Abstract:
A device, and method of manufacture therefor, for removable attachment of cards or labels to a structure, such as a file cabinet, that allows for improved ease of use, especially during removal of a card or label from the device for alteration or replacement, comprising a magnetic sheet and at least one transparent sheet attached to a front surface thereof to form a pocket between the magnetic sheet and the transparent sheet for receiving the label or card.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present United States non-provisional utility patent application is related to, and hereby claims priority to and the full benefit of, United States provisional patent application entitled “Label Holder”, having assigned Ser. No. 60/895,040, and filed Mar. 15, 2007 on behalf of Jeff Dworetz. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to signage, and more particularly to holders for documents, such as cards or labels. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In numerous varied applications, it is desirable to provide a sign, label, or other indication at a conspicuous location, such as on the exterior of a closed container. To this end, numerous labels and labeling techniques have been employed in order to provide an indication pertaining to such a container or other structure. 
         [0004]    An illustrative example is a card retaining device permanently attached to the structure, such as a file cabinet, for removably receiving a card bearing an indication, such as an indication pertaining to the contents, ownership, or responsibility of the cabinet, or a particular drawer thereof. Such permanent structures have proven inconvenient due to the inability to change the location of the label, or to easily include additional labels. Furthermore, such permanent structures are not easily replaced should they become damaged, soiled, or otherwise need to be replaced. 
         [0005]    In order to overcome the disadvantages associated with such permanent card retaining structures, adhesive labels have been used in place of, or in conjunction with, such permanent structures. Adhesive labels have the advantage of being placed in a desired location about the exterior surface of the structure, as well as offering the ability to add supplemental labels should the need arise. Such adhesive labels, however, suffer the distinct disadvantage of being difficult or impossible to change or remove. If removed, the adhesive backing frequently soils the surface of the structure to which it was attached, leaving behind a sticky residue or unsightly paper remnants. Alternatively, a new label may be placed over the old, however this too has the unwanted appearance of sloppiness when the labels are not perfectly aligned, and repeated application of labels in this way leads to a large accumulation of labels. 
         [0006]    Removable card or label holders, such as magnetic holders, have been employed to overcome these disadvantages, and to allow for easy removal, addition, or modification to label(s) attached to a structure, such as a file cabinet. Such magnetic label holders, however, suffer from an inability to easily remove and replace a card or label retained within the holder due to their design. Additionally, such magnetic label holders cannot be made in all sizes due to the inability to insert the label when certain dimensions of the holder are reduced beyond a threshold value. 
         [0007]    It is clear, therefore, that what is needed is a card or label holder that allows for convenient placement, movement, and replacement of labels on a surface of a structure that allows for easy insertion and removal of a card or label from the holder, and that enables the holder to be formed in a greater range of sizes. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Briefly described, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the recognized need for such a device by providing a label holder for securing a card or label to a structure that is removably attachable to the structure and that includes means for removably receiving a card or label. 
         [0009]    According to its major aspects and broadly stated, the present invention in its preferred form includes a magnetic sheet and a transparent sheet attached thereto, including a mouth allowing easy insertion and removal of a card or label. The mouth is preferably provided along a peripheral portion of the magnetic sheet, and is preferably formed to receive a width dimension of the card or label. Additionally, the mouth preferably comprises a cutout section configured to expose at least a portion of a front surface of the card or label proximate a peripheral edge thereof. 
         [0010]    According to one aspect of the preferred embodiment, the magnetic sheet and the transparent sheet are flexible. 
         [0011]    According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the magnetic sheet, the transparent sheet, and the card or label each comprises a rectangular shape, including a width and a height dimension. 
         [0012]    According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the transparent sheet is attached to the magnetic sheet over substantially all of the peripheral edges thereof proximate a left side, a right side, and a bottom side. 
         [0013]    According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the transparent sheet is attached to the magnetic sheet so as to form a substantially U-shaped pocket, with one substantially open edge, by which access to an interior of the pocket is enabled. 
         [0014]    According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the width dimension is greater than the respective height dimension of each of the magnetic sheet, the transparent sheet, and the card or label. 
         [0015]    According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the transparent sheet has substantially the same width and height as the magnetic sheet. 
         [0016]    According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the card or label has substantially the same width and height as the pocket. 
         [0017]    According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the holder comprises two or more transparent sheets attached to the magnetic sheet. 
         [0018]    According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the relative magnitudes of the width and the height of the card or label and the pocket reduces an amount of friction therebetween, and accordingly reduces an insertion or removal force required to slide the card or label into or out of the pocket. 
         [0019]    The present invention further overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and meets the recognized need for such a device by providing a method of manufacturing a removable label holder comprising the steps of determining a desired width of a pocket of the holder to receive a card or label, determining a maximum height dimension of the pocket that will allow for easy insertion and removal of the card or label, selecting a height less than or equal to the maximum height, and forming a holder having pocket with a width substantially equal to the determined width, and a height substantially equal to the selected height. 
         [0020]    According to one aspect of the preferred method, the forming step comprises the step of attaching a transparent sheet to a magnetic sheet over substantially all of each of a left edge, a right edge, and a bottom edge, to form a substantially U-shaped pocket having a mouth along a top edge. 
         [0021]    According to another aspect of the preferred embodiment, the forming step further comprises forming a cutout section along a portion of a peripheral edge of the mouth for exposing at least a portion of a front surface of the card or label when the card or label is disposed within the pocket. 
         [0022]    Accordingly, a feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to provide a card or label holder that can easily be attached to, moved about, and removed from a structure. 
         [0023]    Another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to provide a pocket having a mouth that allows for easy insertion and removal of the card or label. 
         [0024]    Another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to allow for easy removal of the card or label from the pocket by applying a removal force to a front surface of the card or label, the front surface being accessible via the cutout section. 
         [0025]    Another feature and advantage of the present invention is its ability to allow for manufacture of a label holder having a smaller height dimension than previously possible by eliminating or reducing the tendency of a label to bind, bend, or stick during insertion. 
         [0026]    These and other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reading the following Detailed Description of the Invention and Claims in light of the accompanying drawing Figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]    Accordingly, the present invention will be understood best through consideration of, and reference to, the following Figures, viewed in conjunction with the Detailed Description of the Invention referring thereto, in which like reference numbers throughout the various Figures designate like structure and in which: 
           [0028]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the label holder of the present invention according to the preferred embodiment; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0030]    It is to be noted that the drawings presented are intended solely for the purpose of illustration and that they are, therefore, neither desired nor intended to limit the invention to any or all of the exact details of construction shown, except insofar as they may be deemed essential to the claimed invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]    In describing preferred embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the Figures, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. The invention, however, is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. Particularly, for the purpose of convenience, the word “label” will be used exclusively henceforth, although it will be understood by those ordinarily skilled in the art that any of a variety of cards, labels, sheets, signs, or the like, may be retained within the label holder of the present invention for display thereof. 
         [0032]    In that form of the preferred embodiment of the present invention chosen for purposes of illustration,  FIG. 1  shows label holder  100 , Preferably, label holder  100  comprises magnetic sheet  110  and transparent sheet  120 . Magnetic sheet  110  preferably comprises a generally thin, rectangular, flexible body having a width W in a first direction, and a height H in a second direction. Preferably, width W of magnetic sheet  110  is substantially greater than height H of magnetic sheet  110 , such that magnetic sheet  110  takes the form of a rectangle. Transparent sheet  120  is preferably likewise formed with a width and a height, the width and height of transparent sheet  120  being approximately equal to, and not greater than, width W and height H of magnetic sheet  110  at the conclusion of the forming process. 
         [0033]    Transparent sheet  120  is preferably attached to front surface  111  of magnetic sheet  110  along right edges  110   a  and  120   a,  along bottom edges  110   b  and  120   b,  and along left edges  110   c  and  120   c  of magnetic sheet  110  and transparent sheet  120 , respectively, thereby forming pocket  115  between magnetic sheet  110  and transparent sheet  120 . Transparent sheet  120  may be permanently attached to magnetic sheet, such as by welding, adhering, or other suitable joining technique. Mouth  117  is preferably formed along top edges  110   d  and  120   d  by leaving top edges  110   d  and  120   d  mutually unattached. Transparent sheet  120  preferably further includes cutout section  120   e  along top edge  120   d  thereof. Cutout section  120   e  preferably exposes front surface  131  of label  130  near top edge  130   d  thereof when label  130  is disposed within pocket  115 . 
         [0034]    In use, card  130  may preferably be disposed within pocket  115  by insertion of card  130  into pocket  115  through mouth  117 , such as by sliding card  130  in the direction of arrow  135 . When card  130  is disposed within pocket  115 , indicia  150  printed, or otherwise formed, thereon is preferably visible through transparent sheet  120  such that indicia  150  may be viewed by a user. Thus, label holder  100 , when removably attached to a structure, such as a file cabinet drawer front, may preferably retain and display label  130  bearing indicia  150 , such as information regarding the contents of the drawer. Should a user wish to change the information on the label, such as when indicia  150  no longer accurately indicates the contents of the drawer, the user needs merely to apply a removal force to label  130 , such as by pushing on an exposed portion of front surface  131 , proximate top edge  130   d  of label  130 , in the direction of arrow  137 . 
         [0035]    As discussed above, pocket  115  is preferably formed by attachment of transparent sheet  120  to magnetic sheet  110 . Preferably, such attachment is performed proximate peripheral portions of right side edge  120   a,  bottom edge  120   b,  and left side edge  120   c,  such that the internal dimensions of pocket  115  are substantially similar to the external dimensions of transparent sheet  120 . Furthermore, a width of transparent sheet  120 , defined as the distance between right side edge  120   a  and left side edge  120   c,  is selected to allow label  130  having a given width to fit within pocket  115 . A height of transparent sheet  120 , and thus of pocket  115 , is preferably determined as a fraction of the width of transparent sheet  120 . Preferably, the height of transparent sheet  120  is less than one half the width of transparent sheet  120 , more preferably is less than one third of the width, and most preferably is less than one quarter of the length of transparent sheet  120 . Such selection of the height of transparent sheet  120  relative to the width thereof preferably maintains a frictional force between label  130  and adjacent surfaces of magnetic sheet  110  and transparent sheet  120  below a predetermined maximum threshold such that a removal force required to remove label  130  from pocket  115  does not exceed a predetermined maximum desired level. 
         [0036]    Furthermore, cutout section  120   e  is formed over a portion of top edge  120   d  having a predetermined width. The predetermined width of cutout portion  120   e  is preferably selected such that a sufficient amount of label  130  is exposed by cutout section  120   e  to allow a user to easily apply a removal force. As such, even if the width of label holder  100  is increased, the width of cutout portion  120   e  need not be increased. Conversely, the width of label holder  100  cannot be reduced beyond the width of cutout section  120   e  as a reduction in width of cutout section  120   e  will adversely impact an ability of a user to easily apply a removal force to label  130 . 
         [0037]    Now referring to  FIG. 2 , label holder  200  preferably comprises magnetic sheet  210 , first transparent sheet  220 , second transparent sheet  230 , and third transparent sheet  240 . First transparent sheet  220  is preferably attached to front surface  211  of magnetic sheet  210  proximate top edge  210   d , thereby forming first pocket  225  therebetween. Pocket  225  is preferably accessible through mouth  227  defined by top edge  220   d.  Top edge  220   d  preferably includes cutout section  220   e  for exposing a front surface of a label, such as label  130 , whereby a removal force may be applied to the label in order to remove the label from pocket  225  for alteration or replacement. 
         [0038]    Second and third transparent sheets  230  and  240  are preferably likewise attached to front surface  211  of magnetic sheet  210  and in a similar manner to first transparent sheet  220 , but proximate medial section  213  and bottom edge  210   b,  respectively. Second and third transparent sheets  230  and  240  preferably form pockets  235  and  245 , respectively, when attached to magnetic sheet  210  and preferably include cutout sections  230   e  and  240   e,  respectively. Pockets  235  and  245  preferably include mouths  237  and  247 , respectively defined by top edges  230   d  and  240   d,  respectively. Thus, one or more different label(s) may be inserted into selected ones of pockets  225 ,  235 , and  245  for display therein. The alternative embodiment of  FIG. 2  preferably enables additional information to be displayed on the structure via label holder  200  for a given width of label holder  200 , without exceeding the maximum height of any of pockets  225 ,  235 , and  245 , as determined as described above with respect to pocket  115 . While three pockets have been illustrated, it will be understood by one ordinarily skilled in the art that two, or four or more pockets may be disposed on magnetic sheet  210  without departing from the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, while pockets  225 ,  235 , and  245  have been illustrated in a vertical arrangement, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that other arrangements may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0039]    Although label holder  100 ,  200  has been described including magnetic sheet  110 ,  210  as means for removably attaching label holder  100 ,  200  to a structure, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that other means may alternatively be provided, such as a removable adhesive backed sheet, a hook and loop fastener, a static cling sheet, or other similar means, to allow label holder  110 ,  210  to be removably attached to a structure. Furthermore, while transparent sheet  120 ,  220  has been described as being approximately the same size as magnetic sheet  110 ,  210 , it will be understood by one ordinarily skilled in the art that magnetic sheet  110 ,  210 , or any of the alternative removable attachment means discussed above, may be larger than transparent sheet  120 ,  220 , and that transparent sheet may not be completely transparent, such as by being merely translucent, without departing from the scope of the invention, so long as the indicia on the label may be seen and understood when the label is disposed in the pocket of the label holder. 
         [0040]    In a method of manufacture of label holder  100 ,  200  of the present invention, a first step comprises determining a desired width of a pocket of the holder to receive a card or label. The method further comprises the steps of determining a maximum height dimension of the pocket that will allow for easy insertion and removal of the card or label, selecting a height less than or equal to the maximum height, and forming a holder having pocket with a width substantially equal to the determined width, and a height substantially equal to the selected height. These steps may be repeated to form multiple separate label holders, or to manufacture a label holder having a plurality of pockets. The method of manufacture preferably further includes the steps of determining a desired location of the pocket on a surface of the magnetic sheet. 
         [0041]    Having, thus, described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those ordinarily skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments as illustrated herein, but is only limited by the following claims.