GB2265858A

GB2265858A - Plastics ring binder for looseleaf binding of papers

Info

Publication number: GB2265858A
Application number: GB9207658A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gerald John Knee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-04-08
Filing date: 1992-04-08
Publication date: 1993-10-13
Also published as: EP0634977A1; AU3958893A; EP0634977B1; DE69308130D1; WO1993021025A1; DE69308130T2; GB9207658D0

Abstract

A looseleaf binding device comprises a longitudinally hinged spine (14a, 14b) and a plurality of fingers (4, 4a) extending from the spine to receive documents to be bound. Extension (7, 7a) project rearwardly of the spine and may be locked apart by a locking member (18) to maintain the binding device in the closed configuration. The binding device may be opened by removing the locking member (18) and pressing the extension (7, 7a) towards each other thereby causing the components of the binding device to rotate about hinge (25) to move the free ends of the fingers away from each other.

Description

DEVICE FOR LOOSELEAF BINDING OF PAPERS This invention relates to a device for looseleaf binding of papers and documents.

Hitherto, page materials requiring to be looseleaf bound have, after suitable drilling or punching, been held together using an openable multi-ring device attached to a pre-formed spine and cover assembly. The disadvantage of the existing arrangement is that the device is usually manufactured from metal and includes a spring device which is riveted to the spine and covers, making the total cost of this binding device relatively expensive. It is also normal for the covers of this binding means to be titled to match the intended contents, making the binder redundant should a different content be required.

It is an object of this invention to provide a cheap looseleaf binding system which permits the rapid and secure binding of prepared pages, and the easy subsequent removal or addition of pages without the need for tools. A secondary object of this invention is to provide flexibility of use by permitting the binding of covers as well as pages, so that the covers and not the binding means relate to the content of the assembled publication, allowing the use of one looseleaf binding means for a range of publications.

According to the present invention, there is provided a looseleaf binding device comprising an elongate spine having a longitudinal hinge formed therein, a plurality of first finger members extending forwardly from the spine on one side of the hinge, a plurality of cooperating second finger members extending forwardly from the spine on the other side of the hinge, and first and second extensions projecting rearwardly from the spine on either side of the hinge, the device being hingeably movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration in which the free ends of the cooperating first and second finger members are adapted to meet to form a plurality of closed loops through holes in a sheaf of looseleaf papers to be bound, wherein the device additionally comprises means positionable to support the first and second extensions such that the device is held in the closed configuration.

In a preferred embodiment the spine is formed from two separate elongate members which are interconnected by a suitable hinge arrangement. In one possible embodiment of hinge, one of the elongate members has an enlarged edge portion, and the other of the elongate members having a socket portion formed along its edge, the enlarged edge portion being adapted to slide into the socket portion to form the hinge in the spine.

The support means may comprise a strip slidable between the first and second extensions to hold the device in the closed configuration, but in a particularly preferred embodiment the support means comprises. a strip pivotably attached to one of the first and second extensions along one longitudinal edge of the strip, the strip being pivotable between a first, free position and a second locking position in which the strip engages with the other of the first and second extensions to hold the device in the closed configuration.

Preferably, the strip is provided with a tab for ease of movement between its first and second positions. A recess may be provided on the other of the first and second extensions such that the strip may be positively located in the locking position.

The spine is intended to be suitably sized to contain common sizes and volumes of looseleaf pages, and the number of finger means may be selected to form two or more closed loops as appropriate, depending on the number of holes provided in the pages. The shape and crosssection of the finger means may also be selected as appropriate for any particular application of the device.

The present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a binding device according to one embodiment of the invention, in its open position; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the binding device of Figure 1 with pages in position, the device being closed and locked; Figure 3 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the invention; and Figure 4 is a sectional view of another, preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a binding device 1 which is intended for the binding of looseleaf pages. The binding device comprises a spine 15 which may be manufactured from a semi-flexible plastics material. The spine 15 incorporates a longitudinal hinge 4 which may be formed by locally narrowing the thickness of the plastics material of the spine. A number of fingers 2 and 2a extend from the spine, on either side of the hinge 4, the fingers being integrally formed with the spine and being suitably sized and spaced to accept pre-punched pages 3, as shown in Figure 2.The device 1 is hingeable between a first, open position, in which pre-punched pages 3 can be impaled over fingers 2a, for example, and a second, closed position in which the free ends of the fingers 2 and 2a on either side of the hinge are brought together to hold the pages 3 on the closed loops formed by the cooperating fingers 2 and 2a.

The free ends of the fingers 2 and 2a may be formed with suitably shaped mating portions 9 to provide positive cooperation between the fingers in the closed position.

Two short extensions 5 and 5a are formed one on either side of the hinge 4 in spine 15. The extensions 5 and 5a project rearwardly outwardly from the spine, and the inside faces of these extensions are provided with recesses 16, formed to locate a locking strip 6 which may be made of a thin strip of rigid material having a length similar to the spine.

Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that when the pages 3 are fully loaded into the binding means, by impaling the punched edges of the pages over fingers 2a, the fingers 2 and 2a can be pressed closed. The binding means can then be locked closed by sliding locking strip 6 between the short extensions 5 and 5a by means of recesses 16. Locking strip 6 can be provided with a means such as folded section or tab 7 to facilitate its insertion and removal, and radiuses 8 at the opposite end to assist insertion. The locking strip should have a width at least equal to the distance between the inside faces of the short extensions 5 and 5a when the ends of the fingers 2 and 2a are in firm contact with each other. Thus, when the strip 6 is fully inserted between the extensions 5 and 5a, the device will be held with the fingers in the closed position.

The embodiment shown in Figure 3 is substantially the same as that shown in Figures 1 and 2, and like numerals will jbe used for like parts. However, in Figure 3, the locking strip 6 is hingeable connected to one of the extensions 5a at hinge 17, and may be formed integrally with the extension 5a. In this embodiment, the locking strip is in the position shown in the broken line when the device is open. When the device is closed, the locking strip 6 can be pivoted in the direction of arrow 18 to wedge between extensions 5 and 5a, and to clip into recess 16 on the interior face of extension 5 to hold the device in the closed position.

The Figure 4 embodiment shows a spine 15 which is constructed in two parts 11 and 12 held together by means of the hinge 4. Part 11 is formed with an enlarged edge 19 providing one part of the hinge 4, and part 12 is formed with a socket 20 along its edge, the socket 20 being adapted to fit > ,around the enlarged edge 19 to provide the cooperating part of the hinge 4. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4 the locking strip 6 is formed on extension 5 from part 12, but in alternative arrangements the locking strip may be formed on extension 5a from part 11, or may provided as a separate slidably located locking strip. In Figure 4, the locking strip 6 is joined to extension 5 at hinge 21 and is in the position shown in broken lines when the device is open. When the device is closed, as shown in Figure 4, the locking strip 6 can be pivoted in the direction of arrow 22 to wedge between extensions 5 and 5a, and to clip into recess 16 on the interior face of extension 5a to positively locate the locking strip when the device is closed. In order to facilitate opening of the binding device, a tab 10 is formed on the locking strip 6 so that it protrudes from the outside face of extension 5a.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the axial shape of the fingers 2 and 2a may be substantially semi-circular to form a circular loop when the device is closed, or the closed loop may be substantially square or rectangular, or may have any other suitable shape. The cross-section of the individual fingers 2 and 2a may be circular to suit generally available paper punching means, or may be rectangular, or any other suitable shape. To use the binding device, the locking strip 6 should be removed (in the case of a separately formed strip) cr released (in the case of an integral strip), and the fingers 2 and 2a of the binder opened by pressing together the extensions 5 and 5a formed on each side of the hinge 4 at the rear of the spine 15. Pages formed with suitably sized and positioned holes can be impaled over the fingers. When compilation is completed, the-binding device can be closed using pressure on the outer surfaces of the fingers. The binding device is positively locked in the closed position by inserting or positioning the locking strip 6 between the two extensions 5 and 5a formed at the rear of the spine 15, so that the strip firmly bridges the gap across the hinge line. Pages are released by again removing or releasing the locking strip and opening the fingers.

Claims

1. A looseleaf binding device comprising: an elongate spine having a longitudinal hinge formed therein, a plurality of first finger members extending forwardly from the spine on one side of the hinge, a plurality of cooperating second finger members extending forwardly from the spine on the other side of the hinge, and first and second extensions projecting rearwardly from the spine on either side of the hinge, the device being hingeably movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration in which the free ends of the cooperating first and second finger members are adapted to meet to form a plurality of closed loops through holes in a sheaf of looseleaf papers to be bound, wherein the device additionally comprises means positionable to support said first and second extensions such that the device is held in the closed configuration.

2. A binding device according to claim 1, wherein the spine is formed from two separate elongate members, the elongate members being interconnected by the hinge.

3. A binding device according to claim 2, wherein one of said elongate members has an enlarged edge portion, and the other of said elongate members has a socket portion formed along its edge, the enlarged edge portion being adapted to slide into the socket portion to form the hinge.

4. A binding device according to any preceding claim, wherein the support means comprises a strip pivotably attached to one of said first and second extensions along one longitudinal edge of said strip, the strip being pivotable between a first, free position, and a second locking position in which the strip engages with the other of said first and second extensions to hold the device in the closed configuration.