Patent Publication Number: US-2007114783-A1

Title: Bound component with place holding cover

Description:
BACKGROUND  
      The present invention relates to a bound component, and more particularly, to a bound component having a flap for place marking pages of the bound component.  
      When the use of a bound component is interrupted (e.g., by phone call), or a user otherwise needs to mark a location in the bound component for future reference, a place marking device is typically used. The most common implementation of a place marker is to place a paper strip between selected pages of the bound component to function as a place marker. A problem with the use of the paper strip in this manner is that it does not readily remain within the bound component and is frequently lost or otherwise misplaced.  
      Accordingly, there is a need for a place marker that may be used for place marking selected pages of the bound component that is an integral part of the bound component.  
     SUMMARY  
      In one embodiment the invention is a bound component that includes a plurality of bound pages and a cover bound to the plurality of bound pages. The cover includes a flap which is insertable into the plurality of bound pages at various locations thereof to operate as a place holder. The bound component further includes a retaining mechanism configured to selectively circumscribe the plurality of bound pages to secure the bound component in a closed position.  
      Other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the bound component of the present invention, showing the flap wrapped around the front cover and the retaining mechanism in a non-use position;  
       FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the bound component of  FIG. 1 , shown in its open position;  
       FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the bound component of  FIG. 2 , showing the flap placed on or inserted into the plurality of bound pages;  
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the bound component of  FIG. 3  moved to its closed position and with the retaining mechanism securing the bound component in the closed position;  
       FIG. 4B  is a side view of one embodiment of the bound component of the present invention, showing the flap inserted into the plurality of bound pages, and the alternative retaining mechanism securing the bound component in the closed position;  
       FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the bound component of  FIG. 4 ;  
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the bound component of  FIG. 1  with the retaining mechanism securing the bound component in the closed position;  
       FIG. 6B  is a side view of the bound component of  FIG. 4B  showing the flap wrapped around the front cover, and the alternative retaining mechanism securing the bound component in the closed position;  
       FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of the bound component of  FIG. 6 ;  
       FIG. 8  is a bottom perspective view of the bound component of  FIG. 7 ; and  
       FIG. 8B  is a bottom perspective view of the bound component of  FIG. 6B .  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , in one embodiment of the present invention, the bound component  10  includes a plurality of bound pages  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, each bound page  12  may include a plurality of generally horizontally extending ruled guidelines  14  printed on both sides of each bound page  12  to guide writing on the bound component  10 . However, the plurality of bound pages  12  can take any of a variety of writing guide formats, including but not limited to lined, blank, graph or any combinations thereof. Furthermore, the writing guide formats may be present on one or both sides of each bound page  12 . Each bound page  12  may be made of a generally water absorbent material such as cellulose or pulp-based paper to allow a user to write information with a wide variety of writing instruments, including pen, pencil, marker and the like.  
      The bound component  10  may further include a front cover  16  and a back cover  17 . Each cover  16 ,  17  can have a stiffness or thickness greater than each of the bound pages  12  to provide protection to the pages  12 . For example, the covers  16 ,  17  can be made of cardboard, plastic, tweeds, faux leathers, cottons, silks and the like, and may have generally the same size and shape as the bound pages  12 . The bound component  10  further includes a binding mechanism  19  binding the front and back covers  16 ,  17  and the bound pages  12  together. Each bound page  12  includes a binding edge  21  adjacent to the binding mechanism  19  and a free edge  22  on a generally opposite side thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the binding mechanism  19  is an adhesive binding mechanism. However, the binding mechanism  19  can take any of a variety of forms, including but not limited to coil binding mechanisms, spiral binding mechanisms, three-ring binders, prong binding mechanisms, case binding mechanisms, perfect binding mechanisms, stitched binding mechanisms, etc.  
      The back cover  17  includes a outwardly extending generally flat, planar flap  18  which may be integrally formed with the main body of the back cover  17 . The flap  18  can extend from a longitudinal edge of the back cover  17 . Rather than being located on the back cover  17 , the flap  18  could instead or in addition be located on the front cover  16 . The flap  18  can have the same stiffness or thickness as the back cover  17 , and be made of cardboard, plastic, tweeds, faux leathers, cottons, silks and the like. If desired, the flap  18  could also be a separate piece of material coupled to the body of the back cover  17 . The flap  18  may include a plurality of folding lines  20  extending generally parallel to the longitudinal edge of the bound component  10  and parallel to the free edges  22  of the bound component pages  12 .  
      As shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , the flap  18  can be folded and bent along the folding lines  20  and inserted into the pages  12  of the bound component  10  for a convenient marking purpose. The flap  18  may have a length that is at least about 50% of the length of the free edge  22  of each page  12  to provide a flap  18  which can be easily handled and located. The folding lines  20  of the flap  18  allow easy bending or folding of the flap  18  to be inserted between two adjacent bound pages  12  of the bound component  10 . The flap  18  may be configured such that when the flap  18  is inserted between the free edge  22  of two adjacent bound pages  12  of the bound component  10  the flap  18  is inserted to a depth of less than about 25% of the width of each of said bound pages  12 . This allows the flap  18  to be easily inserted into and removed from the bound pages  12 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the foldable flap  18  may be folded and bent along the folding lines  20  and wrapped around the front cover  16 .  
      The bound component  10  further includes a retaining mechanism  25  configured to selectively circumscribe the bound component  10  (i.e., the front and back covers  16 ,  17  and the plurality of bound pages  12 ) to secure the bound component  10  in a closed position, for example as shown in  FIG. 4 . In one embodiment of this invention, the retaining mechanism  25  is an elastic strap  25  which can be expanded and passed around the front  16  and back  17  covers and bound pages  12  to secure the bound component  10  in its closed position. The elastic strap  25  may be made of a generally stretchable solid material which may be extended when stretching forces are applied, and will sustain this extended shape while securing the bound component  10  in its closed position, but will recover its original shape when the stretching forces are removed. The elastic strap  25  can be made of materials such as natural rubber, synthetic rubber, elastomeric plastic, elastomeric woven or braided fabric containing elastic fibers or the like. The retaining mechanism  25  may be coupled to the back cover  17  at a pair of connection points  30 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . The retaining mechanism  25  may be located adjacent to a free edge of the back cover  17 .  
      In one embodiment of the invention, the elastic strap  25  may be secured to the back cover  17 , although the elastic strap  25  may be secured to other locations of the bound component  10 , such as but not limited to, the front cover  16 . Securing the elastic strap  25  by a pair of connection points  30  ensures that the retaining mechanism  25  is not lost or misplaced. The elastic strap  25  may be connected to the front  16  or back cover  17  by stitching, hook-and-loop fastening material (such as VELCRO®), buttons, or similar fasteners.  
      In order to utilize the bound component  10 , a user may first write or read information on the bound pages  12  in the standard manner. When the user desires to place mark the bound component  10  for future reference, as shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , the foldable flap  18  can be folded and bent along the folding lines  20  and inserted between two adjacent bound pages  12  of the bound component  10  through the free edge  22  of each bound page  12 . The bound component  10  can then be closed while the flap  18  remains inserted in the bound pages  12 . The elastic strap  25  can be then expanded and passed around the front  16  and back  17  covers to secure the bound component  10  in its closed position.  
      Furthermore, as shown in  FIGS. 6-7 , the bound component  10  can be closed and the foldable flap  18  can be folded and bent along the folding lines  20  and wrapped around the front cover  16 . The elastic strap  25  can then be expanded and passed around the flap  18  and back cover  17  to secure the bound component  10  in its closed position. This configuration may be used when there are no pages  12  to be marked, or when it is desired to protect the free edge  22  of each page  12 .  
      In the configuration shown in  FIG. 4 , the bound component  10  may have the flap  18  inserted into the plurality of bound pages  12  and the elastic strap  25  secures the bound component  10  in a closed position.  
      As shown in  FIG. 3 , the flap  18  can be utilized as a place holder in that the flap  18  can be inserted at any location in the depth of the bound pages  12  to mark a place. As shown in  FIG. 5 , when the flap  18  is used in this manner, the elastic strap  25  can be fit over the covers  16 ,  17  to retain the flap  18  in place and keep the bound component  10  closed.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 4-5 , the elastic strap  25  is positioned to the outer edge of the bound component  10 , and the flap  18  is inserted to a sufficient depth such that the flap  18  is located below the elastic strap  25 . In other words, the flap  18  is generally encircled by the elastic strap  25 . This arrangement ensures that the bound pages  12  are tightly pressed against the flap  18  to frictionally grip the flap  18  in place. Furthermore, as shown in  FIGS. 6-7 , when the flap  18  is located on the front cover  16 , the elastic strap  25  is located directly on top of the flap  18 . This direct engagement ensures that the elastic strap  25  holds the flap  18  securely in place. However, the use of a circumscribing strap, in general, helps to frictionally grip the flap  18  and hold the flap  18  in place.  
      In accordance with an embodiment of this invention, the elastic strap  25  is incorporated into the bound component  10  to allow single hand operation of the elastic strap  25 . A method for manipulating the bound component  10  may include the steps of: (i) inserting the flap  18  between desired pages  12  using one hand, and (ii) circumscribing the front  16  and back  17  covers with the elastic strap  25  using the same hand.  
      In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 4B, 6B  and  8 B, an alternative retaining mechanism  26  may be configured to wrap around a portion of the bound component  10  to secure the bound component  10  in a closed position. The alternative retaining mechanism  26  can include either a non-extensible or an extensible fabric strap  26  which may be attached to the back cover  17  at a connection point  33  and the strap free end  27  is secured to the front cover  16  by a hook and loop fastening material  34 ,  35  (such as VELCRO®) in the standard manner. Other releasable fastening means for the strap free end  27  and the front cover  16  include, but are not limited to, mechanical snaps, magnets, releasable adhesive, buttons and ribbons. As illustrated in  FIGS. 4B and 6B , a material such as VELCRO® may be attached to the underside of the strap free end at position  34  and onto the front cover at position  35  in such a manner that positions  34  and  35  will significantly overlap when the strap free end  27  is pulled towards the front cover  16 . The strap  26  can be made of non-extensible materials such as woven or braided nylon, cotton, polyester or the like.  
      When the user desires to place mark the bound component  10  for future reference, as shown in  FIG. 4B , the foldable flap  18  can be folded and bent along the folding lines  20  and inserted between two adjacent bound pages  12  of the bound component  10  through the free edge  22  of each bound page  12 . The bound component  10  can then be closed while the flap  18  remains inserted in the bound pages  12 . The retaining mechanism  26  may be wrapped around the free edges  22  of the bound pages  12  and the flap  18  while pulling the strap free end  27  towards the front cover  16  to secure the bound component  10  in its closed position. The bound component  10  is re-opened by pulling the strap free end  27  away from the front cover  16  to separate the VELCRO® material at positions  34 ,  35 .  
      Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 6B , the bound component  10  can be closed and the foldable flap  18  can be folded and bent along the folding lines  20  and wrapped around the front cover  16 . The alternative retaining mechanism  26  may be wrapped around the free edges  22  of the bound pages  12  and the flap  18  while pulling the strap free end  27  towards the front cover  16  to secure the bound component  10  in its closed position. The alternative retaining mechanism  26  protects the free edges  22  of the bound pages  12  in the configuration when there are no pages  12  to be marked and in the configuration when the user desires to place mark adjacent pages  12  using the flap  18 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 8B , securing the strap  26  at the connection point  33  on the back cover  17  ensures that the alternative retaining mechanism  26  is not lost or misplaced. As illustrated the strap  26  is connected to the back cover  17  by stitching. However, other permanent fastening means for the strap  26  and back cover  17  include, but are not limited by, permanent adhesive or permanent mechanical fixtures.  
      Although the invention is shown and described with respect to certain aspects, modifications may occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification. The bound component with place holding cover includes all such modifications and is limited only by the scope of the claims.