GB2271321A

GB2271321A - Binding strip for removably retaining sheet material.

Info

Publication number: GB2271321A
Application number: GB9221091A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Martin Shaw
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-10-07
Filing date: 1992-10-07
Publication date: 1994-04-13
Also published as: GB9221091D0

Abstract

A binding strip 12 for the removable retention of sheet material 16 such as a wall calendar or document pages, comprises a channel 30 for receiving an edge 16a of each sheet and end retaining components 36 each having a peg 42 cooperating with slots 50 in each sheet to hold it within the strip, the peg 42 including a front curved part 42a facilitating removal of sheets from the front of the strip. The rear curved portion 42b of the peg further permits removed sheets to be reinserted at the back of the strip and retained therein. The binding strip may be hung on a wall. <IMAGE>

Description

Sheet Material Retention Arrangement The present invention concerns a sheet material retention arrangement, particularly an arrangement suitable for the binding of calendars, but its use is not limited thereto and the arrangement may also be employed for the binding of documents or folders and for the hanging of posters and the like.

Calendars are frequently produced which provide one page for each month or two months, and consequently require that the page be easily removed or replaced at the back of the calendar at the end of its period of use. In the past this has been achieved in various ways, for example by perforating each page adjacent the binding so that it may easily be removed and discarded after use. Alternatively, a wire '*'o" binding is used whereby the pages are provided with a series of holes through each of which is threaded a wire ring, the pages being easily turnable on the rings permitting a used page to be moved from the front to the back of the calendar. This latter method has the advantage that pages need not be separated from the body of the cal en- dar after use unless required.However, the binding is not particularly attractive, requires the formation of a large number of holes in the pages, and normally also requires the use of a stiff backing sheet in order to give the finished product sufficient rigidity.

The present invention addresses these problems and seeks to provide an improved arrangement.

According to the invention there is provided a sheet material retention arrangement comprising means for receiving an end edge of at least one sheet and means cooperating with the sheet to hold the sheet within the arrangement, the holding means adapted to permit the removal of at least one sheet from the arrangement when required.

The receiving means may comprise an elongate channel.

The holding means may comprise a pair of components each locatable on a respective open end of the channel.

Preferably each component provides a peg locatable within the channel at or adjacent each end thereof. A portion of each side edge of the or each sheet may be cut away adjacent the end edge to be received within the channel, each peg being locatable in use in a respective cut portion.

The retention arrangement preferably is adapted to permit removal of one or more of the sheets from a front side thereof when required. The retention arrangement may further be adapted to permit subsequent insertion of removed sheets into a rear side thereof.

An internal surface of the channel may be configured to facilitate removal of the sheet from the front side of the arrangement. Preferably the internal surface of the channel is also configured to hinder removal of a sheet from the rear side of the arrangement.

The retention arrangement may further include means to permit the hanging thereof on a fixture such as a wall. Preferably, a through slot is provided in the hanging means to receive the head of a drawing pin, nail or like fixing.

The retention arrangement may also provide means for the attachment thereto of promotional matter or personalised information as required.

The invention will be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a partial perspective view from the front and one end of a binding arrangement according to the invention, with the components shown separated for clarity; Fig. 2 is an enlarged end view of a binding strip; Fig. 3 is an enlarged rear view of a retaining component; and Fig. 4 is a side view of the component of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a binding arrangement 10 comprising an elongate binding strip 12 and two end retaining components 14 (one only shown in Fig. 1). The arrangement provides for the binding together and hanging of a plurality of sheets of paper or cardboard 16, which may for example form a wall calendar.

The binding strip 12 may be formed, for example by extrusion, from a rigid or semi-rigid plastics material such as PVC. As is best shown in itig. 2, the strip 12 has an upper portion 18 of C shape in cross-section. A slit 28 is provided in portion 18 for manufacturing reasons only; the slit 28 lies to the rear of the binding assembly 10 when the latter is in use.

Depending from the portion 18 are legs 20, 22 defining an open-ended channel 30 therebetween. The legs 20, 22 each have a respective kinked portion 24, 26 such that a mouth 32 of the channel is wider than a base 34 thereof. The kinked portion 24 of the leg 20 is located nearer to the mouth 32 than the kinked portion 26 of the leg 22, for reasons which will be described hereinafter.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the end retaining component 14 comprises a plate 36 having a peripheral shape corresponding to the outline section of the binding strip 12. A side 38 of the plate 36 is provided with two projecting pegs 40, 42. The peg 40 is adapted frictionally to engage in an interior space 48 of the portion 18 of the strip 12. The peg 42 is generally rectangular in section but has rounded corners on a side 42a thereof. The peg 42 is used to mount the paper sheet 16 within the binding 12 as will now be described.

The sheets 16 are generally rectangular, having an end edge 16a requiring to be bound A generally rectangular slot 50 is provided in each of two opposing sides of the sheet 16 adjacent the edge 16a (only one slot 50 shown in Fig. 1). The edge 16a of each sheet 16 is inserted into the channel 30 as shown in Fig. 1.

Each end component 14 is fixed in place on the arrangement 10 by locating the peg 40 in the space 48. The peg 42 is thereby received within a respective one of the slots 50, retaining the sheets 16 within the binding 10.

The assembly may be hung on a wall or other suitable fixture by means of a hanging slot or hook (not shown).

When it is required to remove a sheet 16 of the calendar from the front of the assembly (adjacent the leg 20) the page may simply be pulled upwards and outwards whereby it is readily removed from the channel 30 by virtue of the curved parts 42a of the pegs 40.

The sheet may then if required to be inserted into the back of the assembly adjacent the leg 22 by flexing the sheet and locating the slot 50 over the other side of the peg 42 as the sheet is re-inserted into the channel 30. The shaping of the rear portion 42b of the peg 42 and the leg 22 are designed to hinder removal of pages from the rear of the assembly.

In a modification of the assembly (not shown), the strip 12 further incorporates a substantially planar mounting strip located on the upper part of the portion 18 and positioned substantially normally thereto. The strip may be adapted to receive a piece of cardboard printed with promotional or personalised matter such as a company name, address and logo. For example, the strip may be provided with slots or channels into which a piece of card may be inserted. The binding arrangement therefore permits personalisation of bound material without requiring over-printing of calendar pages or the like.

It should be appreciated that whilst the binding arrangement is described with reference in particular to a calendar binding, its use is not limited in this way.

In particular, the binding is suitable also for brochures, folders and the like. The binding may further be produced in sizes suitable for the hanging of posters or prints on walls. The binding has the advantage of being easy to use, permitting simple removal of pages, which may optionally be reinserted at the back of the binding where they are less readily removed. The bound material requires only to have a pair of small slots adjacent the bound edge, which are not visible when the binding is in use. The binding is therefore attractive and the pages may be easily prepared for binding in relatively large quantitites. The binding itself is also simple to manufacture to any required length, and the inherent stiffness of the binding obviates the need for any rigid backing card to be provided to support the bound document.

Modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The binding may be produced in different materials and shapes to that described and shown, and the securing arrangement may also differ from the example given within the scope of the invention.

Provision may be made for the hanging or mounting of the binding, and for the incorporation of advertising material or personalised details thereon.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing Specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of feature hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

Claims:

1. A sheet material retention arrangement comprising means for receiving an end edge of at least one sheet and means cooperating with the sheet to hold the sheet within the arrangement, the holding means adapted to permit the removal of at least one sheet from the arrangement when required.

2. An arrangement according to Claim 1, wherein the receiving means comprises an elongate channel.

3. An arrangement according to Claim 2, wherein the holding means comprises a pair of components each locatable on a respective open end of the channel.

4. An arrangement according to Claim 3, wherein each component provides a peg locatable within the channel at or adjacent each end thereof.

5. An arranement according to any of the preceding Claims adapted to permit the removal of one or more sheets from a front side thereof

6. An arrangement according to any of the preceding Claims adapted to permit the subsequent insertion of removed sheets into a rear side thereof.

7. An arrangement according to Claims 2 and 5, wherein an internal surface of the channel is configured to facilitate removal of the sheet from the front side of the arrangement.

8. An arrangement according to Claims 2 and 6, wherein an internal surface of the channel is configured to hinder removal of a sheet from the rear side of the arrangement.

9. An arrangement according to any of the preceding Claims including means permitting the hanging thereof of a fixture such as a wall.

10. An arrangement according to any of the preceding Claims including means for the attachment thereto of promotional matter or personalisation details.

11. An arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding Claims.