Sealing Sleeve

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sealing sleeve for receiving and hereby sealing and protecting objects such as cards.

BACKGROUND

Prior art sealing sleeves are typically configured to receive a card that is intended to be sealed and hereby protected against wear and moisture. A prior art sealing sleeve typically comprises a body portion having a front portion and a rear portion attached thereto. The body portion is shaped to form a pocket provided with an opening. The sealing sleeve comprises a slip provided with adhesive provided at the portion of the slip that faces against the rear portion of the body portion when the sealing sleeve is closed.

The use of prior art sealing sleeves is associated to several disadvantages. Stacking of prior art sealing sleeves will introduce a risk for sealing sleeves to slide away from the stack (because the upper layers of the stack will not extend parallel to horizontal). Moreover, the adhesive makes it difficult to open the sealing sleeve after having closed it. Furthermore, the adhesive will leave sticking areas on the rear portion of the body portion so that the rear portion will stick to objects to which the card is brought into contact with.

Thus, there is a need for a sealing sleeve which reduces or even eliminates the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention can be achieved by a sealing sleeve as defined in claim 1. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent subclaims, explained in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The sealing sleeve according to the invention is a sealing sleeve comprising:

a front portion and rear portion constituting an open pocket configured to receive an object;
a slip arranged and configured to be lockingly inserted into the inside of the pocket.

Hereby, it is possible to provide a sealing sleeve that has a uniform thickness. Accordingly, stacking of the sealing sleeves will not be associated to a risk of experiencing that the upper layers of the stack not extending parallel to horizontal. Moreover, the sealing sleeve can be provided without any adhesive. Hereby, it is possible to provide a sealing sleeve that is more cost efficient and user-friendly than the prior art sealing sleeves.

The invention makes it possible to provide a sealing sleeve that fits tightly around any card including a standard size 63×88 mm cards.

In one embodiment, the width of the slip is 58 mm.

In one embodiment, the length of the slip is 86 mm.

In one embodiment, the width of the front portion is 64 mm.

In one embodiment, the width of the rear portion is 64 mm

In one embodiment, the length of the front portion is 89 mm.

In one embodiment, the length of the rear portion is 89 mm.

In one embodiment, the front portion and rear portion are equally sized and constitute an open pocket configured to receive an object.

In one embodiment, the front portion and the rear portion are rectangular.

In one embodiment, the front portion and the rear portion are square.

In one embodiment, both the front portion and the rear portion are formed as a trapezium having one vertical line of reflectional symmetry.

The slip is arranged and configured to be lockingly inserted into the inside of the pocket without using adhesive.

In one embodiment, the sealing sleeve is provided with a slip extending in extension of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the sealing sleeve is provided with a slip extending in extension of the rear portion.

The sealing sleeve comprises a slip arranged and configured to be lockingly inserted into the inside of the pocket.

In one embodiment, the material of the slip and the rear portion is selected in order to achieve a coefficient of friction between the slip and the rear portion above 0.2.

In one embodiment, the material of the slip and the rear portion is selected in order to achieve a coefficient of friction between the slip and the rear portion above 0.4.

In one embodiment, the material of the slip and the rear portion is selected in order to achieve a coefficient of friction between the slip and the rear portion above 0.6.

In one embodiment, the material of the slip and the rear portion is selected in order to achieve a coefficient of friction between the slip and the rear portion above 0.8.

Hereby, it is possible to prevent that the slip is unintendedly removed from the pocket.

In one embodiment, the slip comprises a folding structure enabling the slip to be folded (180 degrees) relative to the front portion. Hereby, it is possible to lockingly insert the slip into the inside of the pocket.

In one embodiment, the slip has a uniform thickness along its entire length.

Hereby, it is possible to ensure that the sealing sleeve has a uniform thickness.

In one embodiment, the folding structure comprises a groove extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pocket.

Hereby, it is possible to folding structure in an easy manner.

In one embodiment, the folding structure comprises a groove is provided at the outside surface of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the folding structure comprises a groove is provided at the inside surface of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the folding structure comprises a permanent crease allowing the slip to rotate with respect to the crease.

In one embodiment, the permanent crease is made by a process, in which the front portion is folded.

In one embodiment, the folding structure comprises a groove is provided at the outside surface of the rear portion.

In one embodiment, the folding structure comprises a groove is provided at the inside surface of the rear portion.

In one embodiment, the permanent crease is made by a process, in which the rear portion is folded.

In one embodiment, the folding structure comprises a welding structure.

In one embodiment, the width of the slip is smaller than the width of the pocket. Hereby, insertion of the slip into the pocket is eased.

In one embodiment, the length of the slip is slightly smaller than the length of the pocket. This may be beneficial when the slip is inserted into the pocket.

It may be an advantage that the proximal portion of the slip comprises an arced portion. An arced portion makes it possible to insert the slip into the pocket without creasing the slip.

In one embodiment, the arced portion has a J-shaped structure, wherein the proximal portion of the slip has a widening geometry towards the body portion.

In one embodiment, the length of the pocket is larger than the width of the pocket.

In one embodiment, at least the front portion is made in a transparent material.

In one embodiment, the entire sealing sleeve is made in a transparent material.

In one embodiment, the length of the front portion basically corresponds to the length of the slip.

In one embodiment, the length of the front portion is slightly larger than the length of the slip.

In one embodiment, the length of the slip corresponds to 55% or more of the length of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the length of the slip corresponds to 60% or more of the length of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the length of the slip corresponds to 65% or more of the length of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the length of the slip corresponds to 70% or more of the length of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the length of the slip corresponds to 75% or more of the length of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the length of the slip corresponds to 80% or more of the length of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the length of the slip corresponds to 85% or more of the length of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the length of the slip corresponds to 90% or more of the length of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the length of the slip corresponds to 95% or more of the length of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the length of the slip corresponds to 97% or more of the length of the front portion.

In one embodiment, the pocket is shaped and configured to fit tightly around standard size 63×88 mm card.

In one embodiment, the pocket is shaped and configured to fit tightly around standard size paper used in the United States and Canada.

In one embodiment, the pocket is shaped and configured to fit tightly around standard size paper that is 8½ inches wide and 11 inches long.

In one embodiment, the pocket is shaped and configured to fit tightly around standard size paper that is 8½ inches wide, but it is 14 inches long.

In one embodiment, the pocket is shaped and configured to fit tightly around standard size paper that is 210 millimetres wide and 297 millimetres long.

It may be an advantage that the slip is basically as long as the pocket. Hereby, the slip can fold into the pocket thereby sealing the card or paper inside and protecting it from all four sides, as opposed to the three-side protection of a prior art card sleeve.

The kit according to the invention comprises a sealing sleeve according to the invention and an additional sleeve.

In one embodiment, the slip comprises a permeant crease made by a mold tool. By providing a permeant crease, it is possible to making sure that the slip folds at the right place, and providing a reliable seal when the slip has been folded down into pocket of the sealing sleeve. This construction makes it virtually impossible to push the card or paper out of the sealing sleeve unintentionally.

In a preferred embodiment, the slip is almost as long as the entire sealing sleeve. Hereby, it is possible to provide a sealing sleeve that has a uniform thickness. This is of great importance when the sealing sleeve (e.g. with cards inside) are stacked.

In one embodiment, the sealing sleeve is made in cast polypropylene.

It may be an advantage that the front portion and slip of the sealing sleeve is made in clear (transparent) cast polypropylene.

In one embodiment, the rear portion of the sealing sleeve is made a dark (e.g. black tinted) cast polypropylene.

In one embodiment, the thickness of the front portion, the rear portion and the slip is 20-200 micrometer.

In one embodiment, the thickness of the front portion, the rear portion and the slip is 30-100 micrometer.

In one embodiment, the thickness of the front portion, the rear portion and the slip is 40-80 micrometer.

In one embodiment, the thickness of the front portion, the rear portion and the slip is 40 micrometer.

In one embodiment, the thickness of the front portion, the rear portion and the slip is 50 micrometer.

In one embodiment, the thickness of the front portion, the rear portion and the slip is 60 micrometer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below. The accompanying drawings are given by way of illustration only, and thus, they are not limitative of the present invention. In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1A shows a card being inserted into a sealing sleeve according to the disclosure;

FIG. 1B shows the sealing sleeve shown in FIG. 1A in a configuration, in which a slip of the sealing sleeve is being inserted into a pocket of the sealing sleeve;

FIG. 1C shows the sealing sleeve shown in FIG. 1B in a configuration, in which the slip has been fully inserted into a pocket of the sealing sleeve;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a sealing sleeve according to one embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 3A shows a cross-sectional view of a rear portion of a sealing sleeve according to one embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional view of a rear portion of a sealing sleeve according to another embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 3C shows a cross-sectional view of a rear portion of a sealing sleeve according to a further embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4A shows a front view of a sealing sleeve according to a first embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4B shows a front view of a sealing sleeve according to a second embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4C shows a front view of a sealing sleeve according to a third embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4D shows a front view of a sealing sleeve according to a fourth embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic, perspective view of a prior art sealing sleeve;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a stack of cards each being inserted into a prior art sealing sleeve;

FIG. 7 shows a front view of a sealing sleeve according to the one embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective rear view of a sealing sleeve according to another embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective front view of a sealing sleeve shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of a sealing sleeve according to one embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the sealing sleeve shown in FIG. 10 in a configuration, in which a card has been inserted into the sealing sleeve; and

FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of the sealing sleeve shown in FIG. 11 being inserted into an additional sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now in detail to the drawings for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the disclosure, a sealing sleeve 2 of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1A is a schematic side view of a sealing sleeve 2 according to the disclosure. The sealing sleeve 2 comprises a front portion and a rear portion 14 constituting a body portion 4. A slip 8 extends in extension of the rear portion. The sealing sleeve 2 comprises a pocket 6 configured to receive a card 10. In FIG. 1A it can be seen that a card 10 is being inserted into the pocket 6 of the sealing sleeve 2.

It can be seen that the width W_pocketof the pocket 6 is slightly larger than the width W_cardof the card 10. Likewise, the length L_pocketof the pocket 6 is slightly larger than the length L_cardof the card 10. Accordingly, the pocket 6 of the sealing sleeve 2 is configured to receive the card 10.

FIG. 1B illustrates the sealing sleeve 2 shown in FIG. 1A in a configuration, in which a slip 8 of the sealing sleeve 2 is being inserted into a pocket of the sealing sleeve 2. The slip 8 has a width W_slipthat is smaller than the width W_pocketof the pocket.

FIG. 1C shows the sealing sleeve 2 shown in FIG. 1B in a configuration, in which the slip has been fully inserted into a pocket of the sealing sleeve 2. The slip has been locking received by the pocket of the sealing sleeve 2. Accordingly, the card 10 is protected from all sides.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of a sealing sleeve 2 according to one embodiment of the disclosure. The sealing sleeve 2 comprises a body portion 4 comprising a front portion and a rear portion and a pocket provided with an opening. The sealing sleeve 2 comprises a slip 8 extending in extension of the front portion 12. The slip 8 is rotatably attached to the front portion 12 of the body portion 4 in a folding structure 24. Hereby, the slip 8 is arranged and configured to be lockingly inserted into the inside of the pocket of the sealing sleeve 2. The folding structure 24 extends parallel to the lateral axis X extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y of the pocket.

FIG. 3A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a front portion 12 of a sealing sleeve according to one embodiment of the disclosure. It can be seen that a folding structure 24 formed as a groove extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y of the pocket. Hereby, the slip 8 is rotatably attached to the rear portion 14 in the folding structure 24 in such a manner that the slip 8 can be lockingly inserted into the inside of the pocket of the sealing sleeve (see FIG. 2).

FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-sectional view of a front portion 12 of a sealing sleeve according to another embodiment of the disclosure. The folding structure 24′ formed as a groove extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y of the pocket. Wherein the groove 24 is provided in the outside portion of the sealing sleeve in FIG. 3A, the groove 24′ is provided in the inside portion of the sealing sleeve in FIG. 3B.

FIG. 3C illustrates a cross-sectional view of a front portion 12 of a sealing sleeve according to a further embodiment of the disclosure. The folding structure 25 formed as a permanent crease extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y of the pocket. The permanent crease 25 may be made by using any suitable mechanical tools adapted to bend the slip 8 relative to the rear portion 14.

In one embodiment, the permanent crease 25 is made by a welding process.

FIG. 4A illustrates a front view of a sealing sleeve 2 according to a first embodiment of the disclosure. The sealing sleeve 2 comprises a body portion 4 comprising a front portion 12 and a rear portion constituting a pocket provided with an opening. The body portion 4 and the slip 8 has a rectangular geometry, wherein the length is larger than the width.

The slip 8 extends in extension of the front portion 12 of the body portion 4. It can be seen that the width W_pocketis larger than the width W_slipof the distal portion of the slip 8. It can be seen that the proximal portion of the slip 8 comprises an arced portion 22. The arced portion 22 has a J-shaped structure, wherein the proximal portion of the slip 8 has a widening geometry towards the body portion 4.

FIG. 4B illustrates a front view of a sealing sleeve 2 according to a second embodiment of the disclosure. The sealing sleeve 2 basically corresponds to the one shown in FIG. 4A, however, the body portion 4 and the slip 8 has a basically square geometry.

FIG. 4C illustrates a front view of a sealing sleeve 2 according to a third embodiment of the disclosure. The sealing sleeve 2 basically corresponds to the one shown in FIG. 4A, however, the body portion 4 and the slip 8 has a rectangular geometry, wherein the width is larger than the length.

FIG. 4D shows a front view of a sealing sleeve 2 according to a fourth embodiment of the disclosure. The sealing sleeve 2 comprises a body portion 4 comprising a front portion 12 and a rear portion constituting a pocket provided with an opening. The body portion 4 is formed as a trapezium having one vertical line of reflectional symmetry. The sealing sleeve 2 is provided with a slip 8 extending in extension of the body portion.

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic, perspective view of a prior art sealing sleeve 102. The sealing sleeve 102 is configured to receive a card (not shown). The sealing sleeve 102 comprises a body portion 104 having a front portion 112 and a rear portion attached thereto. The body portion 104 is shaped to form a pocket provided with an opening. The sealing sleeve 102 comprises a slip 108 provided with adhesive 28. The adhesive 28 is provided at the portion of the slip 108 that faces against the front portion 112 of the body portion 104 when the sealing sleeve 102 is closed.

FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic view of a stack of cards 10 each being inserted into a prior art sealing sleeve 102 corresponding to the one shown in FIG. 5. It can be seen that the adhesive 28 provided at the distal portion of the slip 108 has a thickness. Accordingly, the height D₂of the left side of the stack of cards 102 is larger than the height D₁of the right side of the stack.

Thus, the prior art sealing sleeve 102 is associated to several disadvantages. Stacking of prior art sealing sleeve 102 (both when a card 102 has been inserted into the sealing sleeve 102 or not) will introduce a risk for the sealing sleeves 102 to slide away from the stack (because the upper layers of the stack will not extend parallel to horizontal). Moreover, the adhesive 28 makes it difficult to open the sealing sleeve 102. Furthermore, the adhesive 28 will leave adhesive on the front portion of the body portion 104 so that the front portion will stick to objects to which the card 102 is in contact with.

FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of a sealing sleeve 2 according to one embodiment of the disclosure.

The sealing sleeve 2 comprises a body portion 4 comprising a front portion 12 and a rear portion constituting a pocket provided with an opening. The front portion 12 and the rear portion are joint in a joint portion 18 at the bottom and by joint portions 16, 20 at the sides of the front portion 12 and the rear portion. The sealing sleeve 2 comprises a slip 8 extending in extension of the front portion 12 of the body portion 4. The slip 8 is movably attached to the front portion 12 of the body portion 4. A folding structure 24 constitution an axis of rotation of the slip 8. The folding structure 24 is provided to allow the slip 8 to be rotated with respect to the is movably attached to the front portion 12 of the body portion 4. Hereby, the slip 8 can be lockingly inserted into the pocket (as shown in FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C).

Both the body portion 4 and the slip 8 has a rectangular geometry, wherein the length is larger than the width. It can be seen that the width W_pocketis larger than the width W_slipof the distal portion of the slip 8. Furthermore, it can be seen that the proximal portion of the slip 8 comprises an arced portion 22. The arced portion 22 has a J-shaped structure, wherein the proximal portion of the slip 8 has a widening geometry towards the body portion 4.

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective rear view of a sealing sleeve 2 according to another embodiment of the disclosure and FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective front view of the sealing sleeve 2 shown in FIG. 8. The sealing sleeve 2 comprises a body portion 4. The body portion 4 comprises a front portion 12 and a rear portion 14. The sealing sleeve 2 comprises a slip 8 extending in extension of the front portion 12.

A first and second side portion 26 extending between the front portion 12 and the rear portion 14. The side portions 26, the front portion 12 and the rear portion 14 constitutes a pocket 6 having a basically box-shaped inner space. The pocket 6 is provided with an opening configured to receive an object (e.g. one or more cards). A first folding structure 24 and a second folding structure 24′ extend parallel to each other. These folding structures 24, 24′ are arranged and configured to allow the slip 8 to be folded along each of the folding structures 24, 24′.

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a sealing sleeve 2 according to one embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 11 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the sealing sleeve 2 shown in FIG. 10 in a configuration, in which a card 10 has been inserted into the sealing sleeve 2. FIG. 12 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the sealing sleeve shown in FIG. 11 being inserted into an additional sleeve 30.

The sealing sleeve 2 comprises a front portion 12, a rear portion 14 and a slip 8 extending in extension of the front portion 12. The sealing sleeve 2 comprises a pocket 6.

The slip 8 is arranged and configured to be lockingly inserted into the inside of the pocket 6 of the sealing sleeve 2. This can be done since the slip 8 is rotatably attached to a rotational structure formed as a folding structure 24. The folding structure 24 may be a structure as explained with reference to FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B or FIG. 3C.

In one embodiment, the material of the slip 8 and the rear portion 14 is selected in order to achieve a coefficient of friction between the slip 8 and the rear portion 14 above a predefined level. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent that the slip 8 is unintendedly removed from the pocket 6.

In one embodiment, the coefficient of friction between the slip 8 and the rear portion 14 is above 0.2.

In one embodiment, the coefficient of friction between the slip 8 and the rear portion 14 is above 0.4.

In one embodiment, the coefficient of friction between the slip 8 and the rear portion 14 is above 0.6.

In one embodiment, the coefficient of friction between the slip 8 and the rear portion 14 is above 0.8.

The length L₂of the rear portion 14 almost corresponds to the length L₁of the slip 8. However, in practice the length L₂of the rear portion 14 is slightly larger than the length L₁of the slip 8.

In one embodiment, the length L₁of the slip 8 corresponds to 85% of the length L₂of the rear portion 14.

In one embodiment, the length L₁of the slip 8 corresponds to 90% of the length L₂of the rear portion 14.

In one embodiment, the length L₁of the slip 8 corresponds to 95% of the length L₂of the rear portion 14.

In one embodiment, the length L₁of the slip 8 corresponds to 97% of the length L₂of the rear portion 14.

In FIG. 11, the card 10 has been inserted into the sealing sleeve 2 and an additional sleeve 30 is arranged next to the sealing sleeve 2. Accordingly, the sealing sleeve 2 can be inserted into the additional sleeve 30 in order to seal the open end of the sealing sleeve 2.

FIG. 12 illustrates a kit 32 comprising the additional sleeve 30 and the sealing sleeve 2. The sealing sleeve 2 has been fully inserted into the additional sleeve 30. Accordingly, the additional sleeve 30 seals the open end of the sealing sleeve 2.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

2 Sealing sleeve

4 Body portion

6 Pocket

8 Slip

10 Object (e.g. card)

12 Front portion

14 Rear portion

16 Joint portion

18 Joint portion

20 Joint portion

22 Arced portion

24, 24′ Folding structure

25 Folding structure

26 Side portion

28 Adhesive

30 Additional sleeve

32 Kit

102 Sealing sleeve (prior art)

104 Body portion (prior art)

108 Slip (prior art)

112 Front portion (prior art)

X Longitudinal axis

Y Lateral axis

L_cardLength

L_pocketLength

W_cardWidth

W_pocketWidth

W_slipWidth

D₁, D₂Height

Sealing Sleeve

Information

Publication Number

Date Filed

Date Published

Inventors

Original Assignees

CPC

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims