Coupling device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11465435-B2
Application number	US-202017094256-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 10, 2020
Priority date	Nov 10, 2020
Publication date	Oct 11, 2022
Grant date	Oct 11, 2022

Abstract

A device for removably coupling one or more sheets of stationery to a notebook or similar item is provided and a portion of the coupling device, such as one or more arms, may extend through one or more holes in the stationery to retain the stationery to the notebook. Providing a device for removably attaching stationery items to a notebook allows students, planners, professionals, and other users to securely retain items in a notebook at a specific location within the pages thereof. In operation, such a coupling device permits users to keep track of a variety of items in a bound component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A coupling device comprising:
an elongate body having a first coupling mechanism along a first side and a second coupling mechanism along a second side;
the first coupling mechanism including a plurality of projections configured to attach to a binding including an array of coils; and
the second coupling mechanism including a first retention arm and a second retention arm attached at the second side of the body for inserting through holes formed in stationery to attach the stationery to the elongate body, the first retention arm extending at least in part toward a first end of the elongate body and the second retention arm extending at least in part toward a second end of the elongate body,
wherein the first retention arm and the second retention arm are elastically deflectable from respective original positions, wherein the first retention arm and the second retention arm elastically return toward the respective original positions to secure the stationery to the elongate body.

2. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein the elongate body is formed of a unitary piece of semi-rigid elastic material such that when the elongate body or a portion thereof is flexed from an original position to attach the stationery to the elongate body the elongate body or the portion thereof elastically returns to the original position when no force is applied to the elongate body or portion thereof.

3. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the first retention arms and second retention arms are disposed:
parallel to a lengthwise direction of the elongate body; or
at an angle of between +/−45 degrees from the lengthwise direction of the elongate body.

4. The coupling device of claim 3 wherein the retaining portion and the guide portion of the first retention arm are connected at an angle such that the first retention arm is substantially V-shaped.

5. The coupling device of claim 1
wherein the elongate body further comprises a third retention arm attached at the second side of the elongate body at a position between the first and second retention arms.

6. The coupling device of claim 5 wherein the third retention arm extends at least in part in a first longitudinal direction.

7. The coupling device of claim 5 wherein the third retention arm is a tongue that extends toward the first side of the elongate body.

8. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein the first coupling mechanism includes a plurality of projections extending from the first side of the body, each of the plurality of projections having a neck portion extending away from the first side of the body with a head portion disposed on an end of the neck portion, the head portion having a longitudinal length that is greater than a longitudinal length of at least a portion of the neck portion.

9. The coupling device of claim 1 wherein the first retention arm and the second retention arm are unitarily formed.

10. A coupling device comprising:
an elongate body having a first coupling mechanism along a first side and a second coupling mechanism along a second side;
the first coupling mechanism including a plurality of projections configured to attach to a binding including an array of coils; and
the second coupling mechanism including a first retention arm and a second retention arm attached at the second side of the body for inserting through holes formed in stationery to attach the stationery to the elongate body, the first retention arm extending at least in part toward a first end of the elongate body and the second retention arm extending at least in part toward a second end of the elongate body,
wherein at least one of the first or second retention arms includes a retaining portion and a guide portion, the retaining portion attached to the elongate body and extending at least in part toward the first side of the elongate body and the guide portion attached to the retaining portion and extending away from the retaining portion.

11. The coupling device of claim 10 wherein the first retention arm includes an elbow disposed between the retaining portion and guide portion, the elbow adjacent a remainder of the elongate body such that the retaining portion and guide portion of the first retention arm are angled away from the remainder.

12. The coupling device of claim 11 wherein the elbow includes a protrusion extending toward the remainder of the elongate body, the remainder of the elongate body including a notch that receives the protrusion of the elbow.

13. The coupling device of claim 11 wherein the guide portion includes a tip for inserting into a hole of stationery, the guide portion and the elbow sized to pass through the hole such that a portion of the stationery forming the hole encircles the retaining portion of the first retention arm.

14. The coupling device of claim 4 wherein the retaining portion of the first retention arm extends proximal an edge of the elongate body such that the first retention arm prevents the portion of the stationery from passing between the retaining portion and the edge of the elongate body when the first retention arm is not flexed away from the edge of the elongate body.

15. A coupling device comprising:
an elongate body having a first coupling mechanism along a first side and a second coupling mechanism along a second side;
the first coupling mechanism including a plurality of projections configured to attach to a binding including an array of coils; and
the second coupling mechanism including a first retention arm and a second retention arm attached at the second side of the body for inserting through holes formed in stationery to attach the stationery to the elongate body, the first retention arm extending at least in part toward a first end of the elongate body and the second retention arm extending at least in part toward a second end of the elongate body,
wherein the first retention arm is for insertion into a first hole of stationery and the second retention arm is for insertion into a second hole of the stationery such that substantial lateral movement of the stationery relative to the elongate body is restricted unless the first and second retention arms are flexed.

16. A coupling device comprising: an elongate body having a first coupling mechanism along a first side and a second coupling mechanism along a second side;
the first coupling mechanism including a plurality of projections configured to attach to a binding including an array of coils; and
the second coupling mechanism including a first retention arm and a second retention arm attached at the second side of the body for inserting through holes formed in stationery to attach the stationery to the elongate body, the first retention arm extending at least in part toward a first end of the elongate body and the second retention arm extending at least in part toward a second end of the elongate body,
wherein the first retention arm and the second retention arm are elastically deflectable from respective original positions, wherein the first retention arm is spaced apart from the second retention arm such that when the first retention arm is inserted into a first hole of stationery and the second retention arm is inserted into a second hole of the stationery, the stationery is not able to be detached from the elongate body without flexing at least one of the first and second retention arms.

17. An apparatus comprising:
a semi-rigid sheet of flexible material including a plurality of die-cuts therein, the plurality of die-cuts forming a plurality of partially die-cut handout coupl

Assignees

• Acco Brands Corp

Inventors

• Junglas Hannah E
• Busam Edward P

Classifications

• B42F11/00 Primary

  Filing appliances with separate intermediate holding means (B42F17/00 takes precedence; with adhesive strips for mounting papers or sheets B42D1/10) · CPC title

• B42F3/04 Primary

  Attachment means of ring, finger or claw form (ring files B42F13/16; using such means for permanent attachment B42B5/08) · CPC title

• B42F3/003

  Perforated or punched sheets · CPC title