Patent Abstract:
A page turning assist device for use in turning loose leaf pages retained on rings of a ring mechanism includes a base having opposite side margins and being more rigid than the loose leaf pages. At least one aperture in one of the side margins of the base is sized and shaped for receiving a corresponding one of the rings therethrough to permit the base to slide along the ring for use in turning the loose leaf pages on the ring mechanism. A holder is mounted on the base for generally conjoint movement with the base on the ring. The holder is adapted for releasably securing an object to the base for movement with the base.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to notebooks for retaining loose-leaf pages, and in particular to a notebook having a page turning assist device with a holder mounted thereon for holding objects in the notebook. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Conventional notebooks include a cover and a ring binder mechanism mounted on the cover for retaining loose-leaf pages. Ring members of the ring binder mechanism can be selectively opened to add or remove pages or closed to retain pages while allowing the pages to be moved along the ring members. While conventional notebooks are well suited for holding loose-leaf pages, they are typically not suited for holding implements (e.g., pens or pencils) for writing on the loose-leaf pages. In instances where they do hold pens, pencils, and the like, the location is remote from the place where they are needed (i.e., the current loose leaf page). 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A notebook for holding loose-leaf pages generally comprises a cover having a front, a back, and a spine. The front and back are hingedly attached to the spine for movement to selectively cover and expose loose-leaf pages held by the notebook. A ring binder mechanism mounted on the cover generally comprises a housing, a ring mount supported by the housing for movement relative to the housing, and rings for holding the loose-leaf pages. Each ring includes a first ring member and a second ring member. The first ring member is operatively connected to the ring mount for movement relative to the second ring member between a closed position and an opened position of the ring members. In the closed position, the two ring members form a substantially continuous, closed loop for allowing loose-leaf pages retained by the rings to be moved along the rings from one ring member to the other. In the opened position, the two ring members form a discontinuous, open loop for adding or removing loose-leaf pages from the rings. A page turning assist device more rigid than the loose leaf pages is adapted to be captured by the rings for movement along the rings from one ring member to another ring member for use in turning loose leaf pages retained by the rings. A holder is mounted on the page turning assist device and is adapted to releasably hold an object for movement with the page turning assist device. 
         [0004]    A page turning assist device for use in turning loose leaf pages retained on rings of a ring mechanism generally comprises a base having opposite side margins and being more rigid than the loose leaf pages. At least one aperture in one of the side margins of the base is sized and shaped for receiving a corresponding one of the rings therethrough to permit the base to slide along the ring for use in turning the loose leaf pages on the ring mechanism. A holder is mounted on the base for generally conjoint movement with the base on the ring. The holder is adapted for releasably securing an object to the base for movement with the base. 
         [0005]    Other features of the invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective of a notebook for holding loose-leaf pages; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective similar to  FIG. 1  but illustrating a pen being held by a holder mounted on a page turning assist device; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective of the page turning assist device and holder removed from the notebook; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an end elevation of the page turning assist device and holder of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is an end elevation similar to  FIG. 4  but illustrating the pen being held by the holder; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective of the page turning assist device and holder; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a top side perspective of a ring mechanism removed from the notebook, rings of the mechanism being in a closed position; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a bottom side perspective of the ring mechanism of  FIG. 7  with the rings being in an opened position. 
       
    
    
       [0014]    Corresponding reference numbers indicate corresponding parts throughout the views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a notebook, indicated generally at  1 , comprising a cover, designated generally at  3 , and a ring binder mechanism, designated generally at  5 , mounted on the cover. The cover  3  includes a front  7 , a back  9 , and a spine  11 . The front  7  and back  9  are hingedly attached to the spine  11 . The ring binder mechanism  5  comprises a housing  13 , three rings (each designated generally at  15 ) supported by the housing, and a lever  17  (also broadly referred to as an “actuator”) mounted adjacent an end of the housing. The rings  15  retain loose-leaf pages  19  on the ring binder mechanism  5  in the notebook  1  while the lever  17  operates to open and close the rings so that pages can be added or removed. The front  7  of the cover  3  moves relative to the ring binder mechanism  5  to selectively cover or expose loose-leaf pages  19  retained by the ring binder mechanism in the notebook  1 . Each of the loose-leaf pages  19  has a width W 1 , a length L 1 , and a thickness T 1 . Ring binder mechanisms mounted on notebooks in other ways or on surfaces other than a notebook, for example, a file, do not depart from the scope of this invention. Moreover, a notebook may have other configurations than the one shown and described herein without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0016]    The notebook  1  also comprises a page turning assist device  21  held by the rings  15  of the ring binder mechanism  5  for movement along the rings. More specifically, the page turning assist device  21  includes apertures  23  for allowing the rings  15  to pass therethrough. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the diameters of the apertures  23  are larger than the diameters of the rings  15  which facilitate easy manual movement of page turning assist device  21  along the rings. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the page turning assist device  21  also includes a pair of spaced apart openings  24  disposed near the center of the page turning assist device. The page turning assist device  21 , which is generally rectangular, has a width W 2 , a length L 2 , and a thickness T 2  ( FIGS. 1 and 6 ). The width W 2  and length L 2  of the page turning assist device  21  are less than the width W 1  and length L 1 , respectively, of the loose-leaf pages  19 . The thickness T 2  of the page turning assist device  21 , however, is greater than the thickness T 1  of the loose-leaf pages  19 . It is understood that the page turning assist device can have shapes and sizes different than those provided herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The page turning assist device  21  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6  is formed from cardboard but it is understood that the page turning assist device can be formed from other suitable materials (e.g., plastic) without departing from the scope of this invention. 
         [0017]    The notebook  1  further comprises a holder, designated generally at  25 , mounted on the page turning assist device  21  and adapted to hold an object. Particularly, the holder  25  is sized and shaped for releasably holding a writing implement (e.g., a pencil or a pen  27  as is illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 5 ). The holder  25  is expandable for holding writing implements of various sizes. In the illustrated configuration, the holder  25  is adapted for holding writing implement (e.g., pen  27 ) with cross-sectional diameters between about 6.5 mm and about  16  mm. More specifically, the holder  25 , which is generally cylindrical, comprises an accordion folded wire  29  that is resiliently expandable in diameter between a more folded condition ( FIGS. 1 and 4 ) and an expanded, more unfolded condition for holding the writing implements ( FIGS. 2 and 5 ). The resiliency of the holder  25  allows it to bear against and grip the pen  27  when held by the holder. Other, non-resilient constructions of a holder may be used within the scope of the present invention. Moreover, a resilient holder may be formed out of other than folded wire. 
         [0018]    The holder  25  further comprises a bracket  31  mounted on the page turning assist device  21  for securing the folded wire  29  to the page turning assist device. With reference to  FIG. 6 , the bracket  31  includes a peak  33  defining a channel  35  for capturing a portion of the folded wire  29 . Two holes  37  are provided in the bracket  31  for aligning with the openings  24  in the page turning assist device  21 . Fasteners (e.g., rivets  39 ) are inserted through the holes  37  in the bracket  31  and the openings  24  in the page turning assist device  21  to mount the holder  25  on the page turning assist device. In the illustrated configuration, the holder is seen mounted generally in the center of the page turning assist device but it is understood that the holder can be mounted in different locations on the page turning assist device (including on an opposite side of the page turning assist device). It is also understood that more than one holder can be mounted on the page turning assist device so that more than one writing implement can be held in the notebook. 
         [0019]    With reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the housing  13  of the ring binder mechanism  5  is shaped as an elongate rectangle with a uniform, roughly arch-shaped cross section, having at its center a generally flat plateau  41 . A first longitudinal end  43  of the housing  13  (to the left in  FIG. 7 ) is generally open while a second, opposite longitudinal end  45  is generally closed (to the right in  FIG. 7 ). As seen in  FIG. 8 , bent under rims  47  extend lengthwise along longitudinal edges of the housing  13  from its first longitudinal end  43  to its second longitudinal end  45 . Each of the bent under rims  47  includes three spaced-apart cutouts  49 . Mechanisms having housings of other shapes, including irregular shapes, or housings that are integral with a file or notebook do not depart from the scope of this invention. 
         [0020]    The three rings  15  of the ring binder mechanism  5  are substantially similar and are each generally circular in shape (e.g.,  FIG. 7 ). Each of the rings has two generally semi-circular ring members  51   a ,  51   b  formed from a conventional, cylindrical rod of a suitable material (e.g., steel). The rings  15  could be D-shaped as is known in the art, or otherwise shaped within the scope of this invention. Ring binder mechanisms with ring members formed of different material or having different cross-sectional shapes, for example, oval shapes, or different free end configurations do not depart from the scope of this invention. 
         [0021]    As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the ring binder mechanism  5  includes two substantially identical hinge plates (together broadly defining a “ring mount”), designated generally at  53   a ,  53   b , supporting the ring members  51   a ,  51   b , respectively. The hinge plates  53   a ,  53   b  are each generally elongate, flat, and rectangular in shape and are each somewhat shorter in length than the housing  13 . The hinge plates  53   a ,  53   b  are interconnected in parallel arrangement along their inner longitudinal edge margins, forming a central hinge  55  having a pivot axis. This is done in a conventional manner known in the art. As will be described, the hinge plates  53   a ,  53   b  can pivot about the hinge  55  upward and downward. 
         [0022]    The housing  13  supports the interconnected hinge plates  53   a ,  53   b  within the housing. The outer longitudinal edge margins of the hinge plates  53   a ,  53   b  loosely fit behind the bent under rims  47  of the housing  13  for allowing them to move within the rims when the hinge plates pivot. The ring members  51   a ,  51   b  extend through respective cutouts  49  along sides of the housing  13  so that the ring members can engage above the housing. The ring members  51   a ,  51   b  are rigidly connected to respective ones of the hinge plates  53   a ,  53   b  as is known in the art and move with the hinge plates when they pivot. Although in the illustrated ring binder mechanism  5  both ring members  51   a ,  51   b  of each ring  15  are each mounted on one of the two hinge plates  53   a ,  53   b  and move with the pivoting movement of the hinge plates, a mechanism in which each ring has one movable ring member and one fixed ring member does not depart from the scope of this invention (e.g., a mechanism in which only one of the ring members of each ring is mounted on a hinge plate with the other ring member mounted, for example, on a housing). 
         [0023]    As is known, the hinge plates  53   a ,  53   b  pivot downward and upward relative to the housing  13  and move the ring members  51   a ,  51   b  mounted thereon between a closed position ( FIG. 7 ) and an opened position ( FIG. 8 ). The hinge plates  53   a ,  53   b  are wider than the housing  13  when in a co-planar position (180°), so as they pivot through the co-planar position, they deform the housing and create a spring force in the housing. The housing spring force biases the hinge plates  53   a ,  53   b  to pivot away from the co-planar position, either downward or upward. The ring members  51   a ,  51   b  close when the hinge plates  53   a ,  53   b  pivot downward (i.e., the hinge  55  moves away from the housing  13  ( FIG. 7 )). The ring members  51   a ,  51   b  open when the hinge plates  53   a ,  53   b  pivot upward (i.e., the hinge  55  moves toward the housing  13  ( FIG. 8 )). 
         [0024]    Referring still to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the lever  17  is pivotally mounted on the housing  13  adjacent the first longitudinal end  43  thereof via a hinge pin  59 . Pivoting movement of the lever  17  in a counter-clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow A in  FIG. 7  causes the lever to contact and conjointly pivot the interconnected hinge plates  53   a ,  53   b  upward. Once the hinge plates  53   a ,  53   b  pass through the co-planar position, the housing spring force pushes them upward, opening the ring members  51   a ,  51   b . To close the ring members  51   a ,  51   b , an operator can pivot the lever  17  from the position illustrated in  FIG. 8  upward and inward (i.e., clockwise in  FIG. 7 ) back to the position illustrated in  FIG. 7 . During pivoting of the lever  17 , the lever contacts and pushes downward on the upper surfaces of the hinge plates  53   a ,  53   b , but the spring force of the housing  13  resists the initial hinge plate movement. As the lever  17  continues to pivot, the lever  17  causes the interconnected hinge plates  53   a ,  53   b  to pivot downward. Once the hinge plates  53   a ,  53   b  pass through the co-planar position, the housing  13  spring force pushes them downward, closing the ring members  51   a ,  51   b . In the illustrated configuration, the ring members  51   a ,  51   b  can also be closed by manually pushing the ring members together. An actuator (not shown) may take other forms than the lever  17 . Further, there may be more than one lever. 
         [0025]    With reference to  FIG. 8 , two mounting posts  63  are secured to the illustrated ring binder mechanism  5  to mount the mechanism on the cover  3  (e.g.,  FIG. 1 ) in any suitable manner. The posts  63  are attached to the plateau  41  of the housing  13  toward the longitudinal ends  43 ,  45  of the housing. It is understood that the ring binder mechanism can be secured to the cover in different ways. 
         [0026]    Components of ring binder mechanisms of the embodiments described and illustrated herein are made of a suitable rigid material, such as a metal (e.g. steel). But mechanisms having components made of a nonmetallic material, specifically including a plastic, do not depart from the scope of this invention. 
         [0027]    When introducing elements of the ring binder mechanisms herein, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” and variations thereof are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Moreover, the use of “forward” and “rearward” and variations of these terms, or the use of other directional and orientation terms, is made for convenience, but does not require any particular orientation of the components. 
         [0028]    As various changes could be made in the above without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1