Binding system using concentric cylinders

摘要

A binding system for binding a set of media sheets, including a cylinder having an outer diameter and a length, and a retainer fabricated from a flexible material. The retainer has an arc-shaped cross-section having an inner diameter and an associated arc angle thereby providing an opening slot that extends along a length of the retainer. The binding system is adapted to bind the set of media sheets by wrapping the media sheets around the cylinder and inserting the wrapped cylinder into the retainer with the wrapped media sheets extending out of the opening slot in the retainer. The inner diameter of the retainer is less than the sum of the outer diameter of the cylinder and a total thickness of the wrapped media sheets so that the retainer flexes to provide a clamping force to bind the media sheets.

主权项

1. A binding system, comprising:
a cylinder having an outer diameter and a length; and a retainer having an arc-shaped cross-section fabricated from a flexible material, the arc-shaped cross-section having an inner diameter and an associated arc angle of at least 200 degrees and less than 360 degrees thereby providing an opening slot that extends along a length of the retainer; wherein the cylinder and the retainer are adapted to bind a set of media sheets by wrapping the media sheets around the cylinder and inserting the wrapped cylinder into the retainer with the wrapped media sheets extending out of the opening slot in the retainer; and wherein the retainer flexes to provide a clamping force to bind the set of media sheets when the wrapped cylinder is inserted into the retainer; further including at least one end cap adapted to be attached to an end of the cylinder or the retainer thereby covering the end of the retainer, wherein the end cap includes a post and the cylinder has at least one hollow end such that the end cap can be attached to the cylinder by inserting the post into the hollow end of the cylinder.