Patent Publication Number: US-7905672-B2

Title: Insertable dividers for a bound component

Description:
The present invention is directed to insertable dividers for a bound component, and more particularly, to insertable dividers which can be written upon and/or protrude outwardly from the pages of the bound component. 
     BACKGROUND 
     When utilizing a bound component, such as a notebook, binder, address book, planner, diary, journal and the like, it is often desired to mark a location in the bound component for future reference. Bookmarks are commonly used for such a purpose. However, bookmarks are often prone to fall out of the bound component and thus can become easily lost or displaced. Thus, there is a need for a place-marking device which can be securely coupled to the bound component. 
     In addition, there is a need for a place-marking device which can be repeatedly written upon. Such a place-marking device would allow a user to customize the place-marking device and reuse the place-marking device as desired. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, the present invention is a divider which can be releasably yet securely coupled to a bound component. In another aspect of the invention, the divider can be marked upon with markings that can be erased to allow reuse of the divider. In another aspect, the divider is configured to protrude outwardly from the bound component to provide a readily identified divider. 
     In one embodiment, the invention is a system including a bound component comprising a plurality of sheets of paper and a binding mechanism binding the plurality of sheets of paper together. The system further includes a polymer divider configured to be directly releasably coupled to the binding mechanism such that the divider can be positioned between adjacent ones of the sheets of paper. The system further includes a permanent writing instrument configured to dispense permanent markings on the divider when the divider is written upon by the writing instrument. The system further includes an erasing means for erasing permanent markings from the divider. 
     In another embodiment the invention is a bound component system including a plurality of sheets of paper and a binding mechanism binding the plurality of sheets of paper together. The plurality of sheets of paper have a width dimension extending generally perpendicular to the binding mechanism. The system further includes a divider configured to be directly releasably coupled to the binding mechanism such that the divider can be positioned between adjacent ones of the sheets, wherein the divider has a width greater than the width of the plurality of sheets of paper. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a marker with a portion of the marker body cut away; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the marker of  FIG. 1  including a cap mounted thereon; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of a writing surface being marked upon by the marker of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of a binder including a writing surface and being marked upon by the marker of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of a binder including a writing surface and a flap, with the flap in a closed position; 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the binder of  FIG. 5  with the flap in an open position; 
         FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of a three-ring notebook including a writing surface and a flap, with the flap in a closed position; 
         FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of the three-ring notebook of  FIG. 7  with the flap in an open position; 
         FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of a coil-bound notebook including a writing surface and a flap, with the flap in a closed position; 
         FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of the coil-bound notebook of  FIG. 9  with the flap in an open position; 
         FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of a folder including a writing surface; 
         FIG. 12  is a front perspective view of a book cover including a closure mechanism, with the closure mechanism in a closed position; 
         FIG. 13  is a front perspective view of the book cover of  FIG. 12  with the closure mechanism in an open position; 
         FIG. 14  is a front perspective view of the book cover of  FIG. 12  positioned on a book; 
         FIG. 15  is a front view of one embodiment of a bound component, shown in its closed position; 
         FIG. 16  is a front perspective view of the bound component of  FIG. 15 , with the cover flap pivoted away from the front cover; 
         FIG. 17  is a front perspective view of the bound component of  FIG. 15 , moved to an open position and illustrating a sheet of dividers; 
         FIG. 18  is a front perspective view of the bound component of  FIG. 17 , illustrating the sheet of dividers pivoted about the binding mechanism; 
         FIG. 19  is a front perspective view of the bound component of  FIG. 17 , illustrating a single divider broken away, with text being written thereon; 
         FIG. 20  is a top view of a divider of the divider sheet of  FIG. 17 ; 
         FIG. 21  is a front perspective view of the bound component of  FIG. 17 , with the divider of  FIG. 19  being inserted into the bound component at a thickness location thereof; 
         FIG. 22  is a front perspective view of the bound component of  FIG. 20 , with the text written on the divider being erased; and 
         FIG. 23  is a front perspective view of the bound component of  FIG. 20 , with the divider being moved to a different location along the length of the binding component. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a marker or writing instrument  10  is shown and includes a writing instrument body or marker body  12 . The marker body  12  may be generally tubular or cylindrical and may have a first portion  18  and a second portion  20 . The marker body  12  may include a first reservoir  14  located generally inside of the first portion  18  and a second reservoir  16  located generally inside of the second portion  20 , with the first  14  and second  16  reservoirs separated by a divider  15 . The maker body  12  may include a first opening  24  that is located at an end of the marker body  12  and in communication with the first reservoir  14 . The marker body  12  may also include a second opening  30  that is located at the other of the marker body  12  and in communication with the second reservoir  16 . 
     The marker body  12  includes a first wick  22  generally closely received in and through the first opening  24  and extending into the first reservoir  14 . The first wick  22  has an exposed portion  27  extending out of the first reservoir  14 , with the exposed portion  27  having or forming a writing tip  26 . The marker body  12  includes a second wick  28  generally closely received in and through the second opening  30  and extending into the second reservoir  16 . The second wick  28  has an exposed portion  29  extending out of the second reservoir  16 , with the exposed portion  29  including or forming an erasing tip  34 . The wicks  22 ,  28  may be made from a wide variety of materials, such as felt. Although the marker  10  is illustrated as having a tip  26 ,  34  at each end, the marker  10  may have a wide variety of other configurations for the tips  26 ,  34  and/or wicks  22 ,  28 , including having the tips  26 ,  34 , being oriented at various angles, being located in a side-by-side configuration, having only a single tip, etc. 
     The first reservoir  14  may be filled with a permanent or indelible ink solution of any of a wide variety of colors. The permanent ink or permanent ink solution in the first reservoir  14  may be nearly any type of permanent ink or ink solution, such as a traditional organic solvent based permanent ink with a wide variety of pigments, dye, colorants or the like, or an aqueous type permanent ink as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,776, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The permanent ink may be an alcohol (i.e. n-propyl alcohol) based or other organic solvent based permanent ink. The permanent ink may be capable of marking on porous surfaces (e.g., paper, wood and the like) and nonporous surfaces (e.g., glass, metal, plastic and other polymer based surfaces). Further, the permanent ink may be resistent to smearing and re-wetting after application and may resist emulsification, dissolving or removal with soap and water. 
     The second reservoir  16  may be filled with a solvent that can dissolve the permanent ink or ink solution in the first reservoir  14 . The solvent in the second reservoir  16  may be any solvent that is capable of solubilizing or dissolving permanent ink or a permanent ink solution that has been applied to a surface and allowed to dry. The solvent may be or include an ethyl alcohol, an n-propyl alcohol, or other organic based solvents. 
     For example, the solvent may be a dry-erase solution typically used in a dry-erase marker. Thus the solvent may also optionally include a colorant, dye or pigment and a binder resin such that the second portion  20  can operate as a dry-erase marker. In this case, when the dry-erase solution is applied to a polymeric or plastic type surface, the solvent evaporates and the binder resin and colorant remain behind as a friable discontinuous film. 
     The permanent ink solution in the first reservoir  14  may be soaked through the first wick  22 , or permanent ink dispensing wick  22 , and wicked through the permanent ink dispensing wick  22  until the permanent ink solution reaches the writing tip  26 . In this manner, when the writing tip  26  contacts a substrate to be written upon, ink from the first reservoir  14  is deposited on the substrate. Similarly, the solvent in the second reservoir  16  soaks the second wick  28 , or solvent dispensing wick  28 , such that the solvent is wicked through the solvent dispensing wick  28  until it reaches the erasing tip  34 . When the erasing tip  34  contacts the substrate, solvent from the second reservoir  16  is deposited onto the substrate and solubilizes (or dissolves) any ink deposited by the permanent ink dispending wick contacted by the solvent. Thus the marker  10  may be a double-ended felt-tip marker, although the marker  10  may include various other manners of dispensing the permanent ink and solvent, such as ball-point dispensers, gel-type dispensers, etc. 
     The marker  10  may include a cap  40  for covering either the erasing tip  34  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) or, alternatively or in addition, the writing tip  26 . The cap  40  prevents the ink and solvent from evaporating through the wicks  22 ,  28  when the marker  10  is not in use. For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the cap  40  may include a body portion shaped to form a tight interference fit or seal with the marker body  12  to seal off the associated tip  26 ,  34 . The cap  40  may also include an absorbent portion  42  located, for example, on an outer surface, or outer end surface, of the cap  40 . The absorbent portion  42  may be made of a felt, cotton, foam, sponge-type material or other absorbent material. The absorbent portion  42  may be used to wipe away markings that are deposited by the writing tip  26  and erased/dissolved by the erasing tip  34 . If desired, the marker  10  may include two caps  40 , with each cap  40  located on each end of the marker  10 , and at least one cap  40  may include an absorbent portion  42 , although both caps  40  may include an absorbent portion  42 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a user may mark various indicia or markings  52  on a writing surface  50  using the writing tip  26  of the marker  10 . The markings  52  may then be allowed to dry. Once dry, the markings  52  may not be able to be erased by simply rubbing the markings by hand, or with soap and water or the like. The permanent markings  52  may then be allowed to remain in place for as long as desired. Once it is desired to erase the markings  52 , the erasing tip  34  is applied to the markings  52  to solubilize/erase/dissolve the markings  52 . The erasing tip  34  may be moved over the markings  52  such that the solvent contacts the deposited markings  52  and solubilizes the markings  52 , thereby allowing the markings  52  to be erased. A user may then take the cap  40  and apply the absorbent portion  42  to the writing surface  50  to wipe away or absorb the solubilized markings. 
     The writing surface  50  may be made of a typical plastic material such as polypropylene, polyethylene or the like that is capable of being marked upon using permanent ink, but not with typical water based inks. The writing surface  50  may have a glossy finish surface and/or a UV aqueous coating and/or other coatings. The writing surface may be made of a material that is chemically resistant to any solvents dispensed by the writing instrument (i.e., erasing solutions located in the second reservoir  16 ). 
     Further, the writing surface  50  may have a surface roughness sufficient to absorb or receive ink in the creases and recesses, but not exceedingly rough to make it overly difficult to remove the ink. In one embodiment, the writing surface  50  has an average surface roughness of between about 50-1000 microns, or more particularly between about 9-100 microns. The writing surface  50 , permanent ink and solvent should be selected such that application of the permanent ink or solvent to the writing surface  50  does not significantly alter, destroy or marr the writing surface  50 . Proper selection may allow the writing surface  50  to be used many times over for marking and erasing. 
     The writing surface  50  may be, include, or be part of various devices or products. For example, the writing surface  50  may be formed as part of a school or office product such as a binder  60  ( FIG. 4 ),  70  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ) or  80  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ), a notebook  90  ( FIGS. 9 and 10 ), a folder  100  ( FIG. 11 ), a book cover  110  ( FIGS. 12 and 13 ), as well as a divider, portfolio, tablet, note pad, clipboard, briefcase, storage case, compact disk case, compact disk, computer case, electronic device case or the like for home, school, business, office or other use. Thus, for example, in school use, a user may write certain notes or reminders (i.e. a reminder of a homework assignment) on the outer surface of a binder  60 ,  70 ,  80  which includes the writing surface  50 . The writing  63  on the binder  60  (see  FIG. 4 ) may be written in permanent ink and therefore resists smudging and accidental erasure, even when exposed to water and most common liquids. When the user desires to remove the marking  63  (i.e. when the homework project is complete or when a new homework assignment is received) the user can remove the markings  63  using the erasing tip  34  and absorbent portion  42  of the cap  40 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , in one embodiment the binder  70  includes a front cover  71 , a back cover  72  and a spine portion  73 . The front cover  71  and back cover  72  are pivotally coupled to the spine portion  73 . The binder  70  includes a zipper closure mechanism  74  that couples the front cover  71  and back cover  72  together. The binder  70  also includes a flap  75  (having inner surface  77  and outer surface  79 ) pivotally coupled to the front cover  71  and cooperating securing devices  76  located on the front cover  71  and on the inner surface  77  of the flap  75 . 
     The writing surface  50  is formed on or as part of the front cover  71  (as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) and/or the back cover  72  (not shown). The flap  75  is hingedly connected to an outer edge  78  of the front cover  71  and pivots from an open position, wherein the flap  75  is spaced or pivoted away from the front cover  71  (see  FIG. 6 ) to a closed position, wherein the flap  75  lies over the front cover  71  (see  FIG. 5 ) to cover all or a portion (anywhere from about 10% to about 100%) of the writing surface  50  on the front cover  71 . 
     When the flap  75  is in the closed position the flap  75  protects the writing surface  50 . The securing devices  76  may be positioned on the facing surfaces (i.e., inner surface  77  of flap  75  and surface  50  of front cover  71 ) to secure the flap  75  in its closed position. The securing devices  76  may take a variety of forms, such as hook-and-loop fasteners (i.e., VELCRO®), magnets, tacky or adhesive material, clips, snaps, or the like. The flap  75  (i.e., including inner surface  77  and outer surface  79 ) and/or spine portion  73  may also be made of or include a writing surface  50  (not shown). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , in a second embodiment a three-ring binder  80  includes a front cover  81 , a back cover  82  and a spine  83 . The front cover  81  and back cover  82  are pivotally coupled to the spine  83 . The binder  80  includes a flap  84  (having inner surface  86  and outer surface  87 ) pivotally coupled to the front cover  81  along edge  85 . 
     The writing surface  50  is formed on or as part of the front cover  81  (and/or back cover  82 ) and the spine  83 . The flap  84  is hingedly connected to the outer edge  85  of the front cover  81  and pivots from an open position, wherein the flap  84  is spaced or pivoted away from the front cover  81  (see  FIG. 8 ) to a closed position, wherein the flap  84  lies over the front cover  81  (see  FIG. 7 ) to cover all or a portion of the writing surface  50  on the front cover  81 . The flap  84  may be secured to the front cover  81  (when in the closed position) by various means (not shown), such as hook-and-loop fasteners, magnets, clips, snaps, adhesive or tacky material or the like. In an alternative embodiment, the flap  84  also includes a writing surface  50  (not shown) located on either or both sides thereof. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , in a third embodiment a coil bound notebook  90  includes a front cover  91 , a back cover  92 , a plurality of sheets of paper  93 , a coil binding mechanism  94 , a flap  95  (having front surface  98  and back surface  99 ) and cooperating securing devices  96 . The sheets of paper  93  are positioned between the front and back covers  91 ,  92 . The flap  95 , front and back covers  91 ,  92  and plurality of sheets of paper  93  are bound together along their binding edges  97  by coil binding  94 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the writing surface  50  is formed on or as part of the front cover  91  and/or the back cover  92 . Also, the front  98  (see  FIG. 9 ) and/or back  99  surface of the flap  95  may include a writing surface  50 . The flap  95  is pivotable about the coil binding mechanism  94  from an open position, wherein the flap  95  is spaced or pivoted away from the front and back covers  91 ,  92  (see  FIG. 10 ) to a closed position, wherein the flap  95  lies over one of the covers  91 ,  92  (see  FIG. 9 ) to cover all or a portion of the front or back covers  91 ,  92 . The flap  95  may be secured in the closed position (i.e., to the front or back covers  91 ,  92 ) by the securing devices  96  (e.g., hook-and-loop fasteners, magnets, clips, snaps, adhesive or tacky material or the like). 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , in a fourth embodiment a folder  100  includes a front cover  101 , a back cover  102  and a pen/pencil holder  103 . The front cover  101  is pivotally connected to the back cover  102  along a pivot edge  105 . The back cover  102  may have a surface area larger than that of the front cover  101  to define a protruding portion  104  that extends upwardly beyond the front cover  101  to provide an area for attaching the pen/pencil holder  103 . The entire folder  100  may be constructed from an appropriate material such that the entire folder  100  is made of or forms a writing surface  50 . Alternatively, only a portion of the front or back covers  101 ,  102  may be made of or include the writing surface  50 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 12-14 , in a fifth embodiment a book cover  110  includes a front cover portion  111 , a back cover portion  112  and a closure mechanism  113 . The front and back cover portions  111 ,  112  are adapted to be received over or around the front and back covers of a book  122  ( FIG. 14 ), respectively, and may be constructed from various materials such as cloth, polymeric-type material, cellulose-based materials such as paper or cardboard, or the like. The closure mechanism  113  includes an elastic portion  114 , a writing surface portion  115  having a writing surface  50  and a securing device  116 . A first end  118  of the elastic portion  114  is attached to the back cover portion  112  and a second end  119  is connected to the writing surface portion  115 . 
     The securing device  116  includes hook-and-loop fastening material  120  located on the underside of the writing surface portion  115  (see  FIG. 13 ). The hook-and-loop fastening material  120  is configured to engage the corresponding hook-and-loop material  117  affixed to the front cover portion  111  to secure the book cover  110  in the closed position (see  FIG. 12 ). Of course, various other securing devices, as discussed previously, can be used in place of the hook-and-loop fastening material  120 . 
     Rather than being part of a school or office product, the writing surface  50  may simply be a “stand-alone” board such that the writing surface  50  can operate as a bulletin board, and, for example, be coupled to a locker, wall, refrigerator or the like, or be loosely carrier. Thus the writing surface  50  may include magnets, patches of hook-and-loop fastening material (i.e. VELCRO®), hook, snap, clasp, adhesive or other fasteners located on a rear side thereof to aid in attaching the writing surface  50  to various other components. Further, the marker  10  (which may include the cap  40 ) may be packaged together with the writing surface  50  for sale such that the marker  10  and writing surface  50  are marketed and sold together. 
     As shown in  FIG. 15 , in one embodiment the present invention may be or include a bound component  200  including a front  202  and rear  204  cover pivotally coupled together. The front  202  and rear  204  covers may be coupled to a binding mechanism  206 , such as a twin wire binding mechanism, although the binding mechanism  206  may take a variety of forms, including a single wire binding mechanism, spiral or coil wire binding mechanisms, adhesive binding mechanisms, clips, clasps, 3-ring binding mechanisms, etc. 
     A plurality of pages  208  may be bound together and to the covers  202 ,  204  by the binding mechanism  206 . Each of the pages  208  may be made of cellulose-based paper or pulp-based paper such that the pages  208  can be written upon by a wide variety of writing instruments, such as pens, pencils, markers and the like. The pages  208  may have various indicia printed thereon, such as calendar or date indicia (for use as a calendar or planner), address and phone information (for use as an address book), ruled lines (for use as a notebook, journal or the like). Of course, various other indicia may be printed on the pages  208 , or if desired, the pages may not include any indicia pre-printed thereon. 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the bound component  200  may include a cover panel  210  coupled to the binding mechanism  206  and movable to a position wherein the cover panel  210  covers at least part of the surface area of the front cover  202 . Each of the front cover  202 , rear cover  204  and cover panel  210  may be made of or include the same material as the material of the writing surface  50  described above for use with the writing instrument  10  described above. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , a sheet of dividers  212  may be removably coupled to the binding mechanism  206 . In particular, in the illustrated embodiment, five dividers  214  are releasably coupled together along their adjacent longitudinal edges  216  to form the sheet  212 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the adjacent longitudinal edges  216  may take the form of score lines, score-slit lines, perforation lines, areas of weakness or the like to allow each divider  214  to be manually torn or separated from the sheet of dividers  212  along its attached longitudinal edge(s)  216 . As shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , each of the dividers  214  in the sheet of dividers  212  may be generally nested with no openings therebetween to make efficient use of the available space. In addition, each of the longitudinal edges  216  of the dividers may be generally curved, although the longitudinal edges can be straight, angled and the like as desired. 
     The sheet of dividers  212 , and each individual divider  214 , can include or be made of material described above as or for use with the writing surface  50  described above. Thus, each divider  214 , as well as the front cover  202 , rear cover  204 , and covering panel  210 , can each be made of a polymer material, and more particularly, polypropylene or polyethylene. Each divider  214 , as well as the front cover  202 , rear cover  204  and cover panel  210  may be made of material which is chemically resistant (i.e., resists damage or is generally chemically inert) to solvent of the marking instrument  10 . Each divider  214 , as well as the front cover  202 , rear cover  204 , and covering panel  210  may have an average surface roughness of between about 50 and about 1000 microns. 
     Each divider  214  may be made of a generally translucent material to allow any text, drawings or other indicia to be viewable through the divider  214 . In addition, each divider  214  may have a sufficient thickness and/or stiffness to allow the divider  214  to maintain a generally flat shape when the divider  214  is held horizontally at only one end thereof (i.e., held in a cantilevered fashion). In other words, each divider  214  may have sufficient rigidity such as to generally maintain a flat, planar shape when oriented horizontally and supported at only one end thereof. More particularly, each divider  214  may have a thickness of at least about 0.5 mm, or at least about 1 mm. 
     Each divider  214  may be configured to be directly releasably coupled to the binding mechanism  206 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 20 , each divider  214  may include a plurality of openings  220 , with each opening  220  being configured to receive at least one turn of a coil wire or spiral wire binding mechanism  206 . Each opening  220  may be located between a pair of adjacent generally arrow-tip shaped or barbed protrusions  222 . The angled tips of the protrusions  222  help to guide the wires/turns of the binding mechanism  206  into the openings  220  and retain them therein. 
     As shown in  FIG. 19 , in order to utilize a divider  214 , the divider  214  is separated from the sheet of dividers  212  by manually separating the divider  214  along its connected longitudinal edge  216 . The divider  214  is also separated from the binding mechanism  206  by manually pulling the divider  216  away from the binding mechanism  206  to pull the turns of the binding mechanism  206  out of the openings  220 . 
     A user can write indicia  224  on the divider with the writing tip  26  of the writing instrument  10 , as shown in  FIG. 19 . The indicia  224  can be written when the divider  214  is coupled to the binding mechanism  206 , or after the divider  214  is separated from the binding mechanism  206 . Next, as shown in  FIG. 21 , the user turns the pages  208  of the bound component  200  until the desired location of the divider  214  (i.e., in a thickness direction of the bound component  200 ) is found. The divider  214  is then coupled to the binding mechanism  206  by pressing the turns of the binding mechanism  206  into the openings  220  of the divider  214 . The divider  214  is then securely coupled to the binding mechanism  206  such that the divider  214  cannot be easily removed by inadvertent forces. 
     As shown in  FIG. 21 , each of the sheets of paper  208  may have a width dimension w extending generally perpendicular to the binding mechanism  206 . Each divider  214  may also include a width dimension extending generally perpendicular to the binding mechanism  206 , wherein the width of each divider  214  is greater than the width w of the plurality of sheets of paper  208 . In this manner, the divider  214  includes a protruding portion  228  which protrudes outwardly from the pages  208  to allow the protruding portion  228  to be easily viewed, even when the bound component  10  is closed. 
     The protruding portion  228  may have a width of less than about 1 inch or less than about ½ of an inch, but more than about ¼ inch to allow sufficient surface area for writing thereon but so as to not protrude too far outwardly which could add additional width to the bound component  200  and which could prevent the bound component  200  from being easily handled. In addition, the protruding portion  228  of each divider  214 , along with the thickness/stiffness of each divider  214 , may allow each divider  214  to be pivoted about the binding mechanism  206  and carry a plurality of bound pages  208  with the divider  214  as the divider  214  is pivoted (i.e., each divider  214  can function as a place-holder or page-turner). 
     Thus, when writing indicia  224  on the divider  214  (i.e., as shown in  FIG. 19 ), it may be desired to write on the protruding portion  228  of the divider  214 . However, the remainder of the body of the divider  214  is also available for writing thereon should more extensive notes, reminders etc. be desired to be written thereon, or should such indicia be desired to be hidden from view. In addition, the user may be able to write on both sides of the divider  214 . 
     Each divider  214  may have a coupling edge or portion  230  which is configured to be coupled to the binding mechanism  206  (i.e., the coupling edge  230  may have the openings  220 /protrusions  222  formed therealong). Each coupling edge  230  may have a length that is less than the length of the binding mechanism  206 . More particularly, the coupling edge  230  may have a length that is less than about ¼ of the length of the binding mechanism  206 , or less than about ⅕ of the length of the binding mechanism  206 . This configuration allows a plurality of dividers  214  to be coupled at a single thickness location of the bound component  200  and allows the sheet of dividers  212  to be provided. This configuration also allows a tiered arrangement of dividers to be provided, as shown in  FIGS. 21-23 . 
     The dividers  214  are able to be repositioned at various locations of the thickness of the bound component  210 , to be positioned at various locations along the length of the binding mechanism  206 , and to be rewritten thereon which allows great flexibility in the use and reuse of the dividers. For example, the divider  214  fully shown in  FIG. 21  may be desired to be repositioned and/or reused. If a student user should complete a history course, and in its place begin a geometry course, the divider  214  shown in  FIG. 21  can be easily repositioned and reused. As shown in  FIG. 22 , the erasing tip  34  of the marking instrument  10  can be used to erase the “History” text  224  written on the divider  214 . The divider  214  can then be uncoupled from the binding mechanism  206  and moved to a different position along the length of the binding mechanism  206  ( FIG. 23 ). New text  224 ′ (i.e., “Geometry” in the illustrated embodiment) can then be written on the divider  214 . Of course, if desired, the divider  214  can be positioned at a different location in the thickness of the bound component  200 . In this manner, it can be seen that the dividers  214  of the present invention provide great flexibility in reuse, repositioned and relabeling. 
     The bound component  200  may be configured to releasably receive the writing instrument  10  therein or thereon. In particular, the back cover  204  of the bound component may include a spring clip  232  which can releasably receive the writing instrument  10  therein. In this manner, the bound component  200  may be able to carry the writing instrument  10 , including the writing tip  26 , erasing tip  34  and/or absorbent portion  32 , with the bound component  200  for easy and convenient use and storage. Of course, the writing instrument  10  may be able to be coupled to various other locations of the notebook  200 , including the front cover  202 , pages  208 , binding mechanism  206 , dividers  214 , etc. 
     Having described the invention in detail and by reference to the various embodiments, it will be apparent that modifications and variations thereof are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.