MXPA99004490A - Directly machine printable index sheet having index tab portions - Google Patents

Abstract

An index sheet (10) which may be accommodated by and directly printed upon by a conventional printer (36). The index sheet (10) is formed from a rectangular shaped stock sheet (12) and has a body portion (14), at least one index tab portion (16), and a guide portion (18), all of which are separated by a plurality of perforations (32, 34). After the stock sheet (12) is directly printed upon, the index sheet (10) may be formed by removing the guide portion (18) and any excess index tab portions (16) so that a single index tab portion (16) extends outwardly from the body portion (14) to identify, separate, or otherwise distinguish the materials being indexed. A first plurality of index sheets (10a) stacked in a first position (40) may be used with a second plurality of index sheets (10b) which are inverted and stacked in a second position (46) to create a continuous staggered edge of index tab portions.

Description

INDEX SHEET DIRECTLY PRINTED IN MACHINE, WITH PORTIONS OF INDEX TABE Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to index sheets and, more particularly, to index sheets which are printable directly, using machines, such as printers operated by computer. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Index tabs for identification and rapid selection of information in loose-leaf or hard-paste folders are a common feature in almost all well-organized offices or at home. Typically, these index tabs are provided as markers on certain pages or pages of notebooks, books, notebooks or other sheet materials. In order to facilitate the search and selection of sheets, the index tabs are typically offset or spaced, along the edge of the multi-sheet material. For example: a set of index tabs connected to the edge of spaced index sheets are positioned far enough apart from one another so that the identifying text or the characters or symbols appearing on all the index tabs can be seen simultaneously. Uses for such index tabs include, among others, the simple reference t presentations. A set of index sheets generally includes a fixed number of index tabs which encompass the length of the material that is indexed. The number of tabs usually comprises between 3 to 8 or more. In general, the index tabs are made in one of two ways. The tabs may be integrally formed as protuberances of the sheets themselves as shown, for example, in United States Patent 4,184,699 awarded to Lo e on January 22, 1980. Alternatively, the tabs may be separate components which are connected to index sheets as shown, for example, in U.S. Patent 4,962,603 awarded to Kao et al. on October 16, 1990; U.S. Patent 5,135,261 awarded to Cusack et al, on August 4, 1992: U.S. Patent 5,340,427 awarded to Cusack et al. on August 23, 1994 and U.S. Patent 5,389,414 awarded to Popat on February 14, 1995. It is often desirable to produce index tabs using common office printers. As in Kao et al, the patent states, forming index tabs as integral protuberances of the index sheets is difficult since it has been difficult to machine print the identifier text on the index tabs. For example, it has been impractical to insert an entire index sheet on a standard typewriter in order to write laterally on the index tabs. It has also been difficult or impossible to feed index sheets directly through common office printers, without facing bottleneck problems, feed size problems or distorted printing problems. It is desirable to print index sheets using common office printers because of the great flexibility of what can be printed as well as the high print quality provided by such printers or the like. However, said printers require that the continuous forms be dimensioned uniformly, at least in length, according to standard sizes in order to be accommodated by the standard supply tray of said printers. Otherwise, the continuous forms either tend to get stuck inside said printers or do not fit within said printers.

An index sheet is typically designed so that a portion of the sheet extends beyond the limit of the materials that are indexed for easy observation. As a result, the index sheets are typically wider than the standard size accepted by the printing machine. In addition, the tabs protruding on the top or guide edge of the index sheets which are first inserted into the printer, they can get stuck to get out of the feeding track. Additionally, the continuous forms must be strong enough to withstand the tension on the sheets by the feeding mechanisms or the pressure rollers, and must provide a uniformly smooth surface which must accept the "toner" adequately. Because of these requirements, conventional index sheets that have uniform widths due to the protruding index tabs have been unsuitable for use in common office printers. Several ways to produce index sheets printable on the machine have involved transforming the size of the index sheet so that it fits within the feed size of the printing machine. This has been achieved by techniques such as folding a portion of the index sheet for the purpose of printing it. While these techniques have been successful, the present invention is directed towards an index sheet which does not need to be folded or manipulated in a similar way in terms of size before printing. BRIEF COMPENDI OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an index sheet which can be used in combination with other index sheets to create an offset series of index tabs that extend along the material being indexed. The index sheet is formed of a sheet of rectangular shape having opposite upper and lower edges to define a length and first and second lateral edges to define in width. The width of the sheet is sized to be received in a printing machine when fed in the direction of its length. The length is also sized to be properly received in the conventional printing machine. Typically, the sheet can have a dimension of 8 by 11 inches (21.59 x 27.94 cm.) Or other typical size of paper sheets. The index sheet, which includes a rear edge of binding and a tongue edge, is oriented on the sheet with the rear edge defined by the bottom edge and with the edge of tongues extending through the sheet between its edges lateral The tongue edge is located adjacent to the top edge of the sheet but spaced therefrom by a guide portion. The guide portion together with the index sheet provides the rectangular shape of the sheet of paper to be printed. The guide portion is removable from the sheet of paper to be printed along perforations to produce the index sheet. The perforations that separate the index sheet from the guide edge of the sheet of paper for printing are located at a distance from the bottom edge of the sheet of paper to be printed that is equal to the width, such as 8% inches (21.59 cm). .), of the material to be indexed. The portions of tabs of the index sheet, however, extend a suitable distance beyond this width. With a sheet of printable paper formed with an index sheet as described above, the feeding of the sheet of paper to be printed through a printer is effected in the same manner as a rectangular sheet of plain paper. The impression of the portions of tongues is also effected in the normal way. In effect, the printer receives the sheet of paper to be printed and performs the printing operation as if it were a normal piece of paper.

Once the portions of tabs have been printed with the index information the index sheet is separated from the guide portions, the index sheet can be adhered, along its binding edge, to a folder of three rings . For this purpose the binding edge is provided with two perforations suitably spaced to cooperate with the central ring and one of the end rings of the folder. A number of index sheets with portions of tabs placed differently are similarly connected in the folder. Then an appropriate number of similar index sheets are connected in the folder using a central ring and the other one of the end rings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a sheet of paper for printing and an index sheet of the present invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic top plan view of another embodiment of the sheet of paper for printing and an index sheet of the present invention; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic top plan view of another embodiment of the sheet of paper for printing and an index sheet of the present invention; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 and Figure 2 of an index sheet after being removed from the sheet of paper for printing; Figure 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a conventional printer receiving a plurality of index sheets of the index sheets shown in Figure 1; and Figure 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a conventional three-ring binder supplied with a plurality of index sheets of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 4, the index sheet 10 is constructed of flat rectangular printing paper 12. The index sheet is defined by a main body potion 14 and a single portion of tabs 16. The sheet of printing paper of the embodiment of Figure 1 shows the index sheet 10 with a body portion 14 having three portions of tabs 16 and a guide portion 18. Two of these portions of tabs and guide portion 18 will eventually be removed to form a single index sheet 10, as described more fully below. The sheet of printing paper 12 has spaced upper and lower edges and a first lateral edge 24 and a second lateral edge 26. Each of the first lateral edges 24 and 26 are generally perpendicular between each of the upper and lower edges 20 and 22 The sheet of printing paper 12 may be formed, for example, of a pure paper base medium or a composite material such as plastic / paper laminate. An example of a plastic / paper laminate is a product known as Duralon ™ which is made by Arlon, Adhesives and Film Division, of Santa Ana, CA. Duralon ™ has a tear-resistant film incorporated between two layers of premier print paper. It can be used with common office printers such as laser, inkjet and dot matrix, as well as office copiers. The sheet of printing paper 12 includes a plurality of perforations 28 along the lower edge 22. The perforations 28 are used to fix the index sheet 10 to a loose-leaf binder, such as a standard three-ring binder. (shown in Figure 6), after it has been printed and removed from the sheet of paper to be printed, as described below. The perforations may optionally be reinforced. The index sheet 10 and a guide portion 18 are separated from one another by perforations 32, 34. The perforations 32 extend through the main sheet from one side 24 to the other side 26. The edge of the perforations 32 form the edge of the tabs along which the portions of index tabs 16 are disposed. The perforations 34 define the three tabs 16. The lines of perforations 32, 34 form a releasable joint between the guide portion 18, the body portion of the index sheet 14 and the portion of index tabs 16. The orations are preferably micro orations formed by die cutting. Although a number of portions of tabs 16 can be retained on each index sheet 10, it is preferable to use only a portion of index tabs index sheet. Therefore, a portion of index tabs 16 is selected and the portions of remaining index tabs are removed by spacing along the orations 32, 34. The guide portion 18 is included to allow the sheet of pato print 12 is moved through the printing machine 36 (Figure 5) in a suitable and controlled manner, with the sheet of pato be printed having a standard form and size of the sheet of pato be printed. A standard food-grade padocument includes sizes such as 8% x 11 inches (21.59 x 27.94 cm.) (Letter size), 8% x 14 inches (21.59 x 35.56 cm.) (Legal size), 11 x 17 inches (35.56 x 43.18 cm.), 8.27 x 11.69 inches (21.0 x 29.7 cm.) (A4 size), and other conventional measures. As shown in Figure 2, instead of a plurality of potential portions of index tabs defined on each sheet of pato be printed, it may be desirable to have only one portion of index tabs 16. If the embodiment of Figure 2 is used, it will be necessary to determine which location of tabs is desirable before placing the sheet of pafor printing on the printing machine 36 for printing. Additionally, the orations 28 are not shown in Figure 2 and it should be noted that there are instances where the orations 28 are not desirable or necessary. Therefore, orations 28 are optional. Figure 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention wherein five index tabs 16 are present. In this mode, when ten index sheets are proy placed with the material being indexed, it will create a succession of ten portions of index tabs distributed along the material that is being indexed. In Figure 4, the index sheet shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 is shown in transformed form, that is, after the removal of the sheet of pato be printed 12. The transformed index sheet 10 shows the sheet of the index of the present invention including the body portion 14 and a single portion of index tabs 16. The guide portion has been removed. Additionally, the portions of additional index tabs 16, shown in Figure 1, have been removed so that only one of the index tabs remains. The index sheet 10 shown in Figure 4 is shorter in length than the standard pasheet and shorter than the conventional index sheet. Since, for the purpose of printing, a standard size sheet of material is used as the sheet of pato be printed, the removal of the guide portion 18 results in an index sheet that is smaller than the standard size. In the embodiments shown in Figure 1 to Figure 4, a standard sheet of printable pais preferred. As shown in Figure 1, DI represents the width of the pasheet to print standard 12 and D2 represents its length. D3 is the finished length of the index daughter 10 when the guide portion 18 has been removed and a portion of the index tabs 16 remains. The distance D3 is longer than the width of the materials being indexed so that the portion of index tabs 16 extends outwardly therefrom and is not covered by the materials being indexed. D4 is the finished width of the body portion 14 of the index sheet. D4 is preferably equal to or slightly greater than the width of the material that is being indexed. D5 is the distance between the first lateral edge 24 and the first oration 28 and D6 is the distance between the first and second orations. The distances D5 and D6 are demensionadas to fit a folder 30, such as the folder shown in Figure 6. The distance D7 is the height of the portion of the index tabs 16 and will vary according to the height of the tabs desired. The distance D8 represents the space between the first side edge 24 and the first portion of the index tabs 16. D9 is the width of each portion of the individual tabs 16 and is variable according to the number of portions of the index tabs 16 desired. DIO is the width of the portion of the index tabs 16 that extend through the sheet of paper to be printed. For the configuration shown in Figure 1, DIO is equal to D5 plus D6. Using a document of 8% x 11 inches (21.59 x 27.94 cm.) For the purpose of illustration, the main body portion 12 has a distance DI of 8% inches • (21.59 cm.) And a distance D2 of 11 inches ( 27.94 cm.). With a sheet of paper to print .12 of 8% x 11 inches (21.59 x 27.94 cm.), Can be indexed letter size, A4 size and official size among others. D3 is preferably 9 inches (22.86 cm.) So that the portions of index tabs 16 extend outwardly past the edge of the material being indexed. D4 is preferably about 8% inches (21.59 cm.) When the index sheet 10 is going to be used to index materials which are 8% inches (21.59 cm.) Wide. The distance D5 is preferably 1.25 inches (3.18 cm) and the distance D6 is preferably 4.25 inches (10.8 cm). The distance D6 is preferably equivalent to the distance between the rings of the ring binder used and may vary depending on the type of folder used. For a standard three-ring binder, a D6 distance of 4.25 inches (10.8 cm.) Is desirable. The distance D7 is preferably 0.5 inches (a.25 cm.). D8 is preferably as 0.375 inches (0.95 cm.). D9, for portions of three tabs, as shown in Figure 1, is preferably 1.7 inches (4.32 cm) wide. D9 is variable depending on the number of index tabs 16 used. DIO, for this configuration, is equal to D5 plus D6 or 5.5 inches (13.97 cm.). All of these dimensions will vary based on the size of the selected main body, the number of tabs desired, the type of folder used and the type of material being indexed. Figure 5 shows the index sheet 10 of the embodiment of Figure 1, being used in a computer printer 36, such as a laser printer. As is evident, it is possible to print on the portions of the individual index tabs 16. The printer 36 preferably uses a software program which is capable of selectively formatting the text areas of the portion of the index tabs 16 and 16. / or in the body portion 14, if desired. In addition, the index sheet of the present invention can be used in any type of printing machine 36 which accepts standard size documents. The types of machines include copiers, lasers, inkjet, dot matrix printers and the like. In operation, the sheet of printing paper 12 is fed into a printing machine in a first direction in order to print on the portion of the index tabs 16 and / or in the body portion 14. The first direction is the address longitudinal, with either the upper edge 20 or the lower edge 22 being fed first. After the sheet of printing paper 12 has left the printing machine 36, it is transformed into an index sheet 10 by removing the guide portion 18 and any portion of the additional index tabs 16 so that the body portion 14 and only one of the 16 index tabs remains. The index sheet 10 is rotated 90 ° to lie in a second direction so that the edges 24, 26 are positioned up or down and the portion of the index tabs 16 extend outward from the side (as shown in the Figure). 3) . The lower edge 22 forms a binding edge and the perforations 28 can be placed along the binding edge. When the index sheet has been rotated in this way, the perforations 28 will be placed along the side (also shown in Figure 3) and are ready for placement in the folder 30 as shown in Figure 6. As shown in Figure 6, the index sheets are preferably placed one over the other with other materials to be indexed being placed between the index sheets.

Since the index sheet 10 is generally shorter in length than the materials being indexed, they will not extend along the entire length of the material being indexed if they are all connected within the folder using the same two rings. It is desirable to provide portions of index tabs 16 which are offset over the entire length of the material being indexed. To obtain this result with the index sheet 10 of the present invention, it is necessary to place a first plurality of index sheets 10a in the folder 30 in a first position 40 using the upper and middle rings 42, 44 and a second plurality of sheets of index 10b in a second position 46 using the middle and lower rings 44, 48. This placement is shown in Figure 6. With the index sheets 10a and 10b positioned as shown in Figure 6, it is preferable that the outer edge 50 of the innermost tongue 16 is aligned with the center of the central ring 44 and the corresponding perforation 28 in the binding edge of the index sheet. This alignment is desirable so that the portions of index tabs are offset over the entire length of the materials being indexed.

In Figure 6 six index sheets are shown. The sheets 10a shown on the left are identical to the sheets 10b shown on the right. The only difference is that the sheets 10a and 10b have been inverted. In the construction of these sheets 10a and 10b, two sets of sheets can be formed and then one of these sets is inverted to form the assembly 10b. To achieve this, six sheets of printable paper having the shape and configuration of Figure 1 would be fed through the printer. The first three sheets would be fed through the printer with one side facing the print mechanism. The second three sheets would be fed with the reverse side facing the printing mechanism. Each sheet fed through the printer would have a portion of the tabs printed. Alternatively, the portions of tabs 16 shown in Figure 1 could have the size and position across the full width of the sheets of paper to be printed 12. A number of these sheets corresponding to the number of tabs would be fed through the printer with one side facing the printing mechanism. Then the required number of additional sheets needed to provide the desired number of portions of the tabs for the folder would be fed upside down to receive printing on the other side of the tab portions. Another alternative would include portions that extend either partially through or completely through the width of the sheet of paper to be printed 12 and to the locations of the perforations 28 for the rings of the folder being located so as to allow reception of the finished index sheets either in the top and middle or central ring and bottom of the folder. With this alternative construction the positions of the perforations can be provided by perforations with only the required two perforations being used as required by the necessary positioning of the particular index sheet within the folder. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that any number of tabs can be used in the index sheets of the present invention. Therefore, the modalities shown are only for the purpose of illustration. It is only necessary that the index tabs be large enough to accept printed material from a printing machine 36. For example, it would be possible, with the present invention, to create index tabs which identify the letters of the alphabet, A to Z, or 26 portions of index tabs, 13 per sheet of paper to be printed 12. Additionally, while the portions of index tabs 16, shown in Figure 1 to Figure 6 are of uniform size, there may be instances where the portions of index tabs are non-uniform in size. It should be apparent that the present invention is not limited to portions of index tabs 16 of uniform sizes. Any size or shape can be used if desired. For example, portions of rectangular tabs are indicated in the Figures. However, square, rounded, triangular shapes or any other shape can be used if desired. In addition, while a three-ring folder system has been used herein for the purpose of illustration, it should be noted that the present invention can be used with any size or type of folder system. For example, an index sheet 10 can be used with a four-ring binder by varying the width that the tabs 16 extend through the index sheet 10. By varying this width any number of index sheets 10 can be used together to forming a succession of portions of index tabs 16 out of phase. It should be understood that variations and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may occur for those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, all expedited modifications easily obtainable by those skilled in the art of the presentation set forth herein should be included as additional embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention of conformity will be defined as set forth in the appended Claims.

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS l.A sheet of paper for printing to form an index sheet for indexing material, having a predetermined length and a predetermined width, wherein: said sheet of paper to be printed has opposite upper and lower edges, defining a length of paper to be printed between them, opposite lateral sides, which define a width of paper to be printed between them, and is configured and sized to be fed through a printing machine, said width of paper to be printed is less than said paper length to print and less than said predetermined length; said sheet of paper for printing comprises an index sheet and a guide portion; the guide portion is removable along perforations of the sheet of paper for printing and index sheet; the index sheet has a binding edge defined by the lower edge of the sheet of paper to be printed and a tab edge extending through the sheet of paper for printing between its lateral edges and located adjacent to its upper edge and spaced therefrom by said guide portion; the index sheet further includes a body portion bounded by the upper edge and the lateral edges of the sheet of paper to be printed, and at least a portion of tabs located along said edge of tabs and extending outward from the body portion in a direction toward the upper edge of the sheet of paper for printing; And said body portion of the index sheet has a dimension, measured between the binding edge and the edge of tabs of the index sheet, which is at least substantially equal to the predetermined width of said materials being indexed, with the portion of tongues extending outwardly from said body portion. The sheet of printable paper of Claim 1, wherein the tongue edge is substantially parallel to the bottom edge. The sheet of printable paper of Claim 1, wherein a plurality of perforations are located along the binding edge. The sheet of printable paper of Claim 3, wherein at least two perforations are located along the binding edge. The sheet of printing paper of Claim 4, wherein at least the two perforations are reinforced. A plurality of sheets of paper for printing to form a plurality of different index sheets for indexing materials has a predetermined length and a predetermined width and retained along said predetermined length in spaced rings of a ring binder, wherein: each one of the sheets of paper for printing has opposite edges upper and lower, defining a length of paper to be printed between them, and first and second side edges, defining a width of paper to be printed therebetween, said sheet of paper to be printed it also has a rectangular shape and is configured and sized to be fed lengthwise through a printing machine; each of said sheets of paper for printing has a width of paper to print less than said length of paper to be printed and less than said predetermined length; each of said sheets of paper for printing comprises an index sheet and a guide portion; the guide portion is removable along perforations of the sheet of paper for printing and index sheet; the index sheet has a binding edge defined by the lower edge of the sheet of paper to be printed and a tab edge extending through the sheet of paper for printing between its lateral edges and located adjacent to its upper edge and spaced therefrom by said guide portion; the index sheet further includes a body portion bounded by the lower and side edges of the sheet of paper to be printed, and at least one portion of tabs located along said tab edge and extending outwardly from the portion of body in a direction towards the upper edge of the sheet of paper for printing; said body portion of the index sheet has a dimension, measured between the binding edge and the edge of tabs of the index sheet, which is substantially equal to the predetermined width of said materials being indexed, with the portion of tabs extending outwardly from said body portion; and a pair of perforation locations arranged along the binding edge of the index sheet, said perforation locations are oriented relative to the location of the tab through the tongue edge of the sheet of paper for printing wherein different index sheets with a different tab location can be placed on the rings of a ring binder to orient the portion of tabs on each index sheet at a different location along said predetermined length of said materials that are being indexed The sheet of printable paper of Claim 6, wherein the pair of perforations are reinforced. The sheet of printable paper of Claim 6, wherein the portions of tabs have uniform sizes. The sheets of printable paper of Claim 6, wherein the perforations are spaced to fit into two adjacent rings of a standard three-ring binder having two end rings and a central ring. . The sheets of printable paper of Claim 9, wherein the sheets of printable paper are comprised of two identical sets of sheets, with a sheet of printable paper of each set including an index sheet with a portion of tabs that it has a border aligned with a line drawn through one of said perforations and extending perpendicularly to the binding edge of the index sheet, said perforation being the perforation for connecting to the central ring of said three-ring binder.