Bound folder

The present invention is directed to a sheet holder comprising a spine having at least first, second, third, and fourth panels attached in series by first, second, and third hinges, respectively. The panels and hinges are configured and associated such that the spine has a folded position in which the first and second panels are opposed to each other and define a stack space therebetween dimensioned to receive a stack. In this folded position, the third panel is folded over the second panel, and the fourth panel is folded over the first panel. The panels are associated such that a binding fastener is positionable through the first panel, the stack in the stack space, and the second panel. The fastener portions of the binding fastener are disposed between the second and third panels and between the first and fourth panels such that the third and fourth panels cover the fastener portions. A spine closure fastener associated with the first and fourth covers in the folded position to cover the fastener from view. The present invention is also directed to a method of holding at least one sheet within the sheet holder. A stack of sheets is insertable between the first panel and the second panel, forming an inner spine portion. Mechanical fasteners are driving through the inner spine portion to secure the stack of sheets. Once the stack of sheets is secured within the sheet holder with the mechanical fastener, the third and fourth panel are folded over the stack of sheets atop the second panel to abut the first panel. The fourth panel is secured to the first panel to cover the fastener from view.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
 This invention relates generally to sheet holders, and more particularly to
 folder for binding loose-leaf sheets.
 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 Documents are commonly prepared and secured for distribution and later
 retrieval for use by others. It is often desirable to bind these documents
 in a condition that facilitates review of the contents contained therein.
 It is known to punch a staple through the sheets of the document together
 with a stapler. Although such a mechanism is easy and inexpensive to use,
 the bound pages may rip from use, the folded ends of the staples are
 unsightly and often scratch items that come in contact with them and the
 pages are not protected against external elements. In addition, unless the
 document consists a fair number of pages, the document may be flimsy to be
 easily handled. Moreover, the overall appearance of the stapled documents
 does not compare to professionally bound documents.
 U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,111 reference is directed to a binder system to conceal
 edges of pages held therein. The binder system has a cover with front and
 back segments and a fold segment that has at least a pair of spaced
 scorelines defining at least one fold subsegment. A pair of adhesive
 strips is attached alongside the fold subsegments and is covered by
 adhesive strip covers. The sheets of a document are first stapled to each
 other, and then the stack is inserted between the covers with the stapled
 edge proximate to the fold segment, and secured therein by the adhesive
 strips. This binder system conceals the edges of the ages and prevents
 exposure of the folded ends of the staple. As the binder system is secured
 only to the outer sheets of the stack, the stack is held within the binder
 by the strength of the adhesive material, which may become weakened with
 use.
 U.S. Pat. No. 5,727,816 discloses a stapled report cover having a plurality
 of panels. The panels are folded over a plurality of pages that form a
 stack with bottom and top sheets. A binding margin on the stack is
 adjacent to a binding edge of the stack. A broad top cover panel extends
 to the binding margin, and a concealment panel is attached to the cover
 panel and extends across the narrow binding margin. The concealment panel
 is joined to a broad back panel a spine fold. The stack is fastened with a
 fastener at the narrow binding margin, and a layer of adhesive is located
 between the document cover and the binding margin of the stack to conceal
 the fastener where it protrudes from the top sheet of the stack.
 Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,548,426 discloses a method of making a report
 cover which allows a stack of paper held therein to lie flat. The Lockhart
 method includes a report cover that uses two panels, one of which includes
 three parallel hinges. One of the hinges on the panel remains pivotable to
 prevent pages of the report from "flying" back or the report from closing
 on its own when the cover is in an opened configuration.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention is directed to a sheet holder comprising a spine
 having at least first, second, third, and fourth panels attached in series
 by first, second, and third hinges, respectively. The panels and hinges
 are configured and associated such that the spine has a folded position in
 which the first and second panels are opposed to each other and define a
 stack space therebetween dimensioned to receive a stack. In this folded
 position, the third panel is folded over the second panel, and the fourth
 panel is folded over the first panel. The panels are associated such that
 a binding fastener is positionable through the first panel, the stack in
 the stack space, and the second panel. The fastener portions of the
 binding fastener are disposed between the second and third panels and
 between the first and fourth panels such that the third and fourth panels
 cover the fastener portions. A spine closure fastener associated with the
 first and fourth covers in the folded position to cover the fastener from
 view.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of a sheet holder 10 such as a
 report cover or other folder is shown having a back cover 12, a spine 14
 and a front cover 16. The back cover 12 can also be of a unitary
 construction with the spine 14, and can be a part of a single piece of
 material. In the preferred embodiment, the spine 14 has a first panel 17
 that extends toward the back cover 12. Additionally, the spine 14 has a
 second panel 18, a third panel 20 and a fourth panel 22. The second panel
 18 is hingedly connected to the back cover 12 along a first hinge or fold
 line 24, the third panel 20 is hingedly connected to the second panel 18
 along a second hinge or fold line 26, and the fourth panel 22 is hingedly
 connected to the third panel 20 along a third hinge or fold line 28. The
 fold lines 24, 26 and 28 are preferably substantially parallel to each
 other. The fold lines 24, 26 and 28 are preferably score lines or living
 hinges. Alternatively, the fold lines 24, 26 and 28 may be other types of
 hinges including perforated or weakened lines or pinned hinges. The back
 cover 12 may be an extension of a first panel 17 of the spine 14, and
 likewise, the front cover 16 may be an extension part of a second panel 18
 of the spine 14.
 The spine 14 is preferably integrally constructed with the back cover 12
 such that the spine 14 may form an intermediate portion of the back cover
 12. Most preferably, the spine 14 and the back cover 12 are of uniform
 construction. The spine 14, however, may be separately attached to the
 back cover 12 using known securing mechanisms such as adhesives,
 mechanical fasteners, stitches, or tape. Fold lines 24, 26 and 28 are
 disposed along the spine 14 to facilitate folding of the various sections
 about the stack of sheets during assembly. When viewed from the side of
 the holder 10 with one of the covers 12 and 16 substantially abutting a
 flat surface, the fold lines 24, 26 and 28 allow the panels of the
 intermediate portion 14 to form angled sides in the margin area when the
 sections are folded along the fold lines with the acuteness of the angle
 vary with the force applied resulting in generally tapered or rounded
 folds that bends about a point.
 An adhesive material 30 is disposed on the outside surface of the fourth
 panel 22 of the spine 14 when the spine 14 is folded toward the back cover
 12. The adhesive material 30 preferably covers most of the surface area of
 the fourth panel 22. A protective strip 32 is preferably secured to the
 adhesive material 30 and is removed to expose the adhesive material 30
 during the assembly of the holder 10. Most preferably, the protective
 strip 32 completely covers the adhesive material 30 prior to the assembly
 of the sheet holder 10. The adhesive material 30 is preferably pressure
 sensitive, which allows the user to apply finger pressure along the
 outside surface of the spine 14 to secure the interfacing surfaces of the
 fourth panel 22 the back cover 12 of the sheet holder 10. Preferably the
 adhesive material 30 has quick and sufficient adhesion properties to
 provide flexibility and conformity to irregular surfaces. The protective
 strip 32 is coated with a non-stick surface and is secured to the adhesive
 material 30, preventing such material from exposure prior to the assembly
 of the sheet holder 10. Preferably the protective strip 32 has a dimension
 larger than the area of the fourth panel 22 coated with the adhesive
 material 30 to facilitate the removal of the protective strip 32. Most
 preferably, the protective strip 32 extends about 1/8th of an inch beyond
 each side of the adhesive material 30 on the fourth panel 22. Other types
 of adhesives may be used including glue, rubber cement, tape, etc.
 Referring now to FIG. 2, a stack of sheets 34 to be bound within the sheet
 holder 10 is shown placed over the back cover 12 proximate to the first
 fold line 24 and in substantial alignment with the outer edge 36 of the
 back cover 12. The front cover 16 is similarly placable over the stack 34
 with its outer edge 38 in general alignment with the stack 34 and the
 inner edge 40 in substantial alignment with the first fold line 24.
 Although the preferred outer edge 38 is rounded, alterative edges having
 irregular shapes also suitable. The spine 14, with the sections 18, 20 and
 22, is shown slightly folded along respective fold lines 24, 26 and 28.
 Mechanic fasteners 42 are positionable through the front cover 16, stack
 of sheets 34 and back cover 12. The dashed lines extending from the
 fasteners 42 toward the front cover 16 demonstrate the preferred path for
 securing these fasteners 42. Three mechanical fasteners 42 are preferred;
 other number of fasteners 42, however, are adaptable for use to secure the
 stack within the holder 10. While staples are shown as one embodiment of
 the mechanical fasteners 42, other fasteners known in the art may be
 utilized, including: wires; individual button-headed, pronged fastener;
 elongated pronged metal or plastic fasteners having strips through which
 the prongs of the fasteners extend when folded toward each other; rivets;
 and clamps. Preferably the attachment used does not protrude beyond the
 outer surface of the fourth panel 22 when the fourth panel 22 is attached
 to the first panel 17.
 The sheet holder 10 of the present invention may be constructed of a number
 of materials to protect the contents therein. In view of providing ease of
 manufacturing and minimizing costs while achieving greater flexibility of
 usage, the back cover 12 and spine 14 are preferably fabricated from a
 single sheet of material constructed of typical stiff paper, card board,
 bristol board or plastic. The stiff paper or card board may be opaque,
 plastic coated or textured. The front cover 16 may be composed of the same
 stock as the back cover 12 and spine 14, however, the front cover 16 is
 most preferably formed of a transparent plastic sheet providing protection
 while displaying the stack of sheets 34 contained in the holder 10 and
 preferably as a separate sheet from the back cover 12.
 The sheet holder 10 is preferably dimensioned to accommodate conventionally
 sized sheets of papers with sufficient clearance to fully protect the
 sheets held therein from external elements. An example of such sheets of
 paper is the standard 81/2.times.11 inch sheets of paper commonly used in
 the U.S. or A4 or legal size. To accommodate this 81/2.times.11 paper
 size, the preferred size of the back cover 12 is about 9.times.11.25
 inches. In addition to accommodating the size of the sheets contained in
 the sheet holder 10, the dimension of the spine 14 is selected to
 accommodate the varying thicknesses of the stack of sheets 34 that may be
 held within the holder 10.
 The fasteners 42, spine 14, with its three sections 18, 20 and 22, defines
 the binding mechanism of the holder 10 for securing the contents. The
 second panel 18 is preferably dimensioned to extend beyond the stack of
 sheets 34 and the front cover 16 by a lateral width 25 with sufficient
 lateral spatial distance remaining for securing the fasteners 42 through
 the holder 10. By increasing the width 25 of the second panel 18, the
 sheet holder 10 can hold more sheets. The preferred lateral width 25 of
 the second panel 18 is between about 0.4 inches to 1 inch, more preferably
 between about 0.5 inches to 0.7 inches. The preferred height 19 is about
 11.25 inches. Preferably the third panel 20 is wider than the second panel
 18, allowing the third panel 20 to completely cover the second panel 18
 when it is folded over abutting the second panel 20. Preferably the fourth
 panel 22 is wider than the third panel 20. The third and fourth panels 20
 and 22 are preferably dimensioned to sufficiently extend beyond the margin
 area where the fasteners 42 are secured to cover both the top and bottom
 parts of the fasteners 42. The preferred width of the third panel 20 is
 between about 0.7 inches to 0.8 inches, and the preferred width of the
 fourth panel 22 is between about 0.9 inches to 1 inch.
 The front cover 16 is dimensioned to sufficiently cover the stack of sheets
 34 and to provide sufficient area for securing the fasteners 42. The spine
 14 can be provided in a variety of widths to accommodate the same back
 cover 12 according to the need of the user. Finally, for the above stated
 preferred dimensions of back cover and spine, the preferred dimension of
 the front cover is about 9.times.11.25 inches, and is preferably slightly
 larger than the dimension of the stack 34 contained therein.
 The sides of the front and back covers laterally opposed to the binding
 area may be curved and have rounded corners. A completely assembled sheet
 holder 10 of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention
 is shown in FIG. 3. The sheet holder 10 is shown having slightly curved
 outer edges to the front and back covers 12 and 16 with rounded corners.
 The covers 12 and 16 extend beyond the stack of sheets 34 to protect the
 sheets. The spine 14 is shown folded substantially along fold lines 24, 26
 and 28 is a slightly curved fashion. The fasteners 42 are completely
 covered by the spine 14 from view and are prevented from damaging desk
 tops, injuring users, or catching objects adjacent to the fasteners, such
 as by catching with the staple legs.
 The assembly of the sheet holder 10 is shown with reference to FIGS. 2, 4
 and 5. The stack of sheets 34 to be bound within the sheet holder 10 is
 placed over the back cover 12 proximate to the first fold line 24 and
 preferably in substantial alignment therewith. The front cover 16 is
 similarly placed over the stack 34 with its inner edge 40 in substantial
 alignment with the stack 34 and the first fold line 24.
 Referring now to FIG. 4, the spine 14 is folded about the stack 34 and
 front cover 16, such that the second panel 18 is folded over the stack 34
 and rests atop the front cover 16, abutting the outer surface thereof and
 forming an inner spine portion 35. Staples 42 are driven through the
 second panel 18 between the first fold line 24 and the second fold line
 26. Preferably, the staples 42 are disposed closer to the second fold
 line, away from the edge of the stack 34 proximate to the folded portion
 of the second panel 18. Other positions, however, are also suitable.
 Preferably, staples 42 are pushed through the second panel 18, the front
 cover 16, the stack 34 and the back cover 12 proximate to the first fold
 line. Thus, the ends of the fasteners 42 protrude from the second panel 18
 and the spine portion of the back cover 12. When the fastener 42 is a
 staple, the crown of the staple is against one sections of the spine 14,
 preferably the third panel 20. Spine portion of the back cover 12 and the
 legs of the staple fastener 42 are clinched against each other. The
 staples 42 may also be secured to the holder 10 by driving through the
 opposite side. Once the stack 34 is secured to the sheet holder 10, the
 spine 14 is further folded along fold line 26 back about the first or
 inner spine portion 18 toward the first fold line 24 such that the third
 panel 20 is placed atop and abuts the second panel 18 covering the top
 portions of the staples 42. The protective strip 32 may be removed at any
 time prior to this point of assembly to expose the adhesive material 30
 disposed on the fourth panel 22. Referring now to FIG. 5, the spine 14 is
 then folded along fold line 28 such that the fourth panel 22 abuts and is
 secured to the back cover 12 via the adhesive material 30 covering the
 folded portions of the staples 42. Although the adhesives 30 is shown
 against the fasteners 42, the adhesives 30 may alternatively be disposed
 beyond the fastener 42, toward the first fold line 24 or free edges of the
 covers 12 and 16. As seen from FIGS. 2 and 5, the portions of the fastener
 42 that remain be first and forth panels 17 and 22 and between the second
 and third panels 18 and 20 of this embodiment are substantially parallel
 with the panels 17, 18, 20, and 22.
 Scorelines are preferably formed along the fold lines 24, 26 and 28 to
 facilitate assembly by making the spine more adaptable to folding along
 the fold lines 24, 26 and 28. The scorelines respond to pressure applied
 to the fold lines and from clean straight edges along the spine area of
 the sheet holder 4. The effect of the scorelines are best shown in FIG. 5.
 Additional score lines to accommodate various heights of the stacks 34 are
 also suitable. The fold lines 24, 26 and 28 formed as scorelines allow
 greater ease in folding the spine 14 during assembly. The scorelines tend
 to bend the spine 14 in pre-determined direction accordingly to the
 placement of the scorelines.
 One of ordinary skill in the art can envision numerous variations and
 modifications to the invention disclosed herein. For example, the adhesive
 strip of the fourth panel of the spine may be applied separately by the
 user at the time of assembly, eliminating the need of a protective cover,
 or the spine may be constructed as a separate sheet form the back cover
 and attachable thereto. All of these modifications are contemplated by the
 true spirit and scope of the following claims.