Snap on device for hardcover ring binder
OwnerRalph D. Thomasinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The snap on device having a U-shaped support with a spacer bar secured down the channel of the U-shaped support and a tension strip secured to the spacer bar and substantially filling the channel creates a device capable of being snapped onto a hard cover ring binder and equalizing the thickness of the binder from its spine to its opening side.
Claims20
A device to be removably attached to an openable side of a ring binder, said ring binder having two covers and a spine with a paperlock secured to said spine, said device having sufficient length to protect material contained within said ring binder and said device having sufficient width to render said covers substantially flat with said ring binder in a closed configuration to thereby simplify storing of said ring binder wherein:
- a. said device includes a U-shaped support having a channel as an interior portion thereof;
- b. a spacer means is secured within said channel to form a first binder cover channel and a second binder cover channel within said channel;
- and
- c. a flexible binder contact means is secured to said spacer means within said channel and is capable of flexibly contacting each cover of said binder and cooperating with said U-shaped support to render said ring binder flat in the closed configuration and protect said material in said binder.
In a ring binder, said ring binder including a binder spine, a paperlock secured to said binder spine, a first binder cover movably secured to said binder spine at one side of said paperlock, a second binder cover oppositely disposed from first binder cover and movably secured to said binder spine at an opposing side of said paperlock, said second binder cover combining with said first binder cover combine to form a binder opening, said binder opening being oppositely disposed from said binder spine and encasing paperlock within said ring binder, the improvement comprising:
- a device having sufficient length to protect material contained within said ring binder and having sufficient width to render said ring binder substantially flat to thereby simplify storing of said ring binder in a closed configuration wherein:
- a. said device includes a U-shaped support having a channel as an interior portion thereof;
- b. a spacer means is secured within said channel to form a first binder cover channel and a second binder cover channel wthin said channel;
- and
- c. a flexible binder contact means is secured to said spacer means, said contact means contacting said first binder cover and said second binder cover at said opening to thereby render said binder flat and protect contents of said binder.
In a ring binder, said ring binder including a binder spine, a paperlock secured to said binder spine, a first binder cover movably secured to said binder spine at one side of said paperlock, a second binder cover oppositely disposed from first binder cover and movably secured to said binder spine at an opposing side of said paperlock, said second binder cover combining with said first binder cover combine to form a binder opening, said binder opening being oppositely disposed from said binder spine and encasing paperlock within said ring binder, the improvement comprising:
- an adjustable device having sufficient length to protect material contained within said ring binder and having sufficient width to render said ring binder substantially flat to thereby simplify storing of said ring binder in a closed configuration wherein:
- a. said device includes a split U-shaped support having a channel as an interior portion thereof;
- b. a split spacer means is secured within said channel to form a first binder cover channel and a second binder cover channel within said channel;
- and
- c. a split flexible binder contact means is secured to said spacer means, said contact means contacting said first binder cover and said binder cover at said opening to thereby render said binder flat and protect contents of said binder.
In a ring binder, said ring binder including a binder spine, a paperlock secured to said binder spine, a first binder cover movably secured to said binder spine at one side of said paperlock, a second binder cover oppositely disposed from first binder cover and movably secured to said binder spine at an opposing side of said paperlock, said second binder cover combining with said first binder cover combine to form a binder opening, said binder opening being oppositely disposed from said binder spine and encasing paperlock within said ring binder, the improvement comprising:
- a footed device having sufficient length to protect material contained within said ring binder and sufficient width to render said ring binder substantially flat in closed configurations to thereby simplify storing of said ring binder wherein:
- a. said footed device includes a U-shaped base, said U-shaped base having a channel;
- b. a pair of footers secured within and running the length of said channel of said U-shaped base;
- c. a first base support lip and a second base support lip are part of said U-shaped base;
- d. said first base support lip is parallel to and oppositely disposed from said second base support lip;
- e. said footers include a pair of unitary footers within said U-shaped base comprised of a first unitary footer and a second unitary footer;
- f. said first unitary footer is adjacent and parallel to said first base lip;
- g. said second unitary footer is adjacent and parallel to said second base lip;
- h. said first unitary footer and said second unitary footer are symmetrical and generally L-shaped;
- i. said first unitary, L-shaped footer has a first leg of said L-shape parallel and adjacent to said first base lip;
- j. said second unitary, L-shaped footer has a second leg of said L-shape parallel and adjacent to said second base lip;
- k. a first flange secured to said first leg and substantially perpendicular to said first base lip;
- and
- l. a second flange secured to said second leg and substantially perpendicular to said second base lip.
In a ring binder, said ring binder including a binder spine, a paperlock secured to said binder spine, a first binder cover movably secured to said binder spine at one side of said paperlock, a second binder cover oppositely disposed from first binder cover and movably secured to said binder spine at an opposing side of said paperlock, said second binder cover combining with said first binder cover combine to form a binder opening, said binder opening being oppositely disposed from said binder spine and encasing paperlock within said ring binder, the improvement comprising:
- a footed device having sufficient length to protect material contained within said ring binder and sufficient width to render said ring binder substantially flat in closed configurations to thereby simplify storing of said ring binder wherein:
- a. said footed device includes a U-shaped base, said U-shaped base having a channel;
- b. a pair of footers secured within and running the length of said channel of said U-shaped base;
- c. a first base support lip and a second base support lip are part of said U-shaped base;
- d. said first base support lip is parallel to and oppositely disposed from said second base support lip;
- e. said footers include a pair of slotted footers within and running the length of said channel of said U-shaped base;
- f. said slotted footers have an enlarged, knobbed end with a knobbed slot;
- g. a flexible bar is secured in each of said knobbed slots to contact said binder;
- and
- h. said slotted footers are secured to said knobbed support at a knob base, said knob base being oppositely disposed from said knobbed end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.