Disposable clip for coupling binding elements and combination of binding elements with disposable coupling clip

Abstract

The invention includes a combination of coupling clip structure and a plurality of binding elements for binding stacks of perforated sheets for delivery to an automated machine. The combination comprises at least two binding elements, and at least one coupling clip discrete from said at least two binding elements. At least one of the coupling clip or the binding element(s) comprises at least one recess, at least a portion of at least one said binding element being disposed in said recess in the coupling clip and/or at least a portion of the coupling clip being disposed in said recess in the binding element, the coupling clip coupling the at least two binding elements together in a predetermined adjacent spatial relationship. The coupling clip may be separated from the binding elements by the automated machine. The invention further includes a method of coupling a plurality of binding elements together with at least one coupling clip for delivery to an automated machine.

1 . A combination of coupling structure and a plurality of binding elements for binding stacks of perforated sheets, said combination comprising 
 at least two binding elements,    coupling structure comprising at least one coupling clip, said coupling clip being a discrete structure from said at least two binding elements, at least one of said coupler and said binding binding elements comprising at least one recess, 
 in the case of the coupling clip comprising the at least one recess, at least a portion of at least one said binding element being disposed in said recess of the coupling clip,  
 in the case of the binding element comprising the at least one recess, at least a portion of the coupling structure being disposed in said recess of the binding element,  
   said coupling structure coupling the at least two binding elements together in a predetermined adjacent spatial relationship, said coupling clip being adapted to be separated from said binding elements.    
     
     
         2 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein each said binding element comprises an elongated spine, and a plurality of fingers extending from said spine, said plurality of fingers being adapted to form a plurality of closed loops and spaced to be received in perforations of said sheets, said coupling clip comprising said at least one recess and receiving at least one of said spine or fingers.  
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said coupling clip comprises the at least one recess and at least a portion of each of two said binding elements is disposed in the recess.  
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the coupling structure comprises at least two said recesses, at least a portion of a first of said binding elements being disposed in one said recess, and at least a portion of a second of said binding elements being disposed in the other said recess.  
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein the coupling structure further comprises at least a second coupling clip, comprising at least one recess, at least a portion of at least one said binding element being disposed in said recess of said second coupling clip.  
     
     
         6 . The combination of  claim 5  wherein the at least one binding element has a length and the coupling clips are disposed along the length of the at least one said binding element.  
     
     
         7 . The combination of  claim 4  wherein said coupling clip comprises a plurality of legs, said legs being spaced apart to form said recesses.  
     
     
         8 . The combination of  claim 7  wherein said coupling clip further comprises a force receiving portion, said force receiving portion and said legs being coupled such that a force applied to the force receiving portion causes at least two of the plurality of legs to move apart to open said recess.  
     
     
         9 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said coupling clip comprises at least three recesses, at least a portion of at least three binding elements being disposed in said recesses, respectively, such that said coupling clip couples the at least three binding elements together in a predetermined adjacent spatial relationship for delivery to said automated machine.  
     
     
         10 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said coupling clip comprises a plurality of recesses, at least a portion of a plurality of binding elements being disposed in said recesses, respectively, such that said clip couples the plurality of binding elements together in a predetermined adjacent spatial relationship for delivery to said automated machine.  
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 10  wherein the coupling clip is an elongated strip.  
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein said coupling clip is at least one of disposable and reusable.  
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 1  comprising a plurality of said coupling clips and a plurality of said binding elements creating a continuous length of the combination.  
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the binding elements comprises said recess, and the coupling clip comprises a protruding portion that is received in said recess.  
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 14  wherein the coupling clip comprises at least two protrusions disposed in recesses in respective binding elements.  
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 1  wherein at least one said binding element comprises a first said recess, and the coupling clip comprises a second said recess.  
     
     
         17 . A system of coupling binding elements, the system comprising 
 at least two binding elements of a first size,    at least two binding elements of a second size, and    a coupling structure comprising at least one coupling clip, said coupling clip being a discrete structure from said binding elements, at least one of said coupling clip and at least one of said binding elements of a first and a second size comprising at least one recess, 
 in the case of the coupling clip comprising the recess, at least a portion of at least one binding element of the first size and at least one binding element of the second size being disposable in said recess in the coupling clip,  
 in the case of at least one of said binding elements of a first and a second size comprising the recess, at least a portion of the coupling structure being disposable in said recess in the binding element,  
   said coupling clip being adapted to alternatively couple the at least two binding elements of the first size together a first predetermined distance apart for delivery to said automated machine and the at least two binding elements of the second size together a second predetermined distance apart for delivery to said automated machine, said first and second distances being equal, regardless of the size of the binding element.    
     
     
         18 . A method of coupling a plurality of binding elements together, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing at least one coupling clip having at least one recess,    providing at least two said binding element discrete from said coupling clip, at least a portion of at least one said binding element being disposed in said recess, said binding elements being separable from said coupling clip.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising at least one of the following steps: the step of providing said at least one coupling clip and at least two binding elements to a binding machine, the step of providing at least two coupling clips disposed in a spaced relationship along a length of the at least one binding element, and the step of providing a plurality of coupling clips and a plurality of binding elements coupled together in a continuous length.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of separating the coupling clip from the binding elements.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising at least one of the steps of reusing the coupling clip and disposing of the coupling clip.