US3866274A

US3866274A - Device for binding sheets

Info

Publication number: US3866274A
Application number: US407239A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur J Malavazos
Original assignee: AJM RESEARCH CORP
Current assignee: AJM RESEARCH Corp
Priority date: 1973-10-17
Filing date: 1973-10-17
Publication date: 1975-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-18

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for binding a plurality of sheets (as paper) tightly together (as to form a book) and comprises a pair of identical binding members, each of which has a base member, a plurality of spaced binding posts, preferably of rectangular form, projecting perpendicularly from the base and each having a continuous series of ratchet teeth, or saw teeth, along one common face thereof; an aperture in the base member adjacent the edge with the ratchet teeth and barely large enough to receive the post from the other member. In the preferred form of the present device, a spring section of the base plate is formed integrally in the base plate and adjacent the end of the apertures spaced from the binding post and projecting slightly into the aperture so that as ratchet teeth of the cooperating members are passed along each other, it can bend to permit easy passage, but when the ratchet teeth are nested one within the other, the spring member will prevent separation of the two posts.

Description

. [75] Inventor:

United States atent [191 Malavazos 1 DEVICE FOR BINDING SHEETS Arthur J. Malavazos, Hayward, Calif.

[73] Assignee: AJM Research Corporation,

H y a diQl t-m t 22 Filed: Oct. 17, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 407,239

Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam Arsistant ExaminerDoris L. Troutman Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobyn Wilcox [111 3,866,274 [451 Feb. 18,1975

[5 7] ABSTRACT The present invention relates to a device for binding a plurality of sheets (as paper) tightly together (as to form a book) and comprises a pair of identical binding members, each of which has a base member, a plurality of spaced binding posts, preferably of rectangular form, projecting perpendicularly from the base and each having a continuous series of ratchet teeth, or saw teeth, along one common face thereof; an aperture in the base member adjacent the edge with the ratchet teeth and barely large enough to receive the post from the other-member. 1n the preferred form of the present device, a spring section of the base plate is formed integrally in the base plate and adjacent the end of the apertures spaced from the binding post and projecting slightly into the aperture so that as ratchet teeth of the cooperating members are passed along each other, it can bend to permit easy passage, but when the ratchet teeth are nested one within the other, the spring member will prevent separation of the two posts.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR BINDING SHEETS STATE OF THE ART For many decades there have been devices for temporary binding ledger sheets and the like into a volume in which the binding members could be readily separated to insert or remove sheets. In most cases these devices comprise a base member having two or more binding posts projecting therefrom and a cooperating closing member having apertures to receive the binding posts, and means for locking the receiving member onto the posts. Of more recent interest is the development of plastic binding members for permanently binding sheets into book form, the most prevalent of which devices consists of a base with a number of small posts projecting therefrom and a cooperating member having apertures spaced to receive the binding posts of the I base; means for pushing the two members tightly together; then cutting off the posts a short distance above the aperture member; and finally applying heat to the ends of the posts to melt them to form a rivet head holding the aperture member in position. This last device, although very popular, has the defect that often the rivet heads formed from the ends of the binding post break away with pressure and the binding ceases to function as it should. The present invention is di rected to a binding device outlined in the Abstract, which is preferably formed of slightly deformable plastic whereby the ratchet teeth, when pushed inwardly by each other, will bend slightly to permit passage, but

which once moved to their innermost positions, prevent return movement as the base of one ratchet tooth is engaged with the base of the ratchet tooth of the cooperating post. Such a binding device is, for all practical purposes, unbreakable.

OBJECTS It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive and readily-assembled binding device for binding sheets or paper into book form.

It is another object of the device to provide binding devices which do not require the expensive equipment heretofore used to bind the sheets together.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a binding device which, for all practical pur poses, is unbreakable.

These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which follows.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the binding member of the present device.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken on'a vertical plane through the axis of the device shown in FIG. 1, as along the plane indicated by the line 2-2.

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing the operating edge of one of the binding posts, such as taken along the vertical plane indicated by the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing a pair of identical binding members being pushed to the binding position;v

and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the device, such as taken along the vertical plane of FIG. 2.

It should be understood at the outset that the binding device of the present invention comprises two identical binding members, only one of which is shown in FIGS.

l, 2, 3 and S. Preferably, these members are formed of a strong plastic material which inherently has the capacity to be deformed slightly under pressure but with sufficient memory to resume its former shape immediately upon release of such pressure.

Since the two binding members are identical, only one need be described. It comprises a base plate 10 provided with a series of regularly spaced binding posts 11 projecting therefrom. The binding posts 11 are of identical size throughout their length, except at the extreme ends thereof, which are pointed as at 12 for ease in insertion in cooperating apertures in the other member. Each of the binding posts throughout its length is provided with a continuous series of ratchet teeth, or saw teeth, 13.

Adjacent each binding post 11 is an aperture 20 of a size barely large enough to permit the passage of the post 1 l of the second member therethrough. In the preferred form of the invention, a spring member 21 is preferably formed integrally with the base member. One preferred construction is to provide a pair of slots 22 formed in the base member 10 along the side of the hinge member 21 and providing a plurality of V-shaped depressions 23 (see particularly FIG. 4) in the outer face 15 of the base member, so that it (the hinge member) will bend more readily than the base 10.

The method of using the device of the present invention to bind sheets into book form is shown particularly in FIG. 4. A plurality of sheets 30, preferably are punched with apertures barely large enough to receive two cooperating binding posts and are assembled on one of the binding members with the post 11 projecting through one side of the apertures in the paper. The other binding member is then inserted into the apertures in the paper in the opposite direction so that the ratchet teeth 13 can be pushed inwardly by each other. In the preferred form, the integral spring sections 21 will bend, as shown in this figure, to permit the ready passage of the teeth 13 inwardly against each other. However, when the desiredposition of the two members is reached, the bases 14 of the teeth 13 will bear against the base of the cooperating post 11 and will thereby resist separation, or outward movement, of the posts 10 with all of the force available in the perpendicularly projecting bases 14 of the teeth 13 throughout the thickness of the material being bound. Hence, it is impossible to break the two members apart unless the base portion of at least one is so broken that the binding posts can be separated by prying them apart. After the desired position is reached, the binding posts 1 1 are shaved off by any conventional cutting device immediately adjacent the outer face 15 of the base members 10.

A second embodiment of the present device is shown in FIG. 5, and while highly reliable and satisfactory when the proper material is used to form the binding members, in some instances it is not as desirable as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, inclusive. This form is identical with the other, except that it has no integral spring member 21. It consists of the base member 10, the projecting posts 11 with their integral ratchet teeth 13 and with an aperture 20 adjacent each post 11 on the edge adjacent the ratchet teeth 13. Again the aperture 20 is barely large enough to permit the insertion of the cooperating binding post 11. This embodiment depends upon the binding member being formed of a material with sufficient resiliency to permit 3 the teeth 13 to deform sufficiently to permit their ready passage inwardly against each other, in spite of the fact that the aperture 20 forms a very tight fit with the binding post 11.

[t is obvious that many forms of binding posts can be used within the teaching of this invention. For example, the binding post 11 could be semicircular in form with the teeth 13 formed on the diametrical edge thereof. It is also apparent that the binding post 11 could be square instead of rectangular, although the rectangular form is preferred in order to give rigidity to the post and to prevent bowing, which would tend to separate the two cooperating posts if the holes in the paper which is bound are oversized.

These and other modifications will be apparent to those familiar in this art.

I claim:

1. A binding device comprising a pair of substantially identical members, each of which has a base, a plurality of spaced binding posts projecting from one side thereof, a series of ratchet teeth along the corresponding face of each of said binding posts, and an aperture in each base member adjacent each binding post along the edge thereof having the ratchet teeth, said aperture being of a size to barely permit the insertion therethrough of a binding post on a cooperating member, whereby the insertion of the binding posts through the aperture of the other of said members causes the base of each ratchet tooth to nest against the base of the other.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising also a spring member in the base member biasing each cooperating binding post into engagement with the post on the base member.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the spring member is formed integrally with the base and is located at the edge of the aperture remote from the ratchet teeth of the binding post adjacent such aperture.

4. A binding device comprising a pair of substantially identical members, each of said members comprising:

1. a base;

2. a plurality of spaced binding posts projecting from one side of said base;

3. a series of ratchet teeth along a corresponding face of said binding posts;

4. an aperture in said member adjacent each binding post along the edge thereof having the ratchet teeth, said aperture being of a size and shape to barely permit the insertion therethrough of a binding post on a cooperating member; and

5. a resilient biasing means at the end of a plurality of said apertures opposite the adjacent binding post for biasing the cooperating post of the other of said pair of members into engagement with the binding post, whereby the ratchet teeth of each member are pressed into engagement with the ratchet teeth of the other of said pair of members.

I l =l l

Claims

2. a plurality of spaced binding posts projecting from one side of said base;

3. a series of ratchet teeth along a corresponding face of said binding posts;