FR2814980A1 - Fabric-covered three-dimensional support has surface that can be personalised by inscriptions in water-, solvent- and gel-based inks - Google Patents

Abstract

The support, such as a back pack, binder or photo album, has a substantial portion of its surface covered with a material (62) containing finely-divided particles and a binding agent incorporating a water-soluble material. The covering can be personalised with inscriptions or drawings in water-based, solvent-based or gel-based ink (64), applied with a pen (66). A binder cover can have, for example, an inner layer (58) of a rigid material covered with a fabric (60) and the material (62) to be decorated.

Description

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 The present invention relates to binders, or albums, and supports covered with fabric, which are personalized.

type de reliure sont représentés dans le brevet US NO 5 857 797, délivré le 12 janvier 1999, le modèle US NO 417 890, délivré le 21 décembre 1999, et le modèle US NO 421 460, délivré le 7 mars 2000. It has previously been proposed to provide binders with three rings, for example, transparent pockets arranged on their cover in which a personal visual can be inserted. Examples of this

Type of binding are shown in US Patent No. 5,857,797, issued January 12, 1999, US model NO 417,890, issued December 21, 1999, and US model NO 421,460, issued March 7, 2000.

 However, in addition to a personal visual, such as a photograph or the like, it is desirable to be able to add permanent inked images or text to the binding covers, and this has not been practiced until now because plastic binding covers do not accept all types of ink, some inks wiping off and high humidity often causing the ink to spill or disperse. A similar problem involves photo albums and transparent sheet materials overlying photographs, since this sheet material does not readily accept applied ink marks. In the case of binders, backpacks or other media covered with fabric, it is normally impractical to draw with ink on such binders or media covered with fabric since the ink is absorbed into the tissue.

 According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, a binding is provided with a transparent plastic sheet on the cover of the binding, in the form of a pocket in which a visual can be inserted, and the transparent sheet is provided with an ink receiving layer or coating, capable of receiving ink based

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 solvent, an aqueous ink, or a gel-based ink, and which is particularly stable in water after drying the applied ink. This construction allows users to write or draw on the binding or to reproduce a visual which is inserted in the pocket. In addition, the user can insert a visual in the pocket, and add written or representative images to the visual, to provide a composite image on a personalized binding.

 From a broader point of view, a set intended to contain papers and having front and back covers can be provided with a coating or a layer which can receive aqueous inks, solvent-based or in the form of gel, and which is practically stable in water after the ink has dried. The user can then draw on the cover with any type of pen and personalize the binding with any desired print or image. The covering can be located on the inside and / or outside of one or the other or both covers. In the case of binders with three rings covered with dark fabric, for example, the covering will allow customization in ink of the binders where a binding covered with uncoated fabric would simply absorb the ink, the residual image being poor .

 In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, fabric-covered supports, such as fabric-covered binders, or backpacks often used to carry books or binders having stacks of sheets of paper or pages can be specially coated with special ink-receiving coatings which are also practically water-stable after drying. Thereafter, the products can be personalized by drawing or writing on them using a pen and ink.

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 In addition, covers and photo album pages can be fitted with ink-receiving coatings to personalize covers and individual photos.

 The present invention relates to a three-dimensional support covered with fabric, characterized in that it comprises a coating on a large surface of the support, the coating being able to receive water-based ink, ink based on solvent and gel-based ink, the coating being substantially water stable after application of the ink, the coating comprising finely divided porous particles and a binder including water soluble material, and a visual image made in ink, displayed markedly on the coated fabric, after application of the image using ink.

 Advantageously, the binder comprises large proportions of both hydrophobic material and hydrophilic material.

 In a particular embodiment, the support has an interior space which can be selectively closed.

 The present invention also relates to a three-dimensional support covered with fabric, characterized in that it comprises: a coating on a large surface of the support, the coating being able to receive water-based ink, solvent-based and gel-based ink, the coating being substantially water-stable after ink application, and a visual image made with ink, markedly displayed on the fabric covered after application of the image using ink and a three-dimensional support covered with fabric, characterized in that it comprises:

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 a coating on a large surface of the support, the coating being able to receive water-based ink, solvent-based ink and gel-based ink, the coating being practically water-stable after application of the ink, the coating comprising finely divided porous particles and a binder including a large part of hydrophobic material, the coating allowing the flow of said ink in the coating towards the particulate material, and a visual image produced in ink displayed markedly on the covered fabric after application of the image via ink.

 The present invention also relates to a method for personalizing three-dimensional supports covered with fabric such as notepads, albums or backpacks covered with fabric, characterized in that it comprises the steps consisting in: assembling a support three-dimensional, the support having an external surface of fabric, the support having an internal space intended to contain papers or other loads, and arrangements for selectively closing the internal space, applying to the fabric a layer of material which can receive water-based ink, gel-based ink, and solvent-based ink, with the coating being substantially water-stable after applying the ink, customize the media by writing or drawing on the layer using an ink pen, and the ink providing a bright contrasting image on the outside surface of the media, so the media owner can customize and uniquely identify the image support,

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 a method for personalizing three-dimensional supports covered with fabric such as notepads covered with fabric, albums or backpacks, characterized in that it comprises the steps consisting in: assembling a three-dimensional support, the support having a surface fabric exterior, apply a layer of material to the fabric which can receive water-based ink, gel-based ink, and solvent-based ink, with the coating being substantially stable After applying the ink, the ink provides a bright contrasting image on the exterior surface of the medium when applied, so that the owner of the medium can uniquely personalize and identify the imaged medium.

 Advantageously, the method further comprises the step of forming the layer of material so that it includes finely divided porous particles and a binder including a large part of hydrophobic material and the application step is limited to the application of 'a selected limited surface of the support.

 Advantageously, the method also comprises blocking the flow and diffusion of ink in the fabric by the use of the layer having an adequate thickness so that the ink does not penetrate into the fabric.

 Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, made with reference to the appended drawings, in which: - Figure 1 shows a binding with three rings having a transparent pocket on its cover and a visual insert for the pocket,

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 FIG. 2 represents the binding of FIG. 1, the visual being inserted in the pocket, and the user tracing part of the visual on a layer or a special coating for receiving ink existing on the external surface of the pocket, - Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2 showing the binding cover, the pocket, the insert, and the outer ink-receiving layer, - Figure 4 is a perspective view of a ring binder covered with a personalized fabric representing an aspect of the present invention, - Figure 5 is a sectional view through a cover of the ring binder of Figure 4 showing the drawing to using a pen on the coated cover, using an ink pen, - Figure 6 is a perspective view of a backpack representing an aspect of the present invention, and - Figure 7 is a sectional view through one of the walls of the backpack of FIG. 6.

 Referring more particularly to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a three-ring binder 12 having a front cover 14, a back cover 16, and a back 18, a set of rings 20 being mounted on the back 18 for receiving papers . A transparent or translucent plastic sheet 22 is fixed to the front cover 14, being provided with an external ink-receiving coating as described below. The sheet 22 is fixed to the front cover 14 at the right edge 24, at the bottom 26 and, optionally, at the left edge 28 located near the back 18. The sheet 22 is open at the edge top 30 of the cover

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 before binding, to provide a pocket into which a visual 32 can be inserted.

 Figure 2 shows the visual located in the pocket formed by the plastic sheet 22 on the front cover 14 of the binding. The user uses a pen 34 to trace part of the image from the visual on a special layer or coating located on sheet 22 of the cover of the binding.

 Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of part of the front cover 14 of the binding, taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2. In Figure 3, the front cover 14 has a base member interior 42 which is practically rigid, covering layers 44 and 46 which may be formed from plastic or fabric, for example, and the visual insert 32. The transparent or translucent plastic sheet 22 which forms the pocket, has a layer or an external ink-receiving coating 48. Ink 50 which has just been applied to the coating is represented at several points on the layer and in the layer 48.

 As for the layer 48 which can receive aqueous, solvent-based or gel-based ink, the ink is also practically stable to water when it has been dried. A coating which has been used with success is described in the international PCT application number WO 99/04 981, entitled "Ink Receptive Coatings and Coated Products". This coating comprises a pigment placed in a binder or mixed with it, which can be an ethylene-vinyl acetate emulsion polymer and a cationic water-soluble polymer. Other combinations of hydrophobic and water-soluble materials can be used. The above coating may be translucent, allowing tracing through the

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de brevet européen ? 0 199 874 publiée le 5 novembre 1986, la demande internationale PCT ? WO 97/01 448 pu- bliée le 16 janvier 1997, le brevet européen EP 0 655 346 Bl, publié le 31 mai 1995, et la demande internationale PCT ? WO 96/18 496 publiée le 20 juin 1996. Ces documents concernent de manière générale des traitements destinés à être utilisés avec des feuilles utilisées avec des imprimantes à jet d'encre, les imprimantes à jet d'encre appliquant de l'encre à base d'eau sur des feuilles individuelles de papier couché qui peuvent être acheminées une par une à travers les imprimantes. coating and with very finely divided pigments, it can be virtually transparent. Other coatings which are receptive to all three types of ink and which are substantially water stable are described in the US patent? 4,613,525 issued September 23, 1986, application

European patent? 0 199 874 published on November 5, 1986, the international PCT application? WO 97/01 448 published on January 16, 1997, the European patent EP 0 655 346 B1, published on May 31, 1995, and the international application PCT? WO 96/18 496 published June 20, 1996. These documents generally relate to treatments intended to be used with sheets used with inkjet printers, inkjet printers applying ink based of water on individual sheets of coated paper that can be fed one at a time through the printers.

 As regards the coating, it advantageously comprises a porous pigment such as silica gel, in a binder which allows penetration by water-based ink, gel inks, or inks with solvent base. In order to allow penetration of the ink, the coating may have a significant amount of particulate material such that at least some of the pigment or particulate material is located at the surface of the coating or immediately adjacent to that -this. The coating may include as a component both a hydrophobic material and a water-soluble polymer. The water-soluble polymer can be present in a large amount such as 5% to 50% of the binder. When a water-soluble polymer is used, it is considered that the ink is absorbed into the coating via the soluble polymer and penetrates into the pores of the pigment, thus producing a clear image in which the support of the ink ( the water,

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 gel or solvent) causes the colored ink to penetrate into the pores of the finely divided pigment of the coating.

 Another coating binder which has been used successfully is available from Raffi and Swanson of Boston, Massachusetts under the designation AC-491. A particulate material such as carbon black, talc, calcium oxide or silica is added to the binder. It will be understood that this material may comprise a large or major part of acrylic polymer which is hydrophobic such as acrylonitrile.

 The transparent or translucent sheet 22 can be fixed at three edges of the cover 14 of the binding and can be opened at the upper edge 30, for example, or the edge adjacent to the back. If desired, the transparent plastic, and the associated ink-receiving layer can be arranged at the back 18 and on the back cover 16, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. This may involve three separate pockets each being only open at the top, a pocket extending over the front cover and back and being attached to the binding at the back of the back or a large pocket being attached to the binding only along the lower edge of the binding and at the edges of the front and back covers away from the back of the binding.

 In the foregoing description and in the accompanying drawings, there is shown a three-ring binder which has a transparent or translucent pocket on its front cover. In some cases, using the preferred coating described in international application PCT NO WO 99/04 981, the coated film may be translucent and not entirely transparent. However, the visual being located in the pocket and directly adjacent to the coated film, it is sharp enough to be easy to

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 ment traced. In addition, by using very fine pigment particles, the transparency of the coating can be increased.

 Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, they represent a three-ring binder covered with a fabric 52, having a first and a second cover 54 and 56. Either of the covers 54 and 56, or both, may be provided with a central rigid sheet member 58 covered with fabric 60. One or both of the layers of fabric 60 may be provided with an additional layer 62 of material as described above which may receiving water-based ink, solvent-based ink, or gel ink, which is practically water stable. In FIG. 5, the ink 64 is represented as being applied to the layer 62 by a pen 66. The images 68 represented in FIG. 4, which have been drawn by the pen 66, are used to personalize the notepad 52 and to make it uniquely identifiable as well as expressing the owner's personality.

 Referring now to Figure 6 of the drawings, it shows a backpack 72, having a main storage compartment 74 and straps 76 for holding the backpack on the shoulders of the user. The main storage compartment 74 can be provided with a quick opening 78 allowing access to the main storage area. An additional compartment 80 can be provided which is dimensioned to receive in a tight manner a three-ring binder 82 provided with a quick closure. A smaller additional compartment 84 can also be provided to receive small items such as pens, pencils, keys or the like. A quick closure 86 gives access to compartment 84.

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The backpack 72 as a whole or a single selected access such as the front of the compartment 84 directed towards the outside can be coated with one of the ink-receiving coatings substantially water-stable such as identified above. Personalized marks such as signatures or symbols can be applied by pen and ink to the coated areas of the backpack as indicated at the reference numeral 88 in Figure 6. Figure 7 is a schematic view in section through an area of the outer fabric of the backpack 72 shown in Figure 6 of the drawings. More specifically, the fabric 92 has an outer coating 94 applied thereto, the coating capable of receiving ink, being substantially of the water stable type as identified above. A text or an ink drawing is represented at the reference numeral 96, the ink being applied by the pen 98.

 Another medium to which the ink receiving coating can be applied is a pencil case. The pencil case has three reinforced holes for attachment in a three-ring binder and is going to be a pocket or fabric case with quick closure or hook and loop type to give access to pencils, pens and other small items located in the pencil case. The ink receiving coating can be located on one or both sides of the kit.

 It should further be noted that, instead of three-ring binders, the present invention can be applied to other binders intended to contain papers, such as binders having multiple rings or to other arrangements intended to contain papers, including albums, folders, portfolios, multi-layer sheet protectors, or

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 report covers, and these can be provided with the additional pocket intended to receive tracing or display papers as described above for the embodiment of binding with three rings. Also, the coating can be applied to binders covered with fabric or to binders covered with plastic without a transparent cover pocket. In the case of fabric-covered binders, the inks applied by pen will normally be absorbed into the fabric and will not come off markedly, however, after coating, any desired image can be applied using inking ink. solvent based, water based ink, or gel ink, and the image is sharp and marked on the surface coated with the fabric bindings. By coating dark backpacks or binders, covered either with fabric or plastic, images can be plotted on the coatings using pastel inks and / or metallic gel inks, to provide a bright display and colored. The interior surface of the binding covers can also be coated, and provided with transparent or translucent interior pockets subjected to a line and a drawing in pen and ink. It should also be noted that the ink-receiving layer can initially be formed as a separate sheet which is laminated on the transparent or translucent sheet 30 as shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings. It should also be noted that the sheet 30 can be formed from vinyl, polypropylene, or any other suitable plastic. Also, the particulate material can be in the form of colored pigments, any desired color, or white or black. In addition, the front cover can be formed from a relatively heavy quality plastic material in place of the three layers 42, 44 and 46 shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. It is also necessary

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 note that the supports can be opened and closed securely using hook and loop fasteners of the Velcro type (trade name registered), clamps or snaps, for example.

 Consequently, the present invention is not limited to the precise embodiment shown in the drawings and described in detail above.

 Thus in particular, one can write on the layer of material applied to the fabric using pens having at least two different types of ink.

Claims (24)

 CLAIMS 1. Three-dimensional support covered with fabric, characterized in that it comprises a coating (48, 62, 94) on a large surface of the support, the coating being able to receive water-based ink, ink solvent-based and gel-based ink, the coating being substantially water-stable after the ink has been applied, the coating comprising finely divided porous particles and a binder including material soluble in water, and a visual image (68,88) made in ink, displayed markedly on the coated fabric (60,92), after applying the image using ink.  2. Three-dimensional support covered with fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that the support is a binding with three rings (52).  3. Three-dimensional support covered with fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that the support is a backpack (74).  4. Three-dimensional support covered with fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that the support is a photo album.  5. Three-dimensional support covered with fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that the binder comprises significant proportions of both hydrophobic material and hydrophilic material.  6. Three-dimensional support covered with fabric according to claim 1, characterized in that the support has an interior space which can be selectively closed (80; 84).  7. Method for customizing three-dimensional supports covered with fabric such as notepads, albums or backpacks covered with fabric, characterized in that it comprises the steps consisting in: <Desc / Clms Page number 15>  assembling a three-dimensional support, the support having an exterior surface of fabric, the support having an interior space intended to contain papers or other fillers, and arrangements for selectively closing the interior space, applying to the fabric a layer of material which can receive water-based ink, gel-based ink, and solvent-based ink, the coating being substantially water-stable after applying the ink, customize the media by writing or by drawing on the layer using an ink pen, and the ink providing a bright contrasting image on the exterior surface of the support, so that the owner of the support can uniquely personalize and identify the imaged support.  8. The method of claim 7, characterized in that it further comprises the step of forming the layer of material so that it includes finely divided porous particles and a binder including a large part of hydrophobic material.  9. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the application step is limited to the application of a selected limited surface of the support.  10. Three-dimensional support covered with fabric, characterized in that it comprises a coating (48, 62, 94) on a large surface of the support, the coating being able to receive water-based ink, ink to solvent based and gel based ink, the coating being substantially water stable after ink application, and a visual image (68,88) made with ink, displayed from markedly on the fabric covered <Desc / Clms Page number 16>  green (60, 92) after applying the image using ink.  11. Three-dimensional support covered with fabric according to claim 10, characterized in that the support is a binding with three rings (52).  12. Three-dimensional support covered with fabric according to claim 10, characterized in that the support is a backpack (74).  13. Three-dimensional support covered with fabric according to claim 10, characterized in that the support is a photo album.  14. Three-dimensional support covered with fabric according to claim 10, characterized in that the support has an interior space which can be selectively closed (80,84).  15. Three-dimensional support according to claim 10, characterized in that the coating comprises a finely divided particulate material and a binder including significant parts of water-soluble material and hydrophobic material.  16. Method for customizing three-dimensional supports covered with fabric such as notepads covered with fabric, albums or backpacks, characterized in that it comprises the steps consisting in: assembling a three-dimensional support, the support having a outer fabric surface, apply a layer of material to the fabric which can receive water-based ink, gel-based ink, and solvent-based ink, with the coating being substantially stable water after application of the ink, the ink providing a bright contrasting image on the external surface of the support when it is applied, <Desc / Clms Page number 17>  so the media owner can uniquely personalize and identify the imaged media.  17. The method of claim 16, characterized in that it comprises the step of forming the layer of material so that it comprises finely divided porous particles and a binder including hydrophobic material.  18. The method of claim 16, characterized in that the application step is limited to the application of a selected limited surface of the support.  19. The method of claim 16, further characterized in that it comprises the step of writing on the layer using pens having at least two different types of ink.  20. The method of claim 16, characterized in that it further comprises blocking the flow and diffusion of ink in the fabric by the use of the layer having an adequate thickness so that the ink does not penetrate the fabric.  21. Three-dimensional support covered with fabric, characterized in that it comprises: a coating (48, 62, 94) on a large surface of the support, the coating being able to receive water-based ink, ink solvent-based and gel-based ink, the coating being substantially water-stable after application of the ink, the coating comprising finely divided porous particles and a binder including a substantial portion of hydrophobic material, coating allowing the flow of said ink in the coating towards the particulate material, and a visual image (68, 88) produced in ink markedly displayed on the covered fabric (60, <Desc / Clms Page number 18>  92) after application of the image via ink.  22. Support according to claim 21, characterized in that the coating comprises a water-soluble material.  23. Three-dimensional support covered with fabric according to claim 21, characterized in that the binder comprises significant proportions of hydrophobic material and hydrophilic material.  24. Three-dimensional support covered with fabric according to claim 21, characterized in that the support has an interior space which can be selectively closed.