KR20080080991A - Article for storing and organizing materials - Google Patents

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.

Description

ARTICLE FOR STORING AND ORGANIZING MATERIALS}

Cross Reference to Related Application

This application is part of a continued application of US Patent Application No. 11 / 275,205, filed December 19, 2005, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present invention relates to articles, enclosures and pockets useful for storing and organizing materials such as papers.

Even with the proliferation of electronic technology, today's consumers still have paper documents that need to be managed. Exemplary paper documents include, but are not limited to, receipts for purchases, bills for services such as telephone and utility bills, coupons, event tickets, shopping lists, and the like. At work, an employee may have a variety of documents that need to be managed, including, but not limited to, transitional documents such as documents that need to be filed, notes left by colleagues, incoming and outgoing mail. In general, when documents are received at the same time as they are received, most consumers and workers spend less time organizing or finding documents later when they are needed.

Paper filing tools, such as envelopes with flaps, can be cumbersome to use because the flaps seal the envelopes and are easy to tear by repeated use. In addition, envelopes can be prone to misplaced or lost during many paperwork or in drawers.

Various cleanup tools are available, but other solutions and tools are needed.

Summary of the Invention

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method of making an article for storing and organizing data. The method comprises the steps of: (1) providing first and second panels of substantially similar geometric shape defined by the periphery, each having opposing inner and outer surfaces; (2) cutting the opening in the first panel to create a free lip; (3) attaching the first and second panels along their periphery such that the inner side of the first panel is adjacent to the inner side of the second panel; And (4) applying a repositionable adhesive on at least a portion of the outer side of the second panel.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of making an article for storing and organizing data. The method comprises (1) bonded first and second panels, the first panel having a first peripheral portion which is a mirror image of the second peripheral portion of the second panel, each panel having opposing inner and outer surfaces. Providing a sheet of material having; (2) folding the sheet such that the first peripheral portion is aligned with the second peripheral portion and the inner side of the first panel is adjacent to the inner side of the second panel; (3) cutting the opening in the first panel; (4) attaching the first and second panels along their perimeters; And (5) applying an adhesive on at least a portion of the outer side of the second panel.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method of making an article for storing and organizing data. The method comprises: (1) bonded first and second panels-the first panel having a first peripheral portion which is a mirror image of the second peripheral portion of the second panel, each panel having opposing inner and outer surfaces; 1 the panel further comprises a flap extending from its periphery; (2) cutting a portion of the first panel to create a free lip; (3) folding the sheet so that the periphery of the first panel is aligned with the periphery of the second panel and the inner side of the first panel is adjacent to the inner side of the second panel; (4) folding and attaching the flaps along the perimeter around the outer side of the second panel; And (5) applying a repositionable adhesive on at least a portion of the outer side of the second panel.

In another aspect, the present invention is directed to articles for storing and organizing data. The article comprises (1) (a) first and second panels substantially similar in geometry defined by the periphery, each having opposing inner and outer surfaces, the panels being in the interior of the first panel; Side surfaces joined along their periphery such that they are adjacent to the inner side of the second panel-(b) an opening disposed in the first panel, (c) on at least a portion of the outer side of the second panel A base pocket comprising an adhesive disposed in the base pocket; And (2) at least one additional pocket attached on the base pocket, the additional pocket comprising a third panel having opposite inner and outer surfaces and smaller in size than the first and second panels. The third panel is disposed on the first panel such that the inner side surface of the third panel is adjacent to the outer side surface of the first panel.

The article of the present invention is particularly suitable for use in organizing documents such as receipts, bills, tickets, mails, magazines, lists and the like, and office supplies such as writing instruments, paper tongs and repositionable notes. The article may further comprise markers or images that produce artistic expression and have aesthetic appeal and / or have functional utility. In use, the consumer typically removes the liner (if present) from the article, attaches it to a display surface, such as a wall or refrigerator door, and organizes and stores the document in the article upon receipt. The article may be displayed on a vertical plane (such as a wall) or on a horizontal plane, such as in a folder or binder. New articles can be displayed for different durations, such as a new week or a new month. In addition, articles can be used for specific projects or for specific events. For example, in reporting income taxes, such supplies can be used during the tax year, with various pockets on different categories of documents such as W-2 pay bills, stock sales, profit dividends, child care expenses, medical expenses, household interest expenses, etc. Can be used for

The invention can be further described with reference to the drawings.

1 is a front view of one embodiment of an article for storage and organization of materials according to the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, taken along line 2-2.

3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a front view of another embodiment of the present invention, showing two partially closed pockets.

5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention, showing four fully closed pockets.

6 is a front view of another embodiment of the present invention, showing a plurality of pockets of different sizes.

7A-7C are perspective views of the embodiment of FIG. 6 in various folding stages.

8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention, showing the article pad for storing and organizing data according to the present invention.

9 is a side view of another embodiment of the present invention, showing an article pad in z-laminated form.

10 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary method of the present invention.

11 is a schematic diagram of another exemplary method of the present invention.

12 is a schematic diagram of another exemplary method of the present invention.

13 is a schematic diagram of another exemplary method of the present invention.

14 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of the present invention in which multiple pockets are stacked;

The drawings are ideal, not drawn to scale, and are intended for illustrative purposes only.

1 is a front view of an article 10 in one aspect, useful for organizing and storing material. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the article of FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2. The article includes opposing front panels 12 and rear panels 14 and has a longitudinal axis (not shown) that is generally disposed along the length of the article. The front panel includes opposing inner side 12a and outer side 12b. Similarly, the rear panel includes opposing inner side 14a and outer side 14b. An opening 20 is disposed in the front panel, the opening having a major axis L _{20 that} is the longest dimension across the opening. Without considering this opening, the panel has a substantially similar geometric shape as defined by the perimeter of the panel.

The front and rear panels are joined along the upper periphery forming the upper seam 22a, along the lower periphery forming the lower seam 22b and along the side peripheries forming the side seams 22c and 22d. . The seam may be formed through any suitable attachment means, such as for example adhesive 17. As described in detail below, other attachment means may also be used. The choice of attachment means will depend on the materials used to construct the front and rear panels. The attachment means must firmly bond the two panels together. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the opening is disposed entirely in the front panel, spaced apart from the upper seam. However, the opening may start with an upper seam, a lower seam or a side seam if necessary.

The front panel has a major axis L 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 that defines the shortest dimension across the panel. 1 and 2, the minor axis is orthogonal to the major axis and lies substantially parallel to the upper seam 22a. In this particular embodiment, the major axis L ₂₀ of the opening is shorter than the major axis L _{10 of the} front panel and shorter than the minor axis of the front panel.

Optionally, the front panel may further include a release coating 13 disposed on a portion of the front panel or substantially throughout the front side of the front panel. The release coating used should be compatible with the materials used for the front and back panels. In one embodiment, the release coating is one that has a composition that allows a consumer to write or image on a panel. Image forming techniques include, but are not limited to, the use of any digital printer. Suitable release coatings include those based on straight chain alkane derivatives, polydialkyl siloxane derivatives or fluorocarbon derivatives. One exemplary release coating is described in US Pat. No. 5,032,460 (Kanter et al.). Still other exemplary release coatings include, for example, US Pat. Nos. 6,251,512 (Gustafson et al.), For example, the disclosures starting at row 18 of column 5 to row 52 and examples RC1 through. Various embodiments are disclosed, such as RC4.

The openings, front panel, and rear panel can have any shape, such as simple geometry, or be irregularly shaped. The term "simple geometric shape" generally means polygons (such as but not limited to rectangles, squares and trapezoids) and ellipses (such as but not limited to circles and ellipses). The term “irregularly shaped” generally means a bounded shape, which shape may include a combination of straight and curved lines. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the front and rear panels are rectangular and the openings are generally oval. Other geometric shapes are shown in the various examples described below.

The article 10 further includes an adhesive 16 disposed on the outer side 14b of the back panel 14. In one embodiment, the article further includes a liner 18 to protect the adhesive. 2 shows a liner disposed directly on top of the adhesive and also shows in phantom that the liner may be in more than one position. In this particular embodiment, the liner is in the form of a flap attached to the outer side of the back panel proximate the adhesive. When the article is in the display mode, the liner will be positioned substantially collinear with the outer surface of the back panel so as not to cover the adhesive. If the consumer no longer wants to display the article, the consumer may fold the flap over the adhesive area to store or preserve the article without the adhesive exposed. The adhesive may be on a portion of the article or may cover substantially the entire outer surface of the back panel. One advantage of having an adhesive on a portion of the article in a form such as, but not limited to, a stripe is that it allows for easy attachment to and easy removal from a display surface, such as a wall. 2 shows the adhesive in the form of one stripe offset from the top seam 22a, but a plurality of stripes can be used in several different orientations. In another embodiment, the adhesive may be coated in the form of discrete portions, such as, for example, discrete islands.

3 shows the rear panel along the upper periphery of which the article 30 forms the upper seam 42a, along the lower periphery forming the lower seam 42b and along the side perimeters forming the side seams 42c, 42d. A perspective view of another embodiment with front panel 32 bonded to 34 is shown. An opening 40 is disposed in the front panel. Two stripe shaped liners 38 protect the stripe of adhesive (not shown). In addition, the article further includes a gusset 44 that allows the article to expand if more content is stored therein. In this particular embodiment, without considering the openings, the front panel and the rear panel are substantially similar in geometry, ie both are rectangular. The opening is of irregular shape.

The article of FIG. 3 further comprises a label 41 having opposing first and second faces 41a, 41b, respectively, with the label partially peeled off. The first side of the label includes a repositionable adhesive. The second side of the label is recordable or imageable. In use, when the consumer wants to seal the opening, the consumer can remove the label and place the label over the opening. Since the adhesive is repositionable, the user can reseal and reopen the opening as needed. In addition, the adhesive used for the opening may be of a sticky configuration on the outer periphery of the label, while the center of the label is substantially non-tacky so that the documents inside the article do not accidentally adhere to the exposed adhesive. Exemplary adhesives are disclosed in US 2005/0170174 and WO 2005/077672, both of which are assigned to the same assignee as this document. Another exemplary configuration includes a label, wherein the label will have a horizontal stripe of repositionable adhesive near the outer periphery of the label with substantially no adhesive at that portion of the label to cover the opening.

4 shows a front view of another embodiment where article 50 has a plurality of pockets. The article has a front panel 52 in the form of a circle. The front panel is bonded to the rear panel (not shown) along the circumference at the outer seam 62. The article further includes an inner seam 66 that bisects the front panel, wherein the inner seam attaches the front and rear panels to have two substantially identical pockets 51, 53, each having its own openings 60, 61. ) The inner seam joins the panels such that the inner side of the front panel is close to the inner side of the rear panel. In this embodiment, the pockets are partially enclosed because the inner seam does not fully bisec the front panel. Also, in this embodiment, the opening is of irregular shape. The article 50 has a major axis that matches the diameter of the circle. Each pocket also has a major axis and a minor axis, denoted by L ₅₁ , of dimensions smaller than the diameter of the circle. In this particular embodiment, the major axis of the opening is smaller than the major axis and minor axis of the pocket.

5 is a perspective view of another embodiment in which the article 70 includes a plurality of pockets. The article 70 is joined to the rear panel 74 at the upper periphery to form the upper seam 76a, at the lower periphery to form the lower seam 76b, and at the side periphery to form the side seam 76c. Panel 72. Although FIG. 5 shows only one reference numeral 76c, those skilled in the art will understand that the side seam is present on both the left and right sides of the article. In this embodiment, the front and rear panels are substantially square.

The article further includes inner seams 84 and 86 disposed substantially perpendicular to each other. The inner seam attaches the front and rear panels, creating four substantially identical pockets 71, 73, 75, 77 with their openings 80, 81, 82, 83, respectively. Since the inner seam bisects the overall length and width of the front and rear panels, the pocket is fully closed. The openings may be fasteners of zip and lock type of polymer substrates commonly used in mechanical means, such as zipper, hook and loop fasteners, or Ziploc® bags. Can be self-sealed. If necessary, the inner seam may be formed with a cut line. By tearing along the perforation line, a consumer can create a plurality of articles having a smaller footprint for storage or other applications.

Subsequently, according to FIG. 5, the opening 80 has an irregular shape. The opening 81, shown schematically as a zipper, is in a substantially closed position. The opening 82 is shown in a partially open state. The opening 83 is shown to be in a fully open state. This embodiment further includes a gusset 87 disposed between the front and rear panels to continuously join the front and rear panels at the side seam 76c, which gussets allow for expansion of the pocket in use. While side gussets are shown, the use of gussets at the upper and lower perimeters of the article is within the scope of the present invention. On the outer side of the back panel, two adhesive stripes (not shown) are provided with the liner 88 to allow attachment to the required substrate.

6 shows a front view of another embodiment where article 100 includes a plurality of different sized pockets. The article 100 is continuous with a rear panel (not shown) at the upper periphery to form the upper seam 102a, at the lower periphery to form the lower seam 102b, and at the side periphery to form the side seam 102c. It includes a front panel 102 bonded to. The front and rear panels are substantially rectangular. The article includes an inner seam 126, 128 disposed substantially perpendicular to each other, an inner seam 132 disposed orthogonally to the inner seam 128, and an inner seam 130 disposed orthogonally to the inner seam 132. Additionally included. The inner seam forms completely closed pockets 101, 106, 112, 116, 122 with their openings 104, 108, 114, 118, 124, respectively. As shown, the openings are of different sizes to accommodate different sized documents. The article 100 includes a major axis L ₁₀₀ . Each opening in each pocket includes a major axis having a dimension shorter than the major axis L ₁₀₀ of the article. Taking pocket 101 for the purpose of discussion, the pocket has a major axis L ₁₀₁ and a minor axis W ₁₀₁ . The opening 104 is shorter than the major axis L ₁₀₀ of the article, shorter than the major axis L _{101 of the} pocket, and has a major axis L ₁₀₄ equal to or longer than the minor axis W _{101 of the} pocket. Documents such as mail 110 or receipt 120 may be stored and organized in a pocket. In this particular embodiment, the general calendar 103 may be part of the article, providing additional solutions and convenience to the consumer when using the article. If desired, the article further includes securing means 140 when the consumer folds the article to reduce its footprint to allow for easy transportation.

7A-7C show perspective views of the embodiment of FIG. 6 in the transition to the folded form. In FIG. 7A, article 100 is in a substantially open state with the article divided into two substantially equal halves. In FIG. 7B, article 100 is folded and in a nearly closed state. In FIG. 7C, the article 100 is in a fully closed state with the fastening means 140 folded over the outer side of the rear panel. One useful article fastening means is a hook and loop combination wherein a hook or loop portion is disposed on the portion 140 and a mating hook and loop is disposed on the outer side of the back panel. Other useful fastening means would include the use of repositionable adhesives, other mechanical fasteners, such as zippers or ribbons, yarns, threads, to tie the two halves of the article together.

8 is a perspective view of another embodiment, in which a stack of a plurality of articles forming a pad 90 is shown. For ease of understanding, only the top two articles, first article 91 and subsequent second article 96, are shown in detail. The first article 91 is continuous with the rear panel 94 at the upper periphery to form the upper seam 92a, at the lower periphery to form the lower seam 92b, and at the side periphery to form the side seam 92c. It includes a front panel 92 bonded to. The first article includes an opening 93. Both the front and rear panels and the openings are of simple geometric shape, which are rectangular and elliptical, respectively. The first article further includes an adhesive 95 disposed proximate the upper seam on the back panel. The second article 96 includes a front panel 98 that is also continuously joined with a rear panel (not shown) at the top, bottom and side periphery to form top, bottom and side seams, respectively. The second article further includes an opening 97. The pad 90 of the article is formed such that the back panel 94 of the first article 91 with the adhesive 95 is in direct contact with the front panel 98 of the second article 96. In such embodiments, the front panel of the article preferably further comprises a release agent such that the adhesive of one article is clean and relatively easily removed from subsequent articles. 8 shows first and second articles that are substantially similar in shape, ie both are rectangular with elliptical openings, it is within the scope of the present invention to have articles of different shapes with openings of different shapes. For example, while the first article is rectangular in some dimensions, the second article may also be rectangular but have different dimensions, or may be of entirely different geometric shape.

9 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment in which the pad 150 includes a plurality of articles stacked on top of each other in such a manner that adhesive is not laminated at one end but laminated at alternating ends of the pad. Such stacking arrangements are commonly referred to as "z" stacking. As can be seen, the first article 160 with adhesive 166 is laminated to the first end of the pad, while the second article 170 with adhesive 176 is laminated to the opposite end of the pad. .

If desired, at least one of the front and rear panels can include graphics or other markings to produce articles for artistic expression or functional utility or for aesthetic purposes. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the front panel may include an image forming a face with an opening that forms an eye to appeal to the consumer. As shown in FIG. 6, a calendar or “to-do” list may be imaged on the front panel, or individual pockets may be labeled to identify the contents within the pocket. In one example, individual pockets are labeled "receipts", "bills", "tickets" and the like to help consumers organize the various documents they wish to retain for a period of time.

Various 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 material. In other embodiments, the front and rear panels are of different materials. Suitable materials for the front and rear panels include, but are not limited to, films of paper, plastic, canvas, nonwovens, fabrics, and metal substrates. Combinations of these materials can be used. In one embodiment, portions of the front and / or rear panels may be transparent to provide a window so that consumers can see the contents inside the article. Exemplary materials useful for the panel include recordable matte articles disclosed in US Pat. No. 6,251,512 to Gustafson et al.

On a portion of the front or rear panel of the article, color-coding may be added to help the consumer visually organize the article. For example, different colors may be used for different days of the week, or for different types of documents stored in the article. The article of the present invention may further comprise a tab that can be adhesively or mechanically attached anywhere along the periphery of the article. Such tabs may be useful when a consumer wishes to store or store an article in a filing system.

The front and rear panels are bonded to each other along the perimeter using various methods. The method chosen depends on the type of material used. The joining of the front and rear panels need not be continuous throughout the perimeter of the panel. Suitable methods include, but are not limited to, adhesive means, mechanical fastener means, ultrasonic welding means, lamination means and sewing means. Combinations of these methods can also be used. For example, adhesive means are very versatile and can be used when the front and rear panels are of the same material or of different materials. The adhesive means includes, but is not limited to, a tape such as double-sided tape, a liquid adhesive such as glue, a solid adhesive such as glue, and the like. Ultrasonic welding means are particularly suitable for plastics and nonwovens. Ultrasonic welding means typically produce local spot welding of the front and rear panels so that the entire panel is joined but these panels are not joined continuously along the entire perimeter. Sewing means are particularly suitable for canvases or fabrics. Exemplary mechanical fastener means would be hook and loop combinations where the hook may be placed on one panel while the loop may be placed on the other panel. Lamination means generally refers to the use of heat and pressure to attach the front and rear panels. The lamination means is particularly suitable when the nonwoven fabric, in particular the nonwoven fabric, comprises a plurality of different polymer components and one of the components exhibits adhesive properties at elevated temperatures and pressures.

The adhesive is disposed on the outer side of the back panel. Any permanent or repositionable adhesive can be used in the present invention. Various repositionable adhesives can be used. Suitable repositionable adhesives are described in US Pat. Nos. 3,691,140 (Silver), 3,857,731 (Merrill et al.), 4,166,152 (Baker et al.), 4,495,318 (Howard), 5,045,569 (Delagado), 5,073,457 (Blackwell) and 5,571,617 (Cooprider, etc.), and 5,663,241 (Takamatsu et al.), 5,714,237 (Kupfrider et al.), US Reissue Patent Nos. 37,563 (Kupfrider et al.), 5,756,625 (Crandall et al.) And 5,824,748 (Kesti et al.). The repositionable adhesive may be a solvent based, water based adhesive, or may be a solvent free hot melt adhesive.

The adhesive may be coated in any form on the outer side of the back panel. For example, the back panel may include an outer side that is fully adhesive coated or a side that is partially adhesive coated. Suitable partially coated forms include, but are not limited to, stripes of adhesive, discrete islands of adhesive, or patches of adhesive. The type of adhesive coating form depends on the type of adhesive used, the size of the article of the present invention, and to some extent the display surface.

Liners are used to protect the repositionable adhesive until applied. The liner may be any paper or plastic sheet that is firmly bonded to the repositionable adhesive during storage. The liner is clean and easily released from the repositionable adhesive. The liner may be treated with a release coating to achieve the required release performance. Suitable silicone-based release liners are available from Loparex, Inc. of Willowbrook, Illinois, USA.

Articles of the invention can be made in a variety of ways. One exemplary method provides a front and a back panel, wherein the front panel is optionally coated with a release agent and has a precut opening therein. If necessary, graphics and markers are preprinted on the outside of the front panel to add artistic or functional expression or aesthetic usefulness. On the outer side of the back panel, an adhesive is coated on the back panel. Optionally, the liner is laminated to the adhesive. The front and rear panels are continuously joined along the periphery of the panel to form the article of the present invention.

In the case of a pad, an enclosure is manufactured in substantially the same way as an individual article, as described in the previous paragraph. The liner is used for the last enclosure in the pad. In one embodiment, the liner substantially covers the entire outer side of the rear panel.

10 schematically illustrates one example method of making an article 230. The method is, in this particular embodiment, substantially defined by a perimeter that is bounded by an upper edge 222a, an opposing lower edge 222b, a first side edge 222c, and a second side edge 222d. Providing a first panel 212 having a square geometry. As used herein, the terms "top" and "bottom" refer to relative positions. The first panel includes openings 210 that have been cut in advance. The opening has an irregular shape with one edge substantially parallel to the upper edge 222a and spaced therefrom by a distance d ₁ . The first panel has an outer side 212b and an opposite inner side (not shown). The method further includes providing a second panel 214 having an inner side 214b and having a geometry substantially similar to that of the first panel. Similar to the first panel, the second panel has a perimeter bordered by an upper edge 224a, an opposing lower edge 224b, and respective first and second side edges 224c and 224d. The second panel further comprises means for attaching the first and second panels together, for example 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 two panels. The adhesive is in the form of a strip disposed along the perimeter. The strip disposed adjacent the upper edge 224a has a dimension d ₂ . In one embodiment, d ₁ is substantially equal to d ₂ such that the portion of the front panel between opening 210 and top edge 222a is fixed.

The attachment means may be on the first panel or the second panel, or as in the ultrasonic welding means, the attachment means may be a fusion of the first and second panels. Adhesive means include, for example, pressure sensitive adhesives or hot melt adhesives, which may be in the form of permanent adhesives, transfer tapes, double sided tapes, repositionable adhesives and the like. Mechanical means may include, for example, hook and loop attachment systems. Sewing means are particularly suitable when the first and second panels are canvas or other cloth. 10 shows the adhesive 226 disposed continuously along the perimeter, but in other embodiments discontinuous means are suitable. For example, in the case of ultrasonic welding means, it is typical for ultrasonic energy to spot weld together the first and second panels so that the attachment of the two panels cannot be continuous along the entire perimeter. As long as the means for attaching the panel used forms a pocket for holding documents and other materials, it will be suitable for use in the present invention.

The method includes attaching the first and second panels together along their perimeter so that the side edges 222c, 222d of the first panel coincide with the side edges 224c, 224d of the second panel. Similarly, the upper and lower edges 222a and 222b of the first panel coincide with the upper and lower edges 224a and 224b of the second panel, respectively. The two panels are attached so that the inner faces of the panels are adjacent to each other.

11 schematically illustrates another example method of making an article 260. The method includes providing a sheet material 240 having first and second panels 242, 244 bonded at an imaginary line 246. The two panels are substantially equivalent in size and have substantially the same geometry as defined by their periphery. The first panel has opposing inner and outer surfaces 242a and 242b, respectively. Similarly, the second panel has opposing inner and outer surfaces 244a and 244b, respectively. The first panel further includes a precut opening 262. The opening has an irregular shape with one edge substantially parallel to the upper edge 243a and spaced therefrom by a distance d ₃ . The first panel has a first perimeter bordered by an upper edge 243a and opposing first and second edges 243c and 243d. Similarly, the second panel has a second perimeter bordered by an upper edge 245a and opposing first and second edges 245c and 245d. The second panel further includes means for attaching the panels together, collectively indicated as adhesive 248. The adhesive is in the form of a stripe disposed generally along the perimeter at the top edge 245a and the side edges 245c, 245d. In one embodiment, the adhesive stripe adjacent the top edge 245a has a dimension d ₄ , which is substantially the same as d ₃ . Thus, when two panels are attached, the part of the first panel, denoted by d ₃ as a whole, is fixed. Means cited again with reference to FIG. 10 may be used in this embodiment. The method includes sheet material generally along imaginary line 246 such that the perimeters of the first and second panels coincide and the inner side 242a of the first panel lies adjacent to the inner side 244a of the second panel. It further includes a folding step. The article shares a common edge 246 that serves as the bottom edge for both panels.

The cutting step can be carried out at any time according to the process. For example, the first panel may be cut beforehand, cut before the folding step, or after the first and second panels are attached. The cutting method used should be compatible with the materials used for the panels. For example, a suitable method for paper, plastic, canvas or other cloth materials would be a die cut process.

12 schematically illustrates another example method of making an article 300. The method includes providing a sheet material 280 having first and second panels 282, 284 bonded at an imaginary line 286. The first panel perimeter is bounded by an upper edge 283a and opposing first and second edges 283c and 283d. Similarly, the second panel perimeter is bounded by an upper edge 285a and opposing first and second side edges 285c and 285d. The first panel has opposing inner and outer surfaces 282a and 282b. Similarly, the second panel has an inner side and an outer side 284a, 284b. The first panel further includes means for attaching the panels together, collectively indicated by flap 288. The flap is located at the perimeter along the edges 283a, 283c, 283d and has opposing first and second faces 288a, 288b, respectively. Means cited again with reference to FIG. 10 may be used for the flaps. In this case, particularly suitable attachment means will include adhesive and mechanical means that can be applied to the flap. The method generally uses a virtual line 286 with sheet material such that the perimeters of the first and second panels are generally aligned and the inner side 282a of the first panel lies adjacent to the inner side 284a of the second panel. And further comprising the step of folding. The flap is then wrapped around and attached to the second panel such that the first face 288a with adhesive is in direct contact with the outer face 284b. The method further includes cutting the first panel, which is generally indicated by lines 290, thereby creating a free lip 304, which then frees up the inner surface of the second panel. Attached to 284a to create opening 302.

10, 11, and 12, once the article is assembled, the outer surfaces of the first panels 212b, 242b, 282b are accessible to the user. The method further includes applying a repositionable adhesive on the outer side of the second panels 214b, 244b, 284b. If necessary, a liner may be added to protect the repositionable adhesive. Alternatively, the pad of the article may be made by stacking one article on top of each other such that the repositionable adhesive of one article contacts the outer side of the first panel of the subsequent article.

FIG. 13 schematically illustrates another example method of making an article having multiple pockets while minimizing the overall footprint of the article. The method has a first shape having opposing inner surfaces (not shown) and outer surfaces 312b and having a geometric shape defined by a perimeter that is bounded by at least the upper edge 313a and the side edges 313c, 313d. Providing a panel 312. The method has a second shape having a opposed outer side (not shown) and an inner side 314a and having a geometric shape defined by a periphery delimited by at least the upper edge 315a and the side edges 315c, 315d. Providing a panel 314. The first and second panels are of substantially similar size and geometrical detective. The method includes cutting the opening 318 in the first panel. The first and second panels are attached together along their perimeter so that the inner faces are adjacent to each other. The method further includes providing a third panel 320. The third panel is smaller than the first and second panels, but has the same width as the distance between the first panel width, ie the side edges 313c and 313d, ie the distance between the side edges 323c and 323d. The third panel has a first panel and a first panel in which the side edges 313c, 323c, 313d, and 323d of the third and first panels and the lower edge (not shown by reference figures for ease of understanding) coincide with each other. It is attached to the first panel to form a second enclosure (ie, an additional pocket) that is created by the outer side of the panel. The third panel includes a second opening 328. 13 also shows a fourth panel 340 attached to the third panel 320 to create a second additional pocket. Although the various panels in this particular embodiment have substantially the same width, the invention can be practiced with panels of different sizes and different shapes. For example, generally square first and second panels may be used with a circular third panel, and subsequent panels may still have different shapes.

FIG. 14 shows various panels of FIG. 3 assembled into an article 350 with a base pocket 352 having an outer side 312b of the first panel. The base pocket has a first opening 354. A first additional pocket 355 having a second opening 356 is attached to the base pocket and a second additional pocket 358 having a third opening 360 is attached to the first additional pocket.

Claims (16)

As a method of manufacturing the article for document storage and rearranging Providing first and second panels of substantially similar geometric shape defined by the periphery, each having opposing inner and outer surfaces; Cutting an opening in the first panel; Attaching the first and second panels along their periphery such that the inner side of the first panel is adjacent to the inner side of the second panel; And Applying a repositionable adhesive on at least a portion of the outer side of the second panel How to include. As a method of manufacturing the article for document storage and rearranging A sheet of material having bonded first and second panels, the first panel having a first peripheral portion that is a mirror image of the second peripheral portion of the second panel, each panel having opposing inner and outer surfaces. Providing; Cutting an opening in the first panel; Folding the sheet such that the first peripheral portion is aligned with the second peripheral portion and the inner side of the first panel is adjacent to the inner side of the second panel; Attaching the first and second panels along their perimeters; And Applying an adhesive on at least a portion of the outer side of the second panel How to include. As a manufacturing method of the article for document storage and rearranging, Bonded first and second panels, the first panel having a first peripheral portion which is a mirror image of a second peripheral portion of the second panel, each panel having opposing inner and outer surfaces, the first panel Providing a sheet of material having a flap extending from the periphery thereof; Cutting a portion of the first panel to create a free lip; Folding the sheet so that the periphery of the first panel is aligned with the periphery of the second panel and the inner side of the first panel is adjacent to the inner side of the second panel; Folding the flap along a periphery around the outer surface of the second panel; And Applying a repositionable adhesive on at least a portion of the outer side of the second panel How to include. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second panels are selected from the group consisting of paper, plastic, canvas, nonwovens, fabrics, films based on metals, and combinations thereof. The method of claim 1, wherein the 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. Way. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one step selected from the group consisting of applying an image water-soluble coating and applying a release coating on the outer side of the first panel. . The method according to claim 1, wherein Providing a third panel having opposing inner and outer surfaces and smaller in dimension than the first and second panels; Cutting an opening in the third panel; And Attaching the third panel to the first panel such that the inner side of the third panel is adjacent to the outer side of the first panel How to further include. The method of claim 1, further comprising attaching a liner to the repositionable adhesive. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the articles are laminated on top of each other to form an article pad such that the repositionable adhesive of one article contacts the outer side of the first panel of a subsequent article. How to further include. The method of claim 1, wherein the second panel comprises means for attaching the first and second panels, the attachment means being disposed along a periphery of the second panel. The method of claim 10 wherein said attachment means comprises a strip of adhesive selected from the group consisting of pressure sensitive adhesives and hot melt adhesives. 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising attaching the free lip to the inner side of the second panel. (i) first and second panels having substantially similar geometric shapes defined by the periphery, each having opposing inner and outer surfaces, the panels wherein the inner surface of the first panel is the second panel; Bonded along their periphery to abut the inner side of the substrate, (ii) an opening disposed in the first panel, and (iii) an adhesive disposed on at least a portion of the outer side of the second panel. A base pocket; And At least one additional pocket attached to said base pocket, The additional pocket comprises a third panel having opposing inner and outer surfaces and having a smaller dimension than the first and second panels, wherein the third panel has the inner side of the third panel being the first panel. A material storage and grooming article disposed on the first panel adjacent to the outer side of the substrate. The article of claim 13, wherein the first, second and third panels are selected from the group consisting of paper, plastic, canvas, nonwovens, fabrics, films based on metals, and combinations thereof. The article of claim 13, wherein the first, second and third panels are joined together by means selected from the group consisting of adhesive means, mechanical means, ultrasonic welding means, lamination means, sewing means, and combinations thereof. . The article of claim 13, wherein at least one of the panels further comprises at least one of an image water soluble coating and a release coating on the outer side of the outer side of the panel.

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