Abstract:
The present invention is directed to an item holding assembly that may include a binder and portfolio with one releasably attached to the other enabling quick and easy separation for use of one independent of the other. In a preferred embodiment, binder and portfolio panels can overlie one another, particularly when releasably engaged in a manner that releasably attaches them. A flap, such as part of the panel or the panel of one is received in a pocket formed in the panel of the other to facilitate and preferably provide releasable attachment.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION:  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/805,740, filed Jun. 25, 2006, the entire content of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to binders, and more specifically to a binder with a releasably attached portfolio that is equipped with an internal expandable file arrangement and method of releasable attachment.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Both binders and portfolios are commonly utilized organizational components commonly used by a variety of individuals including students, teachers, professors and business people. Both binders and portfolios allow a user to work such that the individual can be more prepared and focused for the task at hand. In the past, binder arrangements and portfolios have been manufactured and sold separately.  
         [0004]     In most cases, the binder is a large bulky item, comprised of two covers, a spine and an internal central ring portion. In most cases, a variety of specialized components such as folders, loose-leaf and other supplies are attached to the ring portion of the binder. The different compartments are commonly designed to house a plurality of different organizational components. For instance, some of the binder compartments may hold materials related to all of a student&#39;s classes as well as school supplies and some extracurricular materials such as CDs and DVDs. As noted above, due to its use as a single source for storage and organization of a school or work supplies, the binder is often a somewhat large and awkward item that is not always easily manipulable. Due to its large size, the binder is not always an appropriate accessory in certain situations. For example, during interviews, presentations or other more intimate settings, the binder may not be an appropriate accessory. Its large size can be awkward and may be clumsily carried.  
         [0005]     The portfolio, in contrast is typically a smaller, less bulky item when compared to the traditional binder. The portfolio is commonly comprised of two covers that define a smaller internal compartment for receiving individual documents such as, papers, resumes, or other projects. Individuals often prefer to bring the less bulky portfolio into meetings presentations, or interviews. The portfolio is less cumbersome for the individual, yet provides organization for smaller works.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The current invention provides for an item holding assembly with a binder and a portfolio, wherein one of the binder and portfolio are removably carried by the other one of the binder and portfolio.  
         [0007]     These and other advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a binder with a removable portfolio releasably attached to the binder;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is an end elevational view of the binder with portfolio removably attached to the binder;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a first side elevational view of the binder open with the portfolio removably attached to the binder;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a second side elevational view of the binder open with the portfolio removably attached to the binder;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the portfolio;  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the portfolio;  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the portfolio with the portfolio shown in an open configuration;  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the binder and portfolio with a flap of the portfolio inserted into a sleeve formed in the binder;  
         [0016]      FIG. 9  is a top exploded view of the binder and portfolio with a flap of the portfolio removed from the sleeve formed in the binder;  
         [0017]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  are top plan views of the binder and portfolio, respectively;  
         [0018]      FIGS. 11A  to  11 D are cross-sectional views of other embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 12A  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention with the portfolio detached from the binder;  
         [0020]      FIG. 12B  is a perspective view of  FIG. 12A  with the portfolio in an open configuration, disclosing the inner tab folders therewithin; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 12C  is a perspective view of  FIG. 12A  with the binder in an open configuration, disclosing the binder rings.  
     
    
       [0022]     Before explaining embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]      FIGS. 1-12C  illustrate a binder  20  with a portfolio  22  removably carried one by the other in a manner that permits the portfolio  22  to be quickly and easily removed from the binder  20  and used. The portfolio  22  has preferably at least one internal compartment  24  ( FIG. 7 ) with access to the compartment  24  preferably controlled by a releasable closure  26 . The portfolio  22  may have an outer panel  28  that preferably releasably engages an outer panel  30  of the binder  20 . In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawing figures, a portion  32 , which is formed on one or both of the outer panels  28  and  30 , is releasably received in a sleeve  34  ( FIG. 8 ) formed in the other one of the panels  28  and  30 . A fastening arrangement  36  preferably is employed to help releasably keep the portfolio  22  attached to the binder  20 . For example, the fastening arrangement  36  helps keep the panel portion  32  seated in the sleeve  34 , thereby helping to keep the portfolio  22  attached to the binder  20 .  
         [0024]     The binder  20  has a pair of outer panels  30  and  38  interconnected by a spine  40  ( FIG. 2 ) preferably each formed of a substantially self-supporting or rigid sheet of material that can be optionally covered with a material such as a fabric, cloth, synthetic material, leather or the like. With reference to  FIG. 3 , disposed inside the binder  20  is preferably a releasable item carrier  42  that may be a reclosable ring-type clamp arrangement  44 . In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawing figures, the ring-type clamp arrangement  44  is, preferably, a three ring-type clamp arrangement that is carried by the spine  40 .  
         [0025]     As can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the portfolio  22  preferably has a pair of outer panels  28  and  46  interconnected by a spine  48 . A single sheet of material may define spine  48  and the panels  28  and  46 . A pair of sidewalls  49  and  50  may be provided to interconnect the panels  28  and  46  adjacent or along their side edges such that the internal portfolio compartment  24  may be defined between the panels  28  and  46  and the sidewalls  49  and  50 . In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , each sidewall is of pleated constructed and can be supported by gussets (not shown) if desired.  
         [0026]     The outwardly facing outer portfolio panel  46  may include a mesh pocket  52  having a reclosable closure  54  that preferably is a zipper  56  that permits objects to be releasably retained in the pocket  52  when the zipper  56  is closed and removed from the pocket  52  when the zipper  56  is opened. The outer panel  46  also may include an arrangement for releasably retaining the releasable closure  26  in a closed position that prevents removal of objects received in the internal portfolio compartment  24 . The releasable closure  26  preferably is a cover flap  58  forming part of binder-facing portfolio panel  28 . The cover flap  58  may be formed to overlap the panel  46  in a closed position ( FIG. 3 ). The cover flap  58  preferably releasably engages part of an outer surface  60  of the outer portfolio panel  46  in a manner that releasably retains the flap  58  in a closed position until a user may manually disengage the flap  58  during opening.  
         [0027]     With reference to  FIG. 7 , the portfolio cover flap  58  preferably has at least one elongate strip of a hook and loop fastener material  62  attached to its inner surface  64  that releasably engages an elongate strip of a complementary hook and loop fastener material  66  attached to the outer surface  60  of the outer panel  46 . In a preferred embodiment, there is a plurality of spaced apart and generally parallel elongate hook and loop fastener strips  66  attached to the outer panel  46  with each strip located along an outer edge of the panel  46 . There is also preferably a plurality of spaced apart and generally parallel hook and loop fastener strips  62  attached to the inner cover flap surface  64  arranged such that each strip  62  overlies and engages a corresponding outer panel mounted strip  66  when the cover flap  58  is urged against the outer panel  46 .  
         [0028]     As is shown in  FIG. 7 , the cover flap  58  of a preferred embodiment overlies the internal portfolio compartment  24 , which preferably includes at least one divider  88  that can be disposed in the compartment  24 . The divider arrangement  88  can cooperate with an internal compartment  24  that is of accordion or expandable construction.  
         [0029]     The portfolio  22  is preferably removably attached to one of the binder panels  30  such that the inner panel  28  of the portfolio  22  preferably lies against binder panel  30  such that the panels  28  and  30  are substantially parallel with one another. They preferably lie in engagement with one another when the portfolio  22  is releasably attached to the binder  20 .  
         [0030]     The portfolio  22  preferably has a second cover flap  68  that extends outwardly in a direction different than that of the cover flap  58 . The second cover flap  68  preferably overlies a mouth or opening  70  of a second pocket  72  carried by portfolio panel  28  with the flap  68  including a strip of hook and loop fastener material  74  attached to its inner surface  76  that may releasably engage a strip of complementary hook and loop fastener material  78  attached to an outer surface  80  of panel  28 . When the portfolio  22  is detached from the binder  20 , its second cover flap  68  can be releasably retained closed against the outer surface  80  of panel  28  via engagement between hook and loop fastener strips  74  and  78 .  
         [0031]     The cover flap  68  may define the portion  32  which releasably engages the binder  20 . In particular, the cover flap  68  is preferably telescopically received in the sleeve  34  formed in the outer panel  30  of the binder  20 . To help keep the cover flap  68  in the sleeve  34 , various forms of fastening arrangements  36  may be utilized. By way of non-limiting example, the outer surface  80  of the inner portfolio panel  28  may include an elongate generally longitudinally extending strip of hook and loop fastener material  82  that releasably engages an elongate longitudinally extending strip of complementary hook and loop fastener material  84  disposed on the outer surface  86  of outer panel  30  of the binder  20 . Preferably, the hook and loop fastener strip  82  extends generally parallel to a longitudinally extending elongate outer or peripheral edge  86  of the flap  68 .  
         [0032]     To detach the portfolio  22  the binder  20 , a user may manually apply force to urge the portfolio panel  28  away from the binder panel  30  to overcome any fastening arrangement  36  which may be utilized, such as by applying force adjacent or along hook and loop fastener material strips  82  and  84  until they disengage one another. Thereafter, relative movement between the binder  20  and portfolio  22  away from one another in a direction generally parallel to one or both overlapping panels  28  and  30  preferably withdraws portfolio panel  28  from the sleeve  34  in the binder panel  30 . Advantageously, the binder  20  and the portfolio  22  may be attached and detached without the need for opening either the binder  20  or the portfolio  22 .  
         [0033]     Various alternatives are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter regarded as the invention. For instance,  FIGS. 11A  to  11 D disclose different configurations of the cover flap  68  for different embodiments. For these embodiments, either the portfolio or the binder is altered slightly to create a different combination from the configuration described above. Specifically, the embodiments disclose a double functioning cover flap  68  which can slide into the sleeve  34  and also secure the portfolio when the portfolio is used separately from the binder. Also note that the portfolio may include two additional sets of fasteners, one fastener set to grasp the portfolio to the binder and the other fastener set to close the portfolio when the portfolio is attached to the binder.  
         [0034]     Further, the binder or the portfolio may have additional features such as a handle  90  as shown by  FIGS. 12A through 12C . The handle  90  can be provided on a continuous extended strip to strengthen the handle  90 . In the alternative, as shown, the handle  90  can be attached to a pair of extended strips  92  by a set of coupling devices  94 . The handle  90  may also be provided with a grip enhancing padding or a cushion for comfort or strength. Further, the strips  92  may include a pair of shoulder strap coupling devices  96  for a shoulder strap or a harness. Another feature of this particular binder is the inner folders of the binder  20  can be accessed from a direction opposite of the sleeve opening. It is therefore also to be understood that, although the foregoing description and drawings describe and illustrate in detail one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention, to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates the present disclosure will suggest many modifications and constructions as well as widely differing embodiments and applications without thereby departing from the spirit and scope of the invention including any and all such inventions claimed herein. Accordingly, the particularly disclosed scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims.