Patent Application
20140065383
This application discloses an invention which is related, generally and in various embodiments, to sticky notes made from sugar cane paper and sticky note pads including same.
Conventionally, a sticky note is a sheet of paper having a strip of repositionable adhesive on the underside. A sticky note pad is formed from a stack of sticky notes such that the top sticky note on each pad can be easily detached and secured to another surface. Such pads are manufactured, for example, by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company under the “Post-It” trademark. These and other known sticky notes are formed from paper made from tree-based materials, and thus are not considered to be environmentally friendly.
Various embodiments of the invention are described herein in by way of example in conjunction with the following figures, wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar elements.
It is to be understood that at least some of the figures and descriptions of the invention have been simplified to illustrate elements that are relevant for a clear understanding of the invention, while eliminating, for purposes of clarity, other elements that those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate may also comprise a portion of the invention. However, because such elements are well known in the art, and because they do not facilitate a better understanding of the invention, a description of such elements is not provided herein.
Sticky notes 10 according to various embodiments are formed from sugar cane paper made from 100% sugar cane bagasse. Sugar cane bagasse is the fibrous by-product that remains after sugar cane stalks are crushed to extract sugar-bearing juice. Paper sheets 12 are formed in a paper making process from pulp consisting of 100% sugar cane bagasse fibers. As such, the pulp used to make paper sheets 12 does not include any tree-based fibers. TreeZero, LLC of Atlanta, Ga., an assignee of the present application, is an exclusive distributor of paper made from 100% sugar cane bagasse. The use of bagasse to form the sticky notes 10 is an environmentally sustainable alternative to sticky notes made from tree-based products which can contribute to deforestation and the endangerment of wildlife. According to various embodiments, in lieu of paper sheets 12 being formed from 100% sugar cane bagasse fibers, paper sheets 12 are formed from greater than 80% sugar cane bagasse fibers. According to other embodiments, paper sheets 12 are formed from at least 90% sugar cane bagasse fibers. According to other embodiments, paper sheets 12 are formed from at least 95% sugar cane bagasse fibers.
Nothing in the above description is meant to limit the invention to any specific materials, geometry, or orientation of elements. Many part/orientation substitutions are contemplated within the scope of the invention and will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The embodiments described herein were presented by way of example only and should not be used to limit the scope of the invention.
Although the invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments in this application, one of ordinary skill in the art, in light of the teachings herein, can generate additional embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of, or exceeding the scope of, the claimed invention. Accordingly, it is understood that the drawings and the descriptions herein are proffered only to facilitate comprehension of the invention and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.
This application is a non-provisional of, and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of the earlier filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/693,927 filed on Aug. 28, 2012.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61693927 | Aug 2012 | US |
