Patent Publication Number: US-2005123343-A1

Title: File binding system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application relates to a second application expected to be filed at the same time as this application identified by Attorney Docket No. SUES-001. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
      Not applicable to this application.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates generally to document retention devices and more specifically it relates to a file binding system for efficiently securing documents within a file.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Files have been in use for years. Conventional files are comprised of a folder structure that is capable of receiving and retaining a plurality of documents. Conventional files have two opposing walls that are pivotally attached to one another by a hinge portion. The files are typically comprised of a solid piece of rigid paper material.  
      The main problem with conventional files is that documents within the files are prone to being accidentally removed during transporting of the files. Another problem with conventional files is that the documents inside often times extend outwardly from the perimeter of the files thereby cluttering the files and placing the documents in a position which may result in damage to the documents.  
      One solution commonly utilized to retain documents within files is the usage of rubber bands. The rubber bands are secured about the file to assist in retaining the documents within the file. The main problem with rubber bands is that they do not provide the desired tension about the file. If a shorter or thicker rubber band is utilized, too much contraction force is applied to the file causing the file and documents within to become deformed. If a longer or thinner rubber band is utilized, not enough contraction force is applied to the file to adequately retain the documents within the file. Another problem is that files with more documents within are capable of receiving stronger rubber bands while files with few documents within are capable of receiving only weaker rubber bands. A further problem with rubber bands is that they are prone to breakage and tangling. Another problem with rubber bands is that the user must purchase numerous rubber bands of different thicknesses and lengths to accommodate various sizes of files.  
      While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for efficiently securing documents within a file. Conventional file retention devices are not suitable for applying the desired amount of contraction force to a file with a plurality of documents being retained.  
      In these respects, the file binding system 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 efficiently securing documents within a file.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of document securing devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new file binding system construction wherein the same can be utilized for efficiently securing documents within a file.  
      The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new file binding system that has many of the advantages of the document securing devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new file binding system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art document securing devices, either alone or in any combination thereof.  
      To attain this, the present invention generally comprises an elastic loop member, a bead member attached to the loop member and a locking member slidably positioned about the loop member. The locking member frictionally engages the loop member for allowing reduction or enlargement of the loop member. The locking member is preferably comprised of a ring structure with an aperture sized to frictionally receive the loop member. The locking member is positioned between the bead member and a distal portion of the loop member.  
      There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof 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 that 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 the description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
      A primary object of the present invention is to provide a file binding system that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.  
      A second object is to provide a file binding system for efficiently securing documents within a file.  
      Another object is to provide a file binding system that is capable of providing the desired amount of contraction force to a file.  
      An additional object is to provide a file binding system that is resistant to breakage and entanglement.  
      A further object is to provide a file binding system that may be utilized upon various sizes of files.  
      Another object is to provide a file binding system that may be reused numerous times.  
      Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.  
      To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is an upper perspective view of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is an upper perspective view of the present invention with the locking member lowered along the loop member.  
       FIG. 3  is an upper perspective view of the present invention loosely positioned about a file with documents.  
       FIG. 4  is an upper perspective view of the present invention secured about a file with documents.  
       FIG. 5  is an upper perspective view with two loop members secured about a file with documents.  
       FIG. 6  is an end view of the present invention secured about a file with documents.  
       FIG. 7  is a top view with two loop members secured about a file in a transverse manner.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      A. Overview  
      Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views,  FIGS. 1 through 7  illustrate a file binding system  10 , which comprises an elastic loop member  20 , a bead member  30  attached to the loop member  20  and a locking member  40  slidably positioned about the loop member  20 . The locking member  40  frictionally engages the loop member  20  for allowing reduction or enlargement of the loop member  20 . The locking member  40  is preferably comprised of a ring structure with an aperture sized to frictionally receive the loop member  20 . The locking member  40  is positioned between the bead member  30  and a distal portion  28  of the loop member  20 .  
      B. Elastic Loop Member  
       FIGS. 1 through 7  illustrate the elastic loop member  20 . The loop member  20  may be comprised of a solid loop structure. The loop member  20  may also be comprised of an elongate member having a first end  22  and a second end  24  secured together forming the loop member  20 . The first end  22  and the second end  24  are secured together by a knot  26  or other securing structure.  
      The loop member  20  is preferably comprised of an elastic flat band structure as best shown in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. In addition, the loop member  20  is preferably comprised of a flexible stretchable fabric with interwoven strands of elastic material which is commonly utilized within the textile industry.  
      C. Bead Member  
      A bead member  30  is attached to the loop member  20  opposite of the distal portion  28  of the loop member  20  as shown in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. The bead member  30  is positioned adjacent to the knot  26  of the loop member  20  as further shown in  FIG. 1  of the drawings.  
      The bead member  30  is preferably comprised of a spherical structure or other broad structure capable of being easily grasped by the user. The bead member  30  is also preferably larger than the locking member  40  as best shown in  FIG. 1  of the drawings.  
      D. Locking Member  
      The locking member  40  is slidably positioned about the loop member  20  for allowing reduction or enlargement of an opening within the loop member  20  as shown in  FIG. 2  of the drawings. The locking member  40  is positioned between the bead member  30  and the distal portion  28  of the loop member  20  as shown in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. The locking member  40  receives the two opposing band portions of the loop member  20  as best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings.  
      The locking member  40  preferably frictionally engages the loop member  20  for retaining a desired position for the locking member  40  along the loop member  20 . Various other locking means may be utilized for securing the locking member  40  along a desired location of the loop member  20 .  
      The locking member  40  is preferably comprised of a ring structure with an aperture that frictionally receives the loop member  20 . The locking member  40  may be comprised of other structures capable of resizing the loop member  20 .  
      E. Operation of Invention  
      As shown in  FIG. 3  of the drawings, the loop member  20  is positioned about the file  12  with one or more documents  14  within. The user then grasps the bead member  30  and the locking member  40 , thereafter spreading the bead member  30  and the locking member  40  apart. The spreading of the bead member  30  and the locking member  40  causes the locking member  40  to slide along the loop member  20  thereby contracting the loop member  20  about the file  12 . The user continues sliding the locking member  40  along the loop member  20  until the desired contraction force upon the file  12  is achieved. The user may secure additional loop members  20  about the file  12  in various patterns as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7  of the drawings.  
      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 to be within the expertise of those skilled in the art, and all equivalent structural variations and 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.