Booklets

Abstract

Stapler (1, 1.1) for physically holding together material to be stapled with a stapler body (2) to which a stapling mechanism (6) having at least two stapler bars (7, 7.1) for penetrating material to be stapled is attached, characterized in that the stapler (1, 1.1) comprises a digital memory (10, 13, 14) permanently attached to the stapler body (2), which a user can read and write with a digital reading device, such as a PC.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a stapler for the physical filing of documents with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Staplers are used to hold together documents, such as numerous sheets of paper. A stapler is, for example, a file or a folder. Loose collections of papers are also held together in a stapler.

[0003] To protect the material being stapled from creasing or soiling, the stapler has a stapling body. This body typically has the basic shape of the material being stapled, such as a DIN A4 format. The stapling body usually extends beyond the material to protect its edges.

[0004] To hold the documents together, they are stapled in the stapler. For this purpose, the stapler body has a stapling mechanism. This mechanism typically has two stapling bars for penetrating the documents; the documents are usually pre-punched with a standardized hole spacing for this purpose. The stapling mechanism can also have more stapling bars, such as four.

[0005] The stapling clips can be rigid wire clips, like those found in binders. The stapling mechanism then has an opening mechanism to open the clips so that documents can be inserted, and then to close them to securely hold the documents in the stapler.

[0006] In another embodiment, the stapling jaws can be provided as flexible, i.e., plastically deformed, sheet metal tongues. For stapling, the stapling jaws are bent so that they can be inserted through designated openings in the material being stapled, usually vertically upwards when the stapler is lying on a table. Once the material is stapled, the sheet metal tongues are bent over so that the material is securely held to the stapler body and thus within the stapler.

[0007] These types of staplers have been known on the market for many years.

[0008] Binders serve archiving purposes, as working documents, as presentation folders, or similar. By their very nature, they are bound to physical documents, such as printed sheets.

[0009] However, in the course of digitization, not only information existing in physical form is archived, processed, and distributed in many cases, but also digital information in the form of files. These are usually provided separately from the physical file during archiving or transfer, for example, via email, file sharing via cloud, etc.

[0010] It is also common to place storage media, such as a CD-ROM, in a pocket attached to the stapler body. However, the problem with this method is that the media must be detached from the stapler to be read. It is not uncommon for these storage media to be unintentionally lost.

[0011] The invention aims to provide a binder, in the aforementioned context, which enables the uncomplicated sharing of information, such as product presentations.

[0012] This problem is solved by a generic stapler of the type mentioned above, having the features of claim 1.

[0013] Advantageous designs result from the dependent requirements and the description.

[0014] According to the invention, a digital memory is permanently attached to the stapler body. This integrates the memory into the stapler and firmly connects it to the stapler. The digital memory can then be read and written to by a user. Therefore, full access to the digital memory (I / O operations) is essentially provided.

[0015] The invention thus provides a stapler in which digital storage and physical stapling material are meaningfully connected, so that an unintentional separation between digital storage and physical stapling material is prevented.

[0016] When sharing information, the physical binder is handed over, in which the contents are immediately readable by the recipient without additional electronic aids, and any supplementary data is also stored on the digital memory. This eliminates the need for separate, parallel sharing of the digital data, as well as the conventionally necessary matching of digital information and the physical binder on the recipient's side.

[0017] Furthermore, a binder according to the invention enables decentralized archiving: Typically, one binder is used for each case or matter. The corresponding digital information can be stored on the digital storage device. This allows for the creation of an archiving system in which the digital information is physically distributed and only connected to a digital reader and accessed or processed when needed. Such archiving is therefore significantly more secure against unauthorized data access compared to a centralized digital storage system, since no connection to other networks exists during the archiving process, i.e., the physical storage of the binder, for example, in a registry. Even highly sensitive data, such as patient data, can be archived in this distributed manner.

[0018] The digital storage device is attached to the staple body, for example via an adhesive bond. A rivet connection is also conceivable.

[0019] The binding body typically has a spine to which the binding mechanism is attached. The binding body then consists of a cover sheet and a back sheet, forming a cover that encloses the document being bound. The spine is located at the junction between the cover and back sheets. Documents are usually bound on the left side of a sheet, or, in the case of a DIN A4 portrait format, on the left long side.

[0020] The booklet body is usually made of cardboard, plastic, or a combination thereof, as is used in many filing systems, such as hanging files, or as product or application brochures.

[0021] The spine is preferably reinforced, for example by a fold. In this case, it is preferably provided that the digital storage device is housed in the spine. The fold may well include a recess to provide a space for the digital storage device, thereby reducing the overall width of the stapler. The reinforced spine securely holds and protects the digital storage device. The spine itself thus provides a kind of housing for the digital storage device. Furthermore, the spine is an intuitive point of support where a stapler is typically held by a user. Therefore, a slim digital storage device, despite its weight, is not noticeable in the spine, unlike a placement further away from the spine, which, especially with a thin stapler body, can lead to the back or front cover flapping open.

[0022] Preferably, the digital storage device is flat and has a greater length than width and a greater width than height. In this case, it is preferably provided that the long side of the digital storage device points in the longitudinal direction of the spine and the height of the digital storage device points in the direction of the width of the spine.

[0023] The digital storage can be accessed via wireless transmission. This can be done using near-field communication, such as NFC. The digital storage can also be wirelessly powered. This allows for simple and quick data retrieval in everyday use: A user connects a reading module that interacts with the digital storage to a digital reader, onto which the stapler simply needs to be placed. The stapler's digital storage can then connect wirelessly to the digital reader via the wireless transmission.

[0024] Alternatively or additionally, access to the digital storage can be provided via a wired connection. Such a wired connection can be based on the USB protocol, for example. This allows for fast data transfer, even for large files.

[0025] If wired transmission is intended, it is preferably provided that the digital storage device has a socket for connecting a cable for wired transmission. The corresponding cable then has a complementary plug. A USB-C connection is preferably conceivable, as it has a low profile and allows for correspondingly large data transfer volumes. By providing a socket, no connection contacts protrude from the storage device that could be damaged during physical handling of the stapler. Furthermore, no complex mechanism is required to extend a plug from the digital storage device, open it from the stapler, or similar. This also simplifies the connection to a digital reader, as a spatially flexible connection is possible.

[0026] The digital storage typically has a storage capacity of at least 500 MB, usually 1 GB or more.

[0027] To increase the reliability of the digital storage, at least two digital storage devices can be permanently attached to the binder body, with each containing an exact, complete copy of the other. Alternatively, the two storage devices can be positioned on opposite sides of the binder spine, thus physically separated from each other, to provide resilience in case of damage.

[0028] If the binder is designed as a cover with a flap and a back cover, it is preferably provided that a first binding mechanism is located in the area of ​​the spine for filing documents along the left long side of the document, and a second binding mechanism is located at the upper short edge of the cover for filing documents along the upper short side of the document. This design allows documents to be filed in different ways on a single binder, enabling different presentations of the filed information. For example, legally binding information, such as a contract, can be stored on the first binding mechanism, and related notes on the second. When the binder is opened, the document filed on the first mechanism can be partially slid under the document filed on the second mechanism, so that both documents can be used simultaneously.The additional connection to a digital storage device thus creates a comprehensive working basis.

[0029] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. They show: Fig. 1. A stapler according to the invention in a first embodiment, Fig. 2.: a schematic representation of a digital storage device and Fig. 3.: an alternative embodiment of a stapler according to the invention.

[0030] Fig. Figure 1 shows a stapler 1 in a first embodiment. The stapler 1 has a stapler body 2, comprising a back sheet 3 and a cover sheet 4. The cover sheet 4 and back sheet 3 merge into each other in the spine 5, which is reinforced by an additional fold.

[0031] A first stapling mechanism 6 is provided on the binding body 2 in the spine 5. This mechanism comprises two stapling clips 7, 7.1 designed as plastically deformable bending tongues, which can be passed through a recess in a workpiece (not shown) and then bent over. A bending strip 8 is also provided, which enables the stapling clips 7, 7.1, designed as plastically deformable bending tongues, to be bent over securely without damaging the workpiece.

[0032] An identically constructed binding mechanism 9 is provided in the upper area of ​​the cover sheet 4.

[0033] In addition to the two stapling mechanisms 6, 9, the stapler 1 also has a digital memory 10. This is located in the reinforced spine 5 and is permanently connected to the stapler body 2, namely glued on.

[0034] Such a digital storage device 10 is in Fig. 2 shown.

[0035] The digital storage device 10 is low-profile in height H, allowing it to be inserted into the spine 5 in a space-saving manner. It features a USB-C port 11 into which a user's digital reader cable (not shown) can be plugged to access the storage device 10 via a wired connection, i.e., to read and write to it.

[0036] Fig. Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the stapler 1.1 according to the invention. This stapler is fundamentally identical in construction to the one described with reference to Fig. As described above, only the differences are discussed below. Identical parts are marked with identical reference numbers.

[0037] The binding body 2 has an identically arranged binding mechanism 9 on its cover sheet 4 as described above; however, on its back sheet 3 it has a binding mechanism 9 corresponding to the binding mechanism 9 on the cover sheet 4, namely also in the upper area along the short side of the back sheet 3.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, two digital storage devices 13 and 14 are connected to the binding body 2 on opposite sides of the spine 5 via memory modules 13 and 14, specifically glued into a recess in the fold of the spine 5. The two digital storage devices 13 and 14 are connected in parallel; the first digital storage device 13, located at the upper end of the spine 5, is an exact copy of the second digital storage device 14, located at the lower end of the spine 5. The first digital storage device 13 has a socket for connecting a data transmission cable; internally, the digital storage devices 13 and 14 are connected to each other via a data connection 15 that runs along the spine. Due to the physical separation of the two digital storage devices 13 and 14, information can still be accessed via the other storage device if one of them fails.It may also be provided that the second digital storage device 14 also has a corresponding data port for a digital reader, such as a USB-C port.

[0039] The invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments. Without departing from the scope of protection described by the applicable claims, numerous further embodiments of the inventive concept would be apparent to a person skilled in the art, without these needing to be explained in more detail within the scope of these explanations. Reference symbol list 1, 1.1 Binder 2 binding bodies 3 Back page 4 Cover page 5 book spines 6, 9, 12 stapler mechanism 7, 7.1 Stapler 8 bending strips 10, 13, 14 digital storage 11 USB-C ports 15 Connection between two digital storage devices H Height of digital storage

Claims

[1] Stapler (1, 1.1) for physically holding together material to be stapled with a stapling body (2) to which a stapling mechanism (6) having at least two stapling bars (7, 7.1) for penetrating material to be stapled is attached, characterized by , that the stapler (1, 1.1) includes a digital memory (10, 13, 14) permanently attached to the stapler body (2), which a user can read and write to using a digital reading device, such as a PC. [2] Stapler according to claim 1, characterized by , that the staple body (2) has a staple spine (5) to which the staple mechanism (6) is attached. [3] Stapler according to claim 2, characterized by , that the spine (5) is reinforced and the digital storage (10, 13, 14) is housed in the spine (5). [4] Stapler according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the digital storage can be accessed via wireless transmission. [5] Stapler according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by, that the digital storage (10, 13, 14) can be accessed via a wired transmission. [6] Stapler according to claim 5, characterized by , that the digital storage device (10, 13, 14) has a socket for connecting a cable for wired transmission. [7] Stapler according to claim 6, characterized by , that the digital storage device (10, 13, 14) has a USB-C port (11). [8] Stapler according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , that the digital storage (10, 13, 14) has a storage capacity of at least 1 GB. [9] Stapler according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by, that the binding body (2) is designed as a cover with a front sheet (4) and a back sheet (3) and a first binding mechanism (6) in the area of ​​the spine (5) is provided for filing the binding material on the left side of the binding material and a second binding mechanism (6) is provided on the upper short edge of the front sheet (4) for filing the binding material on the upper side of the binding material.

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