Abstract:
A binder including a spine, a pair of covers pivotally coupled to opposite edges of the spine, and a storage component located on an outer surface of the spine. The storage component defines a storage cavity therein for receiving loose articles and includes an access door that is pivotable about an axis that extends generally parallel to the spine to provide access to the storage cavity.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     Binders and other similar components may be used to store loose-leaf papers, bound notebooks, etc. Users of such binders may typically also utilize writing instruments and other accessories for use with the binder. However, existing binders may lack sufficient storage space for storing such writing instruments, accessories and other loose components. Accordingly, there is a need for a binder which can store writing instruments, accessories and other loose components.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0002]     In one embodiment, the present invention is a binder which includes a storage component located on an outer surface of the spine such that writing instruments and other loose components can be stored therein. In particular, in one embodiment of the invention is a binder including a spine, a pair of covers pivotally coupled to opposite edges of the spine, and a storage component located on an outer surface of the spine. The storage component defines a storage cavity therein for receiving loose articles and includes an access door that is pivotable about an axis that extends generally parallel to the spine to provide access to the storage cavity. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0003]      FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of one embodiment of the binder of the present invention, with the binder shown in its closed position and the access door in its closed position;  
         [0004]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the binder of  FIG. 1 , shown in its open position;  
         [0005]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of the binder of  FIG. 2 , with the access door in its open position; and  
         [0006]      FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the binder of  FIG. 1 , with the label door in an exploded position.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0007]     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , in one embodiment the binder of the present invention, generally designated  10 , may include a front cover  12 , a rear cover  14  and a spine  16 . Each of the front cover  12 , rear cover  14  and spine  16  may be generally flat and planar and generally rectangular in front view. Furthermore, each of the front cover  12 , rear cover  14  and spine  16  may be made of relatively stiff and/or rigid material (i.e., sufficiently rigid to support a stack of school components (such as several pounds)) located thereon without significant deformation. The spine  16  may include a pair of opposed outer edges  18 ,  20  and each of the covers  12 ,  14  may be pivotally coupled to ones of the edges  18 ,  20 , respectively. The binder  10  may include a binding mechanism  22  ( FIG. 2 ) such as a three-ring binding mechanism, located on an inner surface  24  of the binder  10  such as on an inner surface of the spine.  
         [0008]     The binder may include a storage component or compartment, generally designated  30 , located on or integrated into an outer surface of the spine  18 . The storage compartment  30  may include a pair of side walls  32 ,  34  oriented generally perpendicular to the spine  16 . When the binder  10  is in its closed position (i.e., the covers  12 ,  14  are generally parallel and facing each other), each side wall  32 ,  34  may each extend generally parallel to, and be generally co-planar with, an associated one of the covers  12 ,  14 . The storage compartment  30  may extend generally the entire height (i.e., length) of the spine  16 , and may have the same surface area in front view such that the spine  16  is generally entirely “covered” by the storage compartment  30 . The storage compartment  30  may be generally fixedly and nonremovably coupled to the spine  16  by, for example, rivets, fasteners, adhesives, stakes, etc. or be integrally molded with the spine  16 .  
         [0009]     The storage compartment  30  may further include a pair of end walls  36 ,  38 , each end wall  36 ,  38  being oriented generally perpendicular to the spine  16  and to the side walls  32 ,  34 . The storage compartment  30  may further include a backing wall  40  which is oriented generally perpendicular to the side walls  32 ,  34  and the end walls  36 ,  38 , and generally parallel to and spaced apart from the spine  16 . The remaining sixth wall of the storage compartment  30  may be formed by the outer surface of the spine  16 , or by some other wall or component mounted to the spine  16 . In this manner, at least part of the storage compartment  30  and/or storage cavity  42  inside of the storage compartment  30  may be defined by an outer surface of the spine  16  and may have a storage compartment  42  that extends generally the entire height of the spine  16 .  
         [0010]     The storage compartment  30  may include the storage cavity  42  located therein and defined by the end walls  36 ,  38 , side walls  32 ,  34 , backing wall  40  and spine  16 . The storage compartment  30  may include an access opening  44  located at an upper end of the storage compartment  30  to provide access to the storage cavity  42 . The storage component  30  may include a cover or an access door  46  that can selectively cover the access opening  44 . For example, the access door  46  may be pivotable between a closed position wherein the access door  46  generally covers the access opening  44  ( FIG. 1 ), and an open position wherein the access door  46  is at least partially spaced apart from and/or generally does not cover the access opening  44  ( FIG. 3 ).  
         [0011]     In the illustrated embodiment, the access opening  44  is formed in the backing wall  40  as well as portions of the side walls  32 ,  34 . Accordingly, the access door  46  may include a main, generally flat component  50  shaped to align with the backing wall  40  when the access door  46  is in its closed position, as well as a pair of flanges  52 ,  53  extending generally perpendicular to the backing wall  50  and shaped to align with the side walls  32 ,  34  when the door  46  is in its closed position.  
         [0012]     The access door  46  may be coupled to the side wall  34  at or adjacent to the end flange at  53  to define a pivot axis  60  ( FIG. 3 ). The pivot axis  60  may extend generally vertically or generally parallel to the spine  16 . Furthermore, the pivot axis  60  may be spaced away from the spine  16  of the binder  10  in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the spine  16 . In the illustrated embodiment, the pivot axis  60  is located closer to the backing wall  40  than to the spine  16 . Furthermore, various configurations of the access opening  44  and access door  46  may be utilized. For example, the access opening  44  may be formed only in the backing wall  40 , in which case the access door  46  may be generally flat and planar, and may be pivotally coupled to the backing wall  40 .  
         [0013]     If desired, the storage component  30 , or portions of the storage component  30 , may be generally translucent or transparent so that components stored in the storage compartment  30  can be easily viewed from outside the storage component. Furthermore, the storage component  30  may include various dividers  66  located therein to divide the storage cavity  42  into subcompartments. For example, subcompartments  68  may be shaped to receive writing instruments  69  therein and subcompartment  70  may be configured to receive other loose items, such as, for example, loose change, paper clips, erasers, electronic components, etc.  
         [0014]     The storage compartment  30  may include a label opening  72  formed therein. In particular, the access door  46  may include a label door  74  which can be separated from the storage compartment ( FIG. 4 ) such that a label can be inserted into the label opening  72 . The label door  74  may then be returned to its closed position to trap the label in the label opening  72 . The label door  74  may be made of a generally transparent material so that a label stored in the label opening  72  may be visible to a user. The label door  74  may also be pivotally coupled to the storage compartment.  
         [0015]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the access door  46  may include a pair of generally inwardly-extending flanges  80 , and each flange  80  may be shaped and arranged to be received in a slot  82  located at or adjacent to sidewall  32  of compartment  30 . In this manner, when each flange  80  is received in a slot  82  (i.e., when the door  46  is in its closed position), the flanges  80  and slots  82  may cooperate to maintain the door  46  in its closed position. The flanges  80  may be able to be pulled out of the slots  82  when sufficient force is applied (i.e., manually by a user) to open the door  46 . Of course, a wide variety of other mechanisms and means for retaining the access door  46  in its closed position may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0016]     In this manner, the storage compartment  30  provides an inner cavity  42  in which loose items can be easily stored by a user. In particular, because the storage compartment  30  is located on an outer surface of the binder  10 , the storage compartment  30  can be easily accessed without having to open the binder  10 . Furthermore, because the storage compartment  30  is located on the spine  16  of the binder  10 , when the binder  10  is located in a “stack” of other items (that is, the binder is stuffed into a locker, backpack or the like with only its spine visible or accessible), a user can access the components stored in the spine storage component  30  without having to remove the binder  10  and/or access the inner surface of the binder  10 . Furthermore, if the spine storage compartment  30  is made of generally transparent materials, the contents of the storage component  30  can be easily identified.  
         [0017]     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.