CA1330920C - Paper sheets binding system - Google Patents

Abstract

PAPER SHEETS BINDING SYSTEM

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A paper sheets binding system utilizes a two-part connector including a headed bifurcated inner ratcheted post binding member and a headed pawls-containing locking collar which is ratcheted down over the post member legs to cinch the heads either directly around punch-hole apertures in a paper sheets stack or against a pair of longitudinal binding strips on opposite marginal edges of the stack, with or without an affixed paper sheets cover. The post legs and pawls on the binding member and locking collar, respectively, are offset from the center of their heads 80 that upon assembly on a paper sheets stack to be bound, the connector element heads are asymmetric with respect to the apertures in the punch-hole paper stack. This allows the connector to better withstand asymmetric loading which is present when a book is purposely opened or accidentally dropped. The post legs contain an outer flat longitudinal section which minimizes their central thickness and allows for a cleaner, more accurate frangible breaking off of excess post leg lengths to accommodate various binding thicknesses. A bifurcated rim including a beveled ridge which passes through the strip aperture and snap locks into an exit portion of the aperture on a side of the strip opposite the counterbore may also be included. An open groove in the bifurcated rim accommodates a sheared pawl and allows debinding of the locking collar from the binding member by various hand-operated elognated or disc-shaped binding/debinding tools.

Description

~` 1 330920 PAP~R S~ÆTS BINDING SYSTEM

,. ,, . :
BACXGROUND OP T~E INVENTIO~
, Field of the Invention his invention pertains to a papær sheet~ or book 10 binding ~ystem for retaining and clamping an a*ertured margin po~rtion of apertured materiaI ~uch ~ a~tack of hole punched paper she~ts. ~ore particularly, the invention i~ a ` ;
~` directed to an improved binding conne torls) to bind a sheaf - `-~
of papers into a bound report or booklet without a tool or 15 any machine and to a novel blnùing strip and a novel binding trip and cover. A simple tool to debind a bound booklet which may also function to as~ist binding and rebinding is ~-al30 contemplated.
~ ~ .
~ 20 Material Information .
Variou~binding systems utilized in the past include ACCO fasteners, spiral binders, and various interlocking through~hole devices, exemplified by U.S. Patent No. -~
3,970,331; 4,175,880; 4,369,013; 3,834,739; 1~841~98gt U~R~
Patent 950,768;~and French Patent 2,505,262. U.S. Pat*nt 4,730,972 disclose~ a first b~nding element including a ~ -`
bifurcated~post having inwardly facing~ratcheted surfaces with an integral square head or integrally a~tached binding strip, the post(s) being pa ed~through punch~hole aperture(s) of a paper stack. ~Also provided is a separate locking button with an integral head, used with or without a margin strip~ which button includes one or two hinged pawls which are cinched on the bifurcated post with the pawls successively ratcheting on the;post~for~clamping a stack of paper sheets between the respective head~ or strip~. Exces~

-""1 330q20 post length 1~ broken-off adjacent this locking button.

SUMMARY OF THE I~VEN~IO~
An improved book binding ~yste~D is di~clo~ed which utilize~ in its preferred embodiment an asy~metrically dispo~ed bifurcated po~t on the head of one connector part and asymmetri~ di~po~ed pawl8 on a he~d of a locking collar B second ~ p3rt ~o compen~ate for connector load incident to the opening of the book. Fur~her, a fl~ttened 10 outer edge on the bifurcated post and a flattened ~urface on the through aperture~ in the locking collar corresponding to the flattened post portion~ are provided to facilitate breaking-off of the excess of the bifurcated legs of the post.
15Further, each of the binding member heads and locking collar heads have a D-configuration in a preferred embodiment. In a further improvement an integral circular ~ -rim is provided on the locking collar to facilitate entry of the locking collar particularly into a punch-hole aperture 20 or strip circular aperture. The rim also prevents eYcessive `~
aplaying of the legs of the bifurcated post in the completed binding so that upon book opening, movement of the end~ of the posts do not disengage the pawls of the locking collar from the post serraticns. An integral circular 25 interference-fit rim i~ al80 provided eYtending from the under~ide of the po~t head which ~naps or presse~ into an aperture of a binding strip employed with the binding connector and allows very accurate perpendicular or~entation of the post(s) so that the punch-hole paper can be easily 30 inserted thereover as well as allowing the strip to carry or transport the posts as if they were integral with the strip. Additionally, a pair of ~-~haped pawl~ are provided which extend upwardly from the bottom of a relatively deep central beam of the locking collar toward an outer plane of 35 the locking col].ar. Improvements in the construction of the --` 1 330920 binding strip~ with or without attachment of paper sheets stack covers are also described.
In another embodiment a double-beveled rim eYtending from the head of the poat connector mem~er permitc the head of that member tQ "click~ lock into a connector ~trlp or cover positioned along an edge of ~he paper ~tack. Further, a groove is provided in the rim adjacent the base o~ the bifurcated posts which provides a relief ~olume to ~llow shearing of the pawls from a locking collar cro3~-bar in 10 those instance~ where onIy a relatively few ~heets of paper form the bound booklet and there is insufficient travel possible for the pawls to be sheared, i.e. the cross-bar -~
bottoms out before the pawl is sheared.
Additionally, an ineYpensive plastic tool with either 15 an elongated stem or flat di~c configura~ion is disclosed which variously has four discrete applications, namely ~1) used in binding to pu h the locking collar down over the -posts into locking position, l2) includes a beveled edge which is inserted edgewise between the spaced posts to 20 accurately break off the excess leng~h of a post in the binding operation, l3) includes a bifurcated bit whicb extends from a ~urface of the disc which bit ~traddle~ the cross-bar and is operable to shear the locked pawls from the posts and debind the bound book, and (4) including a 25 relative draft angle on the bit and the cross-bar such that the cro~s-bar is gr~pped by the bit and after shearing, lifts the cross-bar and collar away from the remaining parts of the binding connector when the tool is withdrawn.
~he above improvements result in a binding connector 30 used singly, doubly, or as a triplet (with three-hole punched paper), with or without binding strips. The invention allows a user to have:
a) a modular sys~em of mating components (a binding member and locking collar) which enables use as a single post and collar fastener up to a deluxe bound , ~

document for a stack of sheets;
b) a system designed to withstand the asymmetric loading on a fastener resultant from the opening of the book;
c) a permanent but updateable/correctable binding system by replacing only one of the elements i.e. the locking collar and its integral pawls;
d) a system which does not necessitate the use of any machine or tool for assembly but which can employ a simple one-part hand tool for assembly, disassembly and reassembly of certain already used connector elements; and e) complete reuseability of any binding strips and covers employed along with reuseability of the post-like binding element -~
~ , as long as it is not desired to bind a thicker document.
According to a broad aspect of the invention there is provided an apertured paper sheets binding connector comprising~
a binding member including a pair of elongated parallel posts integrally extending from a common head, each of said posts ;
including inwardly facing ratcheted surfaces extending from a ;~
planar inner surface and oppositely-disposed flat outwardly-facing surfaces parallel to said planar inner surface;
a locking collar having a pair of matching through aper- ;
tures, an integral medial cross-bar extending between and separa-ting said apertures, and at least one pawl hingedly mounted to said cross-bar, said apertures including oppositely-disposed peri-pheral flat sections, corresponding to and allowing sliding pass-age of said posts outwardly facing flat surfaces therepast;
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- 4a -wherein said posts are insertable into at least one paper sheet aperture rom one side of a stack of paper sheets and - ~ 4,~
through said locking collar, said locking collar including a head juxtaposed to a paper sheet aperture on an opposite side o said stack of paper sheets; and wherein said at least one pawl ratchets along said at cornmo~
least one of said ratcheted surfaces until said posts ~ head and said locking collar head clamp said paper sheets together; ;~
excess length of said posts being breakable across a cross section of said posts rom a root of said ratchet surfaces across said posts to said posts flat surfaces generally in a plane of an ex- .:
terior surace of said locking collar head. `~
According to another broad aspect o the invention there is provided an apertured paper sheets binding connector compris- : ~:~
ing~
a binding member including a pair of elongated parallel ~: posts integrally extending asymmetrically from a common head, said :~
posts including inwardly facing ratcheted suraces;
a locking collar having a pair of matching throughaper~
tures an integral medial cross-bar extending between and separa-ting said apertures, and at least one pawl hingedly mounted to said cross-bar, said apertures including oppositely disposed sec- -. ~
tions, corresponding to and allowing sliding passage of said posts ::
: therepast; ~ ~.
wherein said posts are insertable into at least one ~ ;
paper sheet aperture from one side of a stack of paper sheets and ;~
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1 330q20 \~ - 4b -through said locking collar, said locking eollar ineluding an asymmetrical head juxtaposed to a paper sheet aperture on an oppo- :
site side of said stack of paper sheets;
wherein said at least one pawl ratehets along said at :~
least one of said rateheted surfaces until said posts eommon head and said locking collar head cla~p said paper sheets together;
excess length of said posts being frangibly breakable across a eross seetion of said posts from a root of said ratchet surfaces across said posts generally in a plane of an exterior surfaee of said locking collar head; and wherein said locking eollar includes an integral circu- : ~
lar rim extending from an interior surface of said locking collar, . ~ .
said rim being extendable towards a paper sheets aperture. ~ ;~
Aceording to another broad aspect of the invention there ::
~; is provided an apertured paper sheets binding eonneetor eompri-~: sing~
~ ~ a binding member including a pair of elongated parallel :~ posts integrally extending asymmetrieally from a eommon head, said ~; posts including inwardly facing rateheted surfaees; :.
a loeking collar having a pair of matehing through- -~
apertures, an integral medial cross-bar extending between and -.
separating said apertures, and at least one pawl hingedly mounted, .
: I to said eross-bar,~ said apertures ineluding oppositely disposed ::.:; .
sections, corresponding to and allowing sliding passage of said .~
~; '. . ! -posts therepast; ~-:
wherein said posts are insertable into at least one ~ ;.

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paper sheets aperture from one side of a stack of paper sheet and through said locking collar, said locking collar including an asymmetrical head juxtaposed to a paper sheets aperture on an :~
opposite side of said stack of paper sheet; -wherein said at least one pawl ratchets along said at least one of said ratcheted surfaces until said posts common head and said locking collar head clamp said paper sheets together;
excess length of said posts being frangibly breakable across a cross section of said posts from a root of said ratchet surfaces across said posts generally in a plane of an exterior surface of said locking collar head;
in which said common head and locking collar head have an outer D-shaped configuration, the straight edge of each of said `~
D-shaped heads being alignable with an edge of a paper sheet stack ~: margin adjacent said at least one paper sheet aperture, and : wherein the curved edge of said D-shaped head generally surrounds ;~
: said at least one paper sheet aperture; and wherein said posts and said matching throughapertures of said locking collar are asymmetrically positioned along a bisector ~ ~.
~` 20 of each of said D-shaped heads perpendicular to said straight edge of each of said D-shaped heads.
According to another broad aspect of the invention there - `;
~:~ is provided an apertured paper sheets binding connector ~comprising~
a binding member including a pair of elongated parallel - ~-posts integrally extending asymmetrically from a common head, said '',, ''" ', ,`:'~

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1 330920 ~ ~

posts including inwardly facing ratcheted surfaces;
a locking collar having a pair of matching through-apertures, an integral medial cross-bar extending between and separating said apertures, and at least one pawl hingedly mounted to said cross-bar, said apertures including oppositely disposed sections, corresponding to and allowing sliding passage of said ~.
posts therepast;
wherein said posts are insertable into at least one ~: paper sheet aperture from one side of a stack of paper sheets and :
through said locking collar, said locking collar including an asymmetrical head juxtaposed to a paper sheet aperture on an oppo-site side of said stack of paper sheets;
: wherein said at least one pawl ratchets along said at ~ least one of said ratcheted surfaces until said posts common head : and said locking collar head clamp said paper sheets together;
: excess length of said posts being frangibly breakable across a .
, . ..: ~
cross section of said posts from a root of said ratchet surfaces .-across said posts generally in a plane of an exterior surface of said locking collar head; and . --20~ wherein said posts and said matching throughapertures .-~.
: have oppositely disposed flat outward surfaces and flat inwardly- ~-facing sections, respectively, for facilitating the frangible ~-.-;
breaking of said posts. .
According to another broad aspect of the invention there is provided an apertured paper sheets binding connector comprising~
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1 33~920 ~ ::
- 4e -a binding member including a pair of elongated parallel ~ -posts integrally extending asymmetrically from a common head, said posts including inwardly facing ratcheted surfaces; ~ :
a locking collar having a pair of matching through- :
apertures, an integral medial cross-bar extending between and . :
separating said apertures, and at least one pawl hingedly mounted to said cross-bar, said apertures including oppositely disposed sections, corresponding to and allowing sliding passage of said posts therepast;
~:~ 10 wherein said posts are insertable into at least one paper sheet aperture from one side of a stack of paper sheets and through said locking collar, said locking collar including an ~:
asymmetrical head juxtaposed to a paper sheet aperture on an oppo- ::~
site side of said stack of paper sheets;
~, ~ . ., : wherein said at least one pawl ratchets along said at :
least one of said ratcheted surfaces until said posts common head :~
~ and said locking collar head clamp said paper sheets together; ~-:~ ; excess length of said posts being frangibly breakable across a cross section of said posts from a root of said ratchet surfaces across said posts generally in a plane of an exterior surface of : ::~ - ~. .:
said locking collar head; and ~
wherein said locking collar includes a pair of pawls ~i hingedly extending upwardly from a bottom surface of said cross-bar, said pawls having an upper pawl tooth extending below at ~ least two ratchets of said posts ratcheted surfaces extending ; below an exterior plane of said locking collar.
'' ~''~'' ' '' . : ' 1 330920 ~ ~Y;
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BRIEF DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE DRAWING :~
~ .
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view o the inven-tion prior to complete assembly of a deluxe binding.
Figure lA is a cross sectional view of the binding ele-ments taken on the line A-A of Figure 1.
Figure lB is a cross sectional view of the binding ele-ments taken on the line B-B of Figure 1.
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a strip and `~ cover binding embodiment of the invention prior to complete assem-bly of a standard binding system.
Figure 2A is a cross sectional view of the binding ele-ments taken on the lines A-A of Figure 2. :~ .
Figure 2B is a cross sectional view of the binding ele~
ments showing breakage of a binding post taken on the lines B-B of Figure 2.
Figure 2C is a detailed cross sectional view of the pawl -::
and post locking mechanism of Figure 2b showing a critical orien- . .;:

tation of the elements to obtain a clean : ~ , .. -~ . ~.- .:

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~::, , 1 33092~
., frangible breaking of a po~t. ~ -Pigure 2D is a cross ~ectional vi~w of the pawl and post interlock including a modification of the post to facilitate breaking.
Figure 3 i~ an exploded perspe~ctive view of a basic binding ~ystem including a pair of blnding ~tr~p~ without a book cover.
Figure 3~ ~ a cro~s sectional view of the bindlng element~ taken on the line ~-a of ~igure 3.
Figure 3B i~ a cross sectional view of the binding element~ taken on the line B-B of Figure 3.
Figure 4 is an exploded perspectlve view of a basic fastening arrangement of the invention ~howing binding element~, per 3e. -~
; 15 Figure 4A is a cross ectional view taken on the lines A-A of Figure ~.
Figure 4B i5 a cross sectional view taken on the lines B-B of Figure 4.
Figure 5 i8 a partial end view of the bindi~g system of Figure 4 showing asymmetric loading upon opening of the book.
Figure 5A is a force diagram ~howing the vertical forces acting on the fastener system upon book opening.
Figure 6 i~ a top view of the binding element includin~
the bifurcated po~t.
Figure 6A i8 a side view of the b~nding element of ~igure 6. ~
Figure 6B is a cross ~ectional view of the binding ~-element taken on the line B-B of Figure 6.
Figure 6C is a bottom view of the binding element of Figure 6.
Figure 7 is a bottom view of the locking collar of the invention.
Figure 7A is a longitudinal side view of the locking 35 collar.

~igure 7B i~ a top view of the locking coll~r.
Figure 8 illu~trates an interrelation~hip ~atrix o~ the various binding and fastening ~ystems with an indication of which co~ponents are employed ~ith re~pect to each of the particular binding and ~astening ~ystem~.
Figure 9 i~ ~ top view of one end of the binding strip embodiment of Figure 3. ~ ~-Figure 9~ i8 a side view thereof. ` ~ -Figure 9B i8 a botto~ v~w thereof.
Figure 9C i3 an end vie~ thereof.
Figure 10 is a ~ide view of a combination disassembly and assembly tool showing u~e a~ an assembly tool.
Figure lOA is a bottQ~ view of the tool of Figure 10 less its protectiv~ cap. .-Figure 11 is a partial side view of the tool showing use as a disassembly tool. --~igure 12A is a botto~ view of the binding element of another embodiment of the invention including a bifurcated post.
Figure 12~ i8 a cross sectional view of the binding element of the invention taken on the line B-B of Figure 12A.
Figure 13 i8 a cro~s-sectional partial view of the binding element of the Figure 12B embodiment ~howing it in locking position in a strip aperture.
Figure 14 is a top view of another embodiment of a paper sheets binding and debinding tool of the invention.
Figure lS is an end view of the tool.
Figure 16 is a side view of the tool. ~`
Figure 17 illustrates the use of the tool of the invention to assemble a locking collar on a post binding member in a counterbore of an apertured binding strip on one side of a paper sheets stack. -~
Figure 18A illustrates a first step in an additional 35 use of the tool in breaking off excess length of a post ~

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_ 7 _ ~ 33092n after the locking collar and po~t connector member have clamped a paper sheets ~tack together.
Figure 183 illustrates a ~econd completion ~tep showing .~
the tool breaking off exce~ length of a po~t of the .
connecting element.
Figure 19 illustrates another u~e of the tool for debinding a paper sheets stack bound with a po~t bind~ng member and lock~ng collar.

.
Figure 1 illu~trates what is termed a deluYe bi~ding 10. In thi~ binding a sta~k of punched hole paper ~heets 11 is provided with a pair of covers 14, 15 affiYed respectively to a pair of binding strips 16 and 17. The 15 covers and ~trip are positioned at a marginal edge 8 of the stack 80 that circular a~erture~ in the cover~ 14, 15 a~d . ~. .-strips 16, 17 are aligned with apertures 12 of the paper sheet stack on the bottom and top of the paper sheet stack. A binding member 18 having an asymmetric head 21 i8 20 inserted into the apertures 33 of the strip, the cover apertures and through the stack apertures as seen in : illustrated Steps 1, 2, and 3, in that order. At Step 2, ~:~
the post legs 18a and 18b extend outwardly from ~trip 16. A
locking collar 19 having a pair of matched apertures 23 is ~ . :
25 then placed over the bifurcated posts and slid down as shown at Step 3 80 that a pair of pawls, Incorporated ~nto locking collar 19, ratchet down ratcheted ~urfaces 29a, 29b (Fig.
lB) on the inner facing periphery of legs 18a and 18b until the respective covers and binding strips are cinched down to 30 bind the paper sheets stack. Any excess length of the bifurcated pos~s 18a and 18b are then snapped off or frangibly broken in the plane of a top surface 45 of the locking collar 19. The covers are then folded to dashed positions 14a and 15a, respectively, about hinges 14b and 35 15b to complete the overall binding. In this embodiment, .

- 8 - l 3 3 0 q 2 0 the cover~ in their clo~ed po~ition conceal the heads 21, lga of each of the binding members 18 and the locking collars 19 . , . '~
Figure lA show~ the foregoing ln more detail. A ~erie~
o recesses 25 are prov~ded on the eYposed ~urface o each of the strips 16 and 17. ~he heads 21 and l9a of the binding member and locking collar, reapectively, neat w~thin the recesse~ 25. In a preferred e~bodi~ent, the heads re~t -~-in a non-interference fit with the recess 25, although in 10 other embodiments, an interference fit or ridge as in the -~
first related application or a tab may be provideq. A layer of adhe~ive 24, ~uch a3 contact cement, adhere~ to the ~ ~;
underside of strips 16 and 17 to a marginal edge band 14c of the covers. Marginal band 14c also cover~ portion~ lla and 15 llb of marginal portion~ of the paper stack. A circular ; collar 32 of head 21 extends into a strip aperture 33 and a ~ -rim 28 of collar 19 extends into aperture 33 of strip 16.
Rim 28 functions to give additional strength to the collar and helps to guide the leg3 during connector assembly. It 20 also functions to prevent the splaying of the post legs, ensuring proper pawl tooth-to-ratchet tooth interlocking and preventing disengagement of the pawl5 from the leg ratchet~
by effectively leng~hening the Eatched apertures 23 within the collar without thickening the collar head, thus 25 preventing the fractured ends of the posts from ~lipping out underneath the locking collar when the connector is in ~ ~
tension due to page opening. Score line~ lSc and 15d may ~ -also be provided in one or both covers particularly with thick covers so as to allow for easy opening of the cover.
As particularly seen in Figure lB, the bifurcated legs 18a and 18b have a series of transversed ratchets 29a and 29b extending along their all or a portion of their overall length. Pawls 3~3 and 39 extend fro~ a relatively deep medial bar 26 (Fig. 7B) extending between the matched 35 apertures 23 in the head l9a of the locking collar. The _ 9 _ 1 33392~ ~

pawls 38 and 39 of the locking collar are ratcheted down the leg ratchets 29a, 29b until the overall connector part~
firmly cinch the edge margin3 of the paper stack by forcing -the respective head~ 21 and l9a of the binding member and the locking ~ollar aga~nst the unde~ide of the rece~s 25 ln each of the strips. The eYce~s of the po~t leg~ extending above the plane of ~urface 45 on the locking collar are then broken of f as shown in F~gure 2s.
A so-called standard ~inding system 20 i~ ~hown in ;-~
10 Figure 2. This bounded document differs from the deluYe binding of Pigure 1 in that the heads of the po~ts and collars nesting in the reces~e~ of the binding ~trips, and the strips themselves, are visible in the clo~ed document.
Single cover sheets 34, 35 are adhe~ively affixed to the 15 underside of the pair of binding strips 16, 17. As in Figure 1, the binding member lB iB guided through the respective apertures in strip 17, sheet 35, paper stack 11, sheet 34 and ~trip 16 80 that it e~erges as seen in Step 2 exteriorally of strip 16. Locking collar 19 is then 20 positioned on the post legB in Step 3 and ratcheted down the inside of the bifurcated post legs 18a and 18b until the locking collar i8 guided into the recess 25 and the stack of paper sheets cinched between tbe respective ~trips and covers at the punched hole margin edqe of the papær stack.
25 ~he excess post lengths are then frangibly broken off and the binding i~ completed.
As can be seen in Figure 2A, the center line 55 of the ratcheted post and the pawl mechanism is asymmetric with respect to the center of the respective heads 21 and l9a of 30 the binding member 18 and the locking collar 19. The pawls 38, 39 and the medial beam 26 extend through a circular aperture 34a in cover 34. A marqinal portion 35b, 35c of the cover 35 extends between the underside of strip 17 and is affixed by adhesive 24 to the strip. Cover 34 is 35 similarly adhered to the strip. Rim 32 extending inwardly :i 1 330920 - 10 - "' ' ''~ ' . .:
from head 21 of binding me~ber lB i~ rece~sed into th~
circular apertures 33 in ~he ~trip. In a~sembly it has been found convenient to first in~ert the binding member into the ..
recess 25 and to reBt the strip 17, with it~ attached cover, and the exterior top ~urfa~e head 21 on a flat horisontal work sur~ace. The paper sheet~ are then placed over the vertically extending po~t leg8 18a and 18b, and the other .
str~p with it~ affixed cover i~serted over the po~t. The. ~ .:
locking collar is then placed on the ends of the po~t legs and ratcheted downward ov~r the length thereof until the locking collar i8 po~itioned in the recess 25 of ~trip 16 ~:
and the outer marginal edges of the paper stack are firmly ~ -cinched together. At that position as shown in Fiqure 2B, the pawl8 are interlocked with opposite ratchets of the legs 15 18a and 18b 80 that two internal leg ratchet teeth extend . . .
from above the upper end of the pawls to the plane of ~::
surface 45 of the locking collar. The eYces~ leg lengths are frangibly broken by bending them around edge 37 80 that .~:~
a relatively smooth surface 36 is left at the end of the ~ ;
20 legs 18a, 18b. ;
As seen in Figure 2C, pawl teeth of pawl 39 (and 38) .~
are sized so that two parallel, safety ratchet teeth 43, 44, .
remain below the plane 45 of the locking collar 19 top : .
surface. The upper root of tooth 44 is at a distance D ~ .
between the root and the aperture edges 37 of the collar 19. Thi~ distance D i~ ~horter than the distances E between .~ `
the edge 37 and the root~ of the next lower tooth 43 and the .
first tooth extending above the plane o~ surface 45. This orientation of the tooth root upon bending of each :
bifurcated post leg as seen in Figure 2B will break the leg off along the surface represented by arrow D rather than the longer surfaces E~, thus giving a relatively smooth exterior aesthetically pleasing break surface. In a second embodiment shown in Figure 2D, a series of parallel slots or 35 score lines 47 may be molded.perpendicularly into the post :
..

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1330~20 ~ ~ ~

legs on the exterior surface of the legs at the same level as the root of each of the tran3ver~e ratchet teeth go that an even lesser di3tance D is pre~ent at the plane of surface 45 to facilitate a clean break.
Figure 3 illustrates a ~o-called ba~ic binding sy~tem in which a stack of paper sheet3 11 are bound w~thout a cover but with a pair of binding ~trips 50 and the a~orementioned binding me~bers 18 and locking collars 19.
Similarly to the strip~ 16, 17 de~cribed above, strip 50 i~
apertured at 52 and the bifurcated legs of binding element 18 are passed therethrough and through the aperture3 12 at an edge margin of the paper 3tack. As with the other modifications, the steps 1, 2 and 3 are illustrated showing how the binding element and locking collar are positioned 15 and connected to form the over~ll binding. Colors of the -strips and connector parts can be mixed or matched.
Figure 3A and 3B illustrate in detail the use of the basic connector parts with strips 50. Strip 50 may include a series of longitudinal ribs 51 on their inner ~urfaces for giving additional rigidity and to minimize the amount of plastic utilized in ~he strips. ~be details of this strip are seen in Figures 9-9C infra.
The basic fa~tening ~ystem i8 3een in Figure 4 where a system 40 includes three binding elements 18 which are positioned through each of three apertures 12 in a stack of paper sheets 11 and the binding elements and locking collars connected as previously described to cinch the marginal edge 8 of the paper stack ~heets together.
Figures 4A and 4B show in more detail the basic fastening mechanism including the offset or asymmetric position of the head l9a and head 21 with respect to the center line 55 of the bifurcated posts and the pawls, respectively. l'he a~ymmetric nature of the connector member heads l9a, 21 allows for less strength in the connector members when the book i~ opened into section~ lld and lle by ~ .

opening forces ~hown by arrow~ 56 in Figure 5 or forced downward in an opened po ition in a page copying machin~
Figure SA i5 a graphical representation of the involved vertical ~orce~. F3, the re~ultant force o~ the overall connector i8 equal to the ~um o the force Fl, applied at the inner portion of the respectlve head, and the force P2, applied at the outer portion of the head, where tho~e portions abut the edge of the paper ~tack or the recess of strips extending between the head~ and the paper ~tack or 10 cover. Therefore, in equation form F3 = Fl ~ F2. Since the ;
post 18 is asymmetrically po~itioned in the head, X and Y ~n Figure 5A represent the distances between the center of the post and pawls and the force vectors Fl and F2. FlX =
~2Y. Thus, the more the Y di~tance 1~ greater than X
15 distance, the lower F3 will b~ relative to Fl. Less structure and less ~trength i8 needed in the con~ector when the connector i9 asymmetric with the larger distance Y
extending from the connector to ~he peripheral marginal edge 8 of the paper stack or given a fiYed strength connector, 20 that connector can withstand greater opening forces than a connecting member with symmetrical heads. A similar force diagram is included for the bottom number of sheets lle.
Figure 6 i8 a top view of the locking element 18 ~howing head 21. Figure 6A i5 a side view of the binding 25 member showing the circular ri~ 32 insertable into strip aperture 33 and a flat side 62 on the exterior periphery of ~- -leg 18a. A similar "flat~ is po~itioned opposite leg 18a on `
the exterior of leg 18b. This is more clearly ~hown in Figure 6C where the surfaces 62 are shown oppositely ~-30 disposed on legs 18a and 18b with serrations 29a and 29b facing each other. It is noted that the bisector 65 of the head 21 intersects with the bisector 67 of legs 18a and 18b at a point 66 which is offset from the center of head 21 ;~
along bisector 65. This illustrates the asymmetric nature 35 of the posts with respect to the head.
' ;' ~ ,..-.

- 13 - 1 330q~ ~ ~

Figure 6B further illu trate~ the 3errations 23a and 29b on legs 18a and 18b which may e~tend a majority of the way from the root of the head toward the tip of the leg~
18 , 18b.
Figure 7 illu~trate3 a bottom view of loc~ing coll~r 19 in which a pair of matched aperture~ 23 are provided on either ~ide of pawl3 38 and 39. Th~ aperture~ have flat outer surfaces 63 corre~ponding to the fl~ts 62 on the post legs over which the locking collar 18 inser~ed ~uch that the 10 flats 63 ~lide over the legs flat surfaces 62 and a straight edge 37 (Figure 2B) i5 provi~ed oppoeite the root of a serration tooth. As shown~ the pawls and matching aperture~
are offset along biaector 75 ~o that it~ inter~ection 76 with bi~ector 77 provides for an asy~metric loc~ing collar 15 head. The flat straiqht ent of the locking collar and the straight flat end of the head 21 of the binding member are alignable in parallel to the outer marginal edge 8 of the paper stack or ~lightly offset inwardly therefro~. A slight taper l9b i8 included around the top surface o~ the locking 20 collar head. Similarly, the binding member head 21 i8 edge -~
tapered as seen in Figure 6.
Figure 8 is self-explanatory in that it qhows the four varieties of binding ~y~tems pos~ible with the de~cribed invention coupled with those post/collar/strip/~eeted cover 25 and folded cover components which are utîlized *ith various ~;
of the sy~tems. The variou~ component~ are designed to mate with each other and build systems of bound document~
dependent on user's need~.
Figure 9 illustrates a top side of binding strip 50 30 where D-shaped recesses or counterbores 58 are provided surrounding asymmetrically arranged circular aperture~ 52 which are aligned with the apertures 12 of the paper s~ack (Fig. 3) 50 that the component part~ (paper stack, ~trips, and cover~, if included) may receive the two-part connectors 35 18, 19. The D-shaped recess 58 comprises a se~i-circular :.

: ... . . . .... . . . . .

- 14 ~
, annular ~e~tion 58a ~urrounding half of the aperture 52 and an e~sentially rectangular section 58b having a ~e~i-circular portion 58d ~urrounding the other half of aperture 52. The recess edge 58c i~ aligned parallel to a longitudinal edge of strip S0. ~he depth of the rece~s i~
about 0.9 mm and which allows a head 21 of the binaing member 1~ or head l9a of the locking collar 19, which have thicknesqes of about 1.~ and 1.5 mm, re~pectively, to fit therein. In thi~ embodiment, adhesive or glue a~fixes the top of the rib~ to the cover~. A tapered edge 57 i8 provided on the strip esQentially for aesthetlc purpo~es.
Figures 9A and 9C ~how side and end views of the atrip which in a preferred embodiment has an overall height of 1.7 mm.
Figure 9B illustrates the under, paper stack-facinq, ~ide of the binding strip. In order to conserve the use of plastic material and to save weight in ~hipping in the final bound document or book. recesses 59 are provided in the bottQm ~-surface leaving therebetween upstanding parallel ribs 53, 54, 55 for structural support. Further, a D-~haped, ull rib thickness area 56 ia provided which not only provides sufficient strength to with~tand the Fl and F~ stress force~ ;
accompanying a book opening but also the stresses incident to the assembly of the locking collar on the posts against ~he strip recesses in clnching the overall binding connector elements on the paper s~ack margin for proper binding. Area 56 which ~hows a straight edge 56a at one edge of the overall strip i8 also useful in reminding a user t~at that is the edge which i5 to be parallelly aligned with the margin edge 8 of the paper stack which i8 to be bound, thus ensuring the proper asymmetric positioning of the binding connector heads as described with respect to Figure 2.
Parallel ribs 53, 54, and 55 extend longitudinally between each of three lin the case of a three-hole punched paper stack) raised areas 56 spaced along the strips.
Figure 10 illustrates a binding connector disassembly ..:. :~.. ..

1 3~0920 tool 80 which may al50 bs e~ployed to initially as~e~ble or rea~semble the connector components. Tool 80 include~ a cylindrical center section 81 and a ~maller cylindrical probe end 81a connected to the cent~r ~ection by ~ conical section 81b. Integrsl with the probe seGtion ~re a pair of pawl-engaging essen~ially 1at rectangular tips 82, 83, preferably having curved ends as ~e~n 1~ Figure lOA. A
flared collar 84 extend~ fro~ an opposite end of the tool.
A longitudinal bore B6 18 provided within the csntral 10 section 81. The tool may be fir~t used to assi~t in the ratcheting down of locking collar 19 on the ~atchets 29a, 29b of binding member 18. In Pigure 10, the paper ~tack i9 not shown but as described abo~e will have its binding margin edge held es~enti~lly bet~een connector heads 19 and 15 21. The tool i9 placed over tbe extending posts as at position 3 in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 tpreferably with the head 21 resting on a flat work ~urface) so that a flat ~urface 85 on collar 84, extending around the entrance to bore 86, seats on the flat ~urface 45 of the locking collar 20 19. Manual pressure ~ay be applied by pressing o~e'~
fingers on the conical surface 84a of the flared tool collar 84 to push or ram the locking cDllar downwardly on the po8t8, ratcheting as it goes dovn, until the locking collar seat~ in a ~trip recess (if a binding atrip is employed) or 25 in an aperture 12 of the paper ~tack and the paper sheet~
stack is appropriately cinched or bound. The length of the bore B6 is such a3 to accommodate all the excess length of the binding member legs 18a, 18b 80 that even a very thin book of a few sheets can extend into the bore. ~o ensure 30 safety, a rubber or other protective cap may be force fit or screwed over tips 82, 83, which cap may also be pushed or lightly tapped to cinch the paper sheets.
The use of the tool 80 is seen in Figure 11 where the ends 89 of tool tips 82, 83 when inserted into the matched 3sapertures of locking collar 19 including flat surface~ 63 . .

- 1~ 1 330920 :-(Figure 7) re3t on upper flat end surfaces 87 of pawl~ 38, ~9, respec~i~ely, ~he bound document would normally be resting on a firm flat work surfac~. The tool i8 then driven downwardly by ~light ha~mer or human palm impa~t to shear the pawl~ either individu~lly from medial bar 26 or together from the bottvm of the bar as ~hown at 88. The ~-strips, the covers, and the binding member are all resuable. Use of the latt~r i~, however, then limited to a paper stack of the sa~e or a few sheet~ greater than the 10 original, due to the prior re~oval of the exce~s leg length3 but having two ~afety teeth ~e aln. A new locking coll~r with integral pawls, of course, i~ nece~ary in reassembling the binding.
While the invention has been disclosed in terms of 15 asymmetric aesthetically pleasing D-shaped heads, other asymmetric rectangular, square, oval, circular head~ may be employed where the binding element~ and pawl3 are offset laterally from the eenter of the heads with the long side, e.g. di~tance Y Figure SA, i3 extendi~g to the stack margin 20 edge.
Figures 12A and 12B show an aspect of the present invention where the post connector member i5 modified to ~CliCkN lock into a Qtrip aperture while the head of the ~-post binding member i8 being seated into a strip or cover 25 counterbore. Rather ~han a 360 full circle cylindrical rim as shown above, two approximately semicircular rim segment~
4', 5', orming a bifurcated ri~, are provided which eYtend longitudinally from the head 6' of post connector member 7'. An integral double-beveled edge 8' is provided around 30 and extending laterally from rim segments 4', 5'. The rim segments are separated by an open groove or gulley 9' -~
extending across the underside of head 6' adjacent the root portions of the integral posts 14'. The function of this groove will be explained with respec~ to Figure 19.
Figure 13 shows the head rim segment and double-beveled ~ 17 - 1 3 3 0 q 2 0 edge construction of the Figure 12~ post connector member in ~ore detail and in conjunction ~ith a binding ~trip 15' having multiple spaced apertures 16' therei~. A counterbore 17 ' i8 provided on the outer side of the ~trip 15' to S receive the head 6' of post co~ector ~e~ber. A beveled perlpheral reentrant exit portion 20' ~urround~ aperture 16' on the ~tr~p under surface oppo~ite the 8t~ip top ~urface containing the counterbore. The outer diaDeter of the peripheral edge or ridge 8' i~ ~lightly (about 0.05 to abou~
0.10 mm) greater that the diameter of apærture 16' 80 that upon inse~t~on of post connector ~ember 7' ~nto the str~p aperture 16' and counterbore 17', it i~ ~click~ locked into the ~trip. Thi~ i8 accomplisbed by action first of a first bevel 8a on the upper peripheral edge 16b of aperture 16' which moves the posts inwardly by a cam~ing action, followed by a sliding a~tion of the ridge 8' against the internal surface of aperture 16' and then by the ridge 8' (and posts) snapping out and back to their original po~ition with respect to their original longitudinal axi~ 80 as to lock in the position shown inward of the lower peripheral edge 16a of aperture 16' where a second inner bevel 8b of the edge is captured by the reentrant e~it portion 20'.
An audible ~click~ i~ heard when the ridge passes through the aperture and lockQ in place adjacent strip exit portion 20'. ~his enables a user to ascertain that the post connector element is correctly seated in the counterbore of the strip. It also holds a post connector member firmly in -a strip so that a user can reorient the member and strip in any spacial position prior to assembly in a paper stack without the member(s) dropping out of the strip. As in the U.S. 4,730,972 post connectors, the strip is cinched up by placement of a lo~king collar over the posts and the locking collar ratcheted down over the posts so as to hold the strip 15' and a locking collar strip on opposite sides of a margin ;~
edge of a paper sheets stack 31' (partially shown) and a ~` ~

cover 32' generally adhered by adhe~ive 33' to the underside'!~
of 8trip 15 ' .
It is contemplated that the connector of Fig3 12A and 12B may be employed with an apertured flat cover with a proper hole 3i~e to accommodate the rim ~' and ~ith sufficient ~tiffne~s ~o that tbe hole doe~ not distort when the double beveled ri~ i~ pu~hed through.
Figures 14-16 show a b~nding/deb~nding tool in the general form of an es3entially flat finger-engageable push 10 disc 40'. While di~c 40' is shown as D-~hap~d corresponding to the preferred ~hape of ~he post connector member head and the locking collar head, it may be of another con~iguration such a~ circular, sgua~e or oYal. A bifurcaSed bit 41' extends outwardly from one of tbe ~lat surface~ o~ the 15 disc. The function of this bit is explained with re~pect to Figure 19. An aperture 42' i8 provided extending through the disc to accommodate the pair of posts of the post connector member (Figure 17). $he aperture 42' preferably has an entrance bevel 43' to aid in guidlng the tool onto 20 and over the post end~. In physical size, the push diRC i8 :~
about 3 cm in length, 2.5 cm in width and 0.6 cm in thickness. An edge bevel, preferably of about 45, extends over about 0.4 cm of the disc peripheral edge when used with posts which have about a 0.3 c~ ~eparation. The disc may be ~ -25 made of relatively hard, high i~pact grade of plastic (~uch as polycarbonate~ with the bit either lntegral therewith of the same material or in th~ fors of a molded-in-place or subsequently attached metal bit. The aperture 42' may be used to hang the tool on a peg or nail so that it is 30 convenient to the binding work station.
Figure 17 illustrates the use of the tool 40' in -binding a document or stack of paper sheets. Post connector member 7' i8 first passed through the aperture~ 46' in paper stack 31~ through aperture 16' in strip 15'. Locking collar 35 19' is then placed over the posts and the aperture 42' o~

tool 40' placed over the po~t~ ~o that it ~eat~ on top of the locking collar 19'. Thumb or finger pres3ure o~ the.top surface of di~c 40' (as indicated by arrow~ 45') force~
collar 19' downward 80 that the pawls 38', 39' ratchet down ratchet~ 29a, 29b facing each other on the poBt8 14'. Wh~n the ~trips on both sides of the stack are cinche~ again~t the paper etack by the downward pre~sing of the colla~ by the disc, the di~c i~ removed from the exce~s length of post~ extending out~ardly frQs the ~urface 22' of the 10 locking collar. The tool afford~ a user a wider and more easily reached surface than ~urface 22' to push ~o a~ to seat the collar into locking po~ition on the post connector member to bind the paper stac~ or book.
As ~own in Figur2~ 18A 3nd 18B, the dise also ~ :
15 function~ to initiate and brea~ off one of the post leg~.
Rather than a user forcing his or her own finger into the space between the exCesQ length of post~ to ef;Eect breakage, ~ -~
the tool 40' is used edg2wise 80 that bevel 44' enters the space 47' between the eYcess length of posts eYtending from 20 the bound document. ~pon pushi~g the beveled edge between :~
and lengthwise of the posts as indicated by arrows 48', one ::
of the franglble posts 14' brea~s off as indicated, adjacent its root, with the top surface 22' of the locking collar.
The di~c thickness i8 greater tban the spacing between the 25 posts on a common head. The disc thickne~s dimen~ion i~ a function of the post spacing, the material frangibility, the be~el angle, and the bevel height.
Figure 19 illustrates third and fourth functions of tool 40'. The tool may be oriented 80 that bifurcated bit 30 41' straddles the cross-bar 26' of locking collar 19' and i9 . .
seated against the free end of pawls 38', 39'. Upon finger ~ :
or palm pressure (approximately 30-40 pounds) or a sharp rap ~kinetic energy) by the user's hand edge or palm aR shown by arrow 56', the pawls may be sheared at their connection 49' 35 with the bottom o~E the cross-bar 26', ~Q as to debind the binding. This aspect of debinding i8 ~ r to the debinding by the elongated tool described above. A
particular problem has existed howe~r when debinding a thin booklet or ~tack of only a few sheet:s of stacked paper.
This condition exiat~ when a bou~d document ba~ only 10-15 sheets but i~ dependent on the paper thickne~3 and wh~ther covers and/or binding strips are eml~loyed. In such event~
the cro~s-bar ~upport post~ and pawl8 bottomed out on the underside o po~ head of the prior art ($11ustrated by 10 phantom line 54') and the pawl~ did not ~h~ar off when rapped by a bifurcated bit of the ~ore elongated tool. To solve this problem, an open groove 9' i8 provided in the ~ -~
poqt connector member 7', more specifically between rlms 4', S', which allows the pawls to be sheared and driven down 15 into the groove past any remaining post ratchet~, as indicated by arrow 53'. The cross-bar or the bit may be provided with a relative draft angle 55' ~o that when the pawls are sheared off and drive below the cro~s-bar, the cross-bar and the remainder of the locking collar i8 20 frictionally engaged with the bifurcated bit. When the di~c is removed from its rapped position, it pu118 the cross-bar and ~ntegral collar out of the strip counterbore 17'. The broken pawls can b~ shaken or dropped out of the groove 9' after the broken collar and cross-bar are pulled off the end 25 of the bifurcated bit. Once debound, the book may be ~odified by adding or removing sheets of the paper stack. ~-~
~he binding strips are reusable as are the post connector members if an appreciably less member of sheets are to bound than formerly bound, or a new post may be snapped into `
30 position and locked in place with a new collar while reusing thP chip and covers.
Tool 40' may be utilized to press locking collars on, to remove excess length~ of posts fro~, and to debind connectors which directly cincb a stack of paper sheets with 35 or without the use of binding ~trips against the margins of ...... . ... , ~ . .

- 21 - .

a st~ck of paper sheets.
The above de~cription of embodiment~ of thi~ invention is intend to be illu~trative and not limiting. Other embodiments of this invention will be obviou~ to tho~q - :
5 skilled ln t~e ar~ in view of the above di~lo~ure~ ~ -: : . :: -~ ~,.-.'' ' ~. . ~' -''; '~ ' '' ~
' ~..

Claims (26)

1. An apertured paper sheets binding connector comprising:
a binding member including a pair of elongated parallel posts integrally extending from a common head, each of said posts in-cluding inwardly facing ratcheted surfaces extending from a planar inner surface and oppositely-disposed flat outwardly-facing sur-faces parallel to said planar inner surface; a locking collar having a pair of matching through apertures, an integral medial cross-bar extending between and separating said apertures, and at least one pawl hingedly mounted to said cross-bar, said apertures including oppositely-disposed peripheral flat sections, corres-ponding to and allowing sliding passage of said posts outwardly facing flat surfaces therepast; wherein said posts are insertable into at least one paper sheet aperture from one side of a stack of paper sheets and through said locking collar, said locking collar including a head juxtaposed to a paper sheet aperture on an oppo-site side of said stack of paper sheets; and wherein said at least one pawl ratchets along said at least one of said ratcheted sur-faces until said posts common head and said locking collar head clamp said paper sheets together; excess length of said posts being breakable across a cross section of said posts from a root of said ratchet surfaces across said posts to said posts flat surfaces generally in a plane of an exterior surface of said lock-ing collar head.

2. The binding connector of claim 1 wherein said locking collar includes an integral circular rim having a diameter greater than a maximum width dimension of said posts extending from an interior surface of said locking collar, said rim being extendable towards a paper sheet aperture.

3. The binding connector of claim 1 further including a punch tool insertable into said locking collar along opposite sides of said cross-bar and against said pawls for shearing off said pawls to allow separation of a locked locking collar from said binding member.

4. The binding connector of claim 1 in which said locking collar head has an outer D-shaped configuration, the straight edge of said D-shaped head being alignable with an edge of a paper sheet stack margin adjacent said at least one paper sheet aper-ture, and wherein the curved edge of said D-shaped head generally surrounds said at least one paper sheets aperture; and wherein said matching throughapertures of said locking collar are asymmet-rically positioned along a bisector of said D-shaped head perpen-dicular to said straight edge of said D-shaped head.

5. The binding connector of claim 4 wherein said D-shaped head includes a semicircular portion surrounding one-half of said at least one paper sheet aperture and a generally rectangular portion extending from said semicircular portion to said straight edge of said D-shaped head.

6. The binding connector of claim 1 including a pair of multi-apertured binding strips positionable along opposed margins of said stack of paper sheets adjacent said at least one paper sheet aperture; each aperture of each of said strips including a counterbore therein, a locking collar and binding member head being insertable oppositely into each of said counterbores in opposed ones of said pairs of strips; and wherein each of said counterbores is of a D-configuration and each of said locking collar heads and said binding member heads are of a D-configura-tion.

7. The binding connector of claim 6 further including a pair of apertured covers for said stack of paper sheets, said binding strips being affixed to an inner marginal edge of said cover.

8. The binding connector of claim 6 wherein said binding strips are clamped to said paper sheets stack at said margin by said binding members and said locking collars.

9. The binding connector of claim 8 further including a pair of apertured covers positioned between said stack of paper sheets and a inwardly-facing surface of said strips.

10. The binding connector of claim 9 wherein said covers are foldable 180° to overlie said strips and said binding member heads and locking collar heads after said posts have been frangibly broken.

11. The binding connector of claim 6 wherein each said D-shaped counterbore includes a circular aperture asymmetrically positioned along a bisector of said D-shaped counterbore perpendicular to a straight edge of said D-shaped counterbore.

12. The binding connector of claim 1 in which said binding member common head has an outer D-shaped configuration, the straight edge of said D-shaped common head being alignable with an edge of a paper sheets stack margin adjacent said paper sheets aperture, and the curved edge of said D-shaped common head generally surrounding said paper sheets aperture; and wherein said posts are asymmetrically positioned along a bisector of said D-shaped common head perpendicular to said straight edge of said D-shaped common head.

13. The binding connector of claim 12 wherein said D-shaped common head includes a semicircular portion surrounding one-half of a paper sheets aperture and a generally rectangular portion extending from said semicircular portion to said straight edge of said D-shaped head.

14. The binding connector of claim 1 including a multi-apertured binding strip positionable along a margin of said stack of paper sheets adjacent said paper sheets aperture; each aperture of said strip including a counterbore therein, said common head being insertable into each said counterbore; and wherein said counterbore is of a D-configuration and said common head is of a D-configuration.

15. The binding connector of claim 14 further including an apertured cover for said stack of paper sheets, said cover extend-ing between said strip and stack of paper sheets.

16. The binding connector of claim 1 wherein said posts include a notched outwardly-facing surface to facilitate said frangible breaking.

17. An apertured paper sheets binding connector compris-ing: a binding member including a pair of elongated parallel posts integrally extending asymmetrically from a common head, said posts including inwardly facing ratcheted surfaces; a locking collar having a pair of matching throughapertures an integral medial cross-bar extending between and separating said apertures, and at least one pawl hingedly mounted to said cross-bar, said apertures including oppositely disposed sections, corresponding to and allowing sliding passage of said posts therepast; wherein said posts are insertable into at least one paper sheet aperture from one side of a stack of paper sheets and through said locking collar, said locking collar including an asymmetrical head juxta-posed to a paper sheet aperture on an opposite side of said stack of paper sheets; wherein said at least one pawl ratchets along said at least one of said ratcheted surfaces until said posts common head and said locking collar head clamp said paper sheets together; excess length of said posts being frangibly breakable across a cross section of said posts from a root of said ratchet surfaces across said posts generally in a plane of an exterior surface of said locking collar head and wherein said locking collar includes an integral circular rim extending from an inter-ior surface of said locking collar, said rim being extendable towards a paper sheets aperture.

18. The binding connector of claim 17 further including a punch tool insertable into said locking collar along opposite sides of said cross-bar and against said pawls for shearing off said pawls to allow separation of a locked locking collar from said binding member.

19. An apertured paper sheets binding connector comprising:
a binding member including a pair of elongated parallel posts integrally extending asymmetrically from a common head, said posts including inwardly facing ratcheted surfaces; a locking collar having a pair of matching throughapertures, an integral medial cross-bar extending between and separating said apertures, and at least one pawl hingedly mounted, to said cross-bar, said apertures including oppositely disposed sections, corresponding to and allowing sliding passage of said posts therepast; wherein said posts are insertable into at least one paper sheets aperture from one side of a stack of paper sheet and through said locking collar, said locking collar including an asymmetrical head juxta-posed to a paper sheets aperture on an opposite side of said stack of paper sheet; wherein said at least one pawl ratchets along said at least one of said ratcheted surfaces until said posts common head and said locking collar head clamp said paper sheets to-gether; excess length of said posts being frangibly breakable across a cross section of said posts from a root of said ratchet surfaces across said posts generally in a plane of an exterior surface of said locking collar head; in which said common head and locking collar head have an outer D-shaped configuration, the straight edge of each of said D-shaped heads being alignable with an edge of a paper sheet stack margin adjacent said at least one paper sheet aperture, and wherein the curved edge of said D-shaped head generally surrounds said at least one paper sheet aperture;
and wherein said posts and said matching throughapertures of said locking collar are asymmetrically positioned along a bisector of each of said D-shaped heads perpendicular to said straight edge of each of said D-shaped heads.

20. The binding connector of claim 19 wherein each of said D-shaped heads includes a semicircular portion surrounding one-half of said at least one paper sheet aperture and a generally rectangular portion ending from said semicircular portion to said straight edge of each of said D-shaped heads.

21. The binding connector of claim 17 including a pair of multi-apertured binding strips positionable along opposed margins of said stack of paper sheets adjacent said at least one paper sheet aperture; and where each aperture of each of said strips includes a counterbore therein, a locking collar and binding member head being insertable oppositely into each of said counter-bores in opposed ones of said pairs of strips.

22. The binding connector of claim 21 wherein each of said counterbores is of a D-configuration and each of said locking collar heads and said binding member heads are of a D-configura-tion.

23. The binding connector of claim 22 further including a pair of apertured covers for said stack of paper sheets, said binding strips being adhered to an inner marginal edge of said cover.

24. The binding connector of claim 21 wherein said posts common head includes an integral circular rim having a diameter greater than a maximum width dimension of said posts extending from an under surface of said common head, said rim being dimen-sioned to be in an interference or snap-in fit into said strip apertures.

25. An apertured paper sheets binding connector comprising:
a binding member including a pair of elongated parallel posts integrally extending asymmetrically from a common head, said posts including inwardly facing ratcheted surfaces; a locking collar having a pair of matching throughapertures, an integral medial cross-bar extending between and separating said apertures, and at least one pawl hingedly mounted to said cross-bar, said apertures including oppositely disposed sections, corresponding to and allowing sliding passage of said posts therepast; wherein said posts are insertable into at least one paper sheet aperture from one side of a stack of paper sheets and through said locking collar, said locking collar including an asymmetrical head juxta-posed to a paper sheet aperture on an opposite side of said stack of paper sheets; wherein said at least one pawl ratchets along said at least one of said ratcheted surfaces until said posts common head and said locking collar head clamp said paper sheets together; excess length of said posts being frangibly breakable across a cross section of said posts from a root of said ratchet surfaces across said posts generally in a plane of an exterior surface of said locking collar head; and wherein said posts and said matching throughapertures have oppositely disposed flat out-ward surfaces and flat inwardly-facing sections, respectively, for facilitating the frangible breaking of said posts.

26. An apertured paper sheets binding connector comprising:
a binding member including a pair of elongated parallel posts integrally extending asymmetrically from a common head, said posts including inwardly facing ratcheted surfaces; a locking collar having a pair of matching throughapertures, an integral medial cross-bar extending between and separating said apertures, and at least one pawl hingedly mounted to said cross-bar, said apertures including oppositely disposed sections, corresponding to and allowing sliding passage of said posts therepast; wherein said posts are insertable into at least one paper sheet aperture from one side of a stack of paper sheets and through said locking collar, said locking collar including an asymmetrical head juxtaposed to a paper sheet aperture on an opposite side of said stack of paper sheets; wherein said at least one pawl ratchets along said at least one of said ratcheted surfaces until said posts common head and said locking collar head clamp said paper sheets together; excess length of said posts being frangibly breakable across a cross section of said posts from a root of said ratchet surfaces across said posts generally in a plane of an exterior surface of said locking collar head; and wherein said locking collar includes a pair of pawls hingedly extending upwardly from a bottom surface of said cross-bar, said pawls having an upper pawl tooth extending below at least two ratchets of said posts ratcheted surfaces extending below an exterior plane of said locking collar.