Device and method of binding books

A binding device includes an L-shaped frame including two uprights, a crossbar-shaped platen interconnecting the upright, a central screw having a bottom end secured to the platen, and a rectangular table having two rear corners secured to bottoms of the uprights; a base including two arcuate openings each formed along an edge of an upper portion of the side, and two adjustment knobs secured to both sides of the table proximate a front end of the table; and a heater releasably secured to a rear end of the table and a vertical section of the frame and including a front heating area. The adjustment knobs are adapted to slide in a range defined by two ends of the opening. The platen is adapted to lift and lower by operating the screw and press one or more books to be bound on the table. A book binding method is also disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to binding devices and more particularly to an improved binder and a book binding method by utilizing same.

2. Related Art

A conventional binder is shown inFIGS. 1 to 4. A rectangular hard cover10, in its extended state, comprises a lengthwise central adhesive12formed on its central portion11. A plurality of sheets of paper are placed on either half portion of an inner surface of the cover10. Fold the other half portion onto the sheets of paper. Next, hold the cover10in an upright position prior to inserting a lower portion thereof into a U-shaped slot21of a binder20to rest on a heating element22on the bottom of the slot21. Next, activate the heating element22to melt the adhesive12. Next, wait for a predetermined period of cooling time. Finally, remove the bound book from the binder20.

However, the prior art binder suffered from a couple of disadvantages. For example, the slot21has a limited width. Thus, multiple book binding is not possible. Further, a person may have to use one hand to hold a book to be bound having a thickness less than the width of the slot21in an upright position prior to activating the heating element22for binding (i.e., the width of the slot21is not adjustable for accommodating books of different thickness). Thus, the need for improvement still exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a binding device comprising an L-shaped frame including two uprights, a crossbar-shaped platen interconnecting the upright, a central screw having a bottom end secured to the platen, and a rectangular table having two rear corners secured to bottoms of the uprights; a base including two arcuate openings each formed along an edge of an upper portion of the side, and two adjustment knobs secured to both sides of the table proximate a front end of the table; and a heater releasably secured to a rear end of the table and a vertical section of the frame and including a front heating area; wherein the adjustment knobs are adapted to slide in a range defined by two ends of the opening, and the platen is adapted to lift and lower by operating the screw and press one or more books to be bound on the table.

In one aspect of the present invention a container having two adjustable book ends is formed on a rear end of the table proximate the heating area.

In another aspect of the present invention a case having a plurality of compartments of different widths is formed on a rear end of the table proximate the heating area.

It is another object of the present invention to in a binding device including an L-shaped frame including two uprights, a crossbar-shaped platen interconnecting the upright, a central screw having a bottom end secured to the platen, and a rectangular table having two rear corners secured to bottoms of the uprights; a base including two arcuate openings each formed along an edge of an upper portion of the side, and two adjustment knobs secured to both sides of the table proximate a front end of the table; and a heater releasably secured to a rear end of the table and a vertical section of the frame and including a front heating area; provide a binding process comprising the steps of (1) unfastening the adjustment knobs to slide same together with the table from lower ends of the openings to upper ends of the openings; (2) fastening the adjustment knobs and the table; (3) unfastening the screw to lift the platen to a predetermined height; (4) placing a book to be bound with sheets of paper being initially positioned in its central portion having its inner surface coated with adhesive; (5) sequentially placing one or more books to be bound on the book in step (4) if such is desired; (6) lowering the platen to place same on the top book to be bound; (7) fastening the screw to press the platen on the top book to be bound with the central portion of each book to be bound being in contact with the heating area; (8) activating the heater to heat and melt the adhesive for adhering the sheets of paper to the inner surfaces of the central portions; (9) deactivating the heater for cooling the one or more books to be bound for a predetermined period of time; (10) unfastening the screw and lifting the platen; and (11) removing the bound one or more books from the binding device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS. 5 to 11, a binding device in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention comprises an L-shaped frame40including, at its vertical portion, two uprights41each having a rear flange410, a crossbar-shaped platen43interconnecting the upright41, a central screw44having a bottom end secured to the platen43, and two adjustable side posts45having a lower end secured to the platen43; and, at its horizontal portion, a table42.

The binding device further comprises a base50including two sides51, two arcuate openings52each formed along an edge of an upper portion of the side51, and two adjustment knobs53each adapted to slide in a range defined by two ends of the opening52. Also, the adjustment knobs53are secured to both sides of the table42proximate a front end of the table42.

The binding device further comprises a detachable heater30including a body31, a front panel32as a heating area A, two side slots37, a top control34, a heating element45in the front panel32, two mounting members36for securing the front panel32to the body31, and a rear handle33. The heater30is fastened by placing its front bottom edge on a rear of the table42with the fastening cooperation of the flanges410and the slots37.

A book binding process of the invention will be described in detailed below. First, unfasten the adjustment knobs53to slide same together with the table42from lower ends of the openings52to upper ends of the openings52. Next, fasten the adjustment knobs53at the upper ends of the openings52for fastening the table42. Next, unfasten the screw44to lift the platen43to its maximum or an appropriate height. Next, place a folded cover10of a book to be bound with sheets of paper being initially positioned in its central portion11in which the cover10has a width substantially equal to a distance between the uprights41(seeFIG. 7). This placing step may take a plurality of times so as to stack a plurality of books of the same size to be bound on the table42(seeFIG. 8). Next, lower the platen43to place same on the top one of the books to be bound. Next, fasten the screw44to press the platen43on the top book to be bound with the central portions11being in contact with the heating area A (i.e., fastening step). Next, activate the heating element45to heat and melt adhesive adhered to inner surfaces of the central portions11for adhering the sheets of paper to the inner surfaces of the central portions11. Next, wait for a predetermined period of cooling time. Finally, remove the bound books from the binding device by unfastening the screw44and lifting the platen43.

For detaching the heater30simply unfastening the heater30and removing same by holding the handle33.

Referring toFIG. 12, a binding device in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The second embodiment is identical to the first embodiment, except that a container60having two adjustable book ends61is formed on a rear end of the table42proximate the front panel (i.e., heating area). One or more books to be bound may be placed in the container60prior to fastening same between the book ends61by moving the book ends61toward each other. This embodiment is adapted to accommodate books to be bound having width less than the distance between the uprights41.

Referring toFIG. 13, a binding device in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The third embodiment is identical to the first embodiment, except that a case70having a plurality of compartments71of different widths is formed on a rear end of the table42proximate the front panel32(i.e., heating area). Each book to be bound or a number of books to be bound as a unit may be placed securely in a conformed one of the compartments71prior to binding. This embodiment is adapted to accommodate small books to be bound.