US2716985A - Combination loose leaf notebook and portable desk - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 6, 1955 H. H. WOLF ,985

COMBINATION LOOSE LEAF NOTEBOOK AND PORTABLE DESK Filed Feb. 24, 1955 Jfa INVEN TOR. M42010 6. WOLF F|G.4-. I /7 mm ATTQRNLY United States Patent O COMBINATION LOOSE LEAF NOTEBOOK AND- PORTABLE DESK Application February 24, 1955, Serial N 0. 490,189

1 Claim. (Cl. 129-1) The present invention relates to loose leaf notebook binders, and in particular to a combination loose leaf notebook and portable reading and writing desk.

The well known loose leaf binder of the box type includes a binder panel and front and back panels hinged to the binder panel. Marginal closure strips areconnected to the edges of the front and back panels for completing the box-like configuration of the binder. Along registering edges of the marginal closure strips, suitable slide fastener mechanisms are connected for releasably closing the binder in the desired box-like configuration. Usually the front and back panels of the loose leaf binder are fabricated of facings and backings of leather or plastic and combinations thereof with one or more interposed layers of cardboard rendering the respective panels somewhat rigid. However, as a practical matter, both the front and back panels are flexible, especially when used over a prolonged period of time. The inner faces of either or both of the front or back panels are further provided with partitions providing internal pockets forthe storage of articles within the binder.

It has been suggested in the prior art that such loose leaf binders may be increased in utility by providing a construction which enables the binder to serve alternately as a reading and writing desk. In one of such devices, a prop is associated with the front panel of the binder for operative assembly between the front and rear panels such that the same are supported indivergent relation. When thus assembled, the back panel serves as a'supporting surface, while the outer face of the front panel serves as an inclined reading and writing surface. Obviously, such assembly precludes access to the interior of the notebook. Thus, this known prior art device may be used either as a loose leaf binder, or alternatively after assembly, as a writing surface. Apart from the obvious lack of facility for every day use in the field, the home,

school or office, where a user is desirous of making concurrent use of the loose leaf binder and other papers Which are to be either read or written upon, the need for the manipulative steps in effecting assembly is a deterrent to widespread consumer acceptance.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved combined loose leaf notebook and portable desk which may serve as either a reading or writing surface. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provied a unitary assembly which for all intents and purposes has the appearance and function of a box-type loose leaf notebook, yet may be used concurrently as a portable desk.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating features of the present invention, there is pro vided a loose leaf binder of the box type which includes at least one cover panel having a facing and backing, in combination with a rigid reinforcing board which is interposed between the facing and backing of the cover panel and is of an extent substantially coextensive with the cover panel. Disposed internally of the loose leaf binder in operative relation to the backing is a clip of the type in- "ice cluding a spring biased jaw engaged against the backing of the cover panel. The clip is anchored to the rigid reinforcing board and cooperates with the reinforcing board to serve as a rigid desk for material held by the clip. Thus, it will be appreciated that the reinforcing board covered by the facing and backing serves in the loose leaf binder as one cover panel; and in association with the clip the reinforcing board is effective to support a stack of paper on the inner face of the cover panel. When the loose leaf binder is closed, as by provision of appropriate slide fastener mechanism, the same has the appearance of binders presently found on the market, that is the board and clip are hidden from view; when the loose leaf binder is open for access to the loose leaf contents thereof, the user merely turns the contents of the notebook into coextensive relation with the panel opposite the cover panel which is constructed in accordance with the present invention, and thus may employ said cover panel as a reading or writing surface.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, may be best appreciated by reference to the following detailed description'of a presently preferred but illustrative embodiment, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view, showing a combined loose leaf notebook andportable desk embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, with parts broken away, of a combined looseleaf notebook and portable desk illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

.Referring now specifically to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 a combination loose leaf notebook and portable desk- 10 which includes a loose leaf binder of the box type having a medial binder panel 12 and front and back panels 14, 16 hinged-to the binder panel along the hinge lines 18, 20. Secured to the inner face of the medial binder panel 12 intermediate the hinge lines. or axes 18, 20 is a loose leaf ring binder mechanism, generally designated by the reference numeral 22. Such loose leaf ring binder mechanism 22 may be of the two or three ring variety and of any well known construction. Accordingly, further detailed description is dispensed with.

Secured about the upper, lower and outer side edges of the front cover panel 14, is a marginal closure strip 24; similarly disposed along the upper, lower and outer side edges of the back cover panel 16 is a further marginal closure strip 26. When the notebook is brought to the closed position, that is with the front and rear panels 14, 16 substantially coextensive, the marginal strips 24, 26 cooperate to complete the box-like configuration of the binder.

Along the registering edges of the marginal closure strips 24, 26 there is provided cooperating separable fastener elements 28, 30 for releasably closing the binder 10 in box-like configuration. The respective panels may be fabricated of any suitable material such as leather, plastic or combinations thereof; similarly, the marginal closure strips 24, 26 may be fabricated of leather or plastic, or if desired of a stretchable elastic material, such that the binder may be expanded within reasonable limits.

In accordance with the present invention, at least the back panel 16 of the binder 10 includes facing and backing members 32a, 3211 which define a pocket therebetween which receives a rigid reinforcing member 34. The

reinforcing member 34 is fabricated of Masonite or other equivalent materials, and is of an area such that the same is substantiallycoextensive in area with the rear or backcover panel 16. When thus assembled, the reinforcing member 34 is completely hidden from view, and renders substantially the entire back cover rigid and planar.

Operatively disposed in relation to the innerface of the panel is a clip, generally designated by the reference numeral 36, for holding one or more sheets of paper? bracket and in the underlying portions of the reinforcing member, the respective rivets beingoperatively connected to the attachment bracket, extending through the backing 32a and being anchored in the reinforcing member.-

Assembled with the attachment bracket is a clamping jaw 42 which is formed with depending lugs 42a, and a contact edge 42b adapted to engage the backing member.

The jaw 42 is formed with a finger piece 420. The clamping jaw 42 is assembled with the bracket by means of a pivot pin 44 and a suitable coil spring 43 which yield-' ably urges the contact edge 42b of the clamping jaw against the backing member.

In use, the clamping jaw 42 may be opened by pressing back on the finger piece 420, such that the papers P either to be written on or read, may be disposed in a supported position on the fiat reinforcedback panel 16. The user of the notebook has ready access to the loose leaf contents, yet has access to the portable desk by merely turning the contents to lie flat against the front panel 14. The notebook, when in the open condition of Fig. 1, and with the contents of the binder lying against the front panel 14, may be supported on the lap of the-user and serve conveniently as a portable desk; in the alternative the same may be held virtually in any position with the user being able to bear against the back panel 16 for the purposes of writing.

When not in use, the assembly is such that the binder may be closed by bringing the panels 14, 16 into facing relation with each other and engaging the registering ele-- ments of the separable fasteners 28, 30 by pulling on the slide thereof.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that there has been provided a combination loose leaf notebook and portable desk which may be concurrently used as a notebook and as a desk without the need for extensive The attachmentmanipulation. Thespecially constructed back panel functions with the clip 42 to provide the portable desk having provision for attachment of papers thereon; further, the back panel 16 serves to provide the cover member for the loose leaf binder.

Numerous modifications of the article of manufacture of the present invention will occur to those skilled in the art, and accordingly the appended claim should be given a latitude of interpretation consisent with the disclosure; at times certain features of the invention will be-used without a corresponding use of other features.

What I claim is:

An enclosed portable desk comprising a cover of boxlike configuration having a binder panel and front and back panels hinged along inner side edges-to said binder panel, a loose leaf binder mechanism extending longitudinally of said binder panel marginal closure strips connected to the outer side edges and upper and lower edges of said panels for completing the box-like configuration of said cover, slide fastener mechanisms connected to said marginal closure strips for releasably clos-' ing said cover in said box-like configuration, at least said back panel including facing and backing members, a

hidden rigid reinforcing member interposed between saidfacing and backing members and of an area substantially coextensive with said facing and backing members, and clip means operatively disposed in relation to the inner face of said back panel for holding one or more sheets of paper on said back panel serving as a portable desk, said clip means extending across said back panel adjacent to its upper edge and including an attachment bracket, securing means extending through said facing member and anchored only on said reinforcingmember for mounting said attachment bracket on said back panel, said securing means being covered by said backing member whereby said securing means is hidden from view when said cover is viewed from its outer side, a jaw swingably' supported in said attachment bracket and having a contact edge engaging said back-ing member, and a spring yieldably urging said contact-edge against said backing member.

, References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES. PATENTS 744,536 Guilbert Nov. 17, 1903 745,896 Page Dec. 1, 1903 756,308 Whitney Apr. 5, 1904 794,035 Monson July 4, 1 905 1,302,654 Hall May 6, 1919. 1,958,568? Dawson et a1. May 15, 1934 2,240,122 Schade Apr. 22, 1941

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