U.S. patent application number 11/279017 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-21 for method of making articles for storing and organizing materials.
Invention is credited to Lisa L. Love, Eser Ozdeger Donovan, Byron E. Trotter.
Application Number | 20070140597 11/279017 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38219917 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070140597 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ozdeger Donovan; Eser ; et
al. |
June 21, 2007 |
METHOD OF MAKING ARTICLES FOR STORING AND ORGANIZING MATERIALS
Abstract
The present invention relates to methods of making articles for
storing and organizing materials. One method includes 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; (3) attaching the first and second panels along their
perimeters such that the inside surface of the panels are proximate
to each other; and (4) applying a repositionable adhesive on at
least a portion of the outside surface of the second panel.
Inventors: |
Ozdeger Donovan; Eser;
(Prescott, WI) ; Trotter; Byron E.; (St. Paul,
MN) ; Love; Lisa L.; (White Bear Lake, MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
PO BOX 33427
ST. PAUL
MN
55133-3427
US
|
Family ID: |
38219917 |
Appl. No.: |
11/279017 |
Filed: |
April 7, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11275205 |
Dec 19, 2005 |
|
|
|
11279017 |
Apr 7, 2006 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
383/14 ; 383/11;
383/116; 383/38; 383/39; 383/40; 383/66 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B42F 7/06 20130101; B65D
27/08 20130101; B31B 2160/102 20170801; B65D 33/16 20130101; B65D
33/008 20130101; B31B 2150/002 20170801; B65D 33/04 20130101; B31B
70/812 20170801; B65D 27/16 20130101; B31B 2150/00 20170801 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/014 ;
383/066; 383/038; 383/040; 383/116; 383/039; 383/011 |
International
Class: |
B65D 33/06 20060101
B65D033/06; B65D 30/22 20060101 B65D030/22; B65D 33/16 20060101
B65D033/16; B65D 30/08 20060101 B65D030/08; B65D 33/14 20060101
B65D033/14 |
Claims
1. A method of making an article for storing and organizing
materials, said method comprising the steps of: providing first and
second panels that are substantially similar in geometry as defined
by a perimeter, each panel having opposing inside and outside
surfaces; cutting an opening in said first panel; attaching said
first and second panels along their perimeters such that said
inside surface of said first panel is proximate to said inside
surface of said second panel; and applying a repositionable
adhesive on at least a portion of said outside surface of said
second panel.
2. A method of making an article for storing and organizing
materials, said method comprising the steps of: providing a sheet
of material having joined first and second panels, wherein said
first panel has a first perimeter that is a mirror image of a
second perimeter of said second panel, and wherein each panel has
opposing inside and outside surfaces; cutting an opening in said
first panel; folding said sheet such that said first perimeter is
aligned with said second perimeter, and said inside surface of said
first panel is proximate to said inside surface of said second
panel; attaching said first and second panels along their
perimeters; and applying an adhesive on at least a portion of said
outside surface of said second panel.
3. A method of making an article for storing and organizing
materials, said method comprising the steps of: providing a sheet
of material having joined first and second panels, wherein said
first panel has a first perimeter that is a mirror image of a
second perimeter of said second panel, wherein each panel has
opposing inside and outside surfaces, and wherein said first panel
further comprising a flap extending from its perimeter; cutting a
portion of said first panel creating a free lip; folding said sheet
such that the perimeter of said first panel is aligned with the
perimeter of said second panel, and said inside surface of said
first panel is proximate to said inside surface of said second
panel; folding and attaching said flaps around said outside surface
and along the perimeter of said second panel; and applying a
repositionable adhesive on at least a portion of said outside
surface of said second panel.
4. The method of claims 1 to 3, wherein said first and second panel
is selected from the group consisting of paper, plastic, canvas,
non-woven, fabric, metal-based film, and combinations thereof.
5. The method of claims 1 to 3, wherein said first and second
panels are attached together by means selected from the group
consisting of adhesive means, mechanical means, ultrasonic welding
means, lamination means, sewing means, and combinations
thereof.
6. The method of claims 1 to 3, further comprising at least one
step selected from the group consisting of applying an image
receptive coating and applying a release coating on said outside
surface of said first panel.
7. The method of claims 1 to 3, further comprising the steps of:
providing a third panel having opposing inside and outside
surfaces, said third panel being smaller in dimension than said
first and second panels; cutting an opening in said third panel;
and attaching said third panel to said first panel such that said
inside surface of said third panel is proximate to said outside
surface of said first panel.
8. The method of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a step of
attaching a liner to said repositionable adhesive.
9. The method of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a step of
stacking said article on top of one another such that said
repositionable adhesive of one article contacts said outside
surface said first panel of a subsequent article to form a pad of
articles.
10. The method of claims 1 and 2, wherein said second panel
comprises means for attaching said first and second panels, said
means or attaching disposed along the perimeter of said second
panel.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein said means for attaching
comprises a strip of adhesive selected from the group consisting of
pressure sensitive adhesive and hot melt adhesive.
12. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of attaching
said free lip to said inside surface of said second panel.
13. An article for storing and organizing materials comprising: a
base pocket comprising (i) 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 said first panel is proximate to said inside surface of
said second panel, (ii) an opening disposed in said first panel,
(iii) an adhesive disposed on at least a portion of said outside
surface of said second panel; and at least one add-on pocket
attached on said base pocket, said add-on pocket comprising a third
panel having opposing inside and outside surfaces, said third panel
being smaller in dimension than said first and second panels, and
wherein said third panel is disposed on said first panel such that
said inside surface of said third panel is proximate to said
outside surface of said first panel.
14. The article of claim 13, wherein said first, second, and third
panels are selected from the group consisting of paper, plastic,
canvas, non-woven, fabric, metal-based film, and combinations
thereof.
15. The article of claim 13, wherein said first, second, and third
panels are joined together by a means selected from the group
consisting of adhesive means, mechanical means, ultrasonic welding
means, lamination means, sewing means, and combinations
thereof.
16. The article of claim 13, wherein at least one of said panel
further comprises at least one of an image receptive coating and a
release coating on said outside surface of said outside surface of
said panel.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
application Ser. No. 11/275,205 filed on Dec. 19, 2005, which is
hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to methods of making articles,
enclosures, and pockets useful for storing and organizing materials
such as documents.
BACKGROUND
[0003] 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, the 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.
[0004] 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.
[0005] While a variety of organization tools are commercially
available, other solutions and tools are needed.
SUMMARY
[0006] 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 a repositionable
adhesive on at least a portion of the outside surface of the second
panel.
[0007] 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 an adhesive on at least a portion of the outside
surface of the second panel.
[0008] 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 a repositionable
adhesive on at least a portion of the outside surface of the second
panel.
[0009] 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 said first panel is proximate to said inside surface of
said second panel, (b) an opening disposed in said first panel, (c)
an adhesive disposed on at least a portion of said outside surface
of said second panel; and (2) at least one add-on pocket attached
on said base pocket, said add-on pocket comprising a third panel
having opposing inside and outside surfaces, said third panel being
smaller in dimension than said first and second panels, and wherein
said third panel is disposed on said first panel such that said
inside surface of said third panel is proximate to said outside
surface of said first panel.
[0010] 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 the 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
[0011] The invention can further be described with reference to the
drawings, wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a front plan view of one embodiment of an article
for storing and organizing materials in accordance with the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1
taken along line 2-2;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
present invention;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a front plan view of another embodiment of the
present invention showing two partially enclosed pockets;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
present invention showing four fully enclosed pockets;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a front plan view of another embodiment of the
present invention showing a plurality of pockets of different
sizes;
[0018] FIGS. 7a to 7c are perspective views of the embodiment of
FIG. 6 in various folding stages;
[0019] 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;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a side view of another embodiment of the present
invention showing a pad of articles in a z-stacked
configuration;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a schematic view of an illustrative method of the
present invention;
[0022] FIG. 11 is a schematic view of another illustrative method
of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 12 is a schematic view of another illustrative method
of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 13 is a schematic view of another illustrative method
of the present invention; and
[0025] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another illustrative
embodiment of the present invention where multiple pockets are
stacked.
[0026] The figures are ideal, are not drawn to scale, and are
intended only for illustrative purposes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] 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 longitudinal axis (not shown) disposed generally along the
length of the article. 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,
L.sub.20, which is the longest dimension across the opening.
Discounting for the opening, the panels have substantially similar
geometry as defined by a perimeter of the panels.
[0028] 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.
[0029] The front panel has a major axis, L.sub.10, disposed
substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the article. The
major axis defines the longest dimension of the front panel. 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 and substantially
parallel to the top seam, 22a. In this particular embodiment, the
major axis of the opening, L.sub.20, is shorter than the major axis
of the front panel, L.sub.10, and shorter than the minor axis of
the front panel.
[0030] Optionally, the front panel may further include release
coating 13 disposed on a portion thereof or on substantially the
entire outside surface 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.
[0031] 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. In
the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front and rear panels
are rectangles, and the opening is generally an ellipse. Other
geometries are shown in the various embodiments described
below.
[0032] 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 can be in more than one position. 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.
[0033] 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 geometry, both being a rectangle. The opening is of an
irregular shape.
[0034] 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, s/he 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, both documents
being assigned to the same assignee as the instant document.
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.
[0035] 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 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. Also, in this embodiment, the
openings are of an irregular shape. 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 L.sub.51. In
this particular embodiment, the major axis of the opening is less
than the major axis and the minor axis of the pocket.
[0036] 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.
[0037] 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.RTM. 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.
[0038] 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.
[0039] 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 side perimeter to
form side seams 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 L.sub.100. Each opening
in each pocket includes a major axis having a dimension that is
shorter than major axis L.sub.100 of the article. Taking pocket 101
for discussion purposes, it has a major axis L.sub.101 and minor
axis W.sub.101. Opening 104 has a major axis L.sub.104 that is
shorter than the major axis of the article, L.sub.100, and shorter
than the major axis of the pocket, L.sub.101, and equal to or
longer than the minor axis of the pocket W.sub.101. 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 for securing 140, where, if desired, a consumer can
fold the article to reduce its footprint allowing for easy
transport.
[0040] FIGS. 7a to 7c show perspective views of the embodiment of
FIG. 6 in transition to a folded form. In FIG. 7a, article 100 is
in a substantially open state with the article divided two
substantially equal halves. In FIG. 7b, article 100 is folded and
in a nearly closed state. 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 the hook or the 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 tie the two halves of the articles together.
[0041] 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, 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
92c. The first article includes opening 93. Both the front and rear
panels and the opening are of simple geometric shape, that being
rectangular and oval, respectively. The first article further
includes adhesive 95 disposed on the rear panel and near the top
seam. Second article 96 includes 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
second article further comprises opening 97. Pad 90 of articles 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.
[0042] FIG. 9 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 not stacked at one end but
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.
[0043] 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.
[0044] 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, plastic, canvas, non-woven, fabric, and
metal-based film. Combinations of these materials can be used. In
one embodiment, a portion of the front and or rear panel can be
transparent 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.).
[0045] 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 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.
[0046] 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
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 overall, the
panels are jointed, but they are not continuously joined along the
entire perimeter. Sewing means is more particularly suited for
canvas and 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.
[0047] An adhesive is disposed on the outside surface of the rear
panel. Any permanent or repositionable adhesive can be used in the
present invention. Various repositionable adhesives can be used.
Suitable 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.); US RE 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.
[0048] 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.
[0049] 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.
[0050] 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, an adhesive is coated on the
rear panel. 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.
[0051] 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.
[0052] 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 d.sub.1 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
d.sub.2. In one embodiment, d.sub.1 is substantially equal to
d.sub.2 such that the portion of the front panel between opening
210 and top edge 222a is secured.
[0053] 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.
[0054] 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.
[0055] 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 d.sub.3 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,
d.sub.4; that is substantially equal to d.sub.3. Thus, when the two
panels are attached, the portion of the first panel denoted
generally by d.sub.3 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.
[0056] 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.
[0057] 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 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 to create opening 302.
[0058] 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.
[0059] 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.
[0060] 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.
* * * * *