Abstract: A binder, such as a three ring binder, is provided with a read/write panel on the front cover of the binder and with a stylus mounted onto the binder. The read/write panel may be inset into the cover of the binder, or it may constitute substantially the entire front cover of the binder, or it may be inserted into a transparent pocket on the front cover of the binder. The read/write panel includes inner and outer sheets with material between the sheets forming an image upon appliction of a stylus. In one embodiment the inner sheet may be coated with a waxy material; and in another embodiment magnetic particles in a viscous medium are employed. For the magnetic embodiment, the eraser may be of a broad area permanent magnet type which may be brought into engagement with the entire magnetizable panel; or a smaller linear permanently magnetized eraser may be employed. The binder preferably is a full size binder for 8 ½×11 inch or A-4 size sheets of paper.

Abstract: A binder, such as a three ring binder, is provided with a magnetizable panel on the front cover of the binder and with a stylus and a permanent magnet erasing device mounted onto the binder. The magnetizable panel may be inset into the cover of the binder, or it may constitute substantially the entire front cover of the binder, or it may be inserted into a transparent pocket on the front cover of the binder. The eraser may be of a broad area permanent magnet type which may be brought into engagement with the entire magnetizable panel; or a smaller linear permanently magnetized eraser may be employed.

Abstract: A ring binder and method of making the same. According to a preferred embodiment, the ring binder comprises a front cover stiffening member, a spine stiffening member and a rear cover stiffening member, all of which are appropriately positioned between a matching pair of woven sheets. The woven sheets are made of a synthetic fiber or thread that is ultrasonically weldable. Examples of materials that may be suitable for use as the synthetic fiber or thread include polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, orlon, rayon and combinations thereof. The woven sheets are ultrasonically welded together around their respective peripheries and on opposite sides of the spine stiffening member to define, together with the three stiffening members, a front cover, a spine and a rear cover. The binder further includes a paper-retaining ring mechanism, which is secured to the spine or to one of the front and rear covers.

Abstract: A method of making a cover comprising a pair of welded thermoplastic polymer sheets having therebetween a stiffener. A stiffener is provided such that the stiffener has a leading edge, a trailing edge, and two side edges. A pair of thermoplastic polymer sheets are positioned on opposite sides of the stiffener. The thermoplastic polymer sheets each have two side edges substantially parallel to the side edges of the stiffener. The thermoplastic polymer sheets are ultrasonically welded around the periphery of the stiffener. The polymer sheets are cut to form a leading edge and trailing edge which are substantially parallel to the leading edge and trailing edge of the stiffener. The thermoplastic polymer is typically selected from the group consisting of polypropylene and a copolymer of ethylene or butene and propylene, the weight percent of ethylene or butene being between about 1 wt. % to about 10 wt.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a sheet protector for holding a paper document comprises a sheet of transparent material, such as plastic, which is folded over on itself about a vertical fold line to form a front panel and a rear panel. The front and rear panels are identical in size and shape and each include a top edge, a bottom edge, a right side edge and a left side edge, the vertical fold line defining the right side edge of the front panel and the left side edge of the rear panel. The front and bottom panels are secured together along their bottom edges by a horizontal weld line. The top and bottom panels are additionally secured together at a location in close proximity the side edges opposite the vertical fold line by a first vertical weld line. Together the vertical fold line, the horizontal weld line and the first vertical weld line define a generally rectangular shaped pocket between the front and rear panels into which the paper document can be inserted.

Abstract: A cover folder having a binder and a cover. The binder includes an elongated channel shaped member having a pair of oppositely facing side walls and a pair of ribs, the side walls converging at a slit and defining an interior slot along the length of the elongated channel shaped member. Each rib protrudes into the slot from the interior side of one of the side walls in a direction away from the slit and at an acute angle with the side wall from which it protrudes. The cover is slidably and removably mounted in the binder and includes a sheet and an elongated strip, the sheet being folded to form a pair of cover sheets having a common folded edge. The elongated strip has a lock portion and a securing portion.

Abstract: A carton for use in the shipping and display of a plurality of articles comprises a single-piece blank cut and scored to include a top panel, a right side panel, bottom panel and a left side panel foldably connected together to form a box-shaped configuration with an open front and an open back. The blank also includes four front flaps, one front flap being foldably connected to each of the panels so as to close the open front of the carton when folded. The blank further includes four back flaps, one back flap being foldably connected to each of the panels so as to close the open back of the carton when folded. Formed in the left side panel and in the front flap connected to the left side panel is a first perforated tear line. Formed in the right side panel and in the front flap connected to the right side panel is a second perforated tear line. First and second perforated tear lines enable the carton to be severed along the tear lines to covert the carton for display of the plurality of articles.

Abstract: A ring binder cover (4) is composed of a pair of thermoplastic sheets (20, 22) superimposed in edge-to-edge relation with a stiffener insert panel (23) disposed therebetween. The insert panel bears two parallel grooves (25, 27) which divide the insert into a spine zone (30) and two cover zones (24, 26). The material of the insert lying at the bottom of the grooves forms a pair of webs (32, 34) which, combined with the adjacent portions of the cover sheets, form hinges between the spine and each cover. The peripheral edge portions (40) of the two thermoplastic sheets are sealed together and provide a sealed envelope for the stiffener insert which defines semi-rigid back and front cover panels of the binder, hingedly connected to a rigid spine.

Abstract: A ring binder cover (4) is composed of a pair of themoplastic sheets (20, 22) superimposed in edge-to-edge relation with a stiffener insert panel (23) disposed therebetween. The insert panel bears two parallel grooves (25, 27) which divide the insert into a spine zone (30) and two cover zones (24, 26). The material of the insert lying at the bottom of the grooves forms a pair of flexible strips (32, 34) which, combined with the adjacent portions of the cover sheets, form hinges between the spine and each cover. The peripheral edge portions (40) of the two thermoplastic sheets are sealed together and provide a sealed envelope for the stiffener insert which defines semi-rigid back and front cover panels of the binder, hingedly connected to a rigid spine. The insert can be provided with insert notches (370, 470, 570) at each end of each flexible strip to reduce outward protuberance of the peripheral edge at the hinge ends.

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: A sheet of writing paper which is white, but which has been colored, or tinted to a pastel color by printing on its surface with a strippable or chemically removable ink. The surface printing with ink allows the paper to have a desirable tinted color, but allows the color to be easily removed so that the paper can be relatively easily recycled and reused without the normal problems associated with recycling of vat-dyed tinted papers. The surface printing can be accomplished by printing a random spotted pattern on the paper to provide for the perception of tinting. The invention allows the printed pattern to have a random-toned effect or allows the visual incorporation of words or symbols which would very subtly appear, macroscopically, in the tinting pattern.

Abstract: This invention is a binding case for use in an office-type, small-volume, binding operation employing the hot-melt adhesive binding method. The invention is a design and method which cause the excess hot-melt adhesive which expresses laterally from each side of the adhesive strip to be directed in such a way that the excess adhesive does not adhesively bind the book block to the front or rear cover and does not bring about the destruction in appearance or functionality which such undesirable binding would cause. The invention involves a diverting element which forms a channel for the excess adhesive so that the excess adhesive does not bind the book block directly or functionally to the covers.

Abstract: A locking loose-leaf binder mechanism which has a curved housing retaining two hookplates, to which binder rings are attached. A control slide attached to each end of the housing includes one or two cam surfaces to engage the hookplates. In an embodiment incorporating two cam surfaces, one cam surface locks the binder rings in a closed position when the slides are fully retracted into the coverplate, and a second cam surface similarly locks the rings when the slides are fully extended from the coverplate. When the slides are neither fully extended nor retracted, the cam surfaces are in a neutral position and the rings may be opened. In further embodiments of the invention, a single cam surface may be employed, either to lock the rings when the slides are fully extended, or fully retracted. Each control slide end further includes a specially formed hanger tab to suspend the binder on a file-frame when the control slides are fully extended.

Abstract: A two-ply cover for a writing tablet is formed by a unitary die-cut blank of sheet material having an inner panel and an outer panel folded approximately along a medial fold line and sealed at their outer edges to form a pocket therebetween. The inner edge portions of the two cover panels are adhesively bonded to the back, upper edge portion of the tablet. The bonded edge portion of the outer panel corresponds to the width of the cover while the bonded edge portion of the inner panel consists of a tab substantially narrower than the cover. The tab and a fractional part of the outer panel's bonded edge portion are superposed with an adhesiver interface between the back of the writing tablet and the inner surface of the tab and the edge portions of the outer panel that are not coextensive with the tab.

Abstract: Loose-leaf binder cover has a unitary web of thermoplastic sheet material wrapped about and adhesively bonded to the opposite surfaces of a plurality of stiffener panel inserts with the longitudinal side edge of the sheet material being overlapped. The panels include a back panel and a pair of rectangular cover panels laterally spaced apart, one from the others. The upper and lower edges of the binder consist of portions of the sheet material turned over the edges of the panel inserts. The other edge portions of the sheet material disposed about the inserts are welded together to fully encase the panel inserts within the sheet material. At locations between adjacent inserts, opposed portions of the sheet material are also welded together to provide hinge lines for the binder between the back panel and cover panels thereof. The method of manufacturing the above described loose-leaf binder cover is also disclosed.

Abstract: A loose leaf presentation folder which has an outer cover with front and rear panels pivotable about a hinge line and an inner binder strip, which may either be a discrete component or part of the cover, includes a pair of narrow panels pivotable about a fold line. If discrete, the strip is affixed within the outer cover with its fold line superimposed on the hinge line of the cover. The opposed outer edge portions of the binder strip are provided with a plurality of transversely-spaced, metallic tabs. The binder strip and the tabs, disposed along one edge thereof, are each provided with a hole therethrough and along the other edge of the binder strip, each of the tabs includes elongated prongs which are bendable to fit through the hole in the opposite edge of the binder strip.

Abstract: Improved spiral bound notebook and folder construction is disclosed which is formed from an integral blank of flexible sheet material. The folder includes a pair of hingedly interconnected opposed cover panels, a pocket-forming panel hingedly connected along an edge of one of the cover panels and a closure flap hingedly extending from the outer edge of the other cover panel. The pocket forming panel includes one edge portion which is adapted to be folded in superposed relation along one side of the hinge line which interconnects the two cover panels. The folder also includes another flap portion which overlays the other side of the hinge line. The folder is punched to provide wire holes on opposite sides of said hinge line through the cover panels, superposed edge portion of the pocket forming panel and the other flap portion of the folder.

Abstract: Loose leaf folder having back and front cover panels and ring binder forming strips integral therewith for releasably fastening loose leaf sheets within the folder. The binder forming strips are struck from the back cover panel and include barbed tips. Retaining cutouts are provided in the front cover opposite the binder strips to register therewith. The barbed end of each strip is engageable with the cutouts to hold said strips in ring-like configuration for fastening hole punched loose leaf sheets within the folder.