Quick sorting binder for filing documents in sheet form or the like

Abstract

 A quick sorting binder for filing documents in sheet form or the like, comprising a binder body (2) composed of two cover sheets, respectively a front cover (3) and a back cover (4), which are connected to each other by a spine (5) and can fold with respect to the spine along mutually parallel folding lines or scorings (6, 7) for the passage of the binder body (2) from an open position, in which the front cover (3) and the back cover (4) are substantially coplanar, to a closed position, in which the front cover (3) and the back cover (4) face each other, and vice versa. In the spine (5) there is a slot (10) through which it is possible to insert, within the binder body (2), even in the closed position, sheets (30) or the like to be filed in the binder.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a quick sorting binder for filing documents in sheet form or the like.

[0002] Binders for filing documents are known which are meant mainly to be used in offices. Many of these binders are provided with a ring mechanism for tidily retaining documents which are perforated beforehand or are arranged in appropriately provided perforated pockets so that they can be engaged by the ring mechanism.

[0003] These kinds of binders generally comprise a binder body which is composed of two cover sheets, respectively a front cover and back cover, which are connected to each other by a spine. The front cover and the back cover can be folded with respect to the spine along folding lines or scorings which are mutually parallel so as to allow to arrange the body of the binder in an open position, in which the front and back covers are substantially coplanar in order to allow access to the ring mechanism usually applied to the internal face of the back cover, or in a closed position, in which the front and back covers face each other. Such binders are generally completed by a case which is shaped like a parallelepiped and is open at one of its lateral faces, and the body of the binder can be inserted in such case so that its back is arranged at the open lateral face of the case.

[0004] Such binders allow to file documents tidily; however, the filing operation, preceded or interrupted by an activity for selecting and sorting the documents to be inserted in the binder to which they belong, which is already demanding and boring for administrative or secretarial personnel familiar with this activity, is experienced as a true waste of time by people who, while not having an organizational structure dedicated to the handling of documents, cannot avoid doing so, such as for example traders, professionals, et cetera, who are therefore forced to interrupt frequently, often at the least appropriate time, their main activity in order to sort and file the documents to be stored or accumulate such documents for mass filing in at more suitable times.

[0005] The accumulation of documents awaiting to be filed entails the risk of losing sight of documents awaiting filing, of making it more difficult to find documents awaiting filing and to perform the subsequent filing operation, since it is necessary to pick up multiple times a same binder, since it is necessary to file documents which are stacked in order of arrival or randomly as a consequence of searches and browsing performed on such documents during the step for awaiting filing, not in an order for classification or sorting in file, unless actual filing is preceded by a sorting step, with a temporary and cumbersome extension of the space dedicated to documents which are subsequently to be inserted in the binders. Very often, in order to solve these problems, additional containers are used, sorting trays which are stacked and arranged on the desk of the person who handles the documents for filing, in which a first sorting of the documents is performed. The use of additional containers, in order to be truly effective, requires these containers to be equal in number to the number of binders to be subsequently used for final filing, and therefore requires, in addition to the cost of such containers, considerable additional spaces.

[0006] The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above, by providing a binder for filing documents or the like which allows to perform immediate sorting of the documents into the same binder which will be used for final filing.

[0007] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a binder which allows to organize filing work by optimizing it, allowing to perform mass filing when this activity is easier to manage, while keeping the documents that are awaiting filing tidy and available and keeping the workplace tidy.

[0008] Another object of the invention is to provide a binder which allows the filing activity to be easier and more ergonomic, making available within the binder the documents that have already been sorted for each binder to which they belong, thus preventing the assigned person from having to pick up and put down several times a same binder, as would occur if one drew for filing from a stack of documents which were not sorted by a preliminary sorting activity.

[0009] Still another object of the invention is to provide a binder which allows to minimize the space reserved for filing, avoiding the resort to additional containers or the indiscriminate stacking of documents awaiting filing.

[0010] This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a binder for filing documents or the like, which comprises a binder body composed of two cover sheets, respectively a front cover and a back cover, which are connected to each other by a spine and can fold with respect to said spine along mutually parallel folding lines or scorings for the passage of said binder body from an open position, in which said front and back covers are substantially coplanar, to a closed position, in which said front and back cover face each other, and vice versa, characterized in that in said spine there is a slot through which it is possible to insert, within said binder body, even in said closed position, sheets or the like to be filed in the binder.

[0011] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the binder according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the binder according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the binder according to the invention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged-scale sectional view of Figure 2, taken along the line III-III;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the binder body in a fully open condition;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the binder body in a different arrangement with respect to Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the binder body in the arrangement shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional view of Figure 6, taken along the line VII-VII;

Figure 8 is an enlarged-scale sectional view of the binder body, taken as in Figure 7 but in the closure position;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a different embodiment of the binder body;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of another variation of embodiment of the binder body.

[0012] With reference to the figures, the binder according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a binder body 2, which is composed of two cover sheets, respectively a front cover 3 and a back cover 4, which are connected to each other by a spine 5 and can fold with respect to the spine 5 along corresponding folding lines or scorings 6 and 7, which are mutually parallel, in order to allow the binder body 2 to pass from an open position, in which the front cover 3 and the back cover 4 are substantially coplanar, to a closed position, in which they face each other and are parallel to each other and so that the spine 5 is arranged at right angles to them, and vice versa.

[0013] Conveniently, the binder comprises a box-like case 8, which is shaped substantially like a parallelepiped and is open at a lateral face, and the binder body 2 can be inserted removably within the case 8 until the spine 5 is at the open face of the case 8.

[0014] The binder body 2 and the case 8 can be made, like binders with corresponding cases of the known type, of paper-like material in sheet form, in one or more layers, optionally covered on one or both of its faces by a covering layer which has aesthetic and/or protective purposes. The dimensions of the binder body 2 and of the corresponding case 8 also are preferably the standardized dimensions for this type of products, although it is possible to provide the binder body 2 and the corresponding case 8 in other sizes or materials depending on requirements.

[0015] Preferably, the binder body 2 is provided internally with means for retaining the sheets 30 or the like to be filed in the binder.

[0016] Such retention means are constituted preferably by a ring clamping mechanism 9, of the known type which is shown only schematically, which is applied to the internal face of the back cover 4 and which can engage pre-perforated sheets 30 or pockets, also of a known type.

[0017] According to the invention, in the spine 5 there is a slot 10 through which it is possible to insert into the binder body 2, even when the binder body is in the closed position, sheets 30 or the like to be sorted and subsequently filed in the binder 1.

[0018] Conveniently, inside the binder body 2 there is an appropriately provided collection compartment 11 for the sheets 30 or the like inserted through the slot 10.

[0019] The slot 10 is oriented parallel to the folding lines 6 and 7 which join the front cover 3 and the back cover 4 to the spine 5 and lies closer to the front cover 3 than to the back cover 4.

[0020] The longitudinal extension of the slot 10 is preferably such as to allow to insert through it sheets 30 or perforated pockets of the standardized type, which are oriented so that their longer side is parallel to the longitudinal extension of the slot 10.

[0021] A guiding flap 12 protrudes toward the inside of the binder body 2 from one of the longer sides of the slot 10 and more precisely from the side which is parallel to the folding lines 6 and 7 and lies furthest from the front cover 3. The guiding flap 12 can be applied to the spine 5 or preferably can be constituted by the portion of the spine 5 which is cut along three sides in order to define the slot 10 and is then folded toward the inside of the binder body 2 along the fourth side.

[0022] As an alternative, the slot 10 can be rectangular and obtained by the simple removal of the corresponding material of the spine 5 of the binder body 2 and therefore may lack the guiding flap 12.

[0023] The edges of the slot 10 can be covered simply with a material in sheet form of the same type used to cover the internal face of the binder body 2, or can be reinforced with a border, made for example of metal, to contrast their wear even if the binder is used intensively.

[0024] The edges of the guiding flap 12 also can be optionally reinforced with a border made for example of metal.

[0025] The slot 10 has, at an intermediate region of its longitudinal extension, a wider portion or expansion 13, which is defined by a recess of the same side from which the guiding flap 12 protrudes, in order to facilitate viewing, from the outside, of the collection compartment 11 and to facilitate the operation for inserting sheets 30 or the like through the slot 10, as will become better apparent hereinafter.

[0026] The collection compartment 11 is delimited by a containment structure 22, which is shaped substantially like a parallelepiped, is connected to the internal face of the front cover 3 and is open at its side which is directed toward the slot 10 when the binder body 2 is in the closed position. Moreover, the containment structure 22 is open on its side that lies opposite with respect to the front cover 3 or can be opened to facilitate access to the collection compartment 11 when the binder body 2 is in the open position.

[0027] More particularly, the containment structure 22 or sorting folder which delimits the collection compartment 11 comprises three flaps 14a, 14b, 14c, which are connected to the front cover 3 at each of its perimetric sides except for the side connected to the spine 5. Each of the flaps 14a, 14b, 14c has two folding lines 15, 16, which are parallel to the side of the front cover 3 to which it is connected, so as to allow the arrangement of the flaps 14a, 14b, 14c in an open position, in which they are substantially coplanar to the plane of arrangement of the front cover 3 in order to open the collection compartment 11 completely, as shown in Figure 4, or in a closed position, in which they are arranged so that their portion located between the two folding lines 15, 16 lies on a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of arrangement of the front cover 3 and so that the remaining portion, arranged outside the folding lines 15, 16 and spaced from the front cover 3, lies on a plane which is parallel and spaced with respect to the plane of arrangement of the front cover 3, as shown in particular in Figures 5 and 6, and vice versa.

[0028] The flaps 14a, 14b, 14c can be provided with a tab 17a, 17b, 17c for fixing, for example by pasting or another known type of fixing method, to the internal face of the front cover 3 and can also be made of paper-like material in sheet form in one or more layers, optionally covered on one or both of its faces, or of another material. The flaps 14a, 14b, 14c and the corresponding folding lines 15, 16 are provided so as to allow said flaps 14a, 14b, 14c to pass from the closed position to the open position a large number of times without deforming the flaps or causing failure of the folding lines 15, 16.

[0029] The step between the fixing tabs 17a, 17b, 17c and the internal face of the front cover 3 can be covered by means of the covering sheet, not shown, which covers the internal face of the front cover 3.

[0030] As an alternative, the flaps 14a, 14b, 14c can be formed monolithically with the front cover 3 as an extension of three of its four sides, except for the side connected to the spine 5. In this case, the folding line 16 coincides with one side of the front cover 3.

[0031] When the flaps 14a, 14b, 14c are in the closed position, the flap 14b, which is connected to the side of the front cover 3 which lies opposite the one connected to the spine 5, is partially superimposed on the other two flaps 14a and 14c, providing with them a sort of sorting frame or folder which delimits perimetrically the collection compartment 11 on three sides and is open at the fourth side which is directed toward the slot 10.

[0032] Optionally, in order to prevent the portion of the flaps 14a, 14c which, when the flaps 14a, 14b, 14c are in the closed position, must lie on a plane which is parallel and spaced with respect to the plane of arrangement of the front cover 3, from collapsing toward the front cover 3, forming a hindrance to the connection between the slot 10 and the collection compartment 11, it is possible to provide spacers which are constituted by rigid blocks 18a, 18c, which are fixed, for example by pasting or riveting, to the side that is directed toward the inside of the collection compartment 11 of the portions of the flaps 14a, 14c which are arranged between the folding lines 15, 16.

[0033] The blocks 18a, 18c are preferably shaped substantially like a parallelepiped and are fixed inside the containment structure 22 which delimits the collection compartment 11 in such a position as to not hinder the passage of the flaps 14a, 14b, 14c of the containment structure 22 from the open position to the closed position or vice versa and not interfere with the open passage provided by the containment structure 22 toward the slot 10.

[0034] The function of the blocks 18a, 18c is to keep the open passage between the containment structure 22 and the slot 10 at its maximum value, contrasting the effect of compressions which, with the binder body 2 in the closed position, might tend to reduce the thickness of the containment structure 22 or the dimension of the containment structure 22 determined by its sides which are perpendicular to the front cover 3 of the binder body 2.

[0035] Advantageously, means for retaining the flaps 14a, 14b, 14c in the closure position are provided.

[0036] Such retention means can be constituted by an elastically extensible cord 19, which is connected, at its ends, to the flaps 14a, 14c so that it can be superimposed diagonally on the flaps 14a, 14b, 14c when they are in their closed position or so that it can be arranged around the flaps 14a, 14b, 14c or, as an alternative, be superimposed externally to the spine 5 of the binder in order to allow to move said flaps 14a, 14b, 14c into their open position.

[0037] As an alternative, the means for retaining the flaps 14a, 14b, 14c in their closed position can be constituted by press-studs or rivets 20, as shown in the variation of embodiment of Figure 9, or by spots of glue which are arranged at the regions of the flap 14b which are superimposed on the flaps 14a, 14c.

[0038] With reference to Figure 9, the other elements of the binder body 2 which correspond to elements shown in Figures 1 to 8 have been designated by the same reference numerals.

[0039] As a further alternative, the containment structure 22 that delimits the collection compartment 11 can be constituted by a frame which is shaped like a parallelepiped, as shown in Figure 10, and has no moving parts and is connected, for example by gluing, to the internal face of the front cover 3 and is open at least on its side directed toward the slot 10. This frame can be provided monolithically, for example by using plastics, or can be constituted by flaps made of paper-like material, which are rigidly coupled one another by pasting, riveting or other fixing methods. In this case, the flaps that compose the frame can be pasted to the internal face of the front cover 3 or can be constituted by extensions of the sides of the front cover 3 with at least the exclusion of the side of said front cover 3 that is connected to the spine 5 of the binder body 2.

[0040] In Figure 10 also, the other elements of the binder body 2 that correspond to elements shown in Figures 1 to 8 have been designated by the same reference numerals.

[0041] In any case, the containment structure 22 is provided so that when the binder body 2 is in its closed position it does not interfere with the means for retaining sheets 30 or the like to be filed.

[0042] Advantageously, a chute 21 is connected to the internal face of the front cover 3, in the collection compartment 11, and in the illustrated example is shaped like an inclined plane which moves gradually away from the plane of arrangement of the front cover 3 starting from the open side of the collection compartment 11 that faces the slot 10 when the binder body 2 is in the closed position.

[0043] The chute 21 can be constituted by a sheet of plastics or cardboard of suitable strength, which is folded into an L-shape and is provided with a tab 21 a of the short side of the L-shape to facilitate fixing, for example by pasting, of the chute 21 to the inner face of the front cover 3. The long side of the L-shape is also fixed, for example by direct pasting, to the internal face of the front cover 3.

[0044] The long side of the L-shape that constitutes the chute 21 is entrusted with the task of keeping the free passage provided by the collection compartment 11 at the insertion slot 10 at its maximum size, following the sheets 30 or the like that are introduced in the collection compartment 11 through the slot 10, making them converge gradually toward the flaps 14a, 14b, 14c, partially flattening any sheets 30 or the like which might be bulky due to the shape assumed as a consequence of previous folding, moving away from the slot 10 the sheets 30 or the like that have already been inserted in the collection compartment 11 and producing, in addition to what has been described above, a tilting effect of the sheets 30 or the like with respect to an axis which is parallel to the slot 10, so as to move the spine of said sheets 30 or the like as far as possible away from the opening of the slot 10.

[0045] The task of determining the inclination of the chute 21 is assigned to the short side of the L-shape, which constitutes the chute 21.

[0046] The chute 21 is preferably arranged in a central region between the flaps 14a, 14c, with the end of the long side of the L-shape which is fixed to the inner face of the front cover 3 proximate to the slot 10 and with the short side of the L-shape arranged substantially at right angles to the inner face of the front cover 3 and the tab 21 a superimposed and fixed to the internal face of the front cover 3.

[0047] As an alternative to the configuration with an inclined plane that has been shown, the chute 21 can be shaped as a curved surface which in any case moves gradually away from the plane of arrangement of the front cover 3 starting from the open side of the collection compartment 11, which faces the slot 10 when the binder body 2 is in the closed position.

[0048] Use of the quick sorting binder according to the invention is as follows.

[0049] In order to rapidly sort documents, the binder 1 is arranged so that the binder body 2 is in the closed position and inserted in the case 8, which usually rests on a supporting surface. In such conditions, the slot 10 is arranged vertically.

[0050] Once the sheets 30 or the like that must be filed in the binder 1 have been identified, they are taken individually or in groups or inserted in perforated pockets to be used also for subsequent filing and are inserted rapidly through the slot 10, as shown in Figures 1 and 3.

[0051] Insertion can be assisted, if required, by a mechanical action of the fingers on the sheets 30 or the like, which can be applied at the expansion 13 in the intermediate region of the slot 10.

[0052] The sheets 30 or perforated pockets inserted in the slot 10 gather in the collection compartment 11, awaiting to be filed stably.

[0053] In this manner, it is possible to perform very rapid sorting of documents to be filed, by inserting them in the binder in which they must be filed, without having to open the binder or remove it from the case 8 and without having to resort to additional sorting containers.

[0054] The degree of filling of the collection compartment 11 can be checked through the expansion 13 in the central region of the slot 10.

[0055] Subsequently it is possible to proceed with permanent filing of the documents in the corresponding binder.

[0056] To perform permanent filing, the binder body 2 is extracted from the case and is opened. The flaps 14a, 14b, 14c are also brought into the open position, if allowed by the means for retaining the flaps 14a, 14b, 14c in the closed position, as shown in Figure 4.

[0057] The filing operation is extremely easy, since the documents to be filed in the same binder are already collected in the collection compartment 11 of the binder.

[0058] Once filing has been completed, the binder body 2 is returned to the closure position and stored in the case 8 with the collection compartment 11 empty and ready to receive other documents.

[0059] In practice it has been found that the binder according to the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, since it simplifies and speeds up the operation for sorting the documents to be filed without requiring the use of additional containers.

[0060] In the examples of embodiments described above, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other examples of embodiment.

[0061] Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.

[0062] The binder thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

[0063] In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0064] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A binder for filing documents or the like, comprising a binder body composed of two cover sheets, respectively a front cover and a back cover, which are connected to each other by a spine and can fold with respect to said spine along mutually parallel folding lines or scorings for the passage of said binder body from an open position, in which said front and back covers are substantially coplanar, to a closed position, in which said front and back covers face each other, and vice versa, characterized in that in said spine there is a slot through which it is possible to insert, within said binder body, even in said closed position, sheets or the like to be filed in the binder.

2. The binder according to claim 1, characterized in that a compartment for collecting the sheets or the like inserted through said slot is defined inside said binder body.

3. The binder according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a case which is shaped substantially like a parallelepiped and is open at a lateral face; said binder body being insertable detachably in said case with said spine arranged at said lateral open face of the case.

4. The binder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that means for retaining the sheets or the like to be filed are applied to the inner face of said back cover.

5. The binder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said retention means are constituted by a clamping mechanism of the ring type for pre-perforated sheets and/or pockets.

6. The binder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said slot is oriented parallel to said two folding lines or scorings of said front cover and of said back cover with respect to said spine and lies closer to said front cover than to said back cover.

7. The binder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said slot has one of its sides, which are parallel to said two folding lines or scorings of said front cover and of said back cover with respect to said spine, which is provided with a guiding flap which protrudes toward the inside of the binder body.

8. The binder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said guiding flap protrudes from the side of said slot that lies furthest with respect to said front cover.

9. The binder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said collection compartment is delimited by a containment structure which is substantially shaped like a parallelepiped, is connected to the inner face of said front cover and is open at least on its side which is directed toward said slot when the binder body is in the closed position.

10. The binder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said containment structure is open on its side that lies opposite with respect to said front cover or can be opened in order to access said collection compartment when said binder body is in the open position.

11. The binder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said containment structure is composed of three flaps which are connected to the sides of said front cover except for the side connected to said spine; each of said three flaps being provided with two folding lines which are parallel to the side of the front cover to which it is connected for an arrangement of said three flaps in an open position, in which they are substantially coplanar with respect to the plane of arrangement of the front cover, or in a closed position, in which they are arranged so that a first portion thereof, arranged between said two folding lines, lies on a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of arrangement of the front cover and so that their remaining portion, which is arranged outside said two folding lines and is spaced from said front cover, lies on a plane which is substantially parallel and spaced with respect to the plane of arrangement of said front cover, and vice versa.

12. The binder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said three flaps that compose said containment structure are constituted by extensions of three of the four sides of said front cover of the binder body except for the side of the front cover that is connected to the spine of the binder.

13. The binder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said three flaps, in their closure position, define a frame which delimits on three sides said collection compartment which is open on its side directed toward said slot.

14. The binder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for retaining said three flaps in their closure position.

15. The binder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a chute is connected to the inner face of said front cover, in said collection compartment, and moves gradually away from the plane of arrangement of the front cover starting from the open side of said collection compartment that faces said slot with the binder body in its closure position.

16. The binder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said slot has, in an intermediate region of its extension, an expansion in order to allow to view said collection compartment from outside the binder.

17. The binder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said containment structure is provided as a frame shaped like a parallelepiped, has no moving parts, is connected to the inner face of said front cover of the binder body and is open at least on its side which is directed toward said slot when the binder body is in the closure position.

18. The binder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said frame shaped like a parallelepiped, without moving parts, is constituted by extensions of the four sides of said front cover of the binder body at least with the exception of the side of the front cover that is connected to the spine of the binder.

19. The binder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said containment structure, with the binder body in its closed position, does not interfere with said means for retaining sheets or the like to be filed.

20. The binder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises spacers which are connected to the inside of said containment structure and are adapted to contrast a compression of said containment structure toward said front cover.

21. The binder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said spacers are substantially shaped like a parallelepiped and are connected to said containment structure so as to not hinder any opening and/or closure of said containment structure.

22. The binder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said spacers are connected to the inside of said containment structure so as to not interfere with the open passage provided by said containment structure toward said slot.

23. The binder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said chute is shaped like an inclined plane.

24. The binder according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said chute is shaped like a curved surface.

Drawing