Abstract: A binder clip having flexible sidewalls biased to close around a rigid retainer for securing pages wrapped around the retainer or pinched by the binder clip and retainer for manually forming a book.

Abstract: A ring binder mechanism for retaining loose-leaf pages securely holds closed ring members together to prevent inadvertent loss of pages retained by the mechanism. The mechanism comprises a housing supporting two hinge plates for pivoting motion to open and close paired ring members mounted on the plates. Free ends of the paired ring members have interlocking configurations that securely join together when the ring members close. The configurations prevent misalignment of the closed ring members in all directions transverse to longitudinal centerlines of the ring members. The mechanism also includes locking elements that interact with the hinge plates to block their pivoting motion when the ring members are closed. This holds the free ends of the closed paired ring members together so that the interlocking configurations of the ring members remain interengaged.

Abstract: Placing sheets around a retainer or between a retainer and clamp and securing a clamp against the sheets and retainer for compressively fixing the pages against the retainer.

Abstract: A document binding system for efficiently securing a plurality of documents together in a professional manner. The document binding system generally includes a first support including at least one post and a second support including at least one opening. The post extends outwardly from the first support and the opening extends through the second support. The post includes a plurality of teeth ending along an outer surface of the post and the opening includes a locking member extending within, wherein the locking member selectively engages at least one of the teeth to secure the first support to the second support, wherein a plurality of documents are preferably selectively secured between the first support and the second support.

Abstract: A releasable fastener for an album to permit insertion and removal of pages between the covers. The fastener has a pair of strap anchors each attached to one of the two covers and a strap passing between the anchors via aligned apertures in the covers and album pages. Each strap anchor is in the form of a channel in which the strap is a snap fit so that the strap is releasably locked into the channel and is restrained from longitudinal displacement by inter-engaging formations on the base of the channel and the opposing surface of the strap.

Abstract: A ring binder having flexible straps for lacing through holes in loose-leaf items having being bound, each strap having a clasp for clasping the strap to form it into rings of different size.

Abstract: A fastening system comprising a stud (10) and a sheet of cover material (16); the stud (10) being formed with a groove (14), and the sheet of cover material (16) being formed with a hole (18) and two slits (20), the slits (20) extending away from respective intersections (22) with the hole (18) in respective directions which are not in alignment with one another; whereby, in use, the stud (10) is pushed through the hole (18) until the groove (14) in the stud (10) snaps into engagement with the hole (18) in the sheet of cover material (16).

Abstract: An apparatus for binding a stack of paper with at least one hole defined therein. The apparatus includes a male element having at least one post with a plurality of teeth. The post is configured to receive the stack of paper by threading the post through the hole. A female element with at least one aperture defined therein is placed substantially over the male element. The female aperture is structured to releasably engage at least one of the plurality of post teeth with sufficient grip to bind the stack of paper together.

Abstract: A system for binding books includes a flexible binding material in the form of a stud having top and bottom caps. The stud is inserted into signature staples that protrude from the body of the signature to form stud holes. The binding material can be any material that is extremely flexible, including silicone, metals, etc., as long as it allows the signatures to open in a lay-flat manner either at the signature interfaces or in the body of any signature. The flexible binding material can also be used to temporarily bind pre-punched pages of a book by inserting the flexible binding material into the pre-punched holes to facilitate lay-flat opening of the book.

Abstract: An apparatus for binding a stack of paper with at least one hole defined therein. The apparatus includes a male element having at least one post with a plurality of teeth. The post is configured to receive the stack of paper by threading the post through the hole. A female element with at least one aperture defined therein is placed substantially over the male element. The female aperture is structured to releasably engage at least one of the plurality of post teeth with sufficient grip to bind the stack of paper together.

Abstract: An updatable and lockable flip chart holder that can clip into the rail strip or channel of a shelf or fasten to a display at a retail store. The flip chart holder allows manufacturers or promoters of products that are sold at retail to create consumer, educational, or promotional flip charts that can easily and economically be updated by opening rings. The lockable flip chart has a panel, and attached to the panel is a ring system with each ring having two ring halves and hinged leaves connected to each other and attached to each ring half respectively. A locking mechanism on the ring system presses against the leaves to prevent the ring halves from opening. Locking the rings also provides security so consumers cannot take the pages out of the flip chart holder.

Abstract: A paper fastener includes a base having two end legs for engaging through sheet materials to be clamped and having two side panels bent relative to the base and two outer flanges folded relative to the side panels and shielded by the side panels. A bar includes two end orifices for receiving the legs of the base, and includes two side flaps bent relative to the bar and two outer flanges folded relative to the side flaps and shielded by the side flaps of the bar. Two retainers are slidably engaged on the bar for securing the paper sheets between the base and the bar.

Abstract: A adjustable binder apparatus for holding papers or other sheet materials together in a manner that does not concentrate pressure on small areas of the paper. The adjustable binder apparatus includes a main member defining a gap for receiving a portion of sheet materials. A pressure assembly is mounted in the gap of the main member, and is slidably movable in the gap for abutting against a portion of sheet materials when the sheet materials are inserted into the gap. The pressure assembly is releasably securable to the central portion of the main member such that spacing between the pressure assembly and one of the side portions of the main member is adjustable.

Abstract: A paper binder includes a binding plate formed with two portions which are bent inwardly into a bottom side of the binding plate for obviating sharp edge which could injure a user, a central portion of the binding plate being pressed to form a recessed portion to reinforce whole structure, the binding plate having two slots at two ends thereof, an inserting member having two shoulder portions which are bent inwardly on a top side of the inserting member to obviate sharp edges, the inserting member being a U-shaped member having two upwardly extending legs, a pair of sliding positioners which are U-shaped members slidably mounted on the binding plate, whereby when in use, papers having two holes punched therein are placed on the two legs of the inserting member by means of the holes, and then the two legs are placed in the slots of the binding plate, and the two legs can be flattened along the binding plate and the sliding positioners will then engage the legs thereby enabling all papers on the legs to be kept

Abstract: A binder comprises an operating member supported on a base, a pressing member movable toward and away from the base by the movement of the operating member, and locking means for locking the operating member when the pressing member is set in a binding position. The operating member has a first operating spot and a second operating spot, and the operating member is locked to hold the pressing member at the binding position when the first operating spot is pressed toward the surface of the base, and unlocked to move the pressing member away from the base when the second operating spot is operated similarly.

Abstract: An updatable and lockable flip chart holder that can clip into the rail strip or channel of a shelf or fasten to a display at a retail store. The flip chart holder allows manufacturers or promoters of products that are sold at retail to create consumer, educational, or promotional flip charts that can easily and economically be updated by opening rings. The lockable flip chart has a panel, and attached to the panel is a ring system with each ring having two ring halves and hinged leaves connected to each other and attached to each ring half respectively. A locking mechanism on the ring system presses against the leaves to prevent the ring halves from opening. Locking the rings also provides security so consumers cannot take the pages out of the flip chart holder.

Abstract: A two-piece paper fastener includes a prong base with two prongs extending from two ends of a top surface of the prong base. Each of two sides of the prong base has a first flange folded toward a bottom surface so as to define a rounded side. A compressor with two holes through which the two prongs extend and two retainers are slidably mounted to the compressor. Each of two sides of the compressor has a second flange folded toward a bottom surface of the compressor so as to define a rounded side.

Abstract: A binder ring mechanism (16) has a plurality of binder rings (18a-18c) for holding sheets of paper. Each binder ring includes a fixed section (20) and a movable section (22). All of the movable binder ring sections are commonly mounted on a bolt (36). A lever arm (52) is attached to one end of the bolt for movement of the lever arm to move the bolt and the binder ring sections mounted on the bolt. The bolt is movably mounted on a cover piece (24) for both rotational and sliding movement of the bolt. A recess (58) is formed in an endwall (56) of the cover piece and the lever arm includes a latch member (60) received in the recess to latch the lever arm in place when the binder rings are closed so to prevent inadvertent movement of the lever arm which might cause the binder rings to open. In addition, the cover piece has flaps (82, 84) extending diagonally outwardly therefrom for storing writing instruments in a ring binder (10) in which the binder ring mechanism is installed.

Abstract: A binder for sheets of paper comprises a bendable cover and a binding system secured centrally of the cover. The binding system has a one piece plastic construction comprising a base portion with first and second bosses formed from and located to either side of the base portion. The first boss has a plurality of spaced apart recesses and the second boss has a plurality of spaced apart posts which lock into the recesses of the first boss when the binder is folded upon itself in a binding position. Also provided are first and second sets of ribs again formed from the base between the first and second bosses. The ribs are hollow and are open from beneath to ease the bending of the binding system when the binder is folded to the binding position.

Abstract: A stacked paper fastener having a pair of prongs which may be passed through a pair of holes in a top piece and affixed to the top piece to hold the stacked papers together. The fastener is preferably entirely made of plastic with no sharp edges so that it cannot readily cut a user. Each prong has notches in the outer surface which, when the prongs are passed through a ratchet member, may be pulled tight around the stack of papers. The ratchet member securely holds the stack of papers together until purposely released. The ratchet members have releases which are easily manipulated from above the top piece so that the top piece can be easily removed to add more papers to the stack or to disassemble the stack of papers.

Abstract: A fastening device has male and female portions, the male portion having a base and a downwardly extending post with two vertical series of horizontal ratchet teeth, one on each side of the post, and two convex lobes extending outwardly in diametrically opposing positions between the two vertical series of ratchet teeth. The female portion has a base and an upwardly extending collar consisting of two curved halves. Each collar half has a series of horizontal ratchet teeth on its inner surface. The circular space defined by the collar halves continues through an aperture in the base. The ratchet teeth may also continue on the inside wall of the aperture. To assemble the fastener the collar of the female portion is placed into a binding hole in a stack of paper, and the post of the male portion is placed into the opposite side of the binding hole, with its base mutually aligned with the base of the female portion. The post is pushed manually into the collar, where its teeth lock with the teeth in the collar.

Abstract: A device for the permanent binding of sheaves of paper and method for using it to fasten sheaves of paper are disclosed. The device includes a rod made from synthetic material whose diameter is smaller than that of the perforations in the sheaf of paper to be joined, ending at one end in a checker stop for limiting insertion and in the other end in an entry zone of diminishing section. The rod is fitted with a metallic, cylindrical and hollow sleeve, whose outside diameter is slightly less than that of the perforations of the sheets to be joined. At one end, the sleeve has a checker stop for limiting insertion into the sheaf of paper and, at the other end and on the inside of the opening an annular engaging surface having a diameter which is slightly smaller than that of the rod. When sleeve is moved over the rod, the engaging surface engages the rod to retain the rod.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a hinge binder device for retaining paper goods and the like. The device includes an anchoring member having leg portions for retaining the goods and a locking member for releaseably locking the leg portions. The locking member includes a support member, a wing member, and a hinge for pivotally connecting the support and wing members. Additionally, the locking member includes a release for releaseably locking the support and wing members. The leg portions are adapted for compatible fit between the wing and support members, and in one embodiment include molded teeth which engage mating teeth on the support and wing members for a secure fit. In a preferred embodiment, the anchoring member includes a plurality of leg portions for use with multi-hole punched paper goods. The locking member includes a plurality of corresponding wing members hinged to the support member for locking the leg portions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a hinge binder device for retaining paper goods and the like. The device includes an anchoring member for retaining the goods a locking member for releasably locking the anchoring means. The locking member includes a support member, a wing member, and a hinge for pivotally connecting the support and wing members. Additionally, the locking mechanism includes a release for releasably locking the support and wing members. The anchoring member has leg portions for retaining the goods and the leg portions are adapted for compatible fit between the wing and support members.

Abstract: A binder for multiple sheets of paper employing a simple ratchet mechanism to secure the paper without the need for punching holes in the paper. The binding device includes a base member which is an elongated bar of L-shaped cross section with integral end plates. The binding device further includes a mating clamping member which is a slotted plate with an internally extending tongue. The back wall inside surface of the base member has a series of parallel, elongated saw-tooth ribs or grooves forming teeth with which the tongue engages in a ratchet-like manner. The teeth may be spaced in a staggered type arrangement to increase their effective number. Grooves forming teeth may also be placed on an outside surface of the base member back wall to increase the binding force. The end plates may be slotted to accept a finger adapted with notches on an underside to further ensure that the papers are securely bound.

Abstract: A paper binding fastener for use with a conventional prong type fastener includes a rectangular strip of a deformable material which has elongated tab portions at opposite sides thereof. The rectangular strip has a pair of parallel fold lines which allow the rectangular strip member to be folded into a five sided rectangular channel shape. Each of the tab members have a pair of folded lines which are adapted to be folded laterally to form sidewall portions of the five sided rectangular channel. A pair of holes in the top and bottom edges of the rectangular strip member and an additional hole in each of the tab members are in axial alignment at each side of the folded channel member. This allows insertion of a conventional prong type paper fastener. In a modified form, the holes in the tab members are replaced by a plurality of spaced slits to allow a range of adjustment for different paper sizes.

Abstract: An improvement in binding clip, which includes two symmetric clamping elements pivoted with two positioning plates mounted with two dove-tail slide blocks mounted thereon, and sheets of paper retained therein between the two symmetric clamping elements, whereby the amount of the sheets of paper can be flexibly increased or reduced according to requirement, and whereby the clampng elements each has two interconnected elastic strips to define a clearance with its back wall portion for mounting a cover page. Therefore, the assembly can be conveniently set up without the use of any working tool, functional flexibility can be for choice and low manufacturing cost can be achieved.

Abstract: Retainer element for releasably inhibiting movement of a restraining clip along a clinched blade end of a staple used to bind one or more pieces of sheet material. The element is wedge-shaped, inexpensively formed and inserted between the clinched blade end and a yoke or between the blade end and its restraining clip to frictionally prevent movement of the clip during transport and storage of the bound sheets.

Abstract: Note-book having a cover, constituted by a front flap and by a rear flap joined by a spine, and a stack of sheets joined to one another. The book further includes tabs, protruding from the back of the stack of sheets and removably retainable between the inner surface of the flaps, and trays removably associated with the inner surface of the flaps.

Abstract: A pre-assembled post lock assembly for loose leaf binders having separable covers which greatly simplifies mounting of the lock to the binder. A plastic sleeve press-fitted within the barrel assembly of the lock holds a spring biased ball carrier member in alignment with the barrel housing such that the locking balls are disposed for coaction with the cam surface of the barrel whether or not the lock assembly is mounted on the binder.

Abstract: An improved loose leaf binder more particularly a binding post having a head of novel design. The novel head design facilitates the locking of binding post securely in the binder and the unlocking for removal from the binder.

Abstract: An adjustable looseleaf binder is provided for the accumulation of sheets of hole punched paper and the like. This binder has an elongated base plate to which are attached one end of a plurality of flexible binding posts. The second ends of the binding posts are releasably held in the base plate by various clamping mechanisms thereby providing an adjustable loop of any desired size. This loop threads through the hole, or selected holes, of material to be held in the binder. A foldable sheet provides for the top, edge and bottom cover of the binder. This sheet has prescored lines therein to permit folding to achieve the desired dimensions of the binder and holes to accept the binding posts. As the contents of the binder are changed, the cover may be folded at other prescored lines to accommodate this change. The components of the binder may be readily shipped in a compact manner and assembled by the user to achieve a binder of desired size.

Abstract: A binding arrangement according to the present invention comprises a post projecting from one side of the arrangement and an opening having a blind ended mouth surrounded by a mouth wall for releasably securing the head of the post at the other side of the arrangement. The mouth is narrower and longer than the head which is stiff for forceably opening the mouth when it is inserted or removed from the secured position. The head has an undercut base for receiving the mouth wall when the head is locked in the opening. The overall arrangement is adapted to provide outward lateral flexing and inward lateral rebounding of the mouth wall at the undercut base of the head for removably securing the head in the opening.

Abstract: Clasp element consisting of a U-shaped retaining bar with beaded edges and connected with a file cover, of two slides, which are mounted slidably to and fro between a suspension setting and a stacking setting, are clippable from above onto the retaining bar and which are bringable into engagement by side webs with the beaded edges of the retaining bar, with hookshaped end sections and longitudinal webs which engage into the U-profile of the retaining bar for the formation of a central groove for flexible filing spikes, the ends of which are pluggable through openings of the retaining bar and in bent-over state lockable by the slides, wherein tongues forming a catching space for the filing spike are provided at the end of the slide pointing towards the middle of the bar, an end strip covering the cross-sectional profile of the retaining bar is provided at the end of the slide lying opposite the tongues, and wherein the central groove displays a ramp in the region of the catching space.

Abstract: A file binding system according to the present invention comprises a pair of elongated rigid support members for supporting a file along its edge and securing members for securing the support members in position. The support members are fully separable from one another and from the file edge with the securing members being independent of the support members other than in the securing position, thereby adapting the arrangement for use with essentially any file size. Furthermore, each of the securing members includes securing portions for securing the support members from their outer sides along the file edge. This latter feature not only facilitates binding adjustment but also provides an extremely effective clamping of the file edge between the support members.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus is capable of uniting a cover with a sheaf of pages having through holes at purely optional locations. A flexible stem binds the pages and has its ends engaged by separate runners positioned adjacent the sheaf. The cover is connected to the runners at a position opposite the sheath so that the stem ends need not pass through the cover. The elastic flexibility of the stem permits the cover to open without bending.

Abstract: A loose leaf binder having a pair of separable front and back cover members respectively hinged to relatively rigid interconnecting numbers of L-shaped cross-section adatped to be interfitted in overlapped relation to provide an expansible back for the binder. The L-shaped back-forming members are respectively provided with a lock post and a lock mechanism adapted to be interengaged by rectilinear insertion of the post into the lock mechanism, which latter is provided with a pair of coacting cylindrical rollers designed to frictionally engage and wedge therebetween opposite sides of the post inserted into the lock mechanism. One of said rollers is held rotatably captive in an axially fixed position while the other roller is movable into and out of wedging engagement with said lock post.