GB1601593A - Reinforcements for punched paper sheets - Google Patents

Description

(54) REINFORCEMENTS FOR PUNCHED PAPER SHEETS (71) I, ABRAHAM MARCUS, a British Subject, of 33/34 Alfred Place, London, WClE 7DP, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to reinforcements for the punched sheets of paper in ring binders and like holders.

Adhesive reinforcements for punched sheets of paper are usually produced as ringlets which are provided loose with gummed backs or, as is currently more usual, with self-adhesive backs and mounted close together along a disposable backing strip. The reinforcements are applied singly to the paper sheets, either with the sheets removed from the holder or, in the case of a ring binder, with the rings open, and the latter operation can be quite time-consuming if several separate sheets are to be reinforced.

It is an object of the present invention to reduce the above disadvantage and, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a reinforcing device for a punched sheet of paper held by rings, comprising at least two reinforcing parts on one face of a backing strip at positions spaced along the strip in accordance with the spacing between the holding rings, the other face of the strip being adhesive, and the device having transverse slits leading from a longitudinal edge of the strip to central openings in the reinforcing parts to allow the reinforcing device to be applied to the sheet without opening the rings.

Suitably, the reinforcing parts are paper rings secured by adhesive to a thin vinyl backing strip having a self-adhesive rear face; alternatively, the reinforcing parts may also be vinyl, or the vinyl strip, suitably perforated and slit, may serve as the reinforcements.

A series of reinforcing devices according to the invention may be provided in the form of a continuous strip, appropriately perforated or scored to facilitate tear-off of individual devices and, in a development of the invention, a continuous strip of this kind, suitably folded as in concertina form, may be accommodated in a pocket at the spine of a ring binder.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a ring binder carrying sheets of paper, the punched holes of which are reinforced in accordance with the present invention; and, Figure 2 is a detail view showing the application of a reinforcing device according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the ring binder illustrated in Figure 1 is of conventional form, being provided with split rings 10 anchored in one of the side parts 11 of the binder and having a spine 12 to which an elongated plastics pocket 13 is secured by adhesive. A series of paper sheets 14 are carried by the rings which extend through openings 15 punched in the sheets.

The openings 15 in the top sheet illustrated in the drawings, are reinforced by a reinforcing device 16 in accordance with the present invention, as are at least some of the sheets below.

Each reinforcing device comprises a pair of annular reinforcements 17 carried by a thin vinyl strip 18. The reinforcements may be initially of conventional ringlet form and secured to the strip 18 by adhesive. According to the invention, however, the reinforcements and strip are slit transversely at 19, and this allows the reinforcing device to be applied in position with the reinforcements surrounding the openings 15, by a simple movement and without opening the rings 10, as indicated by arrow A in Figure 2.

The rear face (not visible) of the strip 18 is adhesive and, when the reinforcements 17 are correctly positioned around the rings 10, the device is pressed down to adhere to the paper sheet 14 and so reinforce the openings 15. In this position, the slits 19 are effectively closed.

The rear face of the strip 18 maybe gummed or, as is usually preferred, coated with a pressure or contact adhesive and provided with a peel-off protective strip.

The reinforcing device 16 may be manufactured in a continuous strip, with transverse scores or perforations adjacent the reinforcements 17 to facilitate tear-off of individual devices (at edges 20). In a development of the invention, a continuous strip 21 of this kind is accommodated in the pocket 13 secured to the spine 12.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that the reinforcing devices according to the invention provide for the accurate application of reinforcements in a simple and rapid manner. Also, the cost of the reinforcing devices described heretofore is very little greater than that of current reinforcements which may be mounted in a tightly spaced series along a backing strip similar to 18 but, of course, without an adhesive on its rear face.

Modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the reinforcements (17) may be integral with the vinyl strip 18, or may simply be parts of the strip with centrally punched holes and transverse slits from the strip periphery to the holes.

The devices according to the invention may also be employed to reinforce the openings in sheets of paper held by means, such as tags, other than split rings, and the phrase "held by rings" is to be construed accordingly.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A reinforcing device for a punched sheet of paper held by rings, comprising at least two reinforcing parts on one face of a backing strip at positions spaced along the strip in accordance with the spacing between the holding rings, the other face of the strip being adhesive, and the device having transverse slits leading from a longitudinal edge of the strip to central openings in the reinforcing parts to allow the reinforcing device to be applied to the sheet without opening the rings.

2. A reinforcing device as claimed in Claim 1, in which said reinforcing parts are integral with rings secured by adhesive to a thin backing strip having a self-adhesive rear face.

3. A reinforcing device as claimed in Claim 1, in whic said reinforcing parts are integral with the backing strip.

4. A reinforcing device as claimed in Claim 3, modified in that said backing strip is sufficiently strong to serve also as said reinforcing parts.

5. A continuous strip of reinforcing devices as claimed in any preceding Claim, and comprising an elongated backing strip on which series of at least two reinforcing parts are provided.

6. A ring binder having an elongated pocket which accommodates a supply of reinforcing devices as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, or a continuous strip of reinforcing devices as claimed in Claim 5 and appropriately folded.

7. A reinforcing device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A ring binder having a pocket which accommodates a continuous strip of reinforcing devices, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. provide for the accurate application of reinforcements in a simple and rapid manner. Also, the cost of the reinforcing devices described heretofore is very little greater than that of current reinforcements which may be mounted in a tightly spaced series along a backing strip similar to 18 but, of course, without an adhesive on its rear face. Modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the reinforcements (17) may be integral with the vinyl strip 18, or may simply be parts of the strip with centrally punched holes and transverse slits from the strip periphery to the holes. The devices according to the invention may also be employed to reinforce the openings in sheets of paper held by means, such as tags, other than split rings, and the phrase "held by rings" is to be construed accordingly. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A reinforcing device for a punched sheet of paper held by rings, comprising at least two reinforcing parts on one face of a backing strip at positions spaced along the strip in accordance with the spacing between the holding rings, the other face of the strip being adhesive, and the device having transverse slits leading from a longitudinal edge of the strip to central openings in the reinforcing parts to allow the reinforcing device to be applied to the sheet without opening the rings.

2. A reinforcing device as claimed in Claim 1, in which said reinforcing parts are integral with rings secured by adhesive to a thin backing strip having a self-adhesive rear face.

3. A reinforcing device as claimed in Claim 1, in whic said reinforcing parts are integral with the backing strip.

4. A reinforcing device as claimed in Claim 3, modified in that said backing strip is sufficiently strong to serve also as said reinforcing parts.

5. A continuous strip of reinforcing devices as claimed in any preceding Claim, and comprising an elongated backing strip on which series of at least two reinforcing parts are provided.

6. A ring binder having an elongated pocket which accommodates a supply of reinforcing devices as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, or a continuous strip of reinforcing devices as claimed in Claim 5 and appropriately folded.

7. A reinforcing device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A ring binder having a pocket which accommodates a continuous strip of reinforcing devices, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.