Patent Application
20050058806
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a foldable, unfoldable and refoldable sheet article comprising: a sheet of material having a first fold and a set of accordion folds being folded in a direction transverse to the first fold; a second fold in the sheet of material, the second fold being folded in a direction transverse to the set of accordion folds; the first and second folds and the set of accordion folds defining segments of the sheet of material; the second fold forming a first corner segment and a segment adjacent to the first corner segment; and in a folded state, the first corner segment and the segment adjacent to the first corner segment formed by the second fold functions as a cover for the segments.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a folded sheet article comprising: a sheet of material having a folded state and an unfolded state; a first fold in the sheet of material; a plurality of accordion folds in the sheet of material, the plurality of accordion folds being folded in a direction transverse to the first fold; a second fold in the sheet of material, the second fold being folded in a direction transverse to the first plurality of accordion folds; the first and second folds and the plurality of accordion folds defining segments of the sheet of material; and a stiff portion attached to a corner segment and a segment adjacent to the corner segment of the sheet formed by the second fold and whereby during the folded state, the segments are situated within the stiff portion.
2. Description of the Related Art
The prior art relates to folded sheet articles that have segments that are formed during the folding process and have two stiff portions attached to the opposing segments of the folded sheet; and in a folded state, the folded segments are sandwiched within the two stiff portions of the folded sheet article. These folded sheets contain various instructional sheets, subway and train maps, road maps, amusement park maps, and other long sheets of paper material that can be folded for compactness and travel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,898 to McDonald relates to a formed sheet of material with two sets of concertina folds (accordion folds) folded in opposing directions and two diagonally stiff portions that are larger than the other portions formed by the folds; and in an unfolded format, the stiff portions are located at opposite corners of the sheet and in a folded format, the folded segments are sandwiches within the two stiff portions of the folded sheet article and the stiff portions function as the exterior for the folded segments.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,410,114 to McDonald relates to a sheet material having at least one set of folds and a rotatable disc attached to the sheet and a stiff portion situated at a corner of the sheet material.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,103,332 to McDonald relates to a folded sheet means having a first set of concertina folds and a second set of folds folded in opposing directions and having holding and connection means.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,323 to McDonald relates to an apparatus and process for stiffening a portion of the sheet and for folding the sheets into two opposing concertina folds.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,895 to McDonald relates to a folded sheet article having a folded non-stiff sheet with two opposing concertina folds with at least one stiff portion with at least part of the stiff portion comprising a transparent material.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,195 to McDonald relates to an apparatus and process for producing folded sheets wherein at least one concertina fold is first provided and then at least one stiff portion is attached to an outer segment of the folded sheet.
U.S. Patent No. Re. 36,395 to McDonald relates to a folded sheet article with two sets of concertina folds folded in opposing directions and with two diagonally opposite stiff portions located at diagonally opposite corners of the sheet and the sheet having a pocket.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,761 to McDonald relates to a sheet with two concertina folds folded in opposite directions and having two diagonally opposite segments located at opposing corners; one corner having a stiff portion and having holding means for use with a binder.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,991 to McDonald relates to a sheet with two concertina folds folded in opposite directions and having at least three panels; having a sealing and opening means; and diagonally opposite segments.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,928,753 to Perttunen et al. relates to a sheet article having two concertina folds folded in opposite directions to form segments and two tabs located on the edges of the corner segments of the sheet.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,763 to Perttunen et al. relates to a sheet article with two concertina folds folded in opposing directions and having a first corner segment and a first stiff portion mounted at the first corner segment and a second stiff portion.
The above prior art references relate to folded sheet articles that do not properly cover and protect the folded segments of the folded sheet article, causing numerous durability issues; in fact, during use of the folded sheet articles covered by the above prior art references, there is constant twisting of the two opposing stiff portions which causes damage to the folded segments and the overall folded sheet article. In addition, the unfolding and refolding of the sheet articles of the prior art requires some practice in terms of its use and becomes very difficult to refold when there is a plurality of folded segments within the two stiff portions.
The present invention relates to a folded sheet article that properly covers and protects the folded segments and the overall folded sheet article. The present invention also provides a more user-friendly product which does not have twisting problems and thus, is more durable and stable during the constant folding, unfolding and refolding process. The present invention provides for a folded sheet article that can make foldable sheets of material such as maps into a compact and portable, pocket-held device.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a folded sheet article comprising: a sheet of material having a folded state and an unfolded state; a first fold in the sheet of material; a set of accordion folds in the sheet of material, the set of accordion folds being folded in a direction transverse to the first fold; a second fold in the sheet of material, the second fold being folded in a direction transverse to the set of accordion folds; the first and second folds and the set of accordion folds defining segments of the sheet of material; and a stiff portion attached to a corner segment and a segment adjacent to the corner segment of the sheet formed by the second fold and whereby during the folded state, the segments are situated within the stiff portion.
In another embodiment, the first fold comprises a one-third fold in the sheet of material. In still another embodiment, the first fold comprises a one-half fold in the sheet of material. In yet another embodiment, the set of accordion folds comprises at least four folds.
In still yet another embodiment, the stiff portion comprises a one-piece foldable material. In a further embodiment, the stiff portion comprises at least two separate pieces, a first piece being attached to the corner segment and a second piece being attached to the segment adjacent to the corner segment. In still a further embodiment, the stiff portion is larger than the segments formed by the folds.
In yet a further embodiment, the folded sheet article further comprises at least one tab. In still yet a further embodiment, the tab is a foldable tab. In another further embodiment, the tab is attached to a corner segment opposite of the corner segment where the stiff portion is attached. In still another further embodiment, the stiff portion comprises opposing ends and an extended portion connected to the first end and whereby during the folded state, the extended portion overlaps and can be secured onto the second end of the stiff portion. In yet another further embodiment, the extended portion of said stiff portion comprises a closing means. In still yet another further embodiment, the closing means comprises an adhesive. In another embodiment, the stiff portion comprises a pocket. In yet another embodiment, the article comprises paper.
In still another embodiment, the present invention also relates to a foldable, unfoldable and refoldable sheet article comprises: a sheet of material having a first fold and a set of accordion folds being folded in a direction transverse to the first fold; a second fold in the sheet of material the second fold being folded in a direction transverse to the set of accordion folds; the first and second folds and the set of accordion folds defining segments of the sheet of material; the second fold forming a first corner segment and a segment adjacent to the first corner segment; and in a folded state, the first corner segment and the segment adjacent to the first corner segment formed by the second fold functions as a cover for the segments.
In still yet another embodiment, the sheet article further comprises a first stiff portion attached to the first corner segment and the segment adjacent to the first corner segment of the sheet formed by the second fold and whereby during the folded state, the segments are situated within the first stiff portion. In a further embodiment, the sheet article further comprises a second stiff portion attached to a second corner segment opposite of the first corner segment. In yet a further embodiment, the sheet article further comprises at least one tab attached to the second stiff portion. In still a further embodiment, the tab attached to the second stiff portion is a foldable tab.
In still yet a further embodiment, the first fold comprises a one-third fold in the sheet of material and the first and second folds form at least three vertical segments. In another further embodiment, the first fold comprises a one-half fold in the sheet of material and the first and second folds form at least four vertical segments. In yet another further embodiment, the first set of accordion folds forms at least four horizontal segments.
In still another further embodiment, the sheet article further comprises at least one tab attached at least one segment on the sheet of material. In another embodiment, the first stiff portion comprises opposing ends and an extended portion connected to the first end and whereby during the folded state, the extended portion overlaps and can be secured onto the second end of the first stiff portion. In still another embodiment, the corner segment formed by the second fold comprises a pocket. In yet another embodiment, the stiff portion comprises a pocket.
In still yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to a foldable sheet article manufactured by a method comprising: providing a sheet of material having a folded state and an unfolded state; forming a first fold in the sheet of material; forming a set of accordion folds in the sheet of material, the set of accordion folds being folded in a direction transverse to the first fold; forming a second fold in the sheet of material, the second fold being folded in a direction transverse to the set of accordion folds; the first and second folds and the set of accordion folds defining segments of the sheet of material; and attaching a stiff portion to a corner segment and a segment adjacent to the corner segment of said sheet formed by the second fold and whereby during the folded state, the segments are situated within the stiff portion.
In a further embodiment, the sheet article further comprises attaching at least one tab to at least one segment of the sheet of material. In yet a further embodiment, the stiff portion comprises opposing ends and an extended portion connected to the first end and whereby during the folded state, and allowing the extended portion to overlap and be secured onto the second end of the stiff portion. In still a further embodiment, the sheet article further comprises providing a pocket on the stiff portion.
In still yet a further embodiment, the present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a folded sheet article, the method comprising: providing a sheet of material having a folded state and an unfolded state; forming a first fold in the sheet of material; forming a plurality of accordion folds in the sheet of material, the plurality of accordion folds being folded in a direction transverse to the first fold; forming a second fold in the sheet of material, the second fold being folded in a direction transverse to the plurality of accordion folds; the first and second folds and the plurality of accordion folds defining segments of the sheet of material; the second fold forming a first corner segment and a segment adjacent to the first corner segment; and in a folded state, the first corner segment and the segment adjacent to the first corner segment formed by the second fold functions as a cover for the segments.
In a further embodiment, the method further comprises attaching a first stiff portion to the first corner segment and the segment adjacent to the first corner segment of the sheet formed by the second fold and whereby during the folded state, the segments are situated within the first stiff portion. In yet a further embodiment, the stiff portion comprises a one-piece foldable material. In still a further embodiment, the stiff portion comprises at least two separate pieces, a first piece being attached to the corner segment and a second piece being attached to the segment adjacent to the corner segment. In still yet a further embodiment, the stiff portion is larger than the segments formed by the folds. In another further embodiment, the method further comprises attaching at least one tab to at least one segment of the sheet of material. In still another further embodiment, the tab is a foldable tab and is attached to a corner segment opposite of the corner segment where the stiff portion is attached.
In yet another further embodiment, the stiff portion comprises opposing ends and an extended portion connected to the first end and whereby during the folded state, and allowing the extended portion to overlap and be secured onto the second end of the stiff portion. In another embodiment, the extended portion of said stiff portion comprises a closing means. In yet another embodiment, the method further comprises providing a pocket on the stiff portion. In still another embodiment, the method further comprises attaching a second stiff portion to a second corner segment opposite of the first corner segment. In still yet another embodiment, the method further comprises at least one tab attached to the second stiff portion.
In a further embodiment, the present invention provides a folded sheet article comprising: a sheet of material having a folded state and an unfolded state; a set of accordion folds in the sheet of material; a fold in the sheet of material, the fold being folded in a direction transverse to the first set of accordion folds; the fold and the set of accordion folds defining segments of the sheet of material; and a first stiff portion attached to a first corner segment and a segment adjacent to the first corner segment of the sheet formed by the fold and whereby during the folded state, the segments are situated within the stiff portion.
In another embodiment, the folded sheet article further comprises a second stiff portion attached to a second corner segment situated opposite of the first corner segment. In yet another embodiment, the second stiff portion comprises a foldable tab. In still another embodiment, the folded sheet article further comprises at least one tab attached to at least one segment of said sheet of material.
In a further embodiment, the present invention provides an apparatus and process for producing folded sheet articles wherein a stiff portion covering a corner segment and a segment adjacent to the corner segment is attached to the sheet and then a non-concertina fold is made followed by a concertina fold in an opposing direction and then finally another non-concertina fold is made in a direction opposite of the concertina fold, and wherein the stiff portion is a part of the last fold and the stiff portion thereby partially covers and protects the folded segments in the folded state.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention. These drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.
Among those benefits and improvements that have been disclosed, other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. The figures are not necessary to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
Referring now to the drawings,
In another embodiment, the user holds the stiff portion 10 with one hand and the pull tab 30 with the other hand and by pulling the tab 30 and stiff portion 10 in opposing directions with a single motion, the sheet of material 5 can be unfolded. To refold the sheet article, the user pushes the stiff portion 10 toward the tab 30 while allowing the sheet of material to return to the folded state. In a further embodiment, the stiff portion 10 can be constructed of cardboard or thick paper or even plastic (such as a credit card material). The sheet of material 5 can have printed material such as a map and can be of any size including a square or rectangle. The folded sheet article 1 of the present invention can be stored in the user's clothing pockets, wallets, purses, etc.
In another embodiment, the folded sheet article 100 in
Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the attendant claims attached hereto, this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically disclosed herein.
