AU2018101378A4 - Compendium - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract A compendium (10) comprising a folder (12) having first and second side 5 walls (16, 17), a flexible connecting portion (18) and a binder (14) having a spine (22) and one or more document holders (24), wherein the spine (22) is removably connected to a surface of the connecting portion (18). Fig7

Description

“Compendium”

Field of the Invention [001] The present invention relates to a compendium.

Background to the Invention [002] Compendiums in the form of a folder are commonly used to store a collection of information on a particular subject. For events such as weddings, compendiums can be useful to hold information regarding all of the relevant details during the planning of the event. In the case of a wedding, or other such significant occasion, it is also often common for the collected information to be stored as a memento.

[003] The present invention relates to a compendium suitable for storing such information and also including features to allow the collected information to be easily removed and stored in a different location, thereby allowing re-use of the compendium.

Summary of the Invention [004] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a compendium comprising a folder having first and second side walls, a flexible connecting portion and a binder having a spine and one or more document holders, wherein the spine is removably connected to a surface of the connecting portion.

[005] Preferably the spine is provided with first connectors engageable with complementary second connectors provided on the connecting portion.

[006] Preferably the first and second connectors comprise male press stud members and female press stud members.

[007] Preferably a plurality of studs are provided extending through the connecting portion of the folder and the second connectors are connected to the studs to secure the second connectors on an inner surface of the connecting portion.

[008] Preferably the document holders comprise rings for holding sheets.

[009] Preferably a pocket is provided for holding a mobile phone, the pocket being provided on an inner surface of the first side wall.

[010] Preferably a pen sleeve is provided for securing a pen, the pen sleeve being provided in on an inner surface of the second side wall of the folder.

[011] Preferably a storage container is provided having second connectors provided on an inner surface thereof to secure to the first connectors of the binder when removed from the folder.

[012] Preferably the storage container comprises a base and a pivotable lid, the base comprising a lower wall and a peripheral edge wall, and wherein the second connectors are provided on the lower wall.

Brief Description of the Drawings [013] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings: [014] Figure 1 is an upper perspective view of a compendium in accordance with the present invention in an open configuration; [015] Figure 2 is a top view of the compendium of Figure 1 in the open configuration; [016] Figure 3 is an end view of the compendium of Figure 1 in the open configuration; [017] Figure 4 is a top view of the compendium of Figure 1 in a closed configuration; [018] Figure 5 is an end view of the compendium of Figure 1 in the closed configuration; [019] Figure 6 is a side view of the compendium of Figure 1 in the closed configuration; [020] Figure 7 is a partially exploded view of the compendium of Figure 1; [021] Figure 8a is a top view of the compendium in the open configuration; [022] Figure 8b is a cross sectional view of the compendium of Figure 8a through the line A-A; [023] Figure 8c is a close up view of Detail B of Figure 8b; [024] Figure 9a is a view of the binder removed from the compendium; [025] Figure 9b is a side view of the empty binder; [026] Figure 10 is a view of the binder showing the contents disengaged from the binder; [027] Figure 11 is an exploded view of the folder of the compendium of Figure 1; [028] Figure 12 is an upper perspective of a storage container for use with the compendium of the present invention prior to connection with the binder; [029] Figure 13 is an upper perspective view of the storage container with the binder connected to the storage container; and [030] Figure 14 is an upper perspective view of the storage container with the lid closed.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments [031] Referring to the Figures, there is shown a compendium 10 comprising a folder 12 and a binder 14. The binder 14 is provided for holding a collection of sheets and is secured in use within the folder 12.

[032] The folder 12 comprises a first side wall 16 and a second side wall 17 connected by a flexible connecting portion 18. The first and second side walls 16 and 17 in the embodiment shown are rectangular in shape, rigid and connected along adjacent first edges 20 thereof by the connecting portion 18. The connecting portion 18 is flexible such that the folder 12 can be moved between an open configuration, in which the first and second side walls 16 and 17 are generally coplanar and a closed configuration, in which the first and second side walls 16 and 17 are adjacent each other.

[033] The binder 14 is provided to be secured within the folder 12 such that the binder 14 is enclosed by the folder 12 when the folder 12 is in the closed configuration. A securing strap 28 is provided to secure the first and second side walls 16 and 17 together in the closed configuration.

[034] The binder 14 comprises a spine 22 supporting a plurality of document holding devices 24. In the embodiment shown, the document holding devices 24 comprise rings 25. The rings 25 are openable in a known manner such that sheets 26 may be secured onto the rings 25.

[035] The spine 22 of the binder 14 is removably connected to the folder 12. A first side of the spine 22 is removably connected to the connecting portion 18 of the folder 12 and the rings 25 extend outwardly from an opposed second side of the spine 22.

[036] The spine 22 is connectable to the connecting portion 18 of the folder 12 by a plurality of connectors. There are provided a plurality of first connectors 30 provided on the spine 22 and a plurality of second connectors 31 provided on an inner surface of the connecting portion 18 of the folder 12. The first connectors 30 are complementary to the second connectors 31 such that each of the first connectors 30 is engageable with one of the second connectors 31.

[037] In the embodiment shown, the first and second connectors 30 and 31 comprise press studs. In the embodiment shown, the first connectors 30 comprise male press stud members and the second connectors 31 comprise female press stud members. The spine 22 may therefore be engaged with the connecting portion 18 of the folder 12 by engaging the male press stud members on the first side of the spine 22 with the corresponding female press stud members on the connecting portion 18 of the folder.

[038] The folder 12 is to be provided in a high quality material, such as a high grade leather. The compendium 10 may be used to store sheets 26 relating to a particular event in the binder 14 within the folder 12. When the compendium 10 is to be used for storing documents for a different event, the spine 22 may be disconnected from the folder 12. The binder 14 is then stored in a separate storage container 50 (not shown), provided to secure the documents for long term storage. A further binder 14 may then be attached to the folder 12 for further use of the compendium 10.

[039] Figures 12 to 14 show an embodiment of a storage container 50. The storage container 50 comprises a base 52 having a pivotable lid 54. The base 52 comprises a lower wall 56 and an edge wall 58 extending upwardly from around the periphery of the lower wall 54. A dividing wall 60 is also provided extending between opposite sides of the edge wall 58 to divide the interior of the base 52 of the storage container into two compartments in the embodiment shown.

[040] The lower wall 54 of the storage container 50 includes a plurality of second connectors 31 in each of the compartments. The second connectors 31 in the embodiment shown comprise female press stud members such that the binder 14 may be placed within one of the compartments of the storage container 50 and secured to the lower wall 54. The binder 14 may thereby be securely held within the storage container 50 so that the folder 12 may be reused.

[041] Figure 11 shows a particular construction of the folder 12. The folder 12 comprises in this embodiment first and second rigid side panels 32 and 33. The side panels 32 and 33 are covered on both sides by padding sheets 34 and then by front and back sheets 36 and 37 respectively, which may be provided as a leather material, as mentioned previously.

[042] Inner surfaces of the first and second side walls 16 and 17 are provided further with first and second sheet portions 38a and 38b. The first and second sheet portions 38a and 38b are connected to the inner surfaces of the first and second side walls 16 and 17 respectively, around the peripheries thereof. An end flap 40 is provided on a second edge of the first side wall 16. The end flap 40 is moveable from a closed position to an open position to provide access to a pocket defined between the first sheet portion 38a and the front sheet 36.

[043] A plurality of studs 42 are provided extending through the layers of the connection portion 18 to secure together the layers of the folder 12 along the connecting portion 18. The studs 42 are provided extending along a line located between first edges 20 of the first and second side walls 16 and 17. The second connectors 31 are connected to studs 42 to secure the second connectors 31 on an inner surface of the connecting portion 18.

[044] The compendium 10 includes also a pocket 44 for holding a mobile phone 45. The pocket 44 is provided on an inner surface of the first side wall 16. A pen sleeve 46 is provided for securing a pen 47. The pen sleeve 46 is provided, in the embodiment shown, on an inner surface of the second side wall 17 of the folder 12.

[045] It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.

Claims (9)

1. The claims defining the invention are as follows:

   1. A compendium comprising a folder having first and second side walls, a flexible connecting portion and a binder having a spine and one or more document holders, wherein the spine is removably connected to a surface of the connecting portion.
2. 2. A compendium in accordance with claim 1, wherein the spine is provided with first connectors engageable with complementary second connectors provided on the connecting portion.
3. 3. A compendium in accordance with claim 2, wherein the first and second connectors comprise male press stud members and female press stud members.
4. 4. A compendium in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of studs are provided extending through the connecting portion of the folder and the second connectors are connected to the studs to secure the second connectors on an inner surface of the connecting portion.
5. 5. A compendium in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the document holders comprise rings for holding sheets.
6. 6. A compendium in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein a pocket is provided for holding a mobile phone, the pocket being provided on an inner surface of the first side wall.
7. 7. A compendium in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein a pen sleeve is provided for securing a pen, the pen sleeve being provided in on an inner surface of the second side wall of the folder.
8. 8. A compendium in accordance with any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein a storage container is provided having second connectors provided on an inner surface thereof to secure to the first connectors of the binder when removed from the folder.
9. 9. A compendium in accordance with claim 8, wherein the storage container comprises a base and a pivotable lid, the base comprising a lower wall and a peripheral edge wall, and wherein the second connectors are provided on the lower wall.