Divider pocket

The present invention is directed to a divider for use with a binder, and more particularly, to a divider for use with a binder, the divider having a pocket thereon.

Binders are widely used by students, professionals and other users for storing loose leaf papers, handouts, school and business supplies, and the like. Such binders typically include a spine, a pair of outer covers and a binding mechanism for receiving loose leaf papers. The binders may also include one or more dividers coupled to the binding mechanism to separate and identify various sections of papers within the binder.

School and business supplies, such as pens, pencils, calculators, cell phones, etc., are often used in conjunction with a binder. However, a traditional binder and most existing dividers do not provide a storage space for such supplies. Accordingly, there is a need for a divider that has a storage space for receiving loose items.

The present invention is a divider which includes a pocket mounted thereon, the pocket being located at an outer edge of the divider to receive loose items. In a preferred embodiment, the invention is a divider for use in a binder having a binding mechanism, the divider including a generally rigid inner portion shaped to be coupled to the binding mechanism. The divider further includes a pocket outer portion, the outer portion being coupled to the inner portion and including an inner cavity for storing loose items.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of the divider pocket of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the divider pocket of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the divider pocket of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the divider pocket of FIG. 1, shown coupled to a binder;

FIG. 5 is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the divider pocket of the present invention, shown in its unfolded condition;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the divider pocket of FIG. 5, shown in its folded condition; and

FIG. 7 is a front view of the divider pocket of FIG. 5, shown in its folded condition.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the divider pocket 10 of the present invention includes a generally rigid inner portion 12 and a pocket outer portion 14 coupled to, and generally co-planar with, the inner portion. The inner portion 12 has an inner edge 16 and an outer edge 18 , and the pocket portion 14 similarly includes an inner edge 20 and an outer edge 22 . The inner edge 20 of the pocket portion 14 is attached to the outer edge 18 of the inner portion 12 , preferably by a layer of stitched material 24 . The inner portion 12 is preferably made of relatively rigid, translucent materials, but preferably retains some flexibility. The inner portion 12 preferably has a thickness such that the divider pocket 10 can easily be located by sense of touch when rifling through a notebook including the divider pocket. However, the inner portion 12 preferably retains sufficient flexibility to be bent or deformed. In one embodiment, the inner portion 12 is made of 0.85 mm thick polypropylene.

In the illustrated embodiment, the inner portion 12 includes a set of three openings 26 , 28 , 30 formed along its inner edge 16 , and each hole 26 , 28 , 30 includes a slit 32 , 34 , 36 extending from the inner edge 16 to the associated opening. As shown in FIG. 4, the openings 26 , 28 , 30 are shaped and located to receive a binding mechanism, such as a three-ring binding mechanism 38 of binder 46 therethrough to couple the divider pocket 10 to the binding mechanism 38 . The slits 32 , 34 , 36 of the inner portion 12 enable the divider pocket 10 to be coupled to the binding mechanism 38 by sliding each slit 32 , 34 , 36 over an associated ring 40 , 42 , 44 of the binding mechanism 38 . The slits 32 , 34 , 36 thus provide a “quick-attach” feature that enables the divider pocket 10 to be coupled to a three-ring binder 46 without opening the binding rings 40 , 42 , 44 . Of course, the shape and location of the holes 26 , 28 , 30 may be varied to accommodate various shapes and configurations of binding mechanisms; however, in a preferred embodiment the divider pocket 10 includes at least two holes formed therein.

As shown in FIG. 4, the inner edges 16 , 20 and outer edges 18 , 22 extend generally parallel to the binding mechanism 38 when the inner portion 12 is attached to the binding mechanism 38 . The binder 46 includes a pair of outer covers 41 and a spine 43 . The binder 40 can receive a plurality of papers 48 or other items, and the divider pocket 10 is preferably approximately about the same size in top view as the papers 48 (i.e. in one embodiment 8.5″×11″) such that the divider 10 fits neatly into the binder 40 , but is easily locatable to act as a divider for different sections within the binder 46 . The illustrated divider pocket 10 also includes a pencil loop 50 (FIG. 1) located over the outer pocket portion 14 adjacent to its inner edge 20 .

The inner portion 12 may include an upper retaining pocket 52 and a lower retaining pocket 54 located thereon. The retaining pockets 52 , 54 are preferably made from relatively thin sheets of transparent, flexible material coupled to the inner portion 12 , such as by ultrasonic welding. The upper retaining pocket 52 includes a central slit 56 formed therein which enables the pocket 52 to receive a stack of papers therein. The upper retaining pocket 52 is particularly adapted to receive a stack of accordion-style adhesive-backed note sheets 60 , such as POST-IT® adhesive backed papers. The central slit 56 of the upper retaining pocket 52 enables the retaining pocket 52 to act as a dispenser of the accordion-style adhesive note sheets 60 . The lower retaining pocket 54 can be used to receive various notes, identifying sheets, reference cards 62 and the like.

The outer pocket portion 14 includes a pouch or inner cavity 65 , and is preferably attached to the inner portion 12 by stitching material 24 . In one embodiment, the outer pocket portion 14 includes flexible, transparent upper 66 and lower 64 panels (FIG. 2) directly attached to each other adjacent to the inner edge 20 of the pocket portion 14 . In one embodiment, the panels 64 , 66 are formed of a 0.35 mm thick clear PVC which enables the user to view the contents of the pocket portion. The pocket portion 14 further preferably includes a pair of generally triangular-shaped end gussets 70 , which enables the pouch 65 to expand as needed. The pocket portion 14 includes an access opening 72 located between the outer edges 74 of the panels 64 , 66 that is selectively openable and closable by a fastener 76 . Of course, various fasteners 76 such as zippers, zip-locks, hook-and-loop fasteners, snaps, clasps and the like may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

FIGS. 5-7 illustrate an alternate divider pocket 90 of the present invention, wherein the outer pocket portion 92 includes a first pocket portion 94 and a second pocket portion 96 located adjacent to the first pocket portion 92 . The first pocket portion 94 is essentially identical to the outer pocket portion 14 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, and the second pocket portion 96 provides an auxiliary storage space. The inner edge 98 of the second pocket portion 96 is coupled to the outer edge 100 of the first pocket portion 94 . Both the first 94 and second 96 pocket portions include access openings 102 , 104 , respectively, that are closable by a zipper or other closing mechanism 106 , 108 .

As shown in FIGS. 6-7, the second pocket portion 96 is foldable over the first pocket portion 94 . The divider pocket 90 further includes a retaining mechanism, generally designated 110 , for maintaining the second pocket 96 portion folded over the first pocket portion 94 . In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining mechanism 110 includes a loop of preferably elastic material 112 located at the underside of the outer edge of the second pocket portion 96 , and a grommet 114 located adjacent the outer edge 18 of the inner portion 12 . When the outer pocket portion 96 is in its closed position (i.e., folded over the inner pocket portion 94 ), the loop 112 can be stretched and fit around the grommet 114 to retain the second pocket portion 96 in its folded position (FIGS. 6 - 7 ). Of course, the location of the grommet 114 and the loop 112 may be reversed such that the loop 112 is located on the rigid inner portion 12 and the grommet 110 is located on the second pocket portion 96 . Furthermore, a wide variety of retaining mechanisms may be used without departing from the scope of the invention, such as snaps, buttons, clasps, hook-and-loop fasteners, ties, and the like.

The shape and function of the divider pocket of the present invention enables the divider pocket to act as a divider, yet provides a generally flexible pocket for storing loose items. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the access opening 72 is located at an outer edge of the divider pocket 10 , which provides ready and easy access for a user. For example, the zipper 76 of the access opening 72 can be accessed without “flipping” to the divider pocket 10 ; that is, the pouch 65 can be accessed even when located in the middle of a stack of papers. The embodiment of the divider pocket 90 shown in FIGS. 5-7 provides two storage areas for increased capacity, but can fold to a smaller size (i.e. the size of a sheet of paper). The two storage areas also provide the ability to segregate and organize materials in the divider pocket.

Having described the invention in detail and by reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be apparent that modifications and variations thereof are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.