Cover strip for filing sheets

Abstract

The invention relates to a cover strip (1) for filing perforated and stacked sheets on filing strips, in folders, flat files, filing mechanisms or the like by the use of a prong (10) or the like. According to the invention, positioners (2) protrude from the cover strip (1) on the underside (7), which positioners extend into sheet perforations (11) of a sheet stack (8) lying thereunder and largely or only partially fill the space for movement present there between the prong (10) or the like and a sheet perforation edge (12) in order to bring about a reduction of the space for movement and in particular to reduce or prevent contact between sheet perforation edges (12) and the prong (10).

Description

[0001] Cover strip for filing sheets

[0002] The invention relates to a cover strip for filing punched and stacked sheets on filing strips, in folders, loose-leaf binders, filing mechanisms and the like using a filing tongue or the like.

[0003] Common cover strip designs lie flat on the top sheet of a stack of sheets and have no function to prevent sheets from moving in the sheet plane. The round holes on the stacked sheets, lined up on the binding tabs, have some movement around the tabs, and slipping or bumping of the hole edges against the edges of the tabs can lead to damage and tearing of the hole edges. These disadvantages primarily affect the top sheets of the stack, as these sheets are subject to the most wear and tear.

[0004] Based on this, the invention is therefore based on the object of improving a cover strip of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the disadvantages mentioned above are reduced or do not occur.

[0005] This task is solved if, in the case of a cover strip of the type mentioned at the beginning, positioners protrude on the underside which reach into the sheet holes of an underlying stack of sheets and largely or only partially fill the existing space for movement between the binding tongue or the like and the edge of the sheet hole in order to reduce the space for movement and, in particular, to reduce or prevent contact between the edges of the sheet holes and the binding tongue.

[0006] A positioner serves the purpose of partially or completely filling the existing clearance between the binding tongue and the edge of the sheet hole. This reduces the clearance for the sheets and prevents or reduces contact between the edges of the sheet hole and the binding tongue.

[0007] There are many options for the shape of the positioners, the cross-section of the opening for threading the binding tongue, and their dimensions. The depth of the positioner's penetration into the sheet holes of the sheet stack is also not specified. It can range from a few sheet thicknesses to several sheet hole diameters.

[0008] Advantageous further developments of a cover strip according to the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0009] The cover strip according to the invention is preferably made of a plastic and can, in particular, be injection-molded. The cover strip is then formed as a single piece. Alternatively, other manufacturing processes such as 3D printing or, particularly when made of a metal or alloy, pressing or stamping can be used, the latter being particularly useful for simple geometric designs.

[0010] The cover strip preferably has two openings, especially since most folder systems are designed with two tabs or bows. However, for folders with three or four bows, longer cover strips with a corresponding number of openings can also be provided.

[0011] The positioner(s) of the cover strip are preferably designed such that they have a guide for receiving a staple tongue or the like, for example a bracket. The guide can in particular be defined by extensions that adjoin an opening. These extensions preferably run parallel and optionally mirror-image to a longitudinal axis that extends through the opening and perpendicular to the cover strip. The guide allows the staple tongue or the like to be guided securely on the one hand, and on the other hand prevents the sheets in the area of ​​the guide from coming into contact with the staple tongue or the like. The extensions can form a downwardly opening cone so that the staple tongue can be inserted easily.

[0012] The extensions adjoining the opening or the extension can be designed with one or more lateral grooves. This allows a positioner to deform more easily, in particular to deform elastically. In a further aspect, the invention relates to a set comprising at least one cover strip which has positioners only on the underside and a further cover strip which has positioners on both an underside and an upper side of the further cover strip. This makes it possible to form a stack of cover strips. The further cover strips can be stacked on top of one another. The cover strip which has a positioner only on the underside then forms a conclusion. However, such a cover strip can also be used right from the start by simply turning the cover strip over so that the underside faces upwards.A corresponding process for producing a stack is therefore carried out as follows:.

[0013] - Arranging a cover strip which only has positioners on the underside in a 180° rotated position so that the positioners point upwards;

[0014] - Arranging one or more cover strips which have positioners on both the bottom and the top;

[0015] - Arranging a cover strip that has positioners only on the bottom so that the positioners on the bottom point downwards

[0016] - Arranging stacks of sheets before and / or after any of the above steps.

[0017] The invention is illustrated below with the aid of drawings and exemplary embodiments. In the drawings,

[0018] Fig. 1: a cover strip according to the invention in a perspective view from above;

[0019] Fig. 2: the cover strip from Fig. 1 in a side view;

[0020] Fig. 3: a locally enlarged view of a positioning area shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4: the cover strip from Fig. 1 in a perspective view from below;

[0021] Fig. 5: a locally enlarged view of Fig. 4;

[0022] Fig. 6: a stack of sheets with applied cover strip in perspective view from above;

[0023] Fig. 7: a locally enlarged view of Fig. 6.

[0024] Fig. 8: a stack of sheets with applied cover strip in perspective view from above with a section in the stack of sheets;

[0025] Fig. 9: a locally enlarged view of Fig. 8; Fig. 10: the sheet stack of Fig. 8 with the cover strip applied in a perspective view from below with a section in the sheet stack;

[0026] Fig. 11 : a locally enlarged view of Fig. 10;

[0027] Fig. 12: another cover strip in perspective view from above;

[0028] Fig. 13: the cover strip from Fig. 12 in a side view;

[0029] Fig. 14: a locally enlarged view of a positioning area shown in Fig. 13; Fig. 15: the cover strip from Fig. 12 in a perspective view from below;

[0030] Fig. 16: a locally enlarged view of Fig. 15;

[0031] Fig. 17: three stacks of sheets placed on top of each other with two cover strips from Fig. 12 and one cover strip from Fig. 1 applied in a perspective view from above with a section of the stacks of sheets;

[0032] Fig. 18: a locally enlarged view of Fig. 17;

[0033] Fig. 19: three stacks of sheets placed on top of each other with two cover strips applied according to Fig. 12 and one cover strip from Fig. 1 in a perspective view from below with a section of the stacks of sheets;

[0034] Fig. 20: a locally enlarged view of Fig. 19;

[0035] Fig. 21 to Fig. 24: show, in enlargement, examples of the possible design of positioners and openings;

[0036] Fig. 25: a summary in enlargement of three stacks of sheets placed on top of each other with two cover strips from Fig. 12 applied and a cover strip from Fig. 1 in a perspective view from above with a section of the stacks of sheets.

[0037] In the following, a first variant of a cover strip 1 is discussed.

[0038] As can be seen in perspective from above in Fig. 1, there are two openings 5, here rectangular, in the cover strip 1 which, when used, serve for threading positioners 2, which can be seen in Fig. 2, onto the ends 9 of a staple tongue 10. The positioners 2 are arranged at a distance from an edge of the cover strip 1. In Fig. 2, the two positioners 2 can be seen on the underside 7 which, when used later, protrude into sheet holes 11. Their shape chosen here and the shape of the openings 5 ​​are shown enlarged in Figs. 3 and 5. Extensions adjoining the openings 5 ​​are defined by a guide 4 into which a staple tongue can be threaded. Fig. 4 shows an underside 7 of the cover strip 1 resting on the stack of sheets 8 when used. An enlargement of a positioner 2 from area B in Fig. 4 is shown in Fig. 5. The opening 5 is shown with dashed lines and invisible edges.

[0039] Fig. 6 shows the cover strip 1 according to claim 1 applied to a stack of sheets 8. Fig. 7 is an enlargement thereof and shows the cover strip 1 lying flat on the stack of sheets 8 with the bent staple tongue ends 9 resting on the cover strip 1.

[0040] In Fig. 8 and Fig. 10, a section through the sheet stack 8 allows a view into the cylindrical opening in the sheet stack 8, which is created by the sheet perforations 11. The staple tongue end 9 is threaded through this opening from below and the positioner 2 is inserted from above after being threaded onto the staple tongue end 9. The staple tongue end 9 is bent towards the cover strip 1 resting on the sheet stack 8, as in known designs. The local enlargements from Fig. 8 and Fig. 10 in Fig. 9 and Fig. 11 show that there is a free space between the staple tongue 10 and the sheet hole edges 12 and that this space allows the sheet hole edges 12 to slip against the staple tongue 10. This is not possible in the upper area 13 of the positioner 2, where the staple tongue 10 is completely covered by the positioner 2.In the lower region 14 of the positioner 2, where it is divided by a groove, the range of movement of the sheet perforation 11 is limited by the reduced clearance. Completely covering the binding tongue 10 is expedient; however, even partial covering may be sufficient within the scope of the invention if this reduces the range of movement in the area of ​​the sheet perforation edges. The extensions adjoining the openings 5 ​​can accordingly also be designed with a different shape and / or arrangement, for example, as a plurality of pins protruding from the cover strip.

[0041] As can be seen from Fig. 12, Fig. 13 and Fig. 15, positioners 2 are located on the underside 7 and an upper side 6 of a further cover strip 3. Their shape chosen here and the shape of the openings 5 ​​are shown enlarged in Fig. 14 and Fig. 16. The positioners 2 pointing downwards from the further cover strip 3 project into the sheet perforations 11 of a sheet stack 8 lying beneath the further cover strip 3 in the application shown later. The positioners 2 projecting upwards in application protrude into the sheet perforations 11 of a sheet stack 8 placed on top of the further cover strip 3. The function of the positioners 2 is as already described above. In Fig. 17 and Fig. 19, by cutting into the individual sheet stacks 8, it is possible to see into the cylindrical passage in the assembled three-layer sheet stack 8, which is created by the sheet perforations 11. In the local magnifications from Fig. 17 and Fig. 19 one can see in Fig.18 and Fig. 20 that the further cover strips 3 lying on the lower and middle sheet stack 8 with their positioners 2 also protrude into the sheet perforations 11 of the respective sheet stack 8 above. The function of the positioners 2 of a further cover strip 3 between two sheet stacks 8, which positioners protrude upwards and downwards into the sheet perforations 11, is as already described above. The stepped design chosen here enables the effective area of ​​an upper and a lower positioner 2 to engage with one another in the middle of the three-layer sheet stack 8 shown here through overlap. It is understood that any number of further cover strips 3 can be used. How many further cover strips 3 are used depends on the height of the sheet stack(s) 8.

[0042] Fig. 21, Fig. 22, Fig. 23 and Fig. 24 show, in enlarged form, examples of the possible shape of positioners 2 and openings 5, whereby the variant in Fig. 21 has lateral grooves.

[0043] Fig. 25 shows the area of ​​application of a cover strip 1 according to claim 1 and two further cover strips 3 in a three-layer sheet stack 8 in an enlarged view with a section of the sheet stack 8.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Cover strip (1) for filing punched and stacked sheets on filing strips, in folders, loose-leaf binders, filing mechanisms or the like using a binding tongue (10) or the like, characterized in that positioners (2) project from the cover strip (1) on the underside (7), which positioners reach into sheet holes (11) of an underlying sheet stack (8) and largely or only partially fill the space of movement existing there between the binding tongue (10) or the like and the sheet hole edge (12) in order to lead to a reduction of the space of movement and in particular to reduce or prevent contact between the sheet hole edges (12) and the binding tongue (10).

2. Cover strip (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that further positioners (2) are attached to an upper side (6) of the cover strip (1).

3. Cover strip (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover strip (1) is formed from a plastic and in particular is injection-molded.

4. Cover strip (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cover strip (1) has two openings (5).

5. Cover strip (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the positioners (2) have a particularly conical guide (4) for receiving a staple tongue or the like.

6. Set comprising a cover strip (1) according to claim 1 and at least one cover strip (1) according to claim 2.

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