Abstract:
A fastener system for binding paper is disclosed comprising a base having spaced first and second ends. A first prong extends from the first end. A second prong extends from the second end. A first member having a first opening receives the first prong, and a second member having a second opening receives the second prong. The first and second members are releasably securable to form a top lock. A method of securing a stack of papers is also disclosed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     A fastener system for binding paper is disclosed comprising a base having spaced first and second ends. A first prong extends from the first end. A second prong extends from the second end. A first member having a first opening receives the first prong. A second member having a second opening receives the second prong. The first and second members are releasably securable to form a top lock. A method of securing a stack of papers is also disclosed.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Various devices for binding sheets of paper are known in the art. Some designs include a pair of prongs that are inserted through spaced holes along an edge of a sheet of paper. A stack of papers may be inserted onto the prongs. A portion of each prong extends beyond the stack of papers, and is bent over the stack of paper. Some designs include a top piece, wherein the prongs are bent over the top piece. Other deigns include a ratchet mechanism that binds the edges of the paper. Unfortunately, pages bound by such prior art devices often become loose or fall out, particularly if pages are repeatedly removed and/or inserted.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     A fastener system for binding papers includes a base having spaced first and second ends. A first prong extends from the first end. A second prong extends from the second end. A first member having a first opening receives the first prong, and a second member having a second opening receives the second prong. The first and second members are releasably securable to form a top lock.  
         [0004]     A fastener system for binding papers comprises a U-shaped member having a base and first and second prongs extending from the base. A first L-shaped member having a first tubular leg with a longitudinally extending opening receives the first prong. The first L-shaped member also has a second leg. A second L-shaped member having a second tubular leg with a longitudinally extending opening receives the second prong. The second L-shaped member also has a second leg, which is releasably securable to the second leg of the first L-shaped member.  
         [0005]     A method of securing a stack of papers comprises the following steps: providing a base having spaced first and second ends with a first prong extending from the first end and a second prong extending from the second end; passing the prongs through spaced holes along an edge of at least one sheet of paper; providing a first member having a first opening for receiving the first prong and a second member having a second opening for receiving the second prong; passing the first prong through the first opening; passing the second prong through the second opening; and releasably securing the first and second members together to form a top lock. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fastener system according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of a top lock according to the first embodiment;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the fastener system according to the first embodiment;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the fastener system according to the first embodiment with the top lock secured to the prongs;  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a fastener system according to a second embodiment;  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of unsecured first and second portions of the base from the second embodiment; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a base according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     As best shown in  FIG. 1 , a fastener system  10  according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a base  12  having spaced first and second ends  14 ,  16 . A first prong  18  extends from first end  14 , and a second prong  20  extends from second end  16 . Base  12  and first and second prongs  18 ,  20  may be formed from plastic or metal. Prongs  18 ,  20  may be formed separately, and then secured or adhered to base  12 . Alternatively, base  12  and prongs  18 ,  20  may be integrally formed, such as by injection molding.  
         [0014]     Prongs  18 ,  20  may be substantially perpendicular to base  12 , and substantially parallel to each other. Prongs  18 ,  20  may be either relatively rigid, or flexible. Prongs  18 ,  20  are spaced for receiving spaced holes punched along an edge of a sheet of paper. For example, prongs  18 ,  20  may be spaced from each other a distance of about 2.5 inches, which is a standard spacing distance for conventional paper hole punch devices. However, the spacing of prongs  18 ,  20  may vary.  
         [0015]     Fastener system  10  further comprises a first member  22  having a first opening  24  for receiving first prong  18 , and a second member  26  having a second opening  28  for receiving second prong  20 . First and second members  22 ,  26  are releasably securable to form a top lock  30 , as best shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0016]     First member  22  may include a plurality of apertures  32  spaced from first opening  24 , as best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . Apertures  32  are positioned longitudinally along first member  22 . Second member  26  may include one or more projections  34  spaced from second opening  28 , and extending longitudinally along second member  26 . Projections  34  are releasably securable within apertures  32  to form top lock  30 , as best shown in  FIG. 2 . Each projection  34  may be received within any one of apertures  32 . In this way, the length of top lock  30  is adjustable depending on the apertures  32  selected for receiving projections  34 . Top lock  30  is preferably formed of plastic, and is preferably relatively flexible. The configuration of apertures  32  and projections  34  may be similar to the adjustable strap on a baseball cap. As such, the length of top lock  30  may be easily adjusted and readjusted.  
         [0017]     First and second members  22 ,  26  may include protrusions  36 ,  37  extending into openings  24 ,  28 , respectively. Prongs  18 ,  20  may include teeth  38 ,  39  extending longitudinally along their outwardly facing sides  40 ,  42 , respectively. When securing first member  22  to prong  18 , protrusion  36  should not contact teeth  38  when passing prong  18  through opening  24 , as best shown in  FIG. 3 . Likewise, when securing second member  26  to prong  20 , protrusion  37  should not contact teeth  39  when passing prong  20  through opening  28 . First and second members  22 ,  26  may be pushed onto prongs  18 ,  20  until a desired position is reached. Protrusions  36 ,  37  and teeth  38 ,  39  may be resiliently deformable so that first and second members  22 ,  26  securely fit on prongs  18 ,  20 . Then, first and second members  22 ,  26  are rotated around prongs  18 ,  20  until apertures  32  align with projections  34 . Protrusions  36 ,  37  also engage teeth  38 ,  39 , locking first and second members  22 ,  26  in the desired position on prongs  18 ,  20 , as best shown in  FIG. 4 . Projections  34  may then be secured within apertures  32  to form top lock  30 . If desired, prongs  18 ,  20  may be trimmed to a desired length.  
         [0018]     Apertures  32  and projections  34  on top lock  30  may be easily unsnapped, similar to unsnapping the connecting straps on a baseball cap. Protrusions  36 ,  37  and teeth  38 ,  39  may then be easily unlocked by rotating first and second members around prongs  18 ,  20  so that protrusions  36 ,  37  disengage teeth  38 ,  39 . First and second members  22 ,  26  may then be repositioned on prongs  18 ,  20 , or removed from prongs  18 ,  20 . In this way, pages may be easily removed from, or added to, fastener  10 .  
         [0019]     A fastener system  50  according to another embodiment is best shown in  FIG. 5 . Fastener system  50  includes an adjustable base  52 . Adjustable base  52  comprises a first portion  54  that is releasably securable to a second portion  56 . First and second portions  54 ,  56  may be secured to form adjustable base  52 .  
         [0020]     As best shown in  FIG. 6 , first portion  54  may include a plurality of apertures  58  spaced from prong  18 . Second portion  56  may include one or more projections  60  releasably securable within apertures  58 . In this way, the length of base  52  may be adjusted depending on which apertures  58  receive projections  60 . First portion  54  includes prong  18  extending from end  57 , and second portion  56  includes prong  20  extending from end  59 .  
         [0021]     Fastener system  50  may also include a first L-shaped member  62  and a second L-shaped member  64 , as best shown in  FIG. 5 . First L-shaped member  62  includes a first tubular leg  66  and a second leg  68 . First tubular leg  68  is hollow, with an opening  70  extending longitudinally therethrough for receiving first prong  18 . Second L-shaped member  64  includes a second tubular leg  72  and a second leg  74 . Second tubular leg  72  is hollow, with an opening  76  extending therethrough for receiving second prong  20 .  
         [0022]     A plurality of protrusions  78  extend inwardly relative to opening  70 , and longitudinally along an inner surface  80  of first tubular leg  66 . Likewise, a plurality of protrusions  82  extend inwardly relative to opening  76 , and longitudinally along an inner surface  84  of second tubular leg  72 . Protrusions  78 ,  82  releasably engage teeth  38 ,  39  on prongs  18 ,  20 .  
         [0023]     Second leg  68  of first L-shaped member  62  may include a plurality of apertures  32 . Second leg  74  of second L-shaped member  64  may include one or more projections  34 , which may be releasably secured within apertures  86  as described above.  
         [0024]     When securing first and second L-shaped members  62 ,  64  to prongs  18 ,  20 , openings  70 ,  76  are aligned with prongs  18 ,  20 . Protrusions  78 ,  82  should not be aligned with teeth  38 ,  39  when initially pushing prongs  18 ,  20  through openings  70 ,  76 . Protrusions  78 ,  82  and teeth  38 ,  39  may be resiliently deformable so that first and second L-shaped members may securely fit on prongs  18 ,  20 . After first and second L-shaped members  62 ,  64  are positioned on prongs  18 ,  20  at a desired distance from base  52 , first and second L-shaped members  62 ,  64  may be rotated about prongs  18 ,  20  until apertures  32  and projections  34  are aligned. Protrusions  78 ,  82  thereby engage teeth  38 ,  39 , locking first and second L-shaped members  62 ,  64  in the desired position. If desired, first and second L-shaped members  62 ,  64 , and prongs  18 ,  20 , may be trimmed to a desired length.  
         [0025]     Similar to fastener system  10 , apertures  32  and projections  34  may be easily unsnapped for adjustment or removal of first and second L-shaped members  62 ,  64 . Protrusions  78 ,  82  may then be disengaged from teeth  38 ,  39  by simply rotating first and second L-shaped members  62 ,  64  around prongs  18 ,  20  until protrusions  78 ,  82  are not in contact with teeth  38 ,  39 .  
         [0026]     In another embodiment, top lock  30  may be used in conjunction with adjustable base  52 . Alternatively, first and second L-shaped members  62 ,  64  may be used in conjunction with base  12 .  
         [0027]     In another embodiment, a U-shaped base  90  is provided, as best shown in  FIG. 7 . Base  90  includes integral prong portions  92 ,  94  and a lower portion  96 , and functions the same as base  12 . Thus, hole-punched paper is received on prong portions  92 ,  94 . Either top lock  30 , or first and second L-shaped members  62 ,  64 , may be used in conjunction with U-shaped base  90 . Thus, prong portions  92 ,  94  include teeth  38 ,  39 , as described above.  
         [0028]     Certain aspects of the present invention have been explained according to various embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and variations may be made in construction or configuration of these embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention include all such modifications and variations, provided they come within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.