Binder with magnetically retained pages

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6793251
  • Patent Number
    6,793,251
  • Date Filed
    Monday, July 22, 2002
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, September 21, 2004
    21 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Wellington; Andrea
    • Henderson; Mark
    Agents
    • Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell & Tummino L.L.P.
Abstract
A binder has a front cover and a back cover. A first page assembly for mounting in the binder includes a first magnet. A second page assembly for mounting in the binder in an overlying relationship with the first page assembly includes a second magnet for releasably attaching the second page assembly to the first page assembly in the binder. Each one of the page assemblies may include a magnet portion, a hinge portion, and a display portion, which may be all formed as one piece. The binder has a base member, made of a magnetic material, to which the magnets are attracted to mount the page assemblies in the binder.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Technical Field




The present invention relates to the binding of pages into a binder. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of magnets to hold pages together, for example, in a binder.




2. Description of the Prior Art




It is known to use one or more magnets to retain individual sheets or pages in a binder. For example, McGannon U.S. Pat. No. 3,145,326 shows a binder that includes permanent magnets fixed on the inside of the spine. Sheets to be stored in the binder each have secured to them projecting tabs made of a magnetic material. When the tabs are moved to a position adjacent to the spine, the tabs are attracted to the permanent magnets, to hold the sheets in place in the binder. Takahashi U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,503 shows a similar arrangement using electromagnet(s) on the spine or other part of the cover to hold in a plurality of individual sheets each of which has a magnetic material on its edge to be bound.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to the binding of pages into a binder. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of magnets to hold pages in a binder. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to apparatus comprising a binder having a front cover and a back cover; a first page assembly for mounting in the binder, including a first magnet; and a second page assembly for mounting in the binder in an overlying relationship with the first page assembly,. The second page assembly includes a second magnet for releasably attaching the second page assembly to the first page assembly in the binder. Each one of the page assemblies may include a magnet portion, a hinge portion, and a display portion, which may be all formed as one piece.




In another embodiment, the present invention relates to apparatus comprising a binder having a front cover and a back cover, and a plurality of page assemblies. Each one of the page assemblies has an inner side portion for mounting in the binder, each one of the inner side portions of the plurality of page assemblies including a respective magnet. The page assemblies are mountable in the binder with the magnets of the page assemblies disposed in a stacked relationship in the binder thereby to removably maintain the page assemblies in an overlying relationship in the binder. The binder includes means for securing the page assemblies in the binder.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The foregoing and other features of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon consideration of the following description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:





FIG. 1

is a front perspective view of a binder assembly in accordance with the present invention, shown in a closed condition;





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of the binder assembly of

FIG. 1

shown in an open condition with one page assembly overlying the front cover and a plurality of page assemblies overlying the back cover;





FIG. 3

is a bottom elevational view of the binder assembly of

FIG. 1

shown in the open condition;





FIG. 4

is a sectional view, partially broken away, of a first embodiment of a page assembly in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 5

is a sectional view of a second embodiment of a page assembly in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 6

is an enlarged view of a portion of

FIG. 3

showing the magnet portions of the page assemblies in a stacked relationship;





FIG. 7

is a schematic view of a portion of the binder of

FIG. 1

showing one alternative method of securing a base member in the binder assembly;





FIG. 8

is a view similar to

FIG. 7

showing another alternative method of securing a base member in the binder assembly;





FIG. 9

is a sectional view, partially broken away, of a third embodiment of a page assembly in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 10

is a sectional view, partially broken away, of a fourth embodiment of a page assembly in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 11

is a sectional view, partially broken away, of a fifth embodiment of a page assembly in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 12

is a schematic view showing a clip that may be used to help maintain page assemblies in a binder;





FIG. 13

is a schematic view showing another clip that may be used to help maintain page assemblies in a binder;





FIG. 14

is an unassembled view of a binder and page assemblies in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention;





FIG. 15

is an assembled view of the binder and page assemblies of

FIG. 14

;





FIG. 16

is an assembled view of a binder and page assemblies in accordance with a still further embodiment of the invention; and





FIG. 17

is a view of a plurality of page assemblies shown in use without a binder.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to the binding of pages into a binder. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of magnets to hold pages together, for example, in a binder or cover. (As used herein, the terms “magnet”, “magnetizable material”, and “magnetic material” are given their common meanings, which are understood to be as follows. “Magnet” means a body that provides a magnetic field; a body that possess the property of attracting magnetic materials. “Magnetizable material” means a material that can be magnetized (by the magnetic field from another magnet) thereby to become a magnet—for example, iron. “Magnetic material” means a material that is attracted to a magnet, but that does not itself provide a magnetic field.)




As representative of the present invention,

FIGS. 1-3

illustrate an apparatus in the form of a binder assembly


10


constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. The binder assembly


10


is used for displaying sheets of display material


12


. The binder assembly


10


includes a binder


20


, and a plurality of page assemblies


40


mounted in the binder.




The binder


20


(

FIGS. 1-3

) includes a cover


22


and a base member


24


. The cover


22


is shown as being a one-piece plastic construction including a front cover


26


, a back cover


28


, and a spine


30


located between the front cover and the back cover. The cover


22


could be made from other materials, and could have a different construction and/or configuration than those shown and described herein.




The cover


22


is scored at


32


between the front cover


26


and the spine


30


, and at


34


between the spine


30


and the back cover


20


, to provide for predetermined areas of hinging (bending) for opening the cover. An additional score line


36


is provided in the back cover


28


, near the spine


30


.




The base member


24


is located on a portion


38


of the back cover


28


, near the spine


30


, between the score lines


34


and


36


. The base member


24


extends for substantially the full height of the cover


22


, from top to bottom. The base member


24


is a member that is attracted to a magnet. The base member


24


therefore could be a member made of a magnetic material, or could be another magnet. The base member is secured to the cover


22


in a manner described below. It should be understood that the present invention is applicable also to binders that do not include a base member—that is, binder assemblies that include page assemblies magnetically attracted to each other but not to the cover.





FIG. 4

illustrates one type of page assembly


40


that is usable in the present invention. Alternative types of page assemblies are described below. The page assembly


40


includes a magnet portion


42


, a hinge portion


44


, and a display portion


46


.




The page assembly


40


is preferably formed as single unitary one piece. More preferably, the page assembly


40


is formed from a moldable plastic material


48


that has the following characteristics: flexibility, strength to hold the display material


12


over repeated flexings, cost efficiency, and design aesthetics. One suitable material for the page assembly is extruded or molded vinyl.




The magnet portion


42


of the page assembly


40


has a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration, as can be seen in FIG.


4


. The magnet portion


42


has a bar-shaped or strip-shaped configuration extending the length (from top to bottom as viewed in

FIG. 1

) of the page assembly


40


.




The magnet portion


42


has parallel, flat upper and lower major side surfaces


43


and


45


, and parallel, flat inner and outer minor side surfaces


47


and


49


. The length and width of the magnet portion


42


are similar to the length and width of the base member


24


of the binder


20


. In one embodiment, the magnet portion


42


has a dimension of about one-half inch in width, and about one-sixty-fourth inch in thickness. The magnet portion


42


could be wider or narrower, and could be thicker or thinner. The magnet portion


42


is preferably as thin as possible while still providing the needed magnetic strength.




The magnet portion


42


of the page assembly


40


includes a magnet


52


embedded in the plastic body material


48


of the magnet portion


42


. The magnet


52


as shown in

FIG. 4

is a plurality of magnetic pieces, or particles. The magnet


52


may, as shown in

FIG. 5

, alternatively be a single magnetic piece, such as a strip magnet. Such a magnet may be purchased from McMaster-Carr company, online at mcmaster.com, “flexible magnetic stripping”. The magnet


52


, whether in powder form or in solid form, is preferably embedded during the process of forming of the plastic body


48


by molding, for example, by injection molding.




The hinge portion


44


of the page assembly


40


in the illustrated embodiment is formed as a sheet or tab that extends outward from the outer side surface


49


of the magnet portion


42


. The hinge portion


44


(

FIG. 44

) has parallel upper and lower major side surfaces


56


and


58


, and in the illustrated embodiment is thinner than the magnet portion


42


. Preferably they are the same thickness.




The hinge portion


44


preferably includes a predetermined weakened portion


60


for encouraging hinging of the page assembly


40


at a predetermined location. In the illustrated embodiment, the predetermined weakened portion


60


is formed by a score line that is spaced apart from the magnet portion


42


. The width of the hinge portion


44


and the spacing of the score line


60


are selected so that the page assemblies


40


can lie flat or substantially flat on either the front cover


26


or the back cover


28


, as described below. The hinge portion could include a predetermined weakened portion formed in another manner. A hinge portion made from fabric would not need a predetermined weakened portion.




The display portion


46


of the page assembly


40


is formed as an outwardly extending (away from the magnet portion


42


) continuation of the hinge portion


44


of the page assembly. The display portion


46


is designed to support the display material


12


. This can be done in different ways. One embodiment is illustrated in FIG.


4


. Other types of display portions may be provided.




In the embodiment illustrated in

FIG. 4

, the display portion


46


includes two spaced apart layers


64


and


66


that together define a pocket


68


for receiving the display material


12


—like a sheet protector. The pocket


68


(

FIG. 2

) has an open top edge


70


, a bottom edge


72


, and an outer side edge


74


. The pocket


68


may be, for example, sized to accommodate an 8.5×11 inch display item, or could be substantially larger, for example up to 16×20 inches or more. The display material


12


could be a photograph, for example.




The magnet portion


42


of the page assembly


40


is designed so that the magnetic field provided by the magnet


52


is strong enough to hold the page assembly


40


in position on the binder


20


. Specifically, the magnetic field provided by the magnet


52


is strong enough to attract the base member


24


and thereby releasably attach (magnetically) the page assembly


40


to the binder


20


. When the magnet portion


42


of the page assembly


40


is placed on or in a position overlying the base member


24


, as shown in

FIG. 6

, the magnet


52


of the page assembly


40


attracts the base member


24


. The magnetic attraction is strong enough to clamp, or releasably attach, the magnet portion


42


to the base member


24


. As a result, the entire page assembly


40


is releasably attached to the binder


20


. The page assembly


40


may be removed from the binder


20


by separating the magnet portion


42


of the page assembly from the binder cover


22


, breaking the magnetic attraction that holds the pieces together.




As noted above, the binder


20


is designed to hold or mount a plurality of page assemblies


40


in the binder. Such an arrangement is shown in

FIGS. 1-3

and


6


. In these drawings, there are shown the binder


20


and the page assembly


40


. There are also shown three additional page assemblies


40




a


,


40




b


and


40




c


that are identical or similar to the page assembly


40


. The page assemblies


40




a


-


40




c


are mounted in the binder


20


with their magnet portions


42




a


-


42




c


disposed in a stacked relationship on the magnet portion


42


of the page assembly


40


and thereby over the base member


24


. The magnet portions


42




a


-


42




c


of the three page assemblies


40




a


-


40




c


, and the magnet portion


42


of the page assembly


40


, all magnetically attract each other and hold the four page assemblies


40


,


40




a


,


40




b


and


40




c


together as a group. The magnetic attraction between the magnet portion


42


of the one page assembly


40


and the base member


24


, holds the stack of four page assemblies


40


-


40




c


in the binder


20


. As a result, all four page assemblies


40


-


40




c


are releasably attached, or removably maintained, in the binder


20


.




When the binder assembly


10


is opened to view some of the display materials


12


in the page assemblies


40


, the front cover


26


is laid open (to the left as viewed in FIG.


3


). The cover


22


bends at the score line


32


between the front cover


26


and the spine


30


to allow the front cover to lie open or flat on the underlying support surface


70


. The cover


22


also bends at the score line


34


between the spine


30


and the back cover


26


. In addition, the cover


22


bends at the score line in the back cover


36


. The score line


36


is preferably underneath the hinge portions


44


-


44




c


of the page assemblies


44


. Together these features enable the spine


30


to lift off the support surface


70


between the spine and the back cover


26


. The stack of magnet portions


42


tips up off the surface


70


. This enables the back cover


28


to lie substantially horizontal for good viewing. The width of the magnet portions


42


-


42




c


, the location of the score lines


60


-


60




c


, and the locations of the score lines


33


,


34


and


36


are all selected together to enable this to occur.




When the page assemblies


40


-


40




c


are in the binder


20


, they may be flipped or pivoted between front and back to enable viewing of individual page assemblies. As this occurs, the page assemblies


40


-


40




c


bend at their hinge portions


44


-


44




c


. The magnet portions


42


-


42




c


themselves do not flip over, but instead stay in position stacked on the back cover


26


.




In one alternative construction, the binder


20


can be made partially or completely from a magnetic material, such as metal. In this case, a separate base member


24


may be unnecessary.




The base member


24


can be mounted to the cover


20


in various ways. In the embodiment shown in

FIGS. 1-7

, and discussed above, the base member


24


is a magnet or metal strip that is glued or otherwise adhered to the cover


20


. The base member


24


may be embedded in (molded with or bonded into) the cover


20


, as shown, or surface mounted. In the embodiment shown in

FIG. 8

, the base member


24


is a metal strip (or magnet) that is riveted or otherwise secured to the cover


20


with fasteners


72


, such as rivets.




As noted above, alternative types of page assemblies are usable in the present invention. The alternative types of page assemblies may have a different construction for the magnet portion, for the hinge portion, and/or for the display portion.




One alternative type of page assembly


80


is shown in FIG.


9


. The page assembly


80


may be used when it is desired that the display material


12


be open (exposed) on both sides, rather than received in a pocket as with the page assembly


40


(FIG.


4


).




This page assembly


80


includes a hinge portion


82


, or hinge, that is made from a strong, flexible sheet material, such as the material


48


of the page assembly


40


. On a first section


84


of the hinge


82


there is mounted a magnet


86


. The magnet


86


may be similar in construction to the strip magnet


52


discussed above with reference to FIG.


5


. The magnet


86


is adhered by glue or adhesive


88


to the first section


84


of the hinge


82


, rather than being embedded as in FIG.


5


.




The hinge


82


has a predetermined weakened portion in the form of a score line


90


for guiding the hinge to bend at that location. On the opposite side of the score line


90


from the magnet


86


is a display portion


92


of the hinge


82


. The display portion


92


is a width of the material of the hinge


82


that is wide enough to support the display material


12


.




The hinge


82


includes an adhesive


94


that may be covered by a release paper


96


. Removal of the release paper


96


enables display material


12


to be adhesively secured to the hinge


82


by movement in a direction as indicated by the arrows


98


. This page assembly


80


has the advantage of being small in dimension, easily attached to display material


12


, and open in the area of the display material. The hinge


82


could have adhesive on both sides, as an alternative.




Another alternative type of page assembly


100


is shown partially in FIG.


10


. In this page assembly


100


, the magnet portion includes a magnet


102


that is self-adhered as by molding of the material of the hinge member


106


to a section


104


of the hinge member.





FIG. 11

shows a magnet portion


42




e


that can be used with any of the page assemblies of the present invention, especially those with an exposed magnet. In the magnet portion


42




e


(FIG.


11


), a magnet


52




e


is located on one side of the sheet material


110


of the hinge


112


. A metal strip


114


made of a magnetic material is located on the other side, with the sheet material


110


of the hinge


112


sandwiched between them. The metal strip


114


serves to provide a more decorative appearance to the one side of the magnet portion


42




e


of the page assembly. In addition, the metal strip


114


provides a magnetic material to which a magnet portion of an adjacent page assembly can be attracted. Because the metal strip


114


is a magnetic material rather than a magnet itself, it does not have strong poles. Therefore, a magnet portion of an adjacent page assembly can, in some cases, be aligned more precisely with the metal strip


114


, as compared to alignment with another magnet.




A binder assembly in accordance with the present invention may optionally include a device to help hold the magnet portions of the page assembly to the binder. As one example,

FIG. 12

is a section through the binder assembly


10


, taken through the magnet portions


42


in a direction looking toward the spine


30


. The top of the binder assembly


10


is to the right as viewed in

FIG. 12

, and the bottom of the binder assembly is to the left as viewed in FIG.


12


.




The binder assembly


10


includes a clip


120


. The clip


120


in the illustrated embodiment is a plastic member having a width approximately the same as that of the magnet portions


42


, but could be made from metal. The clip


120


has a generally C-shaped configuration as seen in FIG.


12


. The clip


120


includes a first end portion


122


, a second end portion


124


, and a central portion


126


that extends between and interconnects the first and second end portions.




The back cover


26


includes two slots


128


and


130


adjacent the ends of the stack of magnet portions


42


. The first end portion


122


of the clip


120


extends through the slot


128


in the back cover


28


. A first terminal end portion


132


of the clip


120


clamps against the back cover


28


, at a location between the two slots


128


and


130


.




The second end portion


124


of the clip


120


is a mirror image of the first end portion


122


. The second end portion


124


extends through the other slot


130


in the back cover


28


. A second terminal end portion


134


of the clip


120


clamps against the back cover


28


, at a location between the two slots


128


and


130


.




The clip


120


is made from a resilient material that enables it to be bent along its central portion


126


so that the end portions


122


and


124


may be lifted into the slots


128


and


130


. When the clip


120


is installed as shown in

FIG. 12

, it applies a clamping force (upward and downward as viewed in

FIG. 12

) that tends to hold the magnet portions


42


of the page assemblies


40


tight against the back cover


28


.





FIG. 13

illustrates an alternative clip design. The clip


140


is mounted in a manner not shown on the back cover


142


of a binder


144


. The clip


140


has a C-shaped configuration as viewed in cross-section in

FIG. 13

, including a base


146


and two legs


148


and


150


. The clip is preferably made from a resilient material, such as spring steel, so that the legs


148


and


150


clamp on a plurality of page assemblies


40


.





FIGS. 14 and 15

illustrate a binder assembly


152


that is a further embodiment of the invention, which includes additional lateral positioning support for page assemblies. Specifically, the binder assembly


152


includes a binder


154


and a plurality of page assemblies


156


. The page assemblies


156


are similar to those shown above at


40


, with the exception that each one additionally has a slot


158


through its magnet portion


42


.




The binder


154


includes a bar


162


that projects upward from the back cover, over the base member


164


. The page assemblies


156


fit over the bar


162


which extends through the slots


158


. The bar


162


limits movement of the page assemblies


156


relative to the binder


160


. This is exemplary of the concept of providing additional lateral positioning support for the page assemblies.




Another example of providing additional lateral positioning support for the page assemblies is shown in FIG.


16


.

FIG. 16

shows a binder assembly


170


that is similar to the one shown in FIG.


1


. Additionally, the binder assembly


170


of

FIG. 16

includes a post binding system


172


of a known type. Each one of the magnet portions


42


of the page assemblies


40


has one or more openings for receiving an equal number of posts


176


of a known configuration. The posts


176


limit movement of the page assemblies


40


relative to the cover, thereby providing additional lateral positioning support for the page assemblies.





FIG. 17

illustrates a stack of page assemblies


40


that is usable without a separate binder. Each one of the page assemblies


40


includes a magnet portion


42


, a hinge portion


44


, and a display portion


46


. The upper and lower page assemblies


180


and


182


may be thicker, as shown, to serve as covers. As a result, a binder may not be needed, as the stack of page assemblies


40


forms a functional unit on its own.




From the above description of the invention, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications in the invention. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. Apparatus comprising:a binder having a front cover and a back cover; a first page assembly for mounting in said binder, said first page assembly formed as a single unitary piece including a first sheet having a first surface connected to a first magnet; a second page assembly for mounting in said binder in an overlying relationship with said first page assembly, said second page assembly formed as a single unitary piece including a second sheet connected to a second magnet, for releasably attaching said second page assembly to said first page assembly in said first page assembly further includes a metal strip connected oppositely adjacent to said first surface of said first sheet, for magnetic attraction by said second magnet of said second page assembly for releasably attaching said second page assembly to said first page assembly.
  • 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second magnets are magnetically attracted to each other thereby to form a stack in which said second page assembly is releasably attached to said first page assembly.
  • 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including a plurality of page assemblies in addition to said first and second page assemblies, each additional page assembly including a respective magnet, said first and second magnets and said magnets of said additional page assemblies together forming said stack.
  • 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said binder includes a base member to which said stack is magnetically attracted thereby to mount said first and second page assemblies in said binder.
  • 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein in which said base member is a magnet.
  • 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said base member is not a magnet but is made from a magnetic material.
  • 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said binder includes a base member of magnetic material to which said stack is magnetically attracted thereby to mount said first and second page assemblies and said plurality of additional page assemblies in said binder.
  • 8. Apparatus comprising:a binder having a front cover and back cover; a first page assembly for mounting in said binder, including a first magnet, said first page assembly includes a magnet portion in which said first magnet is disposed, a hinge portion, and a display portion, said magnet portion, hinge portion, and display portion all being formed as one single unitary piece; said hinge portion being disposed between said magnet portion and said display portion, and a second page assembly for mounting in said binder in an overlying relationship with said first page assembly, said second page assembly including a second magnet for releasably attaching said second page assembly to said first page assembly in said binder.
  • 9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first and second magnets are magnetically attracted to each other thereby to form a stack in which said second page assembly is releasably attached to said first page assembly.
  • 10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said binder includes a base member to which said stack is magnetically attracted thereby to mount said first and second page assemblies in said binder.
  • 11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 further including a plurality of page assemblies in addition to said first and second page assemblies, each additional page assembly including a respective magnet, said first and second magnets and said magnets of said additional page assemblies together forming said stack.
  • 12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein each one of said first and second page assemblies ha a respective inner side portion for connection with said binder and respective opposite outer side portion, said first and second magnets being located on said inner side portions of said page assembiles when said first and second page assemblies are mounted in said binder.
  • 13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first page assembly is made from a flexible plastic material, and said magnet portion includes a magnet embedded in or adheared to a first portion of said flexible plastic material, said hinge portion includes a sheet-form second portion of said plastic material, and said display portion includes a third portion of said flexible plastic material that is adapted to secure a display item on said page assembly in said binder, said hinge portion enabling pivotal movement of said display portion relative to said magnet portion and relative to said binder to move said display item between a postion overlying said back cover and a position overlying said front cover.
  • 14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said magnet portion comprises a strip magnet or bar magnet.
  • 15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said magnet portion comprises a plurality of magnet pieces embedded in a plastic material.
  • 16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said magnet portion comprises a strip magnet or bar magnet adhered to a plastic material, said plastic material also forming said hinge portion of said page assembly.
  • 17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 further including means connected with said page assemblies for providing additional lateral support for said page assemblies in said binder.
  • 18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein in which said base member is a magnet.
  • 19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said base member is not a magnet but is made from a magnetic material.
  • 20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said binder includes a base member of magnetic material to which said stack is magnetically attracted thereby to mount said first and second page assemblies and said plurality of additional page assemblies in said binder.
  • 21. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said hinge portion of said first page assembly includes a predetermined weakened portion at which said hinge portion is bendable to enable pivotal movement of said display portion.
  • 22. Apparatus comprising:a binder having a front cover and a back cover; a plurality of page assemblies, each one of said page assemblies having an inner side portion for mounting in said binder, each one of said inner side portions of said plurality of page assemblies including a respective magnet; said page assemblies being mountable in said binder with said magnets of said page assemblies disposed in a stacked relationship in said binder thereby to removably maintain said page assemblies in an overlying relationship in said binder; each one of said page assemblies includes a magnet portion, a hinge portion, and a display portion; and said binder including means for securing said page assemblies in said binder.
  • 23. Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein said means for securing comprises a base member to which said stack of magnets is attracted to secure said page assemblies in said binder.
  • 24. Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein said each one of said page assemblies is made from flexible material, each one of said magnet portions including a magnet embedded in or adhered to said a first portion of said flexible material, each one of said hinge portions including a sheet-form second portion of said flexible material, each one of said display portions including a third portion of said flexible material that is adapted to secure a display item on said page assembly in said binder, said hinge portions enabling pivotal movement of said display portions relative to said magnet portions and to said binder to flip said display items between a position overlying said back cover and a position overlying said front cover.
  • 25. Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein said hinge portion of said first page assembly includes a predetermined weakened portion at which said hinge portion is bendable to enable pivotal movement of said display portion.
  • 26. Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein said magnet portion comprises a magnet embedded in and fully enclosed by plastic material.
  • 27. An apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein said hinge portion of each said page assemblies includes a weakened portion which is bendable to enable pivotal movement of said display portion of each of said page assemblies relative to said magnet portion of each of said page assemblies.
  • 28. An apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein each of said page assemblies further includes a metal strip which is magnetically attracted by said magnet portion of an adjacent page assembly.
  • 29. An apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein said magnet portion, hinge portion, and display portion of each of said page assemblies are all formed as one piece.
  • 30. An apparatus as set forth in claim 22 further including means connected with said page assemblies for providing lateral support for said page assemblies in said binder.
  • 31. An apparatus a set forth in claim 22 wherein said magnet portion of each of said page assemblies includes an opening which extends through said magnet portion, said binder includes a support which is connected with said binder and extends through the openings in said magnet portions to stabilize said page assemblies in said binder.
  • 32. Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 wherein said base member is a magnet or a strip of magnetic material.
  • 33. An apparatus comprising:a first page assembly including a first magnet; said first page assembly includes a magnet portion, a hinge portion, and a display portion, all formed as one single unitary piece; said hinge portion being disposed between said magnet portion and said display portion. a second page assembly for placement in a overlying relationship with said first page assembly, said second page assembly including a second magnet for releasably attaching said second page assembly to said first page assembly.
  • 34. Apparatus as set forth in claim 33 wherein said first and second magnets are magnetically attracted to each other thereby to form a stack in which said second page assembly is releasably attached to said first page assembly.
  • 35. Apparatus as set forth in claim 33 wherein each one of said first and second page assemblies has a respective inner side portion for connection with a binder and respective opposite outer side portion, said first and second magnets being located on said inner side portions of said page assemblies when said first and second page assemblies are mounted in said binder.
  • 36. Apparatus as set forth in claim 33 wherein said first page assembly includes a metal strip adjacent said first magnet for magnetic attraction by said second magnet of said second page assembly for releasably attaching said second page assembly to said first page assembly.
  • 37. Apparatus as set forth in claim 33 wherein said second page assembly includes a magnet portion, a hinge portion, and a display portion, all formed as one piece.
  • 38. Apparatus as set forth in claim 33 wherein said first page assembly is made from flexible plastic material, and said magnet portion includes a magnet embedded in or adhered to a first portion of said flexible plastic material, said hinge portion includes a sheet-form second portion of said flexible plastic material, and said display portion includes a third portion of said flexible plastic material that is adapted to secure a display item on said page assembly in a binder, said hinge portion enabling pivotal movement of said display portion relative to said magnet portion and relative to said binder to move said display item between a position overlying a back cover of said binder and a position overlying a front cover of said binder.
  • 39. Apparatus as set forth in claim 33 wherein said hinge portion of said first page assembly includes a predetermined weakened portion at which said hinge portion is bendable to enable pivotal movement of said display portion.
  • 40. Apparatus as set forth in claim 33 wherein said magnet portion comprises a strip magnet or bar magnet.
  • 41. Apparatus as set forth in claim 33 wherein said magnet portion comprises a plurality of magnet pieces embedded in and completely enclosed by a plastic material.
  • 42. Apparatus as set forth in claim 33 wherein said magnet portion comprises a strip magnet or bar magnet adheared to a plastic material, said plastic material also forming said hinge portion of said first page assembly.
  • 43. Apparatus as set forth in claim 33 further including means connected with said page assemblies for providing additional lateral support for said page assemblies in said binder.
  • 44. An apparatus as set forth in claim 33 further including means for securing said first and second page assemblies in a binder.
  • 45. Apparatus as set forth in claim 34 wherein said binder includes a base member to which said stack is magnetically attracted thereby to mount said first and second page assemblies in said binder.
  • 46. Apparatus as set forth in claim 34 further including a plurality of page assemblies in addition to said first and second page assemblies, each additional page assembly including a respective magnet, said first and second magnets and said magnets of said additional page assemblies together forming said stack.
  • 47. Apparatus as set forth in claim 45 wherein in which said base member is a magnet.
  • 48. Apparatus as set forth in claim 45 wherein said base member is not a magnet but is made from a magnetic material.
  • 49. Apparatus as set forth in claim 46 wherein said binder includes a base member of magnetic material to which said stack is magnetically attracted thereby to mount said first and second page assembleis and said plurality of additional page assemblies in a binder.
  • 50. Apparatus as set forth in claim 44 wherein said means for securing comprises a base member to which said stack of magnets is attracted to secure said page assemblies in said binder.
  • 51. Apparatus as set forth in claim 50 wherein said base member is a magnet or a strip of magnetic material.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Number Name Date Kind
3145326 McGannon Aug 1964 A
3751839 Mitchell Aug 1973 A
4466639 Finnegan Aug 1984 A
5328206 Scott Jul 1994 A
5709409 Engel Jan 1998 A
5820383 Levins Oct 1998 A
6273660 Ozgen et al. Aug 2001 B1
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number Date Country
774664 May 1957 FR
1182480 Feb 1970 FR
631466 Nov 1949 GB
03153397 Jul 1991 JP