Abstract:
A binder including a front cover, a rear cover directly or indirectly coupled to the front cover, and a gusset extending generally between the front and rear covers. The pocket further includes a pocket located on an outer surface of the binder, the pocket at least partially overlapping with at least part of the gusset.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Binders, folders, portfolios, notebooks and the like are often used by businesses, students, etc. in order to store loose items and provide a convenient carrying device. However, many existing binders, folders, notebooks or portfolios may have limited storage space and may in particular lack storage space on an outer surface of the binder. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is a binder with a pocket located on an outer surface thereof. In particular, the pocket may be located on, or partially overlap, or at least partially extend along the gusset of the binder. In one embodiment, the invention is a binder including a front cover, a rear cover directly or indirectly coupled to the front cover, and a gusset extending generally between the front and rear covers. The pocket further includes a pocket located on an outer surface of the binder, the pocket at least partially overlapping with at least part of the gusset. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the binder of the present invention, shown in its closed position with the pocket in its compact position; 
     FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the binder of FIG. 1, with the pocket in its expanded position; 
     FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the binder of FIG. 1, with the pocket in its compact position and open configuration; and 
     FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the binder of FIG. 1, with the binder in its open position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the binder of the present invention, generally designated  10 , may include a front cover  12  and a rear cover  14 , each of which may be pivotally coupled to a spine  16 . Each of the front cover  12 , rear cover  14  and spine  16  may be generally planar and generally rectangular, and generally rigid (i.e., sufficiently rigid to support a stack of school materials, such as books and the like, without significant bending or deformation). Each of the front  12  and rear  14  covers may include a rear edge  18  pivotally coupled to the spine  16 . When the binder  10  is in its closed position, the binder  10  and each cover  12 ,  14  may include a first side  20  located opposite the spine  16  or rear edges  18 , and the second  22  and third  24  sides extending generally perpendicular to the rear edge  18  and/or first side  20  and between the rear edge  18  and first side  20 . 
     The binder may include a gusset  26  extending around at least or partially around the first  20 , second  22  and third  24  sides, and in the illustrated embodiment the gusset  26  does not extend along the rear edges  18 . The gusset  26  may be made of a generally flexible, pliable material, such as woven fabric. The gusset  26  may include a cut or slit  28  formed therein to divide the gusset  26  into a first gusset portion  26   a  coupled to the front cover  12  and a second gusset portion  26   b  coupled to the rear cover  14 . Each of the first  26   a  and second  26   b  portions may be coupled together by an attachment mechanism, such as in the illustrated embodiment, a zipper  30  including a zipper track  31  and a zipper pull  33 . However, the first  26   a  and second  26   b  portions of the gusset  26 , as well as the front  12  and rear  14  covers, may be coupled together by a wide variety of other attachment mechanisms including snaps, clasps, hooks, hook and loop fastening systems (such as VELCRO®), interengaging strips and the like. 
     The binder  10  may include a pocket  34  located on an outer surface thereof. In particular, the pocket  34  may include an outer body  36  having a cavity  38  therein. The pocket may include a mouth or access opening  40  (see FIG. 3) to provide access to the inner cavity  38 , and may include a closure flap  42  that can selectively cover the access opening  40 . For example, the closure flap  42  may include a patch of hook and loop fastening material  44  such as VELCRO® located thereon which can cooperate with a corresponding patch of hook and loop fastening material  46  located on the front surface of the pocket  34  to maintain the closure flap  42  in the closed position. 
     The pocket  34 , and correspondingly, the inner cavity  38 , may each be generally longitudinal and extend generally parallel to the gusset  26 . The pocket  34  may be movably or pivotally coupled to the outer surface of the binder  10 . In particular, the pocket  34  may be pivotally coupled to one of the gusset portions  26   a ,  26   b  and/or to one of the covers  12 ,  14 . In the illustrated embodiment, the pocket  34  is coupled to the second gusset portion  26   b  along hinge line  52  (FIG.  2 ). For example, the lower or inner edge  54  of the pocket  34  may be stitched to the gusset portion  26   b  and/or the rear cover  14  along the hinge line  52 . In this manner, the pocket  34  can be pivoted between a compact position wherein the pocket  34  is oriented generally parallel to and adjacent the gusset  26  and generally perpendicular to the front  12  and rear  14  covers (FIG. 1) and an expanded position wherein the pocket  34  is oriented generally perpendicular to the gusset  26  and generally parallel to the front and rear covers  12 ,  14 . 
     The pocket  34  may include a patch of hook and loop fastening material  48  located thereon, and the gusset  26  and/or front cover  12  may include a corresponding patch of hook and loop fastening material  50  located thereon (see FIG.  2 ). In this manner, the patches  48 ,  50  of hook and loop fastening material can cooperate to maintain the pocket  34  in the compact position where the pocket  34  lies flat against the gusset  26 . 
     The pocket  34  may be normally stowed in its compact position, and may be moved to its expanded position when it is desired to access the portion of the zipper track  31  that is located below the pocket  34  when the pocket  34  is in its compact position. For example, the pocket  34  may be moved to its expanded position when it is desired to zip or unzip the binder  10  such that the zipper pull  33  may be moved past the pocket  34 . Once the zipper pull  33  has been moved past the pocket  34 , the pocket  34  may then be returned to its compact position. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the gusset  26  extends between the front  12  and rear  14  covers in a thickness direction A of the binder  10 , and the pocket  34  at least partially overlaps the gusset  26  in the thickness direction. In this manner, the pocket  34  may at least partially overlap with the gusset  26 . 
     The pocket  34  provides a conveniently located and easily accessible storage compartment for storing components. For example, pens, pencils, sunglasses, cellular phones, personal organizers and the like may be easily stored in the pocket  34 . Furthermore, because the pocket  34  is coupled to or located on an outer surface of the binder  10 , the contents of the pocket  34  can be easily accessed without having to open the binder  10 . Because the pocket  34  is located on an end of the binder  10 , the pocket  34  can be accessed, even when the binder  10  is located between other adjacent components (i.e., book, binders, etc.) such as when the binder  10  is stored in a locker or backpack. Furthermore, when the pocket  34  is in its compact position, the pocket  34  may help to maintain the binder in its closed position, even when the first  26   a  and second  26   b  portions are not coupled together by the zipper  30 , by operation of the patches of hook and loop material  48 ,  50 . 
     In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the binder  10  may have a variety of pockets  60 , folders  62 , and other storage components on its inner surface. The binder  10  may also include a binding mechanism  64 , such as a three ring binding mechanism, located on an inner surface of the binder  10 , such as on an inner surface of the spine  16  or one of the covers  12 ,  14 . 
     Having described the invention in detail and by reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be apparent that modifications and variations thereof are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.