GB1558634A

GB1558634A - Binding a stack of sheets

Info

Publication number: GB1558634A
Application number: GB2581777A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Xerox Corp
Current assignee: Xerox Corp
Priority date: 1976-06-29
Filing date: 1977-06-21
Publication date: 1980-01-09
Also published as: JPS533619U

Description

(54) BINDING A STACK OF SHEETS (71) We, XEROX CORPORATION of Rochester, New York State, United States of America, a Body Corporate organized under the laws of the State of New York, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates generally to binding a stack of sheets. An attractive, functional, and economical bind can be produced with the bind edge being reinforced and reducing the risk of the sheets being torn therefrom.

Bookbinding techniques wherein an adhesive strip is heated and pressed onto the edge of a stack of sheets are known. The width of the adhesive strip used must be tailored to the thickness of the stack of sheets being bound.

Various approaches have been developed to obtain the benefit of a sewed binding for securing a plurality of sheets to one another without necessitating the increase in cost produced by such an operation. For example, magazines are frequently bound by employing a plurality of staples extending through the en-ds. The magazine is shaped or bent so as to prevent the withdrawal of the staples after the binding operation.

Moreover, a latex backing may also be employed to connect the edges of the sheet to one another. However. the cost of such a construction, while materially less than the cost of sewing, is much higher than the cost of stapling the sheets of paper to one another.

Hereinbefore, staples have been employed to secure a plurality of sheets to a backing member. U.S. Patent No. 3,516,687 issued to Langwell in 1970 discloses such a technique. However. as illustrated therein, the ends of the stales extend above the stack of sheets. Thus, the binding is not aesthetically pleasing, nor does it appear to have a finished appearance. Similarly, U.S.

Patent No. 2,314,088 issued to Heller in 1943 describes the use of staples to hold together a plurality of sheets employed in a magazine. Once again, the ends of the staples appear to extend above the cover or uppermost sheet of the stack being bound together. In addition, U.S. Patent No.

1,042,707 issued to Mears in 1912 also discloses the use of staples for binding the sheets of a book. There, also, the ends of the staples extend above the sheets being bound together. Thus, it is known in the art to employ staples for binding a plurality of sheets to one another. However, it appears that the prior art binding assemblies all employ staples having portions thereof extending above the uppermost sheet being bound together. It is highly desirable to have the uppermost surface of the staples substantially flush with the uppermost sheet.

Heretofore, this has been achieved by first punching holes along the bind edge and thereupon placing a reinforcing strip with protruding studs through the holes. A strip, with holes was then placed over the studs. The protruding portion of the studs is then removed. Finally, the studs are heated to lock the strip in place. This approach wastes the punched paper and the removed plastic studs, as well as being time consuming.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of binding a stack of sheets, including the steps of: forming a U-shaped reinforcing strip assembly having a back wall connecting a pair of opposed, spaced, parallel side walls with each of the side walls having a plurality of spaced, recessed portions therein, the recessed portions in each of the side walls being substantially co-linear with one another; inserting the stack between the side walls of the reinforcing strip with one mar ginal edge of the stack abutting the back wall of the reinforcing strip assembly; and placing a fastener in each of the recessed portions in the side walls, the upper surfaces of the fasteners being substantially flush with the outer surfaces of the side wails.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an assembly for binding a stack of sheets comprising a U-shaped reinforcing strip assembly having a back wall connecting a pair of opposed, spaced, parallel side walls with each of the side walls having a plurality of spaced recessed portions therein, the recessed portions in each of said side walls being substantially co-linear with one another, a plurality of fasteners for insertion in respective recessed portions in said reinforcing strip assembly, the fasteners in use having an extended portion passing through said reinforcing strips and sheets of a stack placed between the side walls of the reinforcing strip assembly with one marginal edge of the stack abutting the back wall of the reinforcing strip assembly with the uppermost surface of the fasteners being substantially flush with the outer surfaces of the side walls.

According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of binding a stack of sheets comprising placing a U-shaped reinforcing strip assembly having a back wall connecting a pair of opposed, spaced, parallel side walls with each of the side walls having a plurality of spaced recessed portions therein, the recessed portions in each of the side walls being substantially co-linear with one another, around a stack with the side walls on opposite sides of the stack and one marginal edge of the stack abutting the back wall of the reinforcing strip assembly and inserting fasteners in the recessed portions so that the outer surfaces of the fasteners do not extend beyond the outer surfaces of the side walls around the recessed portions thereof so that the fasteners extend through the recessed portions thereof and pass through the sheets of the stack to secure the stack of sheets within the strip assembly.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a bound stack of sheets comprising a stack of sheets, a Ushaped reinforcing strip assembly having a back wall connecting a pair of opposed, spaced, parallel side walls with each of the side walls having a plurality of spaced recessed portions therein, the recessed portions in each of the side walls being substantially co-linear with one another, and a plurality of fasteners in the recessed portions of the side walls arranged so that the outer surfaces of the side walls around the recessed portions thereof and so that the fasteners extend through the recessed portion of one of the side walls and pass through the sheets of the stack and the recessed portions of the other of the side walls.

Examples of the prior art and of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a prior art assembly for binding a stack of sheets; Figure 2 is a fragmentary, sectional elevational view of the Figure 1 binding assembly; Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view showing an assembly according to the invention for binding a stack of sheets; and Figure 4 shows the Figure 1 binding assembly with covers hinged pivotably thereto.

Figure 1 depicts a binding assembly which incorporates only some of the features of the present invention therein. It is desirable to provide a basis for understanding the embodiment of Figure 3. In all of the drawings, like reference numerals have been used throughout to designate identical elements. While the binding assembly described herein is particularly adapted for generally binding a plurality of sheets to one another, it will be evident from the following discussion that it may also be utilized in many specific applications, such as book binding and magazine binding.

As shown in Figure 1, the binding assembly includes a pair of reinforcing strips 10 and 12 positioned on opposed sides of stack 14 in a common marginal region thereof. Stack 14 comprises a plurality of substantially equally sized sheets.

However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the sheets may be unequal in size.

Reinforcing strips 10 and 12 each have a plurality of spaced recessed portions or slots 16 therein. Reinforcing strips 10 and 12 are located on stack 14 such that opposed slots 16 in reinforcing strips 10 and 12 are co-linear with one another. In this manner, fasteners 18 are driven through reinforcing strips 10 and 12 and the extended portion or legs 20 thereof pass through stack 14.

As shown in Figure 1, fasteners 18 are substantially U-shaped being formed from a substantialy cylindrical or rectangular wire.

Back portion 22 connects legs 20 to one another. The depth of recessed portion 16 is substantially equal to the diameter or thickness of the wire of fastener 18. In this manner, the upper surface of back portion 22 is substantially flush with the upper surface of reinforcing strip 10. No portion of fastener 18 extends above reinforcing strip 10 after the former has been driven through stack 14. The foregoing is shown more clearly in Figure 2.

Referring now to Figure 2 there is shown a fragmentary sectional elevational view illustrating the completed binding assembly.

As depicted therein, fastener 18 is driven through reinforcing strips 10 and 12, and stack 14. Fastener 18 is located in recessed portions 16 of reinforcing strips 10 and 12.

The upper surfaces of back portion 22 is substantially flush with the upper surface of reinforcing strip 10, while the bottom surface of back portion 22 is seated in recessed portion 16. Legs 20 pass through reinforcing strips 10 and 12 and stack 14.

By way of example, the bottom portions of legs 20 are actively clinched in a non bypass clinch. However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that legs 20 may be passively clinched in a bypass or non-bypass clinch.

The bottom portions of legs 20 are seated in recessed portion 16 of reinforcing strip 12. Thus, the upper surface of the bent portion of legs 20 is also substantially flush with the upper surface of reinforcing strip 12.

In this manner, no portion of fastener 18 extends above the upper surface of reinforcing strips 10 and 12. Optionally, a pair of strips 24 and 26 may be placed over reinforcing strips 10 and 12 to cover fasteners 18 therein, and adhesively secured thereto.

Strips 24 and 26 may be substantially the same width and length as reinforcing strips 10 and 12. In this manner, the completed binding assembly is aesthetically pleasing in that no fasteners are visible to the eye of the observer.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 3. It is a development of the apparatus described with respect to Figures 1 and 2. As shown in Figure 3, reinforcing strip assembly 28 is an elongated U-shape member having a pair of opposed, spaced side walls 30 and 32, respectively, connected to one another by back wall 34. Side walls 30 and 32 having recessed portions 16 therein. The recessed portion 16 in side wall 30 are substantially co-linear with the correspondingly opposed recessed portions in side wall 32. Once again, the depth of the recessed tions or slits is substantially equal to the diameter or thickness of the wire used in fasteners 18. Stack 14 is inserted in the opening between side walls 30 and 32 with the outermost sheets thereof in engagement therewith. The marginal edge 36 of stack 14 engages the inner surface of back wall 34.

After stack 14 has been inserted between side walls 30 and 32 of reinforcing strip assembly 28 with marginal edge 36 in engagement with the inner surface of back wall 34, fasteners 18 are located in recessed portion 16 and driven through side walls 30 and 32 and stack 14. Thereafter, legs 20 of fasteners 18 are clinched to permanently lock the assembly together. Once again, back portion 22 of fasteners 18 is seated in recessed portion 16 of side walls 30. The upper surface of back portion 22 is substantially flush with the upper surface of side wall 30. Similarly the bent portion of legs 20 is seated in recessed portion 16 of side wall 32, with the outer portion thereof being substantially flush with the outer surface of side wall 32.

Referring now to Figure 4, there is shown an alternative embodiment of the Figure 1 binding assembly wherein covers are attached pivotably to reinforcing strips 10 and 12 but such covers could be attached pivotably to the walls 30 and 32 of Figure 3. As shown therein, reinforcing strips 10 and 12 are secured to stack 14 via fasteners 18. Fasteners 18 are seated in recessed portions 16 so that the upper surfaces thereof are substantially flush with the upper surface of reinforcing strips 10 and 12. Covers 38 and 40 are substantially contiguous with the outer sheets of stack 14. Cover 38 is connected to reinforcing strip 10 by hinge 42.

One portion of hinge 42 is mounted on reinforcing strip 10 with the other portion thereof being mounted on cover 38. In this manner, cover 38 may be pivoted from the closed position, where it is in engagement with the outer sheet of stack 14 to the opened position, where it is spaced therefrom. Similarly, cover 40 has hinge 44 mounted in one marginal region thereof.

The other portion of hinge 44 is secured to reinforcing strip 12. Thus, cover 40 is substantially contiguous with the outer sheet of stack 14 when in the closed position.

When pivoted to the opened position, cover 40 is spaced from the outer sheet of stack 14. By way of example, covers 38 and 40 may be made from a suitable plastics or fabric covered paperboard material.

Similarly, hinges 42 and 44 may be suitable plastics or metallic hinges. One skilled in the art will appreciate that covers 38 and 40 may be integral with their corresponding reinforcing strips 10 and 12. The connecting portion merely being a notched region permitting the covers to be pivoted relative to the reinforcing strips. In this arrangement both the covers and reinforcing strips would preferably be formed from a suitable plastics material. In general, reinforcing strips 10 and 12 are made preferably from a suitable plastics material. However, in lieu thereof, they rtay be formed from a fabric covered paperboard or fabric.

Fasteners 18 are made preferably from a suitable metal wire.

In recapitulation, it is evident that the binding assembly described above secures a stack of sheets to one another by employing a reinforcing strip assembly having recessed portions therein adapted to receive wire fasteners. The outer surface of the fastener is substantially flush with the outer surfaces of the reinforcing strip assembly forming an asethetically pleasing binding arrangement.

Claims

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A method of binding a stack of sheets, including the steps of: forming a U-shaped reinforcing strip assembly having a back wall connecting a pair of opposed, spaced, parallel side walls with each of the side walls having a plurality of spaced. recessed portions therein, the recessed portions in each of the side walls being substantially co-linear with one another; inserting the stack between the side walls of the reinforcing strip with one marginal edge of the stack abutting the back wall of the reinforcing strip assembly; and placing a fastener in each of the recessed portions in the side walls, the upper surfaces of the fasteners being substantially flush with the outer surfaces of the side walls.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said strip assembly comprises a hinge, the method comprising connecting a cover to the hinge contiguous with the outermost sheet of the stack in the closed position of the cover.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising the step of securing a strip to cover at least the recessed portions having the fasteners inserted therein in the reinforcing strip assembly.

4. An assembly for binding a stack of sheets comprising a U-shaped reinforcing strip assembly having a back wall connecting a pair of opposed, spaced, parallel side walls with each of the side walls having a plurality of spaced recessed portions therein, the recessed portions in each of said side walls being substantially co-linear with one another, a plurality of fasteners for insertion in respective recessed portions in said reinforcing strip assembly, the fasteners in cse having an extended portion passing through said reinforcing strips and sheets of a stack placed between the side walls of the reinforcing strip assembly with one marginal edge of the stack abutting the back wall of the reinforcing strip assembly with the uppermost surface of the fasteners being substantially flush with the outer surfaces of the side walls.

5. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a hinge attached to said strip assembly and a cover connected to said hinge for lying substantially contiguous with the outmost sheet of the stack in the closed position of the cover when the strip is located on one side of said stack.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 further including a strip disposed over at least the recessed portions of said strip assembly for covering said fasteners when inserted therein.

7. A method of binding a stack of sheets comprising placing a U-shaped re-inforcing strip assembly having a back wall connecting a pair of opposed, spaced, parallel side walls with each of the side walls having a plurality of spaced recessed portions therein, the recessed portions in each of the side walls being substantially co-linear with one another, around a stack with the side walls on opposite side of the stack and one marginal edge of the stack abuting the back wall of the re-inforcing strip assembly and inserting fasteners in the recessed portions so that the outer surfaces of the fasteners do not extend beyond the outer surfaces of the side walls around the recessed portions thereof so that the fasteners extend through the recessed portions thereof and pass through the sheets of the stack to secure the stack of sheets within the strip assembly.

8. A bound stack of sheets comprising a stack of sheets, a U-shaped re-inforcing strip assembly having a back wall connecting a pair of opposed, spaced, parallel side walls with each of the side walls having a plurality of spaced recessed portions therein, the recessed portions in each of the side walls being substantially co-linear with one another, and a plurality of fasteners in the recessed portions of the side walls arranged so that the outer surfaces of the fasteners do not extend beyond the outer surfaces of the side walls around the recessed portions thereof and so that the fasteners extend through the recessed portions of one of the side walls and pass through the sheets of the stack and the recessed portions of the other of the side walls.

9. A method of binding a stack of sheets as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. An assembly for binding a stack of sheets substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 3 alone or in Figure 3 modified and shown by the modification of Figure 4 with respect to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A bound stack of sheets substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 3 alone or in Figure 3 modified as shown by the modifications of Figure 4 with respect to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.