GB2345464A

GB2345464A - A scannable form having a pocket for receiving a photograph

Info

Publication number: GB2345464A
Application number: GB0007036A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kevin Bassett; Jeremy Roe
Original assignee: KALAMAZOO SECURITY PRINT LIMIT; TACTICA SOLUTIONS Ltd
Current assignee: KALAMAZOO SECURITY PRINT LIMIT; TACTICA SOLUTIONS Ltd
Priority date: 1999-03-24
Filing date: 2000-03-24
Publication date: 2000-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 2020-03-24
Also published as: GB2345464B; GB0007036D0; GB9906671D0

Abstract

The form comprises a sheet (3,Fig 1) having a pocket (4,Fig 2) for receiving the photograph or other information-carrying member (18,Fig 2). The pocket is defined by a transparent plastic reinforcing member 10 and a transparent plastic cover member 12. The members overlie holes 6 and 8 within the sheet, the reinforcing member 10 including a hole corresponding to hole 6 in the sheet. In use, a photograph is inserted through hole 8 so as to be displayed over hole 6 between the transparent members enabling both the front image side and the rear signature side of the photograph to be seen. The form with the photograph inserted in the pocket can then be scanned for electronic storage.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO FORMS This invention relates to improvements relating to forms.

It is known to provide blank forms which contain spaces which must be filled to provide the required information. It is also known to provide forms with adhesive areas to which information carrying members such as photographs can be adhered. A disadvantage with such forms is that the information bearing member becomes permanently adhered to the form and further the manufacturing steps necessary to manufacture the form are more complex and therefore more expensive than may be desired.

A further disadvantage of forms having information bearing members which are adhered to the form is that often edges are present around the information bearing member which can catch if the form is passed through photocopying or scanning operations. This problem is exacerbated if the information carrying member is stiffer or less flexible than the material of the form.

Modem developments in technology mean that electronic storage is being utilised to store information contained on completed forms. and accordingly it is desirable if the completed form is designed so that it can be scanned with relative ease.

It is an object of the present invention to provide in the preferred embodiments at least, an alleviation of at least some of the problems of the prior art.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a form comprising a sheet of material, the form having one or more pockets associated therewith, the or each pocket including a hole within the sheet and being adapted, in use, to receive an information carrying member.

The information carrying member can be easily inserted into the or each pocket and so remain in contact with the form. The form is moreover easier to manufacture than prior art forms which have means for receiving information carrying members. Such a form may be scanned more readily than forms which have means for receiving information carrying members with information carrying members such as a photograph, adhered thereto.

Preferably the or each pocket is defined by a cover member which in use substantially covers the hole and is secured to the form at one or more points around the periphery of the hole. Such a structure provides a convenient way of providing the pocket.

The or each pocket may be adapted, in use, to receive the information carrying member between the sheet and the cover member, providing a simple structure.

The or each pocket may further comprise a second hole located adjacent the first hole. The information carrying member can conveniently be inserted into the pocket, by means of the second hole.

The cover member may substantially cover both of the holes, providing a structure into which the information carrying member can be readily inserted. Alternatively, the cover may cover member only one of the holes.

Conveniently, the first hole is of such dimensions relative to the information carrying member that, in use, information held on the information carrying member can be seen through the hole.

The second hole may be wider than the first hole, providing a structure which allows the information carrying member to be easily inserted into the pocket. Preferably the second hole, in use, allows the information carrying member to inserted into the pocket.

In use, the information carrying member is received entirely within the pocket. Preferably, substantially the entire edge regions of the information carrying member are received between the sheet and the cover member. Such a structure results in the reduction in the likelihood of the information carrying member being caught during any future processing.

In one embodiment the cover member is provided on a first side of the form and a reinforcing member is provided on a second side of the form, opposite from the first side of the form. Such a structure provides a pocket which is more robust.

The reinforcing member may suitably be secured to the form at one or more points around the periphery of either or both of the first and second holes. This provides a convenient way of reinforcing the form around the holes.

At least one of the holes may be substantially rectangular. At least one corner of one of the holes may be chamfered or curved. Such an arrangement provides a structure into which it is easier to insert the information carrying member: the information carrying member is less likely to snag the corner of the hole as it is inserted. Alternatively, the holes may be of any shape, for example circular.

The cover member may be made of a plastics material. The reinforcing member may likewise be made of a plastics material. A plastics material is suitable for providing both the cover and the reinforcing member due to its robustness and resistance to tearing. Generally the sheet will be provided from paper and the presence of the plastics material provides greater robustness.

Preferably, the plastics material is substantially transparent. This is advantageous since if the cover is provided from this material both sides of the information carrying member will be visible (one side through the first hole and the other through the substantially transparent cover). This is advantageous should there be information on both sides of the information carrying member, for example, a photograph on one side and a signature on the other.

The information carrying member may comprise a photograph.

Alternatively, the information carrying member may contain a finger print or other piece of information.

Thus, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the pocket may comprise first and second holes, a cover member and a reinforcing member, the holes being substantially rectangular and provided adjacent one another with the second hole being provided on a first side of the first hole, the two corners of the first hole on the second side, opposite the first side, being chamfered, the reinforcing member being secured around the periphery of the first hole on one side of the form and the cover member covering the first hole on the opposite side of the form.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of scanning a form into a computer comprising the steps of: a. providing a form according to the first aspect of the invention; b. inserting a information carrying member into the pocket; and c. scanning the form through a scanner.

The information carrying member is securely held in the pocket on the form and can therefore be readily scanned. Since the information carrying member is maintained in a pocket the edges of the information carrying member are less likely to catch the scanner as the form is scanned.

Further, since the information carrying member is not permanently attached to the form it can be temporarily removed from the form should closer inspection be required. However, the information carrying member is securely held in the pocket and requires positive action on the part of a user to be removed from the pocket.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method for manufacturing a form according to the first aspect of the invention, the method comprising the following steps: a. adhering a layer of a reinforcing material to a first side of a sheet of material; b. cutting a first hole into the layer of reinforcing material; c. cutting a second hole into the material; and d. adhering a cover member to a second side of the sheet of paper substantially to cover the first hole.

Such a method provides an efficient way of fabricating the form.

The method may comprise manufacturing more than one form on a single sheet of paper and dividing the sheet to provide individual forms. An advantage of this is that the efficiency of the manufacture of the forms is increased.

The single sheet may be provided with one or more lines of perforations during the manufacturing process, providing a convenient way to separate the sheet into a number of forms.

Information for the form may conveniently be printed onto the form after the pocket has been fabricated. Alternatively, the information may be printed onto the form before the pocket is fabricated, or indeed during the fabrication steps of the form.

Preferably the sheet of material is paper.

In one embodiment two forms are created on a single sheet, which can then be divided into two forms.

There now follows by way of example only a detailed description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a view of the form according to the first aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 shows an information carrying member being inserted into the form of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows the steps for manufacturing the form of Figure 1; and Figure 4 shows an exploded view of the form in Figure 3.

In Figure 1 there is shown a form 2 fabricated from a sheet of material 3 and having a pocket 4. The skilled person will appreciate that the pocket could be provided at any point on the form 2.

The pocket 4 comprises a first hole 6 and a second hole 8 of greater width that the first. On one surface of the form 2 there is provided around the edges of the first hole 6 a reinforcing member 10 fabricated from a transparent plastics material. The reinforcing member 10 does not surround the second hole 8 (although the skilled person will appreciate that this would also be a possibility) and the reinforcing member 10 does not extend over the first hole 6 as will be appreciated from the method of manufacture as explained hereinafter.

On the opposite surface of the form 2 from the reinforcing member 10, there is provided a cover member 12, also of a transparent plastics material. The cover member 12 is adhered to the form 2 only in a region around the periphery of the cover member, shown by the line referenced 14. Therefore, the region 16 between the first hole 6 and second hole 8 is not adhered to the cover 12.

The two corners of the first hole 6 remote from the second hole 8 are chamfered. This allows the information carrying member to be inserted more readily as will be explained hereinafter.

Figure 2 shows the pocket of the form in use with an information carrying member 18 (in this case a photograph) both before and after insertion into the pocket 4.

As can be seen in Figure 2a the photograph 18 is wider than the first hole 6 but is narrower than the second hole 8. This allows the photograph 18 to be inserted into the pocket 4 by way of the second hole 8 and to be retained underneath the reinforced edge portions of the first hole 6. It will be noted that the region 16 between the first and the second holes is not adhered to the cover member 12. Thus in this embodiment the entire edge regions of the photograph are received between the sheet 3 and the cover member 12.

The photograph 18 is held in the pocket 4 so that the picture is visible through the first hole 6 and framed by the edge regions of the first hole 6, the cover member 12 being located against the back of the photograph 18.

The chamfered corners of the first hole 6 help to ensure that the corners of the photograph 18 do not catch the corners of the first hole 6 as the photograph 18 is inserted into the pocket 4.

Figure 2b shows the photograph 18 after insertion into the pocket 4.

Figure 2c shows the photograph, after insertion into the pocket, viewed from the bottom surface of the form 2. The photograph 18 is seen having a larger dimension than the first hole 6 (through which the image of the photograph can be viewed). The cover member 12 is secured to the form by means of an adhesive applied to region 14 (in this Figure this is shown as a shaded region) around the periphery of the cover member 12.

Information provided on the back of the photograph 18 can be seen through the transparent cover member 12. In this case a signature 20 can be seen on the back of the photograph 18.

In Figure 3a a blank form 22 before manufacture of the pocket is shown.

In Figure 3b a rectangle 24 of a plastics material has been adhered to the front side of the form 22 (this will form the reinforcing member 10). The next step in the manufacture of the form is to cut the first and second holes 6 and 8 respectively. It will be seen that the first hole 6 is cut through the rectangle 24 of plastics material so that the edges of the hole are reinforced by the plastics material. The second hole 8 is spaced apart from the rectangle 24.

The final stage in the manufacturing process is to provide the cover member 12 and this can be seen in Figure 3d. The cover is provided on the bottom surface of the form 22 and is adhered to the form 22 only at an edge region of the cover 12. The adhered portion of the cover is represented by the hatched area in the Figure. Since the cover is of a transparent plastics material the first and second holes can be seen through the cover 12. It will be noted that Figures 3a to 3c are plan views of the top surface of the form whereas Figure 3d is a plan view of the bottom surface of the form.

In some embodiments it is possible to fabricate more than one form at a time. To achieve this a blank piece of paper an integer multiple of the size of the finished form is passed through the manufacturing process and has the same number of pockets formed therein as the sheet is larger than the finished form. Therefore, if the paper is twice as large as the finished form it will have two pockets formed therein; if the paper is three times as large it will have three pockets formed therein. Once the pockets have been fabricated the sheet of paper is divided into sheets of the correct size for printing of the form.

The sheet of paper containing more than one pocket may be provided with perforations. In one particular embodiment the desired form is A4 size.

A sheet of A3 paper can be handled by the manufacturing process and so has two pockets formed therein. Also during manufacture a line of perforations is formed down a centre line of the A3 sheet so that once it has passed through the pocket manufacturing process it can be divided into two A4 forms, each having a pocket therein.

Figure 4 shows the component parts of the pocket once the pocket has been completely fabricated (i. e. after the first and second holes have been cut in to the rectangle 24). Like reference numerals have been used for like parts from the remainder of the description.

The invention may comprise a form having one or more pockets attached thereto, the or each pocket being adapted, in use, to receive an information carrying member.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A form comprising a sheet of material, the form having one or more pockets associated therewith, the or each pocket including a hole within the sheet and being adapted, in use, to receive an information carrying member.
2. A form according to Claim 1 wherein the or each pocket is formed by a cover member which substantially covers the hole and is secured to the form at one or more points around the periphery of the hole.
3. A form according to Claim 2 wherein the or each pocket is adapted, in use, to receive the information carrying member between the sheet and the cover member.
4. A form according to Claim 3 wherein substantially the entire edge regions of the information carrying member are received between the sheet and the cover member.
5. A form according to any preceding claim wherein the or each pocket further comprises a second hole located adjacent the first hole.

6. A form according to Claim 4 wherein the cover member substantially covers the first and second holes.
6. A form according to Claim 4 or 5 wherein the second hole is wider than the first hole.
7. A form according to any one of Claims 4 to 6 wherein the second hole, in use, allows the information carrying member to inserted into the pocket.
8. A form according to any one of Claims 2 to 7 in which the cover member is provided on a first side of the form and a reinforcing member is provided on a second side of the form, opposite from the first side of the form.
9. A form according to Claim 8 wherein the reinforcing member is secured to the form at one or more points around the periphery of either or both of the first and second holes.
10. A form according to any one of Claims 2 to 9 wherein at least one of the holes is substantially rectangular.
11. A form according to any one of Claims 2 to 10 wherein at least one corner of one of the holes is chamfered or curved.
12. A form according to any one of Claims 2 to 11 wherein the cover member is made of a plastics material.
13. A form according to Claim 8 and to any one of Claims 9 to 12 when dependent upon Claim 8 wherein the reinforcing member is made of from a plastics material.
14. A form according to Claim 12 or 13 wherein the plastics material is substantially transparent.
15. A form according to Claim 1 wherein the pocket comprises first and second holes, a cover member and a reinforcing member, the holes being substantially rectangular and provided adjacent one another with the second hole being provided on a first side of the first hole, the two corners of the first hole on the second side, opposite the first side, being chamfered, the reinforcing member being provided around the edge portions of the first hole on one side of the form and the cover member covering the first hole on the opposite side of the form.
16. A method of scanning a form into a computer comprising the steps of: a. providing a form according to any one of Claims 1 to 15; b. inserting a information carrying member into the pocket; and c. scanning the form through a scanner.
17. A method for manufacturing a form according any one of Claims 1 to 15, the method comprising the following steps: a. adhering a layer of a reinforcing material to a first side of a sheet of paper; b. cutting a first hole into the layer of reinforcing material; c. cutting a second hole into the paper; and d. adhering a cover member to a second side of the sheet of paper substantially to cover the first hole.
18. A method according to Claim 17 comprising manufacturing more than one form on a single sheet of paper and dividing the sheet to provide individual forms.
19. A method according to claim 18 comprising providing the single sheet with one or more lines of perforations during the manufacturing process.
20. A form substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
21. A method of for manufacturing a form substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
22. A method of scanning a form into a computer substantially as described herein.