Abstract:
A form with information card includes a document sheet with an interior border defining a first cavity, a carrier with an interior border defining a second cavity, and a planar card affixed to the carrier. The carrier is permanently affixed to the document and overlaps the document first cavity. The card resides within the first cavity such that both a top and bottom surface of the card are exposed to receive print from a printer while the card resides in the form. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/729,834, filed Nov. 26, 2012, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The subject matter described herein relates to forms with information cards therein, specifically, forms that enable printing on two surfaces of the information cards. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Information cards are used to record and carry various kinds of data including advertisements, insurance records, identification data, and credit card information. These cards are often associated with documents, forms, or cover letters to explain to the user what the card is and how to use it. Forms such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,255, enable printing on a single side of the information card. However, the popularity of these cards has created a need for a form with a removable information card that is thin, durable, and easily and conveniently printable on both top and bottom surfaces with printing equipment. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In one aspect, a form is described that includes a document with a first cavity, a carrier with a second cavity, and a card configured such that the card is affixed to the carrier and the carrier is affixed to the document. The carrier has a second cavity and is affixed to the document such that the first cavity and the second cavity overlap. The card is affixed to the carrier such that imaging (e.g., printing) can be performed directly on the back of the card. The card can reside within the first cavity, the first cavity being larger than the card. The card can be of similar thickness to the document. Optionally, the card can include weakness (e.g., perforations, partial cut in depth, etc.) and the card and carrier can be permanently affixed outside an area defined by the weakness for removal of a final card from the card. Optionally, the card and carrier can be affixed together with lift adhesives to enable easy removal of the card from the carrier. 
         [0005]    In another aspect, a form with information card includes a planar document, a planar carrier, and a planar card. The planar document has a top and bottom surface and a continuous interior border defining a first cavity through the top and bottom surfaces. The planar carrier has a top and bottom surface, an area at least slightly larger than the first cavity, and a continuous interior border defining a second cavity through the top and bottom surfaces. The carrier is permanently affixed to the bottom surface of the document, overlaps the document first cavity, and is at least smaller than the document in dimension. The planar card has a top and bottom surface affixed to the carrier, overlaps the second cavity, resides within the first cavity, and is coplanar with the document sheet. As a result, a portion of the bottom surface of the card is exposed to receive print through the second cavity from a printer while the card resides in the form. 
         [0006]    In yet another aspect, a form with information card includes a planar document and a planar card. The planar document has a top and bottom surface and a continuous interior border defining a first cavity through the top and bottom surfaces. The planar card has a top and bottom surface affixed to the top surface of the document, and overlapping the first cavity such that a portion of the bottom surface of the card is exposed to receive print through the first cavity from a printer while the card resides on the form. 
         [0007]    In yet another aspect, a form with information card includes a planar document, a film layer, and a substantially continuous cut. The planar document has a top and bottom surface and one or more laminate layers permanently adhered to the document. The film layer is temporarily adhered with adhesive to one of the laminate layers and the film layer and adhesive have a cavity. The substantially continuous cut is through at least the document and one or more laminate layers thereby defining a card area. The film layer and adhesive cavity defines an area of dimension less than the area defined by the continuous cut. 
         [0008]    One or more of the following features can be included. For example, the card can be permanently affixed to the carrier and the card can further include one or more lines of weakness defining an area. The card can be temporarily affixed to the carrier and removable via lifting. The card can further include additional material and a card cavity in the additional material. The additional material can be permanently affixed to the carrier. A final card can be temporarily affixed to the additional material such that the final card can remove from the additional material via lifting. 
         [0009]    The card can be permanently affixed to the document and the card can further include one or more lines of weakness defining an area. The card can be temporarily affixed to the document and removable via lifting. The card can further include additional material and a card cavity in the additional material. The additional material can be permanently affixed to the document. A final card can be temporarily affixed to the additional material such that the final card can remove from the additional material via lifting. 
         [0010]    The subject matter described herein provides many advantages. For example, and in no way limiting or affecting claim scope, the current subject matter can enable imaging on both the front and back of information cards. Additionally, the toner/print can be directly imaged on the card and not on a carrier. The image can be thus secure and intact because there is no print bearing carrier to delaminate. 
         [0011]    The details of one or more variations of the subject matter described herein are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages of the subject matter described herein will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of an example embodiment of a document, an example embodiment of a carrier, and an example embodiment of a card; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a series of drawings illustrating exemplary configurations of a document, carrier, and card; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a drawing of a cross section of the fully assembled form as shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a process flow diagram for assembly of the form as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a drawing illustrating a cross section of a lift laminate form; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a drawing illustrating a lift card with additional material; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a drawing of an assembled lift form including document, carrier, and card; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a drawing illustrating a cross section view of an embodiment of a lift card with additional material that has not been kiss-cut prior to application to a carrier; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a drawing illustrating a cross section view of another example embodiment of an assembled lift form including document, carrier, and card; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a process flow diagram illustrating a method of producing a form that enables imaging on both sides of a card; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a series of drawings illustrating a form with cavity and card, the card being adhered directly over the document cavity and having lines of weakness for final card removal; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a drawing illustrating a cross section of the fully assembled form shown in  FIG. 11 ; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a drawing illustrating a cross section of a fully assembled form of an alternate embodiment of a form using a card as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
       [0025]    Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]      FIG. 1  is a drawing of an example embodiment of document  100 , an example embodiment of carrier  110 , and an example embodiment of card  120 . The document  100  includes an exterior border  101  and interior border  102 . The document interior border  102  is continuous and defines a first cavity  105  (e.g., hole) through the document  100 . The carrier  110  is a film or sheet of paper and includes an exterior border  111  and interior border  112 . The carrier exterior border  111  is continuous and defines an area at least slightly larger than the first cavity  105 . The carrier interior border  112  is continuous and defines a second cavity  115  (e.g., hole) through the carrier  110 . The second cavity  115 , as defined by the interior border  112 , has an area (or dimension) slightly smaller than the first cavity  105 . The card  120  includes an exterior border  121 . The card exterior border  121  defines an area (or dimension) at least slightly smaller than the first cavity  105 , as defined by the document interior border  102 . In this embodiment, the card  120  includes one or more lines of weakness  125  within the exterior border  121  that can define an area. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a series of drawings illustrating exemplary configurations of the document  100 , carrier  110 , and card  120 . At  200  is a bottom view of the document  100  without the carrier  110  or card  120 , similar to the drawing shown in  FIG. 1 . At  210  is a bottom view of the document  100  affixed to carrier  110 . The carrier  110  is at least slightly larger than the first cavity  105  and overlaps the document interior border  102  such that the carrier exterior border  111  is outside (relative to the bottom view) of the document interior border  102 , while the carrier interior border  112  is inside (relative to the bottom view) of the document interior border  102  and defines an area at least slightly smaller than the first cavity  105 . (In  FIG. 2  at  210 , document interior border  102  is shown in broken line for illustrative purpose, but is not visible from the bottom view of the form because it is covered by carrier  110 ). The document  100  and carrier  110  are permanently affixed with adhesive  135  or glue (shown in  FIG. 3 ). At  220  and  230  is a bottom view and top view, respectively; of the assembled form including document  100  with carrier  110  and card  120 , and  FIG. 3  is a drawing of a cross section of the fully assembled form shown at  220  and  230 . The card  120  and carrier  110  partially overlap such that the exterior border of the card  121  is substantially outside of the carrier interior border  112 . The card  120  and carrier  110  are affixed with adhesive  140  or glue. The adhesive  140  affixing the card  120  and carrier  110  can be permanent, in which case the lines of weakness  125  are within the carrier interior border  112 . Alternatively, the adhesive  140  affixing the card  120  and carrier  110  can be temporary adhesive (e.g., for a lift removal). In this manner, the first cavity  105  and second cavity  115  are aligned to allow access to the bottom of the card  120  from the bottom of the form. 
         [0028]    In some embodiments, by breaking, tearing, or otherwise utilizing the lines of weakness  125  (e.g., punching out), a final card can be removed from the card  120 . Additionally, multiple cards  120  can fit in a single first cavity  105 , and/or the document  100  can contain multiple first cavities  105  each with one or more respective cards. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a process flow diagram  400  for assembly of the form. At  410  the first cavity can be created  105  by punching or die-cutting the document  105 . At  420 , the carrier  110  can be applied to the document  105 . At  430 , the second cavity  115  can be created by punching or die cutting the carrier  110 . At  440 , card  120  can be applied to the carrier  110 . Optionally, at  450 , the card  120  can be weakened to create the lines of weakness  125 . These steps do not require the particular order given in the example, or need be performed in a sequential order, to achieve desirable results. For example, the punching or die cutting of each component can be performed together, and then the applying, or vice versa. 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating a cross section of an embodiment of a lift laminate form with cavity. The lift laminate form shown in  FIG. 5  includes a portion of the document  100 , an adhesive layer  505 , a laminate  510 , a temporary adhesive layer  515 , and a film layer  520 . Optionally, the form can include a second permanent laminate layer  525 . A cut through the film layer  520  and temporary adhesive layer  515  can define an interior border  540  thereby forming a cavity through the film layer  520  and temporary adhesive layer  515  to expose the laminate layer  510  for the reception of print. The form includes a kiss cut at  530  that penetrates at least to the temporary adhesive layer  515 . The kiss cut  530  defines a card area that is greater in dimension than the area defined by the interior border  540  of the film layer  520  and temporary adhesive layer  515 . The configuration shown in  FIG. 5  allows the card to be removed via lifting leaving behind the film layer  520  and area of the remaining layers defined outside of the kiss cut. The cavity defined by the film layer  520  and temporary adhesive layer  515  interior border  540  can be formed prior to application of the film layer  520  and adhesive layer  515  to the form or after the application (using e.g., a kiss cut technique). 
         [0031]      FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a lift card  120  with additional material  635  and  FIG. 7  is a diagram of the assembled lift form including the document  100 , carrier  110 , and card  120 . In this example, the card  120  has additional material  635  that includes a cavity  600 . The card material includes a top layer card  601 , such as paper or a variety of plastic, an adhesive layer  605 , a film layer  610  that can comprise a plastic, a separation material  615 , a film level  620 , a second adhesive layer  625  and a throwaway liner  630 . Separation material  615  layers can include a range of material such as breakaway coating, dry peel coating, coupon adhesive, EZ release (any of which are available from Stratatac, Saint Charles, Ill.) or other material with similar characteristics. The removable card typical includes the top layer card  601 , adhesive layer  605 , film layer  610 , and at least a portion of the separation material  615 . The cavity  600  can be created by a kiss-cut of the separation material  615 , film  620 , adhesive  625 , and throwaway liner  630 . The kiss cut defines a card interior border  640 . The cavity can be created prior to, or after, application to a carrier  110 .  FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a cross section view of an example embodiment of a lift card  120  with additional material  635  that has not been kiss-cut prior to application to a carrier  110 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 7  illustrates an example card  120  with associated material  635 , document  100 , and carrier  110 . Throwaway liner  630  can be removed prior to application of the card  120  and additional material  635  to the carrier  110 . In this embodiment, the additional material cavity  600  interior border  640  is between the carrier interior border  112  and the card exterior border  121 . That is, the card material cavity  600  is wider than the carrier cavity  115  (equivalently, the carrier cavity  115  is narrower than the card material cavity  600 ). The form in  FIG. 7  allows imaging of the card  120  on both sides and removal of the card from the form by lifting. When a card  120  is removed, additional material  635  remains attached to carrier  110 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating a cross section view of another example embodiment of an assembled lift form including the document  100 , carrier  110 , and card  120 . In this example, the additional material cavity  600  interior border  640  is aligned with the carrier interior border  112 . The form of  FIG. 9  can be produced by, for example, applying a lift card  120  with additional material  635  to a carrier  110 . The additional material  635  and carrier  110  are not pre kiss cut as described above. Then, both the carrier  110  and additional material  635  can be kiss cut to form the second cavity  115  and additional material cavity  640 . The form in  FIG. 9  allows the card  120  to be imaged on both sides and removed from the form by lifting. 
         [0034]      FIG. 10  is a process flow diagram  1000  illustrating an example method of producing a form that enables imaging on both sides of a card. At  1000 , a cavity is created in a document. The cavity is larger than the card. At  1020 , a carrier is permanently affixed to the document such that the carrier covers the cavity and is larger than the cavity. At  1030 , a lift card is applied to the carrier, the card being within the cavity. The lift card can include a coupon style card. At  1040 , the carrier and affixed card is kiss cut from the bottom of the carrier through the carrier to a depth/layer of the card, the kiss cut defining an area. For example, the cut depth can be to a card laminate layer or into a coupon film material. At  1050 , an area defined by the kiss cut is removed forming a cavity. The area defined by the kiss cut is smaller than the size of the card. Optionally, at  1060 , the back of the card can be printed on. Additionally, the form is in a condition to allow removal of the card via lifting off the face of the card. 
         [0035]      FIG. 11  is a series of drawings illustrating another exemplary configuration of components of the current subject matter. At  1100  is a view of the individual components, specifically, a document  100  and a card  120  (as may be shown, e.g., before they are affixed together). The document  100  includes a first cavity  105  defined by an interior border  102 . The card  120  includes an exterior border  121  and lines of weakness  125  that define an area. At  1110  is a top view of the document  100  affixed to card  120 . The card  120  is affixed via permanent adhesive or glue  1205  (shown in  FIG. 12 ). The card  120  overlaps the document interior border  102  such that the card exterior border  121  is outside the document interior border  102  (relative to the top view) while the lines of weakness  125  is inside (relative to the top view) of the document interior border  102 . At  1120  is a bottom view of the assembled example form including document  100  with card  120 . A portion of the card  120 , including the entire area defined by the lines of weakness  125  is visible through the first cavity  105  defined by the interior border  102 .  FIG. 12  is a drawing of a cross section of the fully assembled form shown at  1110  and  1120 . The document  100  is on a first plane and the card  120  is on a second plane. The first cavity  105  and the card  120  are aligned to allow access to the bottom of the card  120  from the bottom of the form. The card  120  can be printed on both the top and bottom sides of the card  120  and the lines of weakness  125  can be torn, broken, or punched out, to remove a final card. 
         [0036]      FIG. 13  is a drawing of a cross section of another example fully assembled form of an alternate embodiment of the form shown in  FIG. 12  using a card  120  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . In this embodiment, the card  120  including additional material  635  and card cavity  600  is applied directly to the document  100  over the first cavity. The first cavity  105  and the card cavity  600  are aligned to allow access to the bottom of the card  120  from the bottom of the form. The first cavity  105  and card cavity  600  can be of the same or different dimension or area. The card  120  can be printed on both the top and bottom sides of the card  120  and the final card can be removed via a lift technique thereby leaving the additional material  635  affixed to the document. 
         [0037]    The current subject matter can include many variations, for example, the current subject matter can be implemented using cut sheet, fan fold, or rolls. The current subject matter can include a traditional document, a pressure seal mailer using cohesive to seal, a water seal form, a self-mailer for tabbing, or in a folded mailer where glue is applied on the folder. The pressure seal may be of any construction including but not limited to Z, C, V, eccentric Z, eccentric C, double parallel, eccentric double parallel, 1 part 2 way, 2 part 2 way, etc. Printing can occur via inkjet, laser, or any other imaging process. The current subject matter can be used independently or combined with other documents. 
         [0038]    Although a few variations have been described in detail above, other modifications are possible. For example, the logic flows depicted in the accompanying figures and described herein do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Additionally, layers of material such as laminates, adhesives, and films may be added, removed, or substituted to the subject matter described herein. Other embodiments may be within the scope of the following claims.