Patent Application
20080141573
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a labeling system for coil binders, and in particular to an attachment which affixes to a coil binding of a coil binder.
2. Description of the Related Art
Coil binding is a popular means of binding a number of pages together to create reports, studies, and other documents. A coil bound document is formed by initially punching holes along an edge of the document. Then, a flexible coil is spun, or threaded, helically into the document through the punched holes. Most coils are made from a variety of flexible materials, such as PVC plastic or metal, and are available in wide range of diameters, pitches, and lengths to fit different binding needs.
While an effective and efficient method for securely binding documents, coil binding has a disadvantage in that, when shelved or stacked side-by-side with other bound documents, only the coil bound edge of the document is visible. Where other binding methods present a spine which can be printed on, coil bound documents do not. Accordingly, it is difficult to identify coil bound documents which are shelved or stacked.
Co-owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,902,659 and 6,447,863, each entitled “Flexible Labeling System,” disclose a label, which in embodiments may be applied along an edge of coil bound documents. The disclosed labeling system is comprised of a flexible plastic member incorporating two hinges created by a pair of parallel V-shaped grooves, either continuous or segmented, or perforations which are either die-cut or stamped into the flexible plastic member. The plastic member permits users to provide labeling for coil bound documents.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,406, entitled “Method Of Mounting Index Tabs Upon Stenographic Notebooks,” discloses an embodiment in
The present invention, roughly described, relates to a labeling member which attaches to the coil used for the coil binding of documents. The member may be affixed as an aftermarket upgrade to existing coil binding products. In embodiments, the member serves at least two functions. First, the member presents a face along the edge of a coil which may be marked or labeled to allow identification of the coil bound document when shelved or stacked. Second, the member adds structural rigidity to the bound document when placed vertically on a shelf by making the coil more rigid.
The present invention will now be described with reference to
Referring now to
In accordance with the present invention, a labeling member 110 may be affixed to the coil 102 as explained hereinafter. The labeling member 110 may include a spine 112 and fastening clips 114 affixed along the length of an interior surface of the spine 112. Spine 112 may be formed either entirely or in part from any combination of plastic, metal, wood, fiberglass, carbon fiber, ceramic, composite material or other rigid material. The spine 112 may have a length generally equal to the length of coil 102. The length may be less than the length of coil 102 in alternative embodiments, for example one inch long or shorter. Spine 112 may have a thickness of approximately 1/8 inch, but it may be thinner or thicker than that in alternative embodiments. The width of the spine 112 wrapped around the coil 102 may vary from about 1/4 inch to several inches, though it may be smaller or larger than that in alternative embodiments. The width may be dependent on the thickness of the article 100 bound by coil 102, or it may be independent of the thickness of article 100. Spine 112 may have a radius of curvature slightly larger than that of the coil 102 so as to fit snugly around the coil. Alternatively, the radius of curvature may be more than slightly larger than that of the coil 102. In further embodiments, the spine 112 may have no radius of curvature, i.e., the spine may be flat.
The spine 112 includes an interior surface facing the coil 102 when affixed thereto as explained hereinafter. The spine further includes an exterior surface opposite the interior surface. The exterior surface is provided for receiving some sort of marking which may identify the article 100. The exterior surface may be provided so that it may be written on with a pen or other writing instrument. Alternatively, the exterior surface may receive an adhesive label for identifying the article 100. In further embodiments, the exterior surface may be pre-printed with a custom label. Alternatively, a clear vinyl label-pocket may be attached to the exterior surface so that an identifying label may be inserted therein.
The fastening clips 114 may be formed on the interior surface of the spine 112. The clips 114 may be integrally formed on the spine during the fabrication of labeling member 110, or the clips may be welded, affixed with adhesive or otherwise adhered to the spine 112 after formation of the spine 112.
There may be two or more fastening clips 114 along the length of spine 112. As best seen in
Each fastening clip 114 may be formed either entirely or in part from any combination of plastic, metal, wood, fiberglass, carbon fiber, ceramic, composite material or other rigid material. There may for example be three fastening clips 114 provided on spine 112 as shown in
The labeling member 110 provides at least two advantages. First, the exterior surface allows spiral-bound articles to be identified when stacked, shelved or otherwise positioned by marking the exterior surface with some identifier. Second, the fastening clips 114 provide structural rigidity to the bound article. For example, when the bound article is supported vertically on a shelf or otherwise, the labeling member 110 prevents the bound article from bending.
It is understood that the fastening clips shown in
A further embodiment shown in
The foregoing detailed description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The described embodiments were chosen in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.
