DEVICE FOR REMOVABLY FASTENING SERIES OF SHEETS OR SHEET- LIKE ELEMENTS, TO RING BINDERS OR SIMILAR SUPPORTS

Field of the invention

The present invention is generally applicable to bindery and particularly relates to a removable connection device for groups of paper sheets or other sheet-like elements.

The device of the invention may be advantageously used in combination with a ring binder or a similar support, for collating sheets of paper or other flexible materials, to make, for instance, handbooks, catalogues, booklets, brochures, books, albums or similar item.

State of the art

Organized grouping of paper sheets, either loose or bound into fascicles, is typically performed using one or more metal staples introduced on one edge of such sheets. The resulting fascicles are then placed in binders and folders of various types. This kind of binders is used in various applications and particularly in educational activities, such as school or university classes, seminars and symposia.

The solutions that provide the use of binders having one or more central snap- rings, generally made of metal, for holding sheets, require the use of particular perforated edge sheets or normal sheets whose edge has to be perforated by suitable punches with a predetermined number of holes, aligned with the binding rings.

An obvious drawback of these solutions is that the holes are an apparent critical breaking point for the sheet, which is typically subjected to various stresses.

Therefore, sheets may be easily broken and torn off from the binder, which would make fascicle consultation inconvenient, or even impossible.

Alternatively, special clear plastic pockets may be used, which may contain one or more sheets.

Nevertheless, this solution involves a cost increase, due to the purchase of pockets, as well as an excessive bulk, when a pocket is used for each sheet, or even difficult consultation, when each pocket contains several sheets.

In an attempt to overcome the above drawbacks, a number of different solutions have been proposed, in which further devices are used for hook engagement of the fascicles to common binders.

US-A1 -2004/0131446 discloses a flexible book or fascicle binding device, which is designed to fit ring-type binders. The device is composed of an elongate stud to be introduced in a corresponding metal staple P which, as shown in the annexed FIG. 6, has a crown portion C protruding from the fascicle or book sheets S, and providing hook engagement to a binder. The crown portion C is integral with two end portions E which are folded over for anchorage to one or more sheets S, which are folded along a transverse line to form a binding edge L. The metal staple P is introduced on such edge L in a direction Y parallel to the lying plane defined by each sheet S.

While this solution may fit various ring binder configurations, it cannot be used with sheets that have been already bound into fascicles, e.g. by gluing together their superimposed edges, as stapling would damage binding and might not ensure a sufficiently stable anchorage of staples.

Also, this solution requires sheets to be folded along one transverse line thereof, wherefore the user is required to use double size sheets.

Summary of the invention

The object of this invention is to overcome the above drawbacks, by providing a removable connection device for groups of paper sheets or other sheet-like elements that is highly efficient and relatively cost-effective.

A particular object is to provide a removable connection device that allows hook engagement of groups of paper sheets or other sheet-like elements that are pre- bound into fascicles to a ring binder or a similar support.

Another object of the invention is to provide a removable connection device that allows anchorage of a group of paper sheets or other sheet-like elements without having to fold them in any part.

A further object is to provide a connection device that can also be used for loose paper sheets or sheet-like elements, while allowing simultaneous collation thereof.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a device that allows stable hook engagement of a group of paper sheets or other sheet-like elements to a ring binder or a similar support, while allowing such engagement to be simply established or released.

These and other objects, as better explained hereafter, are fulfilled by a device for removably connecting groups of paper sheets or other sheet-like elements according to claim 1 , which comprises an appropriately shaped thread-like element, defining a main extension plane substantially parallel to the lying plane of the sheets, and having a section designed for anchorage to a group of sheets and a section for removable hook engagement to a ring of a binder or another similar support, the anchor section being conformed in such a manner as to be able to pass through the elements of the group and be at least partly folded thereon for anchorage purposes.

The invention is characterized in that the anchor section comprises a through portion designed to pass through all the sheets of the group at a predetermined distance from their connection edge in a direction essentially normal to the main extension plane.

Thanks to this peculiar feature of the invention, the connection device provides hook engagement to a ring binder or a similar support even for groups of paper sheets or other sheet elements that have been already bound in fascicles, without having to fold in any part any of such paper sheets or other sheet elements that form the group.

Preferably, the hook engagement section may be the central section of the threadlike element, which is formed into an open or closed loop, in a plane substantially parallel to or coextensive with the main extension plane of the thread-like element.

Thanks to this particular configuration of the invention, the device allows stable hook engagement of groups of paper sheets or other sheet-like elements to a ring binder or a similar support, while allowing such engagement to be established or released in a very simple manner.

Conveniently, the anchor section may have an end portion, or two end portions, which are designed to be folded on one of the opposite faces of the group of sheets.

Advantageously, the intermediate portions may be oppositely inclined with respect to the main extension plane, to abut against the opposite faces of the group of sheets.

Also, the end portions may be substantially parallel and offset at a distance that is approximately equal to the thickness of the group of sheets, so as to lie on the opposite faces of the group.

Thanks to this arrangement, the device of the invention may be also used to collate a group of loose paper sheets or sheet-like elements.

Brief description of the drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred, non-exclusive embodiment of an removable connection device according to the invention, which is described as a non-limiting example with the help of the annexed drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view a particular mode of use of the connection device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of a detail of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a. perspective view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the device;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the device of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a particular application of a sheet element connecting device in prior art.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

Referring to the above figures, the device of the invention, generally designated by numeral 1 , may be used for removable connection of a group of paper sheets or other sheet-like elements to a ring binder or another support, such as a wall hook, a nail or similar hanger or folder devices, as shown in FIG. 1.

The device may be used for hook engagement of sheets that have been or are to be bound into booklets, books, albums, catalogues. It may be further used to also bind together sheet elements such as fabric samples to make special fabric catalogues and typically for any other kind of flexible sheet elements, made of cellulosic, plastic or any other material, to be bound into a fascicle.

The sheets have respective connection edges B along which they are superimposed, to form the group G to be bound, which is thus delimited by two opposite and substantially parallel faces F, F ¹ .

Each group of sheets G may have one or more of such devices, e.g. depending on the number of rings A of the binder R.

The device 1 , as particularly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, is an appropriately shaped thread-like element 2 which defines a main extension plane π substantially parallel to the lying plane π of the group of sheets G.

The thread-like element 2 further has an anchor section 3 for connection to the group of sheets G and a hook engagement section 4 for removably hooking to a corresponding ring A of a binder R or the other similar support.

The anchor section 3 is conformed to pass through the elements of the group G and to be at least partly folded thereon.

In accordance with a peculiar feature of the invention, the anchor section 3 of the thread-like element 2 comprises a through portion 5 for passing through all the sheets of the group G at a predetermined distance di from their connection edge B in a direction X essentially normal to the main extension plane π of the element 2.

This affords anchorage to the binder R even for pre-bound groups of sheets G, as the direction in which the device 1 is inserted does non affect the stability of previous binding, if any, obtained for instance by gluing together the above mentioned edges B of the respective sheets of the group G.

As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the anchor section 3 of the thread-like element 2 has two end portions 6, 6' which are designed to be folded back on the opposite faces F, F' of the group of sheets G and joined to respective through portions 5, 5'.

The through portions 5, 5' are in turn connected to the hook engagement section 4 by respective intermediate portions 7, T.

The hook engagement section 4, which provides connection of the group of sheets G to one or more rings A of the binder R, is formed by the central section 8 of the thread-like element 2. Such section will be suitably formed into a loop and disposed over a plane π" substantially parallel to and coextensive with the main extension plane π of the thread-like element 2.

According to the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the central loop section 8 is closed to substantially define one loop having one or more turns for elasticity control.

Therefore, in this particular configuration, for hook engagement of the device 1 , thence of the whole group of sheets G, to one or more rings A of the binder R, such rings may be first opened for the loops to be slideably introduced therein.

According to the alternative embodiment of FIG. 3, the central section 3 is open to substantially define a hook. Thus, the group of sheets G may be connected to the ring R without opening the rings A.

The opening of the hook is preferably set to be slightly smaller than the thickness of the ring A with which it will be connected, so as to prevent the device 1 from being accidentally released therefrom.

Furthermore, the central section 8 of the thread-like element 2 has an end extension 9, which may be acted upon by a slight pressure to further reduce the opening the hook, thereby increasing the safety of the connection.

Conveniently, in this configuration, the intermediate portions 7, T are oppositely inclined with respect to the main extension plane π of the thread-like element 2.

Therefore, such portions 7, 7' will lie on the opposite faces F, F' of the group of sheets G.

Conversely, according to the first embodiment, the end portions 7, T will be folded on one face F' of the group G.

Also, the through portions 5, 5', joined to their respective intermediate portions 7, 7 ', will advantageously extend in opposite directions with respect to the main extension plane π.

Furthermore, the end portions 6, 6' of the anchor section 3, each being joined to a corresponding through portion 5, 5\ are substantially parallel and offset at a distance d ₂ approximately equal to the thickness s of the group of sheets G, so as to lie on the opposite faces F, F' of the group G and to enclose the group G at its edge B and all through the thickness s thereof, thereby providing a stable anchorage.

The thread-like element 2 is made of a substantially rigid and plastically deformable base material, which makes it easily shapeable to fit the size of the group of sheets G and possibly removable so that it can be set back to its original configuration, while minimizing the risk of ruptures at the folding points of the thread-like element 2.

The base material is preferably a metal material, such as steel, possibly galvanized, or may be made from the material used for common metal staples.

The device 1 may be advantageously covered with one or more plastic layers, to obtain different aesthetic or functional effects, such as a higher resistance to metal oxidation.

The device 1 may be introduced manually by the user from the edge B, when the number of rings A or supports to be used allows to do so.

Otherwise, it may be introduced by special staplers, adapted to hold and dispense a given number of such devices depending on the various shapes of the latter.

A shown hereinbefore, the removable connection device of the invention affords hook engagement to a ring binder or a similar support even for groups of paper sheets or other sheet-like elements that are pre-bound into fascicles.

Thanks to the particular configuration of the anchor section of the thread-like element, the device may be also used for loose paper sheets or sheet-like elements in superimposed relation, thereby allowing simultaneous collation thereof.

The device of this invention is susceptible of a number of changes and variants, within the inventive concept disclosed in the appended claims. All the details thereof may be replaced by other technically equivalent parts, and the materials may vary depending on different needs, without departure from the scope of the invention.

While the device has been described with particular reference to the accompanying figures, the numerals referred to in the disclosure and claims are only used for the sake of a better intelligibility of the invention and shall not be intended to limit the claimed scope in any manner.