WO2011047419A1

WO2011047419A1 - Binder stabilizer

Info

Publication number: WO2011047419A1
Application number: PCT/AU2010/001382
Authority: WO
Inventors: Raymond Eric Pakalns; Paul Charles Monsted
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-10-21
Filing date: 2010-10-18
Publication date: 2011-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 2012-04-21

Abstract

The present invention relates to a stabilisation of binders and folders so that they stand up vertically on their own by way of a stabilizing system comprising a strap tensioning the front and back covers of the binder so that the strap reduces twist and shear motion of the covers and content. Also binders remain vertically on their own in a horizontal row of binders and a horizontal row of binders remain vertical even if a binder is removed from the horizontal row of binders using the present invention.

Description

BINDER STABILIZER

The invention is described in the following statement:

Description

For many years a problem has existed with hard covered binders, ring binders, hard covered folders and the like (hereinafter referred to as binders) insofar as binders do not stand up vertically on their own. Binders are unstable when placed with the binder spine vertical on a flat surface, such as a desk, cadenza, shelf or bookcase so that binders fall over causing disarray, movement and sliding on the shelf with some binders becoming hidden or falling off or difficult to manage and be maintained in order. Binders in a row lean onto or fall onto each other, especially when a binder is removed from a row, causing a domino like effect and increasing the side ways pressure on the row resulting in more binders falling over or falling off or requiring significant force to access or insert a binder in the row under such circumstances. Another problem is that a horizontal row of binders do not remain vertical on their own because each binder is vertically unstable and a row of binders compounds the instability. A further problem is the inability to remove a binder from a row of binders and then subsequently replace the binder easily back into the same position. The conventional solution to this problem is to utilise weighted book ends, brackets or end stop devices with lateral support at either side of a horizontal row of binders in order to prevent the binders falling over. The use of book ends or other end stop devices is inconvenient because there is a need to have to use additional devices at all and because they must constantly be repositioned when binders are inserted or removed from the horizontal row to maintain vertical stability. When the book ends or end stop devices are repositioned for stability the gap where the binder was removed no longer exists because the binders have had to be brought together for stability causing difficulty in maintaining order of the binders such as alphabetically or date order and difficulty in re-inserting the removed binder back in the correct place and reducing the ability to visually see which binder or binders have been removed making it harder to re-insert correctly and also tracking of binders that have previously been removed.

Prior Art

Straps and closing devices have been used to hold binders together and to keep pages or leaves of papers within a binder for the purpose of stopping a binder opening or stopping papers or documents sliding out of the binder. No prior art strap or closing devices has been used to provide vertical stability specifically for binders by the principles outlined in this invention.

Lever arch binders rely upon small holes on the front cover where the ring engage providing some resistance to twisting or shearing motion between front and back covers but no resistance to bending or distortion of front and back covers reducing effectiveness over time. Due to the proximity to the spine of this mechanism, this affords only limited resistance to twisting. Our invention would also greatly improve the vertical stability of lever arch folders because it has significantly reduced bending or distortion of front and back covers as they are held together on the non-spine side where there is no support. Object of the Invention

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a stabilising device for binders having a spine and a front and back cover so that a binder on its own or a row of binders so that binders remain vertically on their own and also irrespective if one or more binders is removed from a row of binders.

Short Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a stabilising system comprising a strap fixed to the first of two opposing covers of a binder and adapted to span the distance between the two covers adjacent to the midlength of that side of each cover lying furthermost from the spine; the strap being releasably affixable to at least the second of the opposing covers adjacent to its midlength in such a manner that the strap is in tension. The tension created by the stabilising system between the front and back covers stops the sliding of the covers relative to each other thus ensuring vertical stability and assist it maintaining an upstanding position with the spine vertical when placed on a horizontal surface. The tension created by the stabilising system urges the interposed leaves between covers stops the sliding of the covers and the leaves relative to each other thus ensuring vertical stability and assist it maintaining an upstanding position with the spine vertical when placed on a horizontal surface. The stabilising system provides three axis stability proportional to the the binder spine width and mildly proportional to the strap width. The tensioned strap reduces bending or distortion of front and back covers as they are held together on the non-spine side where there is no support.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a binder stabilizing system in accordance with the present invention installed on the opposing covers a binder and showing the strap in an open position and;

Figure 2 is a second perspective view of a binder stabilizing system in accordance with the present invention installed on the opposing covers the binder of figure 1 and showing the strap in a closed, tensioned position and; Figure 3 is a third perspective view of a binder stabilizing system in accordance with the present invention installed on the opposing covers the binder of figure 1 but viewed from the opposite side from that depicted in figure 1 and;

Figure 4 shows the binder of figure 1 standing vertically due to the strap in a closed, tensioned position and; Figure 5 shows a row of binders of figure 1 standing vertically on a horizontal surface due to the straps in closed, tensioned position with a gap in the row where a binder has been removed. Preferred Mode of Carrying out the Invention

The embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the embodiment of figures 1-5.

Figures 1 -4 depict a binder 1 of a conventional style including a front cover 2, a spine 3 and a back cover 4. A number of sheets of paper 5 are shown as being captive in the binder although the mechanism captivating the sheets of paper themselves, such as rings or insert pouches, are not depicted.

The binder 1 is provided with strap 6 and the strap is permanently affixed adjacent the mid-length of the back cover along the side furthermost from and opposite to the spine 3 by means of back anchoring tab 7 permanently adhered to the back of the back cover 4. As will be observed from figures 1 and 2 anchoring tab 8 is affixed to the front surface of the front cover 2 adjacent the mid-length of the back cover along the side furthermost from and opposite to the spine 3. Tab 8 and the inward facing surface of the free extremity 9 of strap 6 are provided with complimentary hook and loop fasteners to facilitate the free extremity 9 of strap 6 being releasably affixed to tab 8. It will be appreciated that if the binder 1 is closed firmly and preferably as tightly as possible as depicted in figure 2 with the strap 6 tensioned to span the distance between back cover 4 and front cover 2 the free extremity 9 of strap 6 may be pressed against tab 8 thereby securing strap 6 in such a position that the front cover 2 is pressed firmly towards the back cover 4 with the sheets of paper 5 interposed there between also held against each other tightly. When the binder is secured in the closed position as last mentioned and as depicted in figure 2 it will be found that it may be placed on end with its spine in a vertical orientation as depicted in figure 4 and that in such position strap 6, whilst secured in place to tab 8, will discourage movement of front cover 2 and back cover 4 relative

Substitute Sheet

(Rule 26) RO/AU to each other resulting in the binder being now able to maintain such vertical orientation.

It will be appreciated that strap 6 as above described together with tab 8 may be fitted to a binder as an aftermarket addition or alternatively tabs 7 and 8 or strap 6 may be integrated into the front and/or back covers as originally manufactured and sold.

It is envisaged that strap 6, or a portion thereof, may be fabricated from the elastomeric material capable of being stretched and having a tendency to return to its original length. Alternatively the strap 6 may be made off a non-extensible material. Although hook and loop fastenings are depicted in figures 1 - 4 other known releasable fastening means may also be utilised without departing from the scope and intendment of the present invention provided they facilitate tensioning of strap 6 about the opening edge of the binder.

The width of the strap 6 can be wider than depicted in figures 1 - 4 as a wider strap reduces the twisting of the binder covers by providing more stability against the shear forces caused by the front cover 2 and back cover 4 moving vertically relative to each other. Even a narrow strap has this effect but the wider the strap the more effective the result.

It will be appreciated that a stabilizing system in accordance with the present invention may greatly assist in the tidying of offices and other areas where binders are utilised and will eliminate or ameliorate the necessity for the use of book ends or end stop devices. The removal of one binder from a row of binders standing up vertically on a horizontal surface 10 creating a gap 11 will furthermore no longer necessitate re-compacting of the row in order to maintain the stability of the row. Use of the invention also provides the benefit of being able to locate the desired position to re-insert a binder in its previous position in the row. In prior art situations, the removal of one or more binders causes the rest to just fall over thereby making it difficult to find the correct position that the binders in the position before removal of a binder.

It will be appreciated that alternate embodiments of the present invention apart from those depicted in figures 1-5 hereof may be devised without departing from the scope and intendment of the invention.

Claims

1. A device comprising a strap affixed to the back cover which attaches to the front cover closing the binder with the strap providing tensioning force so that the binder stands up vertically on its own on a horizontal surface because of the reduction of the relative movement of the binder content, front and back covers resulting in the binder supporting edges sitting flush to the horizontal surface.

2. A device comprising a strap affixed to the back cover which attaches to the front cover closing the binder with the strap providing tensioning force so that the binder stands up vertically on its own on a horizontal surface because of the reduction of the bending of the front and back covers resulting in the binder supporting edges sitting flush to the horizontal surface.

3. A device comprising a strap affixed to the back cover which attaches to the front cover closing the binder with the strap providing tensioning force so that the binder stands up vertically on its own on a horizontal surface even if the binder has no or limited contents due to the clamping action on the front and back covers together reducing their relative motion.

4. A device comprising a strap affixed to the back cover which attaches to the front cover closing the binder with the strap providing tensioning force so that the binder stands up vertically on its own on a horizontal surface when the binder is full of contents due to the clamping action on the front and back covers and consequent clamping action on the binder contents as well, so the binder becomes effectively a unified solid mass providing stability.

5. A device comprising a strap affixed to the back cover which attaches to the front cover closing the binder with the strap providing tensioning force so that each binder in a row of binders stands up vertically on its own on a horizontal surface.

6. A device comprising a strap affixed to the back cover which attaches to the front cover closing the binder with the strap providing tensioning force so that each binder in a row of binders stands up vertically on its own on a horizontal surface without the need for book ends or end stop devices to hold the row of binders upright.

7. A device comprising a strap affixed to the back cover which attaches to the front cover closing the binder with the strap providing tensioning force so that a row of binders stands up vertically on their own on a horizontal surface.

8. A device comprising a strap affixed to the back cover which attaches to the front cover closing the binder with the strap providing tensioning force so that a row of binders stands up vertically on their own on a horizontal surface without the need for book ends or end stop devices to hold the row of binders upright.

9. A device comprising a strap affixed to the back cover which attaches to the front cover closing the binder with the strap providing tensioning force so that a binder can be removed from a row of binders so that the remaining binders stands up vertically on their own on a horizontal surface leaving a gap where the removed binder was and can be subsequently put back.

10. A device comprising a strap affixed to the back cover which attaches to the front cover closing the binder with the strap providing tensioning force so that a binder can be removed from a row of binders so that the remaining binders stands up vertically on their own on a horizontal surface leaving a gap where the removed binder was and can be subsequently put back without the need for book ends, divider supports or end stop devices to hold the row of binders upright.