Binder device releasably engaging aperture or notch of sheet – Depository
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-26
2001-04-10
Wellington, A. L. (Department: 3722)
Binder device releasably engaging aperture or notch of sheet
Depository
C402S074000, C402S075000, C281S029000, C190S109000, C190S111000, C190S900000, C190S901000, C190S903000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213670
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to a binder with a foldable pocket assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
The carrying capacity of binders is generally limited to the space between its front and back covers. To increase the carrying capacity of binders, the binders are simply made bigger. That is, the size of the covers are either made bigger or the spine between the covers is made wider. Simply making bigger binders however has number of shortcomings. For example, bigger binders would weigh and cost more, and make it more cumbersome to carry around and store.
To better utilize the space between the covers, some binders have pockets inside the covers. However, these interior pockets are not economically utilized. That is, once the covers of the binder are closed there is a void or space between the front cover and the papers being held by the three ring holder mechanism. The void exists because the three ring holder mechanism generally protrudes out from the spine or the back cover so that the papers slope down against the back cover, and the negative slope of the papers forms a void or space between the paper and the front cover. Some binders do have interior pockets on the inside of the covers, but these pockets do not take full advantage of the void, because the interior pockets do not bulge or expand to take advantage of the void. In other words, the pockets are attached to the cover around at least three of the edges of the pockets so that the pockets are held close to the cover and cannot bulge or expand into the void.
Furthermore, because at least three edges of the pockets are attached to the cover, flexibility, expandability and security are not fully available. Accordingly, there are no secret pockets to hide sensitive items so that they are securely held in a confidential location.
Accordingly, there still is a need for a binder that makes more efficient use of the space between the covers to carry more items by taking advantage of the void left between the cover and the papers held in the three ring binder mechanism, and to have some secure secret pockets to hide sensitive items.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A general object of the present invention is to make more efficient use of the void left between the cover and the papers held in the three ring binder to increase the carrying capacity of the binder. Yet another objective is to provide some pockets that are hidden so that sensitive items may be more securely held in the hidden pockets. These and other objectives are accomplished by providing a binder with a front and back covers, and a spine coupling the front and back covers along a front fold line and a back fold line, respectively; and a pocket assembly having a top edge, a bottom edge, a left edge, and a right edge defining outer edges of the pocket assembly, wherein the top edge of the pocket assembly is coupled to the front cover of the binder, wherein the pocket assembly has a top portion and a bottom portion defined by a fold line, wherein the bottom portion of the pocket assembly is foldable along the fold line and adapted to hold the bottom portion adjacent to the top portion of the pocket assembly.
In accordance with a broad aspect of the invention, the objectives may be accomplished by providing a binder with a front and back covers; and a pocket having outer edges defining the pocket, wherein the pocket is coupled to the front cover of the binder along not more than two of the outer edges of the pocket, and wherein the pocket is foldable and is adapted to be releasably held in a folded position.
The above described features of the present invention and many other of its attendant advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Avery Dennison Corporation
Henderson Mark T.
Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP
Wellington A. L.
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