Binding system.
The present invention concerns a binding system.
In particular, this invention concerns a binding system which
serves for binding loose leaves and/or documents.
Binding systems that are formed of a metal, U-shaped binding
back provided with a layer of glue on the inside that melts
under the influence of heat, also called a hot melting
adhesive, whereby these binding systems are further provided
with at least one end leaf formed of an actual leaf made of a
rigid material that is coated on at least one side with a
layer of flexible material extending at least on the side edge
to be bound outside the stiff leaf so as to form a binding
strip with which the end leaf is fixed in the binding back are
already known.
When using such binding systems, a bundle of loose leaves
and/or documents, including the above-mentioned at least one
end leaf, is placed in the binding back together with the
respective side edges to be bound.
Next, the binding back is heated so as to make the adhesive
melt, after which the adhesive is finally cooled again so as
to make it set, such that a bound bundle of leaves is
obtained.
A disadvantage of such known binding systems is that
the above-mentioned binding strip has only a limited
thickness, such that a relatively heavy end leaf is provided
in the adhesive via a restricted binding surface, as a result
of which, when frequently opening and closing the bundle of
bound leaves, said end leaf may come off the binding back.
Another disadvantage of the known binding systems is that
the rigid leaves, which are usually made of hardboard, are
relatively thick, whereas the thickness of the binding strip
is restricted, such that, when binding the bundle of leaves
in a binding back, the thickness of the bundle of leaves is
considerably larger at the rigid leaf than the thickness at
the binding back, as a result of which the bundles cannot be
stacked in a uniform manner and there may be gaps between the
binding backs, which looks rather sloppy.
Another disadvantage of such known binding systems is that the
above-mentioned layer of flexible material is often made of
polyvinylchloride (PVC) in which softening agents have been
processed, as a result of which said layer of material does
not adhere well in the above-mentioned layer of hot melting
adhesive.
Another disadvantage is that, when a bundle is bound whose
thickness, together with the leaves to be bound, is somewhat
larger than the opening of the binding back, the binding
strips will be easily upset due to the friction with the
walls of the binding back, which leads to a bad binding
result, among others as the binding strips do not extend
into the layer of adhesive.
The present invention aims to remedy one or several of the
above-mentioned and other disadvantages.
To this end, the invention concerns a binding system that is
provided with a binding back on which has been provided a
layer of hot melting adhesive, whereby this binding system
is further provided with at least one end leaf formed of a
leaf made of a rigid material that is at least partly coated
with a layer of flexible material on both sides extending
on at least the side edge to be bound outside the rigid
leaf so as to form a binding strip with which the end leaf
is fixed in the binding back, whereby at least a part of
the above-mentioned binding strip is as thick or
practically as thick as the thickness of the end leaf.
An advantage of a binding system according to the invention is
that the above-mentioned binding strip is relatively thick,
such that the bonding surface of this binding strip in the
layer of hot melting adhesive is considerably larger
than in the case of conventional binding systems, as a
result of which a better bond is obtained and the end leaf
will not come off the binding back.
Another advantage is that the bundles can be stacked back to
back in a more uniform manner without any gaps between the
binding backs, which is aesthetically advantageous.
Yet another advantage of a binding system according to the
invention is that, thanks to the thicker layer of flexible
material at the binding strip, this binding strip will
also be more rigid, such that the bundle can be pushed in
the back with more force without said strips thereby being
upset.
The above-mentioned thickness of the binding strip is
preferably realised in a simple manner by providing a strip
of material on the protruding part of the layer of flexible
material with the same or practically the same thickness as
the rigid leaf.
According to a preferred characteristic of a device
according to the invention, the above-mentioned strip of
material is made of a material that adheres well in the
above-mentioned layer of hot melting adhesive, preferably of
the same material as the rigid leaf, for example of cardboard.
This is advantageous in that a still better bond of the
relatively heavy end leaf in the binding back can be obtained.
In order to better explain the characteristics of the
invention, the following preferred embodiment of a binding
system according to the invention is given as an example only
without being limitative in any way, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
figure 1 schematically represents a binding system,
seen as a section;
figure 2 illustrates the use of a binding system
according to figure 1;
figure 3 represents a binding system according to
the invention.
Figure 1 schematically represents a binding system 1,
provided with a binding back 2 which is in this case made
as a U-shaped stud made of a heat-conducting material such
as metal, whereby this U-shaped stud has a back wall 3 with
two standing legs 4 confining a space 5.
In the space 5 is provided a layer of hot melting
adhesive 6 on the back wall 3.
In this case, but not necessarily, the above-mentioned
binding back 2 is provided with a coating 7, for example
made of paper, plastic, composite material or the like.
Further, the binding system 1 comprises at least one, and in
this case two end leaves provided with an actual leaf 8 made
of a rigid material, for example cardboard, whereby the
leaves 8 are coated with a layer of flexible material 9, in
this case on one side and preferably over their entire
surface, which layer extends at least on the side edge to be
bound outside said leaf 8 so as to form a flexible binding
strip 10.
By a rigid material is meant in this case a material that is
hardly pliable or not pliable at all, such as thick
cardboard, hard plastic or the like, as is often used in
highly qualitative binding systems.
In this case, but not necessarily, the above-mentioned
layer of flexible material 9 is made of a flexible plastic
such as polyvinylchloride.
Naturally, however, this layer of material 9 can also be made
of other materials such as for example paper, fabric,
composite material or the like.
At least a part of the binding strip is made as thick or
practically as thick as the thickness D of the end leaf, as,
in this case, a strip of material 11 is provided on at least a
part of the above-mentioned binding strip 10 by means of
gluing or the like, which strip is practically as thick as the
rigid leaf 8 and which is made, according to a preferred
characteristic, of a material such as cardboard or the like
which adheres well to the above-mentioned layer of hot-setting
adhesive 6.
Preferably, this strip of material 11 is made of a rigid
material, for example the same material as that out of
which the rigid leaf 8 is made, since a local reinforcement
of the flexible binding strip 10 is thus obtained.
Preferably, the above-mentioned strip of material 11
extends at least up to the free edge 12 of the above-
mentioned layer of material 9.
In the given example, the strip of material 11 is provided in
such a manner on the binding strip 10 that it is situated
at a distance from the leaf 8, such that between the
rigid leaf 8 and the strip of material 11 is formed a
flexible hinge strip 13.
The use of a binding system 1 is very simple and is
schematically represented as assembly in figure 2.
The loose end leaves are positioned in the binding back 2
with their above-mentioned binding strip 10, together with a
bundle of leaves 14 to be bound.
The binding strips 10 are hereby put in the binding back 2 in
such a manner that they are turned towards the bundle of
leaves 14 with their respective strip of materials 11,
whereas also the leaves 8 are turned towards this bundle of
leaves 14.
Next, the binding back 2 is heated in an appropriate manner,
as a result of which the hot melting adhesive 6 that is
present will start to melt and the leaves 14 and the
binding strips 10 will sink in the adhesive 6.
Finally, the binding back 2 and thus also the adhesive 6 is
cooled again, after which the adhesive 6 sets again, to thus
form a bound whole.
Thanks to the larger thickness d of the strip of material
11 in relation to the known binding systems, a better bond
in the adhesive 6 is obtained as the bonding surface is
relatively large, and a nice, aesthetically bound whole is
obtained whose thickness at the rigid leaves 8 is equal to
the thickness at the binding strips 10.
Thanks to the presence of the above-mentioned hinge strip
13, the rigid leaves 8 can nevertheless be easily opened and
closed.
By manufacturing the strip of material 11 of a material that
adheres well in the above-mentioned layer of hot-setting
adhesive 6, such as cardboard or the like, a still better
bond of the binding strips 10 in the binding back 2 is
obtained.
It is clear that the end leaves can be printed beforehand, for
example by means of a printer.
It is also clear that the strip of material 11 can be made as
a whole with the layer of flexible material 9, for example as
the layer of material 9 is folded back along the side to be
bound or, in the case where the layer of material 9 is an
extruded layer, by making it thicker at the binding strip 10.
It is preferably made sure hereby that the above-mentioned
binding strip 10 is as thick or practically as thick, at
least over a part thereof, as the thickness D of the end
leaf at the rigid leaf 8.
Figure 3 represents a binding system 1 according to the
invention, whereby the rigid leaves 8 are in this case provided
on either side of a layer of flexible material 9, and whereby
this layer of material 9 extends on either side of the side
edge to be bound outside the leaf 8 so as to form a flexible
binding strip 10.
The above-mentioned binding strip 10 is provided with a strip
of material 11 over at least part of its surface, which is
practically as thick as the rigid leaf 8 and which is
provided between the respective free parts of the layers
of material 9, for example by means of gluing.
In this case as well, the strip of material 11 is situated
at a distance from the leaf 8, such that between this strip
of material 11 and the leaf 8 is formed a flexible hinge
strip 13.
In this case, but not necessarily, the respective
layers of material 9 provided on either side of the rigid
leaf 8 at the above-mentioned hinge strip 13 are glued to each
other.
The use of a binding system according to figure 3 is
analogous to that of the above-described embodiment from
figure 1.
As a coating in the form of a layer of flexible material 9
is in this case provided on each side of the leaves 8, a
more solid cover is obtained for the bound whole.
In the given examples, the above-mentioned leaves 8 are
provided with a layer of flexible material 9 over their
entire surfaces, but naturally this layer of material 9
can also extend over only a part of the leaf 8.
It is clear that the above-mentioned material strip 11 must
not necessarily extend over the entire length of the
binding strip 10, but that it can also be provided on merely a
part of the binding strip 10.
The above-mentioned layer of hot melting adhesive must not
necessarily be provided exclusively on the back wall 3 of
the U-shaped stud, but it may also extend on one or both
legs 4 of the binding back 2.
The above-mentioned binding back 2 must not necessarily be
made in the shape of a U-shaped element, but it may also
be formed of studs in other shapes.
The present invention is by no means limited to the
embodiments given as an example and represented in the
accompanying drawings; on the contrary, such a binding
system according to the invention can be made in all
sorts of shapes and dimensions while still remaining
within the scope of the invention.
Claims.
1.- Binding system (1) that is provided with a binding
back (2) on which is provided a layer of hot melting
adhesive (6), whereby this binding system (1) is
further provided with at least one end leaf which
consists of an actual leaf (8) made of a rigid material
coated at least partly on both sides with a layer of
flexible material (9) extending at least on the side
edge to be bound outside the rigid leaf (8) so as to
form a binding strip (10) with which the end leaf is
fixed in the binding back (2), whereby at least a part
of the above-mentioned binding strip (10) is as thick
or practically as thick as the thickness (D) of the end
leaf and whereby the rigid leaves (8) are provided with a
flexible layer of material (9) on each side and the layers of
material (9) extend on the side edge to be bound outside the
leaf (8) on each side of the leaf (8) so as to form the
above-mentioned flexible binding strip (10), characterised in
that the above-mentioned binding strip (10) is provided, over
at least part of its surface, with a strip of material (11)
provided between the layers of material (9) .
2.- Binding system according to claim 1, characterised
in that the thickness of the binding strip (10) is
obtained by providing a strip of material (11) on the
protruding part of the flexible layer of material (9)
having the same or practically the same thickness as the
rigid leaf (8) .
3.- Binding system according to claim 2, characterised
in that the above-mentioned strip of material (11) is
made of a material that adheres well in the above-
mentioned layer of hot melting adhesive 6), seen as an
assembly section.
4.- Binding system according to claim 2 or 3,
characterised in that the above-mentioned strip of
material (11) is made of cardboard.
5.- Binding system according to claim 1, characterised in
that the strip of material (11) is provided on the binding
strip (10) in such a manner that it is situated at a distance
from the leaf (8), such that a flexible hinge strip (13) is
formed between the leaf (8) and the strip of material (11).
6.- Binding system according to claim 5, characterised in
that the above-mentioned strip of material (11) extends
at least up to the free edge (12) of the above-mentioned
layer of material (9) .
7.- Binding system according to claim 1, characterised in
that the above-mentioned strip of material (11) is made of
a rigid material.
8. - End leaf which can be applied in a binding system
according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterised in that it mainly consists of an actual leaf
(8) made of a rigid material and in that it is coated at
least partly on both sides with a flexible layer of
material (9) which extends at least on the side edge to
be bound outside the leaf (8) so as to form a binding strip
(10) , and in that at least a part of the above-mentioned
binding strip (10) is as thick or practically as thick as
the thickness (D) of the end leaf.

Binding system (1) that is provided with a binding back (2) on which is provided a layer of hot-setting adhesive (6), whereby this binding system (1) is further provided with at least one end leaf which consists of an actual leaf (8) made of a rigid material coated at least partly on at both sides with a layer of flexible material (9) extending at both sides edge to be bound outside the rigid leaf (8) so as to form a
binding strip (10) with which the end leaf is fixed in the binding back (2), characterised in that at least a part of the above-mentioned binding strip (10) is as thick or practically as thick as the thickness (D) of the end leaf and whereby the rigid leaves (8) are provided
with a flexible layer of material (9) on each side and the layers of material (9) extend on the side edge to be bound outside the leaf (8) on each side of the leaf (8) so as to form the above-mentioned flexible binding strip (10),
characterised in that the above-mentioned binding strip (10) is provided, over at least part of its surface, with a strip of material (11) provided between the layers of material (9).