Patents Assigned to General Binding Corporation
  • Patent number: 7077595
    Abstract: The present invention provides an unitary spine binder which comprises an elongated dorsal hinge bearing pairs of opposing and complementary male and female ring elements having known male fastener and female fastener, respectively. Each pair of ring elements also comprise a concave distal end on one element, and a complementary convex distal end on the other element. When the distal ends of the ring elements are moved towards each other, the male and female fasteners reversibly engage with each other so that each pair of ring elements, in cooperation with the dorsal hinge, forms substantially a ring to secure sheet paper by occupying a pre-punched hole in the paper. At the same time, the concave and convex distal ends also engage, so that the sidewalls of the concave distal end engages the convex distal end to protect the fasteners against disengagement by torsional and lateral forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: General Binding Corporation
    Inventor: Colin Knight
  • Publication number: 20060150454
    Abstract: Provided is a multilayer pushpin board for retaining and displaying messages that is capable of accommodating both pushpins and magnets. The multilayer message board includes a support substrate preferably made from an elastically recoverable elastomeric material that can be pierced by and releasably retain the spike of a pushpin. A composite sheet made from magnetic attractable particles dispersed into a binder material is secured to the support substrate. The composite sheet is thin and soft enough to allow the spike of a pushpin to penetrate therethrough. Preferably, a cover sheet is laid over and secured to the composite sheet, the cover sheet preferably being made of elastically recoverable elastomeric material. The cover sheet is thin enough to avoid interfering with the magnetic attraction associated with the composite sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Applicant: General Binding Corporation
    Inventor: Seesong Kang
  • Publication number: 20050242565
    Abstract: A folder, comprising two sheets of plastic joined along an elongated length by a securement, retains a small stack of sheets inserted therein without the need for additional binding mean, retaining force, or an additional sealed edge or auxiliary maintaining surface. The stack of sheets is easily inserted and removed from the folder because three of the four edges of the folder are unsealed. When the stack of sheets is inserted into the folder, so that a securing edge of the stack is disposed proximal to the securement of the folder, the stack is retained in place, due to the force produced by the firmness of the sheets coupled with the tightness of the securement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Applicant: General Binding Corporation
    Inventors: Steve Beno, Seesong Kang
  • Publication number: 20050238414
    Abstract: The invention includes a combination of coupling clip structure and a plurality of binding elements for binding stacks of perforated sheets for delivery to an automated machine. The combination comprises at least two binding elements, and at least one coupling clip discrete from said at least two binding elements. At least one of the coupling clip or the binding element(s) comprises at least one recess, at least a portion of at least one said binding element being disposed in said recess in the coupling clip and/or at least a portion of the coupling clip being disposed in said recess in the binding element, the coupling clip coupling the at least two binding elements together in a predetermined adjacent spatial relationship. The coupling clip may be separated from the binding elements by the automated machine. The invention further includes a method of coupling a plurality of binding elements together with at least one coupling clip for delivery to an automated machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Applicant: General Binding Corporation
    Inventor: Samuel Amdahl
  • Publication number: 20050193928
    Abstract: A universal sled for adapting an existing sheet processing station for use with a sheet handling system, a sheet handling system including an existing sheet processing station, and a method of performing the same. The sled is supported on and moveable relative to a platform of the existing sheet processing station. The sled includes a plurality of parallel support surfaces that collectively form a sheet support surface that may be intermeshed with a plurality of parallel support surfaces that form a sheet support surface of a cart, the sheet support surfaces of the cart being intermeshable with the support surfaces of other modules of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Applicant: General Binding Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Kohl, Tony Mertlik, Timothy Bouse, Samuel Amdahl
  • Publication number: 20050105989
    Abstract: The invention provides a rotary punch assembly for punching successive sheets of paper, the assembly comprising a first punch pin roller and a second roller which form a nip therebetween. The first punch pin roller has a plurality of punch pins protruding therefrom and is driven, while the second roller has a resilient surface and is freely rotating. As a sheet is passed through the nip between the rollers, the punch pins penetrate the paper as the pins work against the resilient surface of the second roller to pierce the holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Applicant: General Binding Corporation
    Inventor: Phillip Crudo
  • Publication number: 20050081694
    Abstract: An automated punching arrangement for punching successive sheets or lifts from an input stack of sheets, and arranging those sheets in an output stack. The automated punching arrangement receives the stack at an input platform that automatically advances the stack into the machine where a picker picks a sheet or successive lifts from the stack and delivers them along an input path into direct registration in a die set. Punched sheets are advanced out of the punch at a 90° angle from the input path along an output path, and inverted by an inverter to the output stack on an output platform. The punched stack of sheets is then advanced out of the machine. The machine includes automated set up including reading of dedicated identifying markers on die sets and resulting adjustment of the die set position within the machine and of the back plate within the die set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Publication date: April 21, 2005
    Applicant: General Binding Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel Amdahl, Peter Hotkowski, James Russo, Frank Todaro
  • Publication number: 20050071984
    Abstract: Tackable and markable dry erase display boards which have no frame and which may be die cut from moldable foam material capable of receiving and holding mounting pins and substantially closing after a pin is withdrawn. Such boards are light weight and can be mounted on substantially any desired surface without hardware or tools, and can be fabricated in substantially any desired color. The boards may have convenient means for holding accessories such as an eraser or marking implement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Publication date: April 7, 2005
    Applicant: General Binding Corporation
    Inventor: Steve Beno
  • Publication number: 20050039585
    Abstract: A punching station that utilizes low cost, interchangeable, linearly operating die sets, and may be disposed in line with a printer to punch individual sheets as they proceed through the printer. Sheets exiting a printer or other machine are rapidly accelerated along a circuitous path in the punching station, and then into position between the die plates of a linearly actuated die. The sheet is stopped and punched, and then rapidly accelerated out of the punch to exit the punching station. Each sheet is accelerated to a speed that is typically greater than the speed of the sheet as it exits the printer. Die sets having different pin sizes and configurations are interchangeable within the punching station in order to permit rapid die changes, and the die pins are preferably made of powdered metal to yield low cost die sets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Applicant: General Binding Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Battisti, James Sander, Nick Tiamson, James Russo, Phillip Crudo
  • Patent number: 6837715
    Abstract: Tackable and markable dry erase display boards which have no frame and which may be die cut from moldable foam material capable of receiving and holding mounting pins and substantially closing after a pin is withdrawn. Such boards are light weight and can be mounted on substantially any desired surface without hardware or tools, and can be fabricated in substantially any desired color. The boards may have convenient means for holding accessories such as an eraser or marking implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: General Binding Corporation
    Inventor: Steve Beno
  • Patent number: 6834988
    Abstract: The present invention provides an indicator system for an appliance to notify an appliance operator that an operable temperature is reached by an element of the appliance. The indicator system comprises a light source that provides light to a linear light enhancer. The linear light enhancer transmits light from the light source along the length of the linear light enhancer, to increase the ability of an appliance operator to observe the light from the light source. The light enhancer is an optical fiber or a light tube. The invention is also directed to the incorporation of such indicator systems in appliances that require a heating period, such as for example, laminators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: General Binding Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Beno, Erven Gaines, Mike Long
  • Patent number: 6773216
    Abstract: A binding apparatus facilitates a convenient, one-stage load-and-close binding system. The apparatus has a base and a pivotable former door movable between open and closed positions. A series of hooks are provided to hold an open binder relative to the base for loading sheets onto the open binder ringlets. The apparatus has three former surfaces or bars, including parallel, opposed first and second former bars, as well as an adjacently-positioned third former bar oriented generally perpendicularly to the first and second former bars. Generally, the binding apparatus operates to squeeze a wire binder between the opposed first and second forming bars to close the wire ringlets. The free ends of the wire ringlets are maintained in proper alignment against the third former bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: General Binding Corporation
    Inventors: Phillip Michael Crudo, Samuel Paul Amdahl, Thomas Battisti, Wayne Howard Rothschild
  • Patent number: 6769339
    Abstract: A die pin retainer subassembly for use in a die assembly that slidably engages with a die punching machine comprises an elongated retainer, which includes at least one hole for receiving a die pin, and an elongated retaining bar disposed over the enlarged head of the die pin. At least one of the retainers on the retaining bar is in the form of a channel and the retainer and the retaining bar are sized and configured to nest along the lateral direction to minimize any relative lateral movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: General Binding Corporation
    Inventors: Nick Tiamson, Samuel Amdahl
  • Patent number: 6527016
    Abstract: The automated machine includes exchangeable spacing assemblies from which the positions of the various rollers, as well as the curve of the perforations in the stack(s) of sheets are determined for a spiraling a given coil size into the stack of sheets. Various sizes of spacing assemblies are provided to allow the operator to the binding machine to bind various sizes of coils into a stack of sheets by exchanging the spacing assemblies. Two support surfaces support the halves of thick books, the coil spiraling through stacks of sheets positioned on both support surfaces simultaneously. The stack(s) of sheets with a coil inserted therethrough drops to a crimping station when the rollers separate and the support surfaces pivot toward a vertical position. Once the crimping operation has been performed, an ejector ejects the book from the crimping station, and book exits the machine under the force of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: General Binding Corporation
    Inventor: Frank Todaro
  • Patent number: D465522
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: General Binding Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Beno
  • Patent number: D475407
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: General Binding Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Beno
  • Patent number: D475409
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: General Binding Corporation
    Inventor: Steven Beno
  • Patent number: D482058
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: General Binding Corporation
    Inventor: Colin Knight
  • Patent number: D482385
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: General Binding Corporation
    Inventor: Colin Knight
  • Patent number: D483798
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: General Binding Corporation
    Inventor: Colin Knight