Patent Publication Number: US-9428000-B1

Title: Scrapbook and/or photo album system with replaceable unitary multi-disk spine

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK 
     Not Applicable 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to scrapbook systems and photo albums and more particularly to scrapbook systems and photo album systems made up of a cover, removable pages and a unitary spine made up of plural disks to releasably secure pages together to the cover, and which spine can be replaced if desired. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Notebook systems making use of a stack of sheets is bound together using a plurality of disks are commercially available from various sources, including Continental Accessory, Corp., the assignee of the subject invention. Those notebook systems include a front cover, a rear cover, a plurality of disks and a stack of sheets, e.g., paper sheets. Each of the sheets and the covers include a plurality of mushroom-like shaped slots along one marginal edge thereof. Each of the slots is arranged to receive a respective disk to bind all of the sheets and covers together, so that the notebook serves as a binder with removable sheets. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,959 (Feldman et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,667 (Feldman et al.) disclose notebook systems like the foregoing. In particular, the Feldman et al. systems make use of a stack of sheets is bound together between a front and rear cover using a plurality of disks that are inserted into mushroom shaped slots in the edge of each of the sheets of the stack and each of the covers. Each of the plural disks has a substantially flat disk-like central surface portion and an enlarged continuous rim portion which extends around the periphery of the central surface portion. The rim portion extends outwardly in a direction perpendicular to the flat central portions of the disks, and the central surface portion has a radius which is larger than the thickness of a stack of sheets to be bound thereby. 
     While such prior art notebook systems are generally suitable for their intended purposes, they leave much to be desired from the standpoint of each assembly of the notebook, each of use, and ability to be configured to accommodate more than a prescribed number of pages, due to the fixed size of the disks. Thus, a need exists for a notebook or scrapbook system or photo album system which overcomes those drawbacks. The subject invention addresses that need. 
     All references cited and/or identified herein are specifically incorporated by reference herein. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of this invention a scrapbook and/or photo album system is provided. The system comprises a cover including a top cover panel and a bottom cover panel, a plurality of pages, a plurality of fasteners, and a unitary spine. The spine comprises a plurality of disks, each of the disks being of circular profile and having a generally planar central section and an enlarged peripheral rim. Each of the disks is fixedly secured to each other by a common rod joined to each central section of each disk. The common rod includes plural connector portions. Each of the connector portions is configured for releasable securement to a respective one of the fasteners. Each of the covers includes an edge portion having plural apertures therein, with respective ones of the fasteners extending through respective ones of the apertures for releasable securement to respective ones of the connector portions of the spine to releasably secure the cover to the spine. Each of the pages comprises a web of material having an inner edge portion including an inner edge and a plurality of slots spaced along the inner edge. Each of the slots comprises an entryway channel extending inward from the inner edge and terminating at an enlarged opening for receipt of a respective one of the disks to releasably secure the page to the spine. 
     In accordance with one preferred aspect of this invention each of the edge portions of the covers comprises a first portion folded under a contiguous portion of the cover, with the first portion of the cover including the apertures therein. 
     In accordance with another preferred aspect of this invention each of the edge portions of each of the cover panels comprises a foldable portion configured to be folded from the remainder of the cover panel, with the foldable portion having the apertures therein. 
     In accordance with another preferred aspect of this invention each of the connector portions projects outward from the common rod. 
     In accordance with another preferred aspect of this invention each of the fasteners is in the form of an elongated body having an enlarged head. 
     In accordance with another preferred aspect of this invention the cover additionally comprises a spine cover panel configured to be connected between the top cover panel and the bottom cover panel to enclose a portion of the spine. 
     In accordance with another preferred aspect of this invention at least one of the plurality of pages includes a pocket therein. 
     In accordance with another preferred aspect of this invention the pages are reinforced at the location of the slots. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of one exemplary embodiment of a scrapbook and/or photo album system constructed in accordance with this invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged exploded isometric view of a unitary spine and plural fasteners forming a portion of the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded isometric view showing an initial step in the assembly of the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view, similar to  FIG. 3 , but showing a later step in the assembly of the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view, similar to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , but showing a later step in the assembly of the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view, similar to  FIGS. 3-5 , but showing a later step in the assembly of the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged plan view, partially broken away, of one exemplary page used in the system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of the portion of the page shown within the broken line circle designated as “ 8 ” in  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the various figures of the drawing wherein like reference characters refer to like parts, there is shown at  20  in  FIG. 1  one exemplary embodiment of a scrapbook and/or photo album system constructed in accordance with this invention. The system includes a cover  22 , a plurality of pages  24 , a spine  26 , and plural fasteners  28  ( FIG. 2 ). 
     The cover  22  is best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 3  and basically a top cover panel  22 A, a bottom cover panel  22 B, and a spine cover panel  22 C. Each of those components is a separate member. In particular, the top and bottom cover panels are each planar members formed of any suitable material, e.g., cardboard, leather (real or faux), polypropylene, other plastics, etc. and any combination(s) thereof. The panels  22 A and  22 B are typically of rectangular shape, but may be of square shape, or any other regular or irregular shape. In the exemplary embodiment shown the panels are of rectangular shape. Each of the top and bottom panels includes an inner edge portion  30 , which as can be seen in  FIG. 3  is foldable so that it can be folded upward from the plane of the panel to which it is a part. Each foldable portion  30  includes plural holes  32  for receipt of respective ones of the fasteners  28  to secure the cover panels to the spine, as will be described later. 
     The spine cover panel  22 C is a narrow web of relatively flexible material which is preferably of the same material as the front and rear covers panels, to provide the same visual appearance. The spine cover panel  22 C is considerably thinner than the top and bottom cover panels  22 A and  22 B, respectively, in the interest of flexibility to enable it to be curved around the spine  26  between the top and bottom cover panels, as will be described later. Moreover, as best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , each of the side edges of the spine cover panel  22 C include a pair of U-shaped slots  34 . The slots are provided to receive portions of respective fasteners  28  when those fasteners are used to secure the top and bottom cover panels to the spine, with the spine cover panel  22 C interposed therebetween. 
     Each of the fasteners  28  is an elongated member having a rod-like body section  28 A and an enlarged head  28 B. In the exemplary embodiment shown, each fastener is in the form of a rivet. That is merely exemplary and other types of fasteners are contemplated in accordance with this invention. Thus, for example each fastener  28  may be in the form of a screw having external threads on the body section  28 A and one or more slots in the head  28 B. 
     The details of the spine  26  will be described later. Suffice it for now to state that the spine  26  is a unitary member, formed of any suitable material, e.g., a strong plastic, metal, etc., and is made up of a plurality of disks  36  ( FIG. 2 ). The disks  36  are secured to each other by a common central bar or rod  38 . Each disk is shaped to be received within a correspondingly shaped slot (to be described later) in the edge of each page  24 . 
     The pages  24  are preferably constructed in accordance with the teachings of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/833,443, filed on Aug. 24, 2015, entitled Disk-Bound Notebook System With Sheets And Sheets Therefor, which is assigned to the same assignee as this invention and whose disclosure is incorporated by reference herein. Thus, as can be seen in  FIG. 7 , each of the pages  24  has an inner edge portion  40 , including an inner edge  42  and a plurality of slots  44  spaced along the inner edge  42 . Each of the slots includes an entryway channel  44 A extending inward from the inner edge  42  and terminating at an enlarged opening  44 B. The enlarged opening  44 B is shaped somewhat like the crown of a mushroom with somewhat flattened side edges, as best seen in  FIG. 8 . 
     The inner edge portion  40  of each page is preferably reinforced by a reinforcing strip extending therealong. The reinforcement strip may be a thin layer of a plastic material, such as but not limited to a liquid lamination coating, a thin layer of Mylar, foil, paper, metal or fiberglass, which is fixedly secured to the upper surface of the page at the edge portion  40 . Preferably the plastic material is transparent, but could be opaque and/or colored in the interest of aesthetics. 
     It should be noted that the foregoing arrangement of the reinforcing strip is merely exemplary. Thus, it is contemplated that the strip of reinforcement may be on the undersurface of the page or on both surfaces. Moreover, the reinforcing strip may be formed of other materials than the exemplary plastic material. In fact, if desired, each page may not be reinforced, if reinforcement isn&#39;t necessary or desired. 
     The pages  24  can be formed of any suitable material, e.g., paper, plastic, and combinations thereof. Moreover, each page may be a single layer or may be dual layered to form one or more pockets to accommodate keepsake items, e.g., photographs, tickets, autographs, etc., therein. In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the page  24  is of a dual layer construction having a bottom later  46  and a top layer  48 , which are coextensive in size. The bottom and top layers  46  and  48  are sealed together by a seal line  50  alongside their outside edge, by a seal line  52  alongside their bottom edge, and by a seal line  54  adjacent the inner edge portion  40 , thereby forming a pocket therebetween. The top edge portion of the top layer  48  and bottom layer  46  are not secured to each other to from a mouth for accessing the pocket. 
     If desired, the page may include indicia thereon, e.g., lines, etc., like that shown in the aforementioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/833,443. 
     As mentioned above each of the disks  36  is arranged to be received in a respective slot  44  of a page  24 . Thus, the disks  36  are circular in profile and are of a cross-section which is shaped to mate with the slots  44 . In particular, the periphery of each disk comprises an enlarged continuous rim portion  36 A extending around the entire periphery of the disk, with the rim portion having shape corresponding to the shape of the opening  44 B of the slot  44 . The central section  36 B of each disk  36  is planar and is of a thickness slightly less than the width of the channel  44 A of the slot  44  so that it can be received within the channel, when the rim  36 A of the disk is within the associated enlarged opening  44 B of the slot  44 . 
     Turning back to  FIG. 2  further details of the spine  26  will now be described. To that end, it can be seen that the spine includes plural, in this case two, arm-like projections  56  projecting perpendicularly to the central longitudinal axis of the central rod  38 . Each projection  56  includes a first free end  56 A and a second free end  56 B. The free ends are axially aligned with each other and are hollow to receive respective ones of the fasteners  28  therein to secure the top, bottom and spine cover panels together. 
     That action can be accomplished as follows and will best be appreciated by reference to  FIGS. 3-6 . For example the top and bottom cover panels  22 A and  22 B, respectively, can be juxtaposed so that they are side-by-side, with their respective panel portions  30  folded upward, like shown in  FIG. 3 . The spine cover panel  22 C is interposed between the adjacent folded portions  30  of the panels  22 A and  22 B so that its U-shaped slots  34  are aligned with the openings  32  in the upwardly folded panel portions  30 . The unitary spine  26  can then be oriented so that it is interposed within the bounds of the spine cover panel  22 C between the folded panel portions  30 , with the free ends  56 A of the spine projections  56  aligned with the U-shaped slots  34  and the aligned openings  32  of the bottom cover panel  22 B and with the free ends  56 B of the spine projections  56  aligned with the U-shaped slots  34  and the aligned openings  32  of the top cover panel  22 A. The fasteners  28 , can then be extended through the aligned holes  32  and slots  34  into the associated hollow interiors of the free ends  56 A and  56 B of the spine&#39;s projections  56  until the head  28 B of each fastener abuts the folded up portion  30  as shown in  FIG. 5 . At that time the edge portions of the portions  30  can then be folded downward in the direction of the curved arrows as shown in that figure, to thereby hide the heads of the fasteners. 
     The assembled cover panels and the spine form an assembly that is now ready to receive the pages  24 . All that is required to complete the scrapbook is to insert the pages onto the disks, like shown in  FIG. 6 , whereupon a portion of the rim  36 A of each disk  36  is releasably received within a corresponding slot  44  in the scrapbook page  24 . The addition of any page into the scrapbook can be readily achieved in a similar manner. The removal of any page from the scrapbook is readily achieved by pulling on it to release the releasable securement of the page to the disks of the spine. 
     It should be pointed out at this juncture, that the scrapbook and/or photo album system may be provided with an auxiliary spine whose disks are larger in diameter than the disks of the initially provided spine. By so doing one can readily swap-out the smaller diameter disk spine for the larger diameter disk spine, to thereby provide a scrapbook/phot album with a larger page capacity. In fact, the system can be provided with various size spines so that the user can configure the scrapbook to accommodate whatever number of pages he/she wants. All that is required to swap out a one spine for another different size spine is to remove the fasteners to thereby disconnect the old spine from the cover. The pages can then be removed from the old spine, and the new spine assembled to the cover as described above. Once that has been accomplished the old pages can be connected to the disks of the new spine and additional or new pages added. 
     It should also be pointed out that many variations to the scrapbook and/or photo album system of this invention can be made within the scope of this invention. Thus, the spine may include any number of disks, and the spacing between the disks may be any spacing providing that the pages have slots to accommodate the spacing between the disks. Moreover, the number and location of the projections of the spine which are configured for receipt of the fasteners can be varied depending upon the application. Further still the projections may be constructed so that instead of being female members, e.g., hollow bodies to receive the fasteners (i.e., the male members), the projections may be male members, e.g., externally threaded projections or unthreaded rods, and the fasteners may be female members, e.g., internally threaded sockets or smooth walled sockets. Further still, while the spine is preferably a unitary member, e.g., molded as an integral unit, it may be formed of plural members that are securable to each other to form a unitary body. Further still, while the preferred exemplary embodiment shown makes use of a spine cover panel in the interest of aesthetics, the use of such a spine cover member is not mandatory. Further still the top and bottom cover panel need not include portions that fold over to hide the heads of the fasteners, if the aesthetics of such a construction is not desired. 
     Without further elaboration the foregoing will so fully illustrate our invention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge, adopt the same for use under various conditions of service.