ES2908118T3 - Set comprising a plurality of document covers and a grouping element for this plurality - Google Patents

Abstract

Set comprising a plurality of covers (11) for documents and a grouping element for said plurality of covers (11) from which each cover (11) can be individually removed, each of said covers (11) being formed by two panels rectangular (20, 21) of plastic material connected to each other along at least two adjacent sides (17, 18, 19); characterized in that said grouping element comprises a checkbook (12) formed by a plurality of superimposed marginal bands (14) kept applied to each other by welds or staples or rivets, each of said marginal bands (14) being connected, along from one side (31), by a linear frangible area (15), to one side (19) of said sheath (11), thus each of said sheaths (11) being individually associated with one of said bands (14) marginal, said covers (11) being held together by said checkbook (12), each of said covers (11) being separable from said checkbook (12) by tearing said linear frangible area (15) connecting this cover ( 11) and the associated marginal band (14).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Set comprising a plurality of document covers and a grouping element for this plurality

field of invention

The invention relates to document covers formed by two rectangular panels of plastic material connected to each other along at least two adjacent sides.

technological background

Such sleeves are known to be used to group and protect the documents placed therein.

We know, for example, a cover of this type, called a corner cover, whose two panels are connected to each other on two adjacent sides, the connection being generally made on one of the sides by a fold between the two panels and the connection being made on the other side by a weld line along this side.

Similarly, covers for a file folder are known in which the two panels are joined to each other on three sides while on the fourth side the two panels are not joined to each other; a welding line being made parallel and at a distance from one of the adjacent sides of the fourth side with perforations arranged between this adjacent side and the welding line so that the cover can cooperate with the ring binder of a file folder.

In the international application WO 98/34797 and in the French patent application 2,814,396, for example, improved versions of said covers for filing folders are described.

In general, these document sleeves are marketed in the form of a lot comprising a plurality of said document sleeves grouped by an element such as a box or a bag.

Object of the invention

The invention aims to provide a set of covers that offers good protection for the covers, in particular against creases and wrinkles, while being simple and easy to manufacture and use.

For this purpose, the invention proposes an assembly according to claim 1.

Unlike conventional batches in which the covers are arranged free from one another in a box or a bag, in the set according to the invention the covers are held together by the checkbook.

This fastening of the covers to each other is useful not only before marketing to preserve the covers (the fact that the covers are held together by the checkbook means that each cover benefits from the rigidity provided by the stacking of the other covers ), but also during use where the covers not yet removed from the set remain held by the others, which is convenient for the user.

On the other hand, it will be noted that the assembly according to the invention can be used in a simple and comfortable way, since it is sufficient to tear the linear frangible area by pulling on the cover to be removed while holding the checkbook; while the assembly according to the invention can be easily manufactured, for example, by providing that the checkbook is formed by extensions of the cover panels.

It will be noted that in addition to the conventional sets of sleeves mentioned above, a card or support described by international application WO 2004/026592 is likewise known. This document describes a filing system that, in the embodiment of Figure 1, is in the form of a card or support to be sent to a recipient as a message of pleasure, happiness, success, congratulations, celebration, commemoration, thanks , invitation, condolences or solidarity greetings or other souvenirs. This card or support comprises one or more separable sheets of a first type as well as one or more separable sheets of a second type, the different pages being fixed to a spine, each page of the first type being preprinted with introductory indications intended to be completed by the sender, and each page of the second type being intended to receive and preserve one or more photographs, press clippings or other memorabilia related to or of interest to the recipient. The card or support likewise has front and back sheets formed by folding a single sheet of paper or cardboard, the spine being formed inside the front and back sheets at the fold, the pages of the first and second type being attached to the spine formed along one side of the card. The first type and second type tear-off pages can be separated or torn from the spine and are conveniently pre-punched for insertion into a ring binder or the like. In another embodiment, not illustrated, a lateral portion of each page of the first type and of the second type is attached to the spine and a line of perforations or similar feature allows the rest of the page to be separable along the line of perforation. perforations. Since the spine is formed by a fold and the lateral portions of the sheets are attached to the spine, the lateral portions of the first type and second type sheets are attached to the spine. Consequently, in this embodiment, not illustrated, the lateral portions of the sheets of the first type and of the second type are free to move apart or come closer to each other, except for their edge which is fixed to the spine. The separable pages of the support or card, which therefore must be separated by the recipient, can be used with a personal history organizer described in international application PCT/GB02/02041. For this organizer, loose page packs of the first type for handwriting or computer typing can be provided, as well as page packs of the second type which can be in the form of transparent sleeves with openings or paper sleeves having framed edges in the obverse.

International application WO 2004/026592 does not describe welding, staples or rivets.

According to advantageous characteristics:

- said assembly is formed by a stack of sheets, each of which comprises a sheath and the associated marginal band, each sheet having a linear slot to previously separate the sheath from the marginal band, said linear slot delimiting said linear frangible zone as well like the side of this sheath and the side of this marginal band that are facing each other;

- for each sheath, said linear frangible zone is the thinnest zone of said sheet;

- for each sheath, said sheet comprises a layer of film including a panel of this sheath, a panel of the associated edge band and the linear frangible zone connecting this sheath and the associated edge band, said linear slot extending in this film layer without going through it;

- for each sheath, said sheet comprises another layer of film including another panel of this sheath and another panel of the associated marginal band, said linear slot passing through this other layer of film;

- for each sheath, said linear frangible zone is interrupted by fixing points;

- for each sheath, said linear frangible zone has a thickness comprised between 7.5 ± 2.5 pm and 12.5 ± 2.5 pm;

- said linear frangible zone is configured to be able to be torn with a force between 2 and 10 N exerted in the vicinity of a corner located between a side opposite to said marginal band and an adjacent side, said force being exerted in the direction of said adjacent side while said checkbook is immobilized and said cover in the same plane as the associated marginal band;

- for each cover, the two panels are connected to each other by a fold along one side and said marginal band is opposite to this side;

- each of said covers is a cover for a file folder whose two panels are connected to each other along three sides, while the two panels are not connected to each other along the fourth side, a welding line connecting the two panels in parallel and at a distance from one side adjacent to said fourth side, perforations being formed between said side adjacent to said weld line;

- said overlapping marginal bands are kept applied to each other thanks to welding points; I

- said cover and said plurality of covers are placed in a cover stapled to said checkbook.

Brief description of the drawings

The description of the invention will now continue with the detailed description of embodiments, given below by way of illustration and not limitation, with reference to the attached drawings. In which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an assembly according to the invention comprising a plurality of document covers and a checkbook from which each cover can be individually separated;

figure 2 is a plan view of one of the sheets from which the assembly illustrated in figure 1 is formed;

- Figure 3 is an enlargement of the detail marked III in Figure 2;

figure 4 is the sectional view marked IV-IV in figure 2, with a partial separation;

- figure 5 is an enlargement of the detail marked with V in figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing a sheath being separated;

- Figures 7 and 8 are views similar to Figures 3 and 4, but for the separate cover;

figure 9 is a view similar to figure 1 but for a variant of the assembly comprising a cover, shown in the closed state;

figure 10 is a view similar to figure 9, but with the cover shown in the open state, and more precisely the front panel of the cover folded down so that the covers are visible;

Figure 11 is a schematic sectional view showing the blade of the cutting tool with which a linear groove is formed in each blade to pre-separate the sheath;

figure 12 is a view similar to figure 11, for a variant of the blade of the cutting tool; figure 13 is a view similar to figure 3, but for a sheet obtained with the blade of the cutting tool illustrated in figure 12; Y

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13, but for a variant of the leaf where the linear groove has interruptions to form fixing points.

Detailed description of exemplary embodiments

The set 10 illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a plurality of document sleeves 11 and a check book 12. The set 10 is made up of identical sheets 13, one of which is shown in Figures 2 to 5.

Each sheet 13 comprises a cover 11 and a marginal band 14 connected to each other by a linear frangible zone 15 (FIG. 5).

For each sheet 13, the sleeve 11 can be separated from the marginal band 14 by tearing the linear frangible zone 15. In set 10, sheets 13 are stacked with marginal bands 14 held against each other to form checkbook 12.

Each cover 11 can be individually removed from the assembly 10 by separating it from the checkbook 12 by tearing the linear frangible area 15 connecting this cover 11 and the associated marginal band 14.

Figure 6 shows a sheath 11 being thus removed from assembly 10.

We will now describe the sheet 13 in detail, in support of Figures 2 to 5.

The sheath 11 comprising the sheet 13 has four sides 16, 17, 18 and 19. The outline of the sheath 11 is rectangular. Sides 16 and 18 are the short sides. Sides 17 and 19 are the long sides. Side 16 is the top side, side 17 is the right side, side 18 is the bottom side, and side 19 is the left side.

The cover 11 is formed by two rectangular panels of the same contour, respectively a rear panel 20 and a front panel 21.

Panels 20 and 21 are connected to each other along sides 17, 18 and 19 while they are not connected to each other along side 16.

A fold 22 connects panels 20 and 21 along side 17.

A weld line 23 connects panels 20 and 21 along side 18.

A weld line 24 connects panels 20 and 21 along side 19.

A weld line 25 connects the panels 20 and 21 in parallel and at a distance from the weld line 24, except in the vicinity of the side 16, where the weld line 25 has a curved portion 26 that extends between the weld line 24 and the rectilinear portion of the weld line 25.

The welding lines 23, 24 and 25 are made in this case by points.

Perforations 27 are provided in the space between weld lines 24 and 25 to allow sleeve 11 to be arranged in a ring binder.

The sleeve 11 is intended to receive documents between the panels 20 and 21 in the space delimited by the fold 22 and the lines 23 and 25 of welding.

The introduction of the documents in the cover 11 is carried out on the side 16.

The curved portion 26 of the welding line 25 facilitates the introduction of the documents.

The edge band 14 comprising the sheet 13 has four sides 30, 31, 32 and 33. The outline of the edge band 14 is rectangular. Sides 30 and 32 are the short sides. Sides 31 and 33 are the long sides. Side 30 is the top side, side 31 is the right side, side 32 is the bottom side, and side 33 is the left side.

Side 30 is aligned with side 16. Side 32 is aligned with side 18. The length of sides 30 and 32 is much less than that of sides 16 and 18, for example on the order of 15 mm.

In the illustrated example, the sleeves 11 are intended to accommodate a plurality of sheets in A4 format.

Side 31 faces opposite side 19 of sheath 11. Side 33 is opposite side 31. Sides 31 and 33 are the same length as sides 17 and 19.

The marginal band 14 is formed by two rectangular panels of the same contour, respectively a rear panel 34 and a front panel 35. Panels 34 and 35 are superimposed.

The sheet 13 comprises two layers of a film 36 of transparent plastic material having a predetermined thickness, respectively a rear layer 37 and a front layer 38. In this case, the film 36 is polypropylene.

Panel 34, linear frangible zone 15, and panel 20 form part of backing layer 37 of film 36. Panel 34 is connected to panel 20 by linear frangible zone 15.

Panel 35 and panel 21 form part of the front layer 38 of film 36.

The sides 19 and 31 as well as the linear frangible zone 15 are delimited by a linear slot 39 oriented parallel to the sides 33 and 17 (left and right sides of the sheet 13).

The slot 39 extends over the entire height of the sheet 13, that is to say from the sides 16 and 30 (upper side of the sheet 13) to the sides 18 and 32 (lower side of the sheet 13).

The linear slot 39 passes completely through the front layer 38 of the film 36 and extends to the rear layer 37 of the film 36, without going through it.

Because the slot 39 passes completely through the front layer 38 of the film 36, the panels 35 and 21 have a clearance between them.

Because the slot 39 extends into the rear layer 37 of the film 36 without passing through it, the linear frangible zone 15 remains in the rear layer 37.

In the sheet 13, the linear frangible zone 15 is the thinnest zone.

Therefore, when a separating force is exerted between the marginal band 14 and the sleeve 11, for example by immobilizing the marginal band 14 and pulling on the sleeve 11, it is the linear frangible zone 15 that will be torn. To manufacture the sheet 13, a rectangular panel of the film 36 is started, the width of which corresponds to the distance between the sides 16 and 18 of the cover 11 (which is equal to the distance between the sides 30 and 32 of the marginal band 14). and whose length corresponds to twice the distance between the side 17 of the sheath 11 and the side 33 of the marginal band 14. This panel is folded in half its length to form the fold 22, welding lines 23, 24 and 25 are made, perforations 27 are made and a linear incision is made with a cutting tool 50 (figure 11) which forms slot 39.

The linear groove 39 previously separates the sheath 11 from the marginal band 14.

To form the set 10, a predetermined number of sheets 13, for example sixty, are stacked with the different sheets in correspondence with each other.

The marginal bands 14, which are therefore superimposed, remain applied to each other to form the checkbook 12.

In this case, this fastening is done thanks to the welding points 43.

The checkbook 12 allows the sheets 13 to be grouped. The checkbook 12 therefore forms a grouping element for the covers 11.

As indicated above, each cover 11 can be individually removed from the assembly 10 from the checkbook 12 by tearing the linear frangible area 15 connecting this cover 11 and the associated marginal band 14, for example as shown in Figure 6.

Once a sleeve 11 has been removed from the assembly 10 in this way, the side 19 is completely free, as shown in figures 7 and 8.

In order to tear the frangible zone 15 that connects the checkbook 12 to the cover 11 to be separated, a separation force is exerted between this cover 11 and the checkbook 12, for example by immobilizing the checkbook 12 and pulling the cover 11 .

Due to the fact that it is made up of a plurality of marginal bands 14 superimposed and kept applied to each other, the checkbook 12 has a certain rigidity that facilitates tearing.

Assembly 10 may be used as shown in Figures 1 and 6. For individual protection prior to use, assembly 10 may be placed in a closed container, such as a bag.

In the variant illustrated in figures 9 and 10, the assembly 10 further comprises a cover 44 in which the assembly illustrated in figure 1 is placed.

The cover 44 has a front panel 45, a spine 46 and a back panel 47. The side of the checkbook 12 formed by the sides 33 of the marginal bands 14 is against the spine 46.

Cover 44 is made of a relatively rigid collapsible material, in this case cardboard.

To secure cover 44, staples 48 which engage front panel 45 and back panel 47 near spine 46 pass through checkbook 12.

In this variant of the assembly 10, the staples 48 contribute to the fastening of the marginal bands 14 applied to each other and therefore reinforce the book 12. The portions of the cover 44 that sandwich the book 12 in the same way contribute to reinforcing the book. 12.

A pre-folding slot 49 is made in the front panel 45 in the vicinity of the checkbook side 12 formed by the sides 31 of the marginal bands 14, to allow the front panel 45 to be easily folded forward as shown in the figure. 10

In general, the cover 44 provides the assembly 10 illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 with a certain rigidity that favors the conservation of the covers 11, in particular against creases and wrinkles.

The assembly 10 provided with the cover 44 can remain without individual external protection before use or be placed in a closed container, for example a bag.

Figure 11 shows the blade 51 of the cutting tool 50 with which the incision of the blade 13 is made, which gives rise to the slot 39.

The blade 51 has a triangular section with the same slope on both sides of the cutting edge.

Consequently, the slot 39 has a triangular section with the same slope for the edge 19 and for the edge 31.

In this case, the tool 50 is a wheel on the periphery of which is the blade 51, which is annular.

In order to make the incision that gives the linear groove 39, in addition to the tool 50, a counter tool is used which is likewise a wheel, passing the blade 13 between the tool 50 and the counter tool.

The thickness of the linear frangible zone 15 corresponds to the space between the cutting edge of the blade 51 and the peripheral surface of the counter tool.

In the illustrated example, the linear frangible zone 15 has a thickness of 7.5 ± 2.5 µm.

With this manufacturing tolerance of ±2.5 pm, the linear frangible zone 15 has a thickness that can vary from 5 pm to 10 pm.

This thickness of the frangible zone 15 has been configured so that the force to be exerted to separate the cover 11 from the marginal band 14 or from the checkbook 12 is low enough not to present any difficulty to the user and high enough to prevent it from falling off. a sheath 11 unintentionally, in particular during the handling of the blade 13 and the assembly 10.

The investigations carried out by the applicant have shown that a range of values that offers excellent results in this respect is the range from 7.5 ± 2.5 pm to 12.5 ± 2.5 pm.

In practice, in the illustrated example, to tear the linear frangible zone 15 while the checkbook 12 is immobilized and the cover 11 in the same plane as the marginal band 14, the force to be exerted on the cover 11 is of the order of 3 N when this force is exerted in the vicinity of the corner between the upper side 16 and the right side 17, to the right, that is to say in the direction of the upper side 16 of the sheath 11; by way of comparison, in this case where the film 36 has a thickness of 50 pm, a force of the order of 250 N would be required under the same conditions without the linear groove 39.

Research carried out by the applicant has shown that a range of values that offers excellent wearing comfort is the range from 2 to 10 N.

It will be noted that in practice the force exerted is less important because the user lifts the sheath 11 so that a shearing force is added to the pulling force.

In the variant of the tool 50 shown in Figure 12, the blade 51 likewise is triangular in section but only has a slope on one side of the cutting edge.

In this case, this slope is on the side of the sheath 11.

Consequently, the blade 13, whose slot 39 has been made with this variant of the tool 50, has a side 31 that is straight instead of being inclined.

The slot 39 is therefore less wide, as can be seen in figure 13 which shows this sheet 13.

In another variant, the peripheral surface of the counter tool with which the tool 50 cooperates does not have a continuous surface but has rather narrow recesses at regular intervals.

At the location of each of these recesses, the blade 51 is devoid of a counter tool and therefore the material of the sheet 13 is not cut.

As a result, the slot 39 is interrupted at regular intervals by narrow areas where the score has not been made, neither the rear layer 37 nor the front layer 38 of the front film 36 have been perforated. These non-perforated areas form fixing points 52, as seen in figure 14 which shows the sheet 13 obtained with said counter tool and with the tool 50 illustrated in figure 12.

In this example, there are eight attachment points 52 evenly distributed along the linear slot 39.

The fixing points 52 offer the advantage of fastening the front panel 35 from the edge band 14 to the rear panel 34 without the need for any other particular measures.

It will be noted in this connection that when the incision is made without fixing points being provided, it is possible, for example, to heat the blade 51 of the tool 50 so as to effect a weld between the panels 34 and 35 which allows the panel 35 remains attached to panel 34; and that when the counter tool has the aforementioned interruptions given by the fixing points 52, the incision giving the slot 39 can be made cold.

In variants not represented:

- the tool for making the linear groove such as 39 is different from a rotary tool, for example a straight blade carried by a press;

- in the checkbook 12, the marginal bands 14 are kept applied to each other in another way than by welding and/or staples, for example by rivets;

- marginal band 14 is replaced by a marginal band comprising a single panel, similar to panel 34; - the plastic material used to make the covers, and more specifically the sheets, is different from polypropylene, for example PVC or polyethylene; and/or the thickness of the film is different from 50 pm, for example between 20 and 180 pm;

- the way the two roof panels are connected at the sides is different, for example the fold 22 is replaced by a welding line;

- the type of document sleeve is different from a filing folder sleeve, for example a corner sleeve, i.e. a sleeve whose two panels are connected to each other on two adjacent sides while the other two sides are not connected each ;

- the side of the sheath to which the marginal band is connected is different from a side such as the side 19 opposite the fold 22 and along which a welding line is made, for example a side similar to the side 16; I

- the assembly 10 is formed in a way other than a stack of sheets in which a linear groove delimits the linear frangible zone as well as the sleeve side and the marginal band side are facing each other, for example the frangible zone linear is formed by a succession of through notches separated by fixing points or the linear frangible zone is at the junction between a sheath and a marginal band that are made of two different materials and are easy to separate.

Many other variants are possible depending on the circumstances and it is recalled in this connection that the invention is not limited to the examples described and shown, but is limited only by the scope of the claims.

Claims (12)

1. Set comprising a plurality of covers (11) for documents and a grouping element for said plurality of covers (11) from which each cover (11) can be individually removed, each of said covers (11) being formed by two rectangular panels (20, 21) of plastic material connected to each other along at least two adjacent sides (17, 18, 19); characterized in that said grouping element comprises a checkbook (12) formed by a plurality of superimposed marginal bands (14) kept applied to each other by welds or staples or rivets, each of said marginal bands (14) being connected, along from one side (31), by a linear frangible area (15), to one side (19) of said sheath (11), thus each of said sheaths (11) being individually associated with one of said bands (14) marginal, said covers (11) being held together by said checkbook (12), each of said covers (11) being separable from said checkbook (12) by tearing said linear frangible area (15) connecting this cover ( 11) and the associated marginal band (14). 2. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it is formed by a stack of sheets (13) each of which comprises a sheath (11) and the associated marginal band (14), each sheet (13) having a slot (39) linear to previously separate the sheath (11) from the marginal band (14), said linear groove (39) delimiting said linear frangible zone (15) as well as the side (19) of this sheath (11) and the side (31) of this marginal band (14) that are facing each other. Assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that for each sheath (11), said linear frangible zone (15) is the thinnest zone of said sheet (13). Assembly according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that for each cover (11) said sheet (13) comprises a layer (37) of film (36) including a panel (20) of this cover (11). ), a panel (34) of the associated marginal band (14) and the linear frangible zone (15) connecting this sheath (11) and the associated marginal band (14), said linear groove (39) extending in this layer (37) of film (36) without going through it. Assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that for each cover (11) said sheet (13) comprises another layer (38) of film (36) that includes another panel (21) of this cover (11) and another panel ( 35) of the associated marginal band (14), said linear groove (39) passing through this other layer (38) of film (36). Assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that for each sheath (11) said linear frangible zone (15) is interrupted by fixing points (52). 7. Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that for each sheath (11) said linear frangible zone (15) has a thickness between 7.5 ± 2.5 pm and 12.5 ± 2, 5 pm. Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said linear frangible zone (15) is configured to be able to be torn with a force between 2 and 10 N exerted in the vicinity of a corner located between one side (17) opposite said marginal band (14) and an adjacent side (16), said force being exerted in the direction of said adjacent side (16) while said checkbook (12) is immobilized and said cover (11) in the same plane as the associated marginal band (14). Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that for each cover (11) the two panels (20, 21) are connected to each other by a fold (22) along one side (17) and said marginal band (14) is opposite this side (17). Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that each of said covers is a file folder cover (11) whose two panels (20, 21) are connected to each other along three sides (17 , 18, 19) while the two panels (20, 21) are not connected to each other along the fourth side (16), a weld line (25) connecting the two panels (20, 21) in parallel and at a distance from an adjacent side (19) to said fourth side, perforations (27) being provided between said adjacent side (19) and said weld line (25). Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said superimposed marginal bands (14) remain applied to each other thanks to welding points (43). 12. Assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it further comprises a cover (44) and in that said checkbook (12) and said plurality of covers are placed in said cover (44), which is stapled to said check book (12).