Three-ring easel binder with extension supports

Abstract

A three-ring binder apparatus with extension supports for the secure, hands-free display of up to six pages of material without requiring any other external supports is described. The apparatus facilitates a simple method to turn the pages on an easel or similar freestanding display, and secure them in a desired position. The apparatus is designed as a tool for the display of choreographed workouts, music sheets, and any other situation where multiple pages are needed to be easily accessed. The apparatus consists of a three-ring binder (may be either a freestanding three-ring easel binder or a standard flat three-ring binder), two extension supports, and clipboard-style clips that can be pivoted or folded back into the binder to ease the break-down and transport of the apparatus. The device preferably includes clear pocketed tri-fold sheet protectors or other tri-fold devices.

Claims

1. A method for displaying six pages of paper on the same plane at eyelevel of a user comprising: affixing an easel support to a rear of a three-ring binder; extending the easel support to the floor; orienting the easel support such that it is at eyelevel of the user; opening the three-ring binder, revealing a first extension support disposed on a right side of the three-ring binder, a second extension support disposed on a left side of the three-ring binder, a first clip-board styled clip disposed on the first extension support, a second clip-board styled clip disposed on the second extension support, and three-rings disposed at a center spine of the three-ring binder; pivoting the first extension support from the right side of the three-ring binder out and away from the center spine of the three-ring binder; pivoting the second extension support from the left side of the three-ring binder out and away from the center spine of the three-ring binder; placing the pages of paper into tri-fold sheet protectors; affixing the tri-fold sheet protectors to the three-rings of the three-ring binder; unfolding a first tri-fold sheet protector to the right of the three-rings such that all three page display panes of the first tri-fold sheet protector is laid out in the same plane; affixing the first tri-fold sheet protector to the first extension support via the first clip-board styled clip, maintaining the first tri-fold sheet protector in the extended position; unfolding a second tri-fold sheet protector to the left of the three-rings such that all three page display panes of the second tri-fold sheet protector are laid out in the same plane; affixing the first tri-fold sheet protector to the second extension support via the second clip-board styled clip, maintaining the second tri-fold sheet protector in the extended position; wherein said easel support is configured to support said three-ring binder at an angle, distributing the weight of said three-ring binder, said first extension support, and said second extension support evenly, maintaining the easel binder in an upright, viewable position; and wherein the easel support is in communication with the three-ring binder via a pivot hinge.

2. A method for the erection and portable use of a six-page display stand comprising: opening a three-ring binder; extending a stand from a rear of the three-ring binder by pivoting an easel support out and away from said three-ring binder via a pivot point disposed at a center of the three-ring binder; extending a first extension support by pivoting the first extension support about a first pivot point attachment until it is parallel and inline with a top of the three-ring binder, the first pivot point attachment disposed at a top right corner of a right side of the three-ring binder; extending a second extension support by pivoting the second extension support about a second pivot point attachment until it is parallel and inline with the top of the three-ring binder, the second pivot point attachment disposed at a top left corner of a left side of the three-ring binder; opening the three rings of the three-ring binder; affixing sheet protectors to the three-rings of the three-ring binder, the sheet protectors configured with three sections each, each section configured to house one of three pages, the three sections disposed atop one another; closing the three rings of the three-ring binder; resting the sheet protectors on the right side of the three-ring binder; unfolding the sheet protectors, causing all three pages contained within each sheet protector to be disposed upright and inline with the three-ring binder in the open position; turning a sheet protector from the right side of the three-ring binder over to the left side of the three-ring binder about the three rings of the three-ring binder; affixing the sheet protector of the left side of the three ring binder to the second extension support via a first clipboard-style clip; affixing the sheet protectors disposed on the right side of the three-ring binder to the first extension support via a second clipboard-style clip; and viewing six pages simultaneously.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: unclipping the second clipboard-style clip to release one sheet protector, turning a sheet protector from the right side to the left side about the three rings of the three-ring binder; clipping the sheet protector in position on the left side via the first clipboard-style clip; and viewing six more pages simultaneously.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: folding the sheet protectors such that each of the three sections of each sheet protector are in the same plane; retracting the first extension support and the second extension support such that they are fully contained within the three-ring binder; retracting the stand such that it is on the same plane as the right side and left side of the three-ring binder; and closing the three-ring binder.

5. A method for displaying six pages of paper on the same plane at eyelevel of a user comprising: opening a three-ring binder, revealing a first extension support disposed on a right side of the three-ring binder, a second extension support disposed on a left side of the three-ring binder, a first clip-board styled clip disposed on the first extension support, a second clip-board styled clip disposed on the second extension support, and three-rings disposed at a center spine of the three-ring binder; pivoting out a planar support from a rear of the three-ring binder such that it extends out and away from a center of the three-ring binder; orienting the three-ring binder such that it is at eyelevel of the user, supported atop a flat surface; pivoting the first extension support from the right side of the three-ring binder out and away from the center spine of the three-ring binder; pivoting the second extension support from the left side of the three-ring binder out and away from the center spine of the three-ring binder; placing the pages of paper into tri-fold sheet protectors; affixing the tri-fold sheet protectors to the three-rings of the three-ring binder; unfolding a first tri-fold sheet protector to the right of the three-rings such that all three page display panes of the first tri-fold sheet protector is laid out in the same plane; affixing the first tri-fold sheet protector to the first extension support via the first clip-board styled clip, maintaining the first tri-fold sheet protector in the extended position; unfolding a second tri-fold sheet protector to the left of the three-rings such that all three page display panes of the second tri-fold sheet protector are laid out in the same plane; affixing the first tri-fold sheet protector to the second extension support via the second clip-board styled clip, maintaining the second tri-fold sheet protector in the extended position; and, wherein said planar support is configured to support said three-ring binder at an angle, distributing the weight of said three-ring binder, said first extension support, and said second extension support evenly, maintaining the easel binder in an upright, viewable position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a front and side view of the present invention, showing a simple front view with extension supports folded and side view as an easel binder with the extension supports extended.

(3) FIG. 2 is a front view of the binder with extensions supports extended, showing a general layout with no pocket inserts or pages shown.

(4) FIG. 3 exhibits a front view of the present invention with extensions extended and the transparent trifold sheet protectors shown.

(5) FIG. 4 displays a front view of the general layout of the present invention with inserts shown in the tri-fold sheet protectors of the present invention.

(6) For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout the Figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

(7) The present invention relates to the display and manipulation of multiple pages of printed material in a three-ring binder (10) for ease of reading and referring to the material contained on up to six pages without having to turn the page, especially where there is no stand on which to put the binder. The present invention is equipped with a display (20), a clipboard-style clip (16), an extension support (14), an easel support (12), and a tri-fold sheet protector (18). When a page is required to be turned, it is a simple task of releasing the material to display (20) from under the clipboard-style clip (16) supported by the extension support (14), pulling the page across and re-securing the material to display (20) on the other side under the clipboard-style clip (16) on the extension support (14), revealing the back of one set of three, and the front of a new set. The set of three sheets is preferably held together by a tri-fold sheet protector (18), or other similar device securing the three sheets together. This is particularly useful when multiple sheets must be referred to, but the user of the material cannot easily turn the pages each time a sheet is no longer needed in order to access the next sheet.

(8) The base of the present invention consists of a three-ring binder (10). The three-ring binder (10) is equipped with a first cover (40) and a second cover (50) similar to those found on conventional binders. The three-ring binder (10) may be an easel binder as shown in FIG. 1. If an easel binder is used, the binder would be freestanding, being supported by the easel support (12). Otherwise, it would have to be externally supported, as on a music stand. An extension support (14) is attached to the first cover (40) and an extension support (14) is attached to the second cover (50) of the three-ring binder (10) via a pivot point attachment (60) or hinge. In FIG. 1, the extension support (14) is shown in a folded position. A clipboard-style clip (16) is shown attached to each extension support (14). Some embodiments of the present invention need not employ an easel support, and are instead equipped with a planar support configured to pivot out and away from the center of the three-ring binder (10), maintaining the three-ring binder (10) in an upright, eyelevel position when disposed atop a flat surface, such as a table.

(9) In FIG. 2, each extension support (14) is shown in the extended position, having been pivoted on a pivot point attachment (60). The extension support (14) may be constructed of wood, plastic, acrylic, metallic alloy, or any other suitable semi-rigid or rigid material. Again, a clipboard-style clip (16) is shown attached to an extension support (14). For ease of understanding, each extension support (14) is shown in the folded position as faint lines in FIG. 2. The fact that the extension support (14) can be folded back is important in that this allows for portability of the device, which when folded is as large as a normal, conventional three-ring binder.

(10) In FIG. 3, each extension support (14) is shown in the extended position and the transparent tri-fold sheet protector (18) is shown inserted into the three-ring binder (10). The tri-fold sheet protector (18) is shown here for ease of understanding. Any sheet which is greater than 17 wide may be used. If a tri-fold sheet protector (18) is used, the sheets will easily fold back into the binder when moved. If a wider sheet is used, it must be folded to get set back into the binder prior to each extension support (14) pivoting back into the three-ring binder (10) for transport via the pivot point attachments (60).

(11) In FIG. 4, note that material to place on display (20) has been inserted in the tri-fold sheet protector (18). It is otherwise the same as FIG. 3.

(12) Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.

(13) Having illustrated the present invention, it should be understood that various adjustments and versions might be implemented without venturing away from the essence of the present invention. Further, it should be understood that the present invention is not solely limited to the invention as described in the embodiments above, but further comprises any and all embodiments within the scope of this application.

(14) The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.