Expandable Pocket

Abstract

The present invention relates to an expandable protective pocket arrangement comprising a back panel, two or more front side panels and at least one connecting member for connecting said front side panels, the connecting member or members being arranged to adjust the distance between the front side panels. The present invention provides for a protective system which is expandable and thus able to enclose paper documents and other essentially flat media such as a laptop computers and portable electronic devices. This kind of protection system is particularly well suited to holding office paperwork and study materials. In the form of a simple pocket, it is also a useful addition to many existing filing products, such as a ring binders and lever arch files, which frequently include a way in which to accommodate un(hole)punched pages and other loose documents and reports.

1 . A protective pocket arrangement comprising:
 a back panel;   a plurality of front side panels;   at least one connecting member for connecting said front side panels.   
     
     
         2 . A protective pocket arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said front side panels are connected to said back panel. 
     
     
         3 . A protective pocket arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said connecting member comprises at least one flexible element. 
     
     
         4 . A protective pocket arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said connecting member comprises at least one of a band, a thread, a wire and a strand. 
     
     
         5 . A protective pocket arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said connecting member may be joined in an adjustable arrangement. 
     
     
         6 . A protective pocket arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said connecting member comprises an elastic material. 
     
     
         7 . A protective pocket arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said back panel and/or said front side panels comprise a substantially rigid sheet-like material. 
     
     
         8 . A protective pocket arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said back panel and/or said front side panels comprise a substantially bendable material. 
     
     
         9 . A protective pocket arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said back panel and/or said front side panels comprise a low friction material. 
     
     
         10 . A protective pocket arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said back panel has a substantially rectangular shape. 
     
     
         11 . A protective pocket arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said front side panels have substantially self-complementary shapes. 
     
     
         12 . A protective pocket arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said front side panels do not overlap one another when placed in their respective positions atop said back panel. 
     
     
         13 . A protective pocket arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein any overlapping regions of said front side panels serve no essential structural function but serve only to shield the corner regions of said pocket. 
     
     
         14 . A protective pocket arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein said back panel and said front side panels can be cut from a single piece of material as a single entity. 
     
     
         15 . Method for protecting paper-based media, substantially flat electronic devices or other book-shaped objects using an arrangement according to  claim 1 .