U.S. patent number 3,924,744 [Application Number 05/378,060] was granted by the patent office on 1975-12-09 for index tab sheet.
Invention is credited to Egon Heimann.
United States Patent |
3,924,744 |
Heimann |
December 9, 1975 |
Index tab sheet
Abstract
An index tab sheet formed of individual, separate, juxtaposed
index tabs each having a label portion provided on one face with a
pressure sensitive adhesive. To a first zone of this face there is
attached an index portion, while to the remaining area (or second
zone) of the same face there is attached a continuous supporting
strip which holds the index tabs together to form an index tab
sheet. The supporting strip has an adhesive repelling coating and
thus it can be easily peeled off the second zone for separating an
index tab from the sheet and, at the same time, exposing the
adhesive second zone of that index tab.
Inventors: |
Heimann; Egon (D-56
Wuppertal-Elberfeld, DT) |
Family
ID: |
27182344 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/378,060 |
Filed: |
July 11, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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97463 |
Dec 28, 1970 |
3747242 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/460; 206/820;
40/641 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09F
3/10 (20130101); B42F 19/00 (20130101); G09F
2003/023 (20130101); G09F 2003/0257 (20130101); G09F
2003/0208 (20130101); Y10S 206/82 (20130101); G09F
2003/0267 (20130101); G09F 2003/0264 (20130101); G09F
2003/0241 (20130101); G09F 2003/0226 (20130101); G09F
2003/0225 (20130101); G09F 2003/0227 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B42F
19/00 (20060101); G09F 3/10 (20060101); G09F
3/02 (20060101); B65D 073/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;206/460,459,820
;40/23A,2R,360 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Dixson, Jr.; William T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Spencer & Kaye
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.
97,463, filed Dec. 28th, 1970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,242.
Claims
I claim:
1. An index tab sheet including an indefinite number of juxtaposed
index tabs adapted to be attached individually to the margin of a
card, comprising in combination:
a. a plurality of relatively stiff label portions arranged in a
side-by-side relationship; each label portion having a face coated
over its entire area with a pressure-sensitive adhesive; said face
being divided into a first zone and a second zone;
b. a plurality of index portions, one attached to said face of each
label portion over the entire area of said first zone in registry
therewith; said index portions being arranged in a side-by-side
relationship; and
c. a continuous supporting strip having a face provided with an
adhesive repelling coating; said supporting strip being attached,
with its adhesive repelling coating to said face of said label
portions over the entire area of said second zones for firmly
maintaining said label portions in their side-by-side position;
said continuous supporting strip being adapted to be peeled off
from successsive label portions to expose their second zones and
permit their separation from the index tab sheet; each label
portion being adapted to be individually attached by said second
zone to said margin of said card subsequent to peeling off said
supporting strip, whereby said first zone with said index portion
thereon projects beyond said margin of said card and is firmly
supported by the relative stiffness of said label portion.
2. An index tab sheet as defined in claim 1, wherein adjoining
label portions have completely severed, abutting edges.
3. An index tab sheet as defined in claim 1, wherein adjoining
label portions have abutting edges that are separated from one
another by score lines for ensuring easy detachment subsequent to
peeling off said continuous supporting strip.
4. An index tab sheet as defined in claim 1, wherein said
continuous strip has an abutting edge face with each said index
portion, said edge face lies in a plane that is inclined with
respect to the face of said label portions.
5. An index tab sheet including an indefinite number of juxtaposed
index tabs adapted to be attached individually to the margin of a
card, comprising in combination:
a. a plurality of label portions arranged in a side-by-side
relationship; each label portion having a face coated over its
entire area with a pressure-sensitive adhesive; said face being
divided into a first zone and a second zone;
b. a plurality of index portions, one attached to said face of each
label portion over the entire area of said first zone in registry
therewith; said index portions being arranged in a side-by-side
relationship;
c. a plurality of covering portions, one disposed in a coplanar and
abutting relationship with each said label portion adjacent the
index portion, said covering portions having one face provided with
a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating and another opposite face
provided with an adhesive repelling coating;
d. a plurality of transparent flexible foils, one attached, with
one face provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating to
each said covering portion and the associated label portion at
respective faces thereof oriented away from said index portion;
e. a first protective strip having a face provided with an adhesive
repelling coating, said first strip being attached, with its
adhesive repelling coating, to said face of each label portion over
the entire area of said second zone; and
f. a second protective strip having a face provided with an
adhesive repelling coating, said second strip being attached, with
its adhesive repelling coating, to said one face of each covering
portion, at least one of said first and second protective strips is
a continuous single strip for firmly but removably maintaining said
label portions in their side-by-side relationship.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to index tabs constructed of adhesivecoated
sheet material and more particularly to a material in sheet, strip
or tape form having a non-drying pressure-sensitive adhesive
surface covered with a removable protective strip and to various
products and applications thereof which have a tab projecting
outwardly from the edge of a card or member to carry a label for an
index designation.
Index tabs of the general type set forth above are constructed of a
transparent plastic sheet with a self sealing layer and an index
portion to be provided with markings (lettering or the like). After
the index tab is removed from the protective strip, there are
obtained exposed portions of the transparent sheet above and below
the index portion.
These index tabs are used in a way that after marking (lettering,
etc.) the lower portion of the transparent sheet is attached to the
rear side of a card and the upper portion is folded over the index
portion and affixed to the front side of the card.
This index tab is difficult to produce, as the tab sheet material
has to be cut from both sides to secure a total and fault-free
removal of the index tab from the remaining protective strip. To
facilitate removal, a strongly adhesive repelling protective strip
or sheet is required, whereby it usually cannot be avoided that the
rear side of the protective sheet becomes also adhesive repelling.
The consequence of this is that index designations (lettering,
etc.) will not sufficiently adhere to the surface of the index
portion which was cut out of the protective sheet.
Users of such index tabs have also experienced difficulty in the
necessity to produce an index tab by folding the upper transparent
plastic portion over the label for index designation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is the provision of an improved
index tab sheet of the general type set forth above which overcomes
the aforementioned disadvantages and difficulties.
In accordance with the present invention, the index tab sheet
comprises a plurality of label portions provided on one face with a
pressure-sensitive adhesive and arranged in a side-by-side
relationship, an index portion attached to one zone of the adhesive
face of each label portion and a continuous supporting strip which,
with an adhesive repelling face, is attached to another zone of
each label portion, adjacent the index portion. The continuous
supporting strip holds together an indefinite number of label
portions and, at the same time, protects their adhesive face. The
lable portions - each carrying an index portion - may be
individually peeled off the continuous supporting strip.
According to this embodiment of the invention an improved index tab
is obtained of a construction that is simple to produce and easy to
apply.
For making the index tab sheet, a known format sheet may be used,
consisting of a material having an adhesive coating covered with a
backing material. The aforeoutlined index tab sheet is obtained by
longitudinally cutting said format sheet into strips according to
the width of the index tabs and by transversely cutting the
adhesive coated material into label portions according to the
length of the index tabs as well as cutting the backing material
into index portions and a remaining supporting strip by a
longitudinal cutting line according to the width of the index
portion and a plurality of transverse cutting lines according to
the length of said index portions.
Markings may be received either by the index portion cut from the
backing material or by the label portion cut from the material
having the adhesive coating. The index portion may also be
exchanged by another similar portion.
The present invention furthermore suggests that the backing sheet
may be coated with adhesive repelling layer only in the area of
said supporting strip, whereas in the area of the index portions
said backing sheet is non-repelling. In this case the index portion
will be firmly adherent to the label so that it cannot be
exchanged.
In another embodiment of the present invention the longitudinal
cutting plane that divides the backing material into a supporting
strip and index portions is inclined with respect to the plane of
the label portions. By this it is achieved that typing on the index
portion is facilitated as the index tab will not separate so easily
from the supporting strip when fed by the typewriter roll.
In a further modification of the present invention the longitudinal
cutting lines to divide the format sheet into tab strips are
executed as score lines so that the tab strips are coherent and
arranged one over the other in a continuous form. Thus, a printing
of the tabs on tabulating machines is also possible.
It is further an object of the invention to affix to a first index
tab a second index tab, by using the lower edge of the second index
portions as an abutting edge against the upper edge of the first
tab. The indices and designations may especially in this case
widely vary, so that the index portion of the second tab may, for
instance, receive a preliminary mark which may be eliminated by
removing the index portion from the label. This label portion which
consists preferably of a transparent foil may after removing the
index portion be used as a protection foil by folding over the
first index tab and affixing it to the front side of the said tab
and the member.
The various forms of the present invention and the features
thereof, together with the method of making the same will be
hereinafter fully explained.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of
an index tab sheet according to the invention, including a
supporting strip (shown partially peeled off for clarity) and
several index tabs.
FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the rear and the front view, respectively,
of a portion of the format sheet with index tabs cut by a plurality
of longitudinal and transversal severing lines.
FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken along the line A-B of FIG.
2.
FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a perspective view of an index tab removed
from the supporting strip and affixed to the rear or front side,
respectively, of a card or member.
FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a front and rear view, respectively, of
the continuous form of tab strips divided by score lines.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an index tab affixed to a card with
a second index tab affixed to the first tab.
FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view like FIG. 9, the second
index tab comprising a transparent foil folded over the index
portion of the first tab.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of an
index tab sheet according to the invention.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of one index tab removed from the
index tab sheet illustrated in FIG. 11.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Turning now to FIGS. 1 -3, in carrying out the invention the index
tab 10 is cut by the severing lines 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 from a
format sheet 11, consisting of a sheet material 12 coated with a
pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 25 and a backing sheet 13 coated
with an adhesive repelling layer.
Said format sheet 11 is cut into strips by the cutting lines 14 and
18 according to the width of the index tab 10. The cutting lines 16
and 15 are defining individual label portions 19 from the adhesive
coated material 12, the cutting lines 15 going also through the
backing sheet 13. A cutting line 17 is designed to divide the
backing sheet 13 into a supporting protective strip 20 and an index
portion 21 used as a stiffening and designation member of the
protruding part of the index tab.
It will be apparent that in this manner index tabs 10 are provided
side-by-side, each having a label portion 19 provided on one side
and over one zone thereof, with an index portion 21. The continuous
supporting strip 20, is by virtue of its adhesive repelling face,
removably attached to second zones of successive label portions 19.
In this manner the continuous supporting strip protects the
adhesive surface of each label portion and holds together the
juxtapositioned index tabs 10 in the form of an index tab sheet.
The index tab 10 may easily be removed from the supporting strip 20
by gripping the tab at the portion 21 and pulling it away from the
supporting strip 20. Then the index tab 10 may be attached to a
card or member 22, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, using the edge
23 as an abutting edge against the card edge 24 and securing it at
the surface of said card 22 by the pressure sensitive layer 25.
It will be apparent that the index tab 10 may receive markings on
the index portion 21 and/or the label portion 19 and said tab may
be attached with the label 19 to the rear side or the front side of
the card or member 22 as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6,
respectively. In this embodiment the label portion 19 should be
relatively stiff to prevent that part of the index tab 10 which
projects beyond the edge 24 of the card 22 from bending out of the
plane of the card 22 in the course of normal handling.
The index portion 21 having adhesive repelling properties may be
removed and replaced by another portion 21 with or without adhesive
repelling properties so that the index designations may be changed
as may be desired. If no further change of the designation is
desired, the portion 21 should not be adhesive repellent. In this
case the backing sheet 13 may have adhesive repelling coating only
in the area of the supporting strip 20 whereas in the area of the
portion 21 the backing sheet 13 will be non-repellent so that the
portion 21 will firmly adhere to the label 19.
In FIG. 4 there is illustrated an index tab 10, where the
longitudinal cutting line 17 dividing the backing sheet 13 into the
supporting strip 20 and the portion 21 is not cut perpendicularly,
but in an angle of less than 90.degree. to the label 19. Stated
differently, the abutting edge faces of the supporting strip 20 and
the index portion 21 lie in a plane that is not normal to the label
portion 19. This feature will prevent separation of the upper edge
of the strip 20 from the label 19 when the index tab 10 is turned
on a typewriter roll for the purpose of typing on the portion
21.
A similar problem arises when the index tabs 10 are to be marked in
the tabulating machines of an electronic processing equipment. In
this case it will be required that, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and
8, the index tabs 10 are arranged in a continuous form 26 with a
plurality of control punch holes 27 formed along the length of the
marginal edges thereof which holes are used to mate with an
appropriate pin driving mechanism of the tabulating machine. It is
seen that in this embodiment an indefinite number of index tab
sheets (each having three index tabs 10 in this example) is
arranged in juxtaposed rows. The marginal strip of punched holes 27
may be formed from the backing sheet material 13 or from both the
backing sheet 13 and adhesive sheet 12. In carrying out this
invention to attain a continuous form 26 the cuttine lines 14,18
respectively, are scored in the adhesive coated material 12, i.e.
said lines 14 will be interrupted in some points so that there will
remain connecting dots which hold the rows of the individual index
tabs 10 together. After designation (markings) the rows of table
transversely connected by the supporting strip 20 which is
connected with the marginal strips of punched holes 27 may easily
be separated. It will be apparent that in this case the surface of
the continuous form 26 will remain closed if it is turned round the
machine rolls of small diameter and no separating cutting edges
will disturb the machine operation. In this case, however, the
designation should be preferably executed only on the labels
19.
It will be apparent that the label 19 of the index tab 10 may also
be formed from the adhesive-coated material 12 which is a
transparent foil having an adhesive layer. This form permits an
inscription on both sides of the index portion 21, as the rear side
thereof will show through the transparent foil. For rear side
inscription the portion 21 may be removed from the transparent foil
and attached after inscription or replaced by another designated
portion. Index tabs of this construction may also be affixed to an
index tab 10 which has been already attached to a member 22. Such
an arrangement is illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. As shown in FIG.
9, an index tab 10' comprising a transparent, foil-like label
portion 19' and a covering portion 21' (comparable to the index
portion 21 of the index tab 10) is so attached to the back of the
label portion 19 of an index tab 10 (which may or may not have been
previously affixed to a card 22) that the covering portion 21'
projects beyond the upper edge of the index portion 21 of the index
tab 10. Thereafter, the covering portion 21' is removed and, as
illustrated in FIG. 10, the transparent label portion 19' is folded
down over the face of the index portion 21 and is affixed, by
virtue of the pressure-sensitive adhesive on the label portion 19',
to the card 22 over a zone which is immediately below the upper
edge 24 of the card 22.
According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11, there is
provided an index tab sheet which is formed of index tabs 10" (FIG.
12) each composed essentially of an index tab 10 and an index tab
10' as shown in FIG. 9.
The index tab sheet according to FIG. 11 is formed of an indefinite
number of side-by-side arranged index tabs 10" (FIG. 12), each
having in a coplanar, abutting relationship, a label portion 19 and
covering portion 21". The front face (as viewed in FIG. 12) of
portions 19 and 21" is provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive
coating, while the rear face of the covering portion 21" carries an
adhesive repelling layer. A transparent flexible foil 19", provided
with an adhesive coating on its front face, is bonded to the rear
face of portions 19 and 21". The latter, by virtue of its adhesive
repelling coating, may easily be peeled off the foil 19". It may be
observed from a comparison of FIGS. 9 and 12 that portions 19 and
21 in FIG. 12 form an assembly that corresponds to the index tab 10
in FIG. 9 and further, portions 19" and 21" in FIG. 12 form an
assembly that corresponds to the index tab 10' in FIG. 9. The mode
of utilization of the index tab 10" according to FIG. 12 is
identical to that described in connection with FIGS. 9 and 10. As
shown in FIG. 11, the individual index tabs 10" are held together
by the continuous supporting strip 20 having a rear face provided
with an adhesive repelling coating. A further covering strip 30 is
attached to the front face of the covering portion 21". The strip
30, by virtue of the adhesive repelling coating on its rear face,
may be easily peeled off the portion 21". The strip 30 may be
continuous in which case it assists the strip 20 in supporting the
plurality of index tabs 10", or it may be cut to the width of an
index tab 10". In the alternative, it is feasible to make only the
strip 30 continuous and to cut the strip 20 to the width of an
index tab 10". In such a case, it is then solely the continuous
strip 30 which holds the index tabs 10" together to form an index
tab sheet.
It may be observed from FIG. 11 that portions 20, 21, 30, on the
one hand and portions 19, 21" on the other hand, may be formed from
respective single sheets by appropriate cutting lines.
It will be understood that the above description of the present
invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and
adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within
the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.
* * * * *