Abstract:
An improved system for labeling the spine of a binder is disclosed. The system includes an improved flexible label leader to load labels into a binder slot. The leader includes a first end portion having an adhesive section for adhering a binder label thereto. It also includes a second end portion for pulling the label adhered to the first end portion into a binder slot and a middle portion between the first and second end portions that resides in said binder slot. The adhesive section of the first end portion in detachable from the remainder of the leader.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    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.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    The present invention constitutes an improvement to the “SELF-LOADING BINDER” disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,472 (&#39;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 (&#39;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.  
           [0005]    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.  
           [0006]    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.  
           [0007]    The arrangement disclosed in the &#39;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 .  
           [0008]    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.  
           [0009]    [0009]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 &#39;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.  
           [0010]    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 .  
           [0011]    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.    
           [0012]    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.  
           [0013]    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.  
           [0014]    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&#39;s edges preventing the label  26  from being pulled into the slot or damaging the label.  
           [0015]    The leader in the &#39;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&#39;s first adhesive portion  44 , and pulling on the leader&#39;s other end  48 , thereby pulling the attached label  46  into the slot  41 .  
           [0016]    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&#39;s loop portion  50  protrudes from the end of the slot  41 .  
           [0017]    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 &#39;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.  
           [0018]    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 &#39;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 leader and label are separated, damaging the appearance of the label. Also, the label and leader can be adhered out of longitudinal alignment making it difficult to pull the label into the slot.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0019]    The present invention is an improved apparatus for labeling the spine of bound works. One embodiment of the apparatus includes an improved flexible label leader to load labels into a binder slot. The leader has a first end portion having an adhesive section for adhering a binder label thereto. It also has a second end portion for pulling the label adhered to the first end portion into a binder slot, and a middle portion between the first and second end portions that resides in said binder slot. The adhesive section of the first end portion in detachable from the remainder of the leader.  
           [0020]    A bound work is also disclosed which comprises a cover and a transparent overlay which is sealed along its longitudinal edges to an outer surface of the cover to define a slot between the cover and the overlay which has top and bottom transverse ends which are at least partially open. A flexible label leader is included that has a central portion which extends through the slot. It also has a first end portion which protrudes from the top transverse end of the slot with an adhesive section for adhering a binder label thereto. A second end portion, which protrudes from said bottom end of the slot. The label leader includes a means for detaching the adhesive section from said first, second and central portions with the preferred means being a transverse perforation.  
           [0021]    In operation, the adhesive section of the flexible label leader is adhered to the back surface of a label and the leader is then used to pull the label into the binder slot. The leader is then removed from the label by tearing the perforation, leaving the adhesive section adhered to the label in the slot. This eliminates the possibility that the label will be damaged when the leader is removed from it. If the bottom edge of the label is aligned with the transverse perforation, the adhesive section that remains is not visible. Also, if the label&#39;s bottom edge is aligned with the perforation, the label and leader are longitudinally aligned to provide for label loading without interfering with the edge of the slot.  
           [0022]    By having a perforation the new label leader is more adaptable for use in automatic label loading equipment. The new leaders fold flatter for storage compared to the loop leader embodiment and are less likely to be damaged in storage. Leader removal is more easily understood by end user without having to reference the use instructions.  
           [0023]    These and other further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1. is a perspective view of a loose-leaf binder provided with a label leader in accordance with the above referenced &#39;472 patent;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the binder and label leader assembly shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIGS. 3 a  to  3   d  are simplified front elevation views illustrating the use of the binder and label leader assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIGS. 4 a  to  4   f  are side elevation views of the binder and label leader assembly in accordance with the above referenced &#39;279 patent, illustrating its use;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a loose-leaf binder provided with a label leader in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the binder and label leader assembly shown in FIG. 5;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIGS. 7 a  to  7   e  are simplified front elevation views illustrating the use of the binder and label leader assembly of FIGS. 5 and 6;  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0031]    [0031]FIGS. 5 and 6 show one embodiment of a binder leader system  60  in accordance with the present invention. The leader system  60  can be used with many different types of binders with the binder  61  being a standard loose-leaf binder. The binder  61  is comprised of a spine  62  with a pair of parallel longitudinal edges  64  and  66  and a pair of parallel transverse edges  68  and  70 . Front and rear covers  72  and  74 , respectively, are attached to the spine along each longitudinal edge with hinges located at the spines longitudinal edges  64  and  66 , between the covers  72  and  74  and the spine  62 .  
         [0032]    A transparent or semitransparent cover  78  is located on the spine  62  and sealed to the spine along the longitudinal edges  64  and  66 , forming a slot  80  between the spine  62  and the cover  78 . The slot  80  is 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  80 . A leader  82  is located in the slot  80  and extends beyond the non-sealed transverse edges  68  and  70  of the spine  62 . For one-inch (2.5 cm) binders, a label is typically about 2.1 cm wide and 28 cm long, although other sizes will also work. The label leader  82  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, and is made of a strong, yet flexible plastic, paper or other suitable material.  
         [0033]    A portion of the cover&#39;s bottom transverse edge can also be sealed, leaving an unsealed segment  88  near the middle of the spine&#39;s lower edge  70 . The unsealed segment  88  can be in the form of a cut away which is slightly wider than the leader  82 . This provides a stop for the lower end of the label, while still enabling the leader  82  to protrude from both ends of the slot  80 .  
         [0034]    In binder  61 , the overlay cover  78  extends beyond the spine  62  to cover the front and back covers  72  and  74 , and sealed to the bottom and side edges of the covers. The top edges of the front and back covers  72  and  74  can be left unsealed, allowing additional labels to be inserted into the area between the overlay cover  78  and the covers  72  and  74 , if desired.  
         [0035]    The leader  82  includes a central portion  82   a  which extends through the slot  80 , a first end portion  82   b  which protrudes from the top of the slot  80  and a second end portion  82   c  which protrudes from the bottom of the slot  80 . The first end portion  82   b  has an adhesive portion  83  near the end of the leader  82 . The adhesive is preferably an adhesive tab that may or may not be covered with a dust cover (not shown). The adhesive portion  83  can also consist of any releasable adhesive material that is applied to the end leader portion  82   b.    
         [0036]    In a preferred embodiment, the adhesive portion  83  allows the leader  82  to be attached to a label  89  to pull the label into the slot  80 . The end portion  82   b  is also arranged to allow the adhesive section to be separated from the remainder of the leader  82 . The separation can be facilitated by having a transverse perforation, score or other means  85  of separating the two sections, with a preferred means being a transverse perforation.  
         [0037]    The leader&#39;s second end  82   c  can also be waxed on its surface  90 . The leader  82  is stored in the slot  80  by bringing its opposite ends  82   b  and  82   c  together along the outside of the overlay cover  78 . The adhesive portion  83  is then attached to the waxed surface  90 , so that the leader extends entirely around the overlay cover as illustrated in FIG. 6.  
         [0038]    In an alternate embodiment, a detachable cover is positioned over the adhesive portion to protect the adhesive portion from contacting foreign material that may effect its ability to adhere.  
         [0039]    The label leader system  60  is assembled with a binder  61  by placing the leader  82  longitudinally along the binder&#39;s spine  62  before the overlay cover  78  is installed. The overlay cover  78  is then installed over the spine  62  and the front and rear covers  72  and  74  and is sealed along the longitudinal edges  64  and  66  of the spine  62  and the side and bottom edges of each cover  72  and  74 . A non-sealed segment  88  remains along the bottom transverse edge  70  of the spine  62  through which the leader  82  can be pulled.  
         [0040]    When using the new leader system, the leader&#39;s first end  82   b  is removed from the second end  82   c  by pulling the adhesive section  83  away from the waxed surface  90 . The leader  82  now extends from both ends of the slot  80  as shown in FIG. 5. A label  89  (or other identifying means) is attached to the adhesive portion  83  at the leaders first end  82   b , as shown in FIG. 7 a . When the leader  82  is pulled down through the slot  80 , the label  89  is pulled through the slot&#39;s top edge and into the slot  80  as shown in FIGS. 7 b  and  7   c . The leader  82  and the label  8  are pulled through the slot  80  until the label  86  is positioned at a desired location.  
         [0041]    The manner in which the present leader  82  detaches from the label  89  is different from that of the prior art arrangements. In the arrangement disclosed in the &#39;472 patent the leader is detached from the label by shear force. In the arrangement disclosed in the &#39;279 patent, the leader is detached from the label by pulling on the looped portion and causing the leader to progressively peel away from the label.  
         [0042]    In steps of FIGS. 7 d  and  7   e  the leader  82  is detached from its adhesive portion  83  by tearing the leader  82  along its transverse perforation  85 . This can be accomplished by simply pulling the leader  82  down and to the left or right so that the perforation tears to the left or right, respectively. The perforation  85  can be made to tear more easily by first folding the leader  82  at the perforation  85  before pulling the leader. The folding weakens the perforation  85 , which allows it to tear more easily. The leader  82  can also be removed by folding it at the perforation and pulling up and to the left or right as shown in FIG. 7 d . This forces the perforation  85  against the bottom edge of the slot  80  so that the edge cuts into the perforation  85 , causing it to tear more easily.  
         [0043]    The transverse perforation  85  also provides a marking to assist in the longitudinal alignment of the label  89  and leader  82 . When adhering the label  89  to the leader  82 , the bottom edge of the label  89  can be aligned with the perforation  85 , with the leader  82  at or near the center of the label&#39;s bottom edge. The perforation  85  and label&#39;s bottom edge are transverse to the longitudinal axis of the leader  82  and label  89 , and as a result aligning the perforation with the bottom edge longitudinally aligns the label  89  and leader  82 . The label  89  can then be pulled into the slot  80  without interfering with one of the slot&#39;s side edges.  
         [0044]    An apparatus and system for labeling the spine of a bound work has been shown and described which is highly effective. As numerous modifications and alternate embodiments of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art, it is intended that the invention be limited only in terms of the appended claims.