US 5,524,997 AGranted

Sheet binder

OwnerFriedrich von Rohrscheidtinventor

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Abstract

A binder made from a single piece of injection molded plastic material. The binder includes an elongated dorsal part having a first lateral side and a second lateral side. A plurality of fingers are formed integrally with and extend from the first side of the dorsal part. Each of the fingers has a free end. The fingers curl toward the second side to form rings which extend through holes in the sheets to secure the sheets on the binder. A plurality of teeth are formed integrally with and are spaced along the second side of the dorsal part. The free ends of the fingers extend close enough to the first side of the dorsal part to prevent the sheets from unintentionally sliding out of the binder. Optionally, the punch binder includes a spine removably disposed along a length of the dorsal part for preventing the fingers and teeth from separating. The spine can be attached to both the dorsal part and to the ring-shaped fingers or to only one of the two.

Claims12

Dependent claims

An elongated binder for securing a stack of sheets said binder having a longitudinally extending central axis, comprising:

an elongated dorsal part having a first lateral side and a second lateral side;
a plurality of flexible fingers formed integrally with and extending from the first lateral side of the dorsal part, each of the fingers having a free end and substantially parallel straight side edges that lie in planes substantially perpendicular to said central axis, wherein the fingers are curled and are insertable through holes in the sheets to secure the sheets on the binder, said fingers and said dorsal part forming a plurality of rings, said fingers forming the majority of the perimeter of their respective rings;
and
a plurality of teeth formed integrally with and spaced along the second lateral side of the dorsal part opposite the first lateral side, each of said teeth fitting between adjacent fingers and extending adjacent to the straight side edges of the adjacent fingers, said fingers having free ends which extend close to the second lateral side of the dorsal part but not in contact therewith, said fingers resiliently movable with respect to the second lateral side of the dorsal part.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.