US4986713A — Apparatus for applying hard and soft covers to bo…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 87 words

An apparatus for binding pages of an uncased book, comprising: a case having front and back covers, a spine portion and a U-shaped channel member attached thereto first and second jaw means; a bed onto which said case is rested; guide means for guiding said case with pages inserted therein onto said bed; and means for moving said first jaw toward said second jaw in order to crimp only outside spine areas of cases and not a spine portion thereof and thereby secure pages to said case.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 87 words

An apparatus for binding pages of an uncased book, comprising: a case having front and back covers, a spine portion and a U-shaped channel member attached thereto first and second jaw means; a bed onto which said case is rested; guide means for guiding said case with pages inserted therein onto said bed; and means for moving said first jaw toward said second jaw in order to crimp only outside spine areas of cases and not a spine portion thereof and thereby secure pages to said case.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bed includes an elastomeric material.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 33 words

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said bed includes a recessed area beneath said elastomeric material and wherein movement of said first jaw causes said elastomeric material to displace into said recessed area.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said elastomeric material is spring biased.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said U-shaped channel member is deformable.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said U-shaped channel member is made of metal.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 49 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said U-shaped channel member has upstanding walls and includes a resilient material on at least a portion of inside surfaces of said upstanding walls in order to maintain the clamping force on said pages as a result of crimping said U-shaped channel member.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus of claim 5, including cradle means for supporting said case so that said pages can be aligned therein prior to the insertion of said case onto said bed of said movable jaw.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 8, including case size selection means for selecting the case with the proper sized U-shaped channel member for the number of pages to be crimped.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 70 words

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said case size selection means includes a channel means for receiving a case, said channel means including a size selection dial on one portion thereof and a pointer that is manipulated to one end of said pages once they are placed into said channel means to thereby indicate on said size selection dial the size of U-shaped channel member needed to bind said pages.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said channel means has at least one tapered side.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 77 words

An apparatus for binding pages of an uncased book to a case, comprising: a case that includes front and back covers and a spine portion; a U-shaped channel member attached to said case; a stationary jaw; a movable jaw; a bed onto which said case is rested; handle means for moving said movable jaw toward said stationary jaw in order to crimp only outside said spine area of said case and thereby secure pages to said case.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 77 words

An apparatus for binding pages of an uncased book to a case, comprising: a case that includes front and back covers and a spine portion; a U-shaped channel member attached to said case; a stationary jaw; a movable jaw; a bed onto which said case is rested; handle means for moving said movable jaw toward said stationary jaw in order to crimp only outside said spine area of said case and thereby secure pages to said case.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 73 words

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said movable jaw includes a first portion and second portion, and linkage means connected to said handle means and said movable jaw such that initial movement of said handle causes both said first and second portions of said movable jaw to move in unison and wherein continued movement of said handle causes only said first portion of said movable jaw to continue moving toward said stationary jaw.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said first and second portions of said movable jaw are held together by a biasing means.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus of claim 13, including hydraulic cylinder means for controlling the movement of said handle.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 97 words

An apparatus for binding pages of an uncased book to a case, comprising: a case that includes front and back covers, pages within said front and back covers and a spine portion; a channel member attached to said case; a stationary jaw; a movable jaw; a bed onto which said case is rested; handle means for moving said movable jaw toward said stationary jaw in order to apply a binding force and crimp outside said spine area of said case and thereby bend said channel member onto said pages and thereby secure said case to said pages.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 97 words

An apparatus for binding pages of an uncased book to a case, comprising: a case that includes front and back covers, pages within said front and back covers and a spine portion; a channel member attached to said case; a stationary jaw; a movable jaw; a bed onto which said case is rested; handle means for moving said movable jaw toward said stationary jaw in order to apply a binding force and crimp outside said spine area of said case and thereby bend said channel member onto said pages and thereby secure said case to said pages.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 11 words

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said channel member is U-shaped.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein automatic case size adjustment of said jaws is accomplished during the binding stroke of said handle.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said automatic case size adjustment is by means of a self-locking friction clamp.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein overtravel springs are used to limit the maximum binding force.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said automatic case size adjustment is by means of a hydraulic cylinder with an internal check valve and release rod.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the maximum binding force is limited by a pressure relief valve within said cylinder.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 78 words

An apparatus for binding pages of an uncased book to a case with the case having front and back covers and a spine portion, comprising: first and second jaw means; a bed onto which a case is rested; a channel member and means for moving said first jaw toward said second jaw in order to compress outside the spine area of a case and bend said channel member to thereby secure a case to pages within the case.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 78 words

An apparatus for binding pages of an uncased book to a case with the case having front and back covers and a spine portion, comprising: first and second jaw means; a bed onto which a case is rested; a channel member and means for moving said first jaw toward said second jaw in order to compress outside the spine area of a case and bend said channel member to thereby secure a case to pages within the case.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 11 words

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said channel member is U-shaped.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 53 words

The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said U-shaped channel member has upstanding walls and includes a resilient material on at least a portion of inside surfaces of said upstanding walls in order to maintain the clamping force on pages in a case as a result of said crimping of said U-shaped channel member.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 23, including case size selection means for selecting the case with the proper sized U-shaped channel member for the number of pages to be crimped.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said case size selection means includes a channel means with a size selection dial on one portion thereof.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said channel means is tapered on at least on side.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 56 words

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the amount of crimping movement of said means for moving said first jaw toward said second jaw in order to crimp the outside spine area of the case and bend said channel member to thereby secure a case to pages within the case is the same for each individual case.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said bed includes an elastomeric material.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said bed includes a recessed portion that allows said elastomeric material to be displaced by said first jaw.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus of claim 23, including adjustment means for automatically adjusting said first jaw with respect to said second jaw for different size cases.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 14 words

The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said adjustment means is a self-locking friction clamp.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 59 words

A book binding apparatus for binding pages of an uncased book to a case comprising: a stationary jaw; a movable jaw; an elastomeric bed positioned between said jaws and onto which a case is rested; means for moving said movable jaw toward said stationary jaw in order to apply a binding force to a case positioned on said bed.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 59 words

A book binding apparatus for binding pages of an uncased book to a case comprising: a stationary jaw; a movable jaw; an elastomeric bed positioned between said jaws and onto which a case is rested; means for moving said movable jaw toward said stationary jaw in order to apply a binding force to a case positioned on said bed.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said bed includes a recessed area therebeneath and into which a portion of said elastomeric bed expands during movement of said movable jaw.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 68 words

A book binding apparatus for binding pages of an uncased book to a case comprising: a stationary jaw; a movable jaw; a bed positioned between said jaws and onto which a case is rested; means for moving said movable jaw toward said stationary jaw in order to apply a binding force to a case positioned on said bed with the exception of a spine area of a case.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 68 words

A book binding apparatus for binding pages of an uncased book to a case comprising: a stationary jaw; a movable jaw; a bed positioned between said jaws and onto which a case is rested; means for moving said movable jaw toward said stationary jaw in order to apply a binding force to a case positioned on said bed with the exception of a spine area of a case.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 14 words

The book binding apparatus of claim 36, wherein said bed includes an elastomeric material.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 31 words

The book binding apparatus of claim 37, including a recess portion beneath said bed whereby movement of said movable jaw against a case forces said elastomeric material into said recess portion.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-01-21	1994-07-23	1995-01-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-01-21	1998-07-23	1999-01-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-01-21	2002-07-23	2003-01-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus for applying hard and soft covers to bound or unbound documents

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