GB2268909A

GB2268909A - Unitary binder for loose sheets with rectangular punched holes

Info

Publication number: GB2268909A
Application number: GB9215439A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chen-Yu Tsai
Original assignee: PROFY INTERNATIONAL CORP
Current assignee: PROFY INTERNATIONAL CORP
Priority date: 1992-07-21
Filing date: 1992-07-21
Publication date: 1994-01-26
Anticipated expiration: 2012-07-21
Also published as: GB2268909B; FR2694725A3; FR2694725B3; AU636080B1; GB9215439D0

Abstract

A unitary loose sheet plastic binder (1) for binding documents which have a raw of rectangular punched holes includes backing strip (13) and panels (11, 12) hingeably joined at two edges (131) of the backing strip (13). A row of spaced projections (152) is integrally formed on panel (12) and are received in the punched holes of the documents. Each of the projections (152) has an upper end with a diameter-reduced neck portion (153). Two adjacent ones of the projections (152) are spaced apart by a distance equal to a multiple of the distance between two adjacent curved rings of a standard plastic comb binder. A row of spaced holes (155), formed in panel (11), is in alignment with the projections (152) and each hole is provided with an inwardly and radially-extending flange (156) which detachably engages the neck portion (153) of one of the projections (152) when the binder is closed. <IMAGE>

Description

UNITARY LOOSE SHEET BINDER The invention relates to a loose sheet binder, more particularly to a unitary loose sheet binder which is easy to use and which is adapted to bind documents that have a row of substantially rectangular punched holes for receiving a standard plastic comb binder.

Loose sheet binders are available to bind all kinds of documents. Such loose sheet binders are ideal for use in professional open-flat presentations and provide a professional and efficient image.

Referring to Figure 1, a standard plastic comb binder for binding documents is shown to comprise a curved plastic strip (a) and a row of curved rings (b).

Each of the curved rings (b) has a distal end (bl), A binding machine (not shown) is operated so as to punch a row of substantially rectangular holes on the documents to be bound. The binding machine is then operated in order to separate the distal end (bi) of the curved rings (b) from the plastic strip (a) The punched documents are then placed on the curved rings (b), and the binding machine is again operated so as to release the distal end (bl) of the curved rings (b), thereby binding the documents on the plastic comb binder.

The drawbacks of using the standard plastic comb binder to bind documents are as follows: 1. It is difficult to add or remove documents when the plastic comb binder is in use, Note that a binding machine has to be operated so as to separate the distal end (bl) of the curved rings (b) from the plastic strip (a) before documents can be placed or removed from the plastic comb binder. A standard plastic comb binder usually has twenty-one curved rings (b) provided thereon, the distance between two adjacent curved rings (b) being approximately 14,28 mm. Since the distance between the curved rings (b) is relatively narrow and since there is a relatively large number of. curved rings (b) provided on the plastic strip (a), it is difficult to align the punched holes of the documents with the distal end (b1) of the curved rings (b).

2. The distal end (bl) of the curved rings (b) remain curved when separated from the plastic strip (a). Therefore, only a few sheets can be placed on the curved rings (b) at one time. For example, a fifty-page document would have to be divided into three sets when placed on the curved rings (b).

3. The plastic comb binder is made of a flexible plastic material, The curved rings (b) are slender strips which can damage the documents to be bound if the documents were carelessly placed thereon.

Furthermore, the curved rings (b) can be easily damaged and deformed, thereby diminishing the aesthetic appeal of the bound documents, 4. The plastic comb binder is usually made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and is not easily degradable.

The plastic comb binder can therefore cause pollution, which is detrimental to current environmental cleaning efforts.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, a second example of a conventional loose sheet binder is shown to comprise a pair of elongated binder panels (cl, c2) hingeably joined at two edges (c31) of an elongated backing strip (c3). A panel engaging means (d) is provided on the binder panels (cl, c2) and includes a socket means (d2), which is provided on the binder panel (Cl), and a protrusion means (dl), which is provided on the binder panel (c2) and which engages the socket means (d2).The protrusion means (dl) includes a row of equally spaced projections (dull). Each of the projections (dll) has an enlarged head (d12). The socket means (d2) includes a row of equally spaced tubular socket projections lid21) The binder panel (c2) is movable relative to the binder panel (cl) between an open position, wherein the binder panels (Cl, c2) and the backing strip (c3) lie in a common horizontal plane, as shown in Figure 2, and a closed position, wherein the backing strip (c3) is in a substantially vertical position and the binder panel (cz) is disposed parallel to the binder panel (cm), as shown in Figure 3.The protrusion means (dl) engages the socket means (d2) when the binder panel (c2) is in the closed position.

Referring to Figure 3, each of the socket projections (d21) defines a through hole with a lower portion (d22) and a restricted upper portion (d23).

Each of the projections (dull) is press-fitted into a respective one of the socket projections (d21) such that the enlarged head (d12) of the projections (dll) extends into the lower portion (d22) and is retained therein by the upper portion (d23).

Note that the socket projections (d21) are circular in cross-section and are adapted to bind documents having holes which are punched by a standard desk-top paper punches Note also that the cross-section of the socket projections (d21) should be relatively large so as to permit tight and efficient engagement between the projections (dull, d21). These are the reasons why the socket projections (d21) cannot fit into a row of substantially rectangular punched holes for the standard plastic comb binder. Therefore, the conventional loose sheet binder shown in Figures 2 to 4 cannot be used to bind documents having a row of substantially rectangular punched holes for receiving a standard plastic comb binder.

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a unitary loose sheet binder which is easy to use and which is adapted to bind documents having a row of substantially rectangular punched holes for receiving a standard plastic comb binder.

Accordingly, the preferred embodiment of a unitary loose sheet binder according to the present invention is made of plastic and is adapted to bind documents which have a row of substantially rectangular punched holes for receiving curved rings of a standard plastic comb binder. The unitary loose sheet binder includes an elongated backing strip and first and second elongated binder panels hingeably joined at two edges of the backing strip. The first binder panel is movable relative to the second binder panel between an open position1 wherein the first and second binder panels and the backing strip lie in a common horizontal plane, and a closed position, wherein the backing strip is in a substantially vertical position and the first binder panel is disposed parallel to the second binder panel.

The unitary loose sheet binder further includes a socket means provided on the first binder panel and a protrusion means provided on the second binder panel.

The protrusion means is detachably fitted into the socket means when the first binder panel is in the closed position.

The protrusion means includes a row of spaced projections. Each of the projections has a substantially rectangular cross-section and is adapted to be received in one of the substantially rectangular punched holes of the documents to be bound. Each of the projections further has a distal upper end and a diameter reduced neck portion disposed adjacent to the distal upper end. Two adjacent ones of the projections are spaced apart by a distance equal to a multiple of the distance between two adjacent curved rings of the standard plastic comb binder, The socket means includes a row of spaced holes formed in the first binder panel. Each of the holes is in respective alignment with the projections and is provided with an inwardly and radially extending flange which detachably engages the neck portion of a respective one of the projections when the projections are fitted in the holes.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a standard plastic comb binder; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second example of a conventional loose sheet binder when in an open position; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the conventional loose sheet binder shown in Figure 2 when in a closed position; Figure 4 is a Iv - Iv section of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a unitary loose sheet binder according to the present invention when in an open state; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment when in a closed state;; Figure 7 is a VIX - VII section of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a VItI - VIII section of Figure 6; Figure 9 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of a unitary loose sheet binder according to the present invention when in an open state; and Figure 10 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment when in a closed state.

Referring to Figure 5, the first preferred embodiment of a unitary loose sheet binder (1) according to the present invention is shown to comprise a pair of elongated binder panels (ill, 12) integrally formed with an elongated backing strip (13). Pressure is applied on two edges (131) of the elongated backing strip (13) when the loose sheet binder (1) is being formed1 thereby hingeably joining the binder panels (11, 12) to the elongated backing strip (13).The binder panel (11) is movable relative to the binder panel (12) between an open position, wherein the binder panels (11, 12) and the backing strip (13) lie in a common horizontal plane, as shown in Figure 5, and a closed position, wherein the backing strip (13) is in a substantially vertical position and the binder panel (11) is disposed parallel to the binder panel (12), as shown in Figure 6.

A panel engaging means (15) is provided on the binder panels (11, 12) and includes a socket means (154), which is integrally formed on the binder panel (11), and a protrusion means (151), which is integrally formed on the binder panel (12) and which engages the socket means (12). The protrusion means (151) includes a row of spaced projections (152). The distance between two adjacent ones of the projections (152) should be equal to a multiple of the distance between two adjacent curved rings of the standard plastic comb binder. In the standard plastic comb binder1 the distance between twc > two adjacent curved rings or the distance between two adjacent punched holes of a document which is adapted to be bound by the plastic comb binder is about 14,28 mm.Each of the projections (152) has a substantially rectangular cross-section and is adapted to be received in one of the substantially rectangular punched holes for the curved rings of the standard plastic comb binder Referring to Figures 7 and 8, each of the projections (152) has a crosssection which is gradually widened from a distal upper end to an opposite lower end of the same to facilitate the placement of documents thereon. Each of the projections (152) further has a diameter reduced neck portion (153) adjacent to the distal upper end thereof.

Referring once more to Figures 5 to 8, the socket means (154) includes a row of spaced holes (155) formed in the binder panel (11). Each of the holes (155) is provided with an inwardly and radially extending flange (156) adjacent to one end thereof. The protrusion means (151) engages the socket means (154) when the binder panel (11) is in the closed position. Each of the projections (152) is press-fitted into a respective one of the holes (155) such that the flange (156) in the holes (155) engages the neck portion (153) of the respective projection (152). Note that the dimensions of the binder panels (lit 12) and the backing strip (13) and the height of the projections (152) should correspond to the-size and thickness of the documents to be bound.

Referring once more to Figure 7, the addition or removal of documents from the unitary loose sheet binder (1) of the present invention can be achieved by simply pulling the binder panels (11, 12) away from each other so as to detach the neck portion (153) of the projections (152) from the flange (156) in the holes (155). The punched holes of the documents to be bound can be easily aligned with the projections (152) since a limited number of projections (152) are provided. Furthermore, a large number of'sheets can be placed on the projections (152) at one time since the projections (152) are straight, unlike the curved rings of the standard plastic comb binder.

It has thus been shown that. the unitary loose sheet binder (1) is easy to use and does not require a binding machine when binding documents thereon. The loose sheet binder (1) can be used as a replacement for the standard plastic comb binders, which comb binders are inconvenient to install and remove. The loose sheet binder (1) is preferably made of polypropylene, which is a plastic material that can be easily disposed and recycled. Furthermore, the loose sheet binder (1) has a greater degree of rigidity, thereby making it more resistant to damage and deformation.

The second preferred embodiment of a loose sheet binder according to the present invention is shown in Figures 9 and 10. The second preferred embodiment illustrates an alternative arrangement for the projections (152) of the protrusion means (151) and the holes (155) of the socket means (154). The construction and operation of the second preferred embodiment is substantially similar to the first preferred embodiment and will not be detailed further.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A unitary loose sheet binder made of plastic and adapted to bind documents which have a row of substantially rectangular punched holes for receiving curved rings of a standard plastic comb binder, said unitary loose sheet binder including an elongated backing strip and first and second elongated binder panels hingeably joined at two edges of said backing strip, said first binder panel being movable relative to said second binder panel between an open position, wherein said first and second binder panels and said backing strip lie in a common horizontal plane, and a closed position, wherein said backing strip is in a substantially vertical position and said first binder panel is disposed parallel to said second binder panel, said unitary loose sheet binder further including a socket means provided on said first binder panel and a protrusion means provided on said second binder panel, said protrusion means being detachably fitted into said socket means when said first binder panel is in said closed position, wherein the improvement comprises:: said protrusion means including a row of spaced projections, each of said projections having a substantially rectangular cross-section and being adapted to be received in one of the substantially rectangular punched holes of the documents to be bound, each of said projections further having a distal upper end and a diameter reduced neck portion disposed adjacent to said distal upper end, two adjacent ones of said projections being spaced apart by a distance equal to a multiple of the distance between two adjacent curved rings of the standard plastic comb binder; and said socket means including a row of spaced holes formed in said first binder panel, each of said holes being in respective alignment with said projections and being provided with an inwardly and radially extending flange which detachably engages said neck portion of a respective one of said projections when said projections are fitted in said holes.

2. The unitary loose sheet binder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said unitary loose sheet binder is made of polypropylene.

3. The unitary loose sheet binder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distance between two adjacent ones of said projections is a multiple of approximately 14.28 Inn.

4. The unitary loose sheet binder as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said projections has a cross-section which is gradually widened from said distal upper end to an opposite lower end of said projections.

5. The unitary loose sheet binder as described substantially hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying Figures 5 to 10.