It also comprises a similar pattern of holes which are numbered 11-14 as they are the same in structure and function as Figure 1. A binder structure 1 as described in relation to the first embodiment is used.
The front cover section, elastic spine section 16 and the rear cover section 17 are united by any suitable means, for example by sewing.
During assembly of the second embodiment as shown in Figures 6-8, the cover can be stretched to make the holes 11 and 12 and 13 and 14 fit over respective ends of respective binder loop segments 4, 4a. As a result, when completed, as shown in Figure 7, there is no space between the binder structure body 2 and the spine area 16.
In what follows, unless stated to the contrary, a binder structure 1 of the same sort as shown in Figure 1 of a type known in the art is used.
The third embodiment as shown in Figures 9 and 10 is substantially the same as the first embodiment. However, in this case the cover 18 is formed of a first cover section 19 and a second cover section 20 which are fixed together at a seam 21 by adhesive material. In this embodiment, the binder can be assembled by passing holes (not shown) of the front cover and rear cover 19 and 20 over respective binder loop segments, the front and rear cover sections 19 and 20 being subsequently fixed to one another at the seam 21 by adhesive or by any other suitable material.
As shown in the fourth embodiment of Figures 11-13, at least one rivet 22 can be used to additionally join the binder structure 2 to the front and rear cover sections 19 and 20. As shown in figure 13A, at least one rivet 22 can be used to additionally join the binder structure 2 to just one of the front and rear cover sections 19 and 20, the rivet head being received in a cut-away on the edge of the other of the front and rear cover sections 19 and 20, to reduce the extent to which the rivet projects from the spine section. Other features of the third and fourth embodiments are as shown in the first embodiment and are not described further.
As shown in the fifth embodiment, a further variation on the second and third embodiments is shown in which a cover piece 23 is fixed over the seam 21 between front and rear cover sections 19 and 20, to connect them and to protect the seam and to improve the aesthetic appearance. It may be fixed by any suitable means, for example by adhesive.
In the sixth embodiment shown in Figures 17-19, a front cover section 24 and a rear cover section 25 are provided which are joined, after being engaged with respective binder loop segments, at an outwardly directed seam 26. This seam can be formed, for example by sewing. As the seam 26 is formed after the covers 24 and 25 are joined with respective binder loop segments, there need be no space between the binder structure body 2 and the seam 26.
In a further embodiment, as shown in Figures 20 and 21, front and rear cover sections 24 and 25 are joined by a zip fastener 27 which is formed in any suitable manner. The zip fastener is closed after the front and rear cover sections 24 and 25 have been engaged with respective binder loop segments.
Figures 22-24 show a further variant of the first embodiment shown in Figure 1. In this embodiment, the gusset section 7, spine section 8 and second gusset section 9 are replaced by a spine portion 28. The front cover section 26 is joined, for example by sewing to a spine portion 28, which may be of any suitable material which is also joined at its other edge, for example by sewing, to the rear cover section 27. It should be noted that the join between the respective cover sections 26 and 27 and the spine section 28 is a back-folded join, with the material of the spine section 28 being first of all connected so that it lies flat, along the respective cover section and is then folded back on itself during assembly. This gives an outwardly bowed configuration to the spine section 28 so that, in practice, the exposed size of the binder loop segments is relatively small, as shown in Figure 23.
A ninth embodiment of binder according to the invention, which employs a second embodiment of connection between the cover and the binder structure is shown in Figures 25-29. Figure 25 shows the components of the ninth embodiment. The binder structure 1 is the same as shown in Figure 1 and will not be described further.
The cover is similar to that shown in Figure 24 except that the holes are formed in a portion of the cover which, in the assembled state, is on the inside of the binder. In particular, the cover comprises a front cover section 29, a spine section 30 and a rear cover section 31. The spine section 30 is joined, for example by sewing, to the front cover portion 29 and the rear cover portion 31 so that, in each case, a respective tab portion 32, 33, is formed which is within the cover, as defined by the spine section 30, when the binder is assembled and closed.
There are six sets of holes for engaging the six sets of binder loop segments 4, 4a. However, each set comprises only a single hole on each side, 34, 35.
As shown in Figures 25A and 25B, the binder is assembled by engaging the binder loop segment 4 with a first hole 34 and the binder loop segment 4a with a second hole 35. As can be seen in Figure 27, the binder structure 2 is contained entirely within the cover, so that the binder loop segments are not visible.
Figure 30 shows a tenth embodiment of a binder according to the invention. In this binder, the first embodiment of connection between the binder cover and the binder structure is used on the front and the second embodiment of connection is used on the rear.
As shown in Figure 30, the cover is assembled by joining a first cover component 36 which includes the front cover section 37 and spine section 38, to a second cover component 39 which defines the rear cover section 40 and a tab 41 which, after joining, extends inwardly as shown in Figure 31.
The first cover component 26 comprises six sets of holes, each comprising a pair of holes in a manner similar to one side of the cover shown in Figure 1. On the other hand, the rear section 40 comprises six sets of holes, each of which comprises a single hole in a manner analogous to Figure 25. When assembled, as shown in Figure 33-35, from the rear, no binder loop segments are visible, in a manner similar to the ninth embodiment, whereas from the front, the usual six binder loop segments can be seen in a manner analogous to Figure 3.
Figure 30 also shows scallops or indentations 36a, 36b, formed in the top and bottom edges of the cover, in line with a notional line separating two rows of holes. As can be seen in figure 32, these scallops, when the cover is folded, come to rest adjacent triggers 2a which are provided for operation of the binder loop segments at each end of the binder structure 2a. This allows the folded gusset section to live flat without obstructing the triggers 2a. This is a general feature and may be applied to any design of cover which has a gusset, for example figure 1 and can also be seen in Figure 25.
In the eleventh embodiment, as shown in Figures 36-38, the cover comprises three separate components. There is a front cover 42, a spine cover 43, and a rear cover 44. These are not joined to one another independently of the binder structure. The front and rear covers 42 and 44 each comprise six sets of holes each comprising a single hole. The spine section 43 also comprises six sets of holes, comprising a pair of holes, one on each side, for engaging respective binder loop segments as shown in Figure 37. The binder is assembled by first of all engaging the spine cover section 43 with the binder loop segments so that the spine cover section is wrapped around the binder structure 2 as shown in Figure 37. If necessary, the respective edges of the spine cover section 43 can be adhered together to form a smooth covering, as shown in Figure 37.
The twelfth embodiment comprises a variation on this design. In this case, there is a spine cover section 45 which is analogous to the spine cover section 43 of Figure 36. However, the front and rear cover sections are parts of a single sheet 46. This sheet comprises six sets of holes 47 . As can be seen in Figure 40, this binder is assembled in a like manner to the binder of Figure 37, by first of all engaging the spine cover section 45 so that it is wrapped around the binder structure 2. Then, the binder structure is placed with the binder loop segments in the open configuration and the holes 47 and 48 are placed over respective binder loop segments which are then closed to arrive at the structure shown in Figure 40. Figure 41 shows the view from the inside of the binder, in the open configuration.
A thirteenth embodiment is shown in Figures 42-44. In this embodiment, a cover 49 is provided which comprises, at one end, holes 50 for engaging respective binder loop segments of a binder structure as shown in Figure 1. The cover 49 is provided so that it can be folded, as shown in Figure 43 to define a binder loop engaging area 51, spine section 52, a rear section 53, a part 54 covering the edge of the binder opposite to the binder structure and a front cover section 55. A plurality of slots 56 are provided in the end of the cover 49 opposite to the end that has the holes 50. These slots are configured so that they can be releasably engaged with the binder loop segments as shown in Figures 43 and 44. The slots 56 may be formed of any suitable material and may be reinforced if necessary to make them stiff enough to grip the binder loop segments.
The fourteenth embodiment shown in Figures 45-47 is almost the same as the thirteenth embodiment, except that the binder loop segment engaging section 56 engages both binder loop segments instead of just one.

Claims

A binder for loose leaf papers, comprising a cover (5) and a binder structure (2), the binder structure (2) comprising at least two binder loops (3), each binder loop (3) comprising at least two binder loop segments (4,4a) having a first, contacting position for holding loose leaf papers and a second, separated position, the cover comprising at least two holes (11,12,13,14), the binder loops (3) passing through respective holes (11,12,13,14) of the cover in the first position, characterised in that respective binder loop segments (4, 4a) are fixed to a hinged plate, and wherein the binder loop segments (4, 4a) can be pulled apart from one another by pulling a front cover section (6) and a rear cover section (10) away from one another.
A binder according to Claim 1, wherein at least one part of the cover (5) is formed of an elastic or extensible material.
A binder according to Claim 2, wherein a spine section (8) provided between a front cover section (6) and a rear cover section (10) is formed of an elastic or extensible material.
A binder according to any preceding Claim, wherein each binder loop segment (4,4a) is engageable with two corresponding holes (11,12,13,14) of the cover (5).
A binder according to Claim 4, wherein the binder structure (2) is located on the inside of the cover (5), a binder loop segment (4,4a) passing out through a first hole, and then in to the inside of the cover (5) through a second hole.
A binder according to any preceding Claim, wherein a first binder loop segment (4,4a) engages a front cover section (6) and a second binder loop segment (4,4a) of the same binder loop (3) engages a rear cover section (10).
A binder according to any preceding Claim, wherein the cover (5) comprises, adjacent a front (6) or rear (10) cover section, a gusset section (7,9).
A binder according to Claim 7, wherein one hole (11,14) is formed in the front (6) or rear (10) cover section and a corresponding hole (12,13) is formed in the gusset section (7,9).
A binder according to Claim 1, wherein each binder loop segment (4,4a) engages just one respective hole (34,35) in the cover or cover section (29,31).
A binder according to Claim 9, wherein a separate cover (45) structure engages the binder loop segments (4,4a) by respective holes.
A binder according to Claim 9, wherein the cover comprises a face cover section (29, 31), comprising at least two holes (34, 35) for engaging respective binder loop segments (4,4a), a second cover section (30) being provided, joined to and extending from a part of the face cover section (29, 31) which is located further from an edge of the face cover section (29, 31) adjacent to the holes (34, 35) than the holes (34, 35) themselves.
A binder according to Claim 1, wherein the cover (49) comprises one hole for engaging a respective first binder loop segment, the cover (49) being configured to extend, in the closed configuration, around the front and the back of the binder, covering, in the closed configuration, the edge of the binder which is remote from the binder structure (2).
A method of assembling a binder for loose leaf papers, the binder being according to any of claims 1 to 12, the binder being assembled by placing the binder loop segments (4,4a) in the second position, and engaging binder loop segments (4,4a) with respective holes (11,12,13,14) of the cover and placing the binder loop segments (4,4a) in the first position so that the cover is engaged by the binder loops (3).