Loose-leaf ring-binders are typically cloth, plastic or leather-bound notebooks containing two or more-metal or plastic rings which can be opened and closed for inserting and removing pages. Punched holes in a page, which allow the page to be captured and retained in a ring-binder, are subject to wear, and after some period of time, the holes can become torn. Loose-leaf pages may be lost from a binder after such tearing has taken place.

Paper and plastic O-shaped, i. e., ring-shaped, adhesive reinforcements (typically measuring approximately 9/16 inches in diameter, with a 1/4 inch diameter hole) are commercially available for repairing and/or reinforcing punched holes in loose-leaf pages. These reinforcements are coated on their lower surface with either a re-wettable adhesive or a pressure-sensitive adhesive. A number of adhesive accessory devices which generally relate to storage and reinforcement of loose- leaf pages have been described.

Hansen, in U. S. Pat. No. 4,822,446 describes an apparatus for preparing and applying V-or chevron-shaped reinforcements for binding holes in paper. This patent also provides a review of related devices.

Maish in U. S. Pat. No. 1,869,385 describes tear- resistant circular ring reinforcements attached at their edges for easier packaging and use.

Hedrick in U. S. Pat. No. 2,437,640 shows a strip of C-shaped reinforcements which can be applied to loose-leaf sheets without opening the rings of the binder.

Vassar, in U. S. Pat. No. 2,589,168 shows reinforcements on strips or sheets in which oppositely facing rows of U-shaped reinforcements are interleaved.

Perri, in U. S. Pat. No. 2,764,501 describes generally square-shaped, pressure-sensitive adhesive-coated reinforcements on a roll, in which individual reinforcements are separated by perforations.

Block in U. S. Pat. No. 4,662,770 and Russo in U. S.

Pat. No. 5,364,200 describe strips or tapes with pressure- sensitive adhesives, and a pre-selected pattern of punched holes for reinforcing a surface of a loose-leaf page.

Summary of the Invention This invention pertains to hinged adhesive reinforcement devices for paper sheets, i. e., loose-leaf pages, having punched holes for insertion into loose-leaf binders. More particularly, the invention concerns the structure and use of a foldable reinforcement device fabricated from a sheet or film which is coated on one surface with adhesive.

Applicant has observed that when loose-leaf page holes are torn, a common problem arises as one or more fragments of paper extending from the hole (s) to the paper's edge are often ripped away and lost. When a conventional pressure-sensitive, adhesive-coated reinforcement device for a punched hole (such as a circular ring described above) is attached over such a damaged page, a problem persists. Since a paper fragment is missing at the loose-leaf hole, a portion of the adhesive surface of the reinforcement remains unattached to the paper sheet at this spot, and remains exposed and sticky. When this repaired page is re-inserted among other pages in the loose-leaf binder and subjected to normal compressive forces, the exposed adhesive tends to become undesirably attached to the next page in the binder. This undesirable process (termed"secondary attachment") is problematic because it weakens the attachment of the adhesive ring to the original page. In fact, the adhesive ring often becomes detached from the original page when secondary attachment occurs.

To deal with this problem, it is not unusual for a person to attach a second adhesive ring to the back side of the page (directly beneath the first ring) to form a sandwich-like structure which masks any exposed adhesive.

While the use of two adhesive rings in this manner can eliminate the problem of exposed adhesive, the procedure is awkward, and requires manipulation, application and alignment of two restoration devices rather than one.

The present device overcomes the problems of missing paper fragments and exposed adhesive by providing opposing adhesive-coated surfaces in a single reinforcement device.

Such a device thus contains one or two holes, and a folding line which permits a portion of the device to be adhered to one side of a page, and the remaining portion to be folded, wrapped around, and adhered to the other side of the page to form a sandwich-like structure. This folding inward of the adhesive surface eliminates any exposed adhesive on a page which could otherwise contact another loose-leaf page in the binder. If the reinforcement device contains two holes, it typically has a creasing line located between, and approximately equidistant from the two holes. This creasing line (also termed a folding line), which functions as a hinge, can be located and fixed on the reinforcement by, for example, notches, slits, perforations, or a crease formed in a straight line across the device.

In use, the reinforcement device is aligned over a loose-leaf page hole, extended over the inside edge of the loose-leaf page and folded over this edge. The two reinforcement holes in the device are essentially self- aligning with a page hole when the device is folded over the edge of the page, provided that the distance separating the two reinforcement holes is approximately equal to twice the distance separating the page hole from the page edge. When the holes are aligned, the sandwich- like structure (with the page in the middle) is squeezed together, and the reinforcement simultaneously and coordinately adheres to both the upper and lower surfaces of the page immediately surrounding the punched hole. The folded reinforcement sandwich geometry also serves to lock the reinforcement onto the page. That is, the reinforcement cannot easily detach or peel away from the edge of the page since it is folded over this edge. Thus, one of the presently invented reinforcements is essentially locked onto a page, and is more peel-resistant and more rapidly attached to a page than two of the prior art adhesive rings for reinforcing two sides of a punched hole.

The term"loose-leaf page"refers to a paper page which is sized for storage in a notebook, termed a"loose- leaf binder assembly", which is also commonly known as a loose-leaf notebook. A loose-leaf page typically contains at least two punched holes, and very often, three punched round holes along one side of the page. The spacing of these punched holes coincides with the spacing of the metal or plastic retaining rings (also called"binder rings"or"rings"for retaining the loose-leaf pages) which constitute a critical part of the structure of the loose-leaf binder assembly. The binder rings are often referred to as"split-rings"because each ring is composed of two semi-circular portions which can be hinged apart for inserting or removing pages, and then forced closed to secure the pages in the rings.

With regard to a three ring loose-leaf binder assembly manufactured in the United States, the rings are typically separated by 4.25 inches, with the total distance between the outer rings being 8.5 inches. Loose leaf pages manufactured in the U. S., and having 8.5 inch x 11 inch page dimensions, typically have punched loose- leaf page holes measuring 0.25 inches in diameter, with center to center hole spacings of 4.25 inches to match the ring spacings in loose-leaf binder assemblies. Again, for loose-leaf paper manufactured in the U. S., the loose-leaf page holes are typically positioned inward, i. e., indented, from the edge of the page (also termed the 'binder edge"or"inside edge"of the page) approximately 0.25 inches. This indent distance can be described as the separation distance between the inside edge of the loose-leaf page and the proximal edge of the loose-leaf page hole.

The reinforcement devices are also suitable for use one pages for other types of binders and file folders, including but not limited to post-type binders and metal strap type binders. Also, while most three ring loose- leaf binders utilize holes along one long edge of a page, the reinforcement devices are suitable for use to reinforce binder holes located along any edge of a page, for example, holes located along the top edge.

The terms"foldable plastic or fiber-based facestock sheet material"are used to describe the sheet materials used as the principal structural component for fabricating the reinforcement device. A suitable facestock sheet material includes any thermoplastic or fiber-based sheet which is sufficiently flexible to be folded 180° back on itself without breaking, and which is more resistant to tearing than the loose-leaf page being reinforced. Thus, when adhered to a loose-leaf page, and subjected to increasing shear force, the page material will begin tearing before the reinforcement material. Preferably the sheet has a thickness from 1 to 10 thousandths of an inch, and more preferably 2 to 6 thousandths of an inch.

The sizes and distances discussed for the reinforcement devices are selected so that the placement of the reinforcement holes will match the placement of the loose-leaf page holes of a page, so that the loose-leaf page holes and the reinforcement holes will align when the reinforcement device is installed on a page as described.

Thus, when the page is placed in a binder, the binder rings (or other binder device) aligns with the reinforcement holes and other loose-leaf page holes.

Thus, in connection with the size and placement of the reinforcement holes in a reinforcement device, the term "approximately"indicates that the actual dimension is sufficiently close to the stated dimension so that the reinforcement hole or holes will at least partially align with the loose-leaf page holes of a loose-leaf page on which the reinforcement device is subsequently installed and will therefore be of sufficient size to accommodate and will align with the binder ring (s) of a binder for which the page is intended. Generally the diameter of a a loose-leaf page hole, and therefore of a corresponding reinforcement hole, is sufficiently larger than the binder ring of a binder for which the page is intended so that the page will move freely on the binder ring. Also, the distance from the folding line to a reinforcement hole is sufficient to provide the needed strength to retain the page in a binder after the reinforcement device is installed, and preferably is at least 0.1 inches.

Generally, for reinforcement hole sizes, the actual value differs by no more than 33% from the stated value, preferably by no more than 25%, more preferably by no more than 15%, still more preferably by no more than 10%, and most preferably by no more than 5%. In connection with the distance between the reinforcement holes of a reinforcement hole pair or from the folding line to a reinforcement hole or from the folding line to a second end of a reinforcement device, generally the actual value differs from the stated value by no more than the greater of 33% of the stated distance or 50% of the reinforcement hole diameter, preferably by no more than the greater of 25% or 30% respectively, still more preferably by no more than the greater of 15% or 20% respectively or 10% and 15% respectively, and most preferably by no more than the greater of 5% and 7% respectively. For the distance between the reinforcement holes of a multiple hole reinforcement device, the actual distance generally differs by no more than 50% of the reinforcement hole diameter from the stated distance, preferably by no more than 25%, more preferably by no more than 15% or 10%, and most preferably by no more than 5%.

A suitable plastic facestock sheet material used in the device is a transparent, translucent, or opaque thermoplastic, and is preferably selected from the group consisting of polyester film, polyvinyl film, polyethylene film, polypropylene film and the like.

A suitable fiber-based facestock sheet material can be either a sheet composed principally of a fiber material, e. g., paper, or alternatively, a sheet material reinforced by a fiber material. Such a sheet material is either opaque or translucent, and includes both woven and non-woven fibers, which are either of natural or synthetic origin such as wood, cotton, hemp, polyester, and the like.

The term"reinforcement holes"refers to holes (approximately 0.1 to 0.5 inches in diameter) which are preferably round in shape, usually formed by punch or die- cutting, and which penetrate through the facestock sheet material. When reinforcement devices of the present invention have been correctly folded along its"folding midline", and attached to a loose-leaf page, the loose- leaf binder rings can be inserted through the reinforcement holes which approximately coincide and co- align with the underlying loose-leaf page hole. The term, "folding midline", refers to any discontinuity formed in the facestock material, serving as a transverse hinge to facilitate a symmetric folding-in-half of the device.

Thus, the folding midline is generally oriented straight across the middle of the device, perpendicular to a line which would connect the centers of the reinforcement holes in the device. Perforations, slits, notches, or a crease, or combinations, can be used to form the folding midline.

Thus, in a first aspect, the invention features an adhesive reinforcement device configured and arranged to reinforce the paper page material around a loose-leaf page hole, to prevent damage or loss of a loose-leaf page held within a loose-leaf binder assembly. The device includes a sized portion of foldable plastic or fiber-based facestock sheet material having a first upper surface, and an adhesively coated first lower surface. The device also includes at least one pair (i. e., at least two) of reinforcement holes penetrating the facestock sheet material, in which the holes of a pair are separated by a spacing distance (abbreviated SD), equal to approximately twice the indent distance (abbreviated ID), between the binder edge of the page and the proximal edge of the loose-leaf page hole of the loose-leaf for which the device is intended. The device also includes a folding midline located approximately halfway between the two reinforcement holes, enabling the device to be folded over the binder edge of the page. The two reinforcement holes are co-aligned with the loose-leaf page hole, and the device is adhered to, and reinforces both a second upper surface portion and a second lower surface portion of the paper loose-leaf page, in which these cited portions are located around, and adjacent to the loose-leaf page hole.

Thus, embodiments of this aspect include devices with a single pair of reinforcement holes for reinforcing a single loose-leaf page hole, and devices with 2,3, or more pairs of holes to reinforce 2,3, or more loose-leaf page holes respectively on a single page.

For devices of the above aspect, the folding line is located, as described, halfway between the reinforcement holes for the first aspect. However, the term"halfway"includes small deviations from that position. While exact middle positioning is preferable, deviations are acceptable so long as the deviation does not result in so much exposed adhesive following placement of the device on a page that page to page adhesion interferes with the reinforcement function (such as when adjacent pages are separated), or result in such misalignment of reinforcement holes that a binder ring will not pass through the pair of reinforcement holes.

Preferably, the position with respect to the exact midline is within 10% of the reinforcement hole diameter, more preferably within 5%, and more preferably within 3%.

In a related second aspect, the invention features an adhesive reinforcement device configured and arranged to reinforce the paper page material around a loose-leaf page hole, to prevent damage or loss of a loose-leaf page held within a loose-leaf binder assembly. The device includes a sized portion of foldable plastic or fiber-based facestock sheet material having a first upper surface, and an adhesively coated first lower surface. The device also includes a reinforcement hole penetrating the facestock material, in which the reinforcement hole is positioned proximally to a first end of the device and distally to a second end of the device. With regard to dimensions, the device extends an extension distance (abbreviated ED), between the reinforcement hole and the second end of the device, where ED is approximately twice the page indent distance (abbreviated ID) between the binder edge of the loose-leaf page and the proximal edge of the loose-leaf page hole of a loose-leaf page for which the device is intended. The device also includes a transverse folding line, where the distance, FD, (abbreviated FD for folding line distance) between the folding line and the reinforcement hole in the device is approximately equal to the indent distance, ID. This folding line allows the device to be folded over the binder edge of the page. The reinforcement hole is aligned with the loose-leaf page hole, and the device is adhered to, and reinforces both a second upper surface portion and a second lower surface portion of the paper page, where these portions are located around and adjacent to the loose-leaf page hole.

Alternatively, the second end may have a curved portion which approximately aligns with a portion of the first end of the device surrounding the reinforcement hole when the device is folded along the transverse folding line. Thus, when this device is adhered to a loose-leaf page with the reinforcement hole aligned in the first end aligned with a loose-leaf page hole and the device is folded at the transverse folding line to adhere the second end on the back of the page, the second end aligns with a portion of the first end around the loose- leaf page hole. As a result the reinforcement extends around the page hole on one side of the page and partially around the page hole on the opposite side of the page.

Preferably ED and FD do not differ to such an extent that exposed adhesive interferes with the hole reinforcement function or result in the blockage of the reinforcement hole when the device is folded and adhered.

Preferably those distances do not differ by more than 20% of the reinforcement hole diameter, more preferably by no more than 10%, and most preferably by no more than 5%.

In preferred embodiments of the above aspects, the adhesive coating on the first lower surface is a pressure- sensitive adhesive or a re-wettable adhesive. In the case of a pressure-sensitive adhesive, in preferred embodiments the adhesive is preferably selected from the group consisting of acrylic-based and rubber-based pressure- sensitive adhesives. These adhesives are preferably applied in a coating thickness typically ranging from 0.0005 inches to 0.003 inches. Most typically, one to two thousandths inch of adhesive thickness is applied to the first lower surface. Re-wettable adhesives are well known in the art, and are usually water-soluble gums such as those commonly used to secure postal envelopes and stamps.

In other preferred embodiments of the two aspects, the shape of the device is generally rectangular, and the folding midline or, alternatively, the transverse folding line, spans the width of the rectangle.

In yet other embodiments of the two aspects, the structural form of the folding midline, or alternatively, the transverse folding line, is selected from the group consisting of a folding crease, slit-type perforations, hole-type perforations, and notches. The reinforcement holes in the device preferably have a diameter ranging between approximately 0.10 inches and 0.50 inches more preferably 0.2 to 0.5 inches, and most preferably 0.2 to 0.3 inches.

In still other embodiments of the two aspects, the facestock sheet material in the device is transparent, translucent, or opaque, and is selected from the group consisting of polyester film, polyvinyl film, polyethylene film and polypropylene film.

In other embodiments of the two aspects, the reinforcement device further comprises a release paper liner which is removably attached to, and protects the adhesive coating on the device prior to use.

A"release paper liner sheet"refers to a sheet which is selected or treated to have a surface to which adhesive coated sheet devices (e. g., the adhesive coated reinforcement devices of the present invention) can be removably adhered. Thus, the adhesive coated device can be peeled from the release paper liner sheet without adhesive remaining on the liner sheet (i. e., adhesive is not pulled from the adhesive coated device). Commonly, siliconized paper is used for this purpose, e. g., siliconized KRAFT release paper. However, any sheet material which allows the adhesive coated devices to be removed without adhesive transfer can be used.

In preferred embodiments of the above first aspect, the shape of the device can also be generally elliptical, and the folding midline coincides with the minor axis of the ellipse, or the shape of the device is generally a figure eight, and the folding midline bisects the intersection, and separates the loops of the figure eight.

In another preferred embodiment of the above first aspect, the reinforcement holes are separated by a spacing distance ranging between approximately 0.2 inches and 1.0 inches. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the two reinforcement holes have a diameter of approximately 0.25 inches (e. g., 0.2 to 0.3 inches), and are separated by a spacing distance of approximately 0.5 inches (e. g., 0.45 to 0.55 inches). Alternatively, in preferred embodiments of the above aspects, the distance from the folding line, or folding midline, or transverse folding line to a reinforcement hole is approximately 0.1 to 0.5 inches, e. g., approximately 0.1 to 0.3,0.2 to 0.3,0.2 to 0.4, or 0.3 to 0.5.

In preferred embodiments of the above aspects, the device is constructed to provide reinforcement of two, three, or more holes on a single page with a single device. In this embodiment, the portions of the device near the reinforcement holes are as described above.

Those portions are connected with additional adhesively coated plastic or fiber-based facestock sheet material (connecting portions) such that the reinforcement holes, or pairs of reinforcement holes, are separated by a hole separation distance which preferably matches the hole separation distance on a page for which the device is to be used. The connecting portions of the device can be constructed such that the connecting portions adhere to only one surface of the page along or adjacent to the binder edge of the page, or can be constructed such that the folding line is continuous along the long dimension of the device so that the entire length of the device folds around the binder edge of the page, resulting in the connecting portions adhering to both sides of the page along the binder edge.

In a third related aspect, the present invention features an adhesive reinforcement device sheet which includes multiple copies of the reinforcement device as described above. The multiple copies are removably attached to a release paper liner sheet which holds and protects the adhesive coating on each device prior to its use. Preferably the sheet contains at least 5,10,20, 50,100 or more copies.

In a preferred embodiment, the release paper liner sheet carrying multiple copies of the reinforcement device is sized for storage in a loose-leaf binder assembly for ready availability of the devices when they are needed for repair and reinforcement of loose-leaf pages. The release paper liner sheet preferably has punched holes along one edge to allow convenient insertion in a loose-leaf binder.

In a fourth related aspect, this invention features an assembly which includes both a loose-leaf page, and at least one adhesive reinforcement device (described in the above first and second aspects of the invention), which is attached to the page. The device is adhered to portions of the upper and lower surfaces of the loose-leaf page, in which these portions are located immediately around and adjacent to the loose-leaf page hole.

In a fifth related aspect, the invention provides a method for reinforcing or repairing loose-leaf page holes by attaching a reinforcement device as described above.

The device is folded around the binder edge of a loose- leaf page such that the reinforcement hole or holes of the device align with the loose-leaf page hole. In preferred embodiments the reinforcement device reinforces a single loose-leaf page hole or reinforces 2,3, or more loose- leaf page holes on a single page.

As described above, the reinforcement devices are intended to be used on loose-leaf pages which have loose- leaf page holes which are indented from the binder edge a distance which is approximately matched by the distance from the folding line to the reinforcement hole in the device. In this way the reinforcement holes and the loose-leaf page holes co-align when the device is installed on the page. However, the devices can also be used on pages which do not previously have loose-leaf page holes or in which the indent distance of the page holes does not match the distance from the folding line to the reinforcement hole of the device. In these cases, a hole in the page can be punched after installation of the reinforcement device by punching through the reinforcement hole of the installed device.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the subsequent detailed description presented in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following Description of the Preferred Embodiments and from the claims.

The drawings will first be briefly be described.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is top view of three adhesive-coated reinforcements having two reinforcement holes, provided on a release paper backing.

Figure 2 is top view of three adhesive-coated reinforcements having one reinforcement hole provided on a release paper backing.

Figure 3a, b, and c, show successive steps in attaching the two reinforcements shown in Fig. la and Fig.

2b, respectively, to a loose-leaf page 10 are depicted.

In Fig. 3a, page 10 with torn punched holes 12 is shown.

In Fig. 3b, the attachment and folding of the reinforcements is shown in progress. In Fig. 3c, the adhesion of the reinforcements to both the upper surface (shown) and lower surface (not shown) of the page 10 has been completed.

Figure 4 is a top view of multiple reinforcements of Figure 1 provided on a release paper backing, in a format suitable for storage in a loose-leaf ring-binder.

General Description This section describes the structure and use of adhesive reinforcement devices which are suitable for simultaneously reinforcing both sides of a loose-leaf page, and more specifically, reinforcing the paper material around punched holes in such pages to be stored in loose-leaf-binders. By providing a folding reinforcement, and attaching the reinforcement over the edge of a loose-leaf page, a sandwich structure is obtained, with the page essentially locked in the middle.

Compared to conventional reinforcements which are adhered to only one side of a page, the new reinforcement provides improved resistance to peeling, and serves to prevent further tearing, and the possibility of page loss from a loose-leaf binder.

The new reinforcements are preferably die-cut from a pressure-sensitive adhesive-coated plastic film or paper sheet. The adhesive reinforcements are preferably provided on a release paper backing to protect the adhesive surface prior to use particularly for reinforcements having pressure-sensitive adhesive. The release paper also allows convenient storage and access to multiple reinforcements on a single sheet. The single sheet can also be sized to approximately the same dimensions as a loose-leaf page, e. g., 8.5 in. by 11 in., so that the reinforcements can be conveniently stored in a loose-leaf ring binder. Adhesive-coated polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene or polyvinyl plastic films, and adhesive-coated paper sheets are all examples of materials suitable for manufacture of the intended reinforcements. These films or sheet materials (commercially known as"facestock"materials) which are coated with adhesive are generally between approximately 0.002 and 0.010 inches thick. Acrylic or rubber-type permanent adhesive coatings well known in the art, and typically ranging in thickness from approximately 0.0005 in. to 0.003 in. can be used as coatings on the lower surface of these reinforcements. Alternatively, re- wettable adhesives, also known in the art can be used, but these adhesives must be moistened before the reinforcement can be attached to a page.

The design of three exemplary hinged symmetric reinforcement devices of the present invention are shown in Figures la, lb, and lc. Individual hinged reinforcements 10 are die-cut from a clear or white polyester thermoplastic facestock material 12 which has been adhesively coated on its lower surface 14 using a permanent pressure-sensitive acrylic adhesive (not shown).

In Figs. la, lb, and lc, rectangular, oval-shaped and figure-eight-shaped reinforcements are respectively shown for loose-leaf pages measuring approximately 8.5 inches by 11 inches. The single reinforcements 10 measure approximately 0.5 inches in length 16, and 1.25 inches in width 18. A folding midline 20 (in the form of a line of perforations or a crease, for example) placed across the center of the reinforcement 10, is oriented perpendicular to a line 22 connecting the centers of the two reinforcement holes 24, and functions as a hinge which allows the reinforcement 10 to be folded in half just after (or, alternatively, just prior to attachment adjoining the edge of a loose-leaf paper sheet.

Perforations cut across approximately half of the height of the facestock material 12 along the folding midline 20, leaving a substantial strength and continuity in the facestock material 12 between the front portion 26, and the rear portion 28 of the reinforcement 10 after it has been attached and folded over the edge 34 of the loose leaf page 32 (see Figure 3) create the folding midline 20.

For the reinforcements shown in Fig. 1, folding of the reinforcement 10 yields a reinforced"footprint"area on each side of the page measuring 0.5 inches in length and 0.625 inches in width. The two symmetrically punched reinforcement holes 24 (having diameters of 0.25 inches) are separated by 0.5 inches of reinforcement material, and are displaced 0.25 inches to each side of the folding midline 20. Similarly (see Fig. 3), the 0.25 inch diameter punched paper hole 30 in the loose-leaf page 32 is displaced inward 0.25 inches from the edge 34 of the loose-leaf page 32. Thus, with the folding midline 20 placed at the edge 34 of the loose-leaf page 32, and the reinforcement holes 24 separated 0.25 inches from the folding midline 20, the reinforcement holes 24 precisely align with the punched paper hole 30. A release paper sheet 36 is removably attached over the adhesive coating on the lower surface 14 of the facestock material 12.

In Figures 2a, 2b and 2c, the design of three hinged asymmetric reinforcement devices of the present invention are shown. As in Fig. 1, individual hinged reinforcements 10 are die-cut from a thermoplastic facestock material 12 which has been adhesively coated on its lower surface 14 using a permanent pressure-sensitive acrylic adhesive (not shown). However, unlike the reinforcements in Fig. 1, those in Fig. 2 contain only one reinforcement hole 24.

One end of the reinforcement device 10 containing the reinforcement hole 24 is aligned over a punched paper hole 30 in a loose-leaf page 32. The other end of the reinforcement is folded along the transverse folding line 20, around the back side of the page. The single reinforcements 10 measure approximately 0.5 inches in height, and approximately 1.0 inches in width. Transverse folding line 20, is in the form of slit-or hole-type perforations, or a crease, and functions as a hinge, allowing the reinforcement to be folded just after (or, alternatively, just prior to) attachment over the edge 34 of a loose-leaf page 32 (see Fig. 3). The perforation leaves intact, approximately 1/3 to 2/3 of the transverse folding line 20, i. e., the hinge length, in the reinforcement 10 for maintaining strength and continuity between the front portion 26, and the rear portion 28 of the reinforcement 10 after it has been attached and folded over the loose leaf page 32 (see Figure 3). For the reinforcements shown in Fig. 2, folding of the reinforcement 10 yields a reinforced"footprint"area on one side of the page measuring approximately 0.5 inches in height and 0.6 inches in width (as in Fig. 1). On the second side of the page, however, the footprint has the same height but is less wide than those of Fig. 1 because the second reinforcement hole is not present in the reinforcements of Fig. 2. The one punched reinforcement hole 24 (having a diameter of 0.25 inches) is displaced 0.25 inches to one side of the transverse folding line 20.

Similarly, the 0.25 inch diameter punched paper hole 30 in the loose-leaf page 32 is displaced 0.25 inches from the edge 34 of the loose-leaf page 32. Thus, with the transverse folding line placed at the edge 34 of the loose-leaf page 32, and the reinforcement hole 24 separated 0.25 inches from this transverse folding line 20, the reinforcement hole 24 precisely aligns with the punched paper hole 30. A release paper sheet 36 is removably attached over the adhesive coating on the lower surface 14 of the facestock material 12.

In Figure 3a, b, and c, steps in attaching the two reinforcements 10 shown in Fig. la and Fig. 2b, respectively, to a loose-leaf page 34 are depicted. In Fig. 3a, page 34 with torn punched holes 30 is shown. In Fig. 3b, the attachment and folding of the reinforcements is shown in progress. In Fig. 3c, the adhesion of the reinforcements to both the upper surface (shown) and the lower surface (not shown) of the page 10 has been completed.

In Figure 4, an adhesive reinforcement device sheet 38 is shown. A large format release paper sheet 36 (measuring approximately 11 inches long by 7.5 inches wide) carries a matrix of 22 x 6 = 132 reinforcements, each measuring 0.5 inch by 1.25 inches. (For clarity, only one column of reinforcement devices is shown with reinforcement holes.) Such large format sheets 38 may be conveniently stored in the same loose-leaf binder whose paper pages measuring 8.5 inches by 11 inches may require repair and/or reinforcement by the devices herein described. Three punched holes 40 along one side of the adhesive reinforcement device sheet 38 can be used to hold the sheet in the loose-leaf binder.

All patents and publications mentioned in the specification are indicative of the levels of skill of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

All references cited in this disclosure are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference had been incorporated by reference in its entirety individually.

One skilled in the art would readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The materials and dimensions described herein as presently representative of preferred embodiments are exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention are within the scope of the claims.

It will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art that varying substitutions and modifications may be made to the invention disclosed herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be practiced using a variety of facestock sheet materials, methods of creating a folding line, and dimensions of the reinforcement devices.

The invention illustratively described herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element or elements, limitation or limitations which is not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, in each instance herein any of the terms"comprising", <BR> <BR> "consisting essentially of"and"consisting of"may be replaced with either of the other two terms. The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention that in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Thus, it should be understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed by preferred embodiments and optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

In addition, where features or aspects of the invention are described in terms of Markush groups or other grouping of alternatives, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group or other group.

Thus, additional embodiments are within the scope of the invention and within the following claims.