Ring binder

Abstract

The invention proposes a ring clamp capable of preventing the longitudinal displacement of two base plates and a shell even when the shell is fitted into the two base plates by relative longitudinal displacement. In the ring clamp of the invention, each end plate clamp (71) of the two base plates (1, 2) has a base plate inclined surface (71a) and a base plate locating surface (71b); each shell end clamp (421) of the shell (4) has a shell inclined surface (421a) and a shell locating surface (421b); the base plate inclined surface (71a) and shell inclined surface (421a) are shaped to allow the base plate end clamps (71) to slide onto the shell end clamps (421); and the base plate locating surface (71b) and shell locating surface (421b) are shaped to be in contact with each other to restrict the relative longitudinal displacement of the two base plates (1, 2) and shell (4)

Description

Ring binder

[0001] The present invention relates to a ring-type binding device in which the tips of the half-ring portions are moved toward and away from each other as the two substrates are rotated and displaced under the action of the pressing force of a sheath body.

[0002] An example of a conventional ring binder of this type is the configuration shown in Patent Document 1 below. That is, in a conventional ring binder, two substrates (half plates) and a sheath are made of resin (hard plastic). Engagement grooves are provided on the sides of the two substrates, and the sheath is provided with inclined surfaces that engage with the engagement grooves. The sheath is positioned below the two substrates, and is pressed toward the two substrates from below, engaging the inclined surfaces with the engagement grooves, thereby assembling the two substrates to the sheath.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-239781

[0004] When a large stress is applied to the resin, cracks occur. In the conventional configuration described above, the inclined surfaces are engaged with the engagement grooves by pressing the sheath body from below toward the two substrates, so it is difficult to make the inclined surfaces longer to prevent cracks from occurring in the sheath body or the inclined surfaces, making it easy for the two substrates and the sheath body to separate into upper and lower parts.

[0005] Furthermore, resin sheaths tend to have weaker pressing force than metal sheaths. In conventional configurations, the pressing force can be increased by lengthening the inclined surfaces of the sheath, but this is still difficult to achieve with a configuration in which the sheath is attached to two boards from below.

[0006] Another possible assembly method is to engage the inclined surfaces of the sheath body with the engagement grooves of the two substrates by displacing the two substrates and the sheath body relative to each other in the longitudinal direction. This assembly method allows the inclined surfaces to be longer, preventing the two substrates and the sheath body from separating vertically and ensuring a sufficient pressing force. However, this requires that the two substrates and the sheath body be able to displace relative to each other in the longitudinal direction, which makes the two substrates and the sheath body more susceptible to longitudinal misalignment.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and one of its purposes is to provide a ring-type binding device that can prevent the two substrates and the sheath body from shifting longitudinally even when the sheath body is attached to the two substrates by relative displacement in the longitudinal direction.

[0008] In one embodiment, a ring-type binding device according to the present invention comprises two longitudinal substrates extending parallel to each other adjacent to each other, a plurality of half-ring portions provided on the front surfaces of the two substrates, and a longitudinal sheath body made of a material including a resin material, which is arranged on the rear surfaces of the two substrates and sandwiches the two substrates from the outside in the width direction, pressing the two substrates against each other to hold them in place, and the tips of the half-ring portions are moved closer to each other and apart as the two substrates are rotated and displaced under the action of the pressing force of the sheath body. The ring-type binding device has an engaging groove portion extending in the longitudinal direction on the outer surfaces of each of the two substrates, and substrate end engaging claws are provided inside the engaging groove portion and are arranged at both ends of the two substrates in the longitudinal direction, and each of the substrate end engaging claws is arranged on the inner side of the substrate in the longitudinal direction and extends at an angle with respect to the width direction, and the sheath body is made of a longitudinal sheath body made of a material including a resin material, which is arranged on the rear surfaces of the two substrates and sandwiches the two substrates from the outside in the width direction, pressing the two substrates against each other to hold them in place, and the tips of the half-ring portions are moved closer to each other and apart as the two substrates are rotated and displaced under the action of the pressing force of the sheath body. and a board positioning side surface that is disposed on the outside and extends in the width direction, and the sheath body has a back plate portion, side plate portions that rise from both side edges of the back plate portion, and sheath engagement claws that protrude from the respective tips of the side plate portions in directions approaching each other and are inserted into the engagement grooves, and the sheath engagement claws are provided with sheath end engagement claws that are disposed at both ends of the sheath body in the longitudinal direction, and each of the sheath end engagement claws has a sheath inclined side surface that is disposed on the outside of the sheath body in the longitudinal direction and extends at an angle to the width direction, and a sheath positioning side surface that is disposed on the inside of the sheath body in the longitudinal direction and extends in the width direction, and the board inclined side surface and the sheath inclined side surface are configured to allow the board end engagement claws to move over the sheath engagement claws and the sheath end engagement claws, and the board positioning side surface and the sheath positioning side surface are configured to abut against each other to restrict relative displacement between the two boards and the sheath body in the longitudinal direction.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the ring-type binding device of the present invention, the substrate positioning surface and the sheath positioning surface are configured to abut against each other, thereby restricting the relative displacement between the two substrates and the sheath body in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, even when the sheath body is attached to the two substrates by relative displacement in the longitudinal direction, the two substrates and the sheath body can be prevented from shifting in the longitudinal direction.

[0010] 12 is a front view showing a ring type binding device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a plan view showing the ring type binding device of FIG. 1. FIG. 14 is a bottom view showing the ring type binding device of FIG. 1. FIG. 15 is a left side view showing the ring type binding device of FIG. 1. FIG. 16 is a right side view showing the ring type binding device of FIG. 1. FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the ring type binding device of FIG. 1 when viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the ring type binding device of FIG. 6 when viewed upside down. FIG. 19 is a front view showing the first substrate of FIG. 1 alone. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the first substrate of FIG. 8. FIG. 11 is a bottom view showing the first substrate of FIG. 8. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the first substrate taken along line XI-XI of FIG. 8. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the first substrate taken along line XII-XII of FIG. 8. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the protruding convex surface of FIG. 11 is fitted into the protruding concave surface of the second substrate in the closed state. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the protruding convex surface of FIG. 11 is fitted into the protruding concave surface of FIG. 12 in the open state. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the ring type binding device taken along line XVa-XVa of FIG. 1. 22. A rear view showing the first substrate of FIG. 1. A cross-sectional view of the first substrate taken along line XVII-XVII of FIG. 16. A perspective view showing the sheath body of FIG. 1 alone. A cross-sectional view of the sheath body taken along plane XIX of FIG. 18. A cross-sectional view of the sheath body taken along plane XX of FIG. 18. A plan view of the sheath body of FIG. 18. An explanatory view showing a state when the first substrate and the second substrate are inserted from one end of the sheath body of FIG. 1. An explanatory view showing the relationship between the substrate end locking claws and the sheath end locking claws in region XXIII of FIG. 22. An explanatory view showing a state when the first substrate and the second substrate are inserted from the other end of the sheath body of FIG. 1. An explanatory view showing the relationship between the substrate end locking claws and the sheath middle locking claws in region XXV of FIG. 22.

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to each embodiment, and the components can be modified and embodied without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining multiple components disclosed in each embodiment. For example, some components may be omitted from all the components shown in the embodiments. Furthermore, components of different embodiments may be appropriately combined.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a front view showing a ring binder according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the ring binder of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a bottom view showing the ring binder of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a left side view showing the ring binder of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is a right side view showing the ring binder of Fig. 1. Also, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the ring binder of Fig. 1 when viewed obliquely from above, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the ring binder of Fig. 6 when viewed upside down. The rear view of the ring binder is symmetrical to the front view.

[0013] The ring binder shown in Figures 1 to 7 is a device for binding multiple sheets of paper with multiple holes, such as loose-leaf paper. As shown in Figures 1 to 7, the ring binder has two base plates 1 and 2, multiple half-ring portions 3, and a sheath body 4.

[0014] The two substrates 1 and 2 extend parallel to each other and are adjacent to each other. The direction in which the two substrates 1 and 2 extend is sometimes referred to as a longitudinal direction D1. The two substrates 1 and 2 are sometimes referred to as a first substrate 1 and a second substrate 2.

[0015] The plurality of half-ring portions 3 are integrally formed with the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2, respectively, and extend toward the surface side of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2. The plurality of half-ring portions 3 are arranged spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction D1 on each of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2. The half-ring portions 3 on the first substrate 1 are arranged to face the half-ring portions 3 on the second substrate 2. The number of half-ring portions 3 on each of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 is the same. The number of half-ring portions 3 can be changed as desired depending on the lengths of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2, and may be an even number or an odd number. In the ring-type binding device of this embodiment, six half-ring portions 3 are provided on each of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2. Two half-ring groups, each consisting of three half-ring portions 3, are arranged spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction D1 on each of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2.

[0016] The sheath body 4 is made of a longitudinal resin material and is disposed on the rear surface side of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2, sandwiching the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 from the outside in the width direction D2 and pressing and holding the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 against each other. The width direction D2 may be a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction D1.

[0017] Various materials containing a resin material can be used to form the sheath body 4. The resin-containing material may be a petroleum-derived resin such as polycarbonate, or a biomass plastic. Biomass plastic may refer to a resin that is not derived from petroleum, such as a paper- or plant-derived resin. The resin-containing material may include a material derived from paper, corn, eggshells, or seashells. The first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 may be made of the same material as the sheath body 4, or may be made of a different material from the sheath body 4. Examples of materials that are different from the sheath body 4 include metals such as iron-based materials.

[0018] The ring-type binder of this embodiment is configured so that the tips of the half-ring portions 3 approach and move apart as the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 are rotated and displaced under the action of the pressing force of the sheath body 4. The state in which the tips of the half-ring portions 3 are approaching each other is sometimes referred to as a closed state, and the state in which the tips of the half-ring portions 3 are separated from each other is sometimes referred to as an open state. Figures 1 to 7 show the ring-type binder in the open state.

[0019] Knobs 5 that can be operated by a user when rotating the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 may be provided on both ends of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2. As particularly shown in Figures 4 and 5, in the open state, the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 are rotated so that the tips 5a of the knobs 5 approach each other. The closed state can be achieved by rotating the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 so that the tips 5a of the knobs 5 move away from each other.

[0020] Next, the substrates 1 and 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 17. FIG. 8 is a front view showing the first substrate 1 of FIG. 1 alone, FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the first substrate 1 of FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a bottom view showing the first substrate 1 of FIG. 8. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the first substrate 1 taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 8, FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the first substrate 1 taken along line XII-XII in FIG. 8, FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the protruding convex surface 60 of FIG. 11 is fitted into the protruding concave surface 61 of the second substrate 2 in the closed state, and FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the protruding convex surface 60 of FIG. 11 is fitted into the protruding concave surface 61 of FIG. 12 in the open state. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the ring-type binder taken along line XVa-XVa in FIG. 1. Note that FIG. 15 shows the cross sections of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 taken along line XVb-XVb in FIG. 8. 16 is a rear view showing the first substrate 1 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the first substrate 1 taken along line XVII-XVII of FIG.

[0021] The two substrates 1 and 2, i.e., the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2, may have different shapes, but have the same shape in the ring-type binder of this embodiment. While the first substrate 1 is shown in Figures 8 to 10, the second substrate 2 has the same configuration as the first substrate 1. The first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 may have shapes that are line-symmetrical about their centers in the longitudinal direction D1, and when the ring-type binder is assembled as shown in Figures 1 to 7, the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 can be flipped over with respect to the longitudinal direction D1 and arranged to face each other.

[0022] The inner surfaces 6 of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 are provided with a protruding convex surface 60 and a protruding concave surface 61 that fit together. When the ring-type binding device is assembled, the inner surfaces 6 of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 are located inward in the width direction D2 and face each other, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 . The protruding convex surface 60 and the protruding concave surface 61 may be arranged in line-symmetrical positions about the center in the longitudinal direction D1. As particularly shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 , the protruding convex surface 60 and the protruding concave surface 61 are formed with opposing protrusions 60a, 61a, respectively, that collide with each other during rotational displacement of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2, overcome the pressing force of the sheath body 4, and resist rotational displacement. Because the opposing protrusions 60a, 61a resist rotational displacement during rotational displacement of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2, the half-ring portions 3 that are in contact with each other and closed do not easily open. As a result, even a relatively large number of sheets can be effectively bound. More specifically, when the opposing protrusions 60a, 61a climb over each other, the distance from the fulcrum increases compared to when the opposing protrusions 60a, 61a are not present, and the repulsive force (pressing force) can be increased. This is particularly useful when using a sheath body 4 made of a material such as resin with weak spring properties.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 13 , in the closed state, the opposing protrusions 60 a, 61 a are offset from each other in the thickness direction D3 of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2. When the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 are rotationally displaced from this state, the opposing protrusions 60 a, 61 a ride up and then overtake each other, as shown in FIG. 14 . This causes the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 to slightly displace away from each other, pushing the sheath body 4 apart. As the amount of elastic deformation increases, a large pressing force acts on the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2. At this time, resistance to the rotational displacement is generated. This prevents unintended opening of the half-ring portion 3. Furthermore, when switching from the open state to the closed state, resistance is generated against the rotational displacement due to the opposing protrusions 60 a, 61 a riding up.

[0024] The opposing protrusions 60a, 61a can be provided on the protruding convex surface 60 or the protruding concave surface 61 so as to protrude from the surface in a partial region in the thickness direction D3 of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2. The positions at which the opposing protrusions 60a, 61a are provided on the protruding convex surface 60 or the protruding concave surface 61 in the thickness direction D3 of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 are desirably determined taking into consideration the opening and closing positions of the half-ring portion 3 to which the opposing protrusions 60a, 61a apply resistance, etc.

[0025] The protruding convex surface 60 and the protruding concave surface 61, including the opposing protrusions 60a, 61a, are preferably configured as curved surfaces as in the illustrated example. In addition, in the thickness direction D3 of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2, the surfaces on both sides of the protruding convex surface 60 and the protruding concave surface 61, separated by the opposing protrusions 60a, 61a, are preferably formed to be slightly recessed so that the opposing protrusions 60a, 61a can slide over and into the opposing opposing protrusions 60a, 61a, as shown in Figures 11 to 14.

[0026] The pair of opposing protrusions 60a, 61a provided on each of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 can be provided in one pair in the longitudinal direction D1 of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2, but it is preferable to provide multiple pairs in order to provide greater resistance to rotational displacement. Accordingly, the pair of protruding convex surfaces 60 and protruding concave surfaces 61 can also be provided in one or multiple pairs in the longitudinal direction D1 of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2. In the illustrated embodiment, as particularly shown in FIG. 8 , three protruding convex surfaces 60 are provided in the region from the center position to one end of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 in the longitudinal direction D1, and three protruding concave surfaces 61 are provided in the region from the center position to the other end of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 in the longitudinal direction D1.

[0027] Meanwhile, fulcrum protrusions 62 that serve as rotational fulcrums for the rotational displacement of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 may be provided on each of the inner surfaces 6 of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2. As can be particularly seen from FIG. 15 , a plurality of claw-shaped fulcrum protrusions 62 that protrude from the inner surfaces 6 and gradually decrease in thickness are provided on each of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2, spaced apart in the longitudinal direction D1. As shown in FIG. 15 , the fulcrum protrusions 62 of the first substrate 1 are recessed into the underside of the second substrate 2. Conversely, the fulcrum protrusions 62 of the first substrate 1 are recessed into the underside of the second substrate 2. When the half-ring portion 3 is opened or closed, the contact points between the fulcrum protrusions 62 of the first substrate 1 and the undersides of the second substrate 2 and the first substrate 1 serve as rotational fulcrums, causing the rotational displacement of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2.

[0028] 8, the fulcrum protrusions 62 are preferably provided at positions adjacent to the protruding convex surfaces 60 and the protruding concave surfaces 61 in the longitudinal direction D1 of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2. This is because, when the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 undergo rotational displacement around the rotational fulcrum of the fulcrum protrusions 62, resistance is effectively applied by the opposing protrusions 60a, 61a adjacent to the rotational fulcrum, making the rotational displacement operation even more stable.

[0029] As particularly shown in FIG. 16 , the outer surface 7 of each of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 (two substrates 1, 2) is provided with an engaging groove 70 extending in the longitudinal direction D1. The outer surface 7 of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 is a surface located outward in the width direction D2 when the ring-type binding device is assembled as shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 . The engaging groove 70 may be formed so as to recess inward in the width direction D2 from the outer surface 7. In the illustrated embodiment, both ends of the engaging groove 70 in the longitudinal direction D1 are open. However, one end of the engaging groove 70 in the longitudinal direction D1 may be closed.

[0030] As particularly shown in Figures 16 and 17, board end locking claws 71 are provided inside the locking grooves 70 and are located at both ends of the first and second boards 1 and 2 in the longitudinal direction D1. In other words, the board end locking claws 71 are provided at one end and the other end of each of the first and second boards 1 and 2 in the longitudinal direction D1. The board end locking claws 71 may be provided at the exact ends of the first and second boards 1 and 2 in the longitudinal direction D1, or may be located inward (toward the center) from both ends in the longitudinal direction D1. For example, the both ends may be understood to be regions extending from both ends of the first and second boards 1 and 2 in the longitudinal direction D1 to 1 / 3, more specifically 1 / 4, and even more specifically 1 / 5 of the total length of the first and second boards 1 and 2 in the longitudinal direction D1.

[0031] In this embodiment, the distance Dis1 in the longitudinal direction D1 from one end of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 to the substrate end locking claw 71 provided at that end is set equal to the distance Dis2 in the longitudinal direction D1 from the other end to the substrate end locking claw 71 provided at the other end. Therefore, when the ring-type binding device is assembled as shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the substrate end locking claw 71 of the first substrate 1 and the substrate end locking claw 71 of the second substrate 2 are positioned at the same position in the longitudinal direction D1 (see FIG. 23, etc., below). However, the distance Dis1 may be different from the distance Dis2, and the substrate end locking claw 71 of the first substrate 1 and the substrate end locking claw 71 of the second substrate 2 may be positioned at offset positions in the longitudinal direction D1.

[0032] 17, each of the board end locking claws 71 has a board inclined side surface 71a that is disposed inside (toward the center) the first board 1 and the second board 2 in the longitudinal direction D1 and extends at an angle with respect to the width direction D2, and a board positioning side surface 71b that is disposed outside (against the center) the first board 1 and the second board 2 in the longitudinal direction D1 and extends in the width direction D2. The positions of the board inclined side surface 71a and the board positioning side surface 71b are reversed between the board end locking claw 71 provided at one end and the board end locking claw 71 provided at the other end.

[0033] The corner 71c where the board end locking claw 71 and the board positioning side surface 71b butt against each other may be an acute angle, or may be an arcuate surface or a rounded portion.

[0034] Next, the sheath body 4 will be described with reference to Figures 18 to 21. Figure 18 is a perspective view showing the sheath body 4 of Figure 1 alone, Figure 19 is a cross-sectional view of the sheath body 4 taken along plane XIX of Figure 18, Figure 20 is a cross-sectional view of the sheath body 4 taken along plane XX of Figure 18, and Figure 21 is a plan view showing the sheath body 4 of Figure 18.

[0035] 18 to 21, the sheath body 4 has a back plate portion 40, side plate portions 41 raised from both side edges of the back plate portion 40, and sheath engagement claws 42 protruding toward each other from the tip ends of the side plate portions 41. The sheath body 4 of this embodiment has a plurality of sheath engagement claws 42 arranged at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction D1. The side plate portions 41 are arranged at a distance in the width direction D2.

[0036] As particularly shown in Figure 20, the thickness t of the back plate portion 40 and the side plate portion 41 may be 1.2 to 1.5 mm, and the angle θ between the inner surface of the back plate portion 40 and the inner surface of the side plate portion 41 may be 80 to 90 degrees.

[0037] The sheath engagement claws 42 protruding from the tip of one side plate 41 protrude in the width direction D2 toward the other side plate 41, and the sheath engagement claws 42 protruding from the tip of the other side plate 41 protrude in the width direction D2 toward one side plate 41. As particularly shown in Figure 18, in the illustrated embodiment, the sheath engagement claws 42 protruding from the tip of one side plate 41 and the sheath engagement claws 42 protruding from the tip of the other side plate 41 are arranged at the same position in the longitudinal direction D1. However, these sheath engagement claws 42 may be arranged offset in the longitudinal direction D1.

[0038] In the illustrated embodiment, the sheath engagement claws 42 protrude from the tip of the side plate portion 41. However, the sheath engagement claws 42 may protrude from a position lower than the tip of the side plate portion 41 toward the back plate portion 40. For example, the tip portion may be understood to be the region from the tip of the side plate portion 41 to 1 / 3, more specifically 1 / 4, or even more specifically 1 / 5 of the total height of the side plate portion 41 along the thickness direction D3.

[0039] As particularly shown in FIG. 19 , the back plate portion 40 may be provided with a plurality of through holes 43 arranged below the sheath engagement claws 42 .

[0040] As shown in FIG. 13 , when the ring-type binding device is assembled, the sheath engagement claws 42 are inserted into the engagement grooves 70 of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2. This presses the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 together and holds them together. The protrusion PA (see FIG. 19 ) of the sheath engagement claws 42 from the side plate 41 is preferably at least one-third of the depth De (see FIG. 11 ) of the engagement grooves 70. As shown in FIG. 19 , the protrusion PA of the sheath engagement claws 42 may be the distance in the width direction D2 between the tip of the sheath engagement claws 42 and the base position of the sheath engagement claws 42 on the inner surface of the side plate 41. As shown in FIG. 11 , the engagement grooves 70 have a first wall 701 and a second wall 702 extending from a bottom surface 700. The second wall 702 is located closer to the back surface of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 than the first wall 701. The depth De of the engagement groove 70 may be the distance in the width direction D2 from the bottom surface 700 to the tip of the second wall portion 702. In some embodiments, the first wall portion 701 may be omitted. In this case, the engagement groove 70 is formed by the surface of the second wall portion 702 on the front side and the bottom surface 700. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom surface 700 of the engagement groove 70 is an arcuate surface. However, if the first wall portion 701 is omitted, the bottom surface 700 may be a flat surface. By making the protrusion amount PA of the sheath engagement claw 42 at least one-third of the depth De of the engagement groove 70, vertical separation of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 from the sheath body 4 can be more reliably prevented. On the other hand, it becomes difficult for the sheath engagement claw 42 to engage with the engagement groove 70 by pressing the sheath body 4 against the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 from below.

[0041] 21 , the sheath engagement claws 42 are provided with sheath end engagement claws 421 arranged at both ends of the sheath body 4 in the longitudinal direction D1. The two ends may be understood to be the regions extending from both ends of the sheath body 4 to one-third, more specifically one-quarter, and even more specifically one-fifth of the total length of the sheath body 4 in the longitudinal direction D1. When a plurality of sheath engagement claws 42 are provided spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction D1, as in the sheath body 4 of this embodiment, the sheath end engagement claws 421 may be the sheath engagement claw 42 closest to one end of the sheath body 4 and the sheath engagement claw 42 closest to the other end of the sheath body 4, on each side plate portion 41.

[0042] Each of the sheath end engaging claws 421 has a sheath inclined side surface 421a that is disposed on the outer side (anti-center side) of the sheath body 4 in the longitudinal direction D1 and extends at an angle relative to the width direction D2, and a sheath positioning side surface 421b that is disposed on the inner side (center side) of the sheath body 4 in the longitudinal direction D1 and extends in the width direction D2. The positions of the sheath inclined side surface 421a and the sheath positioning side surface 421b are reversed between the sheath end engaging claw 421 provided at one end and the sheath end engaging claw 421 provided at the other end.

[0043] Additionally, the sheath engaging claws 42 are provided with at least one sheath middle engaging claw 422 arranged between the sheath end engaging claws 421 in the longitudinal direction D1. In the illustrated embodiment, seven sheath middle engaging claws 422 are provided on each side plate portion 41. Both side surfaces of the sheath middle engaging claw 422 extend at an angle with respect to the width direction D2. That is, the sheath middle engaging claw 422 is provided with an inclined surface corresponding to the sheath inclined side surface 421a of the sheath end engaging claw 421, but is not provided with a surface extending in the width direction D2 corresponding to the sheath positioning side surface 421b.

[0044] Next, the functions or actions of the board end locking claws 71 of the first board 1 and the second board 2, and the sheath end locking claws 421 and the sheath middle locking claws 422 of the sheath body 4 will be described with reference to Figures 22 to 25. Figure 22 is an explanatory diagram showing the state when the first board 1 and the second board 2 are inserted from one end of the sheath body 4 in Figure 1, and Figure 23 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the board end locking claws 71 and the sheath end locking claws 421 in region XXIII of Figure 22. Figure 24 is an explanatory diagram showing the state when the first board 1 and the second board 2 are inserted from the other end of the sheath body 4 in Figure 1, and Figure 25 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the board end locking claws 71 and the sheath middle locking claws 422 in region XXV of Figure 22.

[0045] As shown in Figures 22 and 24, the ring-type binding device of this embodiment is adapted to insert the sheath engagement claws 42 of the sheath body 4 into the engagement groove portions 70 of the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 by relative displacement in the longitudinal direction D1 between the first substrate 1, the second substrate 2 and the sheath body 4.

[0046] When this relative displacement occurs, the board inclined side surface 71a of the board end locking claw 71 and the sheath inclined side surface 421a of the sheath end locking claw 421 are configured to allow the board end locking claw 71 to climb over the sheath locking claw 42 and the sheath end locking claw 421. In addition, the board positioning side surface 71b of the board end locking claw 71 and the sheath positioning side surface 421b of the sheath end locking claw 421 are configured to abut against each other, thereby restricting the relative displacement of the first board 1 and second board 2 and the sheath body 4 in the longitudinal direction D1. In other words, when the substrate positioning side 71b and the sheath positioning side 421b come into contact with each other, relative displacement in the longitudinal direction D1 is restricted, and at other times (when the substrate inclined side 71a and the sheath inclined side 421a come into contact with each other, when the substrate inclined side 71a and the sheath positioning side 421b come into contact with each other, and when the substrate positioning side 71b and the sheath inclined side 421a come into contact with each other), relative displacement in the longitudinal direction D1 is permitted.

[0047] As shown in Figure 22 , when the first board 1 and the second board 2 are inserted from one end of the sheath body 4 on the left side toward the right side, the board end locking claw 71 located on the left side of Figure 22 can move over the sheath end locking claw 421 toward the right side (see Figure 23 ). After the board end locking claw 71 moves over the sheath end locking claw 421, when an attempt is made to displace the first board 1 and the second board 2 in the opposite direction (to the left side in the figure), the board positioning surface 71 b of the board end locking claw 71 abuts against the sheath positioning surface 421 b of the sheath end locking claw 421, restricting displacement of the first board 1 and the second board 2 toward the left side in the figure. This prevents the first board 1 and the second board 2 and the sheath body 4 from shifting in the longitudinal direction D1, even when the sheath body 4 is engaged with the first board 1 and the second board 2 by relative displacement in the longitudinal direction D1.

[0048] Both side surfaces of the sheath middle engagement claw 422 extend at an angle with respect to the width direction D2, and are configured to allow the board end locking claw 71 to climb over the sheath middle engagement claw 722. For example, as shown in Fig. 24 , when the first board 1 and the second board 2 are inserted from the other end of the sheath body 4 on the right side toward the left side in the figure, the board positioning side surface 71b of the board end locking claw 71 located on the left side in Fig. 24 first abuts on the sheath middle engagement claw 422, but the board end locking claw 71 can climb over the sheath middle engagement claw 422 toward the left side in the figure (see Fig. 25 ). As described above, by forming the corner 71c where the board end locking claw 71 and the board positioning side surface 71b abut into an arcuate surface or a rounded portion, the board end locking claw 71 can climb over the sheath middle engagement claw 422 more smoothly.

[0049] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to these examples. It is clear that a person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can conceive of various modifications and alterations within the scope of the technical ideas set forth in the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0050] The invention described in this specification can also be described as follows: [1] A ring-type binding device comprising: two longitudinal substrates extending parallel to each other adjacent to each other; a plurality of half-ring portions provided on the front surfaces of the two substrates; and a longitudinal sheath body made of a material containing a resin material, which is arranged on the rear surfaces of the two substrates and sandwiches the two substrates from the outside in the width direction, pressing the two substrates against each other to hold them together, wherein the tips of the half-ring portions are moved toward and away from each other as the two substrates are rotated and displaced under the action of the pressing force of the sheath body, wherein an engaging groove portion extending in the longitudinal direction is provided on the outer surfaces of each of the two substrates, and substrate end engaging claws are provided inside the engaging groove portion and are arranged at both ends of the two substrates in the longitudinal direction, each of the board end locking claws has a board inclined side surface that is arranged inside the board in the longitudinal direction and extends at an incline with respect to the width direction, and a board positioning side surface that is arranged outside the board in the longitudinal direction and extends in the width direction; the sheath body has a back plate portion, side plate portions that rise from both side edges of the back plate portion, and sheath engagement claws that protrude from the respective tip ends of the side plate portions in directions approaching each other and are inserted into the engagement grooves; the sheath engagement claws are provided with sheath end locking claws that are arranged at both end ends of the sheath body in the longitudinal direction; each of the sheath end locking claws has a sheath inclined side surface that is arranged outside the sheath body in the longitudinal direction and extends at an incline with respect to the width direction, and a sheath positioning side surface that is arranged inside the sheath body in the longitudinal direction and extends in the width direction; the board inclined side surface and the sheath inclined side surface are configured to allow the board end locking claws to climb over the sheath engagement claws and the sheath end locking claws, The substrate positioning surface and the sheath positioning surface are configured to abut against each other, thereby restricting relative displacement between the two substrates and the sheath body in the longitudinal direction.[2] The ring-type binding device described in paragraph 1, wherein the sheath engagement claws are provided with at least one sheath middle engagement claw arranged between the sheath end engagement claws in the longitudinal direction, and both side surfaces of the sheath middle engagement claw extend at an angle with respect to the width direction and are configured to allow the board end engagement claws to climb over the sheath middle engagement claw. [3] The ring-type binding device described in paragraph 1 or 2, wherein the amount of protrusion of the sheath engagement claw from the side plate portion is 1 / 3 or more of the depth of the engagement groove portion. [4] The ring-type binding device described in any one of paragraphs 1 to 3, wherein both ends of the engagement groove portion in the longitudinal direction are open. [5] The ring-type binding device according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the inner surfaces of the two substrates are provided with a protruding convex surface and a protruding concave surface that fit together, and the protruding convex surface and the protruding concave surface are each formed with opposing protrusions that collide with each other during the rotational displacement and overcome the pressing force to resist the rotational displacement. [6] The ring-type binding device according to any one of items 1 to 5, wherein the material containing a resin material is a biomass plastic. [7] The ring-type binding device according to item 6, wherein the material containing a resin material includes a material derived from paper, corn, eggshells, or seashells.

[0051] 1, 2: Base plate 3: Half ring portion 4: Sheath body 40: Back plate portion 41: Side plate portion 42: Sheath engagement claw 421: Sheath end engagement claw 421a: Sheath inclined side surface 421b: Sheath positioning side surface 422: Sheath middle engagement claw 6: Inner surface 60: Convex surface with protrusion 60a: Opposing protrusion portion 61: Concave surface with protrusion 61a: Opposing protrusion portion 7: Outer surface 70: Engagement groove portion 71: Base plate end engagement claw 71a: Base plate inclined side surface 71b: Base plate positioning side surface

Claims

1. A ring-type binding device comprising: two longitudinal substrates extending parallel to each other adjacent to each other; a plurality of half-ring portions provided on the front sides of the two substrates; and a longitudinal sheath body made of a material including a resin material, which is arranged on the rear sides of the two substrates and sandwiches the two substrates from the outside in the width direction, pressing and holding the two substrates against each other; wherein the tips of the half-ring portions are brought close to each other and then separated from each other as the two substrates are rotated and displaced under the action of the pressing force of the sheath body; wherein an engaging groove portion extending in the longitudinal direction is provided on the outer surfaces of each of the two substrates, and substrate end engaging claws are provided inside the engaging groove portion and are arranged at both ends of the two substrates in the longitudinal direction; each of the board end locking claws has a board inclined side surface that is arranged on the inside of the board in the longitudinal direction and extends at an incline with respect to the width direction, and a board positioning side surface that is arranged on the outside of the board in the longitudinal direction and extends in the width direction; the sheath body has a back plate portion, side plate portions raised from both side edges of the back plate portion, and sheath engagement claws that protrude in directions approaching each other from the respective tip portions of the side plate portions and are inserted into the engagement groove portions; the sheath engagement claws are provided with sheath end engagement claws that are arranged on both end portions of the sheath body in the longitudinal direction; each of the sheath end engagement claws has a sheath inclined side surface that is arranged on the outside of the sheath body in the longitudinal direction and extends at an incline with respect to the width direction, and a sheath positioning side surface that is arranged on the inside of the sheath body in the longitudinal direction and extends in the width direction; the board inclined side surface and the sheath inclined side surface are configured to allow the board end locking claws to overcome the sheath engagement claws and the sheath end engagement claws; the substrate positioning surface and the sheath positioning surface are configured to abut against each other to restrict relative displacement between the two substrates and the sheath body in the longitudinal direction.

2. A ring-type binding device as described in claim 1, wherein the sheath engagement claws are provided with at least one sheath middle engagement claw arranged between the sheath end engagement claws in the longitudinal direction, and both side surfaces of the sheath middle engagement claw extend at an incline with respect to the width direction and are configured to allow the board end engagement claw to overcome the sheath middle engagement claw.

3. A ring-type fastener as set forth in claim 2, wherein the amount of protrusion of said sheath engagement claw from said side plate portion is 1 / 3 or more of the depth of said engagement groove portion.

4. A ring-type fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein both ends of the engagement groove portion in the longitudinal direction are open.

5. A ring-type binding device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the inner surfaces of the two substrates are provided with a convex surface with protrusions and a concave surface with protrusions that fit into each other, and the convex surface with protrusions and the concave surface with protrusions are each formed with opposing protrusions that collide with each other during the rotational displacement and overcome the pressing force to resist the rotational displacement.

6. The ring-type binding device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the material containing the resin material is a biomass plastic.

7. The ring-type binding device according to claim 6, wherein the material containing a resin material includes a material derived from paper, corn, egg shells or seashells.

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