GB2316363A - Removable separator for spiral bound notebooks - Google Patents

Abstract

A removable separator 4 for notebooks whose pages are retained by a spiral 2 has one or more extensions 5 with a binding hole 6 accessed from the exterior by way of a split 7. The extensions may be associated with one or more spirals and separable from the separator by means of perforations 9.

Description

REMOVABLE SEPARATOR FOR NOTEBOOKS As stated in the heading of this description, this invention consists of a removable separator for notebooks of the type which have the same dimensions as the pages they contain and that may also include a tongue-like protrusion on one of its sides, constituting a means through which the user directly gains access to the separator and hence to the place in the notebook at which the separator is located.

The invention is preferably applicable for those notebooks in which the pages are retained by a spiral, so that the basic purpose of the invention consists of providing the separator with physical characteristics what allows its adaptation to the spiral in such a way that it is perfectly retained thereon but at the same time can be removed and placed at another location as many times as desired.

In order to achieve a removable separating device, in accordance with the invention, which can be used with those notebooks whose pages are retained by a spiral and meets the purposes stated above, said separator is characterized in that on the side which is situated in correspondence with the spiral it contains at least one extension where a hole is included which is accessed from the exterior by way of a split, so that the separator can be attached to the spiral by inserting the corresponding loop of the spiral into the hole through the split that was made before.

The number of extensions envisaged on the separator and on its side corresponding to the loops is variable; and they may be situated alternately, or one after another to form groups, which can likewise be placed in alternating or any other formation.

According to a preferred embodiment, the distribution of the extensions is such that they are situated, as already indicated, on the side corresponding to the loops, at the ends and in the middle, in a way that they are sufficiently well retained to the loops and their location at the desired place is done in a quick, easy and efficient way.

Obviously the time required to situate the separator in the corresponding place will depend on the number of extensions envisaged in correspondence with the spiral.

Obviously one embodiment of the invention can be constituted by a plurality of extensions placed one next to the other and in a way that they occupy the entire length of the side corresponding to the loops, so that they form a band endowed with a number of holes equal to the number of loops, each one of these being accessed from the exterior by way of the corresponding split.

If in addition to all the above characteristics, the separator in fact is made of a material with certain elasticity such as plastic materials, which are provided with a certain thickness, then the different loops can be easily and quickly inserted in and removed from the holes as often as is desired, thus enabling the separator to be moved from one location to another as often as may be necessary.

The pages of spiral notebooks can have a tear-off line, adjacent to which and towards the interior of the page there is a number of holes so that after removing the page from the notebook said page can be included in a ringnotebook.

The separator of the invention described herein can certainly be capable of including such a tear-off line and holes to enable its location in a ring-notebook in the same way.

In the following a number of figures depicting the purpose of the invention and constituting an integral part of this description are included to facilitate a better understanding of this description. These figures are purely illustrative and constitute no limitation on the scope of the invention.

Figure 1. This shows a partial view of a spiral notebook, including therein a possible separator according to one embodiment in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2. This shows a partial view of another possible embodiment of the separator according to the invention, in which the extensions form a continuous band.

Figure 3. This shows a detail of the lower part of Figure 1.

Following is a description of the invention based on the figures discussed above.

The separator 4 of the invention can be used with those notebooks 1 which include a spiral 2 for the retention of the pages 4.

Thus in order to situate and retain the separator at the required place, said separator has at least one extension 5 in which a hole 6 has been made, which is accessed from the exterior by way of a split 7.

The material used to manufacture the separator is a material endowed with a certain degree of stiffness and elasticity so that one of the loops can be inserted through the split 7 into the hole 6 and the parts envisaged on either side of the split close up again after being separated in order to enable the insertion of the corresponding loop; in this way the separator is perfectly retained at the place where it is located.

According to one embodiment, like the one shown in Figure 1, there are two extensions 5 at the ends, separated by a gap equivalent to one spiral loop. Also, in the central zone there are three adjacent extensions 5, each with the corresponding hole 6 and split 7, so that three central and four end loops are placed in the corresponding holes which are made in these extensions, making it quick and easy to fit the separator 4 into the notebook 1 in such a way that after all said separator remains perfectly retained at the selected place.

Figure 2 shows another possible embodiment in which the different extensions 5 have been located one next to the other so as to form a longitudinal band along the entire side of the separator 4 which is situated in the zone of the spiral 2. This band naturally contains a plurality of holes 6, each of which can be accessed from the exterior by way of the corresponding split 7. In this example the holes 6 remain separated at equal distances and placed in correspondence with every loop in the spiral 2.

In this last example the task of situating the separator 4 on the spiral 2 is somewhat more laborious than in the example before, but on the other hand a more efficient retention is achieved.

Obviously the extensions can be arranged in any pattern: e.g., alternating, forming groups of varios extensions together which are placed in an alternating form, and so on.

The choice of number of extensions and their location will depend on how firmly it is wished to retain the separator 4 at the corresponding place.

Moreover, in the notebooks 1 that include the spiral 2, the pages 3 have a tear-off line close to the spiral zone, and immediately next to this line and towards the interior of the pages there are envisaged some holes 8 so that the page can be inserted in a ring notebook after cutting it out. Thus the separator 4 of the invention likewise contains said holes 8 and the corresponding tearoff line 9, the latter preferably made by microperforation, so that the separator 4 can be inserted in a ring notebook in the same way as the pages.

It should be noted that, like conventional separators, the notebook may include a prolongation on the opposite side of the spiral, constituting the means through which the user easily accesses to the separator and hence the place at which the separator is located.

Claims (7)

1. REMOVABLE SEPARATOR FOR NOTEBOOKS, intended particularly for those notebooks (1) whose pages (3) are retained by a spiral (2), wherein said pages (3) may contain some holes (8) and a tear-off line for removal and subsequent insertion in a ring notebook; essentially it is characterized in that the separator (4) has at least one extension (5) in which a hole (6) has been made which can be accessed from the exterior by way of a split (7); the purpose of this arrangement being to allow a loop of the spiral to be inserted in the hole (6) through the corresponding split (7); it being envisaged that the separator (4) is made of a material sufficiently stiff and elastic so that once the loop is placed in the hole (6), the edges of the split close up, thus remaining the separator perfectly retained and located at the corresponding place.

2. REMOVABLE SEPARATOR FOR NOTEBOOKS, according to claim 1, characterized in that the extensions (5) are arranged one next to the other so that they can form groups wherein the corresponding holes (6) and splits (7) are included in order to enable the retention to the spiral (2).

3. RENOVABLE SEPARATOR FOR NOTEBOOKS, according to claim 1, characterized in that the extensions (5) are arranged independently in correspondence with different loops of the spiral.

4. REMOVABLE SEPARATOR FOR NOTEBOOKS, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the extensions (5) are capable of forming groups according to claim 2 and also remaining arranged independently.

5. REMOVABLE SEPARATOR FOR NOTEBOOKS, according to claim 1, characterized in that the extensions (5) are arranged one next to the other so as to form a longitudinal band occupying the entire length of the edge of the separator (4) which is situated in correspondence with the spiral (2).

6. REMOVABLE SEPARATOR FOR NOTEBOOKS, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the separator (4) has a tear-off line (9) and holes (8) situated towards the interior of the separator and in correspondence with the holes envisaged in the pages (3), so that its location in a ring notebook is allowed.

7. A removable separator for a notebook, in particular for a notebook (1) whose pages (3) are retained by a spiral (2); characterised in that the separator (4) has at least one extension (5) in which a hole (6) has been made which can be accessed from the exterior by way of a split (7), wherein a loop of the spiral can be inserted in the hole (6) through the corresponding split (7) thereby retaining the separator in the notebook.