EP1015258A1

EP1015258A1 - Binding element

Info

Publication number: EP1015258A1
Application number: EP98941208A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Manfred Baumann
Original assignee: Ibico Trading GmbH
Current assignee: Ibico Trading GmbH
Priority date: 1997-09-17
Filing date: 1998-09-14
Publication date: 2000-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 2018-09-14
Also published as: AU8970598A; CH691851A5; DK1015258T3; ES2191959T3; DE59807134D1; WO1999014059A1; AU744726B2; US6270280B1; EP1015258B1; PT1015258E; ATE232169T1; CA2304047A1

Abstract

A binding element for retaining a stack of sheets together has a spine (3, 4, 5) and loop-shaped, mutually spaced apart fingers (1, 11) which extend away from the spine and are shaped in a single piece with the spine. The individual fingers are located in two opposite sections (1 and 11) on the spine (3, 4), which forms a hinge. At least one of the finger elements (1) is fitted at its end (12) away from the spine with a push-button (7) and the associated, opposite finger element (11) is fitted at its end (22) away from the spine with an opening (10) which substantially matches the push button (7) and in which the push button (7) can be fitted. A binding element is thus provided from which sheets can be easily removed or into which sheets can be subsequently inserted without the use of additional binding devices.

Description

Binding spine

The invention relates to a binding spine for holding together a stack of sheets, which comprises a back part and a spaced apart, loop-shaped fingers extending therefrom in one piece.

From EP-A-0 704 322 such a plastic binding spine is known which can be manufactured by injection molding.

These binding spines require the use of a binding machine, with which the loops are widened so that the paper can be inserted. The loops essentially close due to the spring force of the individual fingers and then hold the paper firmly.

For private or semi-professional use, this binding spine has the disadvantage that a binding machine must be used in order to use the binding spine for the first time or repeatedly. Furthermore, such a binding spine has the particular disadvantage that a correspondingly bound stack of sheets cannot be completely turned through 360 °, since the back part essentially prevents such turning over.

Based on this prior art, the invention lies

Task based on specifying a binding spine of the type mentioned, which does not require a binding machine to use sheets. Another object of the invention is to provide a binding spine with which inserted sheets can be scrolled through almost 360 °.

The above-mentioned object is achieved according to the invention for a binding spine of the type mentioned at the outset in that the individual fingers are arranged opposite one another on the back part in two sections, in that the back part forms a hinge, that at least one of the finger elements has a first end at its back part Fastening element and the end associated with said finger element at its back part has a second fastening element which is essentially complementary to the first fastening element and which forms a releasable connection when engaged in the first fastening element.

With the binding spine thus specified, it is possible in a simple manner to place appropriately prepared perforated sheets on a sequence of the finger elements and then to move the finger elements towards one another by pressure, the finger elements tilting around the hinge of the back part and the closure being latched by snapping the first fastener, e.g. a push button into the corresponding complementary second fastening element, e.g. an opening, especially in a positive fit.

In a preferred embodiment, the back part consists of essentially rectangular elements which are held together by a thin connecting band. The finger elements are preferably semicircles, at the ends of which the push-button connection is arranged.

Further advantageous refinements are characterized in the subclaims. A binding spine according to the invention will now be explained in more detail on the basis of preferred exemplary embodiments with the aid of the attached drawings. Show it:

1 shows a cross section through a finger of a completely opened back according to a first embodiment,

Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section through two adjacent fingers in the viewing direction and along the line II-II according to FIG. 1,

Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section through a finger in the viewing direction and along the line III-III in FIG. 1,

Fig. 4 shows a partially sectioned view of a closed binding finger according to FIG. 1,

Fig. 5 shows a plan view of a binding spine with binding fingers according to FIG. 1,

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the truss according to FIG. 5,

Fig. 7 shows a side view of a finger of a bandage according to a second exemplary embodiment,

Fig. 8 shows a front view of a finger of a spine according to a third exemplary embodiment,

Fig. 9 shows a cross section through a finger of a completely opened back according to a fourth exemplary embodiment, FIG. 10 shows a longitudinal section through a finger in the viewing direction and along the line X-X in FIG. 9, and FIG. 11 shows a bottom view of a finger of the back according to FIG. 9.

Fig. 1 shows a partially sectioned side view of a binding finger in the fully open position. The binding finger consists of two binding finger elements 1 and 11 which are connected to one another via a hinge 2. The hinge 2 comprises two rectangles 3 and 4 extending in the longitudinal direction of the spine, which are inserted over the entire length of the spine via a connection 5 that is as thin as possible. kig are connected. The rectangles 3 and 4 together with their connection 5 form the back part, on the rear surfaces 6 of which face away from the bottom surface 21 the individual pairs of fingers 1 and 11 are applied. Due to the hinge effect of the thin connecting part 5, the finger elements 1 and 11 can be folded towards one another, so that the front end faces 12 and 22 of the same come into contact with one another and the closed circle of a finger shown in FIG. 4 is formed.

A push button 7 is provided on one end face 12 of one finger element 1 and has a round shaft 8 and a thickened head 9. The round shaft 8 can of course also be square or different and the round button 9, which here essentially has the shape of a cylinder flattened on opposite sides, can be changed, provided the relevant outer diameter of the head 9 is greater than the shaft thickness 8. At the same time, the diameter of the head 9 must be less than the width of the finger element 1 or 11. When the finger elements are folded together, the push button 7 enters an opening 10 at the end 22 of the finger element 11 remote from the hinge, the recess 10 having an opening 13 which is complementary to the shaft 8 and here has a cylindrical opening 13 and has an enlarged recess 14 around the head part 9 of the Record push button 7.

1 shows a finger on which the injection molding head 15 ends with its opening 16 on a flattened section 17 of the finger element 1 when it is manufactured by injection molding. The reference numeral 18 denotes the inner surface of a recess which is provided in the otherwise full material of the finger elements 1 and 11 and which in each case forms a groove. In other embodiments of the invention, it is of course possible not to manufacture the binding spine by injection molding, but rather to stamp it, for example, from plastic material. The binding spine can also be extruded. In a further embodiment, the binding spine can also be produced, in particular stamped, from metal, for example from sheet metal. Then, of course, it does not have the flattened section 17 and the inner recess 18 can also be omitted or be formed by bent or stamped-out side parts of the binding spine.

2 shows a sectional view of two adjacent fingers along the line indicated by II-II in the direction of the arrow there. Identical features are identified in all drawings with the same reference symbols. It can be clearly seen that between two adjacent fingers 1 and 1 'one back part 3 establishes the one-piece connection. At the same time it can be seen that the hinge 5 has only an insignificant proportion of the height of the back part 3. It can also be clearly seen here that the finger elements 1 and 1 'are U-shaped in cross section, since these are hollowed out by the recess 18 in their central region.

In the embodiment shown here, the side surfaces of the finger elements 1, 1 'or 11 each have a small, e.g. 2 ° large angle 19, which slightly tapered the fingers, so that the inserted leaves can be rotated more easily around the central part of the finger elements.

FIG. 3 shows a section through a finger along the line III-III along the same line as FIG. 2, but in the opposite viewing direction.

It can be seen here that in the selected exemplary embodiment, the push button 7 with its head in the side view part 9 does not protrude beyond the shaft 8. At the same time it can be seen that the width of the push button is selected according to the width of the recess 18.

FIG. 4 shows a binding finger according to FIG. 1 in the closed position. It can be clearly seen that the thin hinge element 5 only slightly increases the dimensions of the binding spine. At the same time, it can be seen that the back part can be made very thin overall by a choice of very thin cuboids 3 and 4, so that sheets inserted into the finger elements 1 and 11 can be rotated almost 360 ° around the longitudinal axis 19 of the spine.

Furthermore, it can be clearly seen that the surfaces 12 and 22 of the spine meet in such a way that the outer surfaces of the spine are flush with one another and form an inner circle and an outer circle in the exemplary embodiment shown.

5 now shows a row of binding fingers 1, 1 'arranged side by side in a top view with the hinge completely unfolded. It can be clearly seen that the injection point for the plastic material of the spine is provided on the finger element 1.

Finally, FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of the binding spine according to FIG. 5, wherein the small size of the elements means that the push button 7 and the opposite recess 10 cannot be shown differently. Since the thin hinge 5 runs flat between the rectangles 3 and 4, only the overall flat surface 21 can be seen in the bottom view. Fig. 6 shows the spine in the form in which a user puts it down when inserting sheets for the first time. The user inserts sheets into fingers 1 or 11 and closes then successively fingers 1 and 11 in order to reach closed fingers according to FIG. 4.

The binding spine preferably consists of a plastic and is injection molded. The height of the rectangles 3 and 4 exaggerated here is, for example, 0.5 mm, so that the back part has a total height of 1 mm. Of course, it is also possible to design the back part elements 3 and 4 differently than in a rectangular shape. The same applies to finger elements 1 and 11, in particular, which need not cover the same circular arc. It is thus possible for a finger element 1 to have a larger circular arc than 180 °, e.g. 270 ° or almost 360 °, and to make the complementary circular arc 11 shorter accordingly.

In addition, it is of course possible, instead of the circular shape for the finger elements 1 and 11, e.g. choose a rectangular shape or a square, even if this is disadvantageous for turning the inserted pages. In particular, however, the shape of the finger elements can also be selected such that a semicircle with a tendon base surface results with a closed finger element, which then e.g. The fingers would then have a D in cross-section. Finally, it is also possible to round off the binding fingers to allow the inserted sheets to slide more easily. Such a rounding would affect all four outer edges of finger elements 1 and 11, i.e. in particular all corners, which are identified in FIG. 3 by the reference symbol 24.

With the binding spine presented here, it is particularly possible to remove or add perforated sheets without a machine, since the push-button connection can be opened and closed several times. In the exemplary embodiment presented, the push buttons are provided in each of the associated pairs of fingers. This is not absolutely necessary, for example with a Closing every second pair of fingers, the closed hinge 5 with the adjoining back part elements 3 and 4 ensures that the intervening finger elements also hold together without a push-button connection. This means in particular that even in the event of an accidental breakout or the wear of individual push buttons, a secure binding of the inserted sheets is still guaranteed.

In a simplified embodiment, the push buttons 7, 8, 9 could also be designed without the thickened head 9. If each push button has only one shaft 8, then a durable connection can be created instead of in the form of a friction fit by the diameter of the opening 10 possibly being chosen to be somewhat smaller than the shaft thickness.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of a finger of a spine according to a second exemplary embodiment. In addition to the push button connection, it is also possible to form a detachable connection with hook elements. Each binding finger element 1 or 11 has a hook 27 or 37, which are designed to be complementary in form-locking. They fit flush with each other, so that there is a - in the mathematical sense - a continuous transition from the binding finger element 1 to the binding finger element 11. In the illustrated simple configuration of the hooks 27, 37, these take up the entire width of the binding finger elements. In other embodiments, a web-groove combination can be provided in the area of the hooks 27, 37, so that a lateral divergence of the hooks is avoided when shear forces occur.

FIG. 8 shows a front view of a finger of a spine according to a third exemplary embodiment. Here, the fastening elements 30 and 40 consist of a pin 30 protruding from the end of the binding finger element 1, which may have small ridges 31 on both sides. Complementary to this, the end of the binding finger element 11 is designed with a groove 40 into which the pin 30 can be inserted. This groove 40 extending through the entire end has recesses, not shown in the drawing, into which the cams or elevations 31 can be fitted.

FIG. 9 shows a cross section through a finger of a completely opened back according to a fourth exemplary embodiment. The same features of the binding spine formed from these fingers have the same reference numerals as in the other figures.

A push button 7 is provided on one end face 12 of one finger element 1, which has a partially round and partially flattened shaft 38 and a partially thickened head 39. The decisive outer diameter of the head 39 is at least partially larger than the shaft thickness 38. On the inward-facing side of the finger 1 there is a lateral flattening 41 which merges into a rounded front surface 42.

When the finger elements are folded together, the pushbutton 7 enters an opening 50 at the end 22 of the finger element 11 remote from the hinge, the recess 50 having an opening 43 which is complementary to the shaft 38, here cylindrical, with a mouth widening and an enlarged recess 44 around which Record head part 39 of the push button 7. The inward-facing section 45 of the recess 44 is complementary to the flattened section of the push button 7.

FIG. 9 shows a finger on which the injection molding head ends on a flattened section 17 of the finger element 1 when it is manufactured by injection molding. Here are the A4 paper format, for example, thirty-four fingers are provided, the sixth or seventh fingers being counted from the edge and an injection molding inlet being provided on a middle finger. The reference numeral 18 denotes the inner surface of a recess which is provided in the otherwise full material of the finger elements 1 and 11 and which in each case forms a groove. The hinge 5 is rounded on its side opposite the surface 21 in a circular arc.

FIG. 10 shows a longitudinal section through a finger along the line X-X in FIG. 9. Here, reference can also be made to the foot sections 47 on the underside 12, which are arranged below the thickened head element 39.

Finally, FIG. 11 shows a bottom view of a finger of the binding spine according to FIG. 9. Here the circular opening 50 can clearly be seen, which has a semicircular tapered section for the shaft area. The bottom view of the button 7 shows the flattened inner section, which does not have any foot sections 47, which enables the binding spine to be easily removed from the injection mold.

Claims

claims

1. binding spine for holding together a stack of sheets, the back part (3, 4, 5) and spaced apart, loop-shaped fingers extending away from this

(1, 1 ', 11) in one piece, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the individual fingers in two sections

(1 or 11) are arranged opposite one another on the back part (3, 4) such that the back part (3, 4, 5) forms a hinge (2) that at least one of the finger elements (1) has a distal end on its back part ( 12) a first fastening element (7, 27, 37) and the end (22) remote from the associated finger element (11) on its back part has a second fastening element (10, 30, 40) which is essentially complementary to the first fastening element (7) which forms a releasable connection when engaged in the first fastening element (7, 27, 37).

2. The binding spine according to claim 1, characterized in that the back part (3, 4, 5) consists of essentially rectangular elements (3, 4) which have a much thinner connecting band than the elements (3, 4) ( 5) are held together as a hinge.

3. The binding comb according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the finger elements (1, 11) are partial elements of a torus, which together with the back part (3, 4) comprise a full circle in terms of the angle sum and at their abutting ends (12, 22) the fastening elements (7, 27, 37; 10, 30, 40) are arranged.

4. comb according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the finger elements (1, 11) are semicircles, at the abutting ends (12, 22) of the fastening elements (7, 27, 37; 10, 30, 40) are arranged.

5. Binding comb according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the ends (12 or 22) of the finger elements (1, 11) remote from the back part abut one another such that the outer surfaces of the finger elements (1, 11) are flush with one another pass over.

6. comb according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a predetermined number of three to all of the finger elements (1, 1 ', 11) with the fastening elements (7, 27, 37; 10, 30, 40) are equipped.

7. comb according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the profile of the finger elements (1, 11) in their end faces (6; 12, 22) distant areas by a recess (18) leading from the inside is U-shaped .

8. comb according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the corners of the profile of the finger elements (1, 11) are rounded.

9. comb according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the side surfaces of the finger elements (1, 11) taper towards the end surfaces (6; 12, 22) distant areas (19).

10. comb according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the first fastening element is a push button (7) which has a shaft (8; 38) and a thickened head (9; 39), and that second fastening element comprises an opening (10; 50) which has a hollow cylindrical section (13; 43) and an opening (14; 44) which is enlarged relative to the latter for receiving the head (9; 39).