FR2775632A1 - TEMPORARY BINDING RING - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a system (S) for temporarily binding elements (100) provided with perforations (P-1, ..., P-N), comprising an assembly of ring elements (10-1, ..., 10-N) each comprising an aperture (1) over their whole width to enable their insertion into the perforations (P-1, ..., P-N) of each of the elements to be bound. Each ring-element (10-1, ..., 10-N) has a permanent aperture (1) corresponding to an absence of material over a predetermined portion of said ring-element, and a shaped section adapted to provide several contact points with the perforation (P-1, ..., P-N) wherein said ring-element is inserted. Said system is particularly adapted for temporarily binding sheets of paper.

Description

 The present invention relates to a device which, used in several identical copies at the same time, makes it possible to temporarily connect elements each having, along one of its sides, a thin part provided with a set of aligned perforations . The shape and size of the perforations must be compatible with the profile of the device to allow it to function effectively.

Currently available temporary binding processes meet one or more of the following requirements
-Ease of adding elements to be connected and removing connected elements.

 -Possibility of customizing the format of the elements to be linked.

 -Possibility of folding the elements indefinitely on the back of the work (hence a minimal bulk).

 -Possibility of connecting thick (up to about 2 mm thick) and rigid elements.

 - Spacing of the perforations between them not necessarily regular. Wide variety of forms of perforation allowed.

-Robustness
-Lightness
The device according to the invention meets all these requirements.

 I1 consists, according to a first characteristic, of a rigid ring having an opening over its entire width to allow its introduction into one of the perforations of each of the elements to be connected. The width of this opening represents only a small proportion of the circumference of the ring.

On either side of the opening of the ring, the thickness of the ends gradually thins from its inner circumference to its outer circumference. The edges of the ends are rounded on both sides of the ring. This is to facilitate the movement of the connected elements around the ring.

The assembly of the elements to be connected can be carried out as follows a) introduction of all the necessary rings in the perforations of the most rigid - if the choice exists - of the elements to be connected. b) maintenance of the first element plated on any support (table ...) and alignment of the opening of all the rings to add, one after the other, all the elements to be connected. c) end of the assembly: the misalignment of the opening of the rings locks the binding.

The elements can then rotate freely around the binding rings and be folded indefinitely on the back of the book.

Once the work is done, adding or removing elements only requires the alignment of the opening of the rings. Their misalignment locks the binding again.

The device according to the invention does not involve severe constraints on the format of the elements to be connected (except that it takes at least two rings for the device to function and that too many rings can generate significant friction), or as to the spacing of the perforations between them.

According to particular embodiments -The device according to the invention can be declined in different diameters (for example 1 cm, 1.5 cm, 2 cm ..) allowing the production of assemblies of various thicknesses depending on the number and the thickness of the elements to be connected.

-The profile of the ring can have different shapes in order to best adapt to the perforations for which the ring is intended
The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention
Figure 1 shows a view of the device of the invention.

FIG. 2 represents a view of an assembly step: the rings have been passed through the perforations of the first element and their openings aligned in order to receive the other elements to be connected.

Figure 3 shows, along the sectional plane AA of Figure 1, different possible profiles of the device.

With reference to these drawings, the device consists of a rigid ring (fig. 1) having an opening (1) over its entire width to allow its introduction into one of the perforations of each of the elements to be connected. The width of this opening represents only a small proportion of the circumference of the ring.

On either side of the opening (1) of the ring, the thickness of the ends (2) and (3) gradually thins from its inner circumference (4) to its outer circumference (5).

The edges of the ends (2) and (3) are rounded on both sides of the ring.

The material of realization of the ring must combine rigidity, robustness and lightness. Surfaces should be smooth.

The device according to the invention is particularly suitable for the temporary binding of sheets of paper or other information carriers.

Claims (4)

Claims  1) Ring-temporary binding element characterized in that it consists of a rigid ring (fig. 1) having an opening (1) over its entire width to allow its introduction into one of the perforations of each of the elements to be connected .  2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the width of the opening (1) represents only a small proportion of the circumference of the ring.  3) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that on either side of the opening (1) of the ring, the thickness of the ends (2) and (3) gradually thins, over a few millimeters, from its inner circumference (4) to its outer circumference (5).  4) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that on either side of the opening (1) of the ring, the edges of the ends (2) and (3) are rounded on both sides of the ring .