SLEEVE FOR A PHOTO PRINT CASSETTE

Abstract: A sleeve for a photo print cassette having means for holding a paper bag which accommodates strips of photographic film. The sleeve combined with the photo print cassette and the paper bag forms a module of a photo archive.

Description: Sleeve for a photo print cassette The present invention relates to the field of photography, and in particular to the field of storing and display of photogra¬ phic prints. Some photo laboratories or photo printers deliver prints ("po¬ sitives") drawn from a customer's film after development thereof in cassettes, hereinunder referred to as photo print cassettes. Such cassettes are designed to acco odate all prints taken from a standard size film, e.g. fourty prints. Some types of photo print cassettes are suited also to serve as a frame to display one of the prints housed therein, and for this purpose, a transparent window is provided in one of two substantially pa¬ rallel side walls. An example for such a cassette is disclosed in the patent application published by WIPO under the serial number WO 86/03021. Such photo print cassettes may be used instead of albums for storing the prints, and for this purpose, such cassettes may be stacked. However, it is not really convenient to remove a parti¬ cular cassette from such a stack. It would be more convenient to dispose the cassettes in the manner in which ordinarily books are stored on a shelf or the like, i.e. with one the narrow walls supported. A row on a shelf formed by a plurality of cas¬ settes, however, would be unstable with the risk of damage par¬ ticularly for the transparent windows of the cassettes to become scratched. Photo printers, of course, deliver to their customers not only the prints but also the developed film ("negatives"), and usu¬ ally this is done in a paper bag. The customer has the additio¬ nal problem to store his negatives such that he may conveniently locate a particular film of which he wants to get additional prints. An approach to solve this problem in connection with photo print cassettes is disclosed in US patent specification 4,443,959: A photo archive comprises a number of print cassettes stacked to form a pile, and a lowermost cassette in the pile is designed to accomodate negative strips instead of prints. The present invention addresses the problems mentioned above in another manner. As set forth in patent claim 1 , each cassette is provided with a sleeve which is of substantially cuboid shape so that the sleeve may stand on a shelf independent of lateral support, and in addition, each sleeve is provided with means to hold a paper bag, i.e. the bag in which the negative strip had been delivered. In this manner, the user has immediate access to negatives belonging to the prints in the respective cassette, and a plurality of such modules — each comprising a sleeve, a cassette and a negative paper bag — make up a perfectly org¬ anized archive. It is to be noted that the sleeve may carry a Label on which the user may indicate the contents of the respective cassette so that the latter remains clean and feasible as an attractive frame hung on a wall or disposed on a table. Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the attached drawings and will be explained in detail hereunder. Fig. 1 is a plan view of a box-board cut of which a sleeve according to the invention is folded, Fig. 2 illustrates a semi-finished sleeve produced from the cut shown in Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 is an isometric view of the sleeve when ready, Fig. 4 is a plan view of a box-board cut for a sleeve of modified design, Fig. 5 illustrates the semi-finished status of the modified sleeve, Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of a third embodiment, Fig. 7 is a partial isometric view thereof, and Fig. 8 is an isometric view of a fourth embodiment. The cut shown in Fig. 1 is made of box-board provided, on one of its faces, with a smooth surface; the board may be coated, la¬ minated or treated otherwise to obtain the desired smoothness. It is, alternatively, also possible to use plastiv material, e.g. a film made of poly propylene or poly vinyl chloride. In Fig. 1, the non-treated (rough) face of the material is shown. The cut-out contour is illustrated by solid lines, dashed lines indicate folding lines, and a dash-dotted line is a center line. The cut comprises a rear wall portion 10 connected, via folding lines 12, to outer side wall portions 14 and 16, respectively. The latter are connected, via folding lines 18, to inner side wall portions 20 and 22, respectively. Folding lines 24, 26, and 28 extend transversly with respect to lines 12 and 18; lines 24 and 26 are positioned somewhat more inwards than line 28. Lines 26 and 28 define flaps 30, 32, 34, and 36 which will form, after folding and glueing, the shorter narrow sides of the sleeve, i.e. top wall and bottom wall of the latter. The cut has three cut-outs: Two small rectangular ones 38 define finger-tip cut-outs of the sleeve when folded, and a slot-shaped cut-out 40 is defined by a first edge 42 parallel to lines 18 and an angled second edge 44 and extends over substantially the entire height of the sleeve. Folding lines 24 separate extensions 46 from inner side wall portion 20, and these extensions are at first folded, as indi¬ cated by the arrow, unto the rough face of said portion 20. Lugs 50 of those extensions may be glued onto portion 20. In a fol¬ lowing step, inner side wall portions 20 and 22 are folded over the outer side wall portions 14 and 16, respectively, so that the rough sides engage eachother, and the facing surfaces are glued together near folding lines 18 and near the free edges of portions 20, 22. In this manner, a pocket is defined portions 14 and 20, the pocket being accessible via slot 40 and having a depth limited by the glue adjacent the near folding line 12 or by the edge of lugs 50. Fig. 2 illustrates this status. It will be noted that the inner, side wall portions are slightly shorter than the outer portions so that the sleeve, in spite of the ma¬ terial thickness, may be completed by folding portions 30 through 36 about lines 12 and 26, and fastening by means of- glueing. During this step, portion 36 will be in the interior of the sleeve because its inner surface is smooth. Fig. 3 illust¬ rates the completed sleeve and in particular the access slot 40 permitting insertion of a paper bag which contains negative strips. Fig. 4 and 5 illustrate a second embodiment similar to the first one, and like reference numerals are used to identify equivalent parts. Only the differences of the second embodiment are ex¬ plained hereunder: Portions 36 and lugs 50 have been omitted. The assembly of the sleeve according to Fig. 4 is started by inwards folding of the inner side wall portions 20 and 22, respectively, onto the outer ones 14 and 16, respectively, and said portions are glued to¬ gether as heretofor described, i.e. so to form a pocket acces¬ sible via slot 40. The depth of the pocket is dimensioned such that a paper bag of standard size for negative strips just pro¬ trudes beyond the slot when the bag 52 abuts within the pocket at the glue seam between portions 14 and 20.- The completion of the sleeve will then continue as described above with respect to Fig. 1 through 3. It will be observed that, although the first embodiment is so¬ mewhat more complicated to manufacture, has the advantage over the second embodiment that, because of the folding of extensions 46 onto portion 20, a certain tension is effective upon the ed¬ ges defining the slot 40 so that the latter has less tendency to spread apart. This effect may be further enhanced by cutting the box-board such that its fibrous texture extends in direction substantially parallel to the slot 40.. In Fig. 3, outer side wall portion 16 is provided with a label showing an index or the like. This position is preferred to mi¬ nimize the risk of damage for negatives potentially housed in the pocket. The width of the sleeve between its side walls is dimensioned such that the print cassette plus a paper bag holding a maximum number of negative strips may be accomodated. The height of the sleeve between top and bottom wall is such that the cassette snugly fits therebetween and the side walls are stretched to remain substantially plane even if a rather thick paper bag is in the pocket. Fig. δ and 7 illustrate a third, modified embodiment. The side wall shown in Fig. 6 is double-walled, and its inner portion 20 presents a slot, defined by two circular arcs of different radii so that the slot has a crescent contour. The slot permits in¬ sertion of a negative strip filled paper bag to be inserted into the cavity until the bag, indicated in dashed lines, abuts a stops 56 formed preferably by glue connecting inner and outer portion of the side wall in question. Fig. 7 illustrates an index field or label field on one of the large side walls, preferably on the side wall 16 opposite wall 20. The label field 54 may be protected by a cover film 60 made of transparent plastic which, prior to its very application, may be used as a carrier for a marker indicating e.g. a certain an¬ num and to be disposed on a predetermined field 62 on the rear of the sleeve. Fig. 8 shows a fourth embodiment. The sleeve is made of a thermo plastic material, and poly propylene, poly vinyl chloride, poly ethylene and others are suited for this purpose. The sleeve may be manufactured by any known pro¬ cess, as injection molding, and exhibits finger-tip cut-outs 70, as illustrated. A paper bag 72 for photo negatives is held ad¬ jacent the inner face of one of the large side walls by means of a tongue 74 integrally formed therewith. The tongue, preferable, is cut from the side wall and bent inwards where the finger-tip cut-out is provided. Tongue 74 has a generally L-shaped section and particularly that of a flat V so that the cassette, when slipped into the sleeve, does not interfere with the tongue. The entire sleeve may be made of a transparent material or, as shown, of an opaque material and provided with a window 76 pre¬ ferably congruent with a window of a cassette to be accomodated in the sleeve. The cassette, the sleeve and the paper bag all have dimensions adapted to the goods to be accomodated therein. The cassette, of course, is designed to house photo prints of a predetermined format, and the sleeve is designed to snugly accomodate the cassette and the paper bag for the negative strips. The paper bag, in turn, has a height substantially fitting into the height of the sleeve, and a width such that it fits between the sleeve rear wall and the tongue.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A photo print cassette sleeve, comprising two large parallel side walls, a narrow top wall, a narrow bottom wall parallel to said top wall, and a narrow rear wall opposite an open front, and one of said side walls having means for hol¬ ding a paper bag in engagement therewith. , 2. A sleeve as set forth in claim 1 wherein said one side wall comprises an inner portion and an outer portion, one of said portions having a slot permitting insertion of said bag between said portions. 3. A sleeve as set forth in claim 2 wherein said slot is located between said front and said rear wall. 4. A sleeve as set forth in claim 2 wherein said slot is provided in said inner portion. 5. A sleeve as set forth in claim 2 wherein said slot extends over substantially the whole height between said top wall and said bottom wall. 6. A sleeve as set forth in claim 2 wherein said slot is defined by a first edge extending substantially parallel to a front edge of said one side wall and a second edge exten¬ ding, at least in part, under a small angle with respect to said first edge. 7. A sleeve as set forth in claim 3 wherein at le¬ ast said one of said side walls has a finger-tip cut-out, and said slot being located between an inner end edge of said cut¬ out and said rear wall . 8. A sleeve as set forth in claim 2 wherein said portions define a paper bag pocket. 9. A sleeve as set forth in claim 8 and comprising stop means for defining an inner depth of said pocket. 10. A sleeve as set forth in claim 9 wherein said depth is smaller than said paper bag so that the latter protru¬ des from said slot. 11. A sleeve as set forth in claims 7 and 10 wherein said paper bag has a width smaller than the distance between said stop means and said inner end edge of said cut-out. 12. A sleeve as set forth in claim 1 made of box- board, one face of said box-board being covered by a material having a smooth surface. 13. A sleeve as set forth in claim 12 wherein inner sides of at least said side walls present said smooth surface. 14. A sleeve as set forth in claims 2 and 13 wherein said inner portion and said outer portion are integral parts of one single cut, one folded upon the other and glued thereto. 15. A sleeve as set forth in claim 14 and made from one single cut by folding and glueing. 16. A sleeve as set forth in claim 15 wherein said top wall and said bottom wall have inner sides presenting said smooth surface. 17. A sleeve as set forth in claims 3, 4, 5, and 15 wherein said cut has a cut-out forming said slot and has late¬ rally with respect to ends of said slot flaps connecting cut parts forming said inner portion of said one side wall. 18. A sleeve as set forth in claim 17 wherein said flaps are folded between said inner and said outer side wall portion. 19. A sleeve as set forth in claim 17 wherein said flaps after folding form parts of said top wall and bottom wall, respectively. 20. A sleeve as set forth in claim 19 wherein said flaps after folding form inner portions of said top wall and bottom wall, respectively. 21. A sleeve as set forth in claim 17 wherein said flaps are glued to other sleeve parts. 22. A sleeve as set forth in claim 12 wherein said box-board has a predetermined fiber orientation extending sub¬ stantially parallel to said slot. 23. A sleeve as set forth in claim 9 wherein said stop means is defined by glue between said inner portion and said outer portion. 24. A sleeve as set forth in claim 9 wherein said stop means is defined by extensions of inwardly folded flaps. 25. A sleeve as set forth in claim 2 wherein said inner and said outer portion are glued together between said front and said slot. 1 26. A sleeve as set forth in claim and having an inner width commensurate with the thickness of a photo print cassette plus the thickness of a paper bag filled with negati¬ ves, and having a height between top and bottom wall snugly re¬ ceiving said cassette. 27. A sleeve as set forth in claim 4 wherein said slot is provided lefthands as seen from said open front. 28. A sleeve as set forth in claim 1 and having ex¬ teriorly a label field. 29. A sleeve as set forth in claim 1 and having a window cut-out in the side wall opposite said one side wall. 30. A sleeve as set forth in claim 2 wherein said slot is crescent-shaped with inwards pointing arching, its ends being linearly spaced to permit insertion of said paper bag. 31. A sleeve as set forth in claims 9 and 30 wherein said stop means define a pocket depth such that a paper bag end edge adjacent said front extends within the confines of said arching. 32. A sleeve as set forth in claim 28 in which said label field is provided with a transparent film cover. 33. A sleeve as set forth in claim 32 in which said rear wall has exteriorly a label field, said film cover being a carrier for a label to be placed thereupon. 34. A sleeve as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means comprises at least one inwardly pointing tongue adjacent said open front. 35. A sleeve as set forth in claim 34 wherein said tongue extends under a small angle with respect to a plane de¬ fined by that one of said walls whereto it is connected. 36. A sleeve as set forth in claim 34 wherein said tongue has an L-shaped section. 37. A sleeve as set forth in claim 36 wherein each limb of said L-shaped section has substantially equal length. 38. A sleeve as set forth in claim 34 wherein said tongue comprises a wedge shaped cassette leading surface. 39. A sleeve as set forth in claim 34 wherein said tongue is provided at said one of said side walls. 40. A sleeve as set forth in claim 39 having a plurality of tongues at said one side wall. 41. A sleeve as set forth in claim 34 having at least one finger tip cut-out, and said tongue extending from an inner end edge of at least one of said finger tip cut-outs. 42. A sleeve as set forth in claim 41 wherein said tongue has a width substantially equal to the width of said cut-out. 43. A sleeve as set forth in claim 42 wherein said tongue is cut from said one side wall and bent rearwards. 44. A sleeve as set forth in claim 34 made of a plastic film material. 45. A sleeve as set forth in claim 44 made of a material selected from the group including poly vinyl chloride, poly propylene, and poly ethylene. 46. A sleeve as set forth in claim 1 wherein said paper bag has a height substantially equal to a distance spacing said top wall and said bottom wall. 47. A sleeve as set forth in claim 34 wherein said paper bag has a width exceeding the distance spacing an inner tongue edge from said rear wall. 48. A sleeve as set forth in claim 45 made of a transparent material. 49. A sleeve as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sidewall opposite said one side wall is at least in part trans¬ parent. 50. A photo archive module, comprising: - a photo print cassette, adapted to accomodate a stack of pho¬ tographic prints of a predetermined format, - a sleeve adapted to accomodate said cassette, and - a paper bag adapted to accomodate strips of photographic film and a pocket in said sleeve adapted to accomodate said bag. 51. A photo archive module, comprising: - a photo print cassette, adapted to accomodate a stack of pho¬ tographic prints of predetermined format, - a sleeve adapted to accomodate said cassette, and - a paper bag adapted to accomodate strips of photographic film, said sleeve having clamping means for holding said bag engaged at an inner face of one of its side walls.

Inventors: ACKERET PETER, ACKERET, PETER
Applicants: LICINVEST AG
Application year: 1987
Main classification: G03B21
IPC codes: B42F7, B65D5, G03C3, G03D15