Abstract: A notebook including a front cover, a rear cover pivotally joined to the front cover by a binding mechanism, and a retaining mechanism for maintaining the front and rear covers in a closed position wherein the front and rear covers are oriented generally parallel to each other. The retaining mechanism includes an elastic component coupled to at least one of the front or rear covers and having a pair of spaced apart loop portions, each of the loop portions being shaped to fit around a corner of each of the front and rear covers to maintain the covers in the closed position.

Abstract: A binding wrapper including a first generally stiff end component, a second generally stiff end component spaced apart from the first end component, and a connecting component extending between the first and second end components. The connecting component includes at least a portion of elastic material, and the first and second end components are releasably attachable together such that the wrapper is formable into a closed loop.