Paper binder system

Abstract

 The invention provides a paper binder system comprising attachment means 10 for a loose leaf paper binder formed of an elongate plate member 12 of extruded plastics. The plate member 12 is provided with two punched holes 14, 16 located near to each end of the plate and having a connecting channel 18. The channel 18 is arranged in one face of the plate 12 such that it stands proud thereof an will accommodate a flexible elongate element 20. In this arrangement the element 20 is arranged so that its ends 22, 24 project upwardly through the holes 14, 16. The ends can then be engaged with known retaining elements or compressive locking devices (not shown) so that punched paper sheets placed over the ends can be retained thereon with the ends bent through 90°.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a paper binder system and particularly attachment means for a loose leaf paper binder designed to be attached to one inner surface of a folder or file.

[0002] The use of a loose leaf paper binder for attachment to the inside of a file or folder is well known and several different configurations have been previously proposed. For example British patent 862775 shows a document file having two pre-punched holes to accomodate upstanding parts of a flexible tubular element. The element is provided with a compressive or cover strip arranged between the upstanding tubular elements such that prepunched paper located thereon can be held in place. Such an arrangement however requires the pre-punching of the file or the binding of a mounting strip into the file.

[0003] A later proposal in British patent 1375975 solves this problem by proposing an arrangement in which two upstanding flexible elements are carried on a mounting card which is then secured to the inside of a file or folder by means of a adhesive strip. A similar arrangement is shown in US Patent 4084911 in which a plastic flexible element is heat sealed to alaminated adhesive sheet for mounting on the the inside of a document file.

[0004] UK Patent 1 421 833 describes a paper binder in which a fastener device comprises an elongated, flat, prong member which projects through apertures in a overlay flat member. An adhesive strip is applied to the underside of the overlay member and the prong member. The presence of the prong member forms a ridged underside which reduces the effectiveness of the adhesion to a flat surface.

[0005] A more recent proposal is shown in British patent application 2213431 in which the flexible element is welded to a base strip which is arranged for attachment to the inside file.

[0006] Whilst these known arrangements are effective in the securement of loose leaf paper within a file their construction requires some form of integral relationship with the adhesivly provided mounting strip or the use of welding gluing or other attachment to ensure secure retention within the file. Such steps do not make these arrangements simple and cheap to produce.

[0007] It would be advantageous to provide attachment means for a loose leaf paper binder which is both cheap and simple to produce whilst effectively securing a flexible element to a file or folder for use in the securement of loose leaf paper sheets.

[0008] In a first aspect of the invention therefore attachment means for a loose leaf paper binder having a flexible elongate element associated with a compressive locking device, includes a plate member having two holes therein and a channel extending between the two holes adapted to accomodate therein the flexible elongate element such its two ends project through the two holes, the plate member being further provided with adhesive means for securement of the plate to a planar surface.

[0009] Such an arrangement provides secure attachment for the plate to the file whilst holding the flexbile element in a position suitable for engagement with a party of loose leaf paper sheets. It should be noted that the flexible element is not directly attached to the file with this configuration.

[0010] Preferably the adhesive means is an adhesively coated sheet attached to one surface of the plate. Preferably the adhesively coated sheet is arranged to cover the channel formed between the two holes such that the flexible elongate element will be held therein.

[0011] Advantageously the plate member is substantially rigid or at least rigid in comparrison to the elongate element such that suitable support will be provided when it is attached to the inside of the file or folder.

[0012] Preferably the holes are arranged substantially at each end of the plate member with the channel extending therebetween.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment the adhesive means is provided by an adhesively coated sheet attached to the plate and provided with a protective removable cover strip which can be removed when securement of the attachment means is required.

[0014] The invention will be described further by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the single figure is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0015] In the single figure a preferred embodiment of the invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral 10 and comprises an elongate member 12 formed of, for example, polypropylene or PVC as an extruded strip. The plate member 12 is provided with two punched holes 14, 16 located substantially at each end of the plate member 12.

[0016] The plate 12 is also provided with a channel or groove 18 formed in one face of the plate 12 such that the surface of the opposed face of the plate 12 will stand proud. The channel 16 is provided between the two holes so as to connect same.

[0017] A flexible elongate element 20 is arranged susbtantially within the channel 18 such that the two ends 22, 24 of the element 20 extend through the two holes 14, 16.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the invention this elongated element 20 is substantially tubular in configuration thereby provided two open sockets at its respective ends 22, 24. A substantially rigid plastic "goalpost" (not shown) can be provided having spigots to engage with the socket at the elements ends. A compressive locking device, for example a plate which is provided with two holes, can also be located over the exposed portions of the elongate element 20.

[0019] In this way a plurality of loose leaf paper sheets (not shown) provided with punched holes may be located over the projecting ends 22, 24 of the flexible element 20 and compressed onto the plate member 12 by means of the compressive locking device (not shown). This compressive locking device will normally including engaging means sufficient to bend the flexible element through 90° such that the projecting ends thereof (and the "goalpost" if fitted) will lie on the surface of the loose leaf paper sheet.

[0020] In order to effect securement of the attachment means 10 to card file or folder (not shown) the plate member 12 is provided with an adhesively coated sheet 26 which is attached to the plate member 12 by further adhesive means. In order to protect the adhesive coating on the sheet 26 a protective removable strip 28 is provided. This strip 28 is removed immediately prior to use and the plate member 12 is then pressed onto its desired location on the folder. The adhesive coating on the sheet 26 thereby secures the attachment means rigidly in place. It will be understood that the provision of the channel 18 between the two holes 14, 16 ensures that the back surface of the plate member 12 has a substantially planar profile and thus the securement to the folder is effective over the entire surface area of the plate member 12.

[0021] The invention is not confined to the foregoing details and variations may be made thereto within the scope of the invnetion. For example the flexible elongate element need not be tubularly informed but could be a flexible bar passing through the holes 14, 16 in the plate member 12. A sliding clip or other similar means for retaining a plurality of loose leaf paper sheets on the projecting portions of the elongate element 20 could also be provided.

[0022] The adhesive means for securement of the plate 12 to a file or folder may be a direct application of adhesive to the exposed surface of the plate member 12 or could be by used of a double sided sheet or tape. The peel off strip is optional and its provision may depend on the specific use required. A plurality of such plate members could be secured to a single protective sheet. The plastic "goalpost" fitment is described as an example of use of the attachment means and any other known configuration may alternatively be used. The plate member may be formed of materials other than polypropylene or PVC such as other plates or board especially laminated manilla board. Other variations are also possible.

Claims

1. Attachment means (10) for a loose leaf paper binder having a flexible elongate element (20) associated with a compressive locking device, including a plate member (12) having two holes (14, 16) and adhesive means (26, 28) for securement of the plate to a planar surface, characterised in that the plate member (12) has a channel (18) extending between the two holes adapted to accommodate therein the flexible elongate element (20) such that its two ends (22, 24) project through the two holes.

2. Attachment means as claimed in claim 1 in which the adhesive means is an adhesively coated sheet (26) attached to one surface of the plate.

3. Attachment means as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the adhesively coated sheet (26) is arranged to cover the channel (18) formed between the two holes (14, 16) such that the flexible elongate element (20) will be held therein.

4. Attachment means as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 in which the plate member (12) is substantially rigid in comparison to the elongate element (20) such that suitable support will be provided when it is attached to the inside of a file or folder.

5. Attachment means as claimed in any preceding claim in which the holes (14, 16) are arranged substantially at each end of the plate member (12) with the channel (18) extending therebetween.

6. Attachement means as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the adhesive means is provided by an adhesively coated sheet (16) attached to the plate (12) and provided with a protective removable cover strip (28) which can be removed when securement of the attachment means is required.

Drawing