Patent Publication Number: US-2004046097-A1

Title: Pocketed easel back counter card

Description:
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Ser. No. 60/338,853, entitled EASEL, filed Nov. 6, 2001. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of Invention  
       [0003] This invention pertains to a presentation counter card having a pocket to receive and permit the dispensing of printed materials. More specifically, the invention relates to a counter card that incorporates an easel and pocket, where the easel and pocket are integrated into one piece of material that is flat in its unassembled state.  
       [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0005] Counter cards for providing printed matter for the consumer are rather common. There are several ways that this can be accomplished. Most common is by mechanically attaching the pocket to the front panel of the counter card. This can be done by either gluing, stapling or using tabs to attach the pocket. This type of counter card is costly to manufacture because they generally consist of more than one component to form the counter card. In addition, each component must then be processed individually through a printing machine and a die cutter thereby increasing the manufacturing costs. It is the object of the present invention to reduce these costs while providing a more rigid counter card.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, a new and improved counter card is provided which comprises a panel. The panel has a front panel operatively connected to a back panel via a scored edge. The front panel has a pocket integrally formed therewith. The back panel has an easel integrally formed therewith to support the counter card.  
       [0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a counter card, wherein the pocket, when assembled, it forms a rigid presentation pocketed counter card that will not come off or apart had the pocket been mechanically attached to the card.  
       [0008] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a counter card, wherein in its unassembled form the counter card is a single flat piece of material suitable for packaging shipping economically.  
       [0009] Still yet, another object of the present invention is to provide a counter card that is economical in that prior to gluing the front and back panels together the card can be processed in one pass through the printer, for printing instructions, and one pass through the die cutter thereby saving production costs.  
       [0010] Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0011] The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:  
     [0012]FIG. 1 is the front plan view of the counter card that shows suitable scoring and cut lines of the material that form front, top and bottom of the integrated pocket.  
     [0013]FIG. 2 is the back plan view of the counter card that shows suitable scoring and cut lines of the easel and the part of the card that form the sides and support structure of the integrated pocket.  
     [0014]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention.  
     [0015]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the easel of the present invention in the assembled state.  
     [0016]FIG. 5 is a rear view of the back panel of FIG. 4 showing the easel in the unassembled state. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0017] Referring now to the drawings wherein the drawings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for the purposes of limiting the same. FIG. 1 shows the present invention taking the form of a counter card  10  in its unassembled state. The counter card  10  comprises a front panel  12  defined by a top edge  17 , a bottom edge  18 , a right side edge  19  and a left side scored edge  13 . FIG. 2 shows a back panel  11  of the counter card  10  in its unassembled state. The back panel  11  is defined by a top edge  14 , a bottom edge  15 , a left side edge  16  and a right side scored edge  13 . The scored edge  13  is common to both the front and back panels  12 ,  11 . The counter card  10  is folded at the score line  13  and the front and back panels  12 ,  11  are glued together to form counter card  10  as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2.  
     [0018]FIG. 1 further illustrates the scoring and cut lines of the material that form the front, top and bottom of a pocket  30 . The pocket  30  is defined by a front face  40 , a top  32 , a top foldable flap  31  and a bottom  35 . The front of the pocket  30  is further defined by a top scored edge  34 , a bottom scored edge  36 , a left side edge  41  and right side edge  42 . The top of the pocket  30  is defined the top scored edge  33  and a bottom scored edge  34 . The bottom of the pocket  30  is defined by a top scored edge  36 , a bottom scored edge  37 , a left side edge  43  and a right side edge  44 . The top foldable flap  31  is defined by a top edge  38 , the bottom scored edge  34  and side tabs  39 . The side tabs  39  are used to lock the assembled pocket in place and will be described below.  
     [0019]FIG. 2 further illustrates the scoring and cut lines of the material that form an easel  80  utilized to support the counter card  10  and the portion of the back panel  50  that form the sides, support structure and the locking mechanism for the pocket  30 . The sides and support structure are defined by panels  51 ,  52 ,  53  and  54 . Panel  51  forms one side of the pocket and contains a top edge  60 , a bottom edge  68  and two scored edges  69  and  55 . Panel  53  forms the other side of the pocket and contains a top edge  63 , a bottom edge  65  and two scored edges  64  and  56 . Panels  51  and  53  also contain slots  72  and  74  respectively used to lock the top foldable flap  31  in place by inserting the side tabs  39  into each respective slot. Panels  52  and  54  provide support structure for the pocket. Panel  52  contains a top edge  61 , bottom edge  67 , side edge  57  and a scored edge  55 . The scored edge  55  is common to both panels  51  and  52 . Panel  54  defined by a top edge  62 , a bottom edge  66 , a side edge  58  and a scored edge  56 . The scored edge  56  is common to both panels  53  and  54 . The tab  59  is used to hold the printed matter in the pocket. If additional strength is required to hold the matter in the pocket a portion of each panel  52  and  54  can be used for this purpose.  
     [0020] The integrated pocket is formed by folding the pocket  30  in an outward position perpendicular to the front panel at the score line  37 . While the pocket is in its perpendicular position the two side panels  51  and  53  are folded in a forward outward position perpendicular to the front panel at each respective score edge  69  and  64 . These two panels form the sides of the pocket and remain perpendicular to the front panel. Then panels  52  and  54  are folded inward toward each other at each respective score line  55  and  56 . Panels  52  and  54  form right angles with panels  51  and  53  respectively. The pocket  30  is then folded in an upward position perpendicular from the bottom  35  at the scored edge  36 . The top foldable flap  31  is then folded over panels  52  and  54  at both scored lines  33  and  34  forming the top of the pocket  32 . The two scored lines  33  and  34  are necessary to make the top of the pocket fold cleanly over top of the inward elements of panels  52  and  54  accommodating their thickness. The side tabs  39  on the top foldable flap  31  are inserted into the slots  56  and  57  on the side panels  51  and  53  thereby locking the top flap in place and thus forming the pocket.  
     [0021] The nature of the material used for this application is one such that is resiliently deformable. In other words the material has memory. The side panels  51  and  53  have a desire to spring back to their original position. The top flap  31  serves the purpose of holding the side panels  51  and  53  at their outward assembled position. By inserting the side tabs  39  into the slots  56  and  57  serves the purpose of locking the top flap  31  in place. Since the material is resilient all the components of the pocket are working against each other and are trying to return to their original state. However, the locking mechanism previously described actually causes the pocket to become more rigid and tight.  
     [0022]FIG. 2 also shows the components, also known as the easel, required to support the counter card. The easel  80  is defined by a top edge  82 , side edge  83 , a bottom edge  84 , a scored edge  81  and a rounded edge  85 . This support  80  is folded in an outward position at the scored edge  81  until it is perpendicular to the back panel  11 . The tab  90  is then folded down at the scored edge  91  until the top side edge  93  of the tab  90  extends passed the edge  95  on the support structure  80 . The two edges  93  and  95  lock against the support structure  80  and the tab  90  respectively enabling the counter card to be positioned in a vertical position. The location of the easel on the back of the counter card can be positioned in a variety of ways. In other words, the easel can be located on the top, the bottom or either side of the counter card. The location of the easel would depend on the size of the counter card and the location of the integrated pocket.  
     [0023] With reference to FIG. 3, the front panel  12  of the counter card  10  is shown with the pocket  30  in an assembled state. As shown, the pocket  30  comprises the panels  51 ,  53 , bottom  35  and front face  40  to define a cavity therein. Brochures or other informational material may be placed in the cavity for distribution.  
     [0024] With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, another embodiment of the easel  100  is shown. In this embodiment, the back panel  11  comprises a fold down tab  102 , which pivots about scored edge  104  to support the counter card  10 . The fold down tab  102  pivots in the direction of arrow A. A locking tab  105  is defined within the fold down tab  102 . The locking tab  105  has a plurality of edges  106 , wherein at least one of the edges  106  is secured to the fold down tab  102 . As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the locking tab is square in shape and pivots about a first edge  108  so that the opposite edge  110  may be inserted into a hole  112  that is defined in the back panel. Of course the locking tab  104  may take any geometry chosen with sound engineering judgment.  
     [0025] One of the unique features about this invention as was described above is that the pocket is an integral part of the counter card. When the pocket is assembled, it forms a rigid presentation pocketed counter card that will not come off or apart had the pocket been mechanically attached to the card. Another unique feature about this invention is that in its unassembled form the counter card is a single flat piece of material suitable for packaging shipping economically. In addition, another economical advantage is prior to gluing the front and back panels together the card can be processed in one pass through the printer, for printing instructions, and one pass through the die cutter thereby saving production costs.  
     [0026] The preferred embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.