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US 9,346,312 B2Granted
Binder with reinforced spine
AssigneeACCO Brands Corporation
InventorsEdward P. Busam, Michael D. Rowe, James C. Matchett, Keith D. McGoldrick, Jason M. Kramer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bound component including a first panel and a second panel pivotally coupled together along a hinge. Each panel includes an outer covering and a substrate positioned in the outer covering, wherein the outer covering of the first panel is directly coupled to the outer covering of the second panel to form the hinge. The substrates of the first and second panels are not directly coupled together. The bound component further includes a reinforcement extending over or forming at least part of the hinge.
Claims25
A bound component comprising:
- a first panel and a second panel pivotally coupled together along a hinge, wherein each panel includes an outer covering and a substrate positioned in the outer covering, wherein the outer covering of the first panel is directly coupled to the outer covering of the second panel to form the hinge, and wherein the substrates of the first and second panels are not directly coupled together;
- and
- a one-piece reinforcement extending over or forming at least part of the hinge, wherein the one-piece reinforcement is a separate and discrete piece of material from each outer covering and each substrate, and wherein the reinforcement includes a first portion directly coupled to the first panel and a second portion directly coupled to the second panel, wherein the first and second panels each include a free edge positioned generally perpendicular to the hinge, an inner surface and an outer surface, and wherein the reinforcement extends from the inner surface of at least one of said panels, over the free edge of the at least one panel, to the outer surface of the at least one panel, and wherein said reinforcement is an outer-most component of said bound component.
A bound component comprising:
- a first panel and a second panel pivotally coupled together along a hinge, the first panel and the second panel each having a height dimension extending parallel to the hinge and a free edge positioned generally perpendicular to the hinge, wherein the first and second panels each further include an inner surface and an outer surface;
- and
- a one-piece reinforcement coupled to the first and second panels, the one-piece reinforcement extending over or forming at least part of the hinge, the reinforcement extending for less than an entire length of the free edge of at least one of the panels and extending in a direction parallel to the hinge less than the associated height dimension, wherein the reinforcement extends from an inner surface of each panel, over the free edge, to the outer surface of the associated panel, and wherein said reinforcement is an outer-most component of said bound component.
A bound component comprising:
- a first panel and a second panel pivotally coupled together along a hinge, wherein each panel includes an outer covering and a substrate positioned in the outer covering, wherein the outer covering of the first panel is directly coupled to the outer covering of the second panel to form the hinge, and wherein the substrates of the first and second panels are not directly coupled together;
- and
- a one-piece reinforcement extending over or forming at least part of the hinge, wherein the one-piece reinforcement is a separate and discrete piece of material from each outer covering and each substrate, and wherein the reinforcement includes a first portion directly coupled to the first panel and a second portion directly coupled to the second panel, wherein the first and second panels each include a free edge positioned generally perpendicular to the hinge, an inner surface and an outer surface, and wherein the reinforcement extends from the inner surface of at least one of said panels, over the free edge of the at least one panel, to the outer surface of the at least one panel, and wherein said reinforcement is directly coupled to an outer surface of said outer covering of said first and second panels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.