Abstract:
A portfolio assembly including a first portfolio including a pair of opposed panels with a hinge line extending therebetween and a second portfolio including a pair of opposed panels with a hinge line extending therebetween. The first and second portfolios are directly coupled together at or adjacent to the hinge line of each portfolio.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    Portfolios, folders, and other storage mechanisms are commonly used to store various loose leaf papers, such as papers torn from a notebook, notes, handouts or other loose items. However, the capacity of such portfolios is limited. Accordingly, there is a need for a portfolio which provides additional storage space for storing loose items.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention is a double portfolio which can, in one embodiment, provide a plurality of pockets for storing loose items. In one embodiment, the portfolio includes two substantially identical portfolio components bound together at their spines. In one embodiment, the invention is a portfolio assembly including a first portfolio including a pair of opposed panels with a hinge line extending therebetween and a second portfolio including a pair of opposed panels with a hinge line extending therebetween. The first and second portfolios are directly coupled together at or adjacent to the hinge line of each portfolio.  
           [0003]    Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]    [0004]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the portfolio of the present invention;  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 2 is a front view of the portfolio of FIG. 1 in its closed position;  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 3 is a front view of the portfolio of FIG. 1 in its open position and receiving a pair of sheets of paper therein;  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the portfolio of FIG. 1;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 5 is an end view of the spine of the exploded portfolio of FIG. 4; and  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 6 is a top view of a blank that may be used to form a portfolio component.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0010]    As best shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is a portfolio or portfolio assembly  10  including an inner  12  and an outer  14  portfolio or portfolio component bound together at their spines  16 ,  18 . Although the shape and configuration of portfolio components  12 ,  14  may vary, in the illustrated embodiment both portfolio components  12 ,  14  include left  20  and right  22  opposed panels separated by a common hinge line  24 . Each of the panels  20 ,  22  may be pivotable about the hinge line  24  such that each panel  20 ,  22  can face, be located adjacent to or facially abut against an adjacent panel (see, e.g., FIG. 2 which illustrates the portfolio  10  in its fully closed position).  
         [0011]    As shown in FIG. 1, each panel  20 ,  22  may include a lower panel  26  located thereon such that each lower panel  26  and its associated panel  20 ,  22  form a pocket  28  therebetween. Each lower panel  26  may be coupled to its associated panel  20 ,  22  along the lower edge  30  and a portion of the side edge  32  of the associated panel  20 ,  22  to form the pocket  28 . Each lower panel  26  may have about the same width of the associated panel  20 ,  22  and have a height of about one-third of the associated panel  20 ,  22 , although the size and shape of the lower panels  26  can be varied as desired. As will be discussed in greater detail below, each of the portfolio components  12 ,  14  may be made from a single sheet or a single piece of material.  
         [0012]    The portfolio  10  may include a spine portion  38  which may include or form part of the hinge line  24  of the portfolio  10 , or extend outwardly from the hinge line  24 . Because each panel  20 ,  22  may pivot about separate but closely spaced hinge lines, the term “hinge line” or “hinge portion” as used herein may include two or more hinge lines that are closely spaced. As best shown in FIG. 4, the inner portfolio component  12  may include a binding mechanism  40 , such as a three-prong binding mechanism, located at or adjacent to the hinge line  24  or spine  38 . In this manner, sheets of paper having a standard three-hole spacing can be coupled to the spine  38  of the portfolio by passing the prongs  42  through the holes  44  of a sheet  46  and deflecting the prongs  42  to retain a sheet  46  therein (FIG. 3).  
         [0013]    As shown in FIGS.  4 - 5 , the inner portfolio component  12  is nested inside of the outer portfolio component  14 . As shown in FIG. 5, the spine  16  of the inner portfolio component  12  is nested inside the spine  18  of the outer portfolio component  14  to form the spine  50  of the portfolio  10 . In this manner, the inner  12  and outer  14  portfolio components may be formed from identical blanks which reduces manufacturing costs and time.  
         [0014]    In order to assemble the portfolio  10 , the portfolio components  12 ,  14  may each be individually formed. As noted above, each of the portfolio component  12 ,  14  may be made from a single blank  60  or piece of material and folded and glued in order to form the desired portfolio components  12 ,  14 . For example, FIG. 6 illustrated a blank  60  which includes the opposed panels  20 ,  22  and pair of lower panels  26  separated from the associated panel  20 ,  22  by fold lines  34 . Each opposed panel  20 ,  22  may include a pair of side flaps  61  defined by a fold line  62 . The blank  60  may also include a plurality of spine fold lines  64  and spine panels  66 .  
         [0015]    In order to form the blank  60  into a portfolio component  12 ,  14 , the lower panels  26  are pivoted about the fold lines  34  until the lower panels  26  are located adjacent to, or facially abut against, the associated panel  20 ,  22 . The side panels  61  are then folded inwardly about the fold lines  62  and glued or otherwise coupled to the panels  20 ,  22  and/or lower panels  26 . The spine panels  66  and then folded about the associated spine fold lines  64  to form the spine  16 ,  18  of the portfolio component  12 ,  14  (see FIG. 5).  
         [0016]    Once the portfolio components  12 ,  14  are formed, the inner  12  and outer  14  portfolio components may then be nested as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Next, the prong binding mechanism  40  may be mounted to the portfolios  12 ,  14 , such as by punching a set of three holes  52  through the spine portion  50  and mounting a gusset, tab, or the like (not shown) and associated prong component  42  in each hole  52  such that the gussets couple the portfolio components  12 ,  14  together at their spines  16 ,  18 .  
         [0017]    The illustrated portfolio  10  provides four pockets  28  which provide ample space for storing various loose items. However, the portfolio  10  also may include more or less pockets than the four illustrated pockets, as desired, and need not necessarily include the prong binding mechanism  40 . Furthermore, various other binding mechanisms, such as three-ring binding mechanisms, other prong coupling mechanisms, and the like may be used in place of the prong binding mechanism  40  without departing from the scope of the invention. If desired, the portfolio components  12 ,  14  may include pockets on their outer surfaces. In one embodiment, only the inner portfolio component  12  may include additional pockets on its outer surfaces. Of course, additional portfolio components beyond the two portfolio components illustrated herein may be nested and coupled to together to form a large portfolio assembly.  
         [0018]    In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the portfolio  10  includes a generally vertically-opening pocket  70  located between a pocket flap  72  and the associated panel  20 . In the illustrated embodiment, the pocket flap  72  is coupled to the panel  20  along the side edge  32  and the lower edge  30  of the panel  20 , and the pocket flap  72  is located below the associated lower panel  26 . However, it should be understood that the stacking arrangement of the pocket flap  72  and lower panel  26  may be reversed, and that each of the panels  20 ,  22  of each of the portfolio components  12 ,  14  may include only the vertically-opening pocket  70 , only the pocket  28 , or any combination of these or other types of pockets.  
         [0019]    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.