BACKGROUND

[0001] The present invention relates to document management, and more specifically, to a loose-leaf binder or file for collecting papers, hereinafter referred to as a binder.

[0002] Loose-leaf binders, also referred to as ring binders, are large folders that contain file folders or hole punched papers. These binders come in various sizes and can accommodate an array of paper sizes. The papers are held in the binder by circular or D- shaped retainers, onto which the contents are threaded. The rings themselves come in a variety of sizes, including 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 inches (13, 25, 38, and 51 mm), though other sizes are also available. The rings are usually spring-loaded, but can also be secured by lever arch mechanisms or other securing systems. The binders themselves are typically made from plastic with metal rings.

[0003] A common type of binder is known as the four-ring fork binder. This binder has spine that is divided along its length into two spine halves that are mutually united by a hinge of some kind, such as a piece of tape, plastic, cloth, etc. The binder includes a latch mechanism which keeps the two spine halves locked in a fixed position relative to one another when latched, and which allows the two spine halves to unfold along the hinge when unlatched, such that hole punched papers etc. may easily be inserted into the binder. Each spine half contains two forks onto which the papers can be inserted. The forks are long enough to reach over to the other spine half of the binder in the closed position so when the binder is closed, effectively a four-ring binder is realized, and the papers are secured from falling out.

[0004] A problem with this type of binder is that over time, the repeated opening and closing of the binder causes the hinge that joins the two spine halves to get brittle, eventually causing the two spine halves of the spine to completely separate from one another, and the contents of the binder to fall out. While it may be possible to accomplish a temporary fix by applying duct tape, for example, such mending will not be durable, and it will give the binder an aesthetically displeasing appearance. As a result, most users tend to discard broken binders, where the remainder of the binder is in perfectly good condition and the problem only relates to the hinge holding the two spine halves together, thus causing unnecessary waste. Another problem is that this type of binder contains many individual parts, which results in a complicated manufacturing and assembly process, which is often very time consuming. Thus, it would be desirable to have a binder which does not suffer from these and other related problems, and which still retains many of the desirable properties of the four-ring fork binder.

SUMMARY

[0005] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a loose-leaf binder including a pair of covers and a spine interconnecting the covers for pivotal movement of the covers between an open and a closed position, wherein the spine includes a pair of spaced apart longitudinally extending spine halves having outer edges connected to the covers, and wherein the spine halves are connected by a flexible member secured to the spine halves defining a hinge, wherein each spine half has a channel formed therein, the channel extending along essentially the entire length of the spine half and being configured to hold one or more binder components for securing and/or identifying hole punched papers and similar items contained in the binder.

[0006] In some embodiments, the binder components include one or more of: one or more label holders extending transversely across the width of the spine; a holder for hole punched papers and similar items; and a latching mechanism for locking the two spine halves to one another.

[0007] In some embodiments, the label holder extends along the length of the spine for a distance that is significantly smaller than the full length of the spine, and wherein significant portions of the two spine halves are joined above and below the label holder, respectively.

[0008] In some embodiments, the label holder has an arc shape that essentially corresponds to an arc shape of the spine of the binder when the two spine halves are locked to one another. [0009] In some embodiments, the holder includes two arc shaped forks, and wherein one fork is attached in the channel of each spine half, such that when the binder is in a closed position, the fork that is attached in the channel of one spine half extends across to the channel of the other spine half, and vice versa.

[0010] In some embodiments, each spine half is made from extruded aluminum.

[0011] In some embodiments, each channel is in the shape of a half-pipe.

[0012] In some embodiments, each channel has a cross sectional diameter in the range of approximately 3-5 mm and preferably 4 mm.

[0013] In some embodiments, each spine half has profile that is essentially L-shaped, and wherein the spine halves are connected by the flexible member at the ends of the horizontal portions of the L-shape, when the two L-shaped profiles face one another, and wherein the channels are arranged facing one another on the vertical portions of the L-shape.

[0014] In some embodiments, the binder components and channels are configured to be joined with one another using point welding.

[0015] In some embodiments, the spine is surface treated using an anodizing or powder coating process.

[0016] In some embodiments, the top part of each spine half includes a downwardly depending flange member secured to the inner surface of each of the spine halves adjacent the upper end of the spine for engagement by fingers when pulling forward, pivoting, carrying or the like of the binder

[0017] In some embodiments, each spine half includes a tubular member, the tubular members being arranged in a transversely axially aligned relationship on the spine halves and having open outer ends extending through the hinge to provide finger grips, the tubular members being disposed in axially aligned relationship in the closed position of the covers to permit the insertion of a rod or the like therethrough.

[0018] In some embodiments, the covers are made from sheet metal, such as aluminum.

[0019] In some embodiments, the covers are surface treated using an anodizing or powder coating process. [0020] In some embodiments, one or both of the covers includes one or more recessed areas for holding a decorative inlay.

[0021] The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a rear view of a binder, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a top view of a binder spine, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of two spine halves of a binder, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a channel formed in a spine half, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0026] FIG. 5A shows a top view of the spine of the binder in a closed position, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0027] FIG. 5B shows a top view of the spine in an open position, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0028] FIG. 6 shows a front view of two sets of prongs used for holding holed papers in the binder, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0029] FIG. 7 shows a front view of a latch of a binder, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0030] Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The various embodiments of the invention pertain to a loose-leaf binder (hereinafter referred to as a “binder”). The binder includes a pair of covers and a spine that interconnects the covers. The spine includes two spine halves that are joined by a hinge, and held in a fixed position relative to one another through a latching mechanism when the binder is in its normal, closed position. When the locking mechanism is unlatched, the two spine halves can separate, while still being joined by the hinge, which allows for insertion and removal, respectively, of hole punched papers, as is well known in the art.

[0032] The binder in accordance with the various embodiments described herein contains a channel on the inside of each spine half. The channels allow various binder components to be permanently or removably attached in the channel. Examples of such binder components include label holders, a “fork” holder for hole punched papers, a latching mechanism, and so on. Typically, these components are attached to the channels through point welding, although other methods are also available, as long as the binder components can stay securely attached in the channels.

[0033] One significant advantage of this channel arrangement is that the two spine halves can be manufactured as long pieces through extrusion, using known techniques, and then be cut to appropriate lengths for the binders. Furthermore, since the two spine halves are mirror images of one another, only one extrusion mold is needed, which facilitates the binder production process even further. As is well known to those having ordinary skill in the art, extrusion can be applied both to various types of plastics and to metals. However, for the reasons described above with respect to durability, it is preferred to manufacture the spine halves from a light-weight metal, such as Aluminum, which can be easily melted and recycled at the end of the binder’s life. The covers of the binder can be made of the same material as the spine, or can be made from a different material. In some embodiments, the covers and/or spine are also surface treated, for example, by using an anodizing or powder coating process. This also makes it possible to provide the covers with different patterns and/or colors, to achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance of the binder. Various embodiments of the inventive binder will now be described by way of example and with reference to the drawings.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a rear view of a binder in accordance with one embodiment. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the binder has a spine 102, which is divided longitudinally into two spine halves 104, 106, respectively, and to which the front and back cover (not shown) of the binder are attached. The two spine halves 104, 106, are mutually connected by a hinge 108, formed in this embodiment by the two spine halves 104, 106, being covered with a layer of fabric. However, as the skilled person realizes, the hinge 108 can also be formed by other materials, or in some embodiments, conventional butt hinges can also be used to connect the two spine halves 104, 106, which may be particularly suitable when the two spine halves 104, 106, are made of sheet metal, such as aluminum.

[0035] One spine half 104 carries two label holders 110, 112, attached to a channel formed in the spine half 104, as will be further described below, and substantially in the shape of a plate-like stiff flap. The two label holders 110 extend into a recess in the spine 102, such that they extend mainly over the entire spine 102. However, it should be noted that in some embodiments, there may only be a single label holder 110, 112, respectively, and that in some embodiments, one label holder 110 can be attached to one spine half 104, and the other label holder 112 is attached to the other spine half. In yet other embodiments, there may be more than two label holders 110, 112. These kinds of modifications are all modifications that lie well within the capabilities of a person having ordinary skill in the art.

[0036] Further, in each of the two spine halves 104, 106, there is arranged a tunnel 114, 116, which extends across the spine 102. The tunnel 114, 116, has a cutout at the openings, which forms a finger grip, e.g., to facilitate removal of the binder from a row of binders on a shelf, particularly if there is no room for gripping the upper edge of the spine. The tunnel 114, 116 has a smooth interior and is easy on the fingers. The tunnel 114, 116, further allows a rod to be inserted through the binder without coming into contact with and possibly damaging the contents of the binder. This is particularly useful when several binders are placed on a shelf, and should be available for inspection, but not removal from the shelf. By threading the rod through all the binders on the shelf, and then attaching the rod to the shelf itself using suitable attachment means, the individual binders can be “swung out” of the shelf around the rod and their content can be temporarily accessed before the binder is swung back again into its regular position on the shelf.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the binder spine 102 in accordance with one embodiment. As can be seen in FIG. 2, each spine half 104, 106 in this embodiment has an inwardly-downwardly directed gripping flange 204, 206, under which a pair of fingers can be inserted to remove the binder from a shelf, swing up a binder when the binder is secured to a rod, or when carrying one or more binders in one hand.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of two spine halves of a binder, in accordance with some embodiments. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the two spine halves 104, 106, respectively, essentially have an L-shape and are mirror images of one another. Each of the two spine halves 104, 106 has a channel 304, 306, formed on the inside of the spine half 104, 106, such that the two channels 304, 306, face one another. However, it should be noted that there may also be alternative embodiments in which the two channels 304, 306, are asymmetrically placed. It should also be noted that there may be embodiments in which more than one channel 304, 306 is present on one or both of the two spine halves 104, 106. The number of channels 304, 306, may depend, for example, on what type of binder components they are configured to hold, and whether extra support may be needed for some binder components, or if the binder needs to be configured with an unusually large number of binder components.

[0039] The channels 304, 306, are typically located at a distance of approximately 3-7 mm from the juncture between the spine halves 104, 106, and their respective covers. In one embodiment, the channels 304 have a cross section in the shape of a half-pipe, having a diameter in the range of approximately 3-5 mm and preferably 4 mm. However, other shapes and diameters are also possible. FIG. 4 is a magnified view of channel 306, showing how it is formed as an integral component of the spine half 106. FIG. 4 also illustrates schematically how a binder component 406 is inserted into and held by the channel 306. As was noted above, some examples of binder components include label holders, a holder for hole punched papers and similar items, and a latching mechanism. These will all be described in further detail below. As was also noted above, typically these are held in place in the channel by point welding, although other means for securing the binder components in the channels are also available to those having ordinary skill in the art.

[0040] In the illustrated embodiment, the channels 304, 306 run along the full length of the two spine halves 104, 106, and the two spine halves 104, 106 are mirror images of one another. This has several advantages, notably that it allows the two spine halves 104 to be produced in an extrusion process, using a single mold, and then be cut to the proper sizes corresponding to the desired height of the binder. This significantly reduces the number of manufacturing steps that are needed in order to produce a binder, and improves the precision and consistency with which binders are manufactured, as will be described in further detail below.

[0041] FIGs. 5 A and 5B show the spine 102 in a closed and an open position, respectively, and in particular the configuration of a label holder 110 in the two respective positions. As can be seen in FIG. 5 A, in the closed position, the label holder 110 is attached to one spine half 106, by insertion and securing into channel 306. The label holder 110 is recessed, such that it rests on the inside of the other spine half 104 when the binder is in the closed and latched position. When the latch subsequently is undone, as shown in FIG. 5B, the spine half 104 that does not have the label holder 110 attached pivots open around the hinge 108, while the spine half 106 with the label holder 110 attached remains unchanged. The semistiff nature of the label holder 110 prevents the label from bending, thus increasing the life of the label holder 110 and the binder as a whole.

[0042] In one embodiment, the holder includes a pair of curved prongs 604, 606, as shown in FIG. 6, each for holed sheets. The configuration in FIG. 6 illustrates the curved prongs 604, 606 in an open position. The long end of prong 604 is attached to channel 304 of spine half 104, and the long end of prong 606 is attached to channel 306 of spine half 106, respectively. The curved prongs 604, 606, together accommodate papers having four holes. However, it should be realized that the number of prongs can be configured based on the particular situation at hand, for example to accommodate a different number of holes. The curved prongs 604, 606 can further be configured (e.g., bent) such that only a section of the long end of the respective prongs 604, 606 rests inside the respective channels 304, 306. This may allow for the curved prongs 604, 606 to be securely attached in the channels 304, 306, while also preventing papers from being pinched in the wrong places and accidentally damaged when the two spine halves 104, 106 are brought from an open to a closed position. There are many ways in which the curved prongs 604, 606 can be shaped to accomplish this functionality, which will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art. The curved prongs 604, 606, have a length such that when the binder is closed and latched, the prongs 604 extend over to rest in channel 306, and the prongs 606 extend over to rest in channel 304, thereby holding the documents in the binder securely. [0043] FIG. 7 shows a latch 700 for a binder, according to one embodiment. The latch 700 can be of any known kind that allows the two spine halves 104, 106, to stay secured with respect to each other, until the latch is undone. The latch 700 illustrated in FIG. 7 is mounted in one of the channels 304, just like any other binder component, and has a pair of two-step latches 702, 704, adapted to engage with a hook mechanism mounted in the other channel 306, and an operating lever 706, depressible parallel to the plane of the spine 102 to allow the spine 102 to open only part way (e.g., 30 degrees) or to open fully. The operating lever 706 is mounted in the binder so that an individual thumb has plenty of room to act on the operating lever 706 without the risk of being injured by sharp-edged papers, such as is the case when a conventional lever is depressed in a plane perpendicularly to the plane of the spine.

[0044] In some embodiments, the entire binder and all of the binder components are made of a lightweight metal, such as aluminum. That is, sheet metal is used for the covers, the spine halves two spine halves 104, 106 are extruded using a single profile and cut to the appropriate size, the label holder 110 is extruded using a single profile and cut to the appropriate size, and the holder and locking mechanism are also made from aluminum. Not only does this create an exceptionally durable binder, but also one that is fully recyclable and can be melted down and recycled at a low cost. The thickness and stiffness of the covers may vary, and the covers may also be reinforced in various ways, for example, by applying another layer of lightweight metal in a grid shape or other pattern to one or both surfaces of the covers (fully or in part across the respective covers).

[0045] The surfaces of the covers can be treated, for example, using a conventional anodization process, or a powder coating process, as is well known to people having ordinary skill in the art, to create a smooth, durable, and aesthetically pleasing look. Several suitable techniques for surface treatment of these types of surfaces are available from Decoral System S.r.l. of Arcole, Verona, Italy, and can be used to simulate the appearance of various patterns occurring in nature, such as wood (e.g., bamboo), marble, etc., or manmade designs.

[0046] In some embodiments, the front and back of the binder may have one or more recessed areas into which decorative inlays can be placed. These may be anything ranging from laminated photos, company names, logotypes, etc., to decorative wood inlays, such as bamboo, cherry, walnut, and other types of veneer. The inlays can be held in place by tabs extending a small distance over the edge of the inlay, or by “slanted corners”, allowing the inlays to be inserted into the recessed area and held in place, in a conventional manner.

[0047] Yet another benefit of the binder in accordance with the various embodiments described herein is that the binder can be washed and/or sterilized once the contents has been taken out. This makes the binder particularly useful in environments where possible contamination might be an issue, such as hospitals and the like.

The invention is not to be considered limited only to the embodiments described and shown in the drawings, but can be modified within the scope of the appended claims. For example, there may be one or more label holders, and in the latter case some can be attached to one spine half, while the rest are attached to the other spine half, the spine grip then being arranged halfway up the spine. The latching mechanism can be different and have, for example, only one unlocked position and one locked position. The height of the binder can be smaller such that any papers are inserted in a “landscape” orientation rather than a “portrait” orientation. Rather than accommodating a rod, the tunnel 114, 116, can accommodate a chain or wire, which may be securely attached to a wall or some piece of furniture, such as a shelf, for example. The covers may have tapered edges, allowing for a smooth surface and reducing the risk of users accidentally injuring themselves when handling the binder. Thus, there are many further embodiments which fall well within the scope of the appended claims.