REPOSITIONABLE NOTEBOOK ACCESSORIES |
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申请号 | US12910401 | 申请日 | 2010-10-22 | 公开(公告)号 | US20120098246A1 | 公开(公告)日 | 2012-04-26 |
申请人 | Yangyi He; Irene Wong; Paul Lukason; | 发明人 | Yangyi He; Irene Wong; Paul Lukason; | ||||
摘要 | Embodiments are directed to repositionable notebook accessories and methods of using such accessories in connection with a notebook. The repositionable notebook accessory comprises a panel and at least one hook feature configured and arranged to couple the panel to a spine of a notebook when the at least one hook feature is at least partially disposed within the spine. The repositionable notebook accessory may comprise, for example, a divider, a folder and/or an adhesive flag holder. | ||||||
权利要求 | What is claimed is: |
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说明书全文 | The invention is generally directed to repositionable accessories (e.g., dividers, folders and adhesive flag holders) for bound items (e.g., notebooks) and methods of using the same. Notebooks are commonly used by students, professionals, hobbyists, and other individuals to record information such as notes and other writings or sketches. To improve their functionality, accessories such as section dividers and folders have been integrated into such notebooks. These accessories are bound to the notebook in the same manner as the paper of the notebooks. While binding accessories in this manner provides a secure retention mechanism for the accessories, the user is restricted to a single configuration of the accessories, which may not accord with a desired use of the notebook. Applicants have appreciated that conventional notebooks and the like may be improved by allowing more flexibility with respect to accessories, such as dividers and folders. In particular, Applicants have appreciated that it is desirable to allow users to customize a notebook by selecting the type, number and/or position of accessories. In view of the foregoing, inventive embodiments disclosed herein may relate to accessories that are configured to be added to, removed from and/or repositioned within a notebook, such as a conventional lined paper notebook or other bound item, such as an organizer, planner or artist pad. Examples of such accessories include dividers, folders and adhesive flag holders. One embodiment is directed to a repositionable notebook accessory comprising a panel and at least one hook feature. The panel comprises a plurality of edges including an attachment edge. Each hook feature comprises a spine attachment portion and a connecting portion that couples the spine attachment portion to the attachment edge of the panel. The at least one hook feature is configured and arranged to couple the panel to a spine of a notebook when the spine attachment feature of each hook feature is longitudinally disposed within the spine. Another embodiment is directed to a method of using a repositionable notebook accessory in connection with a notebook comprising a spine. The accessory comprises a panel and at least one hook feature coupled to the panel. The method comprises introducing at least a portion of the at least one hook feature into the spine of the notebook at a first location within the notebook so as to couple the accessory to the notebook at the first location. A further embodiment is directed to a repositionable notebook accessory comprising a panel and at least one hook feature configured and arranged to couple the panel to a spine of a notebook when the at least one hook feature is at least partially disposed within the spine. The repositionable notebook accessory is selected from the group consisting of (1) a divider comprising a tab feature coupled to the panel, (2) an adhesive flag holder comprising a stack of adhesive flags coupled to the panel, and (3) a folder comprising at least one additional panel coupled to the panel, wherein the at least one additional panel is constructed and arranged to form at least one pocket between the panel and the at least one additional panel. Following below are more detailed descriptions of various concepts related to, and embodiments of, repositionable notebook accessories and methods of using such accessories. It should be appreciated that various concepts introduced above and discussed in greater detail below may be implemented in any of numerous ways, as the disclosed concepts are not limited to any particular manner of implementation. Examples of specific implementations and applications are provided primarily for illustrative purposes. Existing notebooks are sold with particular accessories, such as dividers and folders, bound at fixed locations within the notebook. The placement, number and type of such accessories may not accord with a desired use of the notebook. Accordingly, there is a need for notebook accessories having greater flexibility of use. In particular, it is desirable to enable notebook accessories to be easily added to, removed from and/or repositioned within a notebook. In addition, it is desirable to enable notebook accessories to be used with different notebooks of the same type or different types. The notebook accessories of embodiments described herein may advantageously exhibit one or more of these features according to some implementations. The panel 3 may have a sheet-like configuration, with a small distance separating its front surface 11 and rear surface 13. For example, the panel 3 may be planar or substantially planar and have a width no greater than 1.00 mm (0.04 in), though other dimensions and configurations are possible. According to one exemplary implementation, the panel 3 is configured to be resiliently flexible. For example, the panel 3 may be composed of a thermoplastic polymer, such as polypropylene, and may be formed by extruding the desired panel shape from a larger sheet of material. Of course, the panel is not limited to any particular material., and other materials, such as paper, may alternatively be used. According to one exemplary implementation, the panel 3 may be sized to approximate the shape and/or dimensions of notebook paper or covers. For example, the panel 3 may be rectangular or substantially rectangular, and have a width dimension of approximately 21.59 cm (8.50 in) and a height dimension of approximately 27.94 cm (11.00 in). Other shapes and dimensions of the panel are also possible. For example, the panel 3 may be semi-circular, triangular, include less than or more than four main edges, and/or include one or more curved edges rather than straight edges. The panel 3 may have any suitable size, and need not correspond in size to a notebook with which it is used. The tab feature 7 comprises a protrusion that allows a user to quickly identify and turn to the beginning of a section demarcated by the divider. The tab feature 7 may optionally include a label region 15 to allow a user to identify the subject or topic of a section, for example by writing or typing in the region. The label region 15 may be adhered or otherwise fastened to the tab feature or may be unitarily formed with the tab feature 7. In It should be appreciated that the tab configuration of The repositionable notebook attachment feature 5 comprises a reinforcement portion 17 ( The reinforcement portion 17 comprises a strip of material, such as polypropylene, that is coupled to the rear surface 13 of the panel 3. The reinforcement portion 17 is optional, and serves to structurally reinforce the panel 3 in the region adjacent the attachment edge 9a. In the example of According to one exemplary implementation, the reinforcement portion 17 may have the same or approximately the same length as the attachment edge 9a of the panel 3. For example, both the attachment edge 9a and the reinforcement portion 17 may be approximately 27.94 cm (11.00 in) long. The width of the reinforcement portion 17 may by approximately 1.50 cm (0.59 in). These dimensions are merely exemplary, as other dimensions may also allow for suitable reinforcement of the panel 3. The first and second hook features 19a and 19b respectively comprise first and second spine attachment portions 23a and 23b and first and second connecting portions 25a and 25b that couple the spine attachment portions to the attachment edge 9a of the panel 3. The first and second hook features 19a and 19b are configured and arranged to couple the panel 3 to a spine of a notebook, such as the notebook described in connection with In the example of According to one exemplary implementation, the first and second spine attachment portions 23a and 23b each have a length greater than or equal to approximately 1.30 cm (0.51 in). The first and second spine attachment portions 23a and 23b may each have a width greater than or equal to approximately 0.50 cm (0.20 in) or 0.60 cm (0.24 in). The first and second connecting portions 25a and 25b may each have a width less than or equal to approximately 1.00 cm (0.39 in) or 0.70 cm (0.28 in). According to one implementation, the first and spine attachment portions 23a and 23b have a length of 1.50 cm (0.59 in), a width of 0.65 cm (0.26 in), and a thickness of 0.80 mm (0.03 in), and the first and second connecting portions 25a and 25b have a width of 0.57 cm (0.22 in) and a thickness of 0.80 mm (0.03 in), or approximations thereof, though such dimensions are merely exemplary and any suitable dimensions may be used. While Other shapes for the first and second hook features 19a and 19b are also possible. For example, the first and second spine attachment portions 23a and 23b may be, at least in part, non-parallel to the attachment edge 9a. According to one exemplary implementation, the first and/or second spine attachment portion may comprise a portion extending parallel to the top and bottom edges 9c and 9d, in a direction away from the panel 3, such that the first and/or second spine attachment portion exits the spine of a notebook to which the divider 1 is coupled in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the spine. As another example, the first and second spine attachment portions 23a and 23b may be curved and at least substantially non-parallel to the attachment edge 9a. As yet another example, the first and second hook features 19a and 19b may be non-planar and/or may engage with individual coils of a spine. Similar to the panel 3, the first and second hook features 19a and 19b and/or the reinforcement portion 17 of the repositionable notebook attachment feature 5 may have a sheet-like configuration. For example, the first and second hook features 19a and 19b and/or the reinforcement portion 17 may be planar or substantially planar and have a width no greater than 1.00 mm (0.04 in), though other dimensions and configurations are possible. According to one exemplary implementation, the first and second hook features 19a and 19b and/or the reinforcement portion 17 are configured to be resiliently flexible. For example, the first and second hook features 19a and 19b and/or the reinforcement portion 17 may be composed of a thermoplastic polymer, such as polypropylene. The repositionable notebook attachment feature 5 may be formed by extruding the desired panel shape from a larger sheet of material, such as polypropylene. Of course, the first and second hook features 19a and 19b and the reinforcement portion 17 are not limited to any particular material, and other materials, such as paper, may alternatively be used. Having described an exemplary embodiment of a repositionable divider 1 that may be used in connection with a notebook, an exemplary use of such a divider will now be described. In The divider 1 may be rotatable with respect to the spine 33, as illustrated in The second panel 51 may be coupled to the first panel 47 by a weld or other attachment mechanism or may be unitarily formed with the first panel. As discussed herein, the term “coupled to” and variations thereof is intended to encompass not only scenarios in which an attachment mechanism such as a weld, adhesive or fastener is used, but also scenarios in which coupled features are portions of a unitary article. In the example of The second panel 51 is coupled to the third panel 53 by flaps 64a and 64b, which are welded to the third panel via welds 65a and 65b, respectively. In the example of The folder 45 may be coupled to and decoupled from a notebook in the same manner as the divider 1 discussed herein, enabling the folder 45 to be positioned at various locations with respect to the notebook. For example, the folder 45 may be positioned between pages of a notebook, in front of the front cover of a notebook, or behind the back cover of a notebook. Illustratively, Similar to the other panels discussed herein, the panel 75 may have a sheet-like configuration, with a small distance separating its front surface 81 and rear surface 83. For example, the panel 75 may be planar or substantially planar and have a width no greater than 1.00 mm (0.04 in), though other dimensions and configurations are possible. According to one implementation, the panel 75 has a length of 19.05 cm (7.50 in), a width of 5.08 cm (2.00 in), and a thickness of 0.80 mm (0.03 in), though such dimensions are merely exemplary and any suitable dimensions may be used. The first and second hook features 77a and 77b are coupled to an attachment edge 85 of the panel 75. Similar to the other hook features described herein, the first and second hook features 77a and 77b respectively comprise first and second spine attachment portions 87a and 87b and first and second connecting portions 89a and 89b that couple the spine attachment portions to the attachment edge 85. The hook features 77a and 77b are configured and arranged to couple the panel 75 to a spine of a notebook, such as the notebooks described herein, when the spine attachment feature of each hook feature is longitudinally disposed within the spine. In the example of According to one exemplary implementation, the first and second spine attachment portions 87a and 87b each have a length greater than or equal to approximately 1.30 cm (0.51 in). The first and second spine attachment portions 87a and 87b may each have a width greater than or equal to approximately 0.50 cm (0.20 in) or 0.60 cm (0.24 in). The first and second connecting portions 89a and 89b may each have a width less than or equal to approximately 1.00 cm (0.39 in) or 0.70 cm (0.28 in). According to one implementation, the first spine attachment portion 87a has a length of 4.50 cm (1.77 in), a width of 0.65 cm (0.26 in), and a thickness of 0.80 mm (0.03 in), the second spine attachment portion 87b has a length of 2.70 cm (1.06 in), a width of 0.65 cm (0.26 in), and a thickness of 0.80 mm (0.03 in), and the first and second connecting portions 89a and 89b have a width of approximately 0.70 cm (0.28 in) and a thickness of 0.80 mm (0.03 in), or approximations thereof, though such dimensions are merely exemplary and any suitable dimensions may be used. According to one exemplary implementation, the panel 75 and/or the first and second hook features 77a and 77b are configured to be resiliently flexible. For example, the panel 75 and/or the first and second hook features 77a and 77b may be composed of a thermoplastic polymer, such as polypropylene. Other materials, such as paper, are also possible. The panel 75 and first and second hook features 77a and 77b may be unitarily formed by extruding the desired shape of the panel and hook features from a larger sheet of material, such as polypropylene. Alternatively, the first and second hook features 77a and 77b may coupled to the panel using an attachment mechanism. The adhesive flags 79 are arranged in stacks that are coupled to the front surface 81 of the panel 75. The adhesive flags 79 may be adhered to pages of a notebook to identify locations of interest, provide notations or for other purposes. According to one exemplary implementation, the flags are constructed of oriented polypropylene (OPP) film, although other materials, such as paper, may alternatively be used. According to one implementation, the flags have a writable surface, for example a surface that can be written on using conventional pen ink. A re-adherable adhesive, such as an acid free adhesive acrylic, may be disposed on the back of each flag so that the flags may be adhered to and repositioned on surfaces of a notebook. The flags may have any suitable shape, such as an arrow or rectangle. It should be appreciated that the flags need not serve an identifying function, such as by flagging a particular location, and may simply serve as notepaper. The adhesive flag holder 73 may be coupled to and decoupled from a notebook in the same manner as the divider and folder discussed herein, and enabling the adhesive flag holder to be positioned at various locations with respect to a notebook. For example, the adhesive flag holder 73 may be positioned between pages of a notebook, in front of a front cover of the notebook, or behind a back cover of the notebook. Illustratively, Aspects of the divider, folder, and adhesive flag holder described in embodiments herein may be combined is various ways to obtain a repositionable notebook accessory having a plurality of functions. For example, such an accessory may include both a tab and at least one pocket, so as to perform both a dividing function and a storage function. Similarly, a divider or folder accessory may include adhesive flags stacked thereon. Various modifications to the repositionable notebook accessories described herein are also possible. For example, such accessories may be printed with useful information (e.g., equations, conversion tables and/or a ruler), such that the information may be made available at various useful locations in or on a notebook. While various inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of variations and/or modifications that performing the function and/or obtain one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure. Also, various inventive concepts may be embodied as one or more methods, of which an example has been provided. The acts performed as part of the method may be ordered in any suitable way. Accordingly, embodiments may be constructed in which acts are performed in an order different than illustrated, which may include performing some acts simultaneously, even though shown as sequential acts in illustrative embodiments. The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.” The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc. As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law. As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc. In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03. |