Notebook binder system

• US 5,433,480 A
• Filed: 05/24/1993
• Issued: 07/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Morningstar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Morningstar Financial
• Inventors: Gresham, David M., Soto, Robert D., Davison, John W., Cicenas, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): FRIDIE JR, WILLMON
• Application Number:
  US08/066,490
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 281/151, 281/16, 281/17, 281/45, 402/19, 402/21, 402/23, 402/60
• US Class Current: 281/17
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 11/00 Filing appliances with separate intermediate holding means B42F17/00 takes precedence; with adhesive strips for mounting papers or sheets B42D1/10
• CPC Class Codes: B42F 11/04 magnetic

Abstract

A system for releasably and laterally mounting or removing a plurality of booklets including in a preferred embodiment: 1) unitary spines for removably retaining the booklets therein each having at least one upstanding tab on an outer surface thereof and, 2) a binder for releasably mounting the unitary spines therein, the binder having a plurality of longitudinally extending channels that are spaced apart and parallel to one another and have a ridge for engaging the upstanding tabs on the unitary spines during mounting and removal of the unitary spines in the binder.

Claims

1. A notebook binder system permitting at least one multi-page booklet to be laterally inserted and removed therefrom comprising:

a unitary spine for removably retaining the booklet therein, said unitary spine having a bottom member that is flexibly connected to a top member, said bottom member and said top member each having a first fastening means on an outer surface thereof; and

a binder for releasably mounting said unitary spine therein, said binder having second fastening means adapted to laterally accept said first fastening means on said unitary spine during mounting and removal of said unitary spine in said binder.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said bottom member and said top member are flexibly connected by a living hinge.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said bottom member of said unitary spine includes at least one booklet fastening means on an inner surface thereof for removably fastening the booklet to said unitary spine.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said booklet fastening means are upstanding projections.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the booklet includes a plurality of perforations along an upper edge through which extend said booklet fastening means on said inner surface of said bottom member.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said bottom member and said top member of said unitary spine include corresponding fastening means that coact with one another to removably fasten said members to each other and to the booklet.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said fastening means include a plurality of projections on said bottom member that engage a plurality of corresponding smaller projections on said top member.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said first fastening means comprise at least one upstanding tab and said second fastening means comprise at least one longitudinally extending channel with at least one integrally formed boss projecting from an inner surface thereof for engaging said tab when said unitary spine is inserted into said notebook binder.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein at least one upstanding tab is located adjacent each end of said bottom member and at least one boss is located adjacent each end of said channels, said upstanding tab and said boss being arranged to engage one another when the multi-page booklet is mounted in said notebook binder system.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein at least one upstanding tab is centrally located on said top member and at least one boss is centrally located in said channel, said upstanding tab and said boss being aligned with one another when the multi-page booklet is mounted in the notebook binder system.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said binder includes a plurality of longitudinally extending channels that are spaced apart and parallel to one another.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said first fastening means comprise longitudinally extending channel in said unitary spine opening away from said booklet and having at least one integrally formed boss projecting from an inner surface thereof and said second fastening means comprise at least one upstanding member for engaging said boss.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said first and second fastening means are a hook and loop tape.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein said first and second fastening means are magnetic.

15. A system for laterally mounting and removing a plurality of booklets comprising:

a plurality of unitary spines for removably retaining the booklets therein, said unitary spines each having a bottom member that is flexibly connected to a top member, said bottom member and said top member each having at least one upstanding tab on an outer surface thereof; and

a binder for releasably mounting said unitary spines therein, said binder having a plurality of longitudinally extending channels that are spaced apart and parallel to one another, said channels being individually defined by a first and a second parallel wall and each including an integrally formed ridge longitudinally extending along an inner surface of both said first and second parallel walls, said ridge being adapted to laterally accept said upstanding tab on said unitary spine during mounting and removal of said unitary spines in said binder.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said bottom member and said top member are flexibly connected by a living hinge.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein said upstanding tab on said top member is centrally located.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein said bottom member includes at least one upstanding tab adjacent each of its ends.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the lateral acceptance of said upstanding tab by said ridge simultaneously causes said bottom and top members of said unitary spines to move inwardly towards one another while simultaneously flexing at different points along their lengths.

20. A notebook binder for releasably retaining a plurality of laterally inserted booklets comprising:

a plurality of unitary spines for removably retaining the booklets therein, said unitary spines each having a bottom member that is flexibly connected to a top member, said bottom member and said top member each having a first fastening means on an outer surface thereof; and

a binder for releasably mounting said unitary spines therein, said binder having a plurality of longitudinally extending channels that are spaced apart and parallel to one another, said channels being individually defined by a first and a second parallel wall and each including a second fastening means on an inner surface of both said first and second parallel walls, said second fastening means being adapted to laterally accept said first fastening means on said unitary spines during mounting and removal of said unitary spines in said binder.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the lateral acceptance of said first fastening means by said second fastening means causes said bottom and top members of said unitary spines to move towards one another while simultaneously flexing at different points along their lengths.