GB2212446A

GB2212446A - Magazine binders

Info

Publication number: GB2212446A
Application number: GB8727020A
Authority: GB
Inventors: T A Teichmann
Original assignee: AMBROPLASTICS Ltd
Current assignee: AMBROPLASTICS Ltd
Priority date: 1987-11-18
Filing date: 1987-11-18
Publication date: 1989-07-26
Anticipated expiration: 2007-11-18
Also published as: GB2212446B; GB8727020D0

Abstract

A folded magazine (13) is held in a binder (10) (11) by a finger (obscured in Fig 1) which engages the fold, the finger being held by a retainer 12 which is 'snap' engagable with a formation in a mounting member attached to the spine (10) of the binder, engagement being by movement of retainer 12 axially along the spine toward the magazine. <IMAGE>

Description

Title:"Binder and retaining means for use in the binder" Description of Invention From a first aspect, the present invention relates to a binder suitable for magazines. The binder is intended primarily to receive magazines of the kind comprising a number of sheets, each with a single fold and disposed one inside the fold of the other. These sheets are generally secured together by staples or other fastening elements positioned along the fold line. It will be appreciated that the binder may be used for other folded sheets or assemblies of folded sheets.

According to the first aspect of the invention, there is provided a binder suitable for magazines and comprising a spine, a pair of leaves connected with the spine along opposite margins of the spine and first and second retaining means anchored to the spine, disposed at the inside of the binder and spaced from each other along the spine, wherein at least a first of said retaining means comprises a mounting member attached to the spine and a retaining member releasably connected with the mounting member.

The or each retaining member preferably includes a body engaged with the corresponding mounting member and an arm projecting from the body away from the associated mounting member towards the other mounting means.

In use, a magazine is disposed between the first and second retaining means and the arm extends along the fold of the magazine at the inside of the magazine, to retain the magazine adjacent to the spine. It will be understood that, provided the arm of at least one of the retaining means associated with a particular magazine is releasable from the associated mounting member, the other retaining means associated with that magazine may comprise an arm which is substantially permanently connected with the spine. However, we prefer that the first and second retaining means should be of the same construction, each comprising a mounting member attached to the spine and a retaining member releasably connected with the mounting member.

Retaining members of the same form are suitable for use in binders of different sizes for binding differently sized magazines.

There is preferably associated with each mounting member a row of retaining members, one for each magazine to be included in the binder. The length of the mounting member can be varied according to the number of magazines to be bound. In a case where the mounting member is of uniform cross-section throughout its length, each mounting member may be severed from a length of stock of the appropriate cross-section. The same stock can be used to form mounting members of different lengths and mounting members suitable for use in binders having different sizes. This contributes to economy of production of the binders and the use of identical retaining members in different binders contributes further to economy of production.

The retaining means can be attached to the spine in respective positions which are selected according to the size of the magazines to be bound. The or each mounting member may be secured to the spine by one or more fasteners. Alternatively, the or each mounting member may be bonded to the spine. Bonding may be by fusion or by means of a settable adhesive. Suitable fasteners include rivets which extend through the spine and through the mounting member and projections formed integrally with the spine and extending through or into suitable openings provided in the mounting member.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided retaining means for use in a binder in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the retaining means comprising a mounting member for attachment to the spine of the binder and a retaining member adapted for connection releasably with the mounting member, the retaining member including a body which is a snap-fit with the mounting member and an arm which projects from the body and away from the mounting member. There may be provided for each mounting member a plurality of retaining members which can be arranged in a row on the mounting member, respective arms of the retaining members projecting in a direction which is perpendicular to the length of the row.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of assembling a binder wherein there is formed a spine of the binder, a pair of mounting members are secured to the spine in respective positions adjacent to opposite ends thereof and a plurality of retaining members are snapped onto each mounting member.

Examples of binders and retaining means embodying the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE I illustrates a binder containing a single magazine; FIGURE 2 illustrctes, on an enlarged scale, a mounting member and two retaining members of the binder of Figure l; FIGURE 3 illustrates modified mounting member and retaining member which may be substituted for the mounting member and retaining members of the binder of Figures I and 2; and FIGURE 4 shows a partial cross-section through a further binder incorporating the mounting member and retaining member of Figure 3, the cross-section being in the plane represented by the line IV-IV on Figure 3.

The binder illustrated in Figures I and 2 comprises an enlongated spine 10 and a pair of leaves II, the leaves being connected with the spine along opposite margins of the spine for pivoting relative to the spine between open and closed positions. Each of the leaves preferably incorporates a core of relatively stiff, sheet material, for example cardboard, and a covering of relatively flexible sheet material, for example a thermo-plastic material.

The thermo-plastic sheet material may cover the spine 10 also and may provide the pivotal connection between the leaves and the spine. Typically, two layers of the thermo-plastic material are welded together along respective hinge lines between the spine and the core of leaves.

Retaining means 12 is provided inside the binder and adjacent to one end of the spine 10 for retaining a magazine 13 in the binder. Adjacent to the opposite end of the spine, there is provided further retaining means (not shown) which may be identical with the retaining means 12. The retaining means 12 is illustrated in detail in Figure 2.

The retaining means 12 includes an elongated mounting member 14 arranged with its length extending transversely of the spine 10. The length of the mounting member is preferably such that the member extends almost from one of the leaves II to the other leaf I 1. In the example illustrated, the mounting member 14 presents towards the spine 10 a flat surface which bears against the thermo-plastic sheet material covering the internal face of the spine. The mounting member is secured to the spine by two or more rivets 15 which extend through the mounting member, through the spine and through both layers of thermo-plastic material covering-the spine. By means of the rivets, the mounting member is permanently secured to the spine.

There is formed in the mounting member 14 a recess 16 which extends along the entire length of the mounting member. This recess has an open mouth facing towards the adjacent end of the spine and away from the other mounting means. There is associated with the mounting member 14 a plurality of retaining members, two of which are shown in Figure 2 and which are identified by the reference numerals 17 and 18. The retaining member 17 is illustrated in Figure 2, already fitted to the mounting member 14 and the retaining member 18 is illustrated in Figure 2 in a position in which it is separated from the mounting member, preparatory to fitting to the mounting member.

The retaining members 17 and 18 are identical one with the other and therefore only the retaining member 17 will be described. This retaining member comprises a body 19 and an arm 20 projecting from the body in a direction along the spine -10 towards the other retaining means of the binder.

The body 19 includes a tongue 21 which is a snap-fit in the recess 16. There extends into the body 19 from a position between a root of the arm 20 and a tip of the tongue 21 a recess 22 which receives a tongue 23 formed on the mounting member 14. To establish the snap action, a groove 24 is formed in the recess 22 at the root of the tongue 21 to receive a lip 25 formed on the tongue 23 adjacent to the tip of that tongue.

The body 19 is formed with a surface 26 which extends from the root of the arm 20 in a direction away from the recess 22 and which faces generally in a direction along the arm towards the free-end thereof. The surface 26 may be flat or curved, for example slightly concave, and may be perpendicular to the spine 10 or inclined thereto at an angle near to 900.

That portion of the arm 20 which is adjacent to the body 19 extends over the mounting member 14 in close proximity thereto. Beyond the mounting member, the arm curves down towards the spine 10 so that a freeend portion 27 of the arm lies nearer to the spine 10 than does'the root of the arm. The free-end portion of the arm is spaced from the spine by a gap in which the fold of a magazine can be received.

The retaining member 17 is used to hold a magazine in the binder by inserting the free-end portion 27 of the arm into the magazine adjacent to the fold thereof and then inserting the tongue 21 into the recess 16. Such insertion is effected by the application of pressure to a surface of the body which faces away from the arm 20. When the magazine is to be released from the binder, pressure is exerted on the surface 26 to push the body 19 away from the mounting member 14, withdrawing the tongue 21 from the recess 16. Such withdrawal, and insertion of the tongue into the recess, requires elastic deformation of one or both of the retaining member and mounting member.The stress to which these members are subjected during insertion and removal of the retaining member from the mounting member is at least partly relieved when the tongue 21 is fully inserted into the recess 16.

The free-end portion 27 of the arm has a small dimension, measured in a direction along the mounting member 14. The corresponding dimension of the body 19 is somewhat greater and the corresponding dimension of the arm 20 near to the root of the arm may be the same as that of the body 19. This dimension of the body is a plurality of times smaller than is the length of the mounting member 14, so that a number of retaining members can be snapped into the single mounting member 14. The retaining means 12 comprises one retaining member for each magazine to be held in the binder.

The binder illustrated in Figures I and 2 may be modified by omission of the rivets 15 and bonding of the mounting member 14 to the spine 10. In this case, an aperture coinciding with the mounting member is formed in the thermo-plastics sheet material covering the spine at the inside of the binder, so that the mounting member can be bonded directly to the spine. Such bonding may be achieved by welding or by use of an adhesive. In a further alternative arrangement, there are substituted for the rivets 15 projections which are formed integrally with the spine 10 and which extend into or through apertures formed in the mounting member 14.The mounting member may be a snap-fit on such formations but, in this case, the formations are adapted to establish a substantially permanent connection between the spine and the mounting member, as - distinct from the releasable connection established between the retaining member 17 and the mounting member.

A further modification of the binder of Figures I and 2 is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. In these figures, parts corresponding to those of the binder shown in Figures I and 2 are identified by like reference numerals with the prefix I and the preceding description is deemed to apply, except for the differences hereinafter mentioned.

The spine 10 of the binder shown in Figures I and 2 is substantially flat.

The spine 110 shown in Figure 4 has the form of a channel arranged with its open mouth facing towards the interior of the binder. The depth of the channel may be substantially equal to the corresponding dimension of the mounting member 114. The mounting member is disposed in the channel and is seated on the base of the channel. It will be noted that the channel may be covered by flexible sheet material which provides a hinge connection between the spine and the leaves Ill.

The mounting member 114 is formed with a longitudinally extending aperture 128 which is preferably spaced from the recess 116. A fastening element 129 extends through this aperture and through corresponding apertures formed in the side wall of the spine 110. The fastener may be a rivet and have heads at the outside of the spine, at faces which are front and rear faces, when the binder is closed. Alternatively, a pair of fasteners may be used to secure the mounting member 114, each fastener extending through a respective one of the side walls of the spine 110 and into the mounting member, towards the other fastening element.

The mounting member 114 may alternatively secured to the spine 110 by bonding or by other fasteners.

The retaining member 17 shown in Figure 2 may be used in conjunction with the mounting member 114. Alternatively, the modified retaining member shown in Figure 3 may be used. In this mounting member, the relatively thin, free-end portion of the arm 120 has a depth which is considerably greater, preferably at least twice, the corresponding dimension of the arm adjacent to the body 119.

The retaining members 17 and 117 may be formed by moulding thermoplastics material, for example nylon. The mounting members 14 and 114 are conveniently formed by extrusion of thermo-plastics moteriol and then severing the extruded lengths transversely. It will be noted that the same extrusion and the same moulded retaining members can be used in binders of various sizes. The spine 10 may be cut from sheet material, preferably a metal or a stiff plastics material and is at least as rigid as are the leaves II.

The spine 110 may be formed by pressing or moulding or by extrusion. In a case where holes are required in the spine to receive fastening elements, more than one set of holes may be provided, the sets being spaced apart along the spine so that each mounting member can be fastened to the spine in any selected one of a plurality of alternative positions. In a case where the spine is required to have integral projections for attaching the mounting member, the spine is conveniently formed by moulding a plastics material. In this case, the position of each mounting member would normally be predetermined by the positions of the projections on the spine. It will be understood that a mounting member can be bonded to the spine at any selected position along the spine.

It will also be noted that each retaining member can be applied to and removed from the associated mounting member independently of the other retaining members. The mounting members and retaining members grip each other sufficiently tightly to ensure that friction prevents inadvertent sliding of the retaining members along the mounting member to which they are fitted.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attoining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or any combination of such features be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:-

I. A binder suitable for magazines and comprising a spine, a pair of leaves connected with the spine along opposite margins of the spine and first and second retaining means anchored to the spine, disposed inside the binder and spaced from each other along the spine, wherein at least a first of said retaining means comprises a mounting member attached to the spine and a retaining member releasably connected with the mounting member.
2. A binder according to Claim I wherein the or each retaining member includes a body engaged with the corresponding mounting member and an arm projecting from the body towards the other retaining means.
3. A binder according to Claim I or Claim 2 wherein the or each retaining member is s snap-fit with the associated mounting member.
4. A binder according to Claim 3 wherein one of the retaining member and the mounting member defines a recess having an open mouth facing along the spine and the other of said members includes a tongue which is a snap-fit in the recess and wherein the body of the retaining member has an external surface which faces along the spine so that exertion of pressure on said surface tends to withdraw the tongue from the recess.
5. A binder according to any preceding Claim wherein the or each mounting member has a flat face presented towards the spine.
6. A binder according to any preceding Claim wherein at least one fastener extends from the spine through or into an opening in the mounting member.
7. A binder according to any one of Claims I to 5 wherein the mounting member is bonded to the spine.
8. Retaining means for use in a binder according to any preceding Claim, the retaining means comprising a mounting member suitable for attachment to the spine of the binder and a retaining member which inclodes a body and an arm projecting from the body, wherein one of the retaining member and the mounting member defines a recess having an open mouth and the other of said members includes a tongue which is a snap-fit in the recess, wherein the tongue extends longitudinally of the arm, and wherein the body of the retaining member has an external surface which faces along the arm so that exertion of pressure on said surface tends to withdraw the tongue from the recess.
9. A binder according to Claim 4 or retaining means according to Claim 8 wherein said surface of the body is adjacent to a root of the arm.
10. A binder according to any one of Claims I to 7 or Claim 9 or retaining means according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 wherein said arm is cranked.
II. A binder according to any one of Claims I to 7, 9 and 10 or retaining means according to any one of Claims 8 to 10 wherein the root of the arm lies between said surface and the tongue or recess of the body of the retaining member.
12. A binder according to any one of Claims I to 7 and 9 to 11 or retaining means according to any one of Claims 8 to II wherein a plurality of retaining members are received by the or each mounting member with a snap-fit and independently of one another.
13. A binder or retaining means according to Claim 12 wherein the mounting member is elongated and the retaining elements are arranged in a row along the mounting member.
14. A method of assembling a binder wherein there is formed a spine of the binder, a pair of mounting members are secured to the spine in respective positions adjacent to opposite ends of the spine and a plurality of retaining members are snapped onto each mounting member.
15. A binder having retaining members substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawing.
16. A binder having mounting means substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawing or substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawing.
17. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein or in the accompanying drawing.