Abstract:
The invention presents a book apparatus and a bookbinding method using a book cover with a front cover, rear cover, and a middle portion, bound through the rear cover with two parallel rows of offset cover holes, and a helix coil component configured to hold pages inside the book cover, so the book may lie flat when opened.

Description:
RELATED INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to: “Apparatus and Method for Document Binding,” U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/248,096, filed 2 Oct. 2009, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       [0002]      FIG. 1  is an interior view of the open configuration of a version of the present invention. 
         [0003]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the closed configuration of a version of the present invention. 
         [0004]      FIG. 3  is a back view of the closed configuration of a version of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A. The Apparatus 
       [0005]    Referring now to the invention in more detail, in  FIG. 1  there is shown a book  10  containing pages  11  that are bound to a cover  12  by means of a helix (coil or spiral) component  13 . Each of the pages  11  are attached to a single flat surface of the cover  14  by means of the coil (spiral) component  13  inserted through a single row of page holes  16  cut through the pages  11  and through two parallel rows of offset cover holes  15  (of which one row is visible in this view) that are cut through the cover  12  that is shown with hinge points  17  for folding around the helix (coil or spiral) component  13  to form a cased-in (self) cover  12 . 
         [0006]    In more detail, still referring to the invention of  FIG. 1 , the pages  11  of the book  10  as shown are bound to the back surface  14  of the cover through two parallel rows of offsetting cover holes  15  (of which one row is visible in this view.) 
         [0007]    In further detail, still referring to the invention of  FIG. 1 , the two parallel rows of cover holes  15  (of which one row is visible in this view,) are parallel to the spine  18  of the book  10 . 
         [0008]    In further detail, still referring to the invention of  FIG. 1 , the two parallel rows of cover holes  15  (of which one row is visible in this view,) are offset from one another. 
         [0009]    In further detail, still referring to the invention of  FIG. 1 , the book when opened lays flat on a work surface, table, podium or other generally flat surface. 
         [0010]    The construction details of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1  are that the book  10  may be bound with a varying quantity of pages  11  of varying materials such as paper, plastic, veneers and the like. Further, the sizes of the pages  11  can vary. 
         [0011]    In more detail, still referring to the construction details of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1 , are that the pages  11  may be bound with a helix (coil or spiral) component  13  of varying materials such as metal, plastic, composites and the like. 
         [0012]    In more detail, still referring to the construction details of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1 , are that the cover  14  may be of varying size to match the size of pages or be of smaller or larger sizes. 
         [0013]    In more detail, still referring to the construction details of the invention as shown in  FIG. 1 , are that the cover  14  may be hinged for folding around the helix (coil or spiral) component  13  or may consist of a single flat surface  14  that is not scored for folding or creating a spine  18 . 
         [0014]    Referring now to the invention in more detail, in  FIG. 2  there is shown a book  10  containing pages  11  that are bound to a cover  12 . 
         [0015]    In more detail, still referring to the invention of  FIG. 2 , the book  10  as shown is closed with the spine  17  and front cover  18  wrapping around the coil (spiral) component which in this view is concealed. 
         [0016]    Referring now to the invention in more detail, in  FIG. 3  is shown two parallel rows of cover holes  15  of which each row is offset  19  to the other and which both rows are punched, die-cut or similarly made through a single flat surface of the cover  14 . 
         [0017]    In more detail, still referring to the invention of  FIG. 3 , are that the two parallel rows of cover holes  15  are offset from one another by a variable that corresponds to the angle  20  of the helix (coil or spiral) component  13  so that the helix (coil or spiral) component  13  is not subject to torque. 
         [0018]    The construction details of the invention as shown in  FIG. 3  are that the holes  19  may be of varying size, shape and the like. 
         [0019]    In more detail, still referring to the construction details of the invention as shown in  FIG. 3  are that the holes  19  of each parallel row may be set apart by varying dimension to accommodate varying sizes of helix (coil or spiral) component  13 . 
         [0020]    In more detail, still referring to the construction details of the invention as shown in  FIG. 3  are that the single flat surface  14  onto which pages are attached may be of varying size, shape and use, such as a cover, a self-cover, a backing, a support or the like. 
         [0021]    The advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, that the helix (coil or spiral) component when inserted to two rows of offset holes that correspond to the angle of the helix (coil or spiral) cut in a flat surface will not be subject to torque and will remain aligned with the two rows of parallel holes. 
         [0022]    Further, the advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, that books, workbooks, manuals, flip charts, and similar materials comprised of pages bound to a cover, multiple covers, a flat surface or multiple flat surfaces in this method will lay flat when opened fully. 
         [0023]    Further, the advantages of the present invention include, without limitation, that covers hinged to form a cased-in (self) cover in this method will permit imprinting or similar identification on the spine or cover without interference by the helix (coil or spiral) binding component. 
       B. The Method 
       [0024]    In broad embodiment, the present invention is a binding method for helix (coil or spiral) components that permits attaching pages or flat sheets to flat surfaces using two rows of parallel holes that are offset to one another. 
         [0025]    A binding method involves cutting two rows of offset holes into the backing or self-cover of a book for the purpose of holding a coil (spiral helix) wire to bind pages of a book to the cover. The two rows of offset holes are a unique feature that permits the coil (spiral helix) wire, made of metal, plastic, or other composites, to be held in alignment with the spine of the book. A self-cover may also wrap around the coil (spiral helix) of a finished book so that imprinting may be applied to the spine for the purpose of being able to know the title or other identifying features of a book when it is archives on a shelf, in a stack or in another type of file where the front cover may be concealed, lying against another book or otherwise not able to be seen visually. 
         [0026]    Traditional methods of attaching backings or self-covers in binding books using wire have utilized twin loop wire. The advantages of coil (spiral helix) wire is that it uses less material and is commonly available in more colors, material choices (e.g., plastics and recycled materials) and has a different aesthetic to that of the twin loop wire method. Advantages of binding books (i.e., booklets, manuals, workbooks, guide books, etc.) using a coil (spiral helix) wire binding are that the book lays flat when opened and pages may be easily customized as single sheet insertions using a variety of printing and demand printing methods. 
         [0027]    A disadvantage of coil (spiral helix) wire binding is that a self-cover has not been an option due the fact that die-cutting dies and machinery for cutting two rows of holes has been engineered solely for twin loop type wire binding components, of which the two rows of holes are not offset, but configured so that each row of holes is directly opposite one another and perpendicular to the alignment of the rows of holes. The unique cutting method requires cutting holes in any number of methods (e.g., die-cutting, punching, laser cutting or by other methods) so that each row is offset and matches the angle of the helix of the coil (spiral helix) to be used to hold pages onto the backing or self-cover. 
         [0028]    The primary advantages of the invention are:
       That coil (spiral helix) wire may be used to bind flat sheets (pages) to a backing or self-cover, enabling the backing or self-cover to extend past the coil (spiral helix) for form a wrap-around cover or other form of specialized cover or backing Such uses include books, booklets, manuals, workbooks, flip-charts or other forms of binding flat sheets to backings or covers.   Coil (spiral helix) wire is available in more varieties (colors, materials, recycled materials and options) than other wire binding types, such as twin loop wire.   A self-cover that wraps around allows for imprinting on the spine, concealing the coil (spiral helix) wire when the bound item is displayed on a shelf, in a file or other configuration where only the spine may be seen. This permits locating and visibility of the title, name or other identifier which has traditionally not been accommodated with coil (spiral helix) binding methods due to the fact that the angle of the helix was not accommodated in two rows of binding holes that were not offset from each other.       
 
         [0032]    While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.