WO2011091879A1

WO2011091879A1 - Holders

Info

Publication number: WO2011091879A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/067422
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gordon Andrew Presly; Julia Langhein
Original assignee: Filofax Group Limited
Priority date: 2010-01-29
Filing date: 2010-11-13
Publication date: 2011-08-04
Also published as: WO2011091879A9; GB201001503D0; GB2477321A; EP2528745A1; GB2477321B

Abstract

Holders are disclosed, for retaining one or more substantially planar items in any of a plurality of different user-defined arrangements. The holder comprises left and right wings (12, 14) hinged to each other along a spine (16). At least one of the wings is provided with at least first and second pockets (18, 20), each such pocket being adapted to receive a substantially planar item inserted therein, so as to retain such item in a defined orientation with respect to the holder. The first pocket (18) is accessible by an opening (22) away from the spine (16) and extending within the wing (12) towards the spine (16), and the second pocket (20) is accessible by an opening (24) towards the spine (16) and extending within the wing (14) away from the spine (16). By such means, a substantially planar item may be accommodated in either of said pockets (18, 20), and at least two such items may be accommodated simultaneously.

Description

HOLDERS

This invention relates to holders. In particular, it relates to holders which can perform the function of a personal organiser, in terms of retaining and organising sheaves of papers, pens, other stationery items and the like, and which can also serve as covers for books, booklets, notepads and other cover-bound articles. Holders according to the invention are also adapted to hold a large range of additional items, as described in more detail below.

Historically, personal organisers (including, for example, many of those sold under the well-known Filofax^® trade mark) have tended to comprise a folder - often referred to as a wallet - provided with a spring clip mechanism along the inner edge of the spine, bearing a number of snap rings (typically two to six) for insertion and retention of loose-leaf sheets making up a diary, journal or the like. Such organisers have proved very popular over many years and are well adapted to their particular use. However, despite the fact that many commercially available organisers of this type are supplied with additional slots, flaps or pockets for retention of peripheral items such as credit cards, calculators, etc., the principal use is usually restricted to the retention of loose-leaf pages. This fact inevitably limits the flexibility of the organiser, since it is only possible to store sheets of the correct size, having an exactly correct arrangement of punched holes. Furthermore, although the spring clip mechanisms are relatively simple in construction, they can be prone to failure, particularly after prolonged use.

The applicant has set out to provide a new type of holder, which provides a greater flexibility of modes of usage and which (at least in preferred embodiments) avoids the need for moving parts. The holders of the invention are particularly designed and suited for retaining and organising books, booklets, notebooks, note pads and the like, or indeed any bound articles possessing a folding cover, and are intended to permit the user to organise such items in a number of different arrangements which may readily be changed at will. Their use may also readily be extended to accommodate substantially planar items in general, for example cards or substrates to which useful devices, such as pen loops, calculators or attachment means for items such as mobile communications devices, personal digital assistants and mp3 players may be attached. The holders of the invention are generally folding devices, which is to be understood as including any folding arrangement, such as a wallet, document cover, book cover, portfolio, etc., or indeed any folding holder for other articles, as defined below.

The present invention accordingly provides, in one aspect, a holder for retaining one or more substantially planar items in any of a plurality of different user-defined arrangements, the holder comprising: left and right wings hinged to each other along a spine; at least one of said wings being provided with at least first and second pockets, each said pocket being adapted to receive a substantially planar item inserted therein, so as to retain said item in a defined orientation with respect to the holder, said first pocket being accessible by an opening away from said spine and extending within said wing towards said spine, and said second pocket being accessible by an opening towards said spine and extending within said wing away from said spine, whereby a substantially planar item may be accommodated in either of said pockets, and at least two such items may be accommodated simultaneously. As indicated above, the substantially planar item may comprise a cover of a folding cover-bound article. One particular advantage of the holders of the invention is that they are capable to accommodating any cover-bound articles of appropriate size, and are not restricted to hole-punched items. It is therefore generally unnecessary for the user to purchase inserts from a particular supplier in order to guarantee the correct arrangement of punched holes but may instead use the holder to retain many different types of bound articles from alternative sources. In preferred embodiments, for example, the first and second pockets may be sized to receive the covers of standard sized books, booklets, notebooks, note pads, etc. When a correctly sized article is inserted into one the pockets, a particular advantage is that the cover will align neatly with the edge of the holder.

In some embodiments, the first and second pockets overlap each other, and each of them may extend to occupy a substantial proportion of the planar extent of the wing in which they are formed. This permits maximum flexibility in accommodating inserted articles of differing widths. In many embodiments the pockets are discrete from each other and do not interconnect; however, although it is preferred that the pockets be distinct, it is not absolutely essential for the operation of the invention that they be totally isolated from each other.

Conveniently, holders according to the invention comprise an outer cover extending to form the outer surfaces of the left and right wings and of the spine, with an inner lining extending between the outer lateral edges of the wings. The outer cover and the lining may be composed, for example, of leather, imitation leather, plastics or any other suitably durable material.

The inner lining may be joined to the outer cover along the outer lateral edge of the respective wing. The lining may then extend inwardly from that lateral edge to an inner fold situated towards the spine of the holder and generally parallel thereto, and thence extend outwardly to a pocket lip situated proximate the outer lateral edge of the wing and generally parallel thereto. Top and bottom edges of the folded portions of the inner lining may be joined to each other, for example by stitching, so that the pocket is closed on three sides, with an opening formed between the outer lateral edge of the wing and the aforementioned pocket lip. The top and bottom edges may also be joined to the outer cover, for example by stitching passing through both folded portions of the lining and the outer cover. Thus, the folded portion of the lining forms the first pocket defined above, suitable for receiving a substantially planar item, such as the cover of a cover-bound article, inserted from an outer portion of the wing, the item becoming engaged in the pocket by movement of the item towards the spine of the holder.

Many embodiments of holder according to the invention further comprise a side panel joined to the inner lining along the first pocket lip (i.e. the lip of the first pocket, described in the preceding paragraph) and extending inwardly therefrom between the first pocket lip and a second pocket lip situated towards the spine and generally parallel thereto. Such side panel thereby forms, with the inner lining, the second pocket defined above. Top and bottom edges of the side panel may be joined to the inner lining, for example by stitching, so that said second pocket is closed on three sides, with an opening formed between the inner lining and the second pocket lip. The top and bottom edges may also be joined to the outer cover, for example by stitching passing through the side panel, both folded portions of the lining and the outer cover. Thus, the side panel forms, with an outer surface of the folded portion of the inner lining, the second pocket defined above, suitable for receiving a substantially planar item, such as the cover of a cover-bound article, inserted from a position close to the spine of the holder, the item becoming engaged in the pocket by movement along the wing, away from the spine.

The benefits of the invention may be achieved in a holder in which first and second pockets, as described above, are provided in only one of the wings of the holder. However, for maximum flexibility of use it will be convenient in many embodiments that both of the wings be provided with such first and second pockets. In such embodiments, the holder is adapted to hold up to four individual items, such as the covers of cover-bound articles, in any combination and arrangement chosen by the user. In some embodiments, holders according to the invention may be provided with additional slots or pockets, for accommodating one or more yet further articles. For example, a further pocket may be provided within the body of one of the side panels, and conveniently this may be provided with an opening towards the top edge of the side panel and orientated generally perpendicularly to the spine, so as to receive a further cover bound article such as a notepad. Additionally or alternatively, a series of slots may be formed in one of the side panels, optionally orientated generally perpendicularly to the spine, to receive credit cards or the like. Particularly (but not necessarily exclusively) in embodiments in which both wings are provided with first pockets formed from folded portions of the inner lining, the lining may conveniently additionally include a web extending between the folded portions of the inner lining, for example between the outer lateral edges of the wings, thus locating the folded portions between the web and the outer cover. Such a web not only serves to provide a neat finish, but also supplies the inner face of at least the entrance portion of the (or each) second pocket, and thereby assists in the insertion of items therein. Moreover, in embodiments in which the top and bottom edges of the web are joined to the outer cover (optionally by stitching passing through the web, the folded portions of the inner lining and the outer cover), the web serves to enclose the folded portions and prevent articles becoming inadvertently lodged behind or between the folds. The invention in hereinafter described in more detail by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of holder according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a cut-away portion of the holder of Fig. 1, with the various elements splayed to show their configuration;

Fig. 3 is a section through an alternative embodiment of holder according to the invention;

Figs. 4 to 6 are diagrammatic representations of an embodiment of holder similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1, indicating various modes of inserting covers of folding cover-bound articles;

Figs. 7 and 8 are diagrammatic representations of the holder shown in Figs. 4 to 6, indicating alternative arrangements for inserting a planar substrate attached to a pen loop. Referring to Fig. 1, holder 10 comprises left wing 12 and right wing 14, joined via spine 16. As shown most clearly in Fig. 2, each of wings 12 and 14 is provided with a first pocket 18 and a second pocket 20. First pockets 18 have openings 22 facing away from spine 16, the pockets extending inwardly from openings 22 towards spine 16. Pockets 20 have openings 24 facing towards spine 16 and extend outwardly from such openings, away from spine 16.

The outer surfaces of wings 12 and 14 are formed by outer cover 26, formed of a sheet of leather or other suitable natural or synthetic material. Outer cover 26 is joined along outer lateral edges 28 to inner lining 30. Inner lining 30 may be formed from one or more sheets of leather or other suitable natural or synthetic material, which may conveniently be of a lighter grade and of greater flexibility than the material used for outer cover 26. The join along outer lateral edges 28 is achieved in the illustrated embodiment by stitching 32 of a suitable natural or synthetic yarn, although other suitable joining means will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Each first pocket 18 is formed by a folded section of inner lining 30, consisting of section 32 extending inwardly from outer lateral edge 28 towards a fold 34 located towards spine 16, and section 36 extending outwardly from fold 34 to first pocket lip 38. In the embodiment illustrated, first pocket lip 38 is situated at approximately the same lateral distance from spine 16 as outer lateral edge 28. However, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, first pocket lip 38 may be recessed (i.e. be situated somewhat nearer to spine 16 than outer lateral edge 28), if desired.

The top and bottom edges of lining sections 32 and 36 are joined, for example by stitching, to the top edge of outer cover 26. In the view shown in Fig. 2, only the join at the top edge is illustrated; the bottom edges of sections 32 and 36 are not shown in this cut-away view but are joined to the outer cover in similar manner.

In the Fig. 2 embodiment, the inner lining also comprises web 40 (similarly composed of leather or another suitable natural or synthetic material) extending between the pocket lips 38 of the respective first pockets. Web 40 serves to enclose folded sections 32 and 36 of lining 30 within the interior of holder 10. Thus, lining 30 extends in concertina fashion, via folds 34 and pocket lips 38, between respective outer lateral edges 28.

An alternative arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 3, in which web 40 extends directly between folds 34 of lining 30. This arrangement involves the usage of less material.

Second pockets 20 are formed by left and right side panels 44 and 46, which are joined to lining 30 along first pocket lips 38 (for example by stitching using a suitable natural or synthetic yarn). Side panels 44 and 46 are joined along their top and bottom edges (again suitably by stitching with a natural or synthetic yarn) to the top and bottom edges of outer cover 26. Side panels 44 and 46 thus form the outer elements of second pockets 20, with the inner element being formed, in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, by web 40 of inner lining 30. In the alternative embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, the inner element of second pockets 20 is formed, for the most part, by the outer surface of folded sections 36 of lining 30; however, it will be noted that web 40 extends for a small distance inside second pockets 20, both to facilitate insertion of articles and to ensure an aesthetically pleasing appearance. In the embodiments illustrated in Fig. 1 and Figs. 4 to 8, side panels 44 and 46 are provided with additional pockets and slots, for accommodating further items. Specifically, left side panel 44 has a series of slots 38 for receiving credit cards and the like. Right side panel 46 is supplied with a pocket extending within panel 46 between slots 50, for receiving a planar item such as the back cover of a note pad.

Various modes of usage of holders according to the invention are illustrated in Figs. 4 to 8. Fig. 4 illustrates the insertion of the covers 52 of two separate books 54 into the respective first pockets 18. Fig. 5 illustrates a modification of this arrangement, involving the additional insertion of note pad 56 into the pocket formed by slots 50 in right side panel 46. Another alternative arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 6, in which the two covers 57 of a large book 58 are inserted into the two second pockets 20 of left and right wings 12 and 14, so that the holder effectively acts as an outer cover for the book.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate the possibility of inserting planar items other than book covers, in this case substrate 60 (composed, for example of a resilient plastics material) bearing pen holder 62. Substrate 60 may either be inserted in one of first pockets 18 (as shown in Fig. 7) or in one of second pockets 20 (as shown in Fig. 8). Thus, the user may choose to locate a pen holder either on the outside edge of the holder (Fig. 7) or within the spine (Fig. 8). Many other useful devices, attached to suitable planar substrates, (for instance calculators or attachment means for items such as mobile communications devices, personal digital assistants and mp3 players) will immediately suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

Fig. 8 also illustrates, on the right hand wing in the upper two figures, the possibility of inserting two cover-bound articles simultaneously in the same wing, one by sliding inwards from the outside into the first pocket and the other by sliding outwards from the inside into the second pocket. In the upper figure of Fig. 8, one cover of a cover-bound article has already been inserted into the second pocket, and the upper two figures show an additional cover-bound article being inserted into the first pocket. As will be appreciated, holders of the invention provide great flexibility, allowing users to arrange various different items in many alternative arrangements. The construction of holders according to the invention also allows a great degree of design flexibility, and different arrangements of pockets and slots may be devised for different purposes, for example to create a number of products within a range. Within the parameters of the invention, which require at least one of the holder wings to possess at least one first pocket and at least one second pocket, as defined, various different configurations are possible. It is also possible to vary the means of construction of the pockets themselves. Thus, for instance, the concertina arrangement illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 can be reversed, so that folded portions of the inner lining form the second pocket(s) and the side panel(s) form the first pocket(s). Other variations, within the scope of the invention, will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A holder for retaining one or more substantially planar items in any of a plurality of different user-defined arrangements, the holder comprising:

left and right wings hinged to each other along a spine;

at least one of said wings being provided with at least first and second pockets, each said pocket being adapted to receive a substantially planar item inserted therein, so as to retain said item in a defined orientation with respect to the holder, said first pocket being accessible by an opening away from said spine and extending within said wing towards said spine, and said second pocket being accessible by an opening towards said spine and extending within said wing away from said spine, whereby a substantially planar item may be accommodated in either of said pockets, and at least two such items may be accommodated simultaneously.

2. A holder according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said planar items is a cover of a folding cover-bound article.

3. A holder according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said first and second pockets overlap each other.

4. A holder according to claim 3, wherein both said first and second pockets extend to occupy a substantial proportion of the planar extent of the wing in which they are formed.

5. A holder according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second pockets are discrete and do not interconnect.

6. A holder according to any preceding claim, comprising an outer cover extending to form the outer surfaces of said left and right wings and of said spine, and an inner lining extending between the outer lateral edges of said wings.

7. A holder according to claim 6, wherein said inner lining is joined to said outer cover along the outer lateral edge of said at least one wing, said lining extending inwardly between said outer lateral edge and an inner fold in said lining situated towards said spine and generally parallel thereto, and further extending outwardly between said inner fold and a first pocket lip situated proximate said outer lateral edge of said wing and generally parallel thereto, the lining thereby forming said first pocket.

8. A holder according to claim 7, wherein top and bottom edges of the folded portions of said inner lining forming said first pocket are joined to each other, so that said first pocket is closed on three sides, with an opening formed between said outer lateral edge of said wing and said first pocket lip.

9. A holder according to claim 8, wherein said top and bottom edges of said folded portion of said inner lining are further joined to said outer cover.

10. A holder according to any of claims 7 to 9, further comprising a side panel joined to said inner lining along said first pocket lip and extending inwardly therefrom between said first pocket lip and a second pocket lip situated towards said spine and generally parallel thereto, said side panel thereby forming, with said inner lining, said second pocket.

11. A holder according to claim 10, wherein top and bottom edges of said side panel are joined to said inner lining, so that said second pocket is closed on three sides, with an opening formed between said inner lining and said second pocket lip.

12. A holder according to claim 11, wherein said top and bottom edges of said side panel are further joined to said outer cover.

13. A holder according to any preceding claim, wherein each of said wings is provided with first and second pockets.

14. A holder according to claim 13, wherein said inner lining includes a web extending between the outer lateral edges of said wings.

15. A holder according to claim 14, as appendant to any of claims 7 to 13, wherein the folded portion of said inner lining forming the or each said first pocket is located between said outer cover and said web.

16. A holder according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein top and bottom edges of said web are joined to said outer cover.

17. A holder according to any preceding claim, further comprising one or more additional slots or pockets for accommodating one or more further substantially planar item.

18. A holder according to claim 17, as appendant to claim 10 or to any claim appendant to claim 10, wherein said additional slots or pockets are provided in either or both of said side panels.

19. A holder according to claim 18, wherein a further pocket is provided within the body of a side panel.

20. A holder according to claim 19, wherein said further pocket is provided with an opening towards the top edge of said side panel and orientated generally perpendicularly to the spine, to receive a further substantially planar item.

21. A holder according to any of claims 18 to 20, wherein a series of slots is formed in one of the side panels, optionally orientated generally perpendicularly to the spine, to receive cards of the size of a standard credit card.