FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to methods of making articles, enclosures, and pockets useful for storing and organizing materials such as documents.
BACKGROUND
Even with the proliferation of electronic technology, today's consumers still have paper documents that need to be managed. Illustrative paper documents include, but are not limited to, receipts for purchased goods, bills for services, such as telephone and utility bills, coupons, tickets for events, shopping lists and the like. At work, an employee may have a variety of documents that needs to be managed, including but not limited to, incoming and outgoing mail, notes left by coworkers, papers in transition, such as papers that need to be filed. In general, when the documents are organized as they are received, most consumers and workers spend less time to later organize or find the documents when they are needed.
Document organization tools such as envelopes with flaps can be cumbersome to use as the flaps seal the envelope and they are prone to being torn off with repeated use. The envelopes can also be easily misplaced or lost in a pile of paperwork or in a drawer.
While a variety of organization tools are commercially available, other solutions and tools are needed.
SUMMARY
In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method of making an article for storing and organizing materials. The method comprises the steps of (1) providing first and second panels that are substantially similar in geometry as defined by a perimeter, each panel having opposing inside and outside surfaces; (2) cutting an opening in the first panel creating a free lip; (3) attaching the first and second panels along their perimeters such that the inside surface of the first panel is proximate to the inside surface of the second panel; and (4) applying means for attaching the article to a display surface on at least a portion of the outside surface of the second panel.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to method of making an article for storing and organizing materials. The method comprises the steps of (1) providing a sheet of material having joined first and second panels, wherein the first panel has a first perimeter that is a mirror image of a second perimeter of the second panel, and wherein each panel has opposing inside and outside surfaces; (2) folding the sheet such that the first perimeter is aligned with the second perimeter, and the inside surface of the first panel is proximate to the inside surface of said second panel; (3) cutting an opening in the first panel; (4) attaching the first and second panels along their perimeter; and (5) applying means for attaching the article to a display surface on at least a portion of the outside surface of the second panel.
In yet another aspect, the present invention pertains to a method of making an article for storing and organizing materials. The method comprises the steps of (1) providing a sheet of material having joined first and second panels, wherein the first panel has a first perimeter that is a mirror image of a second perimeter of the second panel, each panel having opposing inside and outside surfaces, and wherein the first panel further comprises a flap extending from its perimeter; (2) cutting a portion of the first panel creating a free lip; (3) folding the sheet such that the perimeter of the first panel is aligned with the perimeter of the second panel, and the inside surface of the first panel is proximate to the inside surface of said second panel; (4) folding and attaching the flaps around the outside surface and along the perimeter of the second panel; and (5) applying means for attaching the article to a display surface on at least a portion of the outside surface of the second panel.
In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to an article for storing and organizing materials. The article comprises (1) a base pocket comprising (a) first and second panels that are substantially similar in geometry as defined by a perimeter, each panel having opposing inside and outside surfaces, wherein said panels are joined along their perimeters such that said inside surface of the first panel is proximate to said inside surface of said second panel, (b) an opening disposed in the first panel, (c) means for attaching the article to a display surface disposed on at least a portion of the outside surface of the second panel; and (2) at least one add-on pocket attached on the base pocket, the add-on pocket comprising a third panel having opposing inside and outside surfaces, the third panel being smaller in dimension than the first and second panels, and wherein the third panel is disposed on the first panel such that the inside surface of said third panel is proximate to said outside surface of said first panel.
The inventive articles are particularly suited for use in organizing documents, such as receipts, bills, tickets, mail, magazines, lists and the like, and office supplies products such as writing utensils, paperclips, and repositionable notes. The article can further include indicia or images that engender artistic expression, have aesthetic appeal, and or have functional utility. In use, the consumer typically removes a liner (if present) from the article and attaches it to a display surface, such as a wall or a refrigerator door, and as documents are received, organize and store them therein. The article can be displayed on vertical surfaces (such as the wall) or horizontal surfaces, such as in a folder or a binder. New articles can be displayed for different durations of time, such as, a new week or a new month. The article can also be used for a specified project or a specified event. For example, at income tax reporting time, such an article can be used for the tax year, and the various pockets can be used for different categories of documents, such as W-2 wage statements, stock sales, dividends earned, child care expenses, medical expenses, home interest payments, and the like.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention can further be described with reference to the drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a front plan view of one embodiment of an article for storing and organizing materials in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a front plan view of another embodiment of the present invention showing two partially enclosed pockets;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention showing four fully enclosed pockets;
FIG. 6 is a front plan view of another embodiment of the present invention showing a plurality of pockets of different sizes;
FIGS. 7
a to 7c are perspective views of the embodiment of FIG. 6 in various folding stages;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention showing a pad of articles for storing and organizing materials in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a side view of another embodiment of the present invention showing a pad of articles in a z-stacked configuration;
FIG. 10 is a schematic view of an illustrative method of the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a schematic view of another illustrative method of the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a schematic view of another illustrative method of the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a schematic view of another illustrative method of the present invention; and
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another illustrative embodiment of the present invention where multiple pockets are stacked.
While the above-identified drawings set forth several embodiments of the invention, other embodiments are also contemplated, as noted in this document. In all cases, this disclosure presents the invention by way of representations and not limitation. Numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by one skilled in the art which fall within the scope and spirit of the principals of this invention. The figures are idealized, are not drawn to scale, and are intended merely for illustrative purposes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 is a front plan view of article 10 useful, in one aspect, for organizing and storing materials. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the article in FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2. The article includes opposing front panel 12 and rear panel 14 and has a major axis, L10, disposed generally along a longest perimeter length of the article. The front panel may further include a minor axis, defining a shortest dimension across the panel. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the minor axis lies orthogonal to the major axis. The front panel includes opposing inside surface 12a and outside surface 12b. Similarly, the rear panel includes opposing inside surface 14a and outside surface 14b. Opening 20 is disposed in the front panel and has a major axis, L20, which is the longest dimension across the opening. In this particular embodiment, the major axis of the opening, L20, is shorter than the major axis of the front panel, L10, and shorter than the minor axis of the front panel. Discounting for the opening, the panels have substantially similar size and geometry as defined by a perimeter of the panels. The article can include an opening of predetermined size, as illustrated in FIG. 1, or the opening size can be adjusted by the user. In the latter case, in one embodiment, perforations are added to the front panel allowing the user to punch out the opening of desired size. While the article of FIG. 1 shows one opening, more than one opening can be used for any single article.
The front and rear panels are joined along the top perimeter forming top seam 22a, along the bottom perimeter forming bottom seam 22b, and along side perimeter forming side seams 22c and 22d. The seams can be formed through any suitable attachment means, such as, e.g., through adhesive 17. Other attachment means can be used, as described in detail below. The choice of the attachment means will depend on the materials used to construct the front and rear panels. The attachments means should join the two panels securely together. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the opening is disposed entirely within the front panel away from the top seam. The opening, however, could start from the top seam, the bottom seam, or the side seams, if desired.
Optionally, the front panel may further include release coating 13 disposed on a portion thereof or on substantially the entire outside surface 12b of the front panel. The release coating used should be compatible with the material used for the front and rear panels. In one embodiment, the release coating is of a composition that allows the consumer to write or to image the panels. Imaging techniques would include, but are not limited to, using any digital printers. Suitable release coatings include those that based on straight chain alkane derivatives, polydialkyl siloxane derivatives, or fluorocarbon derivatives. One exemplary release coating is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,460 (Kanter et al.). Yet another exemplary release coating is disclosed throughout U.S. Pat. No. 6,251,512 (Gustafson et al.) such as disclosure starting at column 5, line 18 to 52 and the various examples, such as examples RC1 to RC4.
The opening, the front panel, and the rear panel can be of any configuration, such as a simple geometric shape or irregularly shaped. The term “simple geometric shape” generally means polygons (such as, but not limited to, rectangles, squares, and trapezoids) and ovals (such as, but not limited to, circle and ellipse). The term “irregularly shaped” generally means a bounded shape, and such shapes may include combinations of straight and curves lines.
Article 10 further includes adhesive 16 disposed on outside surface 14b of rear panel 14. In one embodiment, the article further includes liner 18 to protect the adhesive. FIG. 2 shows the liner disposed directly on top of the adhesive and it further shows in phantom that the liner move between several positions. In this particular embodiment, the liner is in the form of a flap that is attached to the outside surface of the rear panel proximate to the adhesive. When the article is in a display mode, the liner would be disposed substantially collinear with the outside surface of the rear panel so as not to cover the adhesive. When the consumer no longer wants to display the article, he/she can fold the flap over the adhesive area and store or archive the article without having exposed adhesive. The adhesive can be on a portion of the article or it can cover substantially the entire outside surface of the rear panel. One advantage of having the adhesive on a portion of the article, in a format such as, but not limited to, a stripe, is that it allows for easy attachment to and removal of the article from the display surface, such as a wall. While FIG. 2 shows the adhesive in the form of one stripe offset from the top seam 22a, a plurality of stripes can be used in a variety of different orientations. In another embodiment, the adhesive can be coated in the form of discrete portions, such as, e.g., discrete islands.
FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of another embodiment where article 30 has front panel 32 joined to rear panel 34 along top perimeter forming top seam 42a, along the bottom perimeter forming bottom seam 42b, and along the side perimeters forming side seams 42c and 42d. Opening 40 is disposed in the front panel. Two striped liners 38 protect the stripes of adhesive (not shown). The article also includes gusset 44 to allow it to expand, as more content is stored therein. In this particular embodiment, discounting for the opening, the front panel and the rear panels are substantially similar in size and geometry, both being a rectangle. The opening is of an irregular shape.
The article in FIG. 3 further includes label 41, shown partially peeled off, having opposing first and second surfaces, 41a and 41b, respectively. The first surface of the label includes a repositionable adhesive. The second surface of the label is writeable and or imageable. In use, when the consumer wishes to seal the opening, she can remove the label and place it over the opening. Because the adhesive is repositionable, the user can reopen and reseal the opening on demand. Furthermore, the adhesive used for opening can be of a construction that is tacky on the periphery of the label, while the center of the label is substantially non-tacky so that the documents inside the article do not inadvertently adhere to the exposed adhesive. Illustrative adhesives are disclosed in US Patent Application Publication US2005/0170174 and PCT application WO 2005/077672. Another exemplary construction would include a label having horizontal stripes of repositionable adhesive near the periphery of the label with substantially no adhesive on that portion of the label that would cover the opening.
FIG. 4 shows a front plan view of another embodiment where article 50 having a plurality of pockets. The article has front panel 52 in the form of a circle. The front panel is joined to a rear panel (not shown) along the circumference at external seam 62. The article further includes internal seam 66 bisecting the front panel, the internal seam attaching the front and rear panels to create two substantially equal pockets 51 and 53, each having it own irregularly shaped opening 60 and 61 respectively. The internal seam joins the panel so that the inside surface of the front panel is proximate to the inside surface of the rear panel. In this embodiment, because the internal seam does not completely bisect the front panel, the pockets are partially enclosed. Article 50 has a major axis that coincides with the diameter of the circle. Each pocket also has a major axis that is of a dimension that is less than the diameter of the circle and a minor axis, denoted as L51. In this particular embodiment, the major axis of the opening is less than the major axis and the minor axis of the pocket.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment where article 70 includes a plurality of pockets. Article 70 includes front panel 72 joined with rear panel 74 at top perimeter to form top seam 76a, at bottom perimeter to form bottom seam 76b, and at side perimeter to form side seam 76c. Although FIG. 5 shows only one reference number 76c, one skilled in the art will understand that the side seams are present on both the left and right hand side of the article. In this embodiment, the front and rear panels are substantially square. The article further includes internal seams 84 and 86 disposed substantially orthogonal to each other. The internal seams attach the front and rear panels creating four substantially equal pockets 71, 73, 75, and 77, each pocket having its own opening 80, 81, 82 and 83 respectively. Because the internal seams bisect the entire length and width of the front and rear panels, the pockets are fully enclosed. The openings can be self sealing using mechanical means such as zippers, hook and loop fasteners, or polymeric based zip and lock type fasteners commonly used in Ziploc® bags. If desired, the internal seams may be perforated. By tearing along the perforations, the consumer can create plurality of articles with a smaller footprint for storage or for other application.
Continuing on with FIG. 5, opening 80 is irregular shaped. Opening 81, schematically shown as a zipper, is in a substantially closed position. Opening 82 is shown in a partially open condition. Opening 83 is shown to be in a fully open condition. This embodiment further includes gusset 87 disposed between the front and rear panels and continuously joining the front and rear panel at side seams 76c, the gusset allowing for expansion of the pocket upon use. Although a side gusset is shown, it is within the scope of the present invention to use gussets on the top and bottom perimeter of the article. On the outside surface of the rear panel, two stripes of adhesive (not shown) along with liner 88 are provided to allow for attachment to a desired substrate.
FIG. 6 shows a front plan view of another embodiment where article 100 includes a plurality of pockets of different sizes. Article 100 includes front panel 102 joined continuously with rear panel (not shown) at top perimeter to form top seam 102a and at bottom perimeter to form bottom seam 102b and at a side perimeter to form side seam 102c. The front and rear panels are substantially rectangular. The article further includes internal seams 126 and 128 disposed substantially orthogonal to one another, internal seam 132 disposed orthogonal to internal seam 128, and internal seam 130 disposed orthogonal to internal seam 132. The internal seams form fully enclosed pockets 101, 106, 112, 116, and 122, each having its own opening 104, 108, 114, 118, and 124 respectively. As shown, the openings are of varying sizes to accommodate different size documents. Article 100 includes major axis L100. Each opening has a major axis having a dimension that is shorter than major axis L100 of the article. Taking pocket 101 for discussion purposes, it has a major axis L101 and minor axis W101. Opening 104 has a major axis L104 that is shorter than the major axis of the article, L100, and shorter than the major axis of the pocket, L101, and equal to or longer than the minor axis of the pocket W101. Documents, such as mail 110 or receipts 120, can be stored and organized in the pockets. In this particular embodiment, generic calendar 103 can be part of the article, to provide further solutions and convenience to the consumer when using the article. The article further includes means 140 for securing it. Thus, if desired, a consumer can fold the article to reduce its footprint allowing for easy transport.
FIGS. 7
a to 7c show perspective views of the embodiment of FIG. 6 in various folding stages. In FIG. 7a, article 100 is in a partially folded state at about its midpoint to create two substantially equal halves. In FIG. 7b, article 100 is nearly completely folded. In FIG. 7c, article 100 is in a fully closed state with means for securing 140 folded over to the outside surface of the rear panel. One useful means for securing the article is a hook and loop combination, where a hook or a loop portion is disposed on the portion 140 and the mating hook or loop is disposed on the outside surface of the rear panel. Other useful means for securing would include use of repositionable adhesives, other mechanical fasteners, such as zippers or ribbons, yarns, threads to fold the articles.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment where there is shown a stack of plurality of articles that form pad 90. For ease of understanding, only the top two articles of the pad, first article 91 and subsequent second article 96 are shown in detail. First article 91 includes front panel 92 joined continuously with rear panel 94 at top perimeter to form top seam 92a, at bottom perimeter to form bottom seam 92b, and side perimeters to form side seams (not labeled). The first article includes opening 93. Adhesive 95 is disposed on the rear panel and near the top seam. Second article 96 includes opening 97 in front panel 98 also joined continuously with a rear panel (not shown) at top, bottom, and side perimeters to form top, bottom, and side seams respectively. The pad is formed such that the rear panel 94 of first article 91 with its adhesive 95 is in direct contact with front panel 98 of second article 96. In such an embodiment, it is preferable that the front panel of the article further includes a release agent so that the adhesive of one article releases cleanly and relatively easily from the subsequent article. While FIG. 8 shows the first and second article to be substantially similar in shape, i.e., both being rectangular with oval openings, it is within the scope of the present invention to have different shaped articles accompanied by different shaped openings. For example, while the first article is rectangular of a certain dimension, the second article can also be rectangular but have a different dimension or it can be of a totally different geometry.
FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment where pad 150 includes a plurality of articles stacked on top of one another in a configuration where the adhesive is stacked at alternating ends of the pad. Such a stacking arrangement has been commonly referred to as “z” stacking. As can be seen, first article 160 with its adhesive 166 is stacked at a first end of the pad while second article 170 with its adhesive 176 is stacked at the opposite end of the pad.
If desired, at least one of the front and rear panels can include graphics or other indicia to create an article with artistic expression or functional utility or for aesthetic purposes. For example, in embodiment of FIG. 4, the front panel can include images to form a face with the opening forming the eyes to appeal to young consumers. As shown in FIG. 6, calendars or “To Do” lists can be imaged on to the front panel, or the individual pockets can be labeled to identify the contents in the pocket. As an example, the individual pockets could be labeled as “receipts”, “bills to pay”, “tickets”, and the like to help organize the various documents the consumer would like to retain for some duration of time. Also, if desired, at least one of the front and rear panels can include accessories for holding writing instruments or for attachment of other articles. For example, magnetic tape can be added to portions of the front of the panel thereby allowing a user to attach items such as repositionable notes and flags thereto. Mechanical fasteners can be used as well, for example, with a hook portion attached to the front panel and a mating loop portion attached to the utensil. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the hook portion can be on the front panel or the writing utensil. As another example, at a seam, such as the bottom seam (see, e.g., reference number 22b in FIG. 1) of the article there is a living hinge that is capable of folding out.
A variety of materials can be used as the front and rear panels. In one embodiment, the front and rear panels are of the same or substantially similar materials. In another embodiment, the front and rear panels are of different materials. Suitable materials for the front and rear panels include, but are not limited to, paper, synthetic paper, plastic, canvas, non-woven, fabric, metal-based film and dry erase films. Combinations of these materials can be used. In one embodiment, a portion of the front and or rear panel can be transparent or translucent so as to provide a place to hold the writing utensils to provide a window thereby allowing the consumer to see the contents inside the article. An exemplary material useful for the panel includes the writeable matte article disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,251,512 (Gustafson et al.).
On a portion of the front and or rear panels of the article, color-coding can be added to help the consumer visually organize the articles. For example, different colors can be used for different days in the week or different types of documents stored in the article. The inventive article could further include tabs that can be adhesive or mechanically attached to anywhere on the article and or along the perimeter of the article. Such tabs can be helpful when the consumer intends to store or archive the article in a filing system.
The front and rear panels are joined together along the perimeter using a variety of methods. The method chosen depends on the type of material used. The joining of the front and rear panels can but does not have to be continuous throughout the perimeter of the panels. Suitable methods include, but are not limited to, adhesives means, mechanical fastener means, ultrasonic welding means, lamination means, and sewing means. Combinations of these methods can also be used. For example, adhesive means is very versatile and can be used when the front and rear panels are of the same material or of different materials. Adhesive means include but are not limited to tape, such as double sided tape, liquid adhesives such as glues, solid adhesives, such as glue sticks, and the like. Ultrasonic welding means is more particularly suited for plastics and non-wovens. Ultrasonic welding means typically create localized spot welding of the front and rear panels so that while the panels are joined, they are not continuously joined along the entire perimeter. Sewing means is more particularly suited for articles where the front and or rear panels are made of canvas or fabrics. An illustrative mechanical fastener means would be the hook and loop combination, where the hook can be disposed on one panel while the loop can be disposed on the other panel. Lamination means generally refer to using heat and or pressure to attach the front and rear panels. Lamination means are particularly suited for non-wovens, especially where the non-woven fibers contains a plurality of different polymeric constituents and one of the constituent exhibits adhesive properties at elevated temperature and pressure.
The outside surface of the rear panel of the inventive articles includes a means for attaching the article to a display surface, such as, but not limited to, a wall, a door, or a work surface, such as a table top. Suitable means for attaching the article include adhesive means, mechanical fastening means, and magnetic means.
In the case of an adhesive means, typically, the adhesive is disposed on the outside surface of the rear panel. Any permanent or repositionable adhesive can be used in the present invention. Exemplary repositionable adhesives are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,691,140 (Silver); U.S. Pat. No. 3,857,731 (Merrill et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,166,152 (Baker et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 4,495,318 (Howard); U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,569 (Delgado); U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,457 (Blackwell) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,617 (Cooprider et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,663,241 (Takamatsu et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,237 (Cooprider et al.); U.S. RE Pat. No. 37,563 (Cooprider et al.); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,756,625 (Crandall et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,748 (Kesti et al.). The repositionable adhesive can be solvent based, water based, or can be a solvent-less, hot melt adhesive.
The adhesive can be coated on the outside surface of the rear panel in any configuration. For example, the rear panel can include a fully adhesive coated or partially adhesive coated outside surface. Suitable partially coated configurations include, but are not limited to stripes of adhesive, discrete islands of adhesives, or patches of adhesives. The type of adhesive coating configuration depends on the type of adhesive used, the size of the inventive article, and to some extent, the display surface.
The liner is used to protect the repositionable adhesive until application. The liner can be any paper or plastic sheet that bonds to the repositionable adhesive securely during storage. The liner releases cleanly and easily from the repositionable adhesive. The liner may be treated with a release coating to achieve the desired release performance. Suitable silicone-based release liners are commercially available from Loparex, Inc., Willowbrook, Ill.
In the case of a mechanical means for attaching the inventive article to a display surface, suitable choices include mechanical fasteners, such as hook and loop systems, or stretch release adhesive systems, such as those commercially available from 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn. under the Command™ brand of product lines.
Magnetic means for attaching the inventive article to a display surface are particularly suited to metal based cabinets and refrigerators. A suitable choice would include a magnetic tape where an adhesive side of the tape is attached to the rear panel of the article.
The inventive article can be made from a variety of methods. One illustrative method is to provide front and rear panels, where the front panel optionally has been coated with a release agent and has a precut opening therein. If desired, graphics and indicia have been preprinted on the outside surface of the front panel to add artistic or functional expression or aesthetic utility. On the outside surface of the rear panel, there is included a means for attaching the article to a display surface, such as e.g., an adhesive which may be a pressure sensitive (PSA) adhesive or a respositionable PSA. Optionally, a liner is laminated to the adhesive. The front and rear panels are joined continuously along the panels' perimeter to form the inventive article.
In the case of pad, the enclosures are made substantially under the same method as the individual article, as described in the preceding paragraph. A liner is used for the last enclosure in the pad. In one embodiment, the liner covers substantially the entire outside surface of the rear panel.
FIG. 10 shows schematically one illustrative method of making article 230. The method includes the steps of providing first panel 212 having, in this particular embodiment, a substantially square geometry defined by a perimeter bounded by top edge 222a, opposing bottom edge 222b, first side edge 222c and second side edge 222d. As used in herein, the terms “top” and “bottom” denote relative positions. The first panel includes precut opening 210. The opening has an irregular shape with one edge being substantially parallel to and spaced a distance d1 from top edge 222a. The first panel has outside surface 212b and opposing inside surface (not shown). The method further includes providing second panel 214 having inside surface 214b and having geometry that is substantially similar to that of the first panel. Like the first panel, the second panel has a perimeter bounded by top edge 224a, opposing bottom edge 224b, and first and second side edges, 224c and 224d respectively. The second panel further includes means for attaching the first and second panels together, such as, adhesive means, mechanical means, ultrasonic welding means, lamination means, sewing means, and combinations thereof. In this embodiment, adhesive 226 is used as a means for attaching the two panels. The adhesive is in the form of strips disposed along the perimeter. The strip disposed near top edge 224a has a dimension d2. In one embodiment, d1 is substantially equal to d2 such that the portion of the front panel between opening 210 and top edge 222a is secured.
The means for attaching can reside on either the first or second panel or, as in the case of ultrasonic welding means, it could be the fusion of the first and second panels. Adhesive means would include, e.g., pressure sensitive adhesives or hot melt adhesives, and they can be in the form of permanent adhesives, transfer tape, double sided tape, repositionable adhesives, and the like. Mechanical means would include, e.g., hook and loop attachment systems. Sewing means are particularly appropriate where the first and second panels are canvas or other fabrics. While FIG. 10 shows adhesive 226 disposed continuously along the perimeter, in other embodiments, discontinuous means are suitable. For example, in the case of ultrasonic welding means, it is typical for the ultrasonic energy to spot weld the first and second panels together and thus the attachment of the two panels may not be continuous along the entire perimeter. So long as the means for attaching the panels used forms a pocket for holding documents and other materials, it would be suitable for use in the present invention.
The method includes attaching the first and second panels together along their perimeters such that, side edges 222c and 222d of the first panel coincide with side edges 224c and 224d of the second panel. Similarly top and bottom edges 222a and 222b of the first panel coincide with top and bottom edges 224a and 224b respectively of the second panel. The two panels are attached such that the inside surfaces of the panels are proximate to each other.
FIG. 11 shows schematically shows another illustrative method of making article 260. The method includes the step of providing sheet material 240 having first and second panels 242 and 244 joined at imaginary line 246. The two panels are substantially equivalent in size and have substantially the same geometry as defined by their perimeters. The first panel has opposing inside and outside surfaces, 242a and 242b respectively. Similarly, the second panel has opposing inside and outside surfaces 244a and 244b respectively. The first panel further includes precut opening 262. The opening has an irregular shape with one edge being substantially parallel to and spaced a distance d3 apart from top edge 243a. The first panel has a first perimeter that is bound by top edge 243a and opposing first and second edges, 243c and 243d. Similarly the second panel has a second perimeter that is bound by top edge 245a and opposing first and second side edges, 245c and 245d. The second panel further includes means for attaching the panels together, depicted generally as adhesive 248. The adhesive is in the form of a stripe disposed generally along the perimeter at top edge 245a and side edges 245c and 245d. In one embodiment, the adhesive stripe near top edge 245a has a dimension, d4; that is substantially equal to d3. Thus, when the two panels are attached, the portion of the first panel denoted generally by d3 is secured. The means recited with reference to FIG. 10 can be used in this embodiment. The method further includes the step of folding the sheet material, generally along imaginary line 246 such that the perimeters of the first and second panels coincide and inside surface 242a of the first panel lies proximate to inside surface 244a of the second panel. The article shares a common edge at 246, which serves as the bottom edge for both panels.
The cutting step can be done at any time along the process. For example, the first panel can be precut, cut before the folding step, or cut can after the first and second panels are attached. The cutting method used should be compatible with the materials used for the panels. For example, suitable method for paper, plastic, canvas or other fabric materials would be a die cut process.
FIG. 12 shows schematically another illustrative method of making article 300. The method includes the steps of providing sheet material 280 having first and second panels 282 and 284 joined at imaginary line 286. The first panel perimeter is bound by top edge 283a and opposing first and second edges, 283c and 283d. Similarly the second panel perimeter is bound by top edge 285a and opposing first and second side edges, 285c and 285d. The first panel has opposing inside and outside surfaces, 282a and 282b. Similarly, the second panel has inside and outside surfaces, 284a and 284b. The first panel further includes means for attaching the panels together, depicted generally as flaps 288. The flaps are located at the perimeter, along edges 283a, 283c, and 283d and have opposing first and second surfaces, 288a and 288b respectively. The means recited above with reference to FIG. 10 can be used on the flaps. In this case, a particularly suitable means for attaching would include adhesive and mechanical means, which can be applied to the flaps. The method further includes the step of folding the sheet material, generally along imaginary line 286 such that the perimeters of the first and second panels are generally aligned and inside surface 282a of the first panel lies proximate to inside surface 284a of the second panel. The flaps are then wrapped around and attached to the second panel such that first side 288a with the adhesive is in direct contact with outside surface 284b. The method further includes cutting the first panel, generally denoted as line 290, creating free lip 304, which is then attached to inside surface 284a of second panel or attached to the inside surface 282a of the first panel, to create opening 302. In an alternative embodiment, the free lip can be removed completely to create the opening.
With reference to FIGS. 10, 11, and 12, once the article has been assembled, the outside surface of first panels, 212b, 242b, and 282b are accessible to a user. The methods further include applying a repositionable adhesive on the outside surface of the second panel, 214b, 244b, and 284b. A liner can be added to protect the repositionable adhesives if desired. Alternatively, a pad of articles can be made by stacking one article on top of another such that the repositionable adhesive of one article contacts the outside surface of the first panel of the subsequent article.
FIG. 13 shows schematically another illustrative method of making an article having multiple pockets while minimizing the overall footprint of the article. The method includes the step of providing first panel 312 having opposing inside (not shown) and outside surface 312b and having a geometry as defined by a perimeter bound at least by top edge 313a and side edges 313c and 313d. The method includes the step of providing second panel 314 having opposing outside (not shown) and inside surface 314a and having a geometry as defined by a perimeter bound at least by top edge 315a and side edges 315c and 315d. The first and second panels are of substantially similar size and geometry. The method includes cutting opening 318 in the first panel. The first and second panels are attached together along their perimeters such that the inside surfaces are proximate to one another. The method further includes the step of providing third panel 320. The third panel is smaller that the first and second panel, but has a width, i.e., the distance between side edges 323c and 323d that is the same as the first panel width, i.e., the distance between side edges 313c and 313d. The third panel is attached to the first panel such that their side edges, 313c, 323c, and 313d, 323d and bottom edges (not labeled with reference figures for ease of understanding) coincide forming a second enclosure (i.e. an add-on pocket), one created by the third panel and the outside surface of the first panel. The third panel includes second opening 328. FIG. 13 also shows fourth panel 340 being attached to third panel 320 to create a second add-on pocket. While the various panels in this particular embodiment have substantially the same width, the invention can be practices with different sized and different shaped panels. For example, a generally square first and second panel can be used with a circular third panel, and subsequent panels can be off yet different shapes.
FIG. 14 shows the various panels of FIG. 3 assembled into article 350 having base pocket 352 having outside surface 312b of a first panel. The base pocket has first opening 354. First add on pocket 355, having second opening 356, is attached to base pocket and second add-on pocket 358, having third opening 360, is attached to the first add-on pocket.
Patent Application
20070147712
