WO1992000198A1

WO1992000198A1 - Framed stencil apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1992000198A1
Application number: PCT/US1991/004600
Authority: WO
Inventors: Charles L. Casagrande
Original assignee: United Stencil & Affixing Co.
Priority date: 1990-06-27
Filing date: 1991-06-27
Publication date: 1992-01-09
Also published as: CA2069301A1

Abstract

The present invention is a framed stencil apparatus (10) which can be releasably secured to an upper surface of a substrate (14). The framed stencil apparatus (10) comprises a stencil material (16) which is deformable to accept impression of indicia and also enables the reproduction of the impressed indicia on another surface. The present invention further includes a substantially continuous frame (18) which defines an opening (17) and is attached to a marginal portion of the stencil material. The opening (17) is large enough to permit the stencil material to contact the substrate (14) in an unobstructed manner for transfer of the impressed indicia onto the substrate (14). The present invention is cleanly and releasably secured to the substrate (14) through the frame (18). The apparatus (10) attaches such that objectionable residues do not remain on the substrate (14) and the frame (18) after the frame (18) is released therefrom.

Description

FRAMED STENCIL APPARATUS Technical Field

The present invention relates to stencils in general and specifically to a framed stencil apparatus whic is cleanly and releasably secured to a substrate. Background of the Invention

Stencils for use in conjunction with a substrate such as a business form have been used for many years. The stencil material generally consists of a thin tissue material with a top and a bottom surface. A carbon layer is often incorporated into the bottom surface of the stencil. The carbon layer allows an impression of indicia on the top surface of the stencil to be transferred to a substrate. The transfer allows the impressed indicia to be readable on the substrate as well as the stencil itself.

The stencil material with the impressed indicia is removed from the substrate and taken to a second surface. The impressed indicia are reproduced on this second surface by applying a fluid medium, usually an ink, to the top surface of the stencil material. The fluid medium passes through the stencil material by way of the impressed indicia and thereby reproduces the impressed indicia on the second surface.

For example, the original substrate is often a document such as a bill of lading or an invoice while the second surface is a package being shipped which corresponds to such a document. Such use of stencil materials reduces the chance of a typographical error in transcribing an address by eliminating the need to write the shipping address separately on the package. In a multi-package shipment, the errors are reduced even more as a single stencil can be used for multiple packages.

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Originally, the stencil material was directly laid on the substrate, usually some type of business form. Sometimes adhesive tape was used to hold the material in place. This proved unsatisfactory as the thin stencil material tended fold over and tear when placed in typewriters or printers.

An edge made of heavier material was added to solve some of these problems. The stencil material was attached to the edge. The edge was attached to the substrate and provided support for the stencil material.

Perforations between the edge and the stencil material were added to simplify their separation.

While an improvement, the edge did not totally solve the problem of tearing and folding. The thin stencil material was still unsupported along three sides. Handling the separated stencil, for example, by warehousemen as noted above", was a considerable problem. In addition, the edge was generally left behind on the substrate which added its own set of problems. The edge made each substrate thicker which resulted in using up valuable storage space.

An later improvement was the framed stencil in which a frame of heavier construction completely covers the periphery of the stencil material. The framed stencil simplified the transfer of the impressed indicia to the second surface tremendously. The frame provided support for the stencil material when placed into typewriters or printers with the substrate. Once detached from the substrate, the frame prevented the folding and tearing of the stencil material. The stencil material was held rigidly, thus making the application of a fluid medium or reading the impressed indicia easier.

However, some drawbacks still exist with the framed stencil as described. An edge which adhered to the substrate is often employed along with the frame. The edge is detached from the frame and remains on the substrate when the edge and frame are separated. As a result, the storage space problem still exists. An attempt was made to alleviate this problem through the use of a releasable adhesive between the frame and the form in U.S. Patent No. 4,664,031. U.S. Patent No. 4,664,031 requires the addition of a releasable glue between the form and the framed stencil. This, of course, adds considerably to the cost of applying the framed stencil to the form. In addition, once the framed stencil is removed from the substrate, a glue residue is left on both the framed stencil and the substrate. The substrates can stick together if stacked and will pick up dirt and dust which adhere to the glue residue. Also, when the framed stencil is placed on the second surface, such glue residue may cause the framed stencil to adhere to the second surface.

Accordingly, what is needed is a stencil apparatus which is releasably attached to a substrate but avoids leaving any objectionable residues on the substrate once the framed stencil is removed. Such a stencil apparatus should also retain the considerable advantages entailed by the use of framed stencils. The apparatus should also allow for the easy gripping and removal of the stencil from the substrate.

The present invention meets these desires. Summary of the Invention

The present invention is a framed stencil apparatus which can be releasably secured to an upper surface of a substrate. The framed stencil apparatus comprises a stencil material which is deformable to accept impression of indicia. The stencil material also enables the reproduction of the impressed indicia on another surface by the application of a fluid medium so that the fluid medium can pass through the impressed indicia to reproduce the impressed indicia on the other surface.

The present invention further includes a substantially continuous frame which has an upper surface and a lower surface and further defines an opening. The opening is large enough to permit the bottom surface of the stencil material to contact the substrate in an unobstructed manner for transfer of the impressed indicia onto the substrate. The frame is attached to a marginal portion of the stencil material by framed stencil attachment means.

The present invention also includes substrate attachment means mounted on the bottom surface of the frame. The substrate attachment means cleanly and releasably secures the frame on the substrate. The lower surface of the stencil material is in the desired location on the substrate. The substrate attachment means is such that objectionable residues do not remain on the substrate and the frame after the frame is released therefrom. An example of an objectionable residue which is avoided is an adhesive which remains tacky after the frame is removed Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which comprise a portion of this disclosure: FIGURE 1 is a top view of a framed stencil attached to a form;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the framed stencil partially removed from the form; and

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the framed stencil showing the various layers which make up the apparatus. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, one specific embodiment, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment described.

FIGURE 1 shows a top view of a framed stencil apparatus 10 of its present embodiment. The framed stencil apparatus 10 is shown attached to a substrate, in this case, a form 14. The framed stencil apparatus 10 can be seen to have a stencil material 16 and a frame 18.

The stencil material 16 has a top surface and a bottom surface. The stencil material 16 deforms to accept the impression of indicia. The impressed indicia can be reproduced on a second surface by applying a fluid medium to the top surface. The fluid medium passes through the impressed indicia to the bottom surface thereby reproducing the impressed indicia on the second surface.

The frame 18 is substantially continuous and defines an opening 17. The opening 17 is large enough to allow the bottom surface of the stencil material 16 to contact the form 14. This permits the transfer of impressed indicia to the form 14 and the other surface as desired. The frame 18 is attached to a marginal portion of the periphery by framed stencil attachment means 28, preferably an adhesive, as best explained in the discussion below and shown in FIGURES 2 and 3.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the framed stencil apparatus 10 partially removed from the form 14. The stencil material 16 and the frame 18 are again visible. A clear view of substrate attachment means 19 is provided. The substrate attachment means 19 secures the framed stencil apparatus 10 to the form 14. The substrate attachment means 19 allows the frame 18 and the stencil material 16 to be cleanly released from the form 14, leaving no objectionable residues.

The substrate attachment means 19 preferably comprises a first film 20, a second film 22 and a chemical bonding. The first film 20 remains with the frame 18 and the stencil material 16 when the framed stencil apparatus 10 is separated. The first film 20 is preferably a plastic film such as a cast acrylic. The first film 20 preferably adheres to the frame by an adhesive. The second film 22 remains on the form 14 after the separation. The second film 22 adheres to the form 14 preferably through an adhesive. The chemical bonding is the layer which splits when the framed stencil apparatus 10 is separated, as best explained in the discussion below and shown in FIGURE 3.

The first film 20 and the second film 22 have no objectionable residue after separation, are not tacky and are dry to the touch. The first film 20 and the second film 22 do not adhere to paper or skin which allow easy stretching. Additionally, the first film 20 will not adhere to the second surface. The first film 20 and the second film 22 will not discolor by the adhesion of dirt or dust.

Preferably, the second film 22 is a polyester film such as MYLAR^® polyester made by DuPont. Other suitable plastic materials for either the first film 20 or the second film 22 will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the framed stencil apparatus 10 along the horizontal direction. FIGURE 3 shows the individual layers which make up a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The top layer is the stencil material 16. Preferably, this comprises a stencil tissue with a carbon layer on the bottom surface 24. Alternatively, the stencil tissue can be made with the carbon layer integrated with the stencil tissue. The carbon layer is the preferred means for transferring the impression of indicia to the form 14. The stencil material 16 is deformable to accept the impressed indicia. The carbon layer transfers the impressed indicia to whatever surface is directly beneath the stencil material 16. This can be the form 16 but other surfaces are possible as one skilled in the art will appreciate.

The frame 18 is shown as the third layer. The frame 18 is preferably a 60# offset paper. Other suitable materials will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Interposed between the frame 18 and the stencil material 16 is framed stencil attachment means 28. The framed stencil attachment means 28 is preferably an acrylic adhesive.

In an alternative embodiment, a tab 29 is mounted to frame 18 to provide an easy grasping point to manually separate the layers of the framed stencil apparatus 10.

The tab 29 is preferably made by manufacturing frame 18 larger than stencil material 16. The excess portion of form 18 extends beyond the stencil material 16 forming tab 29. If desired, a label 31 may be placed over the tab 29 with an appropriate message such as "Peel Here."

The frame 18 and the stencil material 16, after the framed stencil apparatus is separated, are placed on a desired location such as a shipping carton. A fluid medium, usually an ink, is placed on the top surface 26 of stencil material 16. The transfer of impressed indicia described herein is generally done by stencil mechanisms (not shown) in which the framed stencil is placed. The mechanisms usually have a refillable ink supply and are hand operated. The impressed indicia are thereby transferred to the desired location by bleeding through the stencil material 16. Such stencil mechanisms are old in the art and will not be further discussed here. The first film 20 is shown as the fifth layer.

Interposed between the first film 20 and the frame 18 is, preferably, a first adhesive 30. The first adhesive 30 prevents the frame 18 from separating from the first film 20. The second film 22 is shown as the seventh layer.

A second adhesive layer 34 adheres the second film 22 to the form 14 where it remains after the framed stencil apparatus 10 is removed. Interposed between the first film 20 and second film 22 is the chemical bonding 32. The term chemical bonding 32 as herein used covers a variety of adhesive techniques. In a simple form, chemical bonding 32 can be the forces which hold two films together when they are laminated together under heat and pressure. Depending on the films utilized, the operable forces can be static electricity, hydrogen bonding, molecular bonds between the molecules making up the two films, a mechanical bonding or a combination of these forces.

Alternatively, thin layers of adhesives can be used. A common example of this second alternative is found in the POST-IT* product made by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing. The key to having either type of chemical bonding 32 suitable for the present invention is the ability to leave the first film 20 and the second film 22 without objectionable residues, tack-free and dry to the touch, when the first film 20 and the second film 22 are separated.

The present preferred embodiment utilizes MAGIC

FIIiM TM made by Techni.cote of Mi.amisburg, Ohio, who supplies the first film 20, the second film 22, the chemical bonding 32, the first adhesive layer 30 and second adhesive layer 34.

The last layer shown is a release liner 36. The release liner 36 is preferably a 50# silicone release paper The release liner 36 is stripped away from the framed stencil apparatus 10 thereby exposing the second adhesive 34. The framed stencil apparatus 10 can then be placed on the form 14 with the second adhesive 34 contacting and adhering to the form 14.

The indicia can then be impressed upon the stenci material 16 and transferred to the form 14. The framed stencil apparatus 10 is separated by utilizing tab 29 which leaves the cleanly releasable second film 22 exposed on the form 14. Since second film 22 is tack free and dry to the touch, a multiplicity of the forms 14 may be stacked or filed'with no danger of the forms 14 sticking together. Th form 14 and the second film 22 together take up very little extra storage space as compared to the form 14 alone. The frame 18 and stencil material 16 are taken to another location wherein the impressed indicia are reproduced as desired. Since the first film 20 is tack-free and dry to the touch, the frame 18 and the stencil material 16 will not adhere to the second surface when transferring the improved indicia.

The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the amended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the illustrated positions of the frame 18 and the stencil material 16 could be reversed.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A framed stencil apparatus which can be releasably secured to an upper surface of a substrate, the framed stencil apparatus comprising: a) a stencil material having a top surface and a bottom surface, the stencil material being deformable to accept impression of indicia and to enable the reproduction of the impressed indicia on another surface by the application of a fluid medium on the top surface so that the fluid medium can pass through the impressed indicia to reproduce the impressed indicia on the other surface; b) a substantially continuous frame defining an opening, the opening being sufficient to permit the bottom surface of the stencil material to contact the upper surface of the substrate in an unobstructed manner for transfer of the impressed indicia upon the substrate, the frame"being attached to a marginal portion of the periphery of the stencil material by framed stencil attachment means; and c) substrate attachment means mounted on the bottom surface of the frame for cleanly and releasably securing the frame on the substrate with the lower surface of the stencil material in the desired location on the substrate such that objectionable residues do not remain on the substrate and the frame after the frame is released therefrom.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for transferring the impressed indicia to the substrate.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the means for transferring the impressed indicia to the substrate comprises a carbon layer mounted on the bottom surface of the stencil material to enable the simultaneous imprinting of the impressed indicia on the stencil material and on the substrate.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the framed stencil assembly is substantially rectangular in shape with the frame being continuous about the periphery of the apparatus.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the framed stencil attachment means is an adhesive.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the substrate attachment means further comprises a first film affixed to the lower surface of the frame, the first film covering a portion of the frame and not overlapping the opening and a second film cleanly and releasably secured to the first film, the second film being sufficient to substantially cover the first film, the second film being secured to the substrate by substrate attachment means.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the first film is attached to the lower surface of the frame by an adhesive.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the first film and the second film are plastic film.

9. The apparatus according to in claim 8 wherein the second film is a polyester.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the first film is a cast acrylic.

11. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the releasable attachment means is chemical bonding.

12. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the first film is attached to the second film by an adhesive.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the substrate attachment means is an adhesive.

14. The apparatus according claim 6 wherein the substrate attachment means is an adhesive.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a tab, the tab being large enough to allow the tab to be used to facilitate the release of the frame from the substrate.

16. A framed stencil apparatus which can be releasably secured to an upper surface of a substrate, the framed stencil apparatus comprising: a) means for accepting the impression of indicia and transferring the impression to the substrate; b) a stencil material having a top surface and a bottom surface, the stencil material being deformable to accept the impressed indicia and to enable the reproduction of the impressed indicia on another surface by the application of a fluid medium so that the fluid medium can pass through the impressed indicia to reproduce the impressed indicia on the other surface; c) a substantially continuous frame having an upper surface and a lower surface and defining an opening, the opening being sufficient to permit the bottom surface of the stencil material to contact the upper surface of the substrate in an unobstructed manner for transfer of the impressed indicia directly upon the substrate, the frame being attached to a marginal portion of the stencil material by framed stencil attachment means; d) a first film affixed to the lower surface of the frame, the first film covering a portion of the frame and not overlapping the opening; e) a second film releasably adhered to the first film, the second film being sufficient to substantially cover the first film, the second film being secured to the substrate by substrate attachment means; and f) a tab on the frame, the tab being large enough to allow the tab to be used to facilitate the release of the frame from the substrate.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the first film is attached to the second film by chemical bonding.

18. The apparatus according to in claim 16 wherein the substrate attachment means is an adhesive.

19. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the means for transferring the impressed indicia to the substrate comprises a carbon mounted on the bottom surface of the stencil material to enable the simultaneous imprinting of the impressed indicia on the stencil material and on the substrate.

20. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the framed stencil assembly is substantially rectangular in shape'with the frame being continuous about the periphery of the apparatus.

21. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the framed stencil attachment means is an adhesive.

22. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the first film frame is attached to the frame by an adhesive.

23. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the first film and the second film comprise a plastic material.

24. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the second film comprises a polyester material.

25. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the first film comprises a cast acrylic film.

26. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the first film is cleanly and releasably attached to the second film by an adhesive.

27. A form apparatus which includes a framed stencil releasably secured to the upper surface of the form, the form apparatus comprising: a) a substrate; b) a stencil material having a top surface and a bottom surface, the stencil material being deformable to accept impression of indicia and to enable the reproduction of the impressed indicia on another surface by the application of a fluid medium so that the fluid medium can pass through the impressed indicia to reproduce the impressed indicia on the other surface; c) a substantially continuous frame having an upper surface and a lower surface and defining an opening, the opening being sufficient to permit the bottom surface of the stencil material to contact the upper surface of the substrate in an unobstructed manner for transfer of the impressed indicia upon the substrate, the frame being attached to a marginal portion of the stencil material by framed stencil attachment means; and d) substrate attachment means mounted on the bottom surface of the frame for cleanly and releasably securing the frame on the substrate with the lower surface of the stencil material in the desired location on the substrate such that objectionable residues do not remain on the substrate after the frame is released therefrom.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 further comprising means for and transferring the impressed indicia to the substrate.

29. The apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the means for enabling the reproduction of the impressed indicia on the substrate comprises a carbon mounted on the bottom surface of the stencil material to enable the simultaneous imprinting of the impressed indicia on the stencil material and on the substrate.

30. The apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the framed stencil assembly is substantially rectangular in shape with the frame being continuous about the periphery of the apparatus.

31. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the framed stencil attachment means is a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

32. The apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the substrate attachment means further comprises a first film affixed to the lower surface of the frame, the first film covering a portion of the frame and not overlapping the opening and a second film cleanly and releasably secured to the lower surface first film, the second film being sufficient to substantially cover the first film, the lower surface of the second film being secured to the substrate by substrate attachment means.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32 wherein the first film is attached to the lower surface of the frame by an adhesive.

34. The apparatus according to claim 32 wherein the first film and the second film comprise a plastic material.

35. The apparatus according to in claim 34 wherein the second film comprises a polyester material.

36. The apparatus according to claim 34 wherein the first film comprises a cast acrylic.

37. The apparatus according to claim 32 wherein the releasable attachment means is chemical bonding.

38. The apparatus according to claim 32 wherein the first film is attached to the second film by an adhesive.

39. The apparatus according to claim 27 wherein the substrate attachment means is an adhesive.

40. The apparatus according claim 32 wherein the substrate attachment means is an adhesive.

41. The apparatus according to claim 27 further comprising a tab, the tab being large enough to allow the tab to be used to facilitate the release of the frame from the substrate.