Binder With Observation Window

This invention relates to a binder having an observation window which students, and particularly those of a younger age, will find to be useful and attractive. Young students purchase or create a purchasing demand for large quantities of school-related products which meet utilitarian needs while being appealing to the eye. Moreover, the demands of such customers have spurred a creative response resulting in a flood of new school-related products, particularly in the field of binders and portfolios. These products provide the youthful customer with an opportunity to make an identity statement by carrying school papers in a distinctive product of his or her choosing. Examples of such products are disclosed in a series of patents and patent applications assigned to the assignee hereof. They include: Wyant U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,791 which discloses a portfolio having a decorative woven fabric cover sheet, Spence U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,724 which relates to a binder with a pencil pocket and Moor U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,798 which discloses a binder having a decoratively perforated interior pocket, Wyant U.S. patent application Ser. No. 357,917 filed May 30, 1989 showing a portfolio with a mirrorized cover, Wyant U.S. patent application Ser. No. 379,306 disclosing a portfolio having a cover provided with a plurality of decoratively arranged window mounts for personal photographs and Moor, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 356,152 filed May 24, 1989 disclosing a binder having decoratively die-cut support panels covered by thermoplastic sheets which are heat-sealed into the die-cut portions to create a three-dimensional effect.

This invention provides an improved binder having a cover panel defined by a stiff support board covered on both sides by transparent thermoplastic sheets. The support board is provided with a window aperture, and the transparent thermoplastic sheets are joined together inside the aperture to define an observation window. In one aspect of the invention the thermoplastic sheets are heat-sealed together along a relatively narrow track interiorly adjacent the perimeter of the aperture and a pocket of air is trapped interiorly of the track so as to produce an observation window having a bubble structure.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a binder having an observation window for viewing the contents thereof.

It is another object of the invention to provide a binder having a unique decorative appearance.

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a binder having an oblong observation window and two circular observation windows in the outer panel thereof.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal plan view of the binder of FIG. 1 in the opened condition.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged drawing of a portion of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 2.

In preferred embodiment a binder 10 according to the present invention may appear as generally illustrated in FIG. 1. The illustrated embodiment includes an outer panel 22 overlapped against an inner panel 24. The visual appearance of outer panel 22 may be enhanced by a scalloped edge as indicated by the reference numeral 34. Outer panel 22 also may be provided with one or more observation windows such as an oblong window 30 and a pair of circular windows 32,32. A rear panel 26 joins and connects panels 22 and 24.

The interior of binder 10 is illustrated in FIG. 2, as shown therein binder 10 may retain one or more leaves 16 by a suitable retaining device such as, for instance, a pair of spaced brackets 12,14, each having a plurality of spaced prongs 18. The illustrated retaining device is constructed as generally taught in Donovan U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,109, to which reference may be made for a full understanding thereof. However, snap rings or other retaining devices may be employed.

As best illustrated in FIG. 5, panels 22,24,26 are supported by support boards 48,64,62 respectively. Support boards 48,64,62 may be produced by die-cutting sheets of chipboard. These support boards may be imprinted on their outer surfaces by attractive graphic designs and may be overlaid by a transparent vinyl outer sheet 50 which allows the printed graphics to be observed. Outer panel support board 48 may also be printed with an attractive graphic pattern on its inwardly facing surface and may be overlaid by a transparent vinyl inner sheet 52. An opaque vinyl liner sheet 42 may cover the inner surfaces of support boards 64,62. Vinyl sheets 52,50,42 are heat-sealed together in regions of overlap, including the outer perimeter 36 (FIG. 3). A vinyl pocket sheet 40 may be overlaid upon liner sheet 42 and sealed along the marginal edges to define a pair of pockets which are open along edges 58,60 thereof. The joined vinyl sheets define a first hinge portion 66 and a second hinge portion 68 in the regions between the support boards. Four strips of hook-and-loop fastening material 38 are provided for releasibly securing the inner surface of outer panel 22 against the outer surface of inner panel 24.

The details of one of the observation windows 30 are illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The windows are constructed inside a large aperture 46 which is die cut into outer panel support board 48. Transparent cover sheets 50,52 are depressed into the aperture and heat-sealed together along a relatively narrow track 54 generally defined by the region between aperture 46 and a sealing boundary 44. When the transparent sheets 50,52 are depressed into the aperture and sealed along the track 54, an air pocket 56 is formed interiorly of the sealing boundary 44. This provides structural integrity and an attractive appearance to the window. It will be appreciated that windows 30,32 provide the useful function of enabling a view of the contents of binder 10. They also create a decorative effect which makes the binder particularly appealing to the customers for whom it is intended.

While the product described herein constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise product, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.