GB2395929A

GB2395929A - Two cord device for closing books, file folders or boxes

Info

Publication number: GB2395929A
Application number: GB0324059A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christian Nool Legrand
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-10-15
Filing date: 2003-10-14
Publication date: 2004-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 2023-10-14
Also published as: GB2395929B; GB0324059D0

Abstract

The device consists of two cords made of a flexible material, each passing through a pair of perforations 5 located near the edge of each of two parts 2, 3 to be held together, so as to form a loop 8 on the face of the respective part turned towards the other part, the ends of the cords 6 that pass through to the other side being provided with end-pieces 7 of a size larger than the diameter of the perforations 5 to prevent the cord from being pulled free of the perforations, such that the cord of one loop 8 can be threaded through the other loop 8 so as to hold together the two parts, and can be unthreaded so as to allow the two parts 2, 3 to be separated. The closure is easily operable by a child.

Description

CLOSURE

The invention concerns a device for closing books, files, folders or boxes, which is easy to use, particularly for children.

Some books or file folders are held closed by means of an elastic cord, a 5 ribbon to be knotted, or a metallic closure system with or without a key.

In the case of books for children, it is best to avoid anything that might cause injury, such as an elastic cord which may snap and whip across the fingers, or a metallic closure which may break and leave a sharp edge, etc. On the other hand, the closure should not be too complicated or require strength on the 10 part of the child.

The invention aims to provide a closure for books, file folders or boxes, which can be operated easily by a child, yet requires little manual skill from the child.

To that end, the invention proposes a closure device consisting of flexible cords threaded through openings in the file folder or book, or through the lid 15 and one sidewall of the box, the ends of the cords being provided with end-

pieces made of wood, cardboard or similar, which prevent them from coming out of the openings.

According to the invention, the device consists of two cords made of a flexible material, each passing through two openings located near the edge of each of 20 the two parts to be held together, such as to form a loop on the face of the respective part that is turned towards the other part. The ends of the cords passing through to the opposite face are provided with end-pieces of a size larger than the diameter of the openings, to prevent the ends of the cord from being pulled out of the openings. The cord forming a loop can be threaded 25 through the other loop so as to hold the two parts together, and can be unthreaded so as to allow the two parts to be moved apart.

In the case of a book or file folder, the openings are made close to the edges of the front and back covers, on the sides thereof opposite the spine.

In the case of a box, the openings are made close to the edge of the lid opposite the hinge and close to the edge of the corresponding sidewall of the 5 box.

To effect closure, the loop formed on one part is passed through one of the openings of the second part until it emerges on the opposite face of the latter, and the end section of the cord of the second part, provided with an end-

piece, is then passed through the loop emerging on the opposite face so that 10 when the loop of the first part is drawn back through the opening, the two loops will be interlinked in one another, and will prevent the two parts from moving apart.

The invention is explained below with reference to example embodiments illustrated in the attached drawing, which shows: 15 Fig. 1: A file folder in the open position, equipped according to the invention; Fig. 2: The file folder of Fig. 1 in the closed position before fastening; Figs. 3 and 4: The file folder of the previous two figures during the closing 20 process; Fig. 5: The file folder of the previous figures in the closed position; and, Fig 6: A box including a lid in the closed position.

The file folder 1 shown in Fig. 1 consists of two parts 2 and 3, which constitute 25 the front and back covers, connected by a spine 4.

In the covers 2 and 3 are formed pair of perforations 5 located close to the respective edges of the said covers 2, 3 opposite the spine 4.

Cords 6 are threaded through each of the perforations 5 of each pair, so as to form a loop 8 on the face of the covers 2 and 3 that are turned towards the 5 inside of the file folder. Each end of the cords 6 passing through to the outside face of the covers 2, 3 is provided with and endpiece 7 of a size larger than the diameter of the openings 5, to prevent the cords 6 from being pulled free.

The closing procedure is shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

10 The covers 2 and 3 of the file folder 1 are moved together. The loop 8 of one cord 6, that of the back cover 3, is passed through one of the openings 5 of the front cover 2 of the file folder from the inside towards the outside, so as to emerge on the outside face (Fig. 3). The end of the cord 6 of the front cover 2 provided with an end-piece 7 is then passed through the loop 8 of the cord 6 15 of the back cover, and the latter is withdrawn towards the inside of the file folder 1.

When this has been done, the two loops are interlinked in one another and the file folder is therefore closed (Fig. 5).

To open the file folder, the procedure is the same.

20 The loop 8 of the back cover 3 is passed through an opening in the front cover 2 from the inside outwards and the end of the cord 6 of the front part 2 is drawn through this loop in the direction opposite to that used during the closing process. When the loop 8 of the back part 3 has been withdrawn towards the inside of the file folder, the two loops are disengaged.

25 Instead of a file folder, the device and procedure according to the invention can also be used with a book whose covers extend far enough beyond its

pages, on the side opposite the spine, to leave enough area to form the perforations 5. The book can then be closed and opened just like the file folder. In the case of a box, as shown in Fig. 6 the perforations are made near the 5 edge of the lid 9 and of the sidewall opposite the hinge. The cords are threaded into the perforations in such manner that the loop 8 is on the inside of the box. The closing and opening procedure is the same as for the file folder or the book.

Claims

1. A device for closing file folders, books or boxes, enabling the edges of two opposed parts to be held together, the device comprising two cords made of a flexible material, each passing through one pair of openings located near 5 the edge of each of the two parts to be held together, so as to form a loop on the face of the respective part facing towards the other part, the ends of the cords that pass through to the other side being provided with end-pieces of a size larger than the diameter of the respective openings to prevent the cord from being pulled free of the openings, such that the cord of one loop can be 10 threaded through the other loop so as to hold the two parts together, and can be unthreaded so as to allow the two parts to be separated.

2. A process for closing file folders, books or boxes by means of the device according to Claim 1, in which, to effect closure, the loop formed on a

first part is passed through one of the openings of the second part until it 15 emerges on the opposite face of the latter, and the end section of the cord of the second part, provided with an end-piece, is then threaded through the loop emerging on the opposite face, so that when the loop of the first part is drawn back through the opening, the two loops are interlinked in one another and prevent the two parts from being separated.

20

3. A book or file folder including a device according to Claim 1, in which the openings are made near the edges of the front and back covers, on the side opposite the spine.

4. A book including a device according to Claim 1, in which the openings are made close to the edge of the lid opposite the hinge and in the 25 corresponding sidewall of the box.

5. A device for closing files, folders, boxes or books substantially as shown in or as described with respect to any of the accompanying drawings.

6. A process for closing files, folders, boxes or books substantially as described with respect to any of the accompanying drawings.