Patent Publication Number: US-6220632-B1

Title: Binder device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to binders for holding papers and more particularly pertains to a new binder device for holding and protecting papers while having elastic hinges for the addition of additional dividers. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of binders for holding papers is known in the prior art. More specifically, binders for holding papers heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,226; U.S. Pat. No. 730,727; U.S. Pat. No. 4,014,508; U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,497; U.S. Des. Pat. No. 374,037; and U.S. Des. Pat. No. 364,640. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new binder device. The inventive device includes a plurality of plates. Each of the plates has a top edge, a bottom edge, a front edge and a back edge. A coupling means removably couples a plurality of plates together. The coupling means includes a plurality of pairs of slots in the plates. Each of the pairs of slots extends into the back edge of the plates. A plurality of binding members removably binds the plates together. Each of the binding members forms a loop. One of the loops is placed in a pair of slots in a first plate and in a corresponding pair of slots in a second plate such that the first and second plates are hingedly coupled together. 
     In these respects, the binder device according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of holding and protecting papers while having elastic hinges for the addition of additional dividers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of binders for holding papers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new binder device construction wherein the same can be utilized for holding and protecting papers while having elastic hinges for the addition of additional dividers. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new binder device apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the binders for holding papers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new binder device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art binders for holding papers, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a plurality of plates. Each of the plates has a top edge, a bottom edge, a front edge and a back edge. A coupling means removably couples a plurality of plates together. The coupling means includes a plurality of pairs of slots in the plates. Each of the pairs of slots extends into the back edge of the plates. A plurality of binding members removably binds the plates together. Each of the binding members forms a loop. One of the loops is placed in a pair of slots in a first plate and in a corresponding pair of slots in a second plate such that the first and second plates are hingedly coupled together. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment 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 to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new binder device apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the binders for holding papers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new binder device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art binders for holding papers, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new binder device which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new binder device which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new binder device which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such binder device economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new binder device which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new binder device for holding and protecting papers while having elastic hinges for the addition of additional dividers. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new binder device which includes a plurality of plates. Each of the plates has a top edge, a bottom edge, a front edge and a back edge. A coupling means removably couples a plurality of plates together. The coupling means includes a plurality of pairs of slots in the plates. Each of the pairs of slots extends into the back edge of the plates. A plurality of binding members removably binds the plates together. Each of the binding members forms a loop. One of the loops is placed in a pair of slots in a first plate and in a corresponding pair of slots in a second plate such that the first and second plates are hingedly coupled together. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new binder device that has first and second outside plates wherein additional plates, or dividers may be added between the first and second plates. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a new binder device according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional top view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new binder device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the binder device  10  generally comprises a plurality of plates  12 . Each of the plates  12  has a top edge  14 , a bottom edge  16 , a front edge  18  and a back edge  20 . A plurality of apertures  22  is in each plate  12 . Each of the apertures  22  is generally positioned adjacent to the front edge  18  of the plates  12 . Preferably, three apertures  22  are positioned nearer the top edge  14  than the bottom edge  16 , and three apertures  22  are positioned nearer the bottom edge  16  than the top edge  14 . Each of the plates  12  has a generally rectangular shape. Preferably each of the plates  12  has rounded corners  24 . Each of the plates  12  preferably comprises a material selected from the group comprising metal, plastic, vinyl, cardboard and wood. The plates  12  can also be transparent for easy identification of the top document. 
     A coupling means removably couples a plurality of plates together. The coupling means includes a plurality of pairs of slots in each of the plates  12 . Each of the pairs of slots extends into the back edge  20  of the plates  12 . Each of the pairs of slots comprises a first slot  26  and a second slot  28 . The slots  26 ,  28  generally have an L-shape, wherein each of the slots has a foot portion  30  and a leg portion  32 . The foot portions  30  extend into the back edge  20  such that the leg portions  32  are orientated generally perpendicular to the back edge  20 . The leg portions  32  of the first  26  and second  28  slots extend toward each other. The plates  12  in FIG. 1 show two pairs of slots and FIGS. 4 and 5 show three pairs of slots. The number of slots depends on the size of the plates  12 , which may come in any size depending on what they are protecting. 
     A plurality of binding members  34  removably binds the plates  12  together. Each of the binding members  34  forms a loop. One of the loops is placed in the leg portions  32  of a pair of slots  28 ,  30  in a first plate and in a corresponding pair of slots  28 ,  30  in a second plate such that the first and second plates are hingedly coupled together as depicted in FIG.  1 . Binding members  34  may be placed in all of the pairs of slots. Ideally, each of the binding members  34  comprises an elastic band. A plurality of plates  12  may be added between the first and second plates as is shown in FIG.  1 . Also, additional plates may be added outside of the first and second plates. This may be accomplished by adding additional binding members since the slots are large enough to hold multiple binding members. 
     A securing means releasably secures the plates in a closed position. The securing means is an elongate flexible member  36  having a first end  38  and a second end  40 . The first end  38  extends through a plurality of the apertures  22  in the second plate generally adjacent to the top edge  14 . The second end  40  extends through a plurality of the apertures in the second plate generally adjacent to the bottom edge  16 . The second plate may be any of the plates. A central portion  42  of the elongate flexible member  36  may be wrapped about the first plate. The elongate flexible member  36  ideally comprises an elastic material. 
     In use, plates  12  are chosen which have a size corresponding to the book, paper, blue prints or whatever item is being protected. The binding members  34  are placed about the slots of a first and second plate. If dividers are needed between pages being protected, additional plates  12  may be added as shown in FIG.  1 . The securing means  36  may be wrapped about the first plate to bias it toward the second plate. Another embodiment, not shown, would utilize a central plate which would be larger than adjacent plates such that it extends beyond the adjacent plates. This extending portion may have a handle cut therein for ease of carrying the device. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.