Patent Application
20050157486
The invention pertains to the general field of notebook binders and more particularly to a notebook binder having on its front cover indicia that is illuminated and controlled by a binder-integral electronic control circuit.
The use of paper binders, such as three-hole notebooks, has long been a standard practice for students as well as individuals in industrial/commercial establishments. Current notebooks are typically dimensioned to hold and easily remove paper that is loosely held in place by two or three “C”, “D” or “slant” rings or other edge binding devices.
The instant invention, in addition to having a similar basic structure and utility of the current notebooks also has:
1. A plurality of compartments, pockets and pencil/pen retaining loops located on the inner surface of the front and/or back covers.
2. A closure flap that extends across the open ends of the notebook. The flap, which can be easily opened or closed by means of a zipper, secures and safeguards the contents of the notebook.
3. Indicia in the form of a fanciful image or logo that can be illuminated by a set of LEDs. The LEDs are manually energized by a user-controlled switch that is connected to a binder-integral electronic control circuit that further controls the operation of the switch and the LEDs.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any literature or patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention. However, the following U.S. patents are considered related:
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,566 discloses a notebook reinforcing device consisting of two flat, rectangular, pre-slotted, backing boards with the anterior backing board containing six receiving strips (hooks). The hooks are affixed in a parallel manner, with an equal number located above and below the centerline. The posterior backing board contains between two and six binding straps. One end of the binding strap is permanently affixed to the posterior backing board, with an equal number affixed above and below the centerline, and affixed to the hooks attached to the anterior backing board.
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,237 discloses a notebook binder with an integral book band for holding sheets of paper, loose books or other objects affixed to the interior and exterior faces of a cover of the notebook binder. The objects are held against the cover of the notebook binder by the use of an adjustable strap which encircles the objects with two loops that are substantially perpendicular to one another.
The U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,483 discloses a blow-molded notebook binder that provides protection from mechanical shock and abuse. When antistatic and/or conductive agents are blended into the polymeric material to make up the parison for the notebook binder, protection from electrostatic discharge is also provided.
The illuminated notebook binder in its basic design configuration is comprised of a front and back cover with each cover having an outer surface, an inner surface, an outer end, an inner end, an upper edge and a lower edge. The inner end of the front and back covers are interconnected by an integral, seamless spine that adds to the structural integrity and the aesthetics of the binder. Adjacent the lower or upper corner of the front cover is located indicia that can be illuminated at selectable times.
The illuminated binder is preferably comprised of a three-ring binder having on the inner surface of the front and/or rear covers a set of pencil and pen retaining loops and a plurality of compartments and pockets that can be utilized to hold various items. One of the pockets is transparent and is dimensioned to safely and visibly hold a CD or a DVD. The binder is also designed to incorporate a notebook closure flap that commences on one end of the spine and continues across the upper edges, the outer ends, the lower edges and terminates on the opposite end of the spine. The closure flap is easily opened and closed by a combination hook and loop fastener or preferably by a zipper.
The indicia is preferably comprised of a solid central image that can consist of various geometric figures or fanciful images such as a heart. From the border of the central image extends outward a progression of sequential lines that resemble the central image. The central and outward-progressing lines are made of plastic and include an edge that is attached to a light-transfer ribbon that is edge-lighted by a set of LEDs. The LEDs are activated and controlled by an electronic control circuit that is packaged in an enclosure located on the corner of the inner surface of the front cover opposite the indicia.
The electronic control circuit, which is comprised of a single integrated circuit such as a HOLTEK HT-2884 or a REALTEK RTS951, integrates all the necessary elements to activate and control the operation of the set of LEDs. The electronic control circuit can be designed with two pushbutton switches, each of which is accessible from the enclosure located on the inner surface of the front cover. When the first switch is pressed, the LEDs automatically illuminate in a selectable sequence. The second switch allows the LEDs to illuminate one LED at a time each time the second switch is pressed.
In view of the above disclosure, the primary object of the invention is to produce an illuminated notebook binder that is attractive, has added utility by adding to the binder's inner surfaces a plurality of compartments, pockets and pencil/pen retaining loops and that includes on its front cover indicia that can be selectively illuminated by an end user.
In addition to the primary object of the invention, it is also an object of the invention to produce a notebook binder having illuminated indicia that:
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings
The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of a preferred embodiment for an illuminated notebook binder 10 (hereinafter “INB 10”). The preferred embodiment, as shown in
The front cover 12 and the rear cover 14, as shown in
The three-ring binder 32, as shown best in
The indicia 50, which can consist of a variety of plastic images, is located on the front cover 12 of the IMB 10, preferably at a corner bordered by the lower edge 26 and the outer end 20, as shown in
Alternatively, as shown in
The electronic control circuit 66 is placed in an enclosure 64, as shown in
The HOLTEK HT-2884 includes an automatic power-off feature that shuts-off the power to the set of LEDs after a pre-selected time has elapsed.
The INB 10 can also be designed to include an optional sound circuit 70 that is connected to Pin 10 of the HOLTEK HT-2884, as shown by broken lines in
While the invention has been described in complete detail and pictorially shown in the accompanying drawings it is not to be limited to such details, since many changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and the scope thereof. For example, in lieu of the HOLTEK HT-2884, a REALTEK RTS 951 integrated circuit can be utilized that allows the use of eight LEDs. Additionally, a light source consisting of electroluminescent panel(s) ELP could also be used. Hence, it is described to cover any and all modifications and forms, which may come within the language and cope of the claims.
