Abstract:
A labeling member is disclosed which attaches to the coil used for the coil binding of documents. The member may be affixed as an aftermarket upgrade to existing coil binding products. In embodiments, the member serves at least two functions. First, the member presents a face along the edge of a coil which may be marked or labeled to allow identification of the coil bound document when shelved or stacked. Second, the member adds structural rigidity to the bound document when placed vertically on a shelf by making the coil more rigid.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention is directed to a labeling system for coil binders, and in particular to an attachment which affixes to a coil binding of a coil binder. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Coil binding is a popular means of binding a number of pages together to create reports, studies, and other documents. A coil bound document is formed by initially punching holes along an edge of the document. Then, a flexible coil is spun, or threaded, helically into the document through the punched holes. Most coils are made from a variety of flexible materials, such as PVC plastic or metal, and are available in wide range of diameters, pitches, and lengths to fit different binding needs. 
         [0005]    While an effective and efficient method for securely binding documents, coil binding has a disadvantage in that, when shelved or stacked side-by-side with other bound documents, only the coil bound edge of the document is visible. Where other binding methods present a spine which can be printed on, coil bound documents do not. Accordingly, it is difficult to identify coil bound documents which are shelved or stacked. 
         [0006]    Co-owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,902,659 and 6,447,863, each entitled “Flexible Labeling System,” disclose a label, which in embodiments may be applied along an edge of coil bound documents. The disclosed labeling system is comprised of a flexible plastic member incorporating two hinges created by a pair of parallel V-shaped grooves, either continuous or segmented, or perforations which are either die-cut or stamped into the flexible plastic member. The plastic member permits users to provide labeling for coil bound documents. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,406, entitled “Method Of Mounting Index Tabs Upon Stenographic Notebooks,” discloses an embodiment in  FIG. 5  of that reference, where an elongated indexing indicia support base member may be affixed to a coil bound document by a pair of catch members on opposite ends of the base member. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention, roughly described, relates to a labeling member which attaches to the coil used for the coil binding of documents. The member may be affixed as an aftermarket upgrade to existing coil binding products. In embodiments, the member serves at least two functions. First, the member presents a face along the edge of a coil which may be marked or labeled to allow identification of the coil bound document when shelved or stacked. Second, the member adds structural rigidity to the bound document when placed vertically on a shelf by making the coil more rigid. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a labeling member affixed to a spiral bound article according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a partial side view of a labeling member affixed to a spiral bound article according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a labeling member affixed to a spiral bound article according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a fastening clip of a labeling member according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is an exploded front view of a labeling member for a spiral bound article according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a partial exploded side view of a labeling member for a spiral bound article according to the alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a front view of a labeling member for a spiral bound article according to the alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is an exploded front view of a labeling member for a spiral bound article according to a further alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a partial exploded side view of a labeling member for a spiral bound article according to the further alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of a rivet according to the further alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    The present invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1-10 , which in embodiments relates to a labeling system for coil bound documents. It is understood that the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the invention to those skilled in the art. Indeed, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents of these embodiments, which are included within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-4 , there is shown a coil bound article  100  including a coil  102 . It is understood that article  100  may be any article which may be bound in a coil-type binding process, including for example documents, albums, and other collections of sheet-type mediums. The type and size of coil  102  used may be any type of coil used in a coil-type binding process. The coil  102  may be formed either entirely or in part from any combination of plastic, metal, wood, fiberglass, carbon fiber, ceramic, composite material, or other materials. The cross-sectional diameter of the material used for the coil may vary in embodiments as is known and the radius of curvature defined by coil may vary in embodiments as is known. 
         [0021]    In accordance with the present invention, a labeling member  110  may be affixed to the coil  102  as explained hereinafter. The labeling member  110  may include a spine  112  and fastening clips  114  affixed along the length of an interior surface of the spine  112 . Spine  112  may be formed either entirely or in part from any combination of plastic, metal, wood, fiberglass, carbon fiber, ceramic, composite material or other rigid material. The spine  112  may have a length generally equal to the length of coil  102 . The length may be less than the length of coil  102  in alternative embodiments, for example one inch long or shorter. Spine  112  may have a thickness of approximately  1 / 8  inch, but it may be thinner or thicker than that in alternative embodiments. The width of the spine  112  wrapped around the coil  102  may vary from about  1 / 4  inch to several inches, though it may be smaller or larger than that in alternative embodiments. The width may be dependent on the thickness of the article  100  bound by coil  102 , or it may be independent of the thickness of article  100 . Spine  112  may have a radius of curvature slightly larger than that of the coil  102  so as to fit snugly around the coil. Alternatively, the radius of curvature may be more than slightly larger than that of the coil  102 . In further embodiments, the spine  112  may have no radius of curvature, i.e., the spine may be flat. 
         [0022]    The spine  112  includes an interior surface facing the coil  102  when affixed thereto as explained hereinafter. The spine further includes an exterior surface opposite the interior surface. The exterior surface is provided for receiving some sort of marking which may identify the article  100 . The exterior surface may be provided so that it may be written on with a pen or other writing instrument. Alternatively, the exterior surface may receive an adhesive label for identifying the article  100 . In further embodiments, the exterior surface may be pre-printed with a custom label. Alternatively, a clear vinyl label-pocket may be attached to the exterior surface so that an identifying label may be inserted therein. 
         [0023]    The fastening clips  114  may be formed on the interior surface of the spine  112 . The clips  114  may be integrally formed on the spine during the fabrication of labeling member  110 , or the clips may be welded, affixed with adhesive or otherwise adhered to the spine  112  after formation of the spine  112 . 
         [0024]    There may be two or more fastening clips  114  along the length of spine  112 . As best seen in  FIGS. 2 through 4 , each fastening clip includes a boss  120  ( FIG. 4 ) extending from the interior surface of spine  112 . The boss  120  includes a pair of flanges  122 ,  124  extending from boss  120  to form a generally “T”-shaped fastening clip  114 . In order to fasten the labeling member  110  to coil  102 , each fastening clip  114  may be inserted in between a pair of adjacent loops of coil  102  (for example by spreading the adjacent loops apart to receive the fastening clip  114  therebetween). Portions of the adjacent loops then seat within the space defined by the flanges, boss and spine  112  for each fastening clip to secure the labeling member  110  to the coil  102 . The length of flanges  122 ,  124  may be provided such that the end-to-end length between flanges  122  and  124  is at least as great as a space between adjacent loops in coil  102  when in an unbiased position. 
         [0025]    Each fastening clip  114  may be formed either entirely or in part from any combination of plastic, metal, wood, fiberglass, carbon fiber, ceramic, composite material or other rigid material. There may for example be three fastening clips  114  provided on spine  112  as shown in  FIG. 3 . However, the number of fastening clips may be less than or greater than three in alternative embodiments. In a further embodiment, there may be between two and ten fastening clips  114 , though again, the number of clips may be greater than ten in further embodiments. 
         [0026]    The labeling member  110  provides at least two advantages. First, the exterior surface allows spiral-bound articles to be identified when stacked, shelved or otherwise positioned by marking the exterior surface with some identifier. Second, the fastening clips  114  provide structural rigidity to the bound article. For example, when the bound article is supported vertically on a shelf or otherwise, the labeling member  110  prevents the bound article from bending. 
         [0027]    It is understood that the fastening clips shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4  are one of several possible mechanisms for fastening the labeling member  110  to the coil  102 .  FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate front and partial side views, respectively, of a further embodiment of a fastening mechanism for fastening labeling member  110  to a coil  102 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a spine  130  is provided having an exterior surface as explained above. The spine  130  may be provided with holes along its length for receiving a plurality of rivets  132 . A rivet receiving member  134  may also be provided having a plurality of holes spaced to match the holes in the spine  130 . In order to affix the labeling mechanism of  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the rivet receiving member  134  may be inserted into the interior of coil  102 , and the rivets  132  may then be inserted through the holes in the spine  130  and into the holes in the rivet receiving member  134 . The diameter of the rivet shaft and the holes in receiving member  134  are provided so that the ends of the rivets are held firmly within the receiving member  134 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0028]    A further embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8 through 10  may be similar to the embodiment of  FIGS. 5 through 7 , but the rivet receiving member may be omitted. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 8 through 10 , a special rivet  140  may be used having a type of clothes pin configuration. The rivet  140  fits through holes in a spine  142 , and then around a loop of the coil  102  as best seen in  FIG. 10 . When the rivet  140  is in place, the loop of coil rests within an opening formed between the respective prongs of the rivet as seen in  FIG. 10 . In the embodiments of  FIGS. 5 through 10 , the rivets may be separate from the spine as shown. Alternatively, the interior surface of the spine may be formed with the portions described above that protrude down and in between ( FIGS. 5 through 7 ) or around ( FIGS. 8 through 10 ) the coil loops. It is understood that other fastening mechanisms may be used. 
         [0029]    The foregoing detailed description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The described embodiments were chosen in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.