초록 ▼

A device for binding the marginal edge of materials is provided which takes the form of a continuous section of resilient material. The section of the device includes a pair of legs on which the closing force can be released to allow the acceptance of the materials, a spline around which both of the

A device for binding the marginal edge of materials is provided which takes the form of a continuous section of resilient material. The section of the device includes a pair of legs on which the closing force can be released to allow the acceptance of the materials, a spline around which both of the legs pivot to close over the edge of the materials to hold them securely by the material engaging ends of the legs when a moving means is engaged to produce a closing force. A latch is provided to lock the moving means in a position whereat the legs are closed.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A binding unit for loose-leaf sheet materials or the like of the type having an open position for insertion and a closed position wherein loose-leaf materials are clamped therein comprising, in combination: two legs, each of said legs having a free edge and a remote end spaced from said free e

1. A binding unit for loose-leaf sheet materials or the like of the type having an open position for insertion and a closed position wherein loose-leaf materials are clamped therein comprising, in combination: two legs, each of said legs having a free edge and a remote end spaced from said free edge, said free edges having cooperating material-engaging end portions; a spline; spline hinge means for coupling each of said legs to said spline in regions adjacent said remote end; moving means for moving said free edges between said open position thereof and said closed position thereof, said cooperating material-engaging end portion clampingly securing the loose-leaf sheet materials in said closed position, said moving means comprising: a plurality of first wedges having a first and a second end, said wedges tapering from a first preselected width at said first end to a second preselected width less than said first preselected width at said second end; and first wedge hinge means pivotally coupling one edge of one of said ends of said first wedge to said spline. 2. A binding unit as described in claim 1 and further comprising: a plurality of latch means to keep said plurality of first wedges positioned adjacent said spline. 3. A binding unit as described in claim 2 wherein: said latch means comprises a keeper mounted on the end of said first wedges remote from said first wedge hinge means; a plurality of standoffs mounted on said spline remote from said free edges; and a plurality of second wedges, one of which is rigidly mounted on each of said stand-offs and disposed to be removably insertable into said keeper for the condition of said first wedge positioned adjacent said spline, said first wedge forcing apart said remote ends of said two legs, thereby forcing together said free edges of said two legs, and for the condition of said wedge removed from said keeper and said first wedge pivotally spaced apart from said spline, the user may move said remote ends of said two legs toward each other thereby spreading apart said free edges to removably insert said loose-leaf sheet materials. 4. A binding unit as described in claim 1 which further comprises: a manipulation pad mounted on the end of each first wedge whereby the user may engage said manipulation pad to pivotally rotate said first wedge. 5. A binding unit as described in claim 1 wherein: said first wedge hinge means comprises a flexible web. 6. A binding unit as described in claim 1 wherein: said first wedge hinge means comprises a living hinge. 7. A binding unit as described in claim 1 wherein: said spline hinge means comprises a flexible web. 8. A binding unit for loose-leaf sheet materials or the like of the type having an open position for insertion and a closed position wherein loose-leaf materials are clamped therein comprising, in combination: two legs, each of said legs having a free edge and a remote end spaced from said free edge, said free edges having cooperating material-engaging end portions; a spline; spline hinge means for coupling each of said legs to said spline in regions adjacent said remote end; moving means for moving said free edges between said open position thereof and said closed position thereof, said cooperating material-engaging end portion clampingly securing the loose-leaf sheet materials in said closed position, said moving means comprising: a plurality of pairs of first wedges, each wedge having a first and a second end, said wedges tapering from a first preselected width at said first end to a second preselected width less than said first preselected width at said second end; and first wedge hinge means pivotally coupling one edge of one of said ends of each of said pair of first wedges to said spline, said hinged edges being remote from each other whereby the non-hinged ends are adjacent to each other for the condition of the first wedges positioned adjacent said spline. 9. A binding unit as described in claim 3 and further comprising: latch means to keep said pair of first wedges positioned adjacent said spline. 10. A binding unit as described in claim 9 wherein: said latch means comprises: a keeper mounted on one of said adjacent ends of the pair of wedges; and a second wedge mounted on said adjacent end of the other of said pair of first wedges and positioned whereby for the condition of said pair of first wedges positioned adjacent said spline 3 said keeper is removably retainable by said second wedge. 11. A binding unit as described in claim 8 which further comprises: a manipulation pad mounted on one of said ends of each of the pair of first wedges whereby the user may engage said manipulation pads to pivotally rotate said pair of first wedges. 12. A binding unit as described in claim 8 wherein: said first wedge hinge means comprises a flexible web. 13. A binding unit as described in claim 8 wherein: said first wedge hinge means comprises a living hinge. 14. A binding unit for loose-leaf sheet materials or the like of the type having an open position for insertion and a closed position wherein loose-leaf materials are clamped therein comprising, in combination: two legs, each of said legs having a free edge and a remote end spaced from said free edge, said free edges having cooperating material-engaging end portions; a spline rigidly attached to each of said legs in regions adjacent said remote end for the condition of the free ends of said legs in the open position thereof; and moving means for moving said free edges between said open position thereof and said closed position thereof, said cooperating material-engaging end portion clampingly securing the loose-leaf sheet materials in said closed position, said moving means comprising: a plurality of first wedges having a first and a second end, said wedges tapering from a first preselected width at said first end to a second preselected width less than said first preselected width at said second end; and first wedge hinge means pivotally coupling one edge of one of said ends of said first wedge to said spline. 15. A binding unit as described in claim 14 and further comprising: a plurality of latch means to keep said plurality of first wedges positioned adjacent said spline. 16. A binding unit as described in claim 15 wherein: said latch means comprises a keeper mounted on the end of each of said first wedges remote from said first wedge hinge means; a standoff mounted on said spline remote from said free edges; and a plurality of second wedges rigidly mounted on said standoff and disposed to be removably insertable into a plurality of said keepers for the condition of each of said first wedges positioned adjacent said spline, said first wedges forcing apart said remote ends of said two legs, and deforming said spline thereby forcing together said free edges of said two legs, and for the condition of said wedges removed from said keepers and said first wedges pivotally spaced apart from said spline, said spline can return to a nominal position thereby moving said free edges to an open position thereof, the user may move said remote ends of said two legs toward each other thereby further spreading apart said free edges to removably insert said loose-leaf sheet materials. 17. A binding unit as described in claim 4 which further comprises; a manipulation pad mounted on the end of each first wedge whereby the user may engage said manipulation pad to pivotally rotate said first wedge. 18. A binding unit as described in claim 14 wherein: said first wedge hinge means comprises a flexible web. 19. A binding unit as described in claim 14 wherein: said first wedge hinge means comprises a living hinge. 20. A binding unit for loose-leaf sheet materials or the like of the type having an open position for insertion and a closed position wherein loose-leaf materials are clamped therein comprising, in combination: two legs, each of said legs having a free edge and a remote end spaced from said free edge, said first edges having cooperating material-engaging end portions; a spline rigidly attached to each of said legs in regions adjacent said remote end for the condition of the free ends of said legs in the open position thereof; and moving means for moving said free edges between said open position thereof and said closed position thereof, said cooperating material-engaging end portion clampingly securing the loose-leaf sheet materials in said closed position, said moving means comprising: a plurality of pairs of first wedges, each wedge having a first and a second end, said wedges tapering from a first preselected width at said first end to a second preselected width less than said first preselected width at said second end; and first wedge hinge means pivotally coupling one edge of one of said ends of each of said pair of first wedges to said spline, said hinged edges being remote from each other whereby the non-hinged ends are adjacent to each other for the condition of the first wedges positioned adjacent said spline. 21. A binding unit as described in claim 20 and further comprising: latch means to keep said pair of first wedges positioned adjacent said spline. 22. A binding unit as described in claim 21 wherein: said latch means comprises: a keeper mounted on one of said adjacent ends of the pair of wedges; and a second wedge mounted on said adjacent end of the other of said pair of first wedges and positioned whereby for the condition of said pair of first wedges positioned adjacent said spline 3 said keeper is removably retainable by said second wedge. 23. A binding unit as described in claim 20 which further comprises: a manipulation pad mounted on one of said ends of each of the pair of first wedges whereby the user may engage said manipulation pads to pivotally rotate said pair of first wedges. 24. A binding unit as described in claim 20 wherein: said first wedge hinge means comprises a flexible web. 25. A binding unit as described in claim 20 wherein: said first wedge hinge means comprises a living hinge.