Document binding system

• US 7,806,617 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2007
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James Ballidis
• Original Assignee: James Ballidis
• Inventors: Ballidis, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Ross; Dana
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRABOWSKI, KYLE ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US11/733,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20080290646A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 402/60, 402/63, 402/64, 402/68, 402 65- 66, 24/671, 281/21.1, 215/272, 215/295
• US Class Current: 402/63
• CPC Class Codes: B42B 5/08 by finger, claw or ring-like elements passing through the sheets, quires or signatures

Abstract

A document binding system for efficiently securing a plurality of documents together in a professional manner. The document binding system generally includes a first support including at least one post and a second support including at least one opening. The post extends outwardly from the first support and the opening extends through the second support. The post includes a plurality of teeth ending along an outer surface of the post and the opening includes a locking member extending within, wherein the locking member selectively engages at least one of the teeth to secure the first support to the second support, wherein a plurality of documents are preferably selectively secured between the first support and the second support.

Claims

1. A method of binding a plurality of documents together, said method comprised of:

providing a plurality of documents including a first hole and a second hole;

providing a first support including a first post and a second post, wherein said first post and said second post are each comprised of a rigid and breakable structure, wherein said first post and said second post each extend outwardly from said first support substantially parallel to one another, wherein said first post and said second post each include a plurality of teeth, wherein said plurality of teeth each include a first upper surface and a first lower surface, wherein said first upper surface declines and wherein said first lower surface is substantially orthogonal with respect to a longitudinal axis of said at least one post;

providing a second support including a first opening and a second opening that each extend through said second support and are distally spaced apart approximately the same distance as said first post and said second post, wherein said second support includes a first depression surrounding said first opening and a second depression surrounding said second opening, wherein said first depression extends below an upper edge of said first opening and wherein said second depression extends below an upper edge of said second opening, wherein said second support includes a first ridge member separating said first depression from said first opening and wherein said second support includes a second ridge member separating said second depression from said second opening, wherein said first opening includes a first locking member extending within said first opening and a second locking member extending within said second opening that selectively engage at least one of said plurality of teeth in a ratcheting manner, wherein said first locking member and said second locking member each include a second upper surface and a second lower surface, wherein said second lower surface inclines and wherein said second upper surface is substantially orthogonal with respect to said longitudinal axis of said first post and said second post, and wherein said second upper surface is substantially parallel to said first lower surface;

extending said first post and said second post through said first hole and said second hole respectively of said plurality of documents so that an extended portion of said first post and said second post extend past the opposite side of said plurality of documents;

moving the second support towards said plurality of documents such that said extended portion of said first post and said second post extend through said first opening and said second opening with said first locking member and said second locking member ratcheting upon said plurality of teeth in a locking manner;

terminating said step of moving said second support towards said plurality of documents after said plurality of documents are securely retained between the respective inner surfaces said first support and said second support;

breaking off an extra portion of said first post and said second post extending outwardly past an outer surface of said second support so that the distal ends of said first post and said second post are substantially flush with said outer surface of said second support; and

discarding said extra portion.

2. The method of claim 1, including:

providing a first cover and a second cover each having an extending lower peripheral lip;

inserting said lower peripheral lip of said first cover into said first depression to conceal said first opening; and

inserting said lower peripheral lip of said second cover into said second depression to s conceal said second opening.

3. The method of claim 1, including:

providing a first cover and a second cover each having an extending lower peripheral lip, wherein said first cover and said second cover are connected to opposing ends of said second support, wherein each of said first cover and said second cover each have a breakable connecting portion temporarily securing said first cover and said second cover to said second support;

breaking said connecting portion of said first cover and said second cover to release said first cover and said second cover from said second support;

inserting said lower peripheral lip of said first cover into said first depression to conceal said first opening; and

inserting said lower peripheral lip of said second cover into said second depression to s conceal said second opening.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said second support includes a first slot extending from said first depression outwardly away from said first opening and wherein said second support includes a second slot extending from said second depression outwardly away from said second opening.