GB2123341A - Book and binder therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

A book, such as a display book for use by salesmen comprises a plurality of pages disposed between two covers 12 and 14, Figure 6, the pages and covers being connected via a spine (10) (Figure 1). The cover 14 comprises two rigid panels 14a and 14b, the panel 14a being flexibly connected along one edge with the spine (10) and being flexibly connected along its opposite edge with the other panel 14b. The panel 14b is detachably connected, by a releasable clips 32, with the spine (10) at a location on the panel 14b which is remote from the flexible connection between panel 14a and 14b. The book can occupy a normal position, in which the panels 14a and 14b are folded together, or an erected position. In the erected position the edge of panel 14b Figure 7 which is remote from its connection with panel 14a is detached from said spine, and the panel 14a and cover 12 are folded back relative to the spine (10) and connected at their edges remote from the spine (10) by the panel 14b extended from its connection with panel 14a to the free edge of the cover 12. In this erected position the clip 32 engages the free edge of cover 12 to prevent the book from collapsing. In the erected position the covers form an easel to support the pages of the book at a convenient angle for viewing. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Book and binder therefor This invention relates to a book, for example a display book for use by salesmen. It is an object of the invention to provide a book which can readily be converted into a self standing structure presenting to view a desired page or the equivalent.

According to the invention there is provided a book comprising a plurality of pages disposed between two covers, the pages and covers being connected via a spine structure and wherein one of said covers comprises two rigid panels one of which is flexibly or pivotably connected along one edge with said spine structure and is flexibly or pivotably connected along an opposing edge with the other of said two rigid panels, and said other rigid panel being detachably connected, via releasable fastening means, with said spine structure at a location on said other rigid panel which is remote from the flexible or pivotal connection between said one and said other rigid panels, the arrangement being such that the book can occupy a normal position, in which said two rigid panels are folded together, or an erected position in which the edge of said other rigid panel which is remote from the pivotal connection between said rigid panels is detached from said spine, and said one rigid panel and said other cover folded back relative to said spine, and connected at their edges remote from the spine by said other rigid panel extended from its pivotal or flexible connection with said one panel to the free edge of said other cover.

Preferably said releasable fastening means is carried by said other rigid panel and serves, in said erected position of the book, to hold together the free edges of said other cover and said other rigid panel.

An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a book embodying the invention in a closed position, Figure2 is a perspective view of the book in a normal, open position, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the book in an erected position, Figures 4 to 7 are end elevation views illustrating the folding and unfolding of the book between its various positions, Figures 8a to Bdare diagrammatic views illustating the structure of the book, Figure 9 is a perspective view of a clip, forming part of the book, but shown detached therefrom, Figure 9B is an expioded perspective view of a variant clip, Figure SCis a sectional view of the clip of Figure 9B and of a panel to which it is secured, Figure 10 is a perspective view illustrating the book equipped with a carrying handle, Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the assembly of the handle with the book, Figure 12 illustrates a carrying case which may be utilised in conjunction with the book and handle of Figures 10 and 11, Figure 13 is a perspective view illustrating the book fitted with handle and the case of Figure 12, Figure 14 is a view, similar to Figure 8b but showing a variant binder member, Figure 15a is a fragmentary perspective view showing a variant binding arrangement, and Figures 15b and 15c are fragmentary perspective and sectional views respectively showing yet another variant binding arrangement.

Referring to Figures 1 to 7, the book comprises a binder member 10 affording a rigid spine and providing a channel in which are releasably received respective edge portions of a first cover 12 and a second cover 14, and, between the covers, various "pages", ,which, in the embodiment shown, are in the form of clear plastics pockets, of a kind known per se, in which documents, photographs, or the like may be releasably retained to be viewed through the clear plastics.

In the embodiment shown, the binder member is of the form disclosed in or co-pending Application No. (Agents' Reference: PL/1843) and takes the form of an elongate member of substantially uniform cross-section throughout its length, for example being formed as a length of plastics extrusion, or as a plastics moulding, the binding member being resilient and providing (see Figure 8b) a channel in which the edge portions of the pages or pockets and the covers are received and which channel comprises side walls 16 and a bottom wall 18from the middle of which extends, in the opposite direction from the side walls 16, a central web 20 which, along its edge remote from the side wall 18 joins with a flange or cross-piece 22 extending substantially parallel with the bottom wall 18 and spaced therefrom by the web 20.Thus, the web 20 and flange 22 together constitute a "T"-section formation. As shown in Figure 8a, the edge portions of the covers and pockets to be received in the binder 10 are provided, in known manner, with perforations or slots at predetermined locations and are held together by initially U-shaped lengths of soft plastics-coated wire 24 which are extended through respective sets of aligned apertures in the edges of the pockets and covers and bent over longitudinally on the top of the stack of pockets and covers as indicated by the arrows 26 in Figure 8a. The channel portion of the binder 10 is then slid longitudinally over the edge portions of the covers and pockets and the wires 24.The side walls 16 have inwardly directed ribs or flanges 17 at their free edges, as shown in Figure 8b, or are provided on their inner faces with longitudinally extending grooves, in order to provide space to accommodate the base and end portions of the wires 24.

In a variant, shown in Figure 8d, in which the side walls 16 are provided with such longitudinally extending grooves on their inner faces, the covers and pockets are held together not by soft wires 24, but by moulded plastics binding posts 28 each having a stem extending through a respective set of aligned apertures in the edges of the covers and pockets and a flat enlarged head at one end adapted to overlie the stack of covers and pockets, with the stem being extended somewhat on the upper side (as viewed in Figure 8d) of the head to provide a protuberance to locate in the groove in the upper channel side wall 16 (as viewed in Figure 8d).

The particular forms of the binder 10 shown are those preferred for the filing system which is the subject of our co-pending Application No. (Agents' Reference. PU1843), the "T"-section formation extending from the base 18 serving as a means for location and suspension of the book or file in a support affording downwardly open "T"-section channels.

The covers 12 and 14 are preferably of plastics material, such as polypropylene, and comprise rigid panels of substantially uniform, relatively greater thickness connected by longitudinally extending flex-portions or "hinges", each afforded by a narrow, longitudinally extending region of reduced thickness as compared with the adjoining panels.

The covers 12 and 14 each include a narrow rectangular panel received in the channel of member 10, and a larger rectangular panel, forming the pivotable part of the respective cover, or a portion thereof and connected with the narrow panel by such a "hinge", said "hinge" being arranged to lie just outside the channel of the member 10, parallel with the longitudinal extent thereof.The cover 12 is of single thickness, but, as best shown in Figures 6 and 8a, the cover comprises, in addition to said narrow panel held in the channel of the binder 10, two rigid panels 14a and 14b, the panel 14a being connected along one longitudinal edge thereof, via a "hinge" of the aforementioned kind, with the portion of the cover which is held in the channel of the binder 10 and being connected with the panel 14b along its opposite, parallel longitudinal edge via a further longitudinally extending hinge of the aforementioned kind. The panel 14b carried, in the region of its free edge remote from the hinge connecting it with panel 14a, at a point midway along its length, a clip 32 having an operative portion of "C" section.

In the closed position of the book as shown in Figures 1 and 4, the panels 14a and 14b are folded one against the other about the flex line or hinge connecting the panels 14a and 146 two afford a cover of double thickness, the clip 32 is engaged over the binder 10 so that the latter is held between the arms of the "C". In this position, the cover 12 and the pockets can still be swung upwardly relative to the binder 10 and cover 14 so that the bookcan be used in a conventional fashion as illustrated in Figure 2.

However, by bending the clip 32 back, (the clip 32 is preferably of resilient plastics material), as shown in Figure 5, the binder 10 can be released to allow the panel 14b and with it the clip 32 to be swung away from the panel 14a as shown in Figure 6, and the cover 12 and panel 14a swung away from one another, relative to the binder 10, so that the cover 12 and panel 14a are each swung through about 1200 relative to the binder 10 into the position shown in Figure 7, and the free edge of the cover 12 can be located in the clip 32c as shown, whereby the panels 14a and 14b and the cover 12 together form a stable structure having in cross section substantially the form of an equilateral triangle, with the panel 1 4b affording the base and the panel 14a and cover 12 forming the two sides (see Figure 3).In this erected position, the triangular structure forms, in effect, an easel or lactern over the sloping surfaces of which lie the pages or pockets, exposing to view the material which is to be read or displayed.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the clip, shown detached from the cover member. The clip;which is of plastics material, is of substantially constant J-section throughout its length, a flex line or "hinge" 128 of reduced material thickness being formed across the part providing the longer limb of dhe"J", at a position substantially the same distance from the base 130 of the member as the free edge of the shorter limb of the "J". Thus, the remainder of the longer limb of the "J", (reference 132), in effect forms a mounting plate to which the remainder of the member, corresponding to the "C"-shaped portion of the clip is pivotally connected.The plate 132 is provided with holes 134 to receive rivets or the like fastening means whereby the plates 132'can be secured to the panel 1 4b of the book.

In an alternative arrangement, illustrated in Figures 9B and 9C, the clip 32, in place of holes 134, is provided with integral pegs 135, upst ndiiig frorn portion 132 and which pegs, in assemi;ly'i)f'the file, are extended through corresponding apertures formed in the panel 14b, after which a correspondingly apertured plate 201 is fitted over the pegs 135, so that the panel 14b is sandwiched between plate 201 and portion 132, and the free ends of the pegs 135 are upset by application of heat and pressure, to effectively rivet the portion 132, panel 14b and plate 201 together.Alternatively, the free ends of the pegs 135 may be formed so as to be a siiap fit behind the plate 201 after the latter is applied. . t The portion 132 may be set into a recess formed in the panel 14b. For example, as illustrated in Figure 9C, where the panel 14b is formed by'a sheet of cardboard or the like covered on either side by plastics sheeting, the cardboard may be cut away over the area to be occupied by the portion 4.3, so that a reduced thickness portion df thepaner 1 4b is defined by the plastics sheeting alone.

As shown in Figure 10 and 11, the book may be equipped with a carrying handle 40 in which the book is held by the spine 10. (It will be apprnciated from Figures 4 and 7 that the handle, which extends away from the base 18 in the' same direction as the web 20, lies flat in substantially the same plane as the remainder of the book in the normal position as illustrated in Figure 2 and extends downwardly from the spine 10 within the volume encompassed by the cover 12 and panels 14a and 14b in the erected position shown in Figure 7, so that the handle does not have to be removed to use the book in either of its two modes.

As shown in Figure 10, the carrying handle is substantially a member of inverted U-shape, for example of synthetic plastics, each of the free ends of the arm of the U being somewhat enlarged transversely and having formed therethrough a T-section slot 42 of a cross section compleinentary with that of the T-section fornnatior; 20 18 to receive the same when the handle is slid longitudinally onto the spine 10. The clip 32 is, of course, released from the spine 10 and the panel 14b partly swung away from the panel 14a to allow the handle 40 to be slid to a central position, whereafter the clip can be engaged with the spine again in the region between the two limbs of the handle 40, to hold the handle captive.

Figures 12 and 13 illustrate a weatherproof case which may be used for the book in conjunction with the handle 40. The case, which is of generally rectangular form when closed, comprises a lower portion affording a rectangular compartment for the book and an upper portion in the form of a lid including a spine portion 48 pivotally of flexibly connected along one side wall of the lower portion and a flap 50 pivotally or flexibly connected along one edge with the other edge of the spine portion 48.

A strap 52 extending across the other side of the lower portion serves to retain the flap 50 in the closed position. The spine portion 48 has a longitudinal slot 49 therein to receive the carrying handle 40 (see Figure 13).

Figure 14 is a partial sectional view, similar to Figure 8b, of a book utilizing a variant of the binder member of Figure 8b. In this variant, the side walls 200 of the channel are connected with the base wall 210 by portions 212 of reduced thickness which form lines of flexing or "hinges" effectively pivotally connecting the side walls 200 with the base 210. In this variant, each of the side walls 200 is provided, on its inner side, with a formation 214 providing a channel with a restricted mouth opening in the direction towards the formation on the other side wall 200, the binder being substantially symmetrical about a vertical central line as viewed in Figure 14.In this variant, instead of the sheets or pockets being held together by plastics coated wire, they are held together by a series of pins 216 each extending through a set of aligned holes in the superimposed sheets, each pin 216 having an enlarged head part at either end thereof, one of which head parts is detachable to allow insertion of the pin in the respective apertures in the pages or pockets and in the covers, the head portions of said pins being too large to pass through the channels afforded by formations 214, so that the head portions are held captive in said channels and the pins 216 serve to hold the two side walls 200 together with the superimposed sheets therebetween. In this variant also, the binder member 210 is applied by sliding longitudinally over the aligned, superimposed, edge portions of the pages or pockets and covers.

In a further variant, shown in Figure 15a, instead of utilising individual binding posts 28 with respective heads, there may be utilised a one-piece flexible retaining insert 300 of flexible plastics material, comprising an elongate flat strip 302 having at intervals therealong apertures 304, the strip 302 having, in the region of each such aperture 304, an integral tab 306 extending therefrom, each tab 306 having extending transversely thereacross a flexible region affording a "hinge", the portion of the tag 36 on the side of said hinge remote from the strip 302 being provided with an integral upstanding peg 308 adapted to fit tightly into or snap into the respective aperture 304, in the manner indicated at 400 in Figure 15a. The apertures 304 and tags 306 are preferably disposed at intervals along the strip 302 corresponding to the spacing between the holes formed in operation of the standard multiple punch (multi-punch). In use, the pre-punched pages to be bound are laid in a bundle with their edges lying on the portions of the tags 306 adjoining the strip 302, with the strip 302 extending along one face of the bundle and the apertures in the pages of the bundle aligned with the respective apertures 304. The tags 306 are then bent upwardly on the face of the bundle remote from the strip 302 and the pegs 308 inserted through the aligned apertures in the pages of the bundle into the respective apertures 304, whereupon the flexible insert, with the pages held therein, is slid longitudinally into the channel portion of the binder.

In a further variant, shown in Figure 15b, the bound pages are located by means comprising two elongate plastics strips 312 and 314 respectively, the strip 312 having, at intervals therealong, apertures 316 and the strip 314 having, at corresponding intervals therealong, integral pegs 318 extending transversely from the strip 314. The spacing of the apertures 316 and pegs 318 corresponds with the spacing of the apertures formed by a standard multiple punch used to punch binding apertures in the edges of pages to be bound so that the edges of the pages to be bound can be accommodated between the strips 314, with the pegs 318 extended through the apertures in the pages to be bound and inserted, at their free ends, as a close or snap-fit in the respective aperture 316 in the stip 312.The strips 312 and 314 are formed, at positions intermediate the apertures 316 or pegs 318 respectively, with grooves 320 which define lines of weakening whereby the strips can be broken in the regions of these grooves to allow shorter binding elements to be used or to allow the portions between adjoining grooves 320 to be used individually. As in the variants of Figure 8d and Figure 15a, with a bundle of pages bound between the strips 312 and 314 or between respective portions broken from such strips, the strips 312 and 314 or portions thereof, with the edge portions of the pages held therebetween, are slid longitudinally into the channel portion of the binder member 10 (see Figure 15c).

The preferred embodiment described with reference to the drawings thus provides an extremely versatile presentation or the like book, for example for use by salesmen or for tuition purposes, etc.

which is compact and simple in construction and in the erected position allows the user to have both hands free.

It will be appreciated that many variations are possible within the scope of the claims. Thus, for example, the covers 12,14, and the spine member 10 could be formed as respective parts of a unitary plastics (e.g. polypropylene) member, with the covers being connected directly to the side walls of the channel afforded by the spine member via respective flex or "hinge" zones of reduced material thickness.

Claims (6)

1. A book comprising a plurality of pages disposed between two covers, the pages and covers being connected via a spine structure and wherein one of said covers comprises two rigid panels one of which is flexibly or pivotably connected along one edge with said spine structure and is flexibly or pivotably connected along an opposing edge with the other of said two rigid panels, and said other rigid panel being detachably connected, via releasable fastening means, with said spine structure at a location on said other rigid panel which is remote from the flexible or pivotal connection between said one and said other rigid panels, the arrangement being such that the book can occupy a normal position, in which said two rigid panels are folded together, or an erected position in which the edge of said other rigid panel which is remote from the pivotal connection between said rigid panels is detached from said spine, and said one rigid panel and said other cover folded back relative to said spine, and connected at their edges remote from the spine by said other rigid panel extended from its pivotal or flexible connection with said one panel to the free edge of said other cover.

2. A book according to claim 1 wherein said releasable fastening means is carried by said other rigid panel and serves, in said erected position of the book, to hold together the free edges of said other cover and said other rigid panel.

3. A book according to claim 2 wherein said fastening means comprises a clip including a portion of generally C-shaped cross-section, one limb of which is pivotally or flexibly secured to a portion secured to said other rigid panel, the arrangement being such that in said normal position, the clip embraces, as one assembly, said spine and the adjoining portions of the two covers.

4. A book substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

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

6. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.