Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-17
2001-09-25
Ahmad, Nasser (Department: 1772)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
C040S628000, C040S629000, C040S630000, C283S081000, C283S101000, C283S106000, C283S109000, C428S041800, C428S041900, C428S042200, C428S042300, C428S043000, C428S192000, C428S194000, C428S212000, C473S588000, C473S590000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06294237
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of laminated cardstock that can be printed or decorated by use of a printer or copier.
BACKGROUND
Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,976 entitled “Laminated Card Assembly” and granted on Sep. 2, 1997. This patent teaches a method for creating laminated cards for printing by a laser printer from an assembly. There are three basic material components to this invention, a cardstock sheet, a transparent laminated plastic film, and intermediate pressure sensitive adhesive that adheres the cardstock sheet and plastic film together. A user feeds the assembly into a printer. The printer prints onto the surface of the cardstock that may be die cut into the shape of a membership card, for example. The user removes the card from the assembly and concurrently peels a rectangular area of the transparent plastic from the assembly. The user then folds the transparent plastic to cover the printed surface of the card. This transparent plastic layer serves the function of displaying the information and protecting the information on the card.
Laminated cards, such as the one referenced above, tend to have simple shapes. They typically come in the size and shape of a business or membership card that is rectangular so that it can be easily laminated. Even adhesive index tabs and hinging file folder tabs have relatively simple symmetrical configurations that fold over about the center line, which allows easy lamination to take place. Hence, laminated cards have generally been limited to simple flat configurations. Furthermore, laminated cards typically have no function, other than to display the information on the card in a protective manner.
Consequently, while the a “Laminated Card Assembly” disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,976 are useful for providing a construction for displaying the information on the card in a protective manner, it has shortcomings in that its function is limited to expressing the information on the card in a simple two-dimensional format. Accordingly, a need still exists for a laminated construction that can do more than simply display information in a simple two-dimensional rectangular configuration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed generally to a laminated cardstock assembly that can do more than merely display the information on the card. It is object of this invention to provide an assembly for creating assorted goods, such as throwing toys and napkin rings that can be personally decorated using a printer or copier. While these products are not limited to simple configurations, they are relatively quick and easy to assemble.
Viewed from a broad perspective, the invention may be an assembly including a cardstock sheet, a transparent plastic lamination sheet, and a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive adhering the cardstock sheet and transparent plastic sheet together. The assembly may be flexible enough to reliably pass through a printer or copier. Preferably, the assembly may have constant thickness to allow the assembly to pass through a printer without jamming. The cardstock sheet may have a die cut outline defining the shape of the good to be created. The transparent plastic laminated sheet may also be die cut in a peripheral outline substantially outside of the die cut outline on the cardstock, and may be irregular or non-symmetrical with respect to the shape of the cardstock area defining the good to be created. Printed laminated goods may be created by feeding the assembly into the printer for initial printing; then the cardstock area may be pushed through the assembly carrying the die cut plastic areas; and subsequently the plastic sheet material may be folded over and bonded to the die cut cardstock configuration.
Various additional features may be associated with the present invention. The cardstock sheet may have certain areas that have a release coating for convenience in peeling back a portion of the transparent plastic laminating sheet. Preferably, however, no release layer is provided in the area overlying the die cut cardstock so that the transparent plastic is firmly bonded thereto. Alternatively, the backing sheet may be coated across its entire width and length with a release coating. The cardstock sheet may lie coextensively with the transparent plastic lamination sheet. Preferably the assembly may be no more than about 12 to 15 mils thick for reliable feeding through printers or copiers. The pressure sensitive adhesive may also be a permanent pressure sensitive adhesive. The plastic film may also have perforations or a line of weakness that runs slightly outside and adjacent to the die cut outline on the cardstock, for ease in forming the final assembly.
One version of the present invention may comprise a multilayer sheet assembly for creating printed laminated throwing toys or the like. The cardstock sheet will have die cut outline defining the shape of the throwing toys or similar structures to be formed. The transparent plastic lamination sheet will also have a die cut peripheral outline that is substantially outside of the die cut outline on the cardstock.
Another embodiment of the present invention may be an assembly for creating printed laminated three-dimensional throwing toy with plurality of wings. The cardstock sheet may have a die cut outline defining the shape of the throwing toy with these wings. Preferably wings may be aligned symmetrically around a center. Additionally, the cardstock sheet area as defined by die cut outline may also have a plurality of notches or lines of weakness extending transversely across its structure. The notches or lines of weakness allow the assembly to be readily formed into a curved shape. The transparent plastic lamination sheet may also have a die cut in a peripheral outline substantially outside of the die cut outline on the cardstock, in order to encompass the die cut outline on the cardstock sheet. The flexible plastic sheet may have additional die cuts from the periphery of the plastic sheet outline into the edge of the cardstock outline. Once printing is completed the cardstock area may be pushed through the assembly carrying the die cut plastic area, and the plastic sheet material may be folded over and bonded to the cardstock area that has the plurality of wings aligned symmetrically around a center. The throwing toy may be either flat in its final configuration or it may have three-dimensional transversely curved wings. For the three-dimensional configuration, the cardstock area may be shaped where it is notched, and then held in this shaped configuration by the overlying or overlapping transparent plastic laminate.
In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the assembly may be used for making a napkin ring or cup holder. The cardstock sheet may have a die cut outline in a shape of long rectangle. The transparent plastic lamination sheet may also have a die cut in a peripheral outline that may be slightly greater than twice the size of die cut outline on the cardstock. Thereafter, a napkin ring may be created by feeding the assembly into the printer for initial printing, and then the cardstock area may be pushed through the assembly carrying the die cut plastic area. Once the napkin ring assembly is removed, the opposite ends of the long rectangle may be coupled together, forming a cylindrical shape. Afterwards, the plastic sheet material may be folded over and bonded to the cardstock in a cylindrical shape. A printed laminated three-dimensional napkin ring is thus created.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the plastic sheet material is die cut in a complex pattern which will not merely cover the other side of the cardstock, but may hold it in a three-dimensional configuration, preferably using permanent pressure sensitive adhesive. Hence, the configurations are not limited to creating a printed laminated cardstock that is in simple two-dimensional format. Yet, it is quick and easy to assemble.
Other objects, features and advantages will become apparent from
Ahmad Nasser
Avery Dennison Corporation
Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP
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