GB2298165A - Binder for part works. - Google Patents

Abstract

A binder 1 is provided with covers 2 either side of a central spine portion 3. A spine member 6 formed of polymeric material is adhered within the spine portion 3, and carries two integral transverse flat bars 7, one at the top and one at the bottom. The upper and lower margins of a part work 22 can be secured to these bars 7 by bifurcated clips 11 of "hairpin" configuration which have a retaining kink on one leg. The clips 11 are supplied integrally moulded in frame 10 from which they can be snapped away for use. Two such clips 11 hold each part work 22 onto flat bar 7 at each end. An endcap member 15 is provided to protect the ends of the clips 11.

Description

Binder This invention relates to covering binders for holding a plurality of multipage assemblies such as partworks or other successively published and uniformly formatted magazines or journals.

Partworks' are magazine-format education publications sold successively at intervals with the intention that a full set shall be saved and bound into one or more volumes for permanent reference. Typically, a compatible binder is made available to hold each accumulated group of partwork publications.

There has been proposed a binder comprising two cover portions joined by at least one central spine portion and a separate rigid spine member fixed over the inner face of the spine portion. The spine member adds rigidity to the spine portion but is primarily intended to provide supports for tranverse bars (one at each end of the spine portion) which are spaced from the spine portion itself.

A plurality of identical clips having shanks of dissimilar lengths are provided, which can be clipped with one shank over the respective upper or lower end centre fold position of a multipage assembly and with the other shank underneath the bar so that the multipage assembly is safely held.

According to the first aspect of the present invention there is provided a binder as set out in Claim 1.

The first aspect of the invention allows the clips for use with the spine member to be stored in a manner in which they can be easily packaged with the spine member and not lost during transport of the product. A neat and simple solution is provided to the problem of retaining the clips before use.

According to the second aspect of the invention, there is provided a binder as set out in Claim 2.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the exposed ends of the clips may be covered over and further fixed against movement relative to the bar by the end cap members, thereby preventing damage to the clips or preventing them becoming hooked on clothing etc. A more attractive appearance can be given to the completed binder.

The end cap members may be simply engaged with the bar by configuring the retaining elements at right angles to the strip member and pushing the retaining elements under the bar. The end cap member may be simply disengaged from the bar by pressing the retaining hooks down and withdrawing the end cap member. The hooks may take the form of barbs or kinks or any other formation capable of catching (preferably resiliently) under the inner edge of the bar.

Preferably, the spine member is of synthetic polymeric material. It may be fixed to the spine portion in any way, such as by an adhesive, or it may be integral with it as set out below. Preferably, the spine member is formed, for example by moulding, in a single piece.

However, the spine member may be formed in two parts or more. In the second aspect of the invention, the two parts can, when taken together, be shorter than the length of the spine portion so that there is a gap in the middle. This can save on material. A multi-part spine member also allows flexibility in that a single type of spine member can be used for any length of spine portion or partwork.

The cover may comprise two cover portions and at least a central spine portion separated from the cover portions by fold lines. Alternatively, the spine and cover portions may be three separate pieces of board or plastic bound on the outside with traditional bookbinding materials or with printed laminated paper and bound on the inside with cloth and/or paper hinges in traditional book binding fashion. Alternatively, they may be separate parts hingeably joined together by sheets of thermoplastic material such as PVC heat sealed at the edges. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cover portions and the spine portion are comprised of synthetic polymeric material (for example, polypropylene) and may be formed together with the spine member in a single integral moulding.

The frangible connection between the clips and the frame may be provided by moulding the clips and the frame integrally in polymeric material of compositions, known in the art, which allow fracture by twisting the clips about the connection with the frame. Other easily breakable connections may be provided, for example, the clips may be releasably retained in a snap-fit manner with the frame, or glued or welded in place.

The bar may be of any suitable form. Preferably, it comprises a part spaced from the spine portion and having an outer edge extending transversly to the axis of the spine member and an inner edge extending transversly to the axis of the spine member. The inner edge may take the form of an inner ridge extending transversely to the spine member, the bar being connected to the spine member by a web extending from behind the inner ridge.

The frame may be clipped, fixed, welded, glued or otherwise attached to the spine member. It may be removably attached. Preferably, the connection between the spine member and the frame allows relative movement between the frame and spine member, to allow the binder to be folded flat with the frame lying adjacent a cover portion. For example, the connection may be in the form of a hinge.

The frame may be of any convenient shape. For example, it could be in the form of a longitudinally extending bar having means at one end for attachment to the spine member or it may be in the form of a rectangular loop or loop of any other suitable form, with the clips extending from the frame to the inside of the loop.

The clips may be of any suitable form. The top portion may be connected by an outer portion to the shank portion. The outer portion may have square shoulders or be rounded. The retaining part may be in the form of a kink or hook or any other formation capable of catching (preferably resiliently) under the inner edge of the bar. In order to ease insertion, the shank portion may be longer than the top portion and have the retaining part at a distance along its length. However, the shank portion and top portion may be of the same or similar lengths or the top portion may be slightly longer.

Preferably the top portion of the clip has a rounded free end.

Preferably each bar overlies an end region of the spine member. Preferably moreover the spine member has upstanding side walls, optionally continuing to a small extent past the outer edge of each flat bar. The frame may be detachably fixed to a side wall of the spine member. If desired a longitudinal dividing wall may be located beneath each bar so that the clips can fit some in each subdivision of space thus defined.

The spine may be flat or curved in transverse section. Thus, the spine member and the end bars may also be flat or curved.

The first aspect of the invention may be combined with the second aspect.

The first and second aspects of the invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Fig. 1 illustrates a binder in accordance with the first and second aspects of the invention in an opened position Fig. 2 shows features of the end region of the spine member of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal radial cross-section through the end region of the spine member; Fig. 4 shows a part detailed cross section of the connection between the frame and the spine member; Fig. 5 is an isometric view of an end cap member according to the invention; and Fig. 6 is an isometric view of an end cap member engaged with a bar over a number of clips.

A binder 1, for partworks or the like, has rigid cellulosic/polymeric covers 2 and a central spine portion 3 defined between ribs 4 themselves formed by fold lines 5 impressed into the other face of the cover.

Over and extending along and across the full lengths and width of the spine portion 3 there is adhered a stiff spine member 6, formed of polymeric material.

This member 6 acts as a general reinforcement of the spine portion 3, but more specifically constitutes a carier and spacer for two integral spaced polymer strips or flat bars 7, transverse to the spine direction and located one at each end of the spine member 6 at a spacing therewith.

In the embodiment shown, spine portion 3, spine member 6 and bar 7 are curved in transversely arcuate form: they could if desired be flat. For convenience, however, reference will be made to curved bars below, by way of example only.

Figure 1 shows that the spine member 6 has side walls 8, rising at 8a to the same level as the top of flat bars 7. The side walls 8 exert a rigidifying effect, and have a further function discussed in more detail below.

Moreover, Fig. 2 shows projecting end portions 9, one located at each end of each flat bar 7, again for reasons discussed below.

A frame 10 of polymer material (of a different type from the spine member 6, as greater tensile strength is required for the clips) is provided attached to the spine member 6. The frame 10 comprises a rectangular loop of generally round-section with a plurality of clips 11 integrally formed therewith and connected thereto by frangible connections in the form of connecting parts 12. The connecting parts 12 are formed of appropriate polymeric material and of suitable thickness and can be broken by flexing the clips 11 about their respective connecting parts 12. When released in this fashion, the clips can be used to fix a partwork to the spine member as shown in Figure 3. The clips will be described in detail below. The frame 10 is attached to the spine member 6 by snap fit members 13, one of which is shown in more detail in the section shown in Figure 4.The snap fit members 13 are connected to the frame 12 itself by stubs 14. The snap fit between the spine member 6 and snap fit members 13 acts as a hinge to allow the covers 2 to be placed in the closed position without snapping the stubs 14 when the frame 10 is in position. Foldlines (not shown) may also be provided in the stubs to give them flexibility.

A single end cap member 15 is shown. A further corresponding end cap member may be provided for engagement at the other end of the spine member 6. The end cap member will be described in greater detail below.

Fig. 2 will therefore be largely selfexplanatory, showing one end of spine member 6 in more detail.

Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal cross-section through one end of the spine member 6 accommodating a fixing clip 16. Clip 16 possesses a rounded end 12, an outer portion 18, a rear shank portion 19, a retaining kink 20 and an end shank portion 21. Each such clip 16 and its counterpart at the other end of the spine member 6 clips the outer edge of the partwork, at the centrefold, so that the folded edge extends along dotted line 22. Of course, each flat bar 7 can accommodate a plurality, e. g.

12, of such clips so that a set of partworks can be held side by side.

The structure as shown is by way of example only and is susceptible of a number of variations. Thus the rounded end 17 of the clip 16 is provided to prevent tearing of the magazine as the clip 10 slides over, and can be of any suitable shape. Rear portion 18 is pressed by finger action: it could if desired be more rounded, which would affect overall elasticity. Length of shank portion 19 affects the clearance, if any, between the retaining kink 20 and the flat bar 7 inner edge.

Moreover, the rearmost end of the base of the spine member 6, beneath flat bar 7, can be omitted or shortened to permit easier assembly, or as shown in dotted lines, a subdividing wall can be incorporated at 9a. Also, the whole spine member can be slightly bowed to hold the rear edges of the partwork against sag.

Figure 4 is a part vertical crose-eection of the snap fit member 13 along the line IV-IV in Figure 1. The snap fit member comprises two depending jaw parts with inwardly extending lips 13a which define a gripping part of reduced cross-section. The space between the jaws parts is round in cross section to permit relative rotation between the snap fit member and the wall 8 so that the connection can be used as a hinge. In use, the snap fit member 13 is engaged with a part of the wall 8 of the spine member 6 having a void 23 extending to approximately two-thirds of the height of the wall. The inwardly extending lips 13a extend into the void 23 and hold the snap fit member 13 in position. The resilient walls of the jaws may be flexed apart if the frame 10 is lifted sufficiently, so that the frame 10 can be removed from the wall 8.

Figure 5 shows an enlarged view of an end cap member according to the second aspect of the invention. The end cap member 15 comprises a strip member 24 which is in this case provided with an additional strip member 25 extending at right angles to the first strip member 24 to give it rigidity. Retaining elements 26 are provided at the ends of the strip member 24. They may be formed of relatively thin material. In the end cap member 15 as moulded, the retaining elements 26 may extend from and lie parallel to the strip member 24, being bent round at right angles to the strip member 24, for engagement with the bar 7. They are shown in position for engagement with the bar in figure 5.Each retaining element 26 has a hook 27 at the far end thereof which can be pushed beneath the bar 7 so as to click under the inner edge of the bar so that the end cap member 15 is releasably fixed over the end of the spine member 6.

Fig. 6 is a isometric view of an end cap member 15 fixed in position at the end of a spine member 6 with the hooks 27 engaged under the inner end of the bar 7. A number of clips 11 for fixing partworks are shown engaged with the bar 7, but the partworks have been omitted for clarity. It can be seen that the end cap member 15 protects the ends of the clips 11 from damage or from becoming unintentionally disengaged with the bar 7 for example under the strain of manipulation of a partwork.

To fix a partwork in the binder, the partwork is simply positioned of the partwork on the flat bars 7 and then clips 11 are pressed home to an audible 'click', at which stage both outer margins of the partwork are held in addition to the hold exerted by the stapling.

Typically the partwork is not clamped immovably (although it may be resilently clamped if thick) but is held at 12 from sliding outwards.

Projections 9 are also provided to prevent clips 11 from twisting round the ends of the bar. Secondly, the folded edges of the partworks and the clip ends are concealed by edges 8, 8a of the spine member 6 so that when opened the binder has an attractive cleancut appearance at the spine.

Finally, the clip fastening tends to hold the accumulating partworks wherever they are put: i. e. a stack of three or four partworks in a 12- unit binder can be pushed to one end of the flat bar as a neat unit and will tend to stay as such unless purposely disturbed.

In use the binder opens flat and gives a rigid spine across which pages can be turned without hindrance from the clips 16.

If disassembly should be required it is simplest, for thinner partworks, merely to pull the partwork margin inwards under a clip 16, and then slide the partwork out in the other direction. Alternatively, a thumbnail or any rigid remover element can push back on the rounded clip end 18 to force the kink portion 20 back under the flat bar 7.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS:

1. A binder, either assembled or as a kit of parts, for holding a plurality of multipage assemblies such as partworks or other successively published uniformly formatted magazines or journals, comprising: (a) a cover having at least central spine portion; (b) a spine member fixed over the inner face of the spine portion, the spine member being formed at each of its ends with a transverse integral bar spaced to define a gap with the spine portion, and (c) a plurality of identical clips each connected to a frame by a frangible connection, wherein in use, clips are detached from the frame by breaking the respective connections and used to clip the upper end and lower end centre fold positions of each multipage assembly respectively one to each bar, each clip having a top portion connected to a shank portion so as to leave a gap between the top portion and shank portion for accommodating the said bar, the shank portion possessing a retaining part such as to click over the inner edge of the bar, characterised in that the frame is attached to the spine member.

2. A binder according to Claim 1, wherein the frame is attached to the spine member by a releasable snap-fit connection.

3. A binder according to Claim 2, wherein the frame is attached to the spine member and a position between the ends, the releasable connection permitting rotation of the frame with respect to the spine member.

4. A binder, either assembled or as a kit of parts, for holding a plurality of multipage assemblies such as partworks or other successively published uniformly formatted magazines or journals, comprising: (a) a cover having at least a central spine portion; (b) a spine member fixed over the inner face of the spine portion, the spine member being formed at each of its ends with a transverse integral bar spaced to define a gap with the spine portion, (c) a plurality of identical clips, wherein in use, clips are used to clip the upper end and lower end of the center fold portions of each multipage assembly respectively one to each bar, each clip having a top portion connected to a shank portion so as to leave a gap between the top portion and shank portion for accommodating the said bar, the shank portion posessing a retaining part such as to clip over the inner edge of the bar, and (d) at least one end cap member comprising a strip member and at least two retaining elements each having a retaining hook, wherein the end cap member may be placed with the retaining elements extending generally at right angles to the strip member, with their respective hooks engaged under the inner edge of the bar so that the strip member is held in position across the end of the spine member.

5. A binder as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 in which each bar overlies an end region of the spine member.

6. A binder as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, in which the spine member has upstanding side walls.

7. A binder as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the frame is detachably fixed to a side wall of the spine member.

8. A binder as claimed in claim 6 or 7 in which the upstanding side walls continue to a small extent past the outer edge of each flat bar.

9. A binder as claimed in any proceeding claim in which a longitudinal dividing wall is located beneath each bar.

10. A binder substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.