The present invention relates to a kit for binding a bundle of leaves.

In particular, the invention is intended for binding a bundle of leaves simply, precisely and without a device, whereby said bundle of leaves can be put in a folder, cover or binder.

Various methods for binding a bundle of leaves are already known.

Complex devices with which a bundle of leaves can be glued or perforated and subsequently bound are known for example.

Although such devices provide a neat and professional result, a disadvantage of it is that such complex device needs to be available and knowledge is needed to operate it.

Simpler devices for binding a bundle of leaves are also known. A typical example is a stapler.

A disadvantage of this is that it is difficult to precisely align the leaves before stapling. Often, the bound bundle therefore does not have a neat and clean finish resulting in an unprofessional finish. A binding technique without a machine is also known, whereby a ribbon or string is knotted through perforated leaves. But here also the leaves are disorderly and not neatly bound. For two or three leaves such technique works, but not for a real,bundle of several leaves.

Another binding technique without machine whereby the bundle of leaves is sewed requires a certain skill to realise this well. This is not feasible for most end-users.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a solution to at least one of the aforementioned and other disadvantages, by providing a kit for binding a bundle of leaves which allows the user to produce a neat and professional looking bound bundle of leaves in a simple manner .

To this end, the invention relates to a kit for binding a bundle of leaves, characterised in that the kit is provided with: leaves which along one edge are provided with perforations which are grouped in pairs;

- at least as many pins as there are perforations in a leaf, said pins being provided at one end with a stop in the form of a platelet, whereby the pins are intended to be inserted alternately at the one side and at the other side through the perforations such that the stop of the pins is located alternately at the one side and at the other side of the leaves; - a folder, cover or binder which is provided with a spine with endpapers.

This provides the advantage that using such kit, a bundle of leaves can be bound very simply and quickly in a neat and professional looking way.

No machine or device is needed and the bundle of leaves can be bound at any place and time.

As will be described in detail later, said pins can be used to be inserted through the perforations in the leaves, whereby the pins are inserted in the perforations with their stops being located on alternate sides. This means: the pins are inserted in the perforations in opposite direction, one at the bottom and one at the top.

Consequently, for each pair of perforations, i.e. for each pair of grouped perforations, there will be one stop on each side of the bundle.

By working with pins which are inserted in the perforations, the leaves will automatically be well aligned when the pins are inserted through the perforations.

By inserting the pins with their stop in turns in every grouped pair of perforations, the stop of the one pin will act as a kind of stop for the other pin. This means: the other pin will prevent the leaves from sliding off the pin and vice versa. The bundle of leaves with the pins can be inserted in the folder, cover or binder, whereby the side where the pins are located is put in the spine of the folder, cover or binder, such that the pins are hidden from sight. Additionally, the spine will prevent the pins from loosening.

Another advantage is that such kit is not only quick, but also very easy to use.

The desired text, figures, etc. are simply printed on the perforated leaves, the pins are inserted through the perforations and subsequently the bundle is inserted in the folder, cover or binder.

Preferably, the kit is further provided with a binding leaf which is provided with perforations along one edge which are grouped in pairs, and a layer of glue.

The binding leaf can be bound along with the bundle of leaves using the pins, as it is provided with similar perforations .

In this case a binding leaf is provided in the front and/or at the back of the bundle.

When the bundle of leaves with its bound edge is inserted in the spine of the folder, cover or binder, it will be possible to glue it to the layer of glue of the binding leaf. The invention also relates to a method for binding a bundle of leaves, characterised in that a kit according to the invention is used and that the method comprises the following steps:

- providing a bundle of leaves, whereby the leaves along one edge are provided with perforations which are grouped in pairs;

- providing at least as many pins as there are perforations in a leaf, said pins being provided at one end with a stop in the form of a platelet;

- providing a folder, cover or binder which is provided with a spine with endpapers;

- inserting the pins in the perforations of the bundle of leaves, whereby the pins are inserted alternately at the one side and at the other side through the perforations;

- inserting the bound bundle of leaves in the folder cover or binder.

Such method will allow a bundle of leaves to be bound quickly, simply and without the use of a device or machine, whereby the finished product has a neat and professional look.

With the intention of better showing the characteristics of the invention, a few preferred variants of a kit as well as a method according to the invention for binding a bundle of leaves are described hereinafter by way of an example without any limiting nature, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 schematically shows a kit according to the invention; figure 2 shows a detail of a pin; figure 3 shows a binding leaf; figure 4 shows a cross-section according to the line IV-IV in figure 1, whereby the pins shown in figure 3 are inserted; figure 5 schematically shows a bundle of leaves bound with the kit according to the invention; figure 6 shows a variant of figure 2; figure 7 shows a variant of figure 3; figures 8 and 9 show yet other variants of figure 2.

The kit 1 according to the invention schematically shown in figure 1 comprises leaves 2, pins 3 and a cover 4.

The leaves 2, with which ultimately a bundle will be formed, are provided along one edge 5 with perforations 6 which are grouped in pairs. This means: the perforations 6 are grouped in pairs in duos 6a, whereby every time two perforations 6 are located closer together than the relative distance between the different pairs of perforations 6.

For every leaf 2 the perforations 6 are located in exactly the same place.

All perforations 6 of a leaf 2 are located on one line, said line extending parallel with the edge 5 of the leaf 2. In this case the perforations 6 are made at ten millimetres from the relevant edge 5. However, said distance is not restrictive for the invention. In this case the leaves 2 are provided with three duos 6a of perforations 6.

It is also possible that there are only one or two duos 6a of perforations 6, or more than three duos 6a of perforations .

Further, in this case the leaves 2, but not necessarily for the invention, are provided with a double fold line 7. This means, two parallel fold lines 7 which are located at a small distance from each other.

Said double fold line 7 will ensure that the bound bundle of leaves 2 can lie nicely flat.

According to the invention, the kit 1 is further provided with at least as many pins 3 as there are perforations 6 in a leaf 2.

Figures 1 and 2 show the pins 3 in more detail.

The pins 3 are provided at one end 8 with a stop 9 in the form of a platelet.

In the example shown the stop 9 takes on the form of a round disk. Preferably, the diameter D of the pins 3 equals the diameter of the perforations 6.

As shown in figure 2, the pins 3 are provided with a bulge 10 or rib extending in the axial direction.

This has the advantage that the pins 3 are inserted in the perforations 6 with a certain tension. Or, in other words, that a small tension will occur when the pins 3 are inserted in the perforations 6, such that they remain in the perforations 6.

According to the invention, the kit 1 is further provided with a cover 4. This cover 4 can also be a folder or binder.

The cover 4 is provided with a spine 11 with endpapers 12. The spine is preferably U- or V-shaped.

In this case, the kit 1 is also further provided with two binding leaves 13.

Figure 3 shows such binding leaf 13.

The binding leaf 13 is provided along one edge 5 with perforations 6 which are grouped in pairs in duos 6a, just as the leaves 2, and with a layer of glue 14.

In this case, the layer of glue 14 takes on the form of a strip and in this case, but not necessarily, is provided with a cover sheet 15. Said cover sheet 15 is indicated with a dotted line in figure 3. As shown in this figure, the cover sheet 15 extends past the edges 5 of the binding leaf 13. This will simplify removal of the cover sheet 15.

Furthermore, in this case the binding leaf 13 is smaller than the leaves 2.

Although in this case there are two binding leaves 13 in the kit 1, it is not excluded that only one such binding leaf 13 is provided or possibly also more than two.

The use of the kit 1 and the method for binding a bundle of leaves 2 using the kit, are very simple and as follows.

The method uses a kit 1 according to the invention and starts with the following steps:

- providing a bundle of leaves 2, whereby the leaves 2 are provided with perforations 6 along one edge 5 which are grouped in pairs in duos 6a;

- providing at least as many pins 3 as there are perforations 6 in a leaf 2, said pins 3 being provided at one end with a stop 9 in the form of a platelet;

- providing a folder, cover 4 or binder which is provided with a spine 11 with endpapers 12. The leaves 2 of the bundle, pins 3 and the folder, cover 4 or binder are part of the kit 1.

If desired, the leaves 2 can be printed before they are put together to make said bundle.

In a preferred variant of the method, this also comprises the step of providing at least one binding leaf 13 which along one edge 5 is provided with perforations 6 which are grouped in pairs in duos 6a and a layer of glue 14, whereby the bundle of leaves 2 is provided with a binding leaf 1.3 in the front and/or at the back.

In this case a binding leaf 13 will be provided both in the front and at the back of the bundle of leaves 2.

In a next step the pins 3 are inserted in the perforations 6, whereby the pins 3 are inserted alternately at the one side and at the other side through the perforations 6.

This is schematically shown in figure 4.

Consequently, the stops 9 are alternately situated in the front or at the back of the bundle.

This has the advantage that the stop 9 of the one pin 3 will prevent the leaves 2 from sliding off the other pin 3.

I.e. the one stop 9 acts as 'stop' or 'cap' for the other pin 3. This effect, together with the axial bulge 10 or rib on the pin 3 will ensure that the leaves 2 are well secured on the pins 3. By inserting the pins 3 in the perforations 6, the leaves 2 will automatically be well aligned as it were, as the perforations 6 in the leaves 2 are in exactly the same locations .

In the last step the bound bundle of leaves 2 is slid in the folder, cover 4 or binder.

The edge 5 where the pins 3 are inserted is hereby inserted in the spine 11 of the folder, cover 4 or binder, such that the pins 3 are located in the spine 11. In this way the pins 3 are hidden

This is shown in figure 5. Finally, the cover sheets 5 can be removed from the layer of glue 14 of the binding leaf 13 and the layer of glue 14 can be glued against the inside of the folder, cover 4 or binder by closing the folder, cover 4 or binder to thus attach the bundle of leaves 2 in the folder, cover 4 or binder.

When opening the folder, cover 4 or binder, the binding leaf 13 will be located against the endpapers 12 of the folder, cover 4 or binder, such that the gap between the bundle of leaves 2 and the spine 11 of the folder, cover 4 or binder is not visible. Preferably, said kit 1 will be offered together in one packaging. Sufficient pins 3 and binding leaves 13 can be provided hereby to allow two or more separately bound bundles to be made with the leaves 2.

Figure 6 shows a variant of the pins 3 of figure 2.

In this case two pins 3 are connected by means of their stop 9 via a long, slat-shaped element 16 to form a duo 3a of two pins 3.

All pins 3 of the kit 1 will be connected in such a way.

Preferably, the duo 3a of two pins forms a whole 3 together with the slat-shaped element 16.

As shown in figure 6, both pins 3 are equally oriented in relation to the slat-shaped element 16.

The length A of the slat-shaped element 16 is such that the distance A between the two pins 3 is equal to the distance between two consecutive duos 6a of perforations 6 increased with the distance between two perforations 6 of one duo 6a.

The advantage of such embodiment is that when inserting the pins 3, the pins 3 will be inserted automatically alternately at the one side and at the other side, or: in turns through the perforations 6. Indeed, when the first duo 3a of two pins 3 is inserted, the slat-shaped element 16 of said one duo 3a of two pins 3 will prevent the following duo 3b from being inserted along the same side through the perforations 6. Thus, the next duo 3b must be inserted at the other side through the perforations 6.

The specific length of the slat-shaped element 16 means the individual pins 3 extend alternately at the one side and at the other side through the perforations 6.

In this way it is impossible to make mistakes.

In such embodiment of the pins 3, leaves 2 are used which are provided with an even number of duos 6a of perforations

6.

Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the binding leaf 13 of figure 3.

Figure 7 shows two such binding leaves 13 which both have the same design as the binding leaf of figure 3.

The binding leaves 13 are combined into a whole along their edge 5 by means of a strip 17. Or, in other words, the strip 17 forms the connection between the two edges 5.

Such 'double' binding leaf 13 is applied around a bundle of leaves 2, ensuring that the perforations 6 of the binding leaf 13 are aligned with those of the leaves 2. Further, the operation and the use of the binding leaf 13 of figure 7 is equal to that of figure 3.

Preferably, the binding leaf 13 of figure 7 is provided with a preformed spine, whereby the strip 17 is transformed into a U-shaped spine. Said spine can be provided with a self-adhesive glue which allows the binding leaf 13 to be glued in the cover 4.

Figure 8 shows a variant of the pins 3 of figure 2 and 6.

In this case two pins 3 are connected by means of their stop 9 into a connecting element 18, whereby the stops 9 together form a rectangular, plate-shaped element 19, whereby the two pins 3 are located in two diagonally opposite corners 20a, 20c of the rectangular, plate-shaped element 19.

The rectangular, plate-shaped element 19 is provided with two openings or passages 21 which are situated in two diagonally opposite corners 20b, 20d of the rectangular, plate-shaped element 19, whereby the dimensions of the openings or passages 21 are such that the pins 3 fit through them.

The plate-shaped element 19 is provided with two parallel folding lines 22 over which the rectangular, plate-shaped element 19 can be folded up, such that when folding up the rectangular, plate-shaped element 19, the pins 3 end up in an opening or passage 21. The connecting element 18 is mounted by folding it around the edge 5 of the leaves 2, ensuring that the pins end up in a perforation 6. By folding up the connecting element 18 over the folding lines 22, the pins 3 will automatically go through a corresponding said opening or passage 21 and the individual pins 3 will also automatically extend alternately at the one side and at the other side through the perforations 6.

Making mistakes is thus excluded.

Figure 9 shows a variant on this, whereby two such connecting elements 18 are connected by a long, slat-shaped element 16, whereby the length of the slat-shaped element 16 is such that the distance A between the pins 3 of the one connecting element 18 and the other connecting element 18 is equal to the distance between two consecutive duos 6a of perforations 6.

The operation is similar to the operation of the connecting element 18 of figure 8, whereby this embodiment has the advantage that the connecting elements 18 are automatically aligned with the duos 6a of perforations 6 in the leaf 2.

It goes without saying that in this embodiment too the individual pins 3 automatically extend alternately at the one side and at the other side through the perforations 6. Further, it is also clear that the embodiments of figures 6, 8 and 9 can also be applied in combination with a binding leaf 13. The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments described as an example and shown in the figures, but such a kit and method for binding a bundle of leaves can be realised according to different variants, without departing from the scope of the invention.