GB2290257A

GB2290257A - Sheet binding

Info

Publication number: GB2290257A
Application number: GB9411959A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Iris Veronica Parker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-06-15
Filing date: 1994-06-15
Publication date: 1995-12-20
Also published as: ZA954852B; GB9411959D0

Abstract

A device is disclosed which enables a stack of paper within a binder to be stapled along a line which is close to one edge of the stack. The device has a base with a top surface 12.1 on which a stapling gun can be placed. A platform (16) for supporting a paper stack S extends across the base, there being a raised rim 18 above the platform. The rim 18 includes an overhang 22 which bounds, with the top surface of the platform, an undercut slot 24. The stack S to be stapled is inserted under the overhang 22 onto the slot 24 and is supported by the platform 16. The platform 16 and rim 18 have a gap (20, Fig. 1) therein for receiving the front end of a stapling gun which is positioned with its anvil at 30, that is, just below the stack S. The stack S and stapling gun are thus located with respect to one another so that accurate stapling is possible. A clamping strip (40) is disclosed which is applied to the spine of the bound stack, and comprises a generally U-shaped cross-section with two resiliently flexible limbs (42) which converge forwards their free edges. <IMAGE>

Description

BINDING OF SHEETS THIS INVENTION relates to the binding of sheets, for example, a stack of paper sheets.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a structure comprising a bound stack of sheets within a binder comprising a front cover and a rear cover joined along a spine, the structure further comprising a row of staples passing through said stack and said sleeve close to one edge thereof, and an elongate clamping strip of U-profile, the clamping strip including two limbs joined by a hairpin bend, the limbs being resiliently flexible and bearing on opposite sides of said stack along zones which run parallel to said one edge, said staples being between said zones and said one edge and preventing the strip being removed in a direction transverse to the direction of elongation of the strip.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of binding a plurality of sheets which method comprises stacking the sheets, placing the sheets in a binder comprising a front cover and a rear cover joined along a spine, stapling the sheets and binder together close to one edge thereby to form a row of staples parallel to said one edge, sliding an elongate clamping strip of U-profile onto the stapled stack and binder in the direction parallel to said one edge and said row of staples, the clamping strip comprising a pair of resiliently flexible limbs the elongate edges of which bear on said binder and stack along zones which are parallel to said one edge and which zones progressively lengthen as the strip is slid onto the plurality of sheets and the binder, said staples preventing the strip coming off said stack and binder in the direction transverse to its length both whilst it is being slid on and once it has been slid on to its full length.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for use in binding, the device comprising a platform having a raised rim along one edge thereof, the rim serving as a stop against which the edge of a stack of sheets in a binder can be placed to locate the stack and the binder, and an upwardly open recess extending transversely of said rim and platform, the provision of said recess resulting in there being a gap in said rim, the recess serving to receive and locate the base of a hand operated stapling gun with the top face of the anvil of the stapling gun in substantially the same plane as the top face of said platform and lying in said gap, the arrangement being such that a stack of sheets and a binder having one edge against said rim can be stapled close to said one edge by operating the stapling gun.

Said rim can include an overhang thereby providing an undercut slot into which said stack and said binder can be inserted for stapling.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a elongate clamping strip for use in binding, the strip being U-shaped in cross section and comprising a pair of resiliently flexible limbs which converge towards their elongate free edges to define an entrance to the strip and which are joined by a hairpin bend along their divergent edges, there being, on the inner face of each of said limbs and close to the free edge thereof, a protrusion which projects from the inner face of the limb and which provides a stop surface lying inwardly of said entrance, said stop surfaces inhibiting passage through the mouth from inside the strip of any protuberance on either face of a bound stack of sheets one edge of which is within said strip.

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 drawing in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a device for use in binding; Figure 2 is a section on the line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a pictorial view of a bound stack of sheets within a binder; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic section on the line IV-IV of Figure 3; and Figure 5 illustrates a clamping strip in accordance with the present invention.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2 the device illustrated is generally designated 10 and comprises a base 12 which, in plan view, is generally rectangular. Close to the forward edge 14 of the base 12 there is a raised platform 16 which extends the full width of the base 12. Between the platform 16 and the remainder of the base 12 there is a raised rim 18. The rim 18 extends parallel to the platform 16. The rim 18 and platform 16 have a gap 20 therein at the centre. As best seen in Figure 2, the raised rim includes an overhang 22, this providing an undercut slot 24.

The gap 20 in the platform 16 and rim 18 results from the provision of a recess 26 which extends completely through the rim 18 and partway across the platform 16.

The top face of the base 12 is designated 12.1 in Figures 1 and 2 and, as is best seen in Figure 2, the bottom face of the recess (designated 26.1 in Figures 1 and 2) lies in the same horizontal plane as the face 12.1.

The rim 18 additionally includes a rear face 18.1 which slopes up from the face 12.1 and a top surface 18.2 which is parallel to, but at higher level than, the face 12.1.

At the rear of the base 10 there is a U-shaped protrusion 28 which stands proud of the top surface 12.1 of the base 12. This protrusion is shaped so as to receive the rear end of the base of a hand operated stapling gun SG the forward end of which is in the recess 26.

Once the stapling gun SG has been positioned and located by the protrusion 28 and the recess 26, the grooves in its anvil which turn the legs of a staple inwardly are located as indicated by the references 30 in Figures 1 and 2.

It will be noted that this is just forward of the vertical face 24.1 of the slot 24. A stack of sheets S is shown in Figure 2, the stack having one edge thereof inserted into the slot 24 and located against the face 24.1. When the stapling gun SG is operated, the staple passes through the stack S close to the edge thereof. The face 24.1 thus accurately positions the edge of the stack so that the staples can be driven through close to the edge without any risk of it being skew.

In Figures 3 and 4 the stack is shown in more detail. It consists of a number of paper sheets 32 within a binder 34 of synthetic plastics material or board. The binder 34 comprises a front cover and a rear cover joined along a spine 36. The staples are shown at 38.

Turning finally to Figure 5, this shows a clamping strip for use with the stapled stack illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The strip is designated 40 and is generally U-shaped in cross section. It comprises two resiliently flexible limbs 42 which converge towards their free edges.

Along their other edges the limbs 42 are joined by a hairpin bend 44. On the inner faces of the limbs 42 there are protrusions 46. These protrusions provide stop surfaces 48.

To final binding of the stack S, and provide an aesthetically pleasing edge, the limbs 42 are prised apart so that the stack can be inserted into the hollow interior of the strip 40 through one open end thereof. The stack is then progressively slid along the strip 40 until its entire extent is within the strip 50. The strip 40 has been shown in "ghost" in Figure 4 to illustrate the position that it adopts. It will be noted that the free edges of the limbs 42 are bearing on the stack along zones which are parallel to the edge that was stapled. The staples 38 are inside the strip 40 and between the stop surfaces 48 and the hairpin bend 44.

The staples 38 and the stop surfaces 48 cooperates to ensure that, as the strip 40 is slid onto the stack, it cannot "run-off" the bound edge. Engagement between the staples 38 and the stop surfaces 48 inhibits this. Furthermore, when, in use, the bound stack is opened as shown by the arrow A in Figure 4, there is a tendency for the clamping strip 40 to be prised off the bound edge. This tendency is resisted by engagement between the staples 38 and the stop surfaces 48.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A device for use in binding, the device comprising a platform having a top surface and a raised rim along one edge of the platform, the rim serving as a stop against which the edge of a stack of sheets in a binder can be placed to locate the stack and the binder, and the top surface of the platform serving as a support for the stack and binder, there being a gap in said rim and platform, the gap serving to receive a hand operated stapling gun with the top face of the anvil of the stapling gun in substantially the same plane as said top face of said platform and lying in said gap, the arrangement being such that a stack of sheets and a binder having one edge against said rim can be stapled close to said one edge by operating the stapling gun.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rim includes an overhang thereby providing an undercut slot into which said stack and said binder are inserted for stapling.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, and comprising a rectangular base having a top surface, said platform extending across said base adjacent one edge thereof and said gap being in the middle of the platform, said gap being formed by means of a recess in said platform and rim, the recess having a bottom surface in the same plane as said top surface of the base and having a closed end formed by a vertical surface.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, and including a protrusion standing proud of said top surface of said base at a position remote from said platform for locating the base of a stapling gun.

5. A method of binding a plurality of sheets which method comprises stacking the sheets, placing the sheets in a binder comprising a front cover and a rear cover joined along a spine, stapling the sheets and binder together close to one edge thereby to form a row of staples parallel to said one edge, sliding an elongate clamping strip of U-profile onto the stapled stack and binder in the direction parallel to said one edge and said row of staples, the clamping strip comprising a pair of resiliently flexible limbs the elongate edges of which bear on said binder and stack along zones which are parallel to said one edge and which zones progressively lengthen as the strip is slid onto the plurality of sheets and the binder, said staples preventing the strip coming off said stack and binder in the direction transverse to its length both whilst it is being slid on and once it has been slid on to its full length.

6. An elongate clamping strip for use in binding, the strip being U-shaped in cross section and comprising a pair of resiliently flexible limbs which converge towards their elongate free edges to define an entrance to the strip and which are joined by a hairpin bend along their divergent edges, there being, on the inner face of each of said limbs and close to the free edge thereof, a protrusion which projects from the inner face of the limb and which provides a stop surface lying inwardly of said entrance, said stop surfaces inhibiting passage through the mouth from inside the strip of any protuberance on either face of a bound stack of sheets one edge of which is within said strip.

7. A structure comprising a bound stack of sheets within a binder comprising a front cover and a rear cover joined along a spine, the structure further comprising a row of staples passing through said stack and said sleeve close to one edge thereof, and an elongate clamping strip of Uprofile, the clamping strip including two limbs joined by a hairpin bend, the limbs being resiliently flexible and bearing on opposite sides of said stack along zones which run parallel to said one edge, said staples being between said zones and said one edge and preventing the strip being removed in a direction transverse to the direction of elongation of the strip.

8. A device for use in binding substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. An elongate clamping strip for use in binding substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.