Abstract: The present invention is directed to an item holding assembly that may include a binder and portfolio with one releasably attached to the other enabling quick and easy separation for use of one independent of the other. In a preferred embodiment, binder and portfolio panels can overlie one another, particularly when releasably engaged in a manner that releasably attaches them. A flap, such as part of the panel or the panel of one is received in a pocket formed in the panel of the other to facilitate and preferably provide releasable attachment.

Abstract: A binding cover having a transparent overlay cover disposed over and around the spine of the binding is configured to provide a label pocket on the spine portion of the binding cover wherein a label may be inserted easily without tools or rigid label material. In several embodiments the label pocket provides a fixed label space. In another embodiment the label pocket opens along the spine when the binding cover is opened, and returns to a closed position when closed, thereby retaining a label inserted therein. In another embodiment a method for forming the label pocket is provided.

Abstract: A cover (10) is disclosed for holding objects such as papers and reports. The cover (10) is formed of a member (20) having a front cover (22), a spine (24) and a back cover (26). A first portion (32) and a second portion (38) are folded over to encapsulate a prong fastener (12). The second portion (38) is then fastened to the back cover (26) with adhesive tape (58). The first and second portions (32, 38) can be part of a fastener assembly (70) having a third portion (72) that is secured to the inner surface (62) of the back cover (26). In a modification, a flap (128) can be hinged to the side of the back cover (126).

Abstract: A ring binder mechanism includes an elongate plate having a longitudinal axis. Hinge plates are supported by the plate for pivoting relative to the elongate plate. Ring members are mounted on the hinge plates and moveable between a closed position and an open position. A control structure is supported by the elongate plate and controllably pivots the hinge plates to move the ring members between the closed and open positions. The control structure has a travel bar connected to the hinge plates for moving the hinge plates between the closed and open positions. A spring biases the travel bar toward the closed position.

Abstract: A binder for releasably retaining loose-leaves. The binder has a front cover that lies flatly beneath its back cover when the binder is open 360 degrees. The rings of the binder can rotate around an edge of the flatly-folded cover to enable loose-leaves to lie flat above and below the cover. The binder also has a skeleton with a minimal cross-section spine which may be partially or completely embedded in a cover and rotates in relation to parallel front and back covers when the binder is open 360 degrees. The front cover, middle cover and back cover are connected in a way so that they do not interfere with the rotation of the rings. Mechanisms to open and close the rings of the skeleton to allow addition or removal of loose-leafs, and ring shapes to optimize or stabilize the capacity of the binder during operation are also disclosed.

Abstract: A display system includes a binder, a header, a retaining bracket and an extension assembly. The binder includes a plate, a plurality of sheets and an attachment assembly. The plate has a front surface, a rear surface and an edge. The attachment assembly secure the sheets at the front surface of the plate and maintains and displays information. The header includes indicia and is adapted to be positioned in a retracted position where the header is substantially obscured from view by the plate and an extended position where the header extends substantially from the edge of the plate. The retaining bracket is attached to the rear surface of the plate. The extension assembly is adapted to engage the retaining bracket to maintain the header in the extended position.

Abstract: An embedded recycled container sheet binder includes a front cover and a back cover, the front cover and the back cover being connected to one another for opening and closing, at least one of the front cover and the back cover being, at least in part, a plurality of flattened recycled containers embedded in a plastic base, and each of the plurality of flattened recycled containers being visibly recognizable. The plurality of flattened recycled containers is preferably embedded between a base substrate of plastic and a top layer of plastic. The base substrate is a recycled plastic base substrate selected from the group consisting of clear plastic, opaque plastic, colored plastic and combinations thereof. In some preferred embodiments, the embedded recycled container sheet binder the top layer is a recycled plastic selected from the group consisting of clear plastic, opaque plastic and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a binder assembly and an improved method for binding paper documents, particularly short run and full dress documents (SRFDD) that are widely used in numerous contexts, including competitive bidding and investment solicitation. The binder assembly comprises a slide for supporting the bound document, a cover for enclosing the document, and a binder for binding the document. The cover is flexible and printable with a width-adjustable spine portion for titling and identifying the bound document with indicia. The binding method provides for relatively rapid, yet flexible and inexpensive production of bound documents with professional appearance.

Abstract: A binder for releasably retaining loose-leaves. The binder has a front cover that lies flatly beneath its back cover when the binder is open 360 degrees. The rings of the binder can rotate around an edge of the flatly-folded cover to enable loose-leaves to lie flat above and below the cover. The binder also has a skeleton with a minimal cross-section spine which may be partially or completely embedded in a cover and rotates in relation to parallel front and back covers when the binder is open 360 degrees. The front cover, middle cover and back cover are connected in a way so that they do not interfere with the rotation of the rings. Mechanisms to open and close the rings of the skeleton to allow addition or removal of loose-leafs, and ring shapes to optimize or stabilize the capacity of the binder during operation are also disclosed.

Abstract: A binder for releasably retaining loose-leaves. The binder has a front cover that lies flatly beneath its back cover when the binder is open 360 degrees. The rings of the binder can rotate around an edge of the flatly-folded cover to enable loose-leaves to lie flat above and below the cover. The binder also has a skeleton with a minimal cross-section spine which may be partially or completely embedded in a cover and rotates in relation to parallel front and back covers when the binder is open 360 degrees. The front cover, middle cover and back cover are connected in a way so that they do not interfere with the rotation of the rings. Mechanisms to open and close the rings of the skeleton to allow addition or removal of loose-leafs, and ring shapes to optimize or stabilize the capacity of the binder during operation are also disclosed.

Abstract: A binder including a binder body including a front cover and a rear cover directly or indirectly pivotally coupled together, and a panel located on an outer surface of the binder body to thereby form a pocket between the panel and the binder body. The panel has a free edge located adjacent to a mouth of the pocket. The mouth faces an outer edge of the binder body, and the free edge of the panel is located a variable distance from the outer edge of the binder body along the length of the free edge such that the pocket has a variable width.

Abstract: An optical storage media management system and process for storing and organizing a relatively large collection of optical discs in the form of a display binder with a plurality of display sheets including associated indicia matching a positional identifier indicating the location of the disc. In one embodiment, the binder is used in conjunction with a table of contents indicating the position of individual optical discs in relation to the binder contents and a centralized database for storing optical disc information in a categorized format in cooperation with a computerized table of contents generator for generating the table of contents for the binder.

Abstract: A wrap-around notebook or binder includes a ring assembly with a shield and a pair of frames forming a bistable construction, and a hinge plate pivotally coupled to the shield with the outer surface of the hinge plate aligned with the outer extent of the shield/frame assembly when the hinge plate is parallel to the plane of the shield. The exposed frame member may be convex, recessed to receive rivet heads, and may be plated. The hinge plate(s) may have curls which interfit with alternate curls from the shield to provide a hinge. The ring assembly may be mounted in the notebook or binder so that the shield side of the ring assembly faces the front cover of the binder. The pivot line between the shield and the hinge plate may be spaced from the shield by a clearance distance. The notebook or binder lies flat on an underlying surface with either the front cover of the rear cover folded under the assembly.

Abstract: An optical storage media management system and process for storing and organizing a relatively large collection of optical discs in the form of a display binder with a plurality of display sheets including associated indicia matching a positional identifier indicating the location of the disc. In one embodiment, the binder is used in conjunction with a table of contents indicating the position of individual optical discs in relation to the binder contents and a centralized database for storing optical disc information in a categorized format in cooperation with a computerized table of contents generator for generating the table of contents for the binder.

Abstract: A ring binder notebook is described which utilizes readily openable and closable snap rings and one or more covers that, unlike standard ring binder notebooks, are not restricted to either a closed (0°) or a half-open (180°) position—but may be fully opened (360°) back to front. This flexibility, previously possible only with standard spiral bound notebooks, is now achieved while still retaining the ability to readily add, remove, or rearrange the contents of the notebook. A notebook ring assembly is also described. The ring assembly has a shell, a pair of back plates, and one or more sets of longitudinally aligned binder ring members. Each binder ring member attached to the first back plate is transversely aligned with an opposing binder ring member attached to the second back plate. Each binder ring member attached to the first back plate is attached so that it extends away from the upper surface of the first back plate.

Abstract: A document binder made from a single piece of cover material segmented by scores. The user folds the cover along the scores to front from and back panels hinged to a spine having an inward-folded tab. The tab is punched for page binding means such as a comb or spiral rings using conventional office equipment. The tab and binder rings are hidden from view when the cover is closed. In the preferred embodiment the spine is flat, allowing labelling thereon.

Abstract: A ring binder which is easy to grasp at the spine and is capable of accommodating a great number of loose-leaf sheet. According to one embodiment, such a ring binder comprises a stiffener assembly, the stiffener assembly having an interior surface and an exterior surface and comprising a front cover stiffener panel, a rear cover stiffener panel and a flexible backing. The front and rear cover stiffener panels are spaced apart from one another and are interconnected by the flexible backing, the stiffener assembly being devoid of any stiffeners disposed between the front and rear cover stiffener panels. An interior surface sheet, preferably of canvas material, is secured to the interior surface of the stiffener assembly, and an exterior surface sheet, preferably of canvas material, is secured to the exterior surface of the stiffener assembly. A ring assembly is secured to the rear cover stiffener panel.

Abstract: The improved notebook and notebook cover assembly of the present invention includes a notebook, preferably of a loose-leaf type, and a sub-assembly which includes front and rear notebook covers, an edge binder interconnecting the two covers and foldable back upon itself, and a notebook connector releasably interconnecting the notebook only to the covers. Due to the edge binder the covers are movable between a first position wherein the front cover overlies and protects the notebook and a second position wherein the front cover is behind and flat against the rear cover, thus fully exposing the notebook and supporting it in a flat position for easy viewing and writing therein. The edge binder can have a longitudinal fold line along the length of the center line of the central portion thereof, or can be divided along that center line into two halves joined together by a hinge, such as a piano hinge or a flexible strip of plastic, cloth, paper or rubber.

Abstract: A book binding comprises a hard cover and a plurality of wire elements connected to the hard cover. The hard cover includes a front side, a back side, and a backbone bridging the front and back sides. The back side includes a plurality of pairs of apertures located adjacent and generally parallel to the backbone. The back side further includes a hinge spaced slightly away from the backbone and extending from a top edge to a bottom edge of the back side. The hinge is positioned between the plurality of pairs of apertures such that one aperture in each of the pairs of apertures is located on one side of the hinge and the other aperture in each of the pairs of apertures is located on the other side of the hinge. Each of the wire elements engages an associated pair of the plurality of pairs of apertures such that an arc-like section of each of the wire elements is located adjacent an outer surface of the back side.

Abstract: The invention provides for "windowing" leafs of various types which retain their face and perimeter orientation when repositioned with respect to their host binder, including leafs with pluralities of surfaces, leafs with arrays of stacked repositionable notes, leafs with notepads, leafs with arrays of clips, and the like. The invention further provides for the binding of leafs which themselves may be electronic modules, each acting as a means for one of capturing, storing, accessing, displaying, and transmitting information in electronic form. Further, binding system cover is provided which offers a ring binding mechanism that is simple, light weight, and of a closed loop design available in various application specific shapes.

Abstract: The invention provides for "windowing" leafs of various types which retain their face and perimeter orientation when repositioned with respect to their host binder, including leafs with pluralities of surfaces, leafs with arrays of stacked repositionable notes, leafs with notepads, leafs with arrays of clips, and the like. The invention further provides for the binding of leafs which themselves may be electronic modules, each acting as a means for one of capturing, storing, accessing, displaying, and transmitting information in electronic form. Further, binding system cover is provided which offers a ring binding mechanism that is simple, light weight, and of a closed loop design available in various application specific shapes.

Abstract: A book cover hinge assembly is disclosed having two end connectors respectively fastened to two opposite open ends of an elongated casing to hold two opposite book covers, each end connector having two pins bilaterally disposed in the longitudinal direction and respectively inserted in pivot holes on the book covers, one end connector having a pen hole in line with a storage space defined within a channel plate inside the casing for inserting a pen.

Abstract: A binder having a rectangular stiffener board and a sheet retaining assembly. The stiffener board is provided in its first surface with at least three spaced parallel channels medially located between the side edges of the board. Each channel defines a hinge line extending along the height of the stiffener board. The sheet retaining assembly is mounted on the first surface of the board adjacent to the channels but outside the medial section of the board where the channels are located. The binder thus structured allows the stiffener board to define front and rear cover of the binder interconnected by the medial section which is foldable conformingly about the retaining assembly.

Abstract: A binder comprises front and rear rectangular cover panels, a sheet retaining assembly, and a spine sheet. The rear cover panel has a width between its first and second opposite side margins. The retaining assembly is mounted on the rear cover panel adjacent to the first side margin of the rear panel and extends along the first side margin. The front cover panel has a width between its first and second opposite side margins. The first side margin of the front panel is disposed parallel to the first side margin of the rear panel. The front panel is less in width than the rear panel, and the difference in width between the front and rear panels is greater than the transverse dimension of the sheet retaining assembly. The spine sheet extends between and foldably joined along fold lines to the first side margins of the front and rear panels, and has a width between the first side margins of the front and rear panels.

Abstract: A ring-type binder having a spine comprising inner and outer laminations of sheet material fixedly secured together in face-to-face relation, a ring-type binder element secured to the inner spine lamination by at least two (2) threaded fasteners extending through the inner spine lamination and through the binder element and secured in place by T-nuts, front and rear piano-type hinge elements secured to the front and rear edges of the spine inner lamination by through fastener elements, and front and rear covers fixedly secured to respective ones of the front and rear piano-type hinge elements by through fasteners, wherein the outer spine lamination is totally devoid of through fasteners and/or fastener openings and completely overlies and conceals the threaded fasteners used to secure the ring-type binder element and the through fasteners used to secure the front and rear hinge elements to the spine inner lamination.

Abstract: A ring separator has a pair of members disposed in a facing relationship, the members pivotable about a common axis. Each member has an arcuate channel with the channels aligned in a facing relationship to form a bearing passage. A bearing element is placed within the passage and is movable in an axial direction. Each channel has one or more directing grooves, which receive one or more projections mounted on the bearing. As the bearing element moves axially, the projections direct the members along an arcuate path to open and close the rings mounted thereon. Such a ring separator mechanism has few parts and is easily produced by extrusion or injection molding, thus, providing a ring separator of reduce cost and simple construction.

Abstract: A structure for the mounting seat of a paper-file hard cover. The mounting seat is substantially a narrow plates having screw hole and fastening plate being provided at the end thereof. The four corners of the plate are respectively provided with hollow tubular elements for the mounting of the hard cover which is firmly secured with tapered pegs. The paper-clipping structure is then mounted or fastened to the mounting seat by means of rivets of other fastening elements so that the mounting seat provides a structure for holding paper.

Abstract: A blank book attachment having a mark and sweep leaf with a fold out feature is provided. The leaf is pivotably retained along one edge on a frame, and the frame is pivotably retained at the binding spine of the host blank book. Pulling outward on the leaf causes the leaf to extend out and beyond the pages of the book allowing the pages to turn freely. When the leaf is placed within the host book, with the book open or closed, the leaf can be turned as a page, in which case it also acts as a mark to identify a specific position in the host book. Alternatively, the leaf may be pivoted on the frame to allow the host book pages to be turned past it in either direction.

Abstract: A binding device is disclosed, which comprises a fixture having at least two binding rods, a cover plate having means for engaging with ends of the binding rods and an elastically displaceable connection providing a plurality of divided elastic piece members for interconnecting the fixture with the cover plate at their longitudinal ends, wherein the fixture, the cover plate and the elastic connection are integrally and displaceably formed.

Abstract: An apparatus for pivotally connecting a binder to a support surface, to enable the binder to be moved between stored and accessed positions relative to the support surface. The apparatus is adapted to protect a book enclosed in the binder in stored position. The apparatus includes a link, secured to the support surface, and a yoke, pivotally interconnected between the binder and link. The yoke is adapted to press hingedly-mounted opposed covers of the binder together, upon movement to the stored position, so as to firmly enclose the book mounted in the binder, to effectively protect such book from damage thereto when so stored. The yoke is further adapted to enable pivoted movement of the binder, limited to prevent overtravel, for efficient access to the book mounted in the binder.

Abstract: A portable lectern comprising means for releasably a plurality of sheet members of paper or the like retaining and a base member configured and dimensioned for standing in a stable manner on a relatively flat surface. The base member comprises a generally planar section and means for supporting the sheet member retaining means in a predetermined position for viewing the sheet members to facilitate reading or lecturing therefrom. The supporting means are located on at least one side of one edge of the generally planar section. The base member is configured and dimensioned to be selectively removably combinable with the sheet member retaining means to facilitate portability of same for transport, storage, or the like.

Abstract: A loose-leaf binder for storing standard loose-leaf pages is described. The binder includes a cover comprising upper and lower cover members which are integrally formed by injection molding of a thermoplastic material. An inner surface of the lower cover member is integrally molded with a plurality of posts which receive and align the pages to be stored. In a preferred embodiment, the pages are retained by means of a plurality of arched members which are mounted on an axle that snap fits into a plurality of axle mounts molded with the inner surface of the lower cover member. The mounting means permit pivoting of the axle between a first position in which each of the arch members engages a corresponding post and a second position in which the arch members are removed from the posts.

Abstract: A portfolio with a ring or other type binder for securing visual display material uniformly while being carried or during visual display presentations. This box-like portfolio features a double hinged top which, when mobilized by use of its pull strap feature, activates its lid and its internal members, opening the portfolio to form a unique presentation easel which serves to produce an impressive prelude to any visual display presentation.

Abstract: A loose-leaf binder makes use of a hinged back comprising parallel hinge leaves pivotally attached to each other at adjacent edges. There is an interlock at one end consisting of resilient flanges normally interlocked in overlying relationship, but releasable by tilting one flange away from the other. Rings which extend through the holes in sheets of paper may be individually mounted in a retention track so that they can be varied as to spacing and also varied as to the number of rings made use of.

Abstract: A looseleaf binder-display stand comprising a plurality of hingedly connected panels with multiple fastener means attached thereto; said binder, when closed, may be carried in the manner of a satchel by a handle, said closed binder fashioned to include a panel component to separate an article folder or purse from a plurality of binder inserts attached therein; said looseleaf binder, when opened, may function as a notebook, study carrel, or bookstand; said binder reversely foldable and erectable into a display stand for insert sheets propped thereon.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for the housing and display of plane data carriers such as cards composed of a casing comprising a box 1 supporting, by means of an axis X-X' parallel to its base 2, a pivoting lid 4 whose inner face comprises a pivot 8 for stacking the cards 13 which can be displayed from a starting position of alignment defined by stop means 6. This system is applied to the housing and to the display of cards carrying didactic information.

Abstract: An improved rainshed binder is disclosed for protecting a book from environmental weather conditions. The binder has first and second covers each of which have rainshed protecting walls connected to inside surface side edges of the covers. An integral binder backbone connects the first and second covers. The backbone has a pair of linear polyethylene hinges positioned inwardly of outer rigid, non-flexible corners of the backbone. The backbone connects in integral manner with the first and second covers at the rigid corners. An attachment plate secures the book to be protected to the backbone between the flexible hinges. The rigid corners of the backbone are free to flex relative to the book attachment plate by the provision of the hinges. The binder is designed to hang downwardly in closed fashion when the book is not in use.

Abstract: A loose leaf binder comprising a backbone having two hinged halves and a flexible displaceable end portion, a flexible displaceable arm linkage mounted on said backbone so that the backbone end portion and linkage cooperate in engaging and disengaging relationship to form multiple positions of the binder including fully opened and fully closed. The binder is capable of being opened by applying opposing forces to the backbone halves and displacing forces to the arm linkage or by applying forces to the backbone halves alone.