Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6793251
-
Patent Number
6,793,251
-
Date Filed
Monday, July 22, 200223 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, September 21, 200421 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Wellington; Andrea
- Henderson; Mark
Agents
- Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell & Tummino L.L.P.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 281 2
- 281 DIG 1
- 281 5
- 281 151
- 281 211
- 281 30
- 281 45
- 281 51
- 402 503
- 402 79
- 434 73
- 434 168
- 434 190
- 273 239
- 040 1244
- 040 600
- 040 12404
- 024 503
- 283 82
-
International Classifications
-
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)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
| Number |
Date |
Country |
| 774664 |
May 1957 |
FR |
| 1182480 |
Feb 1970 |
FR |
| 631466 |
Nov 1949 |
GB |
| 03153397 |
Jul 1991 |
JP |