Abstract:
A presentation folder suitable for business and similar presentation and networking uses is provided. The presentation folder displays a variety of materials in an attractive yet professional manner. The presentation folder may be compact in size, and it may also include multiple pockets and slits to hold numerous materials. Further, in one embodiment, the presentation folder is assembled from one die-cut blank which is easy to manufacture.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a presentation folder and, in particular, to a presentation folder suitable for business and similar presentation uses.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     A great variety of presentation folders have been developed and used for many years. The purpose of these folders is to provide a neat and attractive package for business information and the like. These packages vary considerably, but usually include multi-pockets, insert pages, and other devices for presenting multiple pages of information. For the most part, most of these packages are folders in the order of 8.5″ by 11″ in size and sometimes larger. Large presentation folders are generally necessary to contain conventional 8.5″ by 11″ letterhead or printed sheets in which business information is printed. One drawback with these large presentation folders is that they are not easy to carry, which often presents practical problems both for the person presenting the folder and the person receiving it. For example, it is very common to pass on business information at networking events. To pass on a large folder is frequently awkward to both the person giving it and the person receiving it. The person giving it must carry a number of these to the meeting. Since they are too large to be carried in a pocket, the presented must have an envelope or carrying bag. This is especially a problem at networking events in which it is preferable to be free of material that has to be carried in one&#39;s hands.  
         [0003]     Additionally, conventional presentation folders are not always economically designed or attractive in appearance. Further, many presentation folders are comparatively expensive to make because of the multiple die-cutting and assembly processing that is frequently involved in the manufacture of these folders.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention provides an improved presentation folder which may be characterized as a complete package of presentation material, in which the presentation folder is designed to contain a wide variety of information on insert sheets. The information may include contact information, company data and other related information, calendar information, descriptive information regarding products and availability of services, as well as more comprehensive information available on a miniature or perhaps a full-size CD-ROM. Provisions are also made for inclusion of calling cards and business cards. A further object of the present invention is to provide a package design capable of receiving a significant volume of business information desired for presentation with the package, shaped and sized to be conveniently carried in a breast pocket or other pocket.  
         [0005]     A further object of the present information is to provide a multi-compartment presentation package that is easy to manufacture and assemble and which has an attractive overall appearance and utility.  
         [0006]     One further object of the present invention is to provide an improved presentation package capable of being assembled from substantially one piece of material.  
         [0007]     It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved presentation package capable of displaying information on graduated insert sheets of different selected lengths printed for overall commercial impression. The package is further provided with means for containing DVD or small CD-ROMs, along with one or more calling cards or business cards.  
         [0008]     In the present invention there is provided a folder having front and back rectangular panels that are joined together along a common side that forms a hinge between the panels. A pair of opposed pockets at one end of the folder are formed by a pair of short panels each joined to a different one of the rectangular panels along a common side and end. A pair of elongated pockets are formed by flaps connected at one end to an end of each rectangular panel with the flap facing the rectangular panel and secured to it by insertion of the flap in the closed pocket. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The foregoing objects and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a die-cut piece of cardboard from which the principal components of the present invention are formed;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a completely formed presentation folder partially opened;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of a partially folded presentation folder;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of one embodiment of an opened presentation folder; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of another embodiment of an opened presentation folder. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]     Referring to  FIG. 1  there is illustrated a die-cut blank from which the folder is substantially formed. This blank may be made of any suitable cardboard like material, but preferably for business purposes should be made of a quality paperboard which may or may not be textured or colored. However, the folder, or at least a portion of the folder may also be formed from any type of foldable material, such as a plastic or paper. A front rectangular panel  2  and back rectangular panel  4  are each preferably in the order of 7.5″ by 4.25″ to 4.5″. Panels  2  and  4  are joined together by a web defined by parallel score lines  6  and  8  that define the inner or facing sides of the panels  2  and  4 . Preferably panels  2  and  4  are substantially the same size, however, in one embodiment one panel may be larger than the other panel. The space between the score lines  6  and  8  is in the order of ¼″ to ½″ and forms a spine or hinge  10 . At the bottom of one end of each of the panels  6  and  8  are a pair of short panels  14  and  16  respectively. The outer edges  20  and  22  respectively of panels  2  and  4  are in part defined by the score lines  24  and  26  that define the short panel. These short panels preferably have a height in the order of 4.75″ and a width of in the order of 4″ or slightly less than the width of the panels  2  and  4 . The short panels  14  and  16  may be formed with a bias-cut  28  between the upper and outer edges  27  and  29  respectively that define each of these short panels. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the short panels  14  and  16  may be formed to be rectangular, and may also have the corners folded over and/or removed to form a bias-cut  28 . A pair of flaps  36  and  38  are formed at the bottom of each of the panels  2  and  4  and are defined therefrom by score lines  31  and  33  respectively. These flaps are in the order of ¾″ high and have approximately the same width as the short panels  14  and  16 . These flaps  36  and  38  may also be formed with a bias-cut  28  or fold as shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0018]     A pair of flaps  40  and  42  are connected to and are defined from panels  2  and  4 , respectively, by score lines  44  and  46 . The inner parallel edges  41  and  43  respectively of the flags  40  and  42  are spaced apart the distance of the hinge  10 .  
         [0019]     The die-cut blank of  FIG. 1  is folded to an assembled position illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . In this arrangement, the short panels  14  and  16  are folded inwardly along the score lines  24  and  26  respectively. The flaps  36  and  38  are folded upwardly and are cemented or otherwise suitably secured, respectively, to the short panels  14  and  16 . Depending upon the material of the folder, fasteners, such as staples, may be used to secure portions of the folder together. Preferably the flap  36  first is folded upwardly against panel  2  and is cemented to panel  14  with the flap  36  between the short panel  14  and the front panel  2 . Flap  38  is similarly secured between the panel  4  and short panel  16 .  
         [0020]     Preferably, after the pockets  51  and  53  ( FIGS. 2, 4 ) are formed between flap  14  and panel  2  and between flap  16  and panel  4 , the flaps  40  and  42  are folded downwardly on the score lines  44  and  46 , respectively, with the ends  52  and  54  of the flaps  40  and  42  positioned within the pockets  51 ,  53  formed by the short panels  14  and  16 . This arrangement provides a pocket  60  on each side of the folder with the opening of the pocket  60  open inwardly toward the hinge  10 . However, the presentation folder may also be assembled with only one top flap, either  40  or  42 , thereby forming only one of the pockets  60  and/or with only one side flap, either  14  or  16 , thereby forming only one of the pockets  51  and  53 . In one embodiment, the folder is assembled by first folding the pair of flaps  40  and  42  down onto rectangular panels  2  and  4  as shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0021]     A pocket  70  may be positioned on one of the short panels  14  or  16  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . This pocket may be formed of any suitable plastic material capable of being secured permanently to the surface of flap  14 . Thus, a suitable, preferably transparent plastic may be cemented or otherwise adhered to the short panel  14  along three edges  72 ,  73  and  74  to form a pocket with an opening  76  into which a CD-ROM or DVD miniature disk may be inserted as illustrated at  78 .  
         [0022]     Additionally, the panel  16  may be formed with a pair of slits parallel to one another and at a 45° angle to the corner of panel  16  with the slits  80  positioned at a sufficient distance apart to engage the opposite corners of a conventional calling card or business card  100  shown in dotted outline  82 . A third slit  81  may also be provided to permit either vertical or horizontal orientation of a card insert.  
         [0023]     As shown in  FIGS. 6-7 , various arrangements of materials may be displayed within the presentation folder. For example, various sizes of pamphlets and paper materials  88 ,  90 ,  92 ,  94 ,  96 ,  98  may be selectively placed within the pockets, along with business cards  100 , and a CD-ROM or DVD  78 . The paper materials may be arranged as gradual insert sheets, such as shown in  FIG. 6  for an artistic impression. The embodiment in  FIG. 6 , when folded over has a substantially square shape having panel height and widths ranging from 5″-6.5″. The embodiment of  FIG. 7 , when folded over has a substantially rectangular shape having panel height and widths ranging from 5″ to 9″.