Books – strips – and leaves – Book – element thereof – or accessory therefor – Covers
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-23
2001-04-24
Fridie, Jr., Willmon (Department: 3722)
Books, strips, and leaves
Book, element thereof, or accessory therefor
Covers
C281S037000, C281S021100, C402S070000, C402S073000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220632
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to binders for holding papers and more particularly pertains to a new binder device for holding and protecting papers while having elastic hinges for the addition of additional dividers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of binders for holding papers is known in the prior art. More specifically, binders for holding papers heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,226; U.S. Pat. No. 730,727; U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,508; U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,497; U.S. Des. Pat. No. 374,037; and U.S. Des. Pat. No. 364,640.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new binder device. The inventive device includes a plurality of plates. Each of the plates has a top edge, a bottom edge, a front edge and a back edge. A coupling means removably couples a plurality of plates together. The coupling means includes a plurality of pairs of slots in the plates. Each of the pairs of slots extends into the back edge of the plates. A plurality of binding members removably binds the plates together. Each of the binding members forms a loop. One of the loops is placed in a pair of slots in a first plate and in a corresponding pair of slots in a second plate such that the first and second plates are hingedly coupled together.
In these respects, the binder device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of holding and protecting papers while having elastic hinges for the addition of additional dividers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of binders for holding papers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new binder device construction wherein the same can be utilized for holding and protecting papers while having elastic hinges for the addition of additional dividers.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new binder device apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the binders for holding papers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new binder device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art binders for holding papers, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a plurality of plates. Each of the plates has a top edge, a bottom edge, a front edge and a back edge. A coupling means removably couples a plurality of plates together. The coupling means includes a plurality of pairs of slots in the plates. Each of the pairs of slots extends into the back edge of the plates. A plurality of binding members removably binds the plates together. Each of the binding members forms a loop. One of the loops is placed in a pair of slots in a first plate and in a corresponding pair of slots in a second plate such that the first and second plates are hingedly coupled together.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new binder device apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the binders for holding papers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new binder device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art binders for holding papers, either alone or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new binder device which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new binder device which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new binder device which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such binder device economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new binder device which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new binder device for holding and protecting papers while having elastic hinges for the addition of additional dividers.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new binder device which includes a plurality of plates. Each of the plates has a top edge, a bottom edge, a front edge and a back edge. A coupling means removably couples a plurality of plates together. The coupling means includes a plurality of pairs of slots in the plates. Each of the pairs of slots extends into the back edge of the plates. A plurality of binding members removably binds the plates together. Each of the binding members forms a loop. One of the loops is placed in a pair of slots in a first plate and in a corresponding pair of slots in a second plate such that the first and second plates are hingedly coupled together.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new binder device that has first and second outside plates wherein additional plates, or dividers may be added between the first and second plates.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding o
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