Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6964433?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2015-05-26 12:56:07
Document Index: 205544439

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 28', 'art 28', 'arts 28', 'art 28', 'art 28', 'art 28', 'art 28']

Patent US6964433 - Reinforcement member for albums - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA photo album is disclosed having a cover, a fastener threaded through the cover, and a reinforcement member positioned between the fastener and the cover. The reinforcement member is preferably made of plastic, and more preferably made of rigid plastic....http://www.google.com/patents/US6964433?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6964433 - Reinforcement member for albumsAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6964433 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/703,897Publication dateNov 15, 2005Filing dateNov 6, 2003Priority dateNov 6, 2003Fee statusPaidAlso published asCA2487179A1, CA2487179C, CA2729131A1, US20050099000, US20060061086Publication number10703897, 703897, US 6964433 B2, US 6964433B2, US-B2-6964433, US6964433 B2, US6964433B2InventorsSheldon PlutskyOriginal AssigneePioneer Photo Albums, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (14), Referenced by (1), Classifications (13), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetReinforcement member for albums
US 6964433 B2Abstract
A photo album is disclosed having a cover, a fastener threaded through the cover, and a reinforcement member positioned between the fastener and the cover. The reinforcement member is preferably made of plastic, and more preferably made of rigid plastic.
a front cover having a first flap, the first flap defining a first hole and a second hole spaced apart from the first hole; a back cover having a second flap, the second flap defining a first hole and a second hole spaced apart from the first hole; a first fastener configured to be threaded through the first hole of the first flap; a second fastener mateable with the first fastener configured to be threaded through the first hole in the second flap; a third fastener configured to be threaded through the second hole of the first flap; a fourth fastener mateable with the third fastener configured to be threaded through the second hole of the second flap; and a reinforcement member positioned between the first fastener and the first flap. 2. The album of claim 1 wherein the reinforcement member is positioned between the third fastener and the first flap.
3. The album of claim 2 comprising a second reinforcement member positioned between the second fastener and the second flap.
4. The album of claim 3 wherein the second reinforcement member is positioned between the fourth fastener and the second flap.
5. The album of claim 1 wherein the album is a photo album.
6. The album of claim 1 wherein the album is a memory book or the like.
7. An album, comprising:
a cover having a first hole; first and second fasteners, wherein said first and second fasteners are mateable with one another; at least one sheet positioned between said first and second fasteners, the sheet having a second hole, the second fastener being aligned with the second hole; and a reinforcement member positioned between he first fastener and the cover, the reinforcement member having a third hole; wherein the first fastener is inserted through the first hole, the second hole and the third hole. 8. An album, comprising:
a front cover having a first flap, the first flap defining a first flap hole; a back cover having a second flap, the second flap defining a second flap hole; a first fastener configured to be inserted through the first flap hole; a second fastener mateable with the first fastener and configured to be inserted through the second flap hole; and a reinforcement member positioned between the first fastener and the first flap. 9. The album of claim 8, further comprising a second reinforcement member positioned between the second fastener and the second flap.
The present invention relates generally to a reinforcement member, and more particularly, to a reinforcement member used in connection with albums, such as photo albums and memory books.
As shown in FIG. 1, photo album 100 is generally provided in book form, having a front cover 102, a back cover 104 and a number of sheets 106 therebetween, wherein each sheet of the photo album is configured to hold one or more photographs. Photo albums are typically adjustable to enable the user to add or remove sheets. FIG. 1 depicts a known manner of assembling the photo album to secure the front cover, the sheets and the back cover to each other to form a book.
As shown in FIG. 1, the front cover 102 includes a front flap 110 and the back cover 104 includes a back flap 112. A first fastener 114 is threaded through a hole 118 in the front flap 110, a second fastener 116 is threaded through a hole 120 in the back flap 112, and each fastener 114, 116 is also threaded through holes 108 in the album sheets 106. The first and second fasteners 114, 116 are preferably mateable and when fastened together, will hold the sheets 106 between the front and back covers 102, 104. In a known album, one of the fasteners is internally threaded and the other fastener is externally threaded in a manner that allows for the fasteners to be securely mated. Furthermore, in the known album, the fasteners are generally made of metal, the album sheets are made of a soft plastic, and the front and back covers, including the flaps, are made of cardboard.
Most people prefer to have a photo album that can last for years. Albums that contain cherished photographs are often passed on from one generation to another. Therefore, it is desirable to have an album that can last through the years, and sustain environmental conditions and wear caused by repeated use, without substantial deterioration.
The disadvantage of the known album, described above, is that through repeated use, the fasteners 114, 116 wear through the flaps 110, 112 of the front and back covers. Specifically, at the location where the fasteners contact the flaps, the fasteners begin to wear against the cardboard and make an indentation. Eventually, the holes 118, 120 in the flaps 110, 112 become misshapen. As the holes are worn, the fastener becomes less secure in the hole. At its worst, fasteners 114, 116 are no longer able to securely fasten the sheets 106 to the front and back covers 102, 104. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an improved photo album that minimizes the wear of the fastener on the flap.
The present invention is directed to an album having a cover, a fastener threaded through the cover, and a reinforcement member positioned between the fastener and the cover. The reinforcement member is preferably made of plastic, and more preferably made of rigid plastic.
FIG. 1 depicts a known album;
FIG. 2 depicts a preferred embodiment of the album of the present invention;
FIG. 3 depicts a preferred embodiment of the reinforcement member of the present invention as installed in an album cover; and
FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the reinforcement member of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 2, a preferred embodiment of the photo album 10 of the present invention includes a front cover 12, a back cover 14, and a plurality of photo holder sheets 16. The front cover 12 preferably includes a front flap 18 and a front flap cover 20. The back cover 14 preferably includes a back flap 22 and a back flap cover 24. The front cover 12, back cover 14 and sheets 16 each define holes 26 therein for receiving one or more fasteners.
To assemble the photo album, fasteners 28 are threaded through the holes in the front flap 18, back flap 22 and the sheets 16. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the fastener 28 has two parts. The first fastener part 28 a is internally threaded and the second fastener part 28 b is externally threaded. The threading of the first and second parts 28 a, 28 b is configured to enable the first and second part to securely mate when the threading is engaged. In a preferred embodiment, the first fastener part 28 a is threaded through one cover and the second fastener part 28 b is threaded through the other cover. When engaged, the fastener 28 holds the front cover 12, back cover 14 and any sheets 16 therebetween, together. The present invention should not be limited to the fasteners described herein. It is envisioned that any known fasteners that can hold the photo album sheets between a front cover and a back cover can be used.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a reinforcement member 30 is positioned between the fastener 28 and the flaps 18, 22 to prevent the fastener from damaging or deteriorating the flap. FIG. 2 shows a reinforcement member 30 positioned between the first fastener part 28 a and the front cover 12, and another reinforcement member 30 positioned between the second fastener part 28 b and the back cover 14. AS shown in FIG. 3, the reinforcement member 30 is preferably positioned flat against the inside surface 32 of either the front cover or the back cover. Holes 34 in the reinforcement member 30 are aligned with holes 26 in the flap and a fastener is threaded through the aligned holes. In the embodiment shown, the enforcement member 30, the photo sheets 16, and the covers 12, 14 all have two holes 34. However, according to the present invention, the enforcement member 30, the photo sheets 16, and the covers 12, 14 can have any number of holes. Furthermore, the enforcement member 30 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is a one-piece structure that is long enough to cover both holes in the cover flap and receive both fasteners. It is envisioned that the enforcement member 30 of the present invention can be in two or more pieces, wherein each piece is large enough to accommodate a single fastener.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the flaps 18, 22 are constructed of cardboard or other heavy paper material. The fasteners are typically metal. The positioning of the reinforcement member 30 between the flaps and the fasteners prevents deterioration caused by the fasteners' repeated contact with the flaps. The reinforcement member is preferably made of plastic and, more preferably, made of a rigid plastic. The material of the reinforcement member, however, is not limited to the materials described herein.
The thickness 36 of the reinforcement member 30 can vary depending on the weight and material of the fasteners and flaps. The reinforcement member should have sufficient thickness to protect the flap against deterioration and wear caused by the fasteners.
As shown in FIG. 2, the front flap cover 20 is pivotably connected to the front flap 18 and the back flap cover 24 is pivotably connected to the back flap 22. After the reinforcement member 30 and fastener 28 have been installed, the front flap cover 20 is folded in the direction F toward the front cover 12 to cover the reinforcement member and the fasteners from view. Similarly, back flap cover 24 is folded in the direction F toward the back cover 14 to cover the reinforcement member and the fasteners from view.
The embodiments described above are exemplary embodiments of a reinforcement member for a photo album. The invention is readily applicable to devices similar to photo albums, such as memory books and the like. For purposes of the claims, album shall include photo albums, memory books and the like. Those skilled in the art may now make numerous uses of, and departures from, the above-described embodiments without departing from the inventive concepts disclosed herein. Accordingly, the present invention is to be defined solely by the scope of the following claims.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS1293807 *Mar 30, 1918Feb 11, 1919Goes Lithographing CompanyLoose-leaf binder.US1561995 *Aug 4, 1921Nov 17, 1925Pearson William BBookbindingUS1819937 *Jul 28, 1930Aug 18, 1931Buford Williams CharlesTariff binderUS2526270 *Jun 29, 1946Oct 17, 1950Eva ClarkeBook bindingUS3251260 *Nov 4, 1963May 17, 1966Serdechny AlexanderAdjustable length fastenerUS4498828 *Oct 21, 1983Feb 12, 1985Economy Color Card Co., Inc.Sample book and method of making sameUS4930927 *Feb 15, 1989Jun 5, 1990Dumas Maurice RTamper-proof binder for photographs and the likeUS5158387 *Nov 15, 1991Oct 27, 1992Davies Alan FBinder constructionUS5674021 *Nov 8, 1996Oct 7, 1997Hutnick; MariaCover for holding transcript and exhibit pages and method of making sameUS5718530 *Dec 7, 1995Feb 17, 1998Tibbetts; Paul R.Binder assemblyUS5785445 *Aug 12, 1996Jul 28, 1998Avery Dennison CorporationRing binder coverUS6047990 *Aug 13, 1997Apr 11, 2000Post-Fax Inc.Report cover system with tuck closureUS6179332 *Jun 16, 1999Jan 30, 2001James D. FunkhouserCopy safe binderUS6361236 *Aug 7, 1997Mar 26, 2002Avery Dennison CorporationPaper storage item and method of making same* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS20130154248 *Sep 24, 2012Jun 20, 2013Mark KnudsenNotepads, assemblies incorporating the same, and associated methods of use* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification281/21.1, 281/15.1, 281/29, 402/70, D19/33, D19/26, D19/32International ClassificationB42F13/12, B42D1/08Cooperative ClassificationB42F13/12, B42D1/08European ClassificationB42F13/12, B42D1/08Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionMay 15, 2013FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8May 15, 2009FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Nov 6, 2003ASAssignmentOwner name: PIONEER PHOTO ALBUMS, INC., CALIFORNIAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:PLUTSKY, SHELDON;REEL/FRAME:014688/0031Effective date: 20031027RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services