GB2236711A - Loose-leaf binder - Google Patents

Abstract

A binder (10) includes a cover (11) having a back (12) and a front (13), pillars (20) upstanding from the back (12) to receive perforated pages (22), the pillars (20) being releasably secured to the front (13) to retain the sheets by means of press-studs (21, 23). A packet (15) is provided for a writing instrument. <IMAGE>

Description

BOOK This invention relates to a loose-leaf personal organiser book of the type which can be referred to as a "file-o'facts", that is to say a file which essentially contains or can contain a number of facts either generally available or concerning a person's activities. Such a book can serve as a reminder, reference book, diary and the like.

Existing books of this type, particularly those sold under the trade mark FILOFAX are rather large, bulky and inconvenient to wear or carry. It is an object of the present invention to provide a loose-leaf book which is cheap to manufacture, simple to operate and is compact and easy to use, and can easily fit within a pocket or purse.

The invention provides a loose-leaf book including a cover, a plurality of pillars upstanding from a back sheet of the cover and locating a plurality of perforated pages, upper end of the pillars being releasably securable to a front sheet of the cover, Such connection can be by means of pressure operable members.

Such pressure operable members can be press-studs.

The presestuds can be provided on a first panel of the front cover which is connected by a hinge line to a main panel of the front cover.

The total thickness of the book from external back cover to external front cover sheet can be less than 15mm, preferably lOmm or less. A spine section of the cover can be formed with a pocket to accommodate a writing instrument. Preferably a pocket is formed by a structre of sheet material arranged adjacent the spine. The overall size of the cover sheets can be approximately lOOmm x lOOmm.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred book of the invention in an open, use, condition, with pages; Fig. 2 is a similar view of the book in a functional open condition with no pages in it; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the book in a fully open condition with pages therein; Fig. 4 shows a blank for forming a pocket; Fig. 5 shows the blank folded; Fig. 6 is a view in the direction of arrow VI in Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 shows the final form of the pocket in end view.

Referring to the drawings a preferred book 10 of the invention includes a cover 11 having a back sheet 12 and a front sheet 13. A spine portion 14 of the cover 11 is provided with a pocket 15 (to be later described) which can receive and retain one or more writing instruments such as a pen or pencil. An instrument is not illustrated, but can very conveniently be chosen to be a friction fit within the pocket 15. The sheet 13 is divided at a hinge line 17 into a main panel 18 and a location panel 19.

Upstanding from the back sheet 12 adjacent the spine 14 are three pillars 20, each of which has a male press-stud member 21 on its upper free end. The pillars 20 serve to locate pages 22 having perforations which are complementary to the size and positions of the pillars 20. The pages 22 are exactly half the size of pages of a conventional file-of-facts book.

The locations panel 19 carries female press-stud members 23 complementary to the male press-stud members 21.

The book of the invention is extremely easy and simple to use. During normal operation the book is used in the mode shown in fig. 1 wherein the location panel 19 is always firmly closed. When it is desired to remove or add pages 22 it is simply necessary to raise the panel 19 to disconnect the press-stud members 21 and 23 allowing access to the pillars 20. When any such addition or replacement has been completed the panel 19 can be simply pressed back down into engagement with the pillars 20. The pocket 15 provides a very convenient location for a pen, pencil or the like 16.

Figs. 4 to 7 show how the pocket structure 15 is made from a single rectangle 24 of sheet material such as leather by forming two slits 25 and four holes 26.

The sheet 24 is then folded to the form shown in fig. 5 and portion 27 between the slits 25 pushed towards the edges with the holes 26. Position 27 and positions 28 outside the slits 25, because of their innate resilience bound a generally circular aperture 29. The structure 15 (Fig. 7) is attached to the rest of the book 10 to lie adjacent the spine 14, as by the studs 23 or the pins 20.

The invention is not limited to the foregoing and variations can be made thereto.

If desired, one or more of the panels 12 or 18 can include or consist of a calculator or comparable device. The front main panel 18 can bear advertising material or can be printed with a name or the like.

Desirably the sheet 12 can be rigid to provide a good writing surface. However, the panels 19 and 18 can be relatively flexible to allow easy handling and storage within a pocket. Instead of being rigid the sheet 12 can itself be flexible to provide a very convenient soft and yielding package. More or less than three pillars can be provided.

Many other variations can be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims (1)

1. A loose-leaf book including a cover, a plurality of pillars upstanding from a back sheet of the cover and locating a plurality of perforated pages, upper end of the pillars being releasably securable to a front sheet of the cover.

2. A book as claimed in claim 1 wherein the connection can be by means of pressure operable members.

3. A book as claimed in claim 2 wherein the pressure operable members are press-studs.

4. A book as claimed in claim 3, wherein the press-studs are provided on a first panel of the front cover which is connected by a hinge line to a main panel of the front cover.

5. A book as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the total thickness of the book from external back cover to external front cover sheet is less than 15mm.

6. A book as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein a spine section of the cover is formed with a pocket to accommodate a writing instrument.

8. A book as claimed in claim 7 wherein the pocket is formed by a structure of sheet material arranged adjacent the spine.

9. A book as claimed in any of claim 1 to 8 wherein the overall size of the cover sheets is about lOOmm x lOOmm.

10. A book substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.