GB2044674A

GB2044674A - Document Binder

Info

Publication number: GB2044674A
Application number: GB7908937A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: ROCHFORD THOMPSON Ltd
Current assignee: ROCHFORD THOMPSON Ltd
Priority date: 1979-03-14
Filing date: 1979-03-14
Publication date: 1980-10-22
Also published as: GB2044674B

Abstract

A document binder (1) e.g. for cheques (15) comprises a base member (2) having a plurality of upstanding studs (6) each formed with a head (7). The base member is hingedly connected to a spine member (3) which in turn is hingedly connected to a locking member (4). The locking member has a plurality of tubular projections (9) through which the studs (6) are forced during assembly. Once assembled the binder cannot be opened without breaking the studs (6). The binder is formed as an integral plastics moulding. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Document Binder This invention relates to a document binder, and in particular to a document binder having a "tamper-proof" fixing whereby once the binder has been used it cannot be dis-assembled and subsequently re-used.

According to one feature of the present invention there is provided a document binder comprising a base member; a stud projecting from the base member and having a head spaced from the base member; and a locking member which, in use, is locked onto the stud to bind documents on the stud between the base member and the locking member, the locking member having an aperture through which the head is inserted to mount the locking member on the stud but through which the head cannot be subsequently withdrawn by pulling apart the locking member and the base member without damaging the binder beyond further use.

Preferably, the base member is elongate and extends along the entire bound edge of the documents with a plurality of substantially identica! studs projecting from the base member at spaced locations along its length. Preferably the locking member also extends entirely along the bound edge of the documents and is provided with a plurality of apertures each for receiving a respective stud of the base member. In the preferred embodiment the locking member includes an elongate base portion hingedly connected to the base member, and the apertures.

are formed as passages in tubular projections upstanding from the base portion of the locking member.

An embodiment of the present invention is particularly suitable for binding security documents, for example cheques, into a book.

The invention will be better understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows the end portion of an embodiment of document binder according to the invention before the binder has been used; Figure 2 is a section on the line Il-Il of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a sectional perspective view showing the document binder of Figures 1 and 2 in use.

The document binder 1 shown in the drawings is formed as an integral moulding from any suitable plastics material. The binder includes a base member 2 hingedly connected to a spine member 3 which in turn is hingedly connected to a locking member 4. The hinge connections between the base member 2 and spine member 3 and between the spine member 3 and locking member 4 are formed by thin webs 5 of plastics material integral with the document binder. The base member 2, spine member 3, locking member 4, and webs 5 preferably extend along the entire edge of the documents to be bound.

At spaced locations along the length of the base member 2 studs 6 are formed integrally therewith, and extend perpendicular to the surface thereof. Each stud terminates in a head 7 formed by a projecting flange extending around approximately 1 800 of the periphery of the studs 6. The studs 6 are aligned with each other, and all project the same distance from the base member 2.

The locking member 4 comprises a base portion 8 provided with upstanding tubular projections 9. The tubular projections 9 are aligned with the studs 6 and receive the studs 6 in the manner shown in Figure 3 when the binder is in use. Each tubular projection 9 includes a central aperture 10 having a relatively large diameter lead-in portion 11 in which the head 7 of the respective stud 6 is a sliding fit. The lead-in portion 11 merges via a taper into a central portion 12 sized to receive the studs 6. The central portion preferably has a diameter slightly larger than that of the studs 6. In the preferred embodiment the diameter of the central portion 12 is 2 mm and the diameter of the studs 6 is 1.9 mm.Finally, the aperture 10 includes a recess portion 1 3 sized to receive the heads 7 as a snug fit, and connected to the central portion by a shoulder 14 the plane of which is perpendicular to the axis of the aperture 1 0.

In use, documents, for example cheques, are formed with apertures having approximately the same outside diameter and spacing as the tubular projections 9. A plurality of such -documents are mounted on the tubular projections 9 and the webs 5 are bent to bring the head 7 of each stud into the respective lead-in portion 11 of the associated projection 9. The studs are then firmly pressed to force the heads 7 through the central portion 12 of each aperture 10 and into the recess portion 13. As soon as the heads 7 clear the central portion 12 they snap outwardly into the recess portions 13. This leads to the configuration illustrated in Figure 3.

Once this bound configuration has beeb achieved the co-operation between the shoulders 14 and the heads 7 ensures that the studs cannot easily be withdrawn from the locking member.

Any attempt to force the studs out of the locking member for example by pulling apart the base member 2 and the base portion 8 of the locking member will result in the studs breaking off or tearing away from the base member 2 in the region of the connection between the studs and the base member. Any such damage renders the binder unsuitable for future use. Accordingly, tampering with the bound documents, for example the cheque book, is prevented.

Claims

1. A document binder comprising a base member; a stud projecting from the base member and having a head spaced from the base member; and a locking member which, in use, is locked onto the stud to bind documents on the stud

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Document Binder This invention relates to a document binder, and in particular to a document binder having a "tamper-proof" fixing whereby once the binder has been used it cannot be dis-assembled and subsequently re-used. According to one feature of the present invention there is provided a document binder comprising a base member; a stud projecting from the base member and having a head spaced from the base member; and a locking member which, in use, is locked onto the stud to bind documents on the stud between the base member and the locking member, the locking member having an aperture through which the head is inserted to mount the locking member on the stud but through which the head cannot be subsequently withdrawn by pulling apart the locking member and the base member without damaging the binder beyond further use. Preferably, the base member is elongate and extends along the entire bound edge of the documents with a plurality of substantially identica! studs projecting from the base member at spaced locations along its length. Preferably the locking member also extends entirely along the bound edge of the documents and is provided with a plurality of apertures each for receiving a respective stud of the base member. In the preferred embodiment the locking member includes an elongate base portion hingedly connected to the base member, and the apertures. are formed as passages in tubular projections upstanding from the base portion of the locking member. An embodiment of the present invention is particularly suitable for binding security documents, for example cheques, into a book. The invention will be better understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows the end portion of an embodiment of document binder according to the invention before the binder has been used; Figure 2 is a section on the line Il-Il of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a sectional perspective view showing the document binder of Figures 1 and 2 in use. The document binder 1 shown in the drawings is formed as an integral moulding from any suitable plastics material. The binder includes a base member 2 hingedly connected to a spine member 3 which in turn is hingedly connected to a locking member 4. The hinge connections between the base member 2 and spine member 3 and between the spine member 3 and locking member 4 are formed by thin webs 5 of plastics material integral with the document binder. The base member 2, spine member 3, locking member 4, and webs 5 preferably extend along the entire edge of the documents to be bound. At spaced locations along the length of the base member 2 studs 6 are formed integrally therewith, and extend perpendicular to the surface thereof. Each stud terminates in a head 7 formed by a projecting flange extending around approximately 1 800 of the periphery of the studs 6. The studs 6 are aligned with each other, and all project the same distance from the base member 2. The locking member 4 comprises a base portion 8 provided with upstanding tubular projections 9. The tubular projections 9 are aligned with the studs 6 and receive the studs 6 in the manner shown in Figure 3 when the binder is in use. Each tubular projection 9 includes a central aperture 10 having a relatively large diameter lead-in portion 11 in which the head 7 of the respective stud 6 is a sliding fit. The lead-in portion 11 merges via a taper into a central portion 12 sized to receive the studs 6. The central portion preferably has a diameter slightly larger than that of the studs 6. In the preferred embodiment the diameter of the central portion 12 is 2 mm and the diameter of the studs 6 is 1.9 mm.Finally, the aperture 10 includes a recess portion 1 3 sized to receive the heads 7 as a snug fit, and connected to the central portion by a shoulder 14 the plane of which is perpendicular to the axis of the aperture 1 0. In use, documents, for example cheques, are formed with apertures having approximately the same outside diameter and spacing as the tubular projections 9. A plurality of such -documents are mounted on the tubular projections 9 and the webs 5 are bent to bring the head 7 of each stud into the respective lead-in portion 11 of the associated projection 9. The studs are then firmly pressed to force the heads 7 through the central portion 12 of each aperture 10 and into the recess portion 13. As soon as the heads 7 clear the central portion 12 they snap outwardly into the recess portions 13. This leads to the configuration illustrated in Figure 3. Once this bound configuration has beeb achieved the co-operation between the shoulders 14 and the heads 7 ensures that the studs cannot easily be withdrawn from the locking member. Any attempt to force the studs out of the locking member for example by pulling apart the base member 2 and the base portion 8 of the locking member will result in the studs breaking off or tearing away from the base member 2 in the region of the connection between the studs and the base member. Any such damage renders the binder unsuitable for future use. Accordingly, tampering with the bound documents, for example the cheque book, is prevented. Claims

1. A document binder comprising a base member; a stud projecting from the base member and having a head spaced from the base member; and a locking member which, in use, is locked onto the stud to bind documents on the stud between the base member and the locking member, the locking member having an aperture through which the head is inserted to mount the locking member on the stud but through which the head cannot be subsequently withdrawn by pulling apart the locking member and the base member without damaging the binder beyond further use.

2. A document binder according to claim 1 wherein the base member is elongate and a plurality of substantially identical studs project from the base member at spaced locations along its length, the locking member being of substantially equal length to the base member and having a plurality of apertures each for receiving a respective stud of the base member.

3. A document binder according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the locking member includes a locking member base which is hingedly coupled to the base member.

4. A document binder according to claim 3 wherein the base member is hingedly connected to a spine member which in turn is hingedly connected to the locking member base.

5. A document binder according to claim 4 wherein the binder is an integral plastics moulding and the hinge connections between the spine member and the base member and locking member base are provided by thin webs of plastics material.

6. A document binder according to any preceding claim wherein the or each aperture is provided by the passage in a respective tubular projection upstanding from the locking member base.

7. A document binder according to claim 6 wherein the or each stud comprises a shaft portion upstanding from the base member and terminating in a head which has a greater diameter than the shaft portion, and wherein the or each passage comprises a lead-in portion in which the head is a sliding fit and a shaft receiving portion having a diameter smaller than the lead-in portion.

8. A document binder according to claim 7 wherein the passage further comprises a recess portion sized to accommodate the head and located on the side of the shaft receiving portion remote from the lead-in portion.

9. A document binder according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the head comprises a flange projecting from the shaft portion around part only of the periphery of the shaft portion.

10. A document binder according to claim 9 wherein the shaft portion is circular in transverse cross-section and the flange projects from the shaft portion around approximately 1800 of the periphery thereof.

11. A document binder according to any of claims 6 to 10 wherein the tubular projection abuts the base member when the locking member is mounted on the stud.

12. A document binder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

13. A bound document comprising a plurality of sheets of material secured together by a document binder according to any preceding claim.

14. A bound document according to claim 13 wherein the base member and the locking member both extend along substantially the entire bound edge of the document.