Patent Publication Number: US-2010127489-A1

Title: Notebook with holder formed from cover

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to a notebook that includes a holder for an implement such as a writing utensil, and more particularly relates to a notebook having a cover from which an implement holder is formed. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A notebook having a pen holder is useful to a consumer so that a pen is readily available when, for example, notes are to be taken or calendar entries are to be made. Although notebooks having pen holders are available, a typical conventional example includes some sort of loop, which may be stretchable, to serve as the pen holder. Such loops require additional manufacturing materials over that of the notebook cover and often wear out allowing pens to be lost. 
     There is a need for a notebook having a cover from which an implement holder is formed so as to minimize materials and steps in manufacturing of the notebook. There is a need for a notebook having an implement holder constructed of the same durable materials as that by which the notebook is constructed. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a notebook having a cover from which an implement holder is formed. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a notebook having an implement holder constructed of the same durable materials as that by which the cover of the notebook is constructed. These and other objects are achieved in the embodiments described below. 
     According to at least one embodiment of the invention, a notebook includes a front cover, a back cover, an insert retaining panel, and an implement holder. The front and back covers each have first and second major sides and are movable relative to each other between open and closed positions. The insert retaining panel cooperates with the back cover to form a pocket to receive an insert between the back cover and the panel. The implement holder is formed from a flap portion of the back cover into a sleeve for retaining an implement therein. In at least one example, the front cover and back cover are integrally formed and are foldable along at least one crease therebetween, and the panel is an integrally formed extension of the back cover. The flap in at least one embodiment defines a raised edge forming a stop against which an edge of an insert rests for proper positioning of the insert between the front and back covers. The notebook may include a spine integrally formed with the front cover and the back cover. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, a blank for forming a notebook has a front cover, a back cover and an integrally formed spine therebetween. The blank includes a front cover, a back cover, a spine connecting the front cover to the back cover, a panel and a flap. The panel is integrally formed with the back cover opposite the spine for cooperating with the back cover to form a pocket to receive an insert between the back cover and the panel. The flap is integrally formed with the back cover opposite the spine for forming a sleeve for retaining an implement therein. In at least one example, a U-shaped cut separates the panel and the flap, and the panel defines a U-shape positioned around the U-shaped cut. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for forming a notebook having a front cover, a back cover and an integrally formed spine therebetween. The method includes providing a blank having a front cover, a back cover, a spine, a panel and a flap. The spine, which connects the front cover to the back cover, is positioned between and is integrally formed with the front cover and the back cover. The panel and the flap are each integrally formed with the back cover opposite the spine. In the method, the panel is folded into overlying relation to the back cover to form a pocket for receiving an insert between the panel and back cover, and the flap is folded toward the back cover to form an implement holder for retaining an implement therein. In at least one example, the flap is folded at multiple creases to form the implement holder. In at least one example, the flap is folded to define a raised edge forming a stop against which an edge of an insert rests for proper positioning between the front and back covers. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various embodiments and many features and advantages of the present invention are better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a blank for forming a notebook according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the blank of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of  FIG. 1 , shown with a panel being folded toward a back cover of the blank; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of  FIG. 1 , shown with the panel folded into overlying relation with the back cover; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of  FIG. 1 , shown with a flap being folded toward the back cover; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of  FIG. 1 , shown with the flap folded to form an implement holder; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial perspective of the implement holder of  FIG. 6  retaining a writing utensil; 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view of a notebook according to at least one embodiment of the invention receiving an insert; 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view of the notebook of  FIG. 8  shown retaining a writing utensil and an insert; 
         FIG. 9A  is a detailed plan view of a portion of the notebook of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 ; and 
         FIG. 11  is a partial perspective view of an implement holder according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views,  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a blank  10  for forming a notebook. The blank  10  includes a front cover  12 , a back cover  14 , a spine  16  connecting the front cover  12  to the back cover  14 , a panel  18  for cooperating with the back cover  14  to form a pocket, and a flap  20  for forming a sleeve for retaining an implement such as a writing utensil. The spine  16  is positioned between the front cover  12  and the back cover  14 , and is integrally formed with the front cover  12  and the back cover  14 . The panel  18  and the flap  20  are each integrally formed with the back cover  14  opposite the spine  16 . 
     A U-shaped cut  22  separates the panel  18  and the flap  20 . The panel  18  defines a U-shape positioned around the U-shaped cut  22 , and the flap  20  defines a U-shaped tab cut from and partially surrounded by the panel  18 . The spine  16  is connected to the front cover  12  and the back cover  14  along a pair of weakness lines  24 ,  26  for forming hinges between the front cover  12  and back cover  14 . The weakness lines  24 ,  26  are spaced to define the thickness  28  of the notebook  5  ( FIG. 9 ). A slot  38  is formed through the flap  20  for purposes first illustrated in  FIG. 7 . 
     The blank  10  of  FIGS. 1 ,  2  may be die-cut from a sheet of material or formed by other manufacturing techniques. To facilitate the formation of the notebook  5  from the blank  10 , weakness lines  24 ,  26 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 , and  36  may be formed by creasing, perforating, partially cutting, or otherwise weakening the base material of the blank so as to prepare the blank for folding. 
       FIGS. 3-6  proceed from  FIGS. 1-2  to illustrate a method of forming the notebook  5  ( FIG. 9 ). In  FIG. 3 , the panel  18  is shown being folded along the weakness line  30  toward the back cover  14 . In  FIG. 4 , the panel  18  is shown folded into overlying relation to the back cover  14  to form a pocket  40  between the panel  18  and the back cover  14  for receiving an insert  54  ( FIG. 8 ). In  FIG. 5 , the flap  20  is shown being folded, along multiple creases  32 ,  24  toward the back cover  14 . In  FIG. 6 , the folding of the flap  20  is complete such that an implement holder  50  is formed. As the flap  20  is folded upon itself the flap  20  forms a sleeve with an internal void for receiving an implement such as a writing utensil. 
     In  FIG. 7 , an implement  52  is retained by the implement holder  50 . The slot  38  permits viewing of the body portion of the writing utensil  52  and receives a clip of the writing utensil  52  to help keep the writing utensil  52  retained. Although the implement holder  50  is shown in  FIG. 6  as having three sides, other implement holders may be formed. For example, a round implement holder  150  is shown retaining the writing utensil  52  in  FIG. 11 . A round or other shaped implement holder may be formed, for example, by rolling or folding the flap  20  around a round mandrel or a mandrel of some other desired shape. 
     The pocket  40  formed by the panel  18  and the back cover  14  is maintained by a connection between the panel  18  and the back cover  14 . The connection may be formed by a rivet, a staple, an adhesive, or sonic welding. Holes  42  are shown in  FIG. 1  as formed through the back cover  14  and in corresponding locations through the panel  18  for passing rivets or other connectors through the holes  42  so as to maintain the connection between the panel  18  and the back cover  14 . 
     A notebook  5  formed from the blank  10  is shown in  FIG. 8 , in which an insert  54  is being positioned into the pocket  40 . The insert  54  in the illustrated example is the back cover of a booklet  56  that may be a calendar, a diary, a journal, a log, a sketch collection, or some other article. Though the insert  54  is illustrated as a booklet, it more generally represents some portion of an article to be protected and carried by the notebook  5 . For example, the insert  54  also represents an electronic device such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) and the implement  52  also represents a stylus for use with the PDA. In  FIG. 9 , the insert is properly positioned in the notebook  5 . As shown in  FIGS. 9A and 10 , the flap  20  defines a raised edge  21  against which an edge  55  of the insert  54  rests for proper positioning of the insert  54 . 
     While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications thereto can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation.