MXPA99001680A - Printable index sheet with bindable member - Google Patents

Abstract

An index sheet (10) or divider which may be accommodated by and directly printed upon by a conventional printer. The index sheet is provided with a combination of features selected from one or more perforations or foldable portions defining a guide (18), foldable bindable portions (14), hinged cutouts, removable index tab portions (16) and the like which allow the index sheet to pass, in a guided or controlled fashion, through a printer. After the index sheet is directly printed upon, such features also allow the index sheet to be transformed, either manually or by machine, so that an index tab portion of the index sheet stands out, identifies, separates, or otherwise distinguishes documents or items with which one or more index sheets are kept.

Description

PRINTABLE INDEX SHEET WITH A MEMBER THAT CAN BE JOINED.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to index sheets and, more specifically, to index sheets that can be attached or bound, which can be directly printed on machines, such as computer-operated printers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Index indicators for the rapid identification and selection of loose-leaf or hard-bound information are a common feature of nearly all well-organized offices or homes. Usually, these index indicators are provided as marked on certain pages or pages of the bound, books, notebooks or other multi-sheet material. To facilitate the exploration and selection of pages, the index indicators are usually staggered or spaced, along two orthogonal planes, for example, the index indicators connected at the end of the adjacent index sheets are placed far enough away one of the other so that the identifier text or the characters or symbols that appear in both index indicators can be viewed simultaneously. The uses of these index indicators are in the range from simple reference to presentations.

In general, index indicators are made in one of two ways. The indicators can be formed in an integrated manner as outliers of the sheets themselves as shown, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 4,184,699 published by Lowe on January 22, 1980. Otherwise, the indicators can be separate components that are they connect to the index sheets as shown, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 4,962,603 published by Kao et al. on October 16, 1990; U.S. Patent 5,135,261 published by Cusack et al. on August 4, 1992; U.S. Patent No. 5,340,427 published by Cusack et al. on August 23, 1994; and U.S. Patent No. 5,389,414 published by Popat on February 14, 1995. As indicated by the Kao et al patent, the formation of the index indicators as integrated projections of the index sheet has been disadvantageous, since it has been difficult to print On machine the identifier text on the index indicators. For example, it has been impractical to insert the entire index sheet on a standard typewriter to write the side text on the outgoing index indicators. It has also been difficult or impossible to feed the index sheets directly through common office printers, such as laser printers, inkjet printers or office copiers, without encountering clogging problems, limited power problems or distorted printing problems. It is desired to print index sheets on laser or inkjet printers due to the great flexibility of what can be printed as well as the high print quality provided by these printers or the like. However, these printers require that the stack of sheets be uniformly sized, at least in their amplitude, according to the standard sizes that will be accommodated by the standard size feeder tray and the access path of these printers. Otherwise, the stack of sheets will tend to get stuck inside these printers or they will not fit on these printers regularly. Index sheets, which have leading indicators on the top or front end first dragged into the printer, can also get stuck or deviate from the correct feed path. In addition, the stack of sheets must be strong enough to withstand the stress imposed on the sheets by the feeder mechanisms and the pressure rollers, and must provide a uniform smooth surface that adequately takes the toner. Because of these requirements, conventional index sheets having non-uniform widths due to outgoing index indicators have been poorly suited for use in laser or inkjet printers.

This drawback is accentuated more when the indicators are used to mark the pages of a book of hard or soft paste. As a result, the identifier text is commonly written by hand on the indicators, even the text is printed on separate adhesive labels that are then placed on the corresponding indicators. The present invention is directed to solve the problems established in the above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect of the present invention, machine-printable index sheets are described directly. The index sheet consists of a main body having first and second ends, a binding member extending outwardly from the first end and defining at least one binding hole separate from the main body, and an index indicator extending outwardly from the second end. . The binder member has a relatively thin section, positioned between the binder hole and the first end of the main body, which can be bent and unfolded generally along the first end. The construction of the binder member allows not only the easy bending, but in the bent position, the binder member will remain flat without requiring pressure or an adhesive. This facilitates the movement of the index sheet through a printing machine. In another aspect of the present invention, an index sheet that can be machine printed directly is described. The index sheet consists of a main body having one end, an index indicator extending outward from the end, and a removable self-adhesive guide connected to at least the main body or index indicator. The guide has an outer end (right side) extending outwardly beyond the end of the main body generally in the same direction as the index indicator. The self-adhesive guide operates on the end of the indicator of the main body to provide a straight end for feeding the index sheet through a printer. The self-adhesive nature of the guide facilitates easy joining and separation. The index sheet of the present invention has a transformable configuration that allows it to pass, in a guided or controlled manner, through a printing machine, such as a computer-operated or copier-operated printer. After the index sheet is printed directly on the machine, the index sheet can be transformed, manually or by machine, so that its index indicators remain to identify, separate or otherwise distinguish documents or other elements with which an index is maintained. or more index sheets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of an index sheet of the present invention, including a binder member and a guide. Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but after the binder member is bent. Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but after the binding member has been unfolded and the guide has been removed. Figure 4 is a view of an amplified cut, isolated from the unfolded binder shown in Figures 1-3. Figure 5 is a partial view of an amplified section of the index sheet, including the binder member, taken along lines 5-5 of the Figure 1. Figure 6 is a partial view of a greatly amplified cut of the index sheet, including the binder member, taken along line 6-6 of Figure 2. Figure 7 is a view similar to the Figure 5 but shows an alternative embodiment for locating the binding member. Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7, but after the binder member has been bent. Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing an alternative embodiment for guiding the index sheet. Figure 10 is an isolated view of the guide shown in Figure 9. Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 9, but after the binding member has been unfolded and the guide has been removed. Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 10 but shows an alternative embodiment of the guide. Figure 13 is a perspective view of a conventional printer supplied with a plurality of index sheets of the present invention. Figure 14 is a perspective view of a conventional loose-leaf binder supplied with a plurality of index sheets of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to Figures 1-14, where like reference numerals designate similar or characteristic elements in all figures, the multiple modalities of a generally flat index or divider leaf 10, 10 'of the present invention are shown. invention. With regard to the embodiments shown in Figures 1-8, the index sheet 10 consists of a generally rectangular main body 12, a binder member 14, at least one index indicator 16 and a guide 18. The main body 12 includes the first (binding on the left side) and the second (index on the right side) separate ends, opposite 20, 22 and the third (upper) the fourth (lower) ends separate, opposite 24, 26. Each of the third and fourth ends 24 16 intersect and are generally perpendicular to the first and second ends 20, 22. The main body 12 of the index sheet 10 can be formed, for example, from a medium based on substantially pure paper or a composite material such as a laminate of paper / plastic. An example of a paper / plastic laminate is a product known as Duralon® that is made by Arlon, Adhesives and Film Division, Santa Ana, CA. Duralon® has a tear-resistant plastic film bonded between two layers of paper pulp. Can this be used with laser printers? and dot matrix, as well as office copiers. The binder member 14 extends outward from the first end 20 of the main body 12 and defines at least one binder hole 28, separate from the main body 12, and a relatively thin section 30.

This section 30, as will be described later, functions to define a line of doubles. The relatively thin section 30 is positioned between the binder hole 28 and the first end 20 and extends between the third and fourth ends 24, 26 of the main body of the index sheet. As shown in Figures 5 and 7, part of the binder member 14 is connected to any flat side 32, 34 of the main body 12 of the index sheet 10. Preferably, the free end of the binder member 14 has a relatively thicker thickness , as compared to the part connected to the main body 12, which provides additional resistance against tearing and allows the binder member 14 to be easily bent so that it remains flat against the main body 12. The binding member 14 can be applied to the main body as each one is fed from a separate roller. This assembly can then be perforated and cut by matrix to a desired size.

In the embodiments of Figures 1-8, the binding member 14 includes a laminated sub-assembly connected to the main body 12. As shown in Figure 4, the binding member 14 includes a base strip 36 having an inner portion 38 and an outer portion 40, an outer seal cap strip 42, and an optional inner seal cap strip 44. Each of the strips 36, 42, 44 can be formed substantially from a material reinforced as a milar, medium based on paper, Duralon®, or similar. The outer seal cap strip 42 is superimposed directly connected or laminated to an opposite flat side of the outer portion 40 of the base strip 36, by an adhesive or the like. As shown in Figures 5-8, the inner joint cap strip 44 is generally aligned with the first end 20 of the main body 12 and is also directly overlapped or laminated to the opposite flat side of the inner portion 38 of the base strip 36. by an adhesive or similar. The outer seal cap strip 42 is positioned laterally outwardly from the inner seal cap strip 44 as well as from the first end 20 of the main body 12. The binder hole 28 extends completely through the outer seal cap strip 42 and the outer portion 40 of the outer seal cap 42. the base strip 36. As shown in Figures 5 and 7, a flat side of the inner portion 38 of the base strip 36 is directly connected or laminated to the main body 12, along the first end 20, by means of an adhesive or the like. In the preferred embodiment, the base strip 36, the outer cover lid strip 42 and the outer joint lid strip 42 and the internal joint lid strip 44 each have a respective width wi, 2, 3, wherein the width wi of the strip base 36 is greater than the sum of the width 2 of the outer cover cap strip 42 plus the width w3 of the interior joint cap strip 44. For example, the base strip 36 has a first width wi of approximately 1,188 inches (approximately 30 mm), the outer seal cap strip 42 has a second width w2 of approximately 0.625 inches (approximately 16 millimeters), and the inner seal cap strip 44 may have a third width w3 of approximately 0.500 inches (approximately 13 millimeters). The relatively thin section 30 of the binding member 14 is defined by this part of the base strip 36 together with the lateral spacing between the inner joint cap strip 44 and the outer joint cap strip 42. In the example shown in Figure 4, the relatively thin section has a width 4 of approximately 0.0625 inches (approximately 1.6 mm). The base strip 36 has a first uniform thickness ti and the outer joint lid strip 42 has a second uniform thickness t2 greater in magnitude than the first thickness ti. The internal joint lid strip 44 has a third uniform thickness t3 greater in magnitude than the first thickness ti of the base strip 36, and smaller in magnitude than the second thickness t2 of the outer joint lid strip 42. In the first embodiment, with the body main 12 made of Duralon® printing paper stock, with a nominal thickness of between about 4 and 9 mils, the base strip 36 has a first thickness ti of approximately 0.00057 inches (approximately 0.014 millimeters), the outer cover cap strip 42 has a second thickness t2 of about 0.0038 inches (about 0.097 millimeters), and the inner joint cap strip 44 has a third thickness t3 of about 0.0015 inches (about 0.038 millimeters). In an alternative embodiment, the outer cover lid strip 42 and the inner seal lid strip 44, even the three strips 36, 42, 44, can have approximately the same uniform thickness. In another alternative embodiment, the binding member 14 can be a monolithic component having different thicknesses ti, t2 t3 and located as already described. Still another alternative embodiment, the binding member 14 can be formed integrally with the main body 12 of the index sheet 10.

As shown in Figure 2, the relatively thin section 30 is operable to be bent and unfolded along a fold line 50. When the binder member 14 is in its bent condition as shown in Figure 6, the member Binder 14 extends generally through opposite sides of first end 20. In this manner, first end 20 of main body 12 is interposed between inner portion 38 and outer portion 40 of bent base strip 36. Otherwise , as shown in Figures 7-8, the relatively thin section 30 is operable to be bent and unfolded generally along only one side of the first end 20. When the binder member 14 is in its bent condition as shown in FIGS. Figure 8, the outer joint lid strip 42 is interposed between the inner portion 38 and the outer portion 40 of the bent base strip 36. Depending on the thickness of the index sheet relative to the total thickness In the joint cover strips 42 and 44, the width of the thin section 30 may vary depending on the embodiment of Figures 6 and 7 that is employed. The relatively thicker outer seal lid strip 42 laminated to the base strip 36 is advantageous for controlling the bending of the relatively thin section 30. The relatively thicker outer seal lid strip 42 laminated to the base strip 36 is also advantageous for easily forming, by perforation or the like, the one or more binder holes 28. The relatively thin section 30 of the binder member 14 allows the fold line 50 to be even between the third and fourth ends 24, 26 of the main body 12. The relatively thin section 30 it also allows the binder member 14 to be folded over and remain flat against the main body 12 (Figure 6) or on itself (Figure 8) without the need for an adhesive or the like to maintain it in the folded state. The internal joint lid strip 44 helps to better define the location and the end at which the relatively thin section 30 bends naturally. In both embodiments, Figures 5 and 6, and Figures 7 and 8, the construction of the thin section 30 between the inner and outer portions 38, 40 with their cover strips together, facilitates the flat positioning of the binder member when it is in place. bent position. No separate joining means is required to keep the binding member in its bent position. Therefore, this facilitates the arrangement of the index sheet in the folded position which will be properly fed through the printing equipment. Turning now to the end of the index 22 of the index sheet, the index indicator 16 is formed integrally with the main body 12 and extends outwardly from the second end 22. In the embodiments of the index sheet shown in FIG. Figures 1-8, the guide 18 is removably connected to the main body 12 and the index indicator 46. The guide 18 has an outer end (right side) 54 spaced apart or extending beyond the second end 22 of the main body 12. As shown in Figure 2, the end 54 of the guide 18 is positioned at a substantially uniform distance from the line of doubles 50 of the binder member 14. Preferably, as shown in Figures 1-2, a line of perforations forms a removable joint between the guide 18 and the main body 12 as well as between the guide 18 and the indicator of the index 16. The perforations are preferably micro perforations formed by matrix cutting the sheets that are they form on an index sheet 10. The guide 18 allows the index sheet 10 to travel through a printing machine without skewing. Otherwise, the guide 18 can be bent inwardly and joined, by means of an adhesive or the like, on the main body 12 along a fold line separating the guide 18 from the main body 12 and the index indicator 16. In this alternative mode, the bent guide 18 advantageously reinforces the second end 22 of the main body 12 to provide more durability and rigidity to the index sheet 10 in this region. With reference to Figures 1-3, the dimension di represents a distance or length of the index sheet 10 measured between the third (upper) end 24 and the fourth (lower) end 26. The dimension d2 represents a distance or amplitude of the index sheet 10 measured between the outer (left) end 56 of the unfolded binding member 14 and the outer (right) end 54 of the guide. The dimension d3 represents a distance or width of the index sheet 10 measured between the fold line 50 of the bent binding member 14 and the outer (right) end 54 of the guide 18. For example, to index standard articles 8.5 inches wide by 11 inches in length, di can be approximately 11 inches (approximately 279 millimeters), d2 can be approximately 9.25 inches (approximately 235 mm), and d3 can be approximately 8.5 inches (approximately 216 mm). Other values suitable for the above dimensions for index sheet 10 may be chosen to index items that are A4, legal or other sizes.

Preferably, as shown in Figure 2, the outer (right) end 54 of the guide 18 extends or separates beyond the outer (right) end 58 of the index indicator 16 according to a selected distance d4. This portion of the guide 18, comprised by the distance d4, functions as an end to ensure that the indicator of the index 16 remains substantially within the printable zone, and on the contrary, is substantially away from the non-printable zone by common associated with machine impressions. In this way, practically the entire flat surface of the index indicator 16, in addition to the main body 12, is available for printing by the printing machine. For example, the distance d4 can be chosen to be approximately 0.25 inches (approximately 6.4 millimeters). Referring to Figure 3, the dimension d5 represents a distance or width of the index sheet 10 measured between the outer (left) end of the unfolded binding member 14 and the outer end 58 of the index indicator 16. When indexing a standard paper of 8.5 inches wide by 11 inches long, ds will be greater than 8.5 inches by approximately the width of the index indicator. The dimension of represents a distance or width of the index sheet measured between the outer (left) end 56 of the unfolded binding member 14 and the second end 22 of the main body 12. With 8.5 by 11 inches paper, this will be approximately 8.5 inches . In the alternative embodiment shown in Figures 9-10, the guide 18 'is a separate self-adhesive component removably connected and superimposed on the main body 12. The guide 18' has an outer end (right) 54 'extending outward beyond the end 22 of the main body 12 in the same direction as the index indicator 16. In the embodiment shown, the guide 18 'is superimposed on the main body 12 and the index indicator 16. With reference to Figure 10, the guide 18' includes the first and second portions 59, 60. The first portion 59 of the guide 18 'is covered with an adhesive low adhesion self-adhering 62 and removably overlaps the main body 12. The second portion 60 extends outwardly beyond the second end 22 of the main body 12. The end 54 of the guide 18 'is positioned at a substantial distance uniform from the fold line 50 of the binding member 14. The guide 18 'extends along substantially the entire length of the second end 22 of the main body 12. The end 54 of the guide 18 extends outwardly at least as much. as the end 58 of the index indicator 16. Preferably, the end 54 of the guide 18 'extends outwards when lower until the end 58 of the index indicator 16. Preferably, the end 54 of the guide 18 'extends outwardly beyond the end 58 of the index indicator 16. In the alternative embodiment of the guide 18"shown in Figure 12, the second portion 16 is also partially covered with a self-adhesive poor adhesion 62 for superimposed connection removably to the index indicator 16 of the index sheet 10 'shown in Figures 9-11. The connection of the guide 18"to the index indicator 16 advantageously provides additional strength and stabilization for the end 54 when the index sheet 10 'passes through a printing machine The index sheets of the present invention allow direct printing on the indicators 16 using commonly available laser or inkjet printers.

In direct printing on the index sheet with a computer operated printer 64 having a maximum feed distance or width ds (Figure 13), the index sheet 10 or 10 'is first formed according to a first configuration. In this configuration, shown for example, in Figure 2, the third end 24 (upper) of the index sheet is uniformly straight to ensure that the index sheet is fed to and through the printer 64 in a suitable and controlled manner. The index sheet 10 also has a uniform width d3 that is equal to or smaller than the maximum width d of feeding the printer 64. As shown in Figure 13, the index sheet 10 is fed to the printer 64 and printed directly About this. The printer 64 preferably uses a software program that is capable of selectively formatting text areas on the index indicator 16 and / or on the main body 12 of the index sheet 10. Then, the index sheet is transformed, in accordance with a second configuration shown in Figure 3, completely removing the guide 18 along the line of the perforations. The index sheet 10 is now ready for insertion into a looseleaf folder 66, as shown in Figure 14, or other binding device so that the index indicator 16 physically and visually extends beyond the second end 22 according to a selected distance d. For example, the selected distance d may be approximately 0.50 inches (approximately 13 millimeters). Preferably, the dimension d extends beyond the elements placed between the index sheets 10.During direct printing on the index sheet 10 'shown in Figures 9-11, the sheet 10' is fed to the printing machine 64, which prints directly on the index sheet 10 '. The self-adhesive guide 18 'is then removed from the index sheet 10'. The guide 18 'advantageously provides the index sheet 10' with a uniform end in the vicinity of the index indicator 16 to maintain correct alignment of the index sheet 10 'as it is processed through the printer 64.

The present invention is not limited to the index or divider sheets but can also be applied to other binding elements that have to be printed. The index sheets, dividers, or other binding elements can also be accommodated by and printed by other machines, such as xerographic copiers or photocopiers.

Other aspects, objects and advantages of this invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the description and the appended claims.

Claims (17)

1. An index sheet consisting of: a main body having the first and second opposite ends, separated; and a binder member extending outward from the first end of the main body and defining a section of predetermined thickness separated from the main body, the binder member has a second section, thinner than the first section, placed between the first section and the first end, the second section operable to be bent and unfolded generally along the first end.

The index sheet according to claim 1, wherein the binder member has a third section connected in superposed relation to the main body and is foldable along its second section so that the bent binder is placed on the sides opposite of the main body.

The index sheet according to claim 1, wherein the binder member has a third section connected in superposed relation to the main body and is foldable along its second section so that the bent binder member is placed on only one side of the main body.

4. The index sheet according to claim 1, wherein the binder member includes a base strip and the first section includes an outer cover cap strip, each of the strips having a different width wherein the width of the base strip is greater than the width of the batten covers the outer joints, the base strip having an internal portion and an external portion, the internal portion of the base strip connected to the main body along the first end, the outer cover cap strip connected superimposed on the outer portion of the base. the base strip and placed outwardly from the first end, and the second section being defined by the base strip placed between the first end of the main body and the outer cover lid strip.

5. The index sheet according to claim 4, wherein the binding member is a component separate from the main body and is formed as a milar.

6. The index sheet according to claim 4, wherein the third section of a binder member further includes an inner joint cap strip connected in a superposed manner to the inner portion of the base strip and separated from the outer joint cap strip, and the The second section of the binder member is defined by the base strip between the inner joint lid strip and the outer joint lid strip.

7. The index sheet according to claim 6, wherein the interior cover cap strip is generally aligned with the first end of the main body.

8. The index sheet according to claim 6, wherein the outer joint cover strip has a first thickness and the base strip has a second thickness smaller than the first thickness.

9. The index sheet according to claim 8, wherein the interior cover strip has a third thickness greater than the second thickness of the base strip and less than the first thickness of the cover strip outer joints.

The index sheet according to any of claims 1 and 4-9, wherein the first section of the binding member includes at least one binding hole extending therethrough, and an index indicator extends outward from the second end of the main body.

11. An index sheet, consisting of: a main body having a first end; an index indicator extending outward from the first end of the main body; and a self-adhesive guide superimposed and removably connected to at least the main body, the guide having a second end extending outwardly beyond the first end of the main body in the same direction as the index indicator.

12. The index sheet of claim 11, wherein the guide is removably connected to the main body and index indicator.

13. The index sheet of claim 11, wherein the guide includes the first and second portions, the first portion being covered with a self-adhesive adhesive and connected in a superposed and removable manner to the main body, the second portion extending outwardly beyond the end. of the main body.

14. The index sheet of claim 11, wherein the second end of the guide is positioned at a substantially uniform distance from the first end of the main body.

15. The index sheet of claim 11, wherein the guide extends along substantially the entire length of the first end of the main body.

16. The index sheet of claim 11, wherein the second end of the guide extends outwardly at least to the index indicator.

17. The index sheet of claim 16, wherein the second end of the guide extends outwardly beyond the indicator of the index