GB2310401A - A binder with a stretchable spine - Google Patents

Abstract

The binder comprises an elastically-deformable spine 16 which stretches to allow the addition of sheets 13. Elastic cords 15 extend between the covers 17.

Description

A Hinged sPine Album or Book The present invention relates to hinged spine albums and books and more particularly to a covering for the spines thereof.

A hinged spine of a book or album consists of one or more sheets to which there is attached adjacent an edge thereof a series of eyelets. The eyelets of the adjacent sheets intermesh and a pin is placed through the aligned eyelets of adjacent sheets so that adjacent sheets are attached by the hinges so formed. Typically the albums or books are constructed so that additional sheets may be inserted to increase the overall size of the volume being provided. It is also possible to remove sheets.

A disadvantage of the above described hinged spine is that it is relatively unattractive and does not provide a traditional appearance in respect of the spine.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantage.

There is disclosed herein a book or album having a hinged spine, said book or album including a front and back cover and a plurality of sheets located there between, the cover and sheets being connected by the hinged spine, and wherein said book or cover includes an elastically deformable spine cover extending between the front and back sheets.

Preferably the above described book or album includes elastically deformable strips extending between the front and back covers and also covered by said spine cover.

In a still further preferred form the spine cover is formed integral with front and rear cover sheets.

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: 1. Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an album having a hinged spine; 2. Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of an album of Figure 1 provided with elastic strips extending between the front and rear covers; 3. Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of an album as shown in Figure 2 provided with an elastically deformable spine cover, with part of the spine cover removed for illustration purposes; and 4. Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of an album of Figure 3.

In Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted an album 10. The album 10 has a front cover 11 and a rear cover 12 which are generally rigid. Located between the covers 11 and 12 is a plurality of sheets 13.

The sheets 13 are interconnected and are attached to the covers 11 and 12 by a hinged spine 14.

In providing the album 10 with a more attractive appearance there is provided (as shown in Figure 2) one or more elastically deformable elements (strips) 15. More particularly, the elements 15 would be fixed to the front cover 11 and the rear cover 12 at the edges 18 thereof. It should be appreciated that if further sheets 13 are added, the elements 15 elongate to accommodate the additional sheets 13. The elements 15 would be under tension when the album 10 is in the closed confiquration. It should also be appreciated that sheets13 can be removed.

To improve the appearance of the album 10, there is provided a spine cover 16. In this embodiment, the spine cover 16 is formed integral with front and rear cover sheets 17 which extend over and cover the front and rear covers 11 and 12.

In this regard it should also be appreciated that the spine covers 16 also extends over the elements 15.

The spine cover 16 is formed of elastically deformable sheet material and is preferably tensioned when the album 10 is in the closed confiquration. The spine cover 16 is then stretched as additional sheets 13 are added to the album 10.

In the above described preferred embodiment, the spine cover 16 is formed integral with front and rear cover sheets 17. Accordingly, the spine cover 16 and sheet 17 can be formed from a single sheet of elastically deformable material. As an alternative construction, the front and rear cover sheet 17 could be merely attached to the spine cover 16. In such a construction only the spine cover 16 need be formed of elastically deformable sheet material.

As a still further construction, this spine cover 16 may be directly attached to the front and rear covers 11 and 12 or to the hinged spine 14.

By providing an elastically deformable spine cover 16, the appearance of the album 10 is enhanced. As the cover 16 is elastically deformable, the album 10 may have sheets 13 added to it or removed without the necessity of removing or replacing the hinge cover 16.

Claims (1)

1. Claims

   1. The hinged spine album or book has elastically deformable material covering its hinged spine section or the entire set of front and back covers including the hinged spine section, so that it takes on a more traditional appearance of an album or book while allowing sheets or pages to be added or removed, which increases or decreases the overall size or thickness of the album or book while still retaining a taught and custom-made finished covered spine appearance.

   Amendments to the claims have been filed as tollows 1. The hinged spine album or book has elastically deformable material covering its hinged spine section or the entire set of front and back covers including the hinged spine section, so that it takes on a more traditional appearance of an album or book while allowing sheets or pages to be added or removed, which increases or decreases the overall size or thickness of the spine and the opposite or opening side of the album or book in approximately equal proportions at all times to the thickness of the sheets or pages which are being added or removed which allows front and back covers to always appear parallel and in direct proportion to the thickness of the spine while still retaining a taught and custom-made finished covered spine appearance.