WO2000027648A1

WO2000027648A1 - Binding strip and accessories therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2000027648A1
Application number: PCT/ZA1999/000122
Authority: WO
Inventors: Derek Henry Youngman
Original assignee: Derek Henry Youngman
Priority date: 1998-11-12
Filing date: 1999-11-12
Publication date: 2000-05-18
Also published as: AU2060000A

Abstract

A binding strip (10) is disclosed which has a first elongate panel (12) which forms the spine of the binding strip, and second and third elongate panels (14, 16) which are joined to the first panel (12) on opposite sides thereof by way of elongate film hinges (18, 24). The second and third panels are parallel to one another and are spaced apart once the binding strip has been folded along the film hinges. Pins and hollow posts are provided which releasably connect the second and third panels (14, 16) together whilst the binding strip is in its folded condition. The second and third panels (14, 16) are widest at their central zones and become progressively narrower in both directions from said central zones. Accessories for use with the binding strip are also disclosed, the accessories enabling the binding strip to be suspended or to be secured in a ring binder.

Description

BINDING STRIP AND ACCESSORIES THEREFOR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

THIS INVENTION relates to binding strips.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Binding strips for holding stacks of sheets are known which comprise a

first elongate panel which forms the spine of the binding strip and second and third

elongate panels which are joined to the first panel on opposite sides thereof by way of

elongate film hinges. The second and third panels are parallel to one another and

spaced apart once the binding strip has been folded along the film hinges. The strip

also includes means which releasably connect the second and third panels together

whilst the binding strip is in its folded condition. The present invention seeks to provide

a binding strip which permits access to be had to greater areas of the sheets bound into

the binding strip than was heretofore possible, and also seeks to provide accessories

which increase the versatility of the binding strip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a

binding strip which comprises a first elongate panel which forms the spine of the binding strip, and second and third elongate panels which are joined to the first panel on

opposite sides thereof by way of elongate film hinges, the second and third panels lying

parallel to one another and being spaced apart once the binding strip has been folded

along the film hinges, there being means which releasably connect the second and third

panels together whilst the binding strip is in its folded condition, characterized in that

said second and third panels are widest at their central zones and become

progressively narrower in both directions from said central zones.

In one form each second and third panel is bounded, along that side

thereof opposite to the film hinge which connects it to the first panel, by an edge which

forms part of the circumference of a circle. In another form said edge comprises a

central straight section which is parallel to the film hinges, and two further straight

sections which get progressively closer to said film hinges with increasing distance from

said centre section.

In further forms, said edge can be of sinusoidal form or of zig-zag form

provided the second and third panels progressively decrease in width towards their

ends.

Said first elongate panel can have two spaced slits therein for receiving a

pair of lugs of an accessory which is used to enable the binding strip to be secured into

a ring binder. In another form said first elongate panel has a slit at the centre thereof for receiving a lug on an accessory which enables the binding strip to be suspended. In

yet another form said first elongate panel has two spaced slits therein for receiving a

a ring binder and also has a slit at the centre thereof for receiving a lug on an accessory

which enables the binding strip to be suspended.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided, in

combination, a binding strip and a hanger, the binding strip comprising a first elongate

panel which forms the spine of the binding strip, and second and third elongate panels

which are joined to the first panel on opposite sides thereof by way of elongate film

hinges, the second and third panels lying parallel to one another and being spaced

apart once the binding strip has been folded along the film hinges, there being at least

one pin and at least one hollow post into which the pin fits and which pin and post

releasably connect the second and third panels together whilst the binding strip is in its

folded condition, said hanger being of elongate form and lying between the first panel

and the pin and post combination, the post passing through an opening in the hanger

and the hanger protruding from the binding strip at both ends and having in the lower

surface of each protruding portion thereof a notch for receiving one of the rails of a

suspension filing system.

Said opening is preferably a notch in the edge of the hanger. Where the

second and third panels are connected together by more than one pin and post combination and the hanger has a commensurate number of openings.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is

provided, in combination, a binding strip and an accessory, the binding strip comprising

a first elongate panel which forms the spine of the binding strip, and second and third

elongate film hinges, the second and third panels lying parallel to one another and

being spaced apart once the binding strip has been folded along the film hinges, there

being means which releasably connect the second and third panels together whilst the

binding strip is in its folded condition, said first elongate panel having two spaced slits

therein, said accessory being in the form of a plate having a pair of spaced lugs with

holes in them protruding from one edge thereof, said slits serving to receive said pair of

lugs of said accessory which is used to enable the binding strip to be secured into a

ring binder.

In a specific form a third slit is provided between said spaced slits, said

plate having a further lug with a hole in it protruding from another edge thereof, said

third slit serving to receive said further lug of said accessory which further lug is used to

enable the binding strip to be suspended. In this for said pair of lugs and said further

lug preferably protrude from opposed edges of said plate.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided, in combination, a binding strip and an accessory, the binding strip comprising a first

elongate panel which forms the spine of the binding strip, and second and third

binding strip is in its folded condition, said first elongate panel having a slit therein, said

accessory being in the form of a plate having a lug with a hole in it protruding from one

edge thereof, said slit serving to receive said lug of said accessory which is used to

enable the binding strip to be suspended.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the

same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the

accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a plan view of a binding strip in flat form;

Figure 2 is an edge elevation of the strip of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is an end view of the strip in flat form;

Figure 4 is a front view of the binding strip in folded form;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the binding strip in folded form;

Figure 6 is an end view of the binding strip in folded form; Figures 7 and 8 correspond to Figures 1 and 4 and show a prior art binding strip;

Figure 9 illustrates an accessory for use with the binding strip;

Figure 10 is a plan view showing the binding strip of Figures 1 to 6 and the

accessory of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is an elevation of a suspension element;

Figure 12 is a plan view of the suspension element of Figure 11 ;

Figure 13 is an end view of the suspension element;

Figure 14 is a view showing a suspension element and a binding strip in flat

form; and

Figure 15 shows the suspension element and a folded binding strip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The binding strip 10 illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 is injection moulded in

synthetic plastics material and comprises three elongate panels designated 12, 14 and

16. The panel 12 is of rectangular form. It is separated from the panels 14 and 16 by

two film hinges 18 and 20 which are constituted by elongate zones which are thinner

than the panels 12, 14 and 16. This is best seen in Figure 3.

The panels 14 and 16 are mirror images of one another and each is

bounded by one of the film hinges, by short end edges 22 and 24 and by side edges 26

and 28. Applicant's experimental work has shown that, when the strip is intended for

use with A4 pages, the radius of curvature indicated by arrow A (Figure 1 ) is preferably about 750mm. It is, however, possible for the side edges 26, 28 to be constituted by

three straight sections. The three straight sections approximate the curved edge at the

radius of curvature used.

Two pins 30 protrude from the panel 14 and two hollow posts 32 protrude

from the panel 16. Each pin 30 has an enlarged head, as best seen in Figure 3, and

the posts have open ended bores of commensurate shape. Hence the pins 30 can

snap fit into the internal bores of the posts 32.

The binding strip 10 is used with paper that has been punched with two

holes adjacent one of the longer edges. The strip 10 is folded along the film hinges 18

and 20 after a stack of sheets has been placed on the panel 16 with the posts 32

passing through the punched holes.

Each film hinge 18 and 20 is folded through a right angle, thus bringing

the pins 30 into alignment with the internal bores in the posts 32. Once the pins 30

have been snap fitted into the bores of the posts 32, the binding strip has the

configuration shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6. The stack of sheets can have front and rear

covers of cardboard or plastics sheeting.

The panels 14 and 16 are widest at their centres and become

progressively narrower towards their ends. This enables the top and bottom parts of the sheets to be pulled back so that marginal areas of the sheets can be seen. This is

not possible with the prior art binding strip 10.1 illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 because

the panels 14.1 and 16.1 of this binding strip are rectangular in configuration and they

prevent easy access being had to the margins of the bound sheets. In these two

Figures the same reference numerals have been used as in Figures 1 to 6 with the

addition of the suffix .1.

By cutting-off end portions of the strip 10, its length can be reduced to A5

size.

The binding strip 10.1 , as shown in Figures 6 and 7, is normally produced

with four pins 30.1 and four posts 32.1. In the past, to adapt the binding strip 10.1 for

use with paper punched with two holes, the end pins and posts are cut-off. Once this

has been done the end sections of the panels 14.1 , 16.1 are no longer restrained, and

tend to splay outwards as shown in Figure 8. This does not happen when the panels

are configured as shown in Figures 1 to 6.

The panel 12 has two spaced slits 34 in it (see Figure 1 ). The slits are

close to the film hinge 18. Each slit 34 accommodates the lugs 36 of an accessory 38

(see Figure 9) which enables the binding strip 10 and the sheets it contains to be bound

into a ring binder (not shown). The accessory 38 is in the form of a thin metal or

plastics material plate and is intended to be inserted into the space between the panels 14 and 16. The pins 30 and posts 32 are disconnected from one another before the

accessory 38 is inserted. The lugs 36 are pushed through the slits 34 in the panel 12

so that they protrude from the back of the binding strip. The pins 30 and posts 32 pass

through slots 40 provided therefor in the accessory 38 when the binder is folded (see

Figure 10). The curved connectors (not shown) of the ring binder, when the ring binder

is snapped closed, pass through holes 42 in the lugs 36. An advantage of the

construction is that, upon opening the ring binder, the binding strip 10, and the sheets

which are in the binding strip 10, can be removed as a unit from the ring binder.

The accessory show in Figure 9 also has a lug 44 on the opposite side

thereof to the lugs 36. The panel 12 of the binder has a third slit 46 for receiving this

lug when the accessory 38 is presented to the inside face of the panel 12 with the lug

44 leading. The lug 44 has a hole 48 in it for receiving a rod or hook (not shown)

thereby to enable the binding strip 10 to be hung from the hook or rod.

It will be understood that the accessory 38 can have a single lug 44 and

be devoid of the lugs 36. Alternatively the accessory 38 can have lugs 36 but not have

the lug 44.

The hanger 50 shown in Figures 11 to 13 can be constituted by a plastic

extrusion which is cut to the requisite length but could also be an injection moulding or

a punched metal strip. The ends of the extrusion are rounded off to avoid any sharp corners.

Four notches of semi-circular shape are cut in one of the edges of the

hanger 50, the outer notches being larger and designated 52 and the inner notches

being smaller and designated 54. The outer notches 52 are close to the ends of the

hanger 50.

The hanger 50 is used by placing it on the flat binding strip 10 as shown in

Figure 14. The notches 54 receive the posts 32 and the suspension element is thus

trapped between the pin/post combinations 30, 32 and the panel 12 when the binding

strip is folded to the position shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6. The portions of the hanger

50 which have the notches 52 in them protrude beyond the strip 10 (see Figure 15).

These portions are thus accessible and, as shown in Figure 15, receive the rails R of a

suspension filing system.

In Figures 7 and 8 there is shown a binding strip 10.1 which has four pins

and four posts (designated 30.1 and 32.1 ). If two extra notches 54 are provided in the

hanger 50 then the hanger 50 can be used with the strip of these Figures. The four

notches 54 are spaced so that they match the spacing of the pin/post combinations

30.1 and 32.1.

It is also possible to have a pair of notches 52 close to the ends of the hanger 50, and to have a single notch 54 at the centre. This type of hanger is intended

for use with a binding strip which has a single pin/post combination midway between its

ends.

The film hinges 18 and 20 can, if desired, each have one face thereof

flush with those surfaces of the panels 14, 16 from which the pins 30 and posts 32

protrude. Alternatively the film hinge can be mid-way between the major surfaces of the

binding strip so that there are elongate recesses on both sides of the strip.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A binding strip which comprises a first elongate panel which forms the

spine of the binding strip, and second and third elongate panels which are joined to the

first panel on opposite sides thereof by way of elongate film hinges, the second and

third panels lying parallel to one another and being spaced apart once the binding strip

has been folded along the film hinges, there being means which releasably connect the

second and third panels together whilst the binding strip is in its folded condition,

characterized in that said second and third panels are widest at their central zones and

become progressively narrower in both directions from said central zones.

2. A binding strip as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each second and third panel

is bounded, along that side thereof opposite to the film hinge which connects it to the

first panel, by an edge which forms part of the circumference of a circle.

3. A binding strip as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each second and third panel

first panel, by an edge which comprises a central straight section which is parallel to the

film hinges, and two further straight sections which get progressively closer to said film

hinges with increasing distance from said centre section.

4. A binding strip as claimed in claim 1 , 2 or 3, wherein said first elongate panel has two spaced slits therein for receiving a pair of lugs of an accessory which is

used to enable the binding strip to be secured into a ring binder.

5. A binding strip as claimed in claim 1 , 2 or 3, wherein said first elongate

panel has a slit at the centre thereof for receiving a lug on an accessory which enables

the binding strip to be suspended.

6. A binding strip as claimed in claim 1 , 2 or 3, wherein said first elongate

panel has two spaced slits therein for receiving a pair of lugs of an accessory which is

used to enable the binding strip to be secured into a ring binder and also has a slit at

the centre thereof for receiving a lug on an accessory which enables the binding strip to

be suspended.

7. In combination, a binding strip and a hanger, the binding strip comprising

being at least one pin and at least one hollow post into which the pin fits and which pin

and post releasably connect the second and third panels together whilst the binding

strip is in its folded condition, said hanger being of elongate form and lying between the

first panel and the pin and post combination, the post passing through an opening in the hanger and the hanger protruding from the binding strip at both ends and having in

the lower surface of each protruding portion thereof a notch for receiving one of the rails

of a suspension filing system.

8. The combination claimed in claim 7, wherein said opening is in the form of

a notch in the edge of the hanger.

9. The combination as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second and third

panels are connected together by more than one pin and post combination and the

hanger has a commensurate number of openings.

10. In combination, a binding strip and an accessory, the binding strip

comprising a first elongate panel which forms the spine of the binding strip, and second

and third elongate panels which are joined to the first panel on opposite sides thereof

by way of elongate film hinges, the second and third panels lying parallel to one another

and being spaced apart once the binding strip has been folded along the film hinges,

there being means which releasably connect the second and third panels together

whilst the binding strip is in its folded condition, said first elongate panel having two

spaced slits therein, said accessory being in the form of a plate having a pair of spaced

lugs with holes in them protruding from one edge thereof, said slits serving to receive

said pair of lugs of said accessory which is used to enable the binding strip to be

secured into a ring binder.

11. The combination of claim 10 and including a third slit between said

spaced slits, said plate having a further lug with a hole in it protruding from another

edge thereof, said third slit serving to receive said further lug of said accessory which

further lug is used to enable the binding strip to be suspended.

12. The combination of claim 11 , wherein said pair of lugs and said further lug

protrude from opposed edges of said plate.

13. In combination, a binding strip and an accessory, the binding strip

there being means which releasably connect the second and third panels together

whilst the binding strip is in its folded condition, said first elongate panel having a slit

therein, said accessory being in the form of a plate having a lug with a hole in it

protruding from one edge thereof, said slit serving to receive said lug of said accessory

which is used to enable the binding strip to be suspended.

14. The combination of any one of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that said

second and third panels are widest at their central zones and become progressively

narrower in both directions from said central zones.

15. A binding strip substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to

Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

16. The combination of a binding strip and an accessory substantially as

hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 6, 9 and 10 of the accompanying

drawings.

17. The combination of a binding strip and a hanger substantially as

hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 and 11 to 15 of the

accompanying drawings.