Overlay binder including perforated easy-release label leader

Binder device releasably engaging aperture or notch of sheet – Depository

Reexamination Certificate

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

C281S021100, C402S003000, C402S08000L, C402S502000, CD19S026000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06695518

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved label leader and method for inserting a label into a slot on the spine of a loose-leaf binder.
2. Description of the Related Art
The present invention constitutes an improvement to the “SELF-LOADING BINDER” disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,472 ('472 patent) issued Jul. 21, 1987, and to the “OVERLAY BINDER INCLUDING EASY-RELEASE LABEL LEADER” disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,279 ('279 patent) issued on Jul. 19, 2001. The invention is also compatible with the “METHOD AND TOOL FOR RETROFITTING AN ELONGATED LABEL LEADER INTO THE SLOT OF AN OVERLAY BINDER”, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,840, issued Mar. 12, 1991. All the above were invented by Paul E. Ruble, one of the inventors for the present invention.
Loose-leaf binders and other bound works may be conveniently provided with transparent overlays on their spines that are sealed along the longitudinal edges of the spine. An elongated pocket or slot is defined between the cover and spine into which a label may be inserted to identify the contents of the bound work. This arrangement is highly preferable to conventional labeling methods such as affixing an adhesive label to the outer surface of the spine, since a label attached in the present manner is protected from wear and tear by the durable overlay.
Without the improvements disclosed in the above-referenced patents, a label is difficult to insert into a binder slot due to the length of the slot, and the fact that the overlay fits tightly over the spine. Attempts to insert a label into the slot will generally result in folds being created in the center portion of the label by the force used to push the label into the slot. Additional damage may also be done to the binder spine and/or overlay if a pen, paper clip, or similar sharp object is used to force the label into the slot.
The arrangement disclosed in the '472 patent is illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 2
. A bound work, here shown as being a loose-leaf binder
10
, includes an end cover or spine
12
, and front and rear covers
14
and
16
which are attached to the spine
12
along longitudinal edges
18
and
20
thereof respectively. A transparent overlay
22
is sealed to the spine
12
along or adjacent to the longitudinal edges
18
and
20
to define a pocket or slot
24
between itself and the surface of the spine
12
.
In order to enable a label made of flexible paper or the like to be inserted into the slot
24
for identification of the contents of the binder
10
, a thin, flexible leader
26
extends through the slot
24
and protrudes therefrom at its opposite ends. As viewed in
FIG. 1
, the upper end of the leader
26
has a releasable adhesive portion
28
formed thereon which faces away from the binder
10
. The leader
26
is long enough so that the ends thereof may be folded back over the spine
20
, with the adhesive portion
28
on the upper end being releasably adhered to the facing surface of the lower end of the leader
26
as illustrated in FIG.
2
. The ends of the leader
26
are thereby secured together in a convenient and compact manner over the spine
26
of the binder
10
for storage, shipping and sales.
FIGS. 3
a
to
3
d
are simplified diagrams illustrating how the leader
26
is used to insert a label into the slot
24
in accordance with the '472 patent. These figures, as well as similar figures which will be referenced below, are not drawn to scale, but are compressed along the axis of the spine
12
to facilitate description of the invention.
As viewed in
FIG. 3
a
, the lower end portion of a flexible label
30
is pressed down onto the adhesive portion
28
of the leader
26
and releasably adhered thereto. As illustrated in
FIG. 3
b
, the lower end of the leader
26
is then gripped and pulled downwardly, thereby pulling the label
30
downwardly into the slot
24
.
FIG. 3
b
shows the label
30
as being pulled approximately half way into the slot
24
, whereas in
FIG. 3
c
the label
30
has been pulled all the way into the slot
24
.
The leader
26
is released from the label
30
by applying finger pressure to the overlay
22
at a position such as designated by a cross
32
to immobilize the label
30
, and then pulling down on the leader
26
with increased force until the adhesive portion
28
releases or detaches from the label
30
as shown in
FIG. 3
d.
The directions included with overlay binders, which are sold to the public including label leaders
26
as disclosed in my prior patents, advise that the step of
FIG. 3
d
should be performed by popping the leader
26
free of the label
30
using a gentle side to side motion. No problems are encountered if the directions are followed. However, users who do not receive or read the directions or who are careless and/or impatient tend to jerk on the leader
26
rather than detach it gently as advised.
The adhesive portion
28
must be strong enough to grip the label
30
as it is being pulled through the slot
24
, and is detached from the label
30
in the step of
FIG. 3
d
by shear force. If the leader
26
is jerked rather than being gently popped free, part of the label
30
can shear and be torn off by the adhesive portion
28
and detach with the leader
26
. It is also possible for part of the leader
26
to be torn off and remain adhered to the label
30
by the adhesive portion
28
. The appearance of the label
30
is spoiled in both cases.
Also, the label
30
needs to be adhered to the leader
26
so that both are in longitudinal alignment. This allows the label
30
to be more easily pulled into the slot by the leader
26
. If they are not aligned properly, the edges of the label
26
can hit one of the slot's edges preventing the label
26
from being pulled into the slot or damaging the label.
The leader in the '279 patent overcomes some of the problems described above by providing an improved label leader arrangement
40
as shown in
FIGS. 4
a
to
4
f
. The leader
42
can be quickly and easily detached from a label after the leader has been used for inserting the label into the binder slot
41
, even if the leader is jerked roughly by a careless user. The elongated, flexible label leader
42
is designed to extend through the slot
41
and protrude therefrom at its opposite ends. A first adhesive portion
44
is formed on one end portion of the leader
42
. A label
46
may be inserted into the slot
41
by releasably adhering an end of the label
46
to the leader's first adhesive portion
44
, and pulling on the leader's other end
48
, thereby pulling the attached label
46
into the slot
41
.
The leader
42
is improved for easy release or detachment from the label
46
by further including a loop
50
portion which is folded back over and adhered to the surface of the end portion of the leader
42
opposite to the surface on which the first adhesive portion
44
is formed. A second adhesive portion
51
is included to hold the surfaces together to form the loop
50
. When the label is pulled completely into the slot
41
, part of the leader's loop portion
50
protrudes from the end of the slot
41
.
The leader is detached from the label by pulling on the protruding part
52
of the loop portion
50
. This causes the first adhesive portion
44
of the leader to be peeled away from the label
46
. The peeling action, as opposed to the shearing action as in the arrangement of the '472 patent, enables the adhesive portion to easily and smoothly detach from the label without tearing the leader or label, even if the end of the loop portion is jerked roughly rather than being pulled gently as directed.
One disadvantage of this leader is that it is more complicated and more expensive. It is also more bulky than the leader disclosed in the '472 patent. As a result, the binder requires more storage space and the leader has a greater tendency to be damaged during storage. The adhesive part of the leader occasionally tears away part of the label when the l

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for the USA inventors and patents. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Overlay binder including perforated easy-release label leader does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Overlay binder including perforated easy-release label leader, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Overlay binder including perforated easy-release label leader will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3351937

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.