Overlay binder including easy-release label leader

A loose-leaf binder (40) or other bound work has a slot (44) defined between the outer surface of a cover or spine (48) thereof, and a transparent overlay (46) attached over the spine (48) into which a label (54) can be inserted. The overlay (46) is sealed to the spine (48) along its longitudinal edges. An elongated, flexible label leader (42) extends through the slot (44) and protrudes therefrom at its opposite ends. An adhesive portion (52) is formed on a surface (42e) of an end portion (42b) of the leader (42). The label (54) may be inserted into the slot (44) by releasably adhering an end of the label (54) to the adhesive portion (52) of the leader (42), and pulling on an opposite end portion (42c) of the leader (42), thereby pulling the attached label (54) into the slot (44). A loop portion (42f) extends from the end portion (42b) of the leader (42), and is folded back and adhered to an opposite surface (42d) of the end portion (42b). Part of the loop portion (42f) protrudes from the slot (44) when the label (54) is fully inserted, and is pulled to smoothly peel the adhesive portion ( 52 ) from the label ( 54 ) and detach the leader (42) from the label (54) and binder (40).

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 of an overlay on a bound work such as a 
loose-leaf binder. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
The present invention constitutes an improvement to my "SELF-LOADING 
BINDER" disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,472, issued Jul. 21, 1987. The 
invention is also compatible with my "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. 
Loose-leaf binders and other bound works may be conveniently provided with 
transparent overlays on the spines thereof which are sealed along their 
longitudinal edges to 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 expedients 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 my prior patents, a label is 
difficult to insert into such a 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 my prior patents 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. 3a to 3d are simplified diagrams illustrating how the leader 26 is 
used to insert a label into the slot 24 in accordance with my prior 
patents. 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. 3a, 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. 3b, the lower end of the leader 26 
is then gripped and pulled downwardly, thereby pulling the label 30 
downwardly into the slot 24. FIG. 3b shows the label 30 as being pulled 
approximately half way into the slot 24, whereas in FIG. 3c 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. 3d. 
Although not illustrated, the leader 26 may be used to remove the label 30 
from the slot 24 by inserting the leader 26 into the upper end of the slot 
24 between the spine 12 and label 30 with the adhesive portion 28 facing 
the label 30. Finger pressure is applied to adhere the adhesive portion 28 
to the label 30. The leader 26 is then pulled upwardly, thereby pulling 
the label 30 out of the slot 24 through the top (opposite to the direction 
in which the label was inserted into the slot). 
The upper and lower traverse ends of the overlay 22 may both be not sealed 
to the spine 12, thereby providing the slot 24 with open upper and lower 
ends. Alternatively, the lower transverse end of the overlay 22 may be 
sealed to the spine as indicated at 34, and cut away at a central portion 
36 which is slightly wider than the leader 26. This provides a stop for 
the lower end of the label 30, while still enabling the leader 26 to 
protrude through both ends of the slot 24. 
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. 3d 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. 3d 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. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention overcomes the problem described above by providing a 
bound work including an improved label leader which can be quickly and 
easily detached from a label after the leader has been used for inserting 
the label into the slot of the bound work, even if the leader is jerked 
roughly by a careless user. The present invention further provides an 
improved method of inserting a label into the spine of a bound work using 
the improved label leader. 
More specifically, a loose-leaf binder or other bound work embodying the 
invention has a slot defined between the outer surface of a spine thereof, 
and a transparent overlay attached over the spine, into which a label can 
be inserted. The cover is sealed to the spine along its longitudinal 
edges. 
An elongated, flexible label leader is designed to extend through the slot 
and protrude therefrom at its opposite ends. An adhesive portion is formed 
on one end portion of the leader. A label may be inserted into the slot by 
releasably adhering an end of the label to the adhesive portion of the 
leader, and pulling on the other end of the leader, thereby pulling the 
attached label into the slot. 
In accordance with the improvement of the present invention, the leader is 
improved for easy release or detachment from the label by further 
including a loop portion which is folded back over and adhered to the 
surface of the end portion of the leader opposite to the surface on which 
the adhesive portion is formed. When the label is pulled completely into 
the slot, part of the loop portion of the leader protrudes from the end of 
the slot. 
The leader is detached from the label by pulling on the protruding part of 
the loop portion. This causes the adhesive portion of the leader to be 
peeled away from the label. The peeling action, as opposed to the shearing 
action as in the arrangement of my prior patents, 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. 
The end of the loop portion can be permanently adhered to the surface of 
the end portion of the leader. Alternatively, a tab portion can be 
provided which extends from the end of the loop portion. In this case, the 
end of the loop portion is releasably adhered to the surface of the end 
portion and detached therefrom by pulling the tab portion prior to 
detaching the leader from the label. In another embodiment of the 
invention, the loop portion is elongated, extends through the slot and is 
joined to the opposite end of the leader such that the leader constitutes 
a continuous loop. 
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be 
apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed 
description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which like 
reference numerals refer to like parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring now to FIG. 4a of the drawing, a bound work or binder 40, which 
may be the same as described with reference to FIG. 1 above, is fitted 
with a first improved label leader 42 according to the present invention. 
The binder 40 as designed for standard loose-leaf sheets will typically 
have a slot 44 sized to accept flexible labels made of paper or the like 
which are generally undersized as compared to the length and width of the 
slot 44. 
For one inch (2.5 cm) binders, the labels will typically be approximately 
2.1 cm wide and 28 cm long. The label leader 42 may be as wide as or wider 
than the label, but is preferably narrower than the label, typically 8 mm 
wide and 63.5 cm long (exclusive of a loop portion as will be described 
below), and is made of a strong, yet flexible plastic or other suitable 
material. The binder 40 includes a transparent overlay 46 which defines 
the slot 44 and is sealed to a spine 48 of the binder 40 at both of its 
longitudinal edges. 
The overlay 46 is unsealed or open at a first transverse end 44a of the 
slot 44 to enable a label to be inserted therein. The overlay 46 may be 
unsealed or open at a second transverse end 44b of the slot 44, or may be 
partially sealed and provided with a central opening as described with 
reference to FIGS. 3a to 3d. In either case, the leader 42 must be 
narrower than the width of the open portion of the end 44b of the slot 44 
so that it can extend therethrough. 
Although the label leader 42 is illustrated as being assembled with the 
binder 10 to form an integral product for sale, it may be provided as a 
separate salable item of manufacture and retrofit to the binder 10 in the 
manner described in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,840. 
The label leader 42 includes a central portion 42a which extends through 
the slot 44, a first end portion 42b which protrudes from the first end 
44a of the slot 44 and a second end portion 42c which protrudes from the 
second end 44b of the slot 44. The first end portion 42b has first and 
second opposite surfaces 42d and 42e on which first and second adhesive 
portions 50 and 52 are formed respectively. 
The leader 42 is long enough so that the end portions 42b and 42c thereof 
can be folded back over the spine 48, with the second adhesive portion 52 
on the first end portion 42b being releasably adhered to the facing 
surface of the second end portion 42c as illustrated in FIG. 4a. The end 
portions 42b and 42c of the leader 42 are thereby secured together in a 
convenient and compact manner over the spine 48 of the binder 40 for 
storage, shipping and sales. 
In accordance with an improvement of the invention, the leader 42 further 
includes a loop portion 42f which extends integrally from the first end 
portion 42b and is folded back over the first surface 42d of the first end 
portion 42b. The first adhesive portion 50 releasably adheres the first 
surface 42d of the end portion 42b to the facing end of the loop portion 
42f. A release tab 42g extends from the end of the loop portion 42f. 
The adhesive portion 52 is preferably an adhesive tab which may or may not 
be provided with a dust cover (not shown). The adhesive portion 50 can 
also be an adhesive tab which is formed on either the first surface 42d of 
the second end portion 42b or on the facing surface of the loop portion 
42f. Alternatively, the adhesive portion 50 can consist merely of a 
releasable adhesive which is applied to either or both of these surfaces 
and pressed therebetween during manufacture. 
FIG. 4b illustrates how the leader 42 is extended for use by rotating the 
end portion 42b clockwise and rotating the end portion 42c 
counterclockwise. The adhesive portion 52 is designed to be releasable to 
enable the end portion 42b to detach from the end portion 42c of the 
leader 42. In FIG. 4c, the end portion of a label 54 which is to be 
inserted into the slot 44 is pressed down on the adhesive portion 52 and 
thereby attached to the end portion 42b of the leader 42. 
In FIG. 4d, the end portion 42c of the leader 42 is gripped and pulled 
leftwardly as indicated by an arrow 56 such that the end portion 42b and 
loop portion 42f of the leader 42 and the attached end portion of the 
label 54 are pulled into the slot 44. This step is continued until the 
left end of the label 54 reaches the second end 44b of the slot 44 as 
illustrated in FIG. 4e. 
In the position of FIG. 4e, the release tab 42g and adjacent part of the 
loop portion 42f of the leader 42 protrude from the second end 44b of the 
slot 44. The leader 42 is detached from the label 54 by pulling on the tab 
42g as indicated by an arrow 58. Where the end 44b of the slot 44 is 
completely unsealed, the label 54 can be positively prevented from being 
pulled out of the slot 44 through the end 44b by applying pressure to the 
overlay 46 at a position rightward of the leader 42 such as indicated by 
an arrow 60 to press the label 54 against the spine 48. 
The force exerted on the tab 42g as indicated by the arrow 58 causes the 
loop portion 42f to release from the surface 42d of the end portion 42b of 
the leader 42 against the bonding force of the adhesive portion 50. The 
bonding strength of the adhesive portion 50 is selected to be great enough 
to prevent the loop portion 42f from moving relative to the end portion 42b 
in the step of FIG. 4d, but small enough to enable the loop portion 42f to 
release from the end portion 42b in the step of FIG. 4e. 
The tab 42g is further pulled in the direction of the arrow 58 such that 
the end portion 42b of the leader 42 releases from the label 54 against 
the bonding force of the adhesive portion 52, and the leader 42 detaches 
from the label 54 and the body of the binder 40 as illustrated in FIG. 4f. 
The bonding force of the adhesive portion 52 is selected to be large enough 
that the end portion 42b of the leader 42 will not detach from the label 54 
in the step of FIG. 4d, but small enough that the end portion 42b will 
release from the label 54 in the steps of FIGS. 4e and 4f. 
The manner in which the present leader 42 detaches from the label 54 is 
different from that of my prior arrangement. In the step of FIG. 3d in my 
prior arrangement, the leader 26 is caused to detach from the label 30 by 
shear force. In the steps of FIGS. 4e and 4f of the present arrangement, 
the adhesive portion 52 is caused to progressively peel off the label 54 
by a tensile force which is generally perpendicular to the label 54. This 
causes the adhesive portion 52 to easily and smoothly release from the 
label 54 without tearing either the label 54 or the leader 42, even if the 
loop portion 42f is jerked roughly by a careless user. 
FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrate a binder 40' including a second label leader 42' 
embodying the present invention. Like elements are designated by the same 
reference numerals used in FIGS. 4b and 4e, whereas similar but modified 
elements are designated by the same reference numerals primed. 
The leader 42' differs from the leader 42 in that the release tab 42g is 
omitted and the end of the loop portion 42f is permanently adhered to the 
surface 42d of the end portion 42b by an adhesive portion 50'. The leader 
42' is released from the label 54 by gripping the loop portion 42f at a 
point 62 between the adhesive portion 50' and the end 44b of the slot 44, 
and pulling the loop portion 42f in the direction of the arrow 58 as in 
FIG. 4e. 
FIGS. 6a and 6b illustrate another binder 40" including a third label 
leader 42" embodying the invention. Like elements are designated by the 
same reference numerals used in FIGS. 4b and 4f, whereas similar but 
modified elements are designated by the same reference numerals double 
primed. 
The leader 42" differs from the leader 42 in that a loop portion 42f" 
thereof is elongated, extends through the slot 44 and protrudes from the 
end portion 44b thereof, and is attached to the second end portion 42c by 
an adhesive portion 50". Alternatively, the ends of the loop portion 42f" 
and second end portion 42c can be joined together as illustrated in broken 
line such that the leader 42" constitutes a continuous loop. 
The label 54 is pulled into the slot 44 by gripping and pulling the second 
end portion 42c and the left part of the loop portion 42f" together. The 
leader 42" is detached from the label 54 by pulling on the loop portion 
42f" as illustrated in FIG. 6b. 
It is further within the scope of the invention to omit the adhesive 
portion 50" from the leader 42", and/or to provide an additional adhesive 
portion at any desired location between the loop portion 42f" and the 
portion 42a, 42b and/or 42c. 
While several illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown and 
described, numerous variations and alternate embodiments will occur to 
those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of 
the invention. 
For example, although not explicitly illustrated, the leader 42 can be 
assembled to the binder 40 in an orientation which is opposite to that as 
shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, with the adhesive portion 52 facing downwardly 
rather than upwardly as viewed in FIG. 4b. In this case, the end portion 
42c would be folded over the end portion 42b of the leader 42 in FIG. 4a, 
and the label 54 would be releasably adhered to the downwardly facing 
surface rather than the upwardly facing surface of the leader in FIG. 4c. 
Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention not be limited 
solely to the specifically described illustrative embodiments. Various 
modifications are contemplated and can be made without departing from the 
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.