US20050127148A1

US20050127148A1 - Sheet intermediate for forming folder pages and pockets therefrom for presentation folders

Info

Publication number: US20050127148A1
Application number: US10/732,062
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph Gecha
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Ward Kraft Inc
Priority date: 2003-12-10
Filing date: 2003-12-10
Publication date: 2005-06-16

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sheet of stock material that is suitable for use in creating personalized folder pages and pockets as needed or “on demand” for presentation folders as well as auxiliary pages and pockets for existing product folders, notebooks and containers. More particularly, the instant invention provides the small office, home office user (“SOHO”), as well as the manufacturer of presentation folders and the presenter of products, services and educational subjects with the ability to create personalized pages and pockets on demand for presentation folders in limited, individualized quantities. The subject intermediate of the present specification is provided generally in a planar, sheet form, with one or more strips of adhesives in order to create the personalized page and pocket combinations that can be imprinted or imaged with specific or individualized communications or messages in order to create a significantly greater message transmission vehicle for the advancement of product, services, topics, concepts, theories or ideas. The sheet intermediate can be connected directly to a blank or other structure or may be joined with one or more sheet intermediates which will create a presentation folder

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sheet of stock material that is suitable for use in creating personalized folder pages and pockets as needed or “on demand” for presentation folders as well as auxiliary pages and pockets for existing product folders, notebooks and containers. More particularly, the instant invention provides the small office, home office user (“SOHO”), as well as the manufacturer of presentation folders and the presenter of products, services and educational subjects with the ability to create personalized pages and pockets on demand for presentation folders in limited, individualized quantities. The subject intermediate of the present specification is provided generally in a planar, sheet form, with one or more strips of adhesives in order to create the personalized page and pocket combinations that can be imprinted or imaged with specific or individualized communications or messages in order to create a significantly greater message transmission vehicle for the advancement of product, services, topics, concepts, theories or ideas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Stock folders are generally well known today and are provided in a variety of colors and typically in several standard formats. Such stock products are created from a blank of material to which at least one and usually two pockets are provided on the inner face of the blank. The pockets are generally formed from the same sheet or blank and are then folded over onto the blank and sealed to the blank to create the pockets. The blank is then folded, usually centrally, to form two relatively equal sides.
Such folders are used in a number of applications ranging from academic, such as in a elementary, middle school, high school or collegiate environment to education purposes including seminars and technical symposiums. In addition, folders have also been used in the past to hand out information on products and services in the hopes of inducing purchases or sales of such products or services.
These prior art folders are provided in a broad spectrum of colors and can even have different finishes such as glossy or a metallic appearance in order to supplement the product of topic offering. In addition, such prior art products may also be provided with textural or tactile features so as to resemble grains in leather or wood, again all in an effort to produce or tailor the communication vehicle to the audience or presenter to garner more attention for the products or services being offered.
Examples of such prior art folders include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,870,223, 4,109,850, 4,301,962, 4,731,142, 4,989,777 and 5,836,507. Each of these prior art constructions are constructed from a single blank of material. That is, the portion making up the folder and which comprises the pocket are part of the same blank. The portion which becomes the pocket is then folded onto the folder portion to create the pocket portion. Such constructions normally require the manufacturer to purchase expensive and complicated folding equipment in order to process and fold the pocket portion, see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,439,436 and 6,063,226.
One of the difficulties with such stock folder products is that the user of such products must order the folders in large lots, or must select from a generic stock inventory that may only have a pre-determined number of colors or finish options. If a presenter or distributor would prefer to have at least limited information printed on the folder, such as the name of the company or presenter or to have certain colors or finishes that represent the company, such as to emphasize the trade dress, then the user is stuck with the unfortunate option of having to order such products in large quantities typically greater than 50 and more often in the hundreds as the set up for the production folders is complex and orders in the hundreds of units is normally required by the manufacturer due to the complexity associated with such set up of equipment. This dilemma has thwarted the growth of the folder industry and prevented the use of this tool from expanding its communication potential to users of the product.
Attempts at personalization or individualization have sometimes been elaborate, such as that illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,038 in which a personalized sheet is printed and then inserted so that the personalized information is then visible through die cut windows in the blank. As one might imagine, this limits the amount of personalization that can be provided and also requires that the information be aligned with the windows in the folder assembly so that it is visible. In addition, to the steps of folding the blank and the equipment required therefore, in order to manufacture such a product one needs to add additional die cutting stations and then is faced with the challenge of inserting the personalized sheet of information. In preparing for a meeting, even a small meeting, having to insert 10 sheets into 10 different folders can be time consuming, particularly if one is rushed in trying to get to the meeting.
The foregoing prior art products also suffer from the fact that they are provided only in a relatively few standard configurations, choices of only one or two products having only one or two pockets. This may require the presenter to over stuff the pockets provided with the folder or alternatively to have to distribute multiple folders in order to achieve the communication that is intended, that is in order to discuss multiple products or services multiple folders need to be provided to the attendees of the meeting. In addition, attendees may also wish to include materials collected at the event such as notes, brochures or other collateral material and are faced with stuffing the material into already tight spaces or simply dropping them internally of the folder which can lead to the materials being lost as they are not secured by a pocket. The ability to add additional pockets or the ability to position pockets in different areas of the folder is simply not an option or if it is it may be an expensive option requiring the manufacturer to purchase additional equipment, rework existing equipment or obtain further tooling in order to produce what may only be a single order.
Another problem faced by users of such stock folders is that they have virtually no personalized or individualized information. For example, in a typical introductory business meeting between two entities, the attendees may include an executive, members of sales and marketing and production personnel. Distributing the exact same information to each attendee may result in the information simply being deposited into the attendee's files, instead of the presenter's intent of delivering a specific message to each participant. Any personalized or individualized information is then limited to the sheets that are included inside the folders and those specific to a particular attendee may be buried deep within myriad of pages of information provided to the attendees.
Publications, patents and patent applications are referred to throughout this disclosure. All references cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference.
What is needed therefore is a product that can be produced in a convenient manner that overcomes the foregoing drawbacks. In addition, what is needed is a product that can be customized and tailored to the individual needs of a customer or presenter and one which enables the customer or presenter to convey personalized or individualized messages so as to increase the impact of the delivered materials. Moreover, the ability to provide any number of individual pages in pockets would assist in the direct marketing effort to each of the attendees.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the present invention described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present invention.
The present invention relates to a novel sheet intermediate that can be used in the formation of personalized or individualized pages and pockets for presentation folders. The sheet intermediates can be joined directly to one another so as to immediately create a presentation folder after printing or may be joined, through the adhesive flap, to a blank of material that has been provided with printing that may or may not correspond to the printing on the sheet intermediate, but which may also be personalized for the intended recipient. Multiple sheet intermediates may be used in the preparation of a presentation folder that has two or more pages and pockets so that specific information can be included with each pocket and page, making the message for each product, service or topic more direct. In addition, the sheet intermediate of the present invention may also be connected to a pre-existing document holder, such as a binder, notebook or the like.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a sheet intermediate for forming a page and pocket for a presentation folder is provided and includes a sheet having first and second portions and first and second faces. The first and second portions of the sheet each have first and second side edges and top and bottom edges. The first and second portions are divided or separated from one another by a line of demarcation extending between the edges. The first portion of the sheet intermediate has a first dimension and provides an area for carrying information. The first portion also has an adhesive provided on at least one side of a flap with the flap being connected along one of the edges. The second portion of the sheet intermediate has a second dimension that is distinct from the first dimension, with the second portion having a flap with adhesive provided on one side thereof and connected to the second portion along at least one of the edges. The second portion is foldable about the line of demarcation to form a pocket through use of the flap.
The first dimension of the sheet intermediate is substantially more than the dimension of the second portion, and more preferably is more than twice as much as the dimension of said second portion.
In a still further embodiment of the present invention, a presentation folder, is described and includes a blank of material having first and second faces. At least first and second sheet intermediates with each intermediate having first and second portions and first and second faces. The first and second portions each have first and second side edges and top and bottom edges with the first and second portions divided or separated from one another by a line of demarcation extending between the edges and running parallel to the top and bottom edges.
In the presently described embodiment, the first portion has a first dimension and provides an area for carrying information. In addition, the first portion also has an adhesive provided on at least one side of a flap with the flap being connected along one of the edges of the portion. The second portion has a second dimension distinct from the first dimension, with the second portion having a flap with adhesive provided on one side thereof and connected to the second portion along at least one of the edges. The second portion is foldable about the line of demarcation to form a pocket through use of the flap. Each of the first and second sheet intermediates are joined to one of the first and second faces of the blank through the adhesive on the flap of the first portion so as to create a presentation folder.
In a yet still further embodiment of the present invention, a presentation folder is described and includes at least first and second sheet intermediates, with each intermediate having first and second portions and first and second faces. The first and second portions each have first and second side edges and top and bottom edges and the first and second portions are divided or separated from one another by a line of demarcation extending between the edges and running parallel to the top and bottom edges. The first portion has a first dimension and includes an area for carrying information. In addition, the first portion also has an adhesive that is provided on at least one side of a flap with the flap being connected along one of the edges.
The second portion of the presently described embodiment that has a second dimension which is distinct from the first dimension. The second portion has a flap with adhesive provided on one side thereof and connected to the second portion along at least one of the edges. The second portion is foldable about the line of demarcation to form a pocket through use of the flap. Each of the first and second sheet intermediates are joined to one another through at least one of the flaps of the first portion of one of the first and second sheet intermediates so as to create a presentation folder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These, as well as other objects and advantages of this invention, will be more completely understood and appreciated by referring to the following more detailed description of the presently preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 depicts a front view of the sheet intermediate of the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the sheet intermediate of the present invention and having adhesive patterns to enable creation of the pocket as well as attachment of the sheet intermediate to form a presentation folder;
FIG. 3 illustrates a presentation folder of the present invention created from either a pair of sheet intermediates to create the presentation folder;
FIG. 3A depicts a top edge view of a pair of sheet intermediates connected together along edge flaps of the sheet intermediates through the use of adhesive to create a presentation folder;
FIG. 3B provides a further top view of the present invention and showing a pair of sheet intermediates connected to a blank to form a presentation folder;
FIG. 4 shows a bottom edge view of a series of sheet intermediates connected together and depicting the pockets formed on each of the sheet intermediates; and
FIG. 5 illustrates a front perspective of a series of sheet intermediates connected to a blank of material to form a presentation folder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is now illustrated in greater detail by way of the following detailed description, but it should be understood that the present invention is not to be construed as being limited thereto.
Unexpectedly, the inventor of the present invention has found that full use of the blank is possible when creating a presentation folder so that imaging can be provided to convey a message. In addition, the sheet intermediate used in forming the page and pocket of the present invention can be used to complement the message being presented thereby increasing the total amount of “landscape” available for communicating with the audience.
The present invention, through the use of sheet intermediates, can create fully personalized and individualized presentation folders. In addition, the presentation folder created through the use of the sheet intermediates of the present invention is not limited to any particular configuration and instead can resemble traditional pocket folders or can be provided in any number of constructions to accommodate the conveyance or transmission of the relevant marketing message or educational topic.
As used herein, the term “adhesive” includes, but is not limited to strips, patterns, segments, shapes, spots, continuous arrangements, discontinuous arrangements and combinations thereof. The type of adhesive that may be used includes but is not limited to repositionable, removable, permanent, remoistentable, hot melt, pressure seal (cohesive), cold glues and combinations and mixtures thereof. The present invention may also include adhesive strips that are provided in the form of transfer tapes, pressure sensitive tapes and the like which usually will have a removable release liner, which when removed will expose and/or activate the adhesive that can be used to form a sealing arrangement.
The term “document containment device” as used herein includes portfolios, notebooks, binders, clipboards, sleeves, folders, envelopes, accordion folders and the like.
The printing or imaging can be provided on one or both faces of the sheet intermediate including that portion of the sheet intermediate forming the pocket. The information to be provided is generally personalized or individualized so that each attendee of a business meeting can receive a specially tailored message. For example, a normal introductory business meeting, the attendees from the target company (company that is being targeted for the sale of goods or services) may have an executive present, members of the sales and marketing team as well as production personnel in attendance to consider the information being provided. The presenter ideally wants to deliver a unique message to each person or group in the audience and is only offered a short period of time to accomplish this task, and usually devotes most of the period to “walking through” a visual presentation. However, through the use of the present invention, the presenter can deliver personalized or individualized information to each group while still focusing on delivering the information to the group. For example, information for sales and marketing may relate to increased sales and commissions or sales strategies for selling the product. Production personnel may receive information relating to efficient manufacturing techniques and other products for which the services may be used with as well as contact numbers for support and other technical data. The executive may only receive summary or overview information and financial numbers relating to the impact of the divisional bottom line. Thus each person is provided with a unique package of information that is tailored to his or her specific talents thereby potentially increasing the chances of success of the presentation. It should be understood that in addition to personalized or individualized information, the sheet intermediate of the present invention may also include static, fixed or regularly repeating information (such as information printed on each folder to be presented).
The blank provided in FIG. 1 may be manufactured from a standard sheet size such as 11″ by 14″ or 11″ by 17″ and the unused portions of the sheet stock being cut or severed from the sheet such as through die cutting and other means as are known in the industry. The material selected for use in the present invention may include any suitable material such as bond paper, card stock, tag stock, plastic films or sheet or any other material that may be die cut and receptive to adhesive, printing or imaging.
Each of the portions of the sheet intermediate that will form the panel of the presentation folder or folder page, after forming will in one exemplary embodiment have a width of approximately 9 inches and a length of about 12 inches. The pockets formed from the present invention will have a height of around 4″ to 4¼″ and a width of up to 9 inches. The flaps that are provided on each of the panel and pocket portions of the sheet intermediate range from roughly ¼″ of an inch up to about 2 inches. The width of the flap used in the sealing of the construction, either the pocket or the sheet to a blank so as to create the folder itself, is dependant upon the dimensions necessary to accomplish the needs of the manufacture to meet the specifications and demands of the customer or end user. For example, where the end user wishes to have a large pocket that will contain a large amount of information, the width of the flap is generally wider than a pocket that is to hold a limited amount of information so that the pocket has significantly more holding space. The length of the flap that is connected to the page or portion intended to serve as the panel or page portion is generally anticipated to run the length of that portion or about 12 inches. The flap that is connected to the side of the portion that will form the pocket is again approximately the same length or height as the portion forming the pocket. That is, the flaps run substantially, if not the entire length of the portion to which they are connected or roughly twelve inches and four inches, respectively.
The foregoing dimensions are used when preparing a standard configuration presentation folder. That is, each panel of the blank runs about 12″ high and about 9″ wide with the pocket having a length of about 9″ and a height of around 4″. Obviously, other dimensions are possible and would simply require the repositioning of the adhesive areas, lines of weakness, etc. on the sheet or use of different sized sheets of material. The pocket of the presently described embodiment is sized and configured so that it can receive and retain a standard size sheet of paper in a portrait arrangement (8½″ side placed in the pocket which has a width of approximately 9″).
Turning now to FIG. 1 of the present invention the sheet intermediate is generally depicted by reference to numeral 10. The sheet intermediate 10 is shown in its cut out configuration, that is, it was typically provided in a full sheet, such as 11″×17″ or 11″×14″ and then cut to the desired dimensions as will be understood by those with skill in the art.
The sheet intermediate 10 has a first portion 12 and a second portion 14 (depicted by bracketed areas in FIG. 1). The first portion has a first dimension which is substantially greater than the dimension of the second portion and more preferably the first portion has more than twice the area of the second portion. The sheet intermediate has first and second end (top and bottom) edges 13 and 15 and first and second side edges 17 and 19. In addition, the sheet intermediate 10 has first and second faces 16 and 16* (shown in FIG. 2) respectively. The first portion 12 of the sheet intermediate 10 will become the face portion or panel which will, in the presently described embodiment, receive the majority of the printing, which may be personalized or static or a combination of both personalized and static information. The first portion 12 is provided with a flap 20 that is disposed along one of the side edges, here edge 17 of the sheet intermediate 10. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the flap 20 does not extend the entire length of the sheet intermediate 10 (combined length of the first and second portions) and rather only occupies the side edge 17 of the first portion 12. The flap 20 is used to either secure the sheet intermediate 10 to a blank or the flap 20 may serve as a backbone or spine for joining two sheet intermediates together which will then create a presentation folder. The flap 20 is foldable about a line of weakness or fold line 22 so that the sheet intermediate may be pivoted such as with the page of a book or the like, or where the sheets 10 cooperate with one another to form a presentation folder, the fold line 22 enables the pages or first portions 12 with pockets 14 to be closed or brought into contact with one another. In this embodiment, it should be understood that the sheet intermediate have a left and right orientation and as such the flaps will have an opposite orientation to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
The second portion 14 of the sheet intermediate 10 will make up the pocket of the page that will become part of the presentation folder. The second portion 14 is provided with a flap 18 along one of the side edges 19 of the sheet intermediate 10 and runs substantially the entire length of the portion 14. The flap 18 will serve to create a sealed end edge of the pocket when the flap 18 is folded about line of weakness or fold line 23 so that it is brought into contact with the face portion 16 of the second portion 14. The second portion 14, to form the pocket of the sheet intermediate, is then folded about fold line 21 and on to the front face 16 of the sheet intermediate 10 in a corresponding area occupied by first portion 12.
It should be understood that the flaps 18 and 20 are shown in FIG. 1 as being continuous with the side edge portions of their respective portions 14 and 12, the flaps 18 and 20 may have breaks or be provided with one or more segments that will enable the completion of the present invention as contemplated herein. The flaps 18 and 20 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are shown as being along opposite side edges and each is adjacent an opposite end edge. That is, flap 18 is adjacent end edge 15 and disposed along side 19 where as flap 20 is adjacent end edge 13 and adjacent side 17.
Turning now to FIG. 2, second face 16* of sheet intermediate 10 is depicted. As can be seen from FIG. 2, flaps 18 and 20 are provided with adhesive 24 and 26 respectively. The type of adhesive selected should be suitable for the purpose intended. That is, the adhesive 24 of flap 18 needs to have sufficient bonding strength to bond the second portion 14 to the first portion 12 in order to create a pocket. Exemplary adhesive include hot melts, acrylics and other generally permanent adhesives. Adhesive 26 of flap 20 should be sufficiently strong to hold the sheet intermediate to a blank (not shown) or to another sheet intermediate so as to create a presentation folder. It may be desirable in certain instances that the adhesive be other than a permanent adhesive so that the sheet intermediates may be removed from presentation folder and placed in a file or the like. In this arrangement, the flap would be folded over on to a face, either 16 or 16*, depending on the orientation of the sheet intermediate (left or right pocket) so that the adhesive would not interfere with the filing of the sheet intermediate. As the sheet intermediate 10 of the present invention can be printed or imaged with personalized information, the sheet intermediate would have valuable information that one would want to file away for later reference.
FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a particular arrangement of a sheet intermediate 10, but it should be understood that the opposite configuration of a sheet intermediate could also be provided so that left and right hand pocketed sheets could be used to create a presentation folder. That is, the flaps 18 and 20 would be on the opposite sides as those depicted. For greater clarity, flap 18 would appear on side 17 and flap 20 would be on side 19.
Reference is now directed to FIG. 3, in which in an exemplary embodiment a pair of sheet intermediates 10 and 10* are connected together along line 110 to form a presentation folder generally depicted by reference to numeral 100. Line 110 is formed from a pair of interengaging flaps 20 (left and right orientation sheet intermediates) in which the adhesive of at least one flap adheres to another flap so as to create a mutual spine or backbone that serves as the crease line or fold line for the presentation folder as shown in FIG. 3A. The flaps can be positioned one on back of the other, on the face of the other or in any other suitable arrangement.
FIG. 3 also provides a depiction of the second portion 14 being folded over on to the first portion 12 so as to form a pocket between the second portion 14 and first portion 12. In addition, FIG. 3 also provides that flap 18, through adhesive (not shown) seals the end edge to create the sealed end pocket. Arrows 18* and 14* show the movement of the flap 18 and portion 14, respectively, to create the pocket of the sheet intermediate.
As eluded to earlier, FIG. 3A provides a top view of the present invention and includes right and left sheet intermediates 10 and 10* joined to one another along fold line or spine 110.
FIG. 3B provides a further embodiment of the present invention and includes a pair of sheet intermediates 10 and 10* joined to a blank 120 along a central fold line or medial spine 125. FIG. 3B illustrates the use of a sheet intermediates being bonded such as through adhesive or the like to a blank that can be pre-printed with information relevant to the presentation being given. The blank 120, in the presently described embodiment will have dimensions of about 18 inches wide to about 12 inches long, such that each panel of the blank 120 is roughly 12 inches by 9 inches.
The sheet intermediates may be attached by adhesive (permanent, removable, etc.) or through the use of mechanical fasteners such as staples, stitching, hook and loop arrangements and the like.
Turning now to FIG. 4, a bottom view of the present invention is provided and shows a number of sheet intermediates 101, 102, 103 and 104 connected along a common line 105 to form a multiple page/pocket presentation binder.
FIG. 5, shows the embodiment of FIG. 4 in a frontal view in which the presentation folder, having a plurality of sheet intermediates 101, 102, 103 and 104 are connected together along a common line 105 to form a personalized presentation folder. As can be seen from this FIG. 5, the front face of sheet intermediate 103 has been provided with personalized information 201 for a particular event participant. The information that is provided on this specific intermediate 103 may relate to a new theme or topic or may include additional features of a product or service being offered by the presenter of the event, such as the meeting organizer.
Still referring to FIG. 5, complimentary information 200, information that is related to the information 201 printed on the majority of the portion of the sheet intermediate 103, is provided on the pocket 150 that has been formed by the sheet intermediate as described in connection with FIG. 3 through the use of fold over flaps. Printing on the pocket can occur on the panel that will appear upon opening of the folder or even on the opposite face so as to conceal a prize or other message for the attendee to search for. As the sheet intermediates of the present invention are provided in a generally planar arrangement, printing of the faces of the sheet intermediate may be easily conducted.
In addition to the printing appearing on sheet intermediate 103, additional printing may be printed on the back face of sheet intermediate 102. This additional printing 202 may be complimentary to the printing 201 that is provided on sheet 103 or may be a continuation of information that is contained on the front of sheet 102. By providing the printable space 202 on the back face of sheet intermediate 102, the presenter or meeting organizer can describe the product or service being discussed or referenced by the materials placed in the pocket 150 on sheet intermediate 103 so that any collateral material contained within the pocket and which would, at least initially, conceal the printing 201 could be explained to the recipient of the presentation folder, without first requiring the attendee to remove the sheet material. In this way the presenter or organizer can gauge the interest of the audience and continue to “drill down” into the information or simply move on to the next product or service application to be discussed. Moreover, the information contained behind the collateral material contained in the pocket could be viewed at a later date, when the attendee is again reviewing the collected materials.
As can be seen in FIG. 5, each of the sheet intermediates 101 and 104 are also provided with pockets 152 and 150 respectively. The front of sheet intermediate 102 also has a pocket, however that pocket is concealed by the positioning of the sheet over sheet intermediate 01. While FIG. 5 presents an embodiment in which four sheet intermediates are used, it is within the scope of this invention that any number of sheet intermediates could be used to create a presentation folder that is unique to the presenter. For example, it is within the scope of the present invention for one presenter to provide personalized material to four meeting participants, with each folder having enough sheet intermediates to illustrate five concepts. Another presenter may have ten participants in attendance and needs to provide enough sheet intermediates to illustrate the products and services for eleven different topics. Thus, the presentation folder of the present invention may be ordered in any number and constructed in any variation so that the presenter or organizer is provided with enough tools to sufficiently demonstrate the topic or subject matter to be discussed.
It should be understood that each face and back of the sheet intermediates may be provided with printed information. In addition each pocket (face and/or back) may also be provided with printed information. The information may all be personalized or individualized or it may include static or fixed information or it may be a combination of personalized and static information.
In addition, the present invention may include the use of sheet intermediates in which a pocket forming portion is not provided so that the presenter could have an additional page or pages of material to further explain or elaborate upon a particular product or service that is being offered by the presenter or organizer of the event. FIG. 5 can also be used to illustrate this concept where sheet 102 is not depicted with a pocket and services as a further surface from which to convey information without being concealed by collateral material that would be disposed in a pocket. Such additional “pocket-less” intermediates may be disposed adjacent a pocket forming sheet intermediate of the present invention or may be provided in a cluster (two or more) so that these pages could be used as a supplemental information booklet. In addition, each of these pages could be attached to the presentation folder with a removable or repositional adhesive so that the sheets could be removed for more ready reference.
One of the most important things with respect to new product innovations is the need to effectively market and communicate the new product to potential customers and end users of the product. Such marketing typically includes the creation of marketing collateral associated with the features of the present method and system and its benefits and uses. These unique products produced by the system and in accordance with the method of the present invention are sold in connection with that marketing collateral and then distributing the end product to potential end users and customers or transferring the technology to others for incorporation in their respective products. Customers can include distributors of such products as well as office supply stores, retail and warehouse outlets, manufacturers of such presentation folders which themselves may not be end users, but may repackage and resell the products to end users or third parties.
Marketing collateral as used herein includes the use of scripted or prepared material that are distributed through audio and visual communication mediums, over a global communication network, through printed mediums such as newspapers, trade publications, magazines, fliers, handouts and the like.
It will thus be seen according to the present invention a highly advantageous sheet intermediate for producing personalized pockets and pages for presentation folders has been provided. While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, that many modifications and equivalent arrangements may be made thereof within the scope of the invention, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all equivalent structures and products.
The inventors hereby state their intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of their invention as it pertains to any apparatus, system, method or article not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention as set out in the following claims.

Claims

1. A sheet intermediate for forming a page and pocket for a presentation folder, comprising;

a sheet having first and second portions and first and second faces, said first and second portions each having first and second side edges and top and bottom edges and said first and second portions divided from one another by a line of demarcation extending between said side edges;

said first portion having a first dimension and providing an area capable of carrying information and said first portion having an adhesive provided on at least one side of a flap with said flap connected along one of said side edges; and

said second portion having a second dimension distinct from said first dimension, said second portion having a flap with adhesive provided on one side thereof and connected to said second portion along at least one of said side edges, said flap being foldable about said one side edge and said second portion being foldable about said line of demarcation to form a pocket through use of said flap and said adhesive.

2. A sheet intermediate for presentation folders as recited in claim 1, wherein said flap on said first portion runs substantially along said first portion.

3. A sheet intermediate for presentation folders as recited in claim 1, wherein said flap on said second portion runs substantially along said second portion.

4. A sheet intermediate for presentation folders as recited in claim 1, wherein said flap on said first portion is on an opposite side edge to that of said second portion.

5. A sheet intermediate for presentation folders as recited in claim 1, wherein said first dimension is more than twice said second dimension.

6. A sheet intermediate for presentation folders as recited in claim 1, wherein the adhesive on said flap on said second portion is a permanent adhesive.

7. A sheet intermediate for presentation folders as recited in claim 1, wherein said line of demarcation is a fold line.

8. A sheet intermediate for presentation folders as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second portions are provided with printing.

9. A sheet intermediate for presentation folders as recited in claim 8, wherein said printing is provided on one face of said first portion and an opposite face of said second portion.

10. A sheet intermediate for presentation folders as recited in claim 1, wherein said sheet intermediate is provided with personalized information.

11. A presentation folder, comprising;

a blank of material having first and second faces;

at least first and second sheet intermediates, each intermediate having first and second portions and first and second faces, said first and second portions each having first and second side edges and top and bottom edges and said first and second portions divided from one another by a line of demarcation extending between said side edges and parallel to said top and bottom edges;

said first portion having a first dimension and providing an area for carrying information and said first portion having an adhesive provided on at least one side of a flap with said flap connected along one of said edges;

said second portion having a second dimension distinct from said first dimension, said second portion having a flap with adhesive provided on one side thereof and connected to said second portion along at least one of said edges and foldable about said side edge, and said second portion being foldable about said line of demarcation to form a pocket through use of said flap; and

each of said first and second sheet intermediates placed in contact with at least one of said first and second faces of said blank through said adhesive on said flap of said first portion so as to create a presentation folder.

12. A presentation folder as recited in claim 11, wherein said presentation folder includes a third sheet intermediate.

13. A presentation folder as recited in claim 11, wherein said presentation folder includes a pocket less sheet intermediate.

14. A presentation folder as recited in claim 11, wherein said flaps of said first and second intermediates are attached to said blank substantially medially of said blank.

15. A presentation folder as recited in claim 11, wherein at least one of each of said first and second portions of said first and second intermediates is provided with personalized printing.

16. A presentation folder, comprising;

at least first and second sheet intermediates, each intermediate having first and second portions and first and second faces, said first and second portions each having first and second side edges and top and bottom edges and said first and second portions divided from one another by a line of demarcation extending between said side edges and running parallel to said top and bottom edges;

said second portion having a second dimension distinct from and substantially less than said first dimension, said second portion having a flap with adhesive provided on one side thereof and connected to said second portion along at least one of said edges and foldable about said side edge, and said second portion being foldable about said line of demarcation to form a pocket through use of said flap; and

each of said first and second sheet intermediates joined to one another through at least one of said flaps of said first portion of one of said first and second sheet intermediates so as to create a presentation folder.

17. A presentation folder as recited in claim 16, wherein at least one of each of said first and second portions of said first and second intermediates is provided with personalized printing.

18. A presentation folder as recited in claim 16, wherein said presentation folder includes at least one pocket less sheet intermediate.

19. A presentation folder as recited in claim 16, wherein said presentation folder includes a third sheet intermediate.

20. A presentation folder as recited in claim 19, wherein said presentation folder includes a fourth sheet intermediate.