BINDING ELEMENTS AND METHODS OF FORMING BINDING ELEMENTS

摘要

A spiral binding element for binding a stack of perforated sheets wherein the wire has a cross-sectional area that is other than round, preferably rectangular, and a spiral binding element wherein the consecutive loops are substantially adjacently disposed such that they must be separated in order spiral the binding element into the stack of sheets. The binding elements have increased strength Jim the unbound form and the binding element having other than a round cross section provides increased strength and durability over traditional round cross-section spiral binding elements. Further, the wire may be formed of a polymer and/or metal. The invention further provides methods and apparatus for separating consecutive adjacent loops in a compressed binding element to obtain the desired pitch before or while the binding element is spiraled into the stack of sheets.