Means of attaching rigid pages to a book-like cover

Abstract

A book format data package that utilizes dovetail shaped clips to attach trays together and to a book-like cover. The clips have internal living hinges molded between each segment. The book-like cover has a cover, spine made of flexible material, back panel and openings on the spine that are smaller than the resting length of the clips. These openings are a set of two parallel mounting recesses that leave a center strip. This center strip is used to lock the trays and book together. To attach the trays to the cover, the clips are folded to a size less than the size of the openings on the cover. There may be one or more locations to attach clips on the cover's spine. After passing through the opening on the cover and over the center strip of flexible material, the clips are pressed forward and returned to their original configuration. A locking rib is molded into the center of each female dovetail shaped pocket. Each clip has a groove down its centerline that the locking rib fits into.

1 . A tray connecting apparatus comprising: 
 a flexible plastic strip having a central, longitudinal living hinge, the strip having one or more tray holder clips connected to each-other, each tray holder clip having opposite tray engagement sides projecting laterally from the central living hinge,    the tray engagement sides having end connectors for fitting mounting recesses in tray edges,    the end connectors having split aligning projection receivers at extremities for receiving aligning projections on the tray edge mounting recesses, and the tray holder clips having openings for receiving securing projections in the tray edge recesses, the openings having internal snaps for cooperating with detents on the securing projections for holding the engagement sides inward with the end connectors and receivers extending outward.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one tray having a connecting edge with mounting recesses and aligning projections in ends of the mounting recesses and securing projections in the recesses.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the mounting recesses are dovetail shaped mounting recesses and are narrower at the connecting edge and are wider inward in the tray.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the aligning projections extend inward from outer corners of the dovetail shaped mounting recesses.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the securing projections comprise projections with enlarged detent ends for fitting in the openings and cooperating with the internal shapes in the openings.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one tray has two spaced mounting recesses.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one end tray having a mounting edge with mounting recess connected to a tray holder clip.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the end tray has inward extending literature clips near an edge opposite the mounting edge for holding pamphlets, booklets and literature.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising opposite first and second end trays.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one end tray comprises a deep tray having a connecting edge with mounting recesses with aligning projections and securing projections near a top of the deep tray.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the securing projections and the detents cooperate with the holes and the snaps for locking the holder clips inward and for holding the receivers laterally outward for engaging the aligning projections.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one tray has a depression with a central rosette for holding a media disc.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a rim around the at least one tray and lugs along edges of the rim for holding a graphic card on a side of the tray opposite the depression.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one tray has opposite depressions with opposite rosettes for holding two media discs on opposite sides of the at least one tray.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one tray further comprises: 
 plural trays with first and second opposite end trays,    the trays having free edges opposite the connecting edges,    the first end tray having a first connector on the free edge,    a flexible fastener strip having first and second ends, the first end connected to the second end tray and having at the second end a complementary second connector for selectively connecting with and disconnecting from the first connector for opening and closing the trays.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the free edges of the plural trays have aligned fastener recesses, and wherein the flexible fastener strip lies within the aligned fastener recesses when the first and second connectors are connected.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first tray has a flap aligned with the aligned fastener recesses and wherein the first connector is on the flap.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the second end tray has a central recess extending along a surface remote from the first end trays.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the central recess has a series of holes, and wherein the fastener strip has a hook on the first end for selectively engaging with one of the holes.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one tray further comprises plural trays with first and second opposite end trays, 
 the trays having free edges opposite the connecting edges,    the first end tray having a first connector on the free edge,    a flexible fastener strip having first and second ends, the first end connected to the second end tray and having at the second end a complementary second connector for selectively connecting with and disconnecting from the first connector for opening and closing the trays,    a book-like cover comprising a front panel, back panel and a flexible spine, and    the stack of trays further comprising first and second end trays, respectively, connected to the front panel and to the back panel.    
   
   
       21 . A package comprising: 
 a stack of one or more individual trays,    one or more sets of mounting recesses along an edge of each individual tray,    one or more sets of clips,    wherein the number of sets of clips corresponds to the number of mounting recesses on the individual trays,    wherein individual clips in each set are hinged relative to one another, and    wherein the individual clips have connectors for connecting the clips to the trays.    
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more sets of clips bend along a longitudinal axis for inserting into the one or more mounting recesses on the edges of the trays.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein after the bent clips are inserted into the mounting recesses, pressure is applied to an exposed surface until the clips return to their initial configuration and for locking the clips into the mounting recesses.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the clips have holes with detents for engaging projections in the mounting recesses.  
   
   
       25 . The package of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more clips are plastic.  
   
   
       26 . The package of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more clips have generally trapezoidal shapes with triangles removed from a longer side surface for bending the one or more clips along the longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       27 . The package of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more clips are hinged to one another by living hinges.  
   
   
       28 . The package of  claim 27 , further comprising anti-tear hinge ribs extending across ends of the living hinges.  
   
   
       29 . The package of  claim 21 , wherein the mounting recesses and clips have complementary dovetail shapes, and further comprising locking ribs projecting inward from ends of the mounting recesses on the individual trays and complementary grooves on ends of the one or more clips for receiving and holding the locking ribs.  
   
   
       30 . The package of  claim 21 , wherein a front or back or both sides of the individual trays hold compact discs, DVDs, digital media, descriptive booklets or other material.  
   
   
       31 . The package of  claim 21 , wherein the individual trays have edge flanges and recessed edges for receiving flanges of a next adjacent tray for avoiding sliding movement of the trays relative to one another.  
   
   
       32 . The package of  claim 21 , wherein leafing through individual trays raises subsequent individual trays.  
   
   
       33 . A package comprising: 
 a book-like cover comprising a front panel, back panel and a flexible spine,    a stack of one or more trays,    the stack of trays further comprising first and second end trays, respectively, connected to the front panel and to the back panel,    one or more sets of mounting recesses along mounting edges of each individual tray,    one or more sets of hinged clips for connecting to the trays,    wherein the sets of clips correspond in number to the mounting recesses on the individual trays,    wherein the one or more sets of clips bend along a central axis for inserting into the one or more mounting recesses on the edges of the trays,    wherein after the bent clips are inserted into the mounting recesses, pressure is applied to exposed surfaces of the clips until the clips return to their initial configuration and the clips lock into the mounting recesses.    
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the clips and the mounting recesses have complementary dovetail shapes, and wherein the one or more sets of clips bend along a central axis for inserting into the one or more mounting recesses on the edges of the trays, and wherein the clips lock in the mounting recesses as the dovetail shaped clips return to their initial configuration.  
   
   
       35 . The package of  claim 33 , wherein the front panel and back panel are cardboard or binder's board.  
   
   
       36 . The package of  claim 35 , wherein the front panel and back panel are multiple layers of cardboard or binder's board.  
   
   
       37 . The package of  claim 36 , wherein the flexible spine is sandwiched between the multiple layers of cardboard or binder's board on the front and back panel, anchoring the spine between the front panel and back panel.  
   
   
       38 . The package of  claim 33 , wherein the front panel and back panel are printed with graphics.  
   
   
       39 . The package of  claim 33 , further comprising one or more pockets for holding paper, brochures, or other documents in at least one of a first and second end tray.  
   
   
       40 . The package of  claim 39 , wherein the one or more pockets are located on the inside surfaces of the end tray connected to the front panel or to the back panel.  
   
   
       41 . The package of  claim 33 , further comprising cutouts in the flexible spine for attaching the flexible spine to the stack of trays.  
   
   
       42 . The package of  claim 41 , wherein the cutouts are two parallel strips for each clip used.  
   
   
       43 . The package of  claim 33 , wherein the one or more clips are plastic.  
   
   
       44 . The package of  claim 33 , wherein the one or more clips have generally trapezoidal shapes with triangles removed from a longer side surface for bending the one or more clips along the longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       45 . The package of  claim 33 , wherein the one or more clips are hinged to one another by living hinges.  
   
   
       46 . The package of  claim 45 , further comprising anti-tear hinge ribs extending across ends of the living hinges.  
   
   
       47 . The package of  claim 33 , wherein the mounting recesses and clips have complementary dovetail shapes, and further comprising locking ribs projecting inward from ends of the mounting recesses on the individual trays and complementary grooves on ends of the one or more clips for receiving and holding the locking ribs.  
   
   
       48 . The package of  claim 33 , wherein a front or back or both sides of the individual trays hold compact discs, DVDs, digital media, descriptive booklets or other material.  
   
   
       49 . The package of  claim 33 , wherein the individual trays have edge flanges and recessed edges for receiving flanges of a next adjacent tray for avoiding sliding movement of the trays relative to one another.  
   
   
       50 . The package of  claim 33 , wherein leafing through individual trays raises subsequent individual trays.  
   
   
       51 . A method of making a package comprising: 
 providing a stack of individual trays with one or more mounting recesses on an edge of the stack of trays,    providing one or more clips, wherein the clips are flexible along a longitudinal axis,    bending clips along the longitudinal axis,    inserting the bent clips into the mounting recesses on the individual trays,    pressing on an exposed surface of the bent clips until the clips return to their initial unbent position.    
   
   
       52 . A method of making a package comprising: 
 providing a stack of individual trays with one or more mounting recesses on an edge of the stack of trays,    providing a book-like cover with a front panel, back panel and flexible spine,    providing cutouts on the flexible spine,    placing the flexible spine in contact with the edge of the stack of trays with the mounting recesses,    providing one or more clips, wherein the clips are flexible along a longitudinal axis,    bending clips along the flexible axis,    inserting the bent clips through the cutouts in the flexible spine and into the mounting recesses on the individual trays,    pressing on an exposed surface of the bent clips until the clips return to their initial unbent position.