EP1209003A1

EP1209003A1 - Binding device

Info

Publication number: EP1209003A1
Application number: EP98966977A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Shigeki Kanaji
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-09-11
Filing date: 1998-01-16
Publication date: 2002-05-29
Also published as: CN1118381C; WO1999012750A1; JPH11147387A; JP2933899B2; KR20010106088A; KR100490251B1; CN1351545A

Abstract

Disclosed is a filing material comprising a sheet 1 having a folding line 21 at a center portion for filing leaves 4 each having at least one hole at an edge portion. Slippery and flexible strap members 31,32 are implanted on the sheet symmetrically at both sides of the folding line 21 in alignment with holes 41 of each leaf 4. The two strap members 31,32 are inserted into the holes 41 of the leaves 4 in a crossing relationship within the holes 41 for holding the leaves 4. The filed leaves 4 can be open at any desired page for making photo copy, removing, replacing or adding. It is easy in handling and less expensive to make.

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to filing materials made from a sheet of relatively thick paper or the like folded along a generally center line to provide front and rear covers and for filing sheets of paper (leaves) or clear files each having punched holes along one edge thereof, more specifically to those capable of easily removing, or replacing any page of the filed leaves or adding one or more leaf at any page and also less expensive to make.

Background of the Invention

It is conventional to file documents or leaves in filing materials or so called flat files. As illustrated in FIG.16 in a perspective view, such flat files comprise a sheet 1 of thick paper or the like to define front and rear covers, a pair of flexible plastic strips 5 disposed adjacent to folding line or lines 21 of the sheet 1 made from thick paper and a fastening fixture 6 for securing the plastic strips 5 after being folded substantially parallel with the leaves 4.
Unfortunately, such conventional filing materials have a drawback in that a side edge portion of each leaf 4 secured by the fastening fixture 6 is pressed, thereby creating a hidden area or a bent portion in the leaves 4, which is inconvenient in writing thereon or making a photo copy thereof. Another drawback is inconvenience to remove the fastening fixture 6 and all pages of the leaves in front of the leaf of interest in case of removing or replacing any desired leaf or adding new leaf or leaves at the desired page. The removed pages are difficult to be maintained in order. It is time consuming to refile the removed leaves in the filing materials especially if the leaves are of different sizes.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art and to provide less expensive and easy to use filing materials.

Summary of the Invention

The filing material according to the present invention comprises a sheet 1 folded along a folding line 21 at a substantially center portion of the sheet 1 for filing leaves 4 each having punched holes 41 along one edge. A length of slippery and flexible strap members 31,32 are symmetrically implanted at both sides of the folding line 21 in alignment with the punched holes 41 of the leaves 4.
Also, the filing material according to the present invention comprises a sheet having 4 sections defined by a folding line 21 at a center portion and a pair of folding lines 22 at substantially one-quarter of the length at both sides of the center folding line 21. A pair of flexible strap members 31,32 are implanted at symmetrical locations near the center folding line 21 corresponding to the punched holes 41 of the leaves 4. A pair of extended portions 2 of the sheet 1 are folded inwardly along the outer folding lines 22 for doubling the sheet at both sides and also folded along the center folding line 21 for filing the leaves 4. Holes 23 are bored along edges of the pair of extended portions 2 so that the strap members 31,32 extend through the holes 23.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG.1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the filing material according to the present invention.
FIG.2 is a perspective view of the strap members to be used in the filing material of the present invention.
FIG.3 is a cross section view of one example of the strap members in FIG.2 implanted on a sheet.
FIG.4 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the filing material with some punched leaves filed therein.
FIG.5(a) is a cross section view of the first embodiment of the filing material with some filed leaves in an open position, and (b) is a cross section view of the filing material in a dosed position.
FIG.6(a) is a perspective view of the filing material with some filed leaves and open at a desired page, and (b)is a cross section view of HG.6(a).
FIG.7(a) is a perspective view showing how to remove, replace or add a page of leaf in the filing material of the present invention, and(b) is a cross section view of FIG7(a).
FIG.8(a) is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the filing material of the present invention, and (b) is a cross section view of FIG.8(a).
FIG.(9) is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the filing material of the present invention.
FIG.10(a) and (b) are perspective views of the strap member or members to be used in the third embodiment of the present invention , and (c) is a cross section view.
FIG.11(a) is a cross section view of the third embodiment of the filing material having some leaves filed therein, and (b) is a cross section view in a closed position.
FIG.12 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the filing material according to the present invention.
FIG.13 is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the filing material with some leaves filed therein.
FIG.14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the filing material according to the present invention.
FIG.15 is a perspective view showing one example of using the filing material according to the present invention.
FIG.16 is a perspective view of one example of a conventional flat file.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

(First Embodiment)

A first embodiment of the filing material of the present invention comprises a sheet 1 made from a thick paper or the like and to be folded along a folding line 21 at the center portion as illustrated in FIG.1. Implanted on the sheet 1 at both sides of the folding line 21 symmetrically with respect to the folding line 21 are slippery and flexible strap members 31,32 by bonding or adhering to the sheet 1 in an upright manner. Locations of the implanted flexible strap members 31,32 correspond to the spacing of punched holes 41 of leaves 4 to be filed.
The strap member 31(or 32) is integrally formed with a flat base portion 33 using flexible plastic material as best shown in a perspective view in FIG.2(a). The flat base portion 33 is preferably secured on the inner surface of the sheet 1 by any adhesive coated on the rear surface of the flat base portion 33. Alternatively, it may be secured to the sheet 1 having an opening through which the strap member 31,32 extends by coating any adhesive on the front surface of the flat base portion 33 so that the flat base portion 33 is secured on the outer surface of the sheet 1 while the strap member 31,32 extends inwardly through the opening in the sheet 1.
As best shown in FIG.2(b), a pair of strap members 31,32 with a constant spacing corresponding to punched holes in each filing leaf 4 may be integrally molded with a common flat base portion 34 which is secured to the sheet 1.
Alternatively, the strap member 31(or 32) may be integrally molded with a suitable plastic material in L-shape, as shown in FIG.2(c), with cranked base portion 35 having an end portion 36 larger than the corresponding hole not to be drawn therefrom and a jointing portion 37. Implanting such strap member to obtain the filing material of the present invention can be carried out as shown in a cross section view in FIG.3. That is, two pair of openings are bored in the sheet 1 adjacent to the center folding line 21. The strap member is secured to the sheet on the outer surface thereof after one of the strap members 31 (or 32) is inserted into one opening and the other strap member 32 (or 31) inserted into the other opening until the end portions 36 of the base member about against the sheet 1.
Preferable, the strap members 31,32 are made from any flexible plastic material including nylon and polyethylene. The strap members may have any desired cross section as long as a pair of strap members 31,32 can be smoothly inserted into one hole in the leaf 4 to be filed.
Leaves 4 having punched hole or holes can be filed in the filing material of the above configuration by opening the filing material as shown in a perspective view in FIG. 4 and then inserting the strap members 31,31 into the respective two holes 41 in the leaf or leaves 4 and inserting the other strap members 32,31 in the holes. Folding or closing the sheet 1 as best shown in FIG.5(a) and (b) allows the right and left strap members 31,32 to intersect in the holes 41 in the leaves 4, thereby embracing the leaves 4 to hold them in position.
On the other hand, when the filing material is opened at any desired page as shown in a perspective view in FIG.6, right and left pages can be flat and thus fully visible. Importantly, one can make a photo copy of the entire areas on the page or pages without hiding or bending the leaf or leaves 4. Also, the strap members 31,32 can be extracted from the holes 41 of the leaves 4 when the filing material is open at any desired page for easily removing, replacing or adding any leaf as shown in a perspective view and a cross section view in FIG.7 (a) and (b), respectively.
It is to be noted that the filed leaves 4 are kept substantially in position or in proper order by dividing them into right and portions on the front and rear covers even if the right and left strap members 31,32 are extracted, thereby effectively maintaining the filed leaves 4 in proper order.

(Second Embodiment)

Now, illustrated in a perspective view in FIG.8(a) is a second embodiment of the filing material according to the present invention. A sheet 1 for defining the cover of thick paper or the like comprises four sections divided by a center folding line 21 and a pair of folding lines 22 at substantially the center of each side of the center folding line 21(or one-quarter positions), thereby defining right and left extended portions 2. Slippery and flexible strap members 31,32 are implanted on the sheet 1 by bonding or adhering at symmetrical locations with respect to the center folding line 21 with the strap members 31,32 extending substantially perpendicular to the sheet 1. The extended portions 2 are folded inwardly along the respective folding lines 22 to double the front and rear covers of the filing material.
The sheet 1 is formed with holes 23 at both outer edges of the extended portions 2 at the locations through which the base portions of the strap members 31,32 pass and also acting to pass the free ends of the strap members 31,32 implanted at the other side.
By inserting the free ends of the strap members 31, 32 at the opposite side into holes 23 in the sheets 2, the free ends of the strap members 31,32 are prevented from being exposed as illustrated is a cross section view in FIG.8(b) unlike the first embodiment, thereby improving retentivity.
Since the second embodiment doubles the front and rear covers, the sheets 1 and 2 can be relatively thin and the outer edges of the covers are folded portions rather than sheared edges, thereby providing improved feeling.

(Third Embodiment)

A third embodiment of the filing material according to the present invention is shown in a perspective view in FIG.9 and comprises a sheet 1 made from thick paper or the like and has a center folding line 21 and flexible strap members 31,32 implanted to a base member 34 having a tongue 39 disposed at substantially symmetrical locations with respect to the center folding line 21.
The strap member 31 (or 32) may be a single flexible strap member 31 (or 32) integrally formed with a flat base member 33 using a plastic material as shown in a perspective view in FIG. 10(a). Also, the base member 33 has a flat tongue member 38 having an opening 382 and foldable along a folding line 381. The flat base member 33 may have adhesive on the rear surface and secured on the inner surface of the sheet 1 with the folding line 381 being parallel with and opposed to the folding line 21.
Alternatively, the flexible strap members 31,32 may be plastic material integrally formed with a single flat base portion 34 at a spacing corresponding to two holes in each filing leaf. A flat tongue member 39 having a hole 392 is formed integrally with the flat base portion 34 in a foldable manner along a folding line 391. The base portion 34 is secured by adhesive on the inner surface of the sheet 1 with the folding line 391 opposed to the folding line 21 of the sheet 1.
Now, the strap members 31,32 are implanted by inserting them into the holes 382,392 in the tongue member 38,39 as illustrated in a cross section view in FIG.10(c). It is preferable that the hole or holes 382,392 in the tongue member 38,39 is/are substantially the same size as the hole 41 in each filing leaf 4 for smooth insertion of the strap member 31,32.
In case of filing the leaves 4 in the filing material of the above configuration, the filing material is opened as shown in a perspective view in FIG.4 and then the strap members 31 and 32 at either side of the center folding line 21 are inserted into the two holes 41 in the leaf 4 and the strap members 32 and 31 at the other side are then inserted into the holes 41 to obtain the configuration as shown in a cross section view in FIG.11(a). When the sheet 1 is dosed, the filing material will be as shown in a cross section view in FIG. 11(b),i.e., the strap members 31,32 at the right and left sides will intersect within the holes 41 of the filed leaves 4 for holding them in position.
In the third embodiment, the provision of the tongue member 38,39 in continuous with the base portion 33,34 having the strap member 31,32 implanted thereon and the tongue member 38,39 having the holes 382,392 for passing the strap member 31,32 ensures relatively narrow intersecting angle of the two strap members 31,32 within the holes 41 in the filed leaves 4. As a result, in opening and dosing the filing material, there causes reduced friction of the strap members 31,32 with the holes 41 in the leaves 4, thereby eliminating any fear of damaging the holes 41 of the leaves 4.

(Fourth Embodiment)

A fourth embodiment of the filing material according to the present invention is particularly suited for filing leaves having 4 holes. As shown in perspective views in FIG.12(a),(b), flexible strap members 31,32 are secured at both asymmetrical locations on the sheet 1 with respect to the folding line 21. The locations are aligned with the four holes of the leaves 4 to be filed and the strap members 31,32 are implanted on the sheet 1 by bonding or adhesion with the strap members 31,32 standing substantially upwardly with respect to the sheet 1.
When filing the leaves 4 in the filing material of the above configuration, the filing material is first opened as shown in a perspective view in FIG. 13, the strap members 31,32 at either side are inserted into two holes of the leaves 4 to be filed and then the strap members 32,31 at the opposite side are inserted into the remaining two holes. When the sheet 1 is closed, the strap members 31,32 at the right and left sides intersect in different holes 41 of the leaves 4, thereby holding them in position in the filing material.
The concept of folding the sheet for doubling the covers as described above in connection with the second embodiment is also applicable to the fourth embodiment.
In the fourth embodiment, since the strap members 31,32 are inserted into different holes of the leaves 4, they may by any cross sectional shape as long as one strap member 31 or 32 may be smoothly inserted into one of the holes of the leaves 4.

(Other Embodiments)

In case of fling leaves each having a single hole, only one strap member can be implanted on the sheet 1 at either side on the front and rear covers in substantially symmetrical relationship so that the strap members can be inserted into the single hole from the both sides as shown in FIG.14, thereby enabling single hole leaves to be filed in the filing material.
The sheet forming the front and rear covers in the filing material of the present invention may have any number of folding line or lines 21 at the center portion. It is preferable to have a plurality of parallel folding lines 21 at about 5 ~15mm space between adjacent folding lines for accommodating leaves 4 in different thickness. The filing material can be folded at any selected folding line 21 depending on the thickness of the filed leaves 4.
Although the above embodiments of the filing material comprise only the cover and the strap member(s), it is also possible to file a pair of relatively hard sheets 7 each having generally circular or elongate holes 71.72 at substantially symmetrical locations with a center folding line 73 and an index for convenience of classification of the filed leaves, removing or adding leaves, or protecting any filed leaves. Preferably, the holes 71 correspond in size and location to the holes of the leaves to be filed.

Possibility of Industrial Use

As apparent from the above description on various embodiments, the filing material of the present invention comprises the strap members made from slippery and flexible material so that the free ends of the strap members are free from restriction in the filed condition, thereby permitting the filed portion to follow the opening and closing of the filing material. In the open position as shown in a perspective view in FIG.6, the entire areas of the open pages are visible. In the closed position as shown in a cross section view in FIG.5, the thickness can be adjusted depending on the filed leaves.
In the open position as best shown in FIG.6, both right and left pages are visible and flat for ease of writing or making a photo copy.
Also, when the strap members are extracted in the open position, the strap members take upright position by separating on the right and left covers as shown in a perspective view in FIG.7, thereby enabling one to remove, replace or add any leaves without mixing or losing them.
Additionally, filing leaves 4 by using the sheets 7 as show in FIG.15 enables one to classify the leaves 4 to be filed and easily remove, replace or add leaves of any particular classification.
Finally, the filing material of the present invention is very simple in construction, requires less materials and less expensive to make.

Claims

A filing material including a sheet to be folded along a folding line at substantially center portion for filing one or more leaves each having at least one hole along an edge, comprising:

slippery and flexible strap members implanted at substantially symmetrical locations with respect to the folding line and in alignment with the holes of the leaves,

wherein the strap members at both sides are inserted into the holes in the leaves from both sides in a crossing relationship for holding the leaves.
A filing material comprising a sheet having a folding line at the center portion and a pair of folding lines at substantially center portion of the both sides of the center folding line for separating sheet into substantially 4 sections, flexible strap members implanted on the sheet at substantially symmetrical locations at both side of the center folding line in alignment with holes of leaves to be filed, the outer sections of the sheet being folded inwardly along the folding lines at the substantially quarter locations for doubling the front and rear covers, and the sheet being folded along the center folding line, wherein at least one hole is formed at outer edge portion of the inwardly folded sections, and the strap members are inserted into the holes at the edge portions of the folded sections and also into the holes of the leaves from both sides in a crossing relationship for holding the leaves.
A filing material comprising a sheet capable of folding along a folding line at a substantially center portion for filing leaves each having holes, characterized in that:

slippery and flexible strap members are implanted on the sheet asymmetrically at both sides of the folding line in alignment with the holes of the leaves; and

the strap members are inserted into different holes of the leaves from the both sides in a crossing relationship with the strap members in different holes for holding the leaves.
A filing material comprising a sheet having 4 sections defined by a folding line at a center portion and a pair of folding lines at substantially quarter portions from the both edges, and flexible strap members implanted on the sheet asymmetrically at both sides of the center folding line, the outer 2 sections of the sheet being folded inwardly along the quarter folding lines for doubling the front and rear covers, and the sheet being folded along the center folding line for filing leaves each having holes, wherein at least one hole is formed at the edge of each of the folded outer sections, the strap members are inserted into the holes in the folded outer sections and also into the holes of the leaves from the both sides in a crossing relationship between the strap members inserted into different holes of the leaves for holding them.
A filing material of claims 1 through 4, wherein the strap members are implanted on the sheet so that the strap members take upright position with respect to the cover in an open position.