Filing binder

Abstract: A filing binder comprises a plurality of elongated binding members (1) made of a resilient material. Each of the binding members has a groove (1d) extending along the length of the binding member (1) and formed with a slit opening (1c) opening to one side of it. The groove (1d) is of a cross-sectional configuration which increases from the slit (1c) opening towards the inwards direction. The binding members (1) are arranged in a side-by-side relationship with their slit openings (1c) in the same direction and connected together by flexible or hinge connection (1b). Leaves (2) include a rib (2a) along an edge to be received in the filing binder and are slid in from one end of the binding members (1) with the sheet projecting through the slit opening (1c).

Description: The present invention relates to a file device and binders to be used for such file device. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a file device for filing thin sheets of recording medium, such as photographic pictures, slides, medical specimen plates, floppy discs and the like. The present invention further pertains to components to be used in such file device. The Japanese patent application SHO 63-241935 filed on September 27, 1988 and disclosed for public inspection on March 29, 1990 under the disclosure number Hei-02-089699 discloses a file sheet adapted for filing thin recording sheets such as photographic slides. The file sheet is made of a thin plastic sheet formed with recesses adapted for receiving the slides. A plurality of such file sheets are bound in suitable binding covers with photographic slides fitted to the recesses of the sheets so that the slides are filed in a readily accessible manner. In binding such file sheets, file covers having binding rings provided at appropriate spacings may be used. The file sheets may then be formed along an edge portion with binding holes with spacings equal to the spacings of the binding rings so that the binding rings are fitted to the binding holes in the file sheets. This type of file sheet binding device is advantageous in that the file sheets can be added as desired. It should however be noted that in order to bind an additional file sheet the rings are at first opened and the file sheet is engaged in the binding holes with the rings thus opened. Thereafter, the rings are closed to hold the file sheet together with previously bound file sheets. Thus, binding an additional file sheet requires a troublesome task. Another problem encountered in the aforementioned sheet binding device is that turning over the file sheets is not convenient. More specifically, in this type of binding device, the binding rings are generally of a large size so that a large number of file sheets can be accommodated. The binding rings of such large size have a tendency of making turning over the file sheets difficult because the file sheet may have a tendency of sticking to the binding rings by being inclined with respect to the row of the binding rings. US-A-4,521,035 discloses a device for filing sheets of paper and magazines in which it is not necessary to have holes in the filing sheets. The device shown comprises a number of U-shaped holders made from a resilient material which receive the filing sheets. Holders of different sizes are required for different thickness filing sheets. The holders include a rod member which allows two holders to clip together to form a device capable of holding a number of filing sheets. DE-A-2,318,394 discloses a special filing sheet which includes a ridge along one edge. This arrangement allows a filing sheet to be held by engagement of the ridge with a groove. It is an object of the present invention to provide a filing device for file sheets in which binding of the file sheets can readily be made so that additional file sheets can be easily filed. Another object of the present invention is to provide a file device for file sheets which is simple in structure and convenient to use. A further object of the present invention is to provide a file device which is convenient to change the binding capacity. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a file device which is compact in size. According to the present invention, a filing binder comprises a plurality of elongated binding members made of a solid plastics material, each of the binding members having a slit opening at one side of the binding member, the binding members being arranged in side-by-side relationship with all of the slit openings orientated in the same direction, the binding members being connected together by a flexible sheet attached to the binding members. Preferably, the slit opening of each elongated binding member is defined by a groove extending along the length of the binding member, the groove having a cross-sectional configuration which is enlarged from the slit opening towards the transverse inward direction, or may be defined by a pair of opposed, inwardly directed edges. Alternatively, the slit opening of each binding member may be defined by a longitudinally extending wall and a binding section including a pawl directed toward the wall. The filing binder can be used to file file sheets, each file sheet having ridge means formed along at least one edge portion, whereby the file sheet can be filed in the binder by having the ridge in the slit opening of a binding member. Preferably, a filing device may include a plurality of filing binders as described above which constitute connecting members and a plurality of file sheets each having a ridge means along to opposite sides. In this case a first filing sheet is connected with a first connecting member by having one of the ridge means in the slit opening of one of the binding members, and a second filing sheet which is connected with the first connecting member by having one of the ridge means in the slit opening of another of the binding members, the first filing sheet also being connected to a second connecting member by having the other ridge means in the slit opening of one of the binding members of the second connecting member, and a third filing sheet which is connected to the second connecting member by having one of the ridge means in the slit opening of another of the binding members of the second connecting member. The filing device may also include a cover means which includes a spine provided outside the flexible sheet, and a pair of cover sheets hinged to the opposite sides of the spine, the cover sheets being connected to the outermost binding members. As described, the present invention provides a binding member which is of an elongated configuration and has a longitudinally extending slit opening at one side of the binding member. It will therefore be understood that the file sheet can be held in position simply by having one edge portion engaged with the slit opening of the binding member. The binding members may be connected together with the slit openings oriented to the same direction. In binding the file sheets, it is only required to have one edge portion of each file sheet inserted into the slit opening of the binding member. Thus, binding of the file sheets can be effected through a simple operation. The connecting member for connecting a plurality of the aforementioned binding members can conveniently be used and the binding members can be added as desired depending on the size of the connecting member. The connecting member comprising a pair of binding members as previously mentioned can be advantageously used because it is possible to bind a desired number of file sheets without being restricted by the size of the connecting member. It should further be noted that the file sheets bound by this connecting member can be accessed very easily. The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions of preferred embodiments taking reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a file sheet binder in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a view as seen from one end of the binder shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of a file sheet which can be used with the binder shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a plan view of a file sheet bound in the binder; Figure 5 is an end view showing file sheets bound in the binder; Figure 6 is an end view showing an example of a conventional binder; Figure 7 is a sectional view showing a further example of a binder; Figures 8 and 9 are perspective views showing in different angles a binder in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a further embodiment of the present invention; Figure 11 is a perspective view of the binder shown in an assembled condition; Figure 12 is an end view of the binder shown in Figures 10 and 11 with file sheets filed in the binder; Figure 13 is an end view showing the binder of Figure 12 with one of the cover sheets opened; Figure 14 is an end view similar to Figure 13 but showing the binder with the file sheets in opened positions; and Figure 15 is an end view showing a further embodiment of the present invention; Referring to the drawings, particularly to Figures 1 to 5 which show a first embodiment of the present invention, it will be noted that there is shown a binder 1 comprising a plurality of binding members 1a. The binding member 1a is made of an extrusion of a solid or hard plastics material and includes a groove 1d having a slit opening 1c extending along one side of the binding member 1a. The groove 1d is of a cross sectional configuration enlarged widthwise toward transversely inward direction. In the illustrated embodiment, four binding members 1a are arranged in a side-by-side relationship with the slit openings 1c oriented in the same direction. The binding members 1a are arranged with spacings corresponding to the thickness of a file sheet to be bound. These binding members 1a are connected together at the sides opposite to the slit openings 1c by means of a plastic tape 1b which is welded to the binding members. The plastic tape 1b provides a flexible connection between the binding members 1a. In Figure 2, it will be noted that the binding member 1a is formed at the slit opening 1c with a pair of opposed inwardly projecting edges or pawls 1e. The slit opening 1c is defined between the opposed pair of pawls 1e. The pawls 1e have outer surfaces which are inclined transversely inwardly to provide guide surfaces for insertion of a file sheet. These guide surfaces make it convenient to insert the file sheet into the groove 1d. Figure 3 shows an example of the file sheet 2. In this example, the file sheet 2 has a plurality of sections for accommodating photographic slides 2d. Along one edge portion of the file sheet 2, there are formed a plurality of binding holes 2b which are used for engagement with binding rings in a conventional binder such as that shown in Figure 6. Adjacent to the row of the binding holes 2b, the file sheet 2 is formed with a ridge 2a extending along the aforementioned edge portion of the file sheet 2. In this example, the ridge 2a is of a single continuous structure, however, a plurality of ridges may be formed to extend in a single row. The file sheet 2 shown in Figure 3 can be held in position in the binder 1 by having the ridge 2a engaged with the groove 1d of the binding member 1a. In this position, the ridge 2a is engaged with the inner face of one of the pawls 1e forming the slit opening 1c. Figures 4 and 5 show the file sheets 2 held in the binder 1. Referring to Figures 4 and 5, cover sheets 3a and 3b are engaged with the outermost ones of the binding members 1a of the binder 1 and the file sheets 2 are held by intermediate ones of the binding members 1a. The cover sheets 3a and 3b may not be necessary. The number of the binding members 1a can be increased as desired. For example, two binders 1 having four binding members 1a may be connected together by means of an adhesive tape. Alternatively, the number of the binding members 1a may be determined as desired when they are welded together by the plastic tape 1b. Figure 7 shows a further embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the binder 6 is constituted by a plurality of binding members 6a which are connected together. Each of the binding members 6a includes a wall 7 and a binding section 8 provided at a sidewardly offset position with respect to the wall 7. The binding section 8 has a pawl 8a which is directed opposite to the wall 7. The binding members 6 are connected together by welding the bottom portion of the binding section 8 to the wall 7 of the adjacent binding member 6 with the pawl 8a of the binding section 8 directed to the wall 7 of the adjacent binding member 6. As shown in Figure 7, a file sheet 2 having a ridge 2a at one edge portion is inserted between the wall 7 of one binding member 6 and the binding section 8 of the adjacent binding member 6. The ridge 2a of the file sheet 2 is then gripped in position by the pawl 8a of the binding section 8. Referring now to Figures 8 and 9, there is shown a further embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment includes a plurality of connecting members 10 each comprising a pair of binding members 1a as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The binding members 1 are connected together with the slit opening 1c directed in the same direction. File sheets 2 which may be of a shape as shown in Figure 3, but each file sheet 2 has a pair of ridges 2a provided to extend along the opposite sides of the file sheet. The file sheet 2 is connected with the connecting member 10 by having the ridge 2a at one edge of the file sheet 2 engaged with the groove of one of the binding members 1a in the connecting member 10. Another file sheet 2 is connected with the same connecting member 10 by having the ridge 2a of this file sheet 2 engaged with the groove of the other binding member 1a of the same connecting member 10 as shown in Figure 10. A second connecting member 10 is provided and connected with one of the aforementioned two file sheets 2 by having the ridge 2a of this file sheet 2 engaged with the groove of one of the binding members 1a of the second connecting member 10. A further file sheet 2 is connected with this second connecting member 10 in the same manner. By repeating this procedure, it is possible to connect a desired number of file sheets 2. It should further be noted that the file sheets 2 thus connected can be folded one over the other at the connecting members 10. The file sheets 2 connected in this manner are readily accessible. Figures 10 to 14 show a further embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment utilises the binder 1 comprising a plurality of the aforementioned binding members 1a as shown in Figures 1 and 2. This embodiment further includes a cover 20 comprising a pair of cover sheets 21 and 22 and a spine or binding 23. The spine 23 is of a channel shaped cross sectional configuration having a pair of side edges. The cover sheets 3a and 3b are connected through hinge connections with respective edges of the spine 23 so that the cover sheets 3a and 3b can be moved between an open position as shown in Figures 13 and 14 and a closed position as shown in Figure 12. The cover sheets 3a and 3b are provided at the back sides adjacent to the hinge connections to the spine 23 with connecting plates 24 and 25 which are arranged to project into the confine of the channel shaped spine 23. The connecting plates 24 and 25 are formed at the portions projecting into the confine of the spine 23 with ridges 24a and 25a, respectively. The binder 1 is attached to the cover 20 by having the outward ones of the binding members 1a engaged with the edges of the connecting plates 24 and 25 as shown in Figure 11. The file sheets 2 are attached to the intermediate ones of the binding members 1a as shown in Figures 12 to 14. Figure 12 shows the cover 20 in the closed position in which the binder 1 is laid along the spine or binding 23. The cover 20 is shown in the open position in Figure 13. In this position, the binder 1 is bent away from the spine 23. In Figure 14, the cover 20 is shown in the open position and some of the file sheets 2 are also in the open position. It will be noted that the file sheets can be turned over without any difficulty. In the embodiment shown in Figures 10 to 14, the spine or binding 23 is of a relatively rigid structure. The spine 23 may be replaced by a flexible binding as shown in Figure 15. From the above description, it will be understood that the present invention provides a filing device in which file sheets can readily be filed or removed. The binding member of the present invention allows to determine the capacity of the file as desired by adding or removing the binding member. Thus, the present invention provides a simple and compact file device.

Claims: A filing binder (1, 6) comprising a plurality of elongated binding members (1a, 6a) made of a solid plastics material, each of the binding members (1a, 6a) having a slit opening (1c) at one side of the binding member (1a, 6a), the binding members (1a, 6a) being arranged in side-by-side relationship with all of the slit openings (1c) orientated in the same direction, the binding members (1a, 6a) being connected together by a flexible sheet (1b) attached to the binding members (1a, 6a). A filing binder (1) according to claim 1 in which the slit opening (1c) of each elongated binding members is defined by a groove (1d) extending along the length of the binding member (1a), the groove (1d) having a cross-sectional configuration which is enlarged from the slit opening (1c) towards the transverse inward direction. A filing binder (1) according to claim 1 in which the slit opening (1c) of each binding member (1a) is defined by a pair of opposed, inwardly directed edges. A filing binder (6) according to claim 1 in which the slit opening of each binding member (6a) is defined by a longitudinally extending wall (7) and a binding section (8) including a pawl (8a) directed toward the wall (7). A filing device comprising a filing binder (1, 6, 10) according to any of the preceeding claims and at least one file sheet (2), each file sheet (2) having ridge means (2a) formed along at least one edge portion, whereby the file sheet (2) can be filed in the filing binder (1, 6, 10) by having the ridge means (2a) in the slit opening of a binding member (1, 6, 10). A filing device including a plurality of filing binders (1, 6) according to claims 1 to 4 constituting connecting members (10) and a plurality of file sheets (2) each having a ridge means (2a) along to opposite sides, wherein a first filing sheet (2) is connected with a first connecting member (10) by retaining one of the ridge means (2a) in the slit opening (1c) of one of the binding members (1a, 6a), and a second filing sheet (2) which is connected with the first connecting member (10) by retaining one of the ridge means (2a) in the slit opening (1c) of another of the binding members (1a, 6a), the first filing sheet (2) also being connected to a second connecting member (10) by retaining the other ridge means (2a) in the slit opening (1c) of one of the binding members (1a, 6a) of the second connecting member (10), and a third filing sheet (2) which is connected to the second connecting member (10) by retaining one of the ridge means (2a) in the slit opening (1c) of another of the binding members (1a, 6a) of the second connecting member (10). A filing device according to claims 5 or 6 further comprising a cover means (20) which includes a spine (23) provided outside the flexible sheet (1b), and a pair of cover sheets (21, 22) hinged to the opposite sides of the spine (20), the cover sheets (21, 22) being connected to the outermost binding members (1a, 6a).

Inventors: OZEKI JIRO, OZEKI, JIRO
Applicants: SLIDEX CORP, SLIDEX CORPORATION
Application year: 1990
Main classification: B42F11
IPC codes: B42F7, B42D1, B42F9, B42F5, B42F1