Abstract:
Scrapbook and photo album covers which enhance the aesthetic appearance of scrapbooks or photo albums are disclosed. The scrapbook and photo album covers include a pair of cover panels for attachment to the respective covers of the scrapbook or photo album. An attachment mechanism is provided on each of the cover panels for attaching the cover panels to the respective covers of the book. At least one ribbon connects the cover panels to each other and enhances the aesthetic appearance of the scrapbooks or photo albums.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of and incorporates by reference prior filed copending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/674,098, Filed Apr. 25, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to scrapbooks and photo albums. More particularly, this invention relates to scrapbook and photo album covers of various design and appearance for enhancing the appearance or aesthetic appeal of scrapbooks and photo albums.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Scrapbooks are commonly used to contain various memorabilia such as newspaper clippings, invitations, pictures and the like as keepsakes. A scrapbook typically includes front and back cardboard covers and a spine to which multiple paper pages are attached. The memorabilia are glued, pasted, taped or otherwise attached to the pages of the scrapbook. A photo album is typically a ringed binder having front and rear covers and a spine to which multiple page-fastening rings are attached. Multiple plastic pages, each having multiple picture-receiving pockets, are provided with ring openings which receive the rings to mount the pages on the rings. Pictures which are inserted and retained in the pockets can be viewed through the transparent plastic of the pages.  
         [0004]     It is desirable for scrapbooks and photo albums to have ornate covers which add to the aesthetic appeal of the scrapbooks or photo albums. Therefore, the present invention provides various covers which can be easily applied to the covers of scrapbooks, photo albums, diaries or other books to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the covers.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     This invention is generally directed to scrapbook and photo album covers which have various designs and can be easily attached to the covers of conventional scrapbooks, photo albums or other books to enhance their aesthetic appeal. In the various embodiments, the scrapbook and photo album covers typically include a pair of cover panels for attachment to the respective covers of the scrapbook or photo album. An attachment mechanism is provided on each of the cover panels for attaching the cover panels to the respective covers of the book. At least one ribbon connects the cover panels to each other and enhances the aesthetic appearance of the scrapbooks or photo albums. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the scrapbook and photo album covers of this invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is an exploded, perspective view of the scrapbook and photo album covers shown in  FIG. 1 , more particularly illustrating typical attachment of the scrapbook and photo album covers to a scrapbook or photo album (in phantom);  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the scrapbook and photo album covers, illustrating a multi-ribbon technique for fastening the cover panels to each other, with an upper pair of ribbon strands shown in an untied configuration;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the scrapbook and photo album covers, with an upper pair of ribbon strands shown in an untied configuration;  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the scrapbook and photo album covers;  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the scrapbook and photo album covers;  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the scrapbook and photo album covers, with an upper pair of ribbon strands shown in an untied configuration;  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a seventh, alternative embodiment to the scrapbook and photo album covers illustrated in  FIG. 7 ; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment of the scrapbook and photo album covers of this invention, illustrating a crisscrossing ribbon configuration for fastening the cover panels to each other. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, a first illustrative embodiment of the scrapbook and photo album covers, hereinafter covers, of this invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  1 . The cover  1  is designed to be removably attached to a scrapbook or photo album  15  (illustrated in phantom) typically having multiple pages  16  and front and rear book covers  17  which are attached to a spine  18 . The scrapbook or photo album  15  may be any type of conventional scrapbook or photo album known by those skilled in the art, or alternatively may be a diary, recipe book or any other book which a user desires to decorate using the cover  1 . The cover  1  includes a pair of cover panels  2  which may be cotton or any other suitable fabric material. The cover panels  2  may be generally rectangular in shape, as shown, or may be any desired shape which generally corresponds to the shape of the front and rear book covers  17  of the scrapbook or photo album  15 .  
         [0017]     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , each cover panel  2  typically includes a main portion  3  having an inner surface  3   a  and an outer surface  3   b . A decorative pattern  9  having a selected design may be stitched, colored or otherwise provided on the outer surface  3   b  of the main portion  3  of each cover panel  2 . An attachment pocket  6  is typically provided on the inner surface  3   a  of the main portion  3  of each cover panel  2  to facilitate typically removable attachment of the cover panels  2  to the respective front and rear book covers  17  of the scrapbook or photo album  15 , as will be hereinafter described. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , each attachment pocket  6  typically includes upper, front and lower attachment edges  6   a  which are sewn or otherwise attached to the main portion  3  of the cover panel  2  and an inside open edge  6   b  which remains unattached to the cover panel  2 . A panel edge portion  5 , spaced-apart from the attachment pocket  6 , extends from the main portion  3  and forms the rear edge of each cover panel  2 . An elongated attachment strip  4   a  is provided on the outer surface  3   b  of each cover panel  2 , typically adjacent to the panel edge portion  5 , and extends between the upper and lower edges of the main portion  3 . Multiple ribbon openings  4 , each of which may be reinforced by a reinforcing ring  8 , extend through the attachment strip  4   a  and the main portion  3  of each cover panel  2 .  
         [0018]     The cover  1  is attached to the scrapbook or photo album  15  typically in the following manner. First, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the front and rear book covers  17  of the scrapbook or photo album  15  are partially opened and inserted in the attachment pockets  6  of the respective cover panels  2 . Accordingly, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a panel gap  7  is typically formed between the adjacent panel edge portions  5  of the respective cover panels  2 . A ribbon  10 , having a continuous, elongated ribbon strand  11 , is then progressively threaded through the ribbon openings  4  of the respective cover panels  2  and extended through the panel gap  7  typically in an alternating and cross-crossing fashion, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , beginning at the lowermost pair of ribbon openings  4  and proceeding to the higher ribbon openings  4  in the respective cover panels  2 . The extending ends of the ribbon strand  11  are finally extended through the uppermost pair of ribbon openings  4  and then tied together to form a bow  12 . Therefore, the fastened ribbon  10 , in conjunction with the attachment pockets  6 , is effective to secure the cover panels  2  on the scrapbook or photo album  15  as well as enhance the aesthetic appearance of the scrapbook or photo album  15 . The decorative pattern  9  of selected design on the exterior surface  3   b  of each cover panel  2  further enhances the aesthetic appearance of the scrapbook or photo album  15 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the cover panels  2  of the cover  1  can be removed from the scrapbook or photo album  15  for washing purposes, for example, and replaced on the scrapbook or photo album  15 , as desired, by untying the bow  12 ; unthreading the ribbon strand  11  from the ribbon openings  4  in the respective cover panels  2 ; and removing the book covers  17  of the scrapbook or photo album  15  from the attachment pockets  6  of the respective cover panels  2 , respectively.  
         [0019]     Referring next to  FIG. 3  of the drawings, a second illustrative embodiment of the covers of this invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  21 . The cover  2   i  includes a pair of cover panels  22  of selected fabric and having a selected shape. Each cover panel  22  has an inner surface  22   a , to which is attached an attachment pocket  26 , and an outer surface  22   b  on which a decorative pattern  27  of selected design is sewn, colored or otherwise provided, as illustrated in phantom. Multiple pairs of companion ribbon strands  25  are sewn, glued or otherwise attached to the rear edges  29  of the respective cover panels  22 . Accordingly, the cover  21  is attached to the scrapbook or photo album  15  by initially inserting the book covers  17  of the scrapbook or photo album  15  into the attachment pockets  26  of the respective cover panels  22 , with the inner surface  22   a  of each cover panel  22  facing the exterior surface of the corresponding book cover  17 . The ribbon strands  25  of each ribbon strand  25  pair are then tied to each other to form a bow  24  which additionally secures the cover panels  22  on the respective book covers  17  and enhances the aesthetic appearance of the scrapbook or photo album  15 . In  FIG. 3 , the upper pair of ribbon strands  25  is untied such that a corner  23  of the panel  22  is folded away from the book cover  17 , whereas the middle and bottom pairs of ribbon strands  25  are tied together to form bows  24  and secure the corresponding portions of the cover panels  22  against the book covers  17 .  
         [0020]     Referring next to  FIG. 4  of the drawings, a third illustrative embodiment of the covers of this invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  31 . The cover  31  is similar in design to the cover  21  which was heretofore described with respect to  FIG. 3 , except multiple binder ribbons  40  are sewn, glued or otherwise attached to a first cover panel  22 , having an inner surface  22   a  and are tied around respective ribbon attachment buttons  34 , typically sewn on a second cover panel  28 , having a selected decorative pattern  28   a . Each binder ribbon  40  includes a pair of adjacent, spaced-apart ribbon strands  41  which extend from the rear edge  29  of the first cover panel  22 . A button attachment strip  35  is provided on the outer surface  22   b  of the second cover panel  28  and extends between the upper and lower edges of the cover panel  28 . The ribbon attachment buttons  34  are typically sewn to the button attachment strip  35 , in spaced-apart relationship to each other. Accordingly, the cover  31  is attached to the scrap book or photo album  15  by initially inserting the book covers  17  into the respective attachment pockets  26  and then looping the pair of ribbon strands  41  of each binder ribbon  40  around each corresponding ribbon attachment button  34  and tying the ribbon strands  41  into a bow  42 .  
         [0021]     Referring next to  FIG. 5  of the drawings, a fourth illustrative embodiment of the covers of this invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  51 . The cover  51  generally has a spiral notebook construction and includes a pair of cover panels  52  and multiple pages  59  which are attached to a spiral wire  55 . Each cover panel  52  has an inner surface  52   a  which faces the pages  59  and an outer surface  52   b  on which may be provided a decorative pattern  54  having a selected design, as illustrated in phantom. An elongated decorative strip  53  may be glued or otherwise provided on the outer surface  52   b  of each cover panel  52 , typically adjacent to the spiral wire  55 . Multiple pairs of companion ribbon strands  57  extend from attachment to the rear edges  53   a  of the decorative strips  53  on the respective cover panels  52 . Each pair of companion ribbon strands  57  is tied together to form each of multiple bows  58  that enhance the aesthetic appearance of the cover  51 .  
         [0022]     Referring next to  FIG. 6  of the drawings, a fifth illustrative embodiment of the covers of this invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  61 . The cover  61  includes a pair of cover panels  62  of selected material and shape and each having an inner surface  62   a  fitted with an attachment pocket  63  and an outer surface  62   b , on which is provided a decorative pattern  66  of selected design. A button attachment strip  64  is provided on the outer surface  62   b  of each cover panel  62 , typically adjacent to the rear edge of the cover panel  62 . Multiple, spaced-apart buttons  65  are typically sewn on the button attachment strip  64 . When the cover panels  62  of the cover  61  are attached to the scrapbook or photo album  15 , as illustrated, a panel gap  67  may be formed between the adjacent rear edges of the respective cover panels  62 . Alternatively, the adjacent rear edges of the cover panels  62  may abut or overlap each other. A ribbon  68  has a continuous ribbon strand  69  which is looped around the buttons  65  of the respective cover panels  62  in an alternating fashion to form a crisscross pattern, as shown. The free ends of the ribbon strand  69  are tied to each other at the top of the cover  61  to form a bow  70 . Thus, the ribbon  68  both attaches the cover panels  62  to each other, and to the scrapbook or photo album  15  in conjunction with the attachment pockets  63 , and enhances the aesthetic appearance of the scrapbook or photo album  15 .  
         [0023]     Referring next to  FIG. 7  of the drawings, a sixth illustrative embodiment of the covers of this invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  71 . The cover  71  includes a first cover panel  72  and a second cover panel  80 , each having an attachment pocket  78  on the inner surface  72   a  and a decorative pattern  79  illustrated in phantom on the outer surface  72   b  thereof. The rear edges of the respective cover panels  72  and  80  are characterized by panel edge portions  73  which abut against each other, as illustrated, or may overlap. An attachment strip  74  is typically provided on the outer surface  72   b  of the first cover panel  72 . Multiple, spaced-apart ribbon openings  75 , each of which may be reinforced by a reinforcing ring  75   a , extend through the attachment strip  74  and the cover panel  72 . Ribbon strips  76  extend through the respective ribbon openings  75  of the first cover panel  72 . Ribbon strips  76   a  also extend from attachment by sewing, gluing or the like, the panel edge portion  73  of the second cover panel  80  and are paired with the respective ribbon strips  76  that extend through the ribbon openings  75  of the first cover panel  72 . Accordingly, the paired ribbon strips  76  and  76   a  are tied to each other to form bows  77  which secure the first cover panel  72  and the second cover panel  80  to each other and enhance the aesthetic appearance of the scrapbook or photo album  15 .  
         [0024]     Referring next to  FIG. 8  of the drawings, a seventh illustrative embodiment of the covers of this invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  71   a  The cover  71   a  is similar in design to the cover  71  which was heretofore described with respect to  FIG. 7 , except the attachment strip  74  lacks the ribbon openings  75 . Multiple ribbon strips  76  are attached, typically by sewing or gluing, to the rear edge  74   a  of the attachment strip  74 , and multiple ribbon strips  76   a  extend from like attachment to the second cover panel  80  and are paired with the respective ribbon strips  76 . As is the case with regard to the cover  71 , the pairs of ribbon strips  76  and  76   a  are tied together to form respective bows  77  which secure the first cover panel  72  and second cover panel  80  to each other and enhance the aesthetic appearance of the cover  71   a . A decorative pattern  56  is typically provided on the inner surface  72   a  of the front cover panel  72 .  
         [0025]     Referring next to  FIG. 9  of the drawings, an eighth illustrative embodiment of the covers of this invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  81 . The cover  81  includes a pair of cover panels  82 , each of which is constructed of a material such as a suitable fabric and has an inner surface  82   a  and an outer surface  82   b . A decorative pattern  89  of selected design is typically provided on the outer surface  82   b  of each cover panel  82 , and attachment pockets  91  are provided on the inner surfaces  82   a  of the respective cover panels  82 . The rear edge of each cover panel  82  is characterized by a panel edge portion  83 . An elongated attachment strip  84  is provided on the outer surface  82   b  of each cover panel  82 , typically between the decorative pattern  89  and the panel edge portion  83 . Multiple attachment loops  85  are attached to the rear edge  84   a  of each attachment strip  84  in spaced-apart relationship to each other. When the cover panels  82  are attached to the respective book covers  17  of the scrapbook or photo album  15 , a panel gap  90  may be formed between the panel edge portions  83 , or the panel edge portions  83  may abut or overlap each other. Beginning at the bottom of the cover  81 , the ribbon strands  87  of a binder ribbon  86  are threaded successively through the attachment loops  85  of the respective cover panels  82  typically in a crisscrossing fashion and tied together at a bow  88 , typically at the upper end of the panel edge portions  83 .  
         [0026]     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0027]     Having described my invention with the particularity set forth above,