Patent Publication Number: US-2006016316-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for forming foldable structures

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE  
      This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/588,588 filed on Jul. 16, 2004. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The invention relates to cutting and folding material into selected shapes. More specifically, the invention relates to templates for guiding cutting and scoring instruments for selectively cutting and scoring selected materials so as to produce selected shapes.  
      Description of the Art  
      Many hobbies and professions involve sizing or shaping materials. Particularly in the craft and scrapbooking industry, photographs and other sheets of material, such as paper, are cut into select shapes for placing and displaying in albums. For example, preparing photographs for display typically includes mounting a photograph on a substrate, and then overlying the photograph with a mat having a shaped aperture so that the mat frames and enhances the photograph. Conversely the mat can be mounted under the photograph and the photograph mounted on the mat, with the protruding beyond the edges of the photograph to obtain a similar look.  
      Cutting a shaped aperture in a medium is accomplished in many different ways. For example, a shape may be drawn on the medium and subsequently traced with a cutting tool. The shape also may be drawn on a separate piece of material which is then cut out and applied to the medium to be cut. An appropriately sized and shaped aperture or mat also may be located on material according to a template having appropriate apertures which may be traced and subsequently incised. Also to avoid the inconvenience of maintaining a collection of templates having different aperture shapes and sizes, some templates may provide interchangeable modules. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,176, issued Jul. 2, 1996, to A. M. Johnson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,219, issued Jan. 19, 1999, to C. E. Wilkinson, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,811, issued Mar. 25, 1997, to G. M. Tillemans.  
      The use of a template for use as a cutting guide is not new. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,928, issued Feb. 2, 1999, to R. L. Lariviere, Jr. et al, describes custom cutting photographs and other graphic materials into interlocking puzzle shapes to construct a collage-puzzle. The template disclosed by Lariviere et al. has channels which guide a blade so as to cut a desired medium, such as a photograph into puzzle pieces of different predetermined shapes.  
      Such cutting templates, however, have been limited to the cutting of particular two dimensional shapes, e.g., circles, ovals, squares, rectangles, stars, hearts, etc., to be used as a background or frame for a photograph or other graphical image or design. It would be advantageous, however, to provide templates that are configured to provide channels for guiding a cutting or scoring tool over a medium in order to create three-dimensional objects that are folded into a particular shape. It would be a further advantage to provide a scoring tool that is interchangeable with a cutting tool and that is usable with a template for scoring a medium in order to create a precise fold at the location where the medium has been scored.  
      These and other advantages will become apparent from a reading of the following summary of the invention and description of the illustrated embodiments in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Accordingly, an apparatus for forming various three dimensional objects, such as various shapes and sizes of boxes, is provided. The apparatus includes a cutting tool, a scoring tool and a template. The template is provided with various channels for guiding the cutting and scoring tools. After all of the selected cutting and scoring procedures have occurred, the material that has been cut and scored is folded along the scored sections in order to form a three-dimensional object.  
      In one embodiment, the scoring tool is comprised of an elongate handle having a removable cap attached to a distal end thereof. A scoring member is rotatably coupled to the handle with the cap. The scoring member protrudes through the cap to be received within a channel of a complementary template.  
      In another embodiment, the scoring tool is configured to be converted into a cutting tool by removing an end cap, replacing the scoring member with a cutting member and reattaching the end cap.  
      In yet another embodiment, the scoring tool is used in conjunction with a template, the template having a first set of channels for cutting a particular shape and a second set of channels for scoring and creating folds, the template configured to provide channels for scoring and cutting a sheet of material to create a three-dimensional object.  
      In still another embodiment, the template is configured to create a particularly shaped box when folded along the lines that have been scored through the template.  
      In another embodiment, the template includes markings to indicate which channels should be cut and which channels should be scored.  
      The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings embodiments that illustrate what is currently considered to be the best mode for carrying out the invention, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific methods and instruments disclosed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a partial cross-sectional, exploded side view of a first embodiment of a scoring tool in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the scoring tool illustrated in  FIG. 1  in assembled form.  
       FIG. 3  is a side view of a first embodiment of a scoring tool cartridge in accordance with principles of the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is a distal end view of the scoring tool illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 5  is a proximal end view of the scoring tool illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 6A  is a side view of a scoring member in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
       FIG. 6B  is a distal end view of the scoring member illustrated in  FIG. 6A .  
       FIG. 7  is a side view of a cutting cartridge in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
       FIGS. 8A, 8B  and  8 C are front side, right side and top side views, respectively, of a first embodiment of a scoring/cutting template in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
       FIG. 9  is a front side view of a second embodiment of a scoring/cutting template in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
       FIG. 10  is a front side view of a second embodiment of a scoring/cutting template in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
       FIG. 11  is a front side view of a pocket formed using the template illustrated in  FIG. 10 .  
       FIG. 12  is a front side view of a third embodiment of a scoring/cutting template in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
       FIG. 13  is a front side view of a box formed using the template illustrated in  FIG. 12 .  
       FIG. 14  is a front side view of a fifth embodiment of a scoring/cutting template in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
       FIG. 15  is a front side view of a sixth embodiment of a scoring/cutting template in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
       FIG. 16  is a front side view of a seventh embodiment of a scoring/cutting template in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
       FIG. 17  is a front side view of an eight embodiment of a scoring/cutting template in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
       FIG. 18  is a front side view of a ninth embodiment of a scoring/cutting template in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
       FIG. 19  is a front side view of a tenth embodiment of a scoring/cutting template in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
       FIG. 20  is a front side view of an eleventh embodiment of a scoring/cutting template in accordance with the principles of the present invention.  
       FIG. 21  is a front side view of a twelfth embodiment of a scoring/cutting template in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in  FIG. 1 , an exploded view of a scoring tool, generally indicated at  10 , in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The coring tool  10  generally has the size and configuration of a conventional ball-point pen for grasping by a user and includes an elongate handle or base member  12  for grasping by a user to which a scoring cartridge  14  is maintained. The scoring cartridge  14  is held relative to the base member  12  with a retaining member  15  that is coupled to the base member  12 . The base member  12  is provided with a partially threaded protrusion  16  at its distal end  18 . The cap or retaining member is provided with internal threads  20  for mating with external threads  22  formed on the protrusion  16  and for receiving the protrusion  16  therein.  
      The retaining member  15  is provided with a longitudinal bore  24  that extends the length of the retaining member  15  with the proximal end  26  of the bore  24  being threaded and the distal end  28  provided with an annular abutment surface  30 . The distal end  28  is cylindrical in shape so as to be received within and guided by a channel of a complementary template shown and described herein. The cylindrical distal end  28  of the retaining member  15  thus has a width that is slightly less than but substantially equal to the width of a channel of a complementary template. The scoring cartridge  14  is maintained between the protrusion  16  and the abutment surface  30  with the engagement of an annular shoulder  32  and the abutment surface  30  preventing the scoring cartridge from falling out of the retaining member  15 .  
      The scoring cartridge is configured to be freely rotatable within the retaining member  15 . In order to facilitate such free rotation, substantial point contact between the proximal end  34  of the cartridge  14  and the distal end  36  of the protrusion is provided. This point contact is accomplished by providing semispherical ends to both the proximal end  34  of the scoring cartridge  14  and the distal end  36  of the protrusion  16 .  
      The scoring cartridge  14  is comprised of a scoring member  38  and a body  40  that holds the scoring member  38  relative thereto.  
      When assembled, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the scoring tool  10  is grasped by a user between the thumb, index finger and middle finger in a manner similar to holding a pen at the retaining member  15 . The retaining member  15  is provided with longitudinally extending grooves  42  that are circumferentially placed around the retaining member  15  (see  FIG. 4 ). Such grooves  42  provide a gripping surface for the user to prevent slipping from the tool  10  when using the tool  10  to score a material. The scoring member  38  extends from the distal end  28  of the retaining member  15  and can freely rotate along its longitudinal axis relative thereto. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the proximal end  44  of the base member  12  is generally circular in shape. Thus, the base member  12  is generally illustrated as being cylindrical in shape, but could have any geometric shape, such as octagonal, hexagaonal, square, triangular, or any other desired shape.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a scoring cartridge, generally indicated at  100 , in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The scoring cartridge  100  includes a body  102  and a scoring member  104  attached to a distal end  106  thereof. Because the scoring member  104  is to be inserted within a channel of a template (as described hereinafter), guiding protrusions  108  and  110  are provided on the two leading edges of the scoring member  104 . Unlike a pivoting knife blade which typically only has one cutting edge, because of the symmetrical nature of the scoring member  104 , the scoring member  104  can be used in either direction. Thus, guiding protrusions  108  and  110  are provided on both leading edges of the scoring member  104 . When inserted into a channel of a template, the scoring member  104  will be positioned within the channel up to the distal end  106  of the body  103 . Thus, the guiding protrusions  108  and  110  have a length that is long enough to engage the template channel and prevent the scoring member  104  from gouging or otherwise damaging the side walls of the channel. As shown, the guiding protrusions  108  and  110  have a length that exposes at least the rounded end  114  of the scoring member  104  beyond the protrusions  106  and  110  so as to allow the rounded end  114  to engage a surface to be scored.  
      The scoring member  104  is formed from metal, such as steel, while the body  102  is formed from plastic. The body  102  may be injection molded or otherwise molded or formed by methods known in the art. The scoring member  104  is inserted into the distal end  112  of the body  102  so that a portion of the scoring member  104  protrudes from the distal end  112 . As such, a portion (not visible) of the scoring member  104  is encased within the body  102  to secure the scoring member  104  within the base member  102 . The scoring member  112  may be held within the distal end  112  of the base member by molding the scoring member  104  into the base member  102  when forming and/or by friction fit between the scoring member  104  and the body  102 .  
      The body  102  of the scoring cartridge  100  is generally cylindrical in shape to allow the body  102  to freely rotate within its housing or retaining member as previously shown and discussed. That is, the diameter of the body  102  is slightly less than the inside diameter of the retaining member to allow the scoring cartridge  100  to rotate therein. In addition, the proximal end  116  of the body  102  is substantially semispherical in shape to provide point contact with structure that maintains the scoring cartridge  100 . The body  102  also defines a frustoconical surface  118  that can abut the inside of the retaining member to prevent the scoring cartridge  100  from falling out of the retaining member. The frustoconical surface  118  provides a transition between the body main portion  120  of the body  102  and the more narrow portion  122  at the distal end  112  that holds the scoring member  114 .  
      As shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , a scoring member, generally indicated at  150 , is formed from a flat piece of metal  152 , such as CL095 carbon steel, with radiused ends  154  and  156 . The scoring member  150  may have an overall length of approximately 0.1962 inches with each end  154  and  156  having a radius of 0.031 inches. The width of the scoring member  150  may be approximately 0.0652 inches with a thickness of approximately 0.012 inches. The edges  158  and  160  of the scoring member  150  are also slightly radiused, e.g.,  0 . 003  inches, in order to prevent the scoring member  150  from cutting the medium that is being scored. That is, by providing a slight radius to the edges  158  and  160  of the scoring member  150 , the scoring member  152  will slide along the medium to cause a crease therein without cutting the material.  
      As shown in  FIG. 7 , a cutting cartridge, generally indicated at  170 , has the same general configuration as the scoring cartridge described herein. The principle difference is that the cutting cartridge  170  is provided with a cutting blade  170  for cutting a medium. Because of the configuration of the base member and retaining member illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the cutting and scoring cartridges can be interchanged if desired. In addition, when the cartridges become worn from use, the cartridges can be easily replaced with new ones.  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 8A, 8B  and  8 C, there is shown a first embodiment of a template, generally indicated at  200 , for forming a three-dimensional folded object, in this case, a heart-shaped card or box. The cutting and scoring template  200  provides a plurality of channels that extend through the template for precisely cutting and scoring a selected medium in sheet form so as to produce similar shapes in multiple sizes, or diverse shapes. The nature of the medium that is used may vary according to the intended purpose. By way of example, the medium may take the form of a sheet of paper, cardstock, cardboard, conventional graphic arts matting material, thin plastic, foam or a fabric. The medium may be white or colored and may be blank or printed, comprising, for example, a graphic arts object such as a photograph, print, drawing, or printed text. In-practicing the invention, the medium is mounted or placed on a cutting surface, such as sheet of cardboard, plastic foam or other cutting mat, a template embodying the invention is placed flat on top of the medium. Thereafter, the cutting blade of a cutting tool is inserted in a selected channel of the template and then moved along the channel so as to cut the medium at the select locations to form a shape conforming to the pattern defined by the channels in the template. Because the blade cartridge can freely swivel within the handle, the blade will follow the template channel as the knife blade is moved along.  
      The template  200  consists of a sheet or panel  201  that is made of a transparent material, although it also may be made of a semi-translucent or opaque material. The transparency or translucency of the sheet  201  allows for viewing and/or aligning a selected medium prior to cutting it with a selected cutting tool. The template  200  is intended to be reusable. Therefore, by way of example but not limitation, the template  200  may be constructed from a material that is relatively inexpensive, resists wear, and which allows cutting or formation of the channels hereinafter described such as a polycarbonate or a polyacrylate material, although a polyethylene template having adequate transparency also may be used.  
      The specific template  200  shown in  FIGS. 8A, 8B  and  8 C comprises a plurality of channels or grooves  210 - 237  with the grooves  210 - 229  having widths sized to accept the thin cutting blade of a cutting tool and the grooves  230 - 237  having widths sized to accept the thin scoring blade, such as the-scoring blade of the scoring tool  10  shown in  FIG. 2 , so that the blades make a close sliding fit in whatever-channel they are inserted. The cutting tool preferably is constructed so that the thin cutting blade is rotatable on the cutting tool&#39;s axis, as explained in U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,928.  
      The cutting channels  210 - 229  in template  200  constitute four sets of channels for forming four different sizes by similarly shaped structures cut into a medium. Thus, a user can select one of four sizes when making a heart-shaped box or card from a medium cut using the template  201 .  
      In this particular embodiment, the template  200  can be used to make four sizes of tri-fold heart cards or boxes. First, the outer channels of the chosen size heart shape are cut as well as the corresponding bottom channels (e.g., channels  210 ,  211 ,  212 ,  213  and  214  and outer channel portions of channels  218 ,  223 ,  228 ,  229 ,  224 , and  219 . The scoring channels  230 - 237  separate the three hart shapes. By inserting the scoring tool  10  into the channels  230 ,  231 ,  232 ,  233 ,  234 ,  235 ,  236 , and  237  and sliding the scoring member within each channel, a crease is formed in the medium. In order to properly score the-medium, the medium and the template  201  should be placed on a relatively rigid surface. The scoring tool  10  is then firmly presses within the selected channel so as to crease the medium.  
      Because the channels are spaced by small webs of the template material in order to maintain the template in a single piece, some cutting or scoring at the web locations of the medium may be required. More specifically, certain channels are separated by webs of template material. If the cutting blade is drawn along a selected channel that is interrupted by a particular web, the medium will have an incision that is interrupted by a section corresponding to the template web. Consequently, to complete formation of a complete incision in medium, the user must remove the template from engagement with the medium, and then cut the uninterrupted portions of the medium between the two incisions that correspond to web so that the two incisions are joined.  
      The width of the template webs are set so that the webs have sufficient expanse to maintain the template&#39;s physical integrity, while at the same time minimizing the amount of medium that has to be cut after removal of the template to completely reproduce the selected circular pattern or shape in the medium. Such webs, however, have little effect on the scoring operation. That is, a small uninterrupted section in the score will not prevent the medium from being properly folded along the two interrupted scores spaced apart by the width of the web.  
      The bottom channels, such as channels  229  and  228  provide tabs in the medium that are used to hold the structure together once formed. For example, by applying an adhesive to the tabs, they can be attached relative to one another and or to other portions of the cut medium in order for the three-dimensional structure to hold its shape.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 9 , there is illustrated another embodiment of a template, generally indicated at  300 , for forming a box from a desired medium in sheet form. The template  300  is provided with a plurality of channels, such as channel  301 , with each channel provided with an indicating label, in this embodiment being designated with an “F” for fold or a “C” for cut. When all of the cut and fold procedures are complete as indicated by the template  300 , the resulting medium can be folded along the sections that have been scored with the scoring tool. The tabs  302 ,  303  and  304  are used to secure the box together once folded. For example, an adhesive or tape may be applied to the tab portions and secured to their respective mating surfaces on the medium that has been cut when folded.  
      The template  300  also includes tags  307  and  309  that can be cut into a desired medium and be used to place on the box when completed.  
      The channels  301  in the template  300  are intended to guide the cutting and scoring blades so as to ensure that the patterns defined by the channels  301  will be reproduced with precision in the selected medium. In this regard the term “guide” is intended to mean that opposite sides of the particular blade lie close to and are slidingly supported by the opposite side surfaces of the grooves that constitute the several cutting channels. To ensure proper guidance, it is preferred that the grooves be formed with flat opposite side surfaces that extend perpendicular to the flat faces of template panel, and that they have a width such as to provide a clearance in the range of 0.002 and 0.007 inch between each side of the channel and the adjacent face of the inserted blade. It is preferred that the blade have a thickness in the range of 0.011 inch to 0.013 inch. Consequently it is preferred that the channels have a thickness of 0.015 inch to 0.018 inch. However, it should be appreciated that blade thickness, the widths of the grooves and the magnitude of the clearances for the cutting and/or scoring blade are not limited to the foregoing values, but rather other values may be acceptable so long as they assure precision cutting and scoring of a selected pattern in a medium.  
      To use the template  300  for cutting a medium, a medium is positioned on a cutting mat. The template  300  is positioned over the medium at the desired location. The medium should be large enough to extend beyond the cutting channels on all sides. A swivel knife, such as that shown in  FIG. 2 , with the knife cartridge shown in  FIG. 7 , is held at the textured area of the handle. The tip of the blade is inserted at the beginning of a channel to be cut with the cutting edge facing towards the cutting direction. Holding the swivel knife in an upright position and pressing firmly against the template, the swivel knife is firmly glided along the channel to the end of the channel, letting the blade steer itself around corners and curves. Once all of the cutting functions have been completed, the cutting mat is removed and the medium and template are repositioned on a firmer surface for the scoring procedure. Grasping the textured area of the handle of a swivel scoring tool, such as that illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the tip of the scoring member is inserted at the beginning of a channel to be scored. Holding the scoring tool at an angle of approximately  45  degrees, and pressing firmly against the template, the scoring tool is firmly glided along the channel to the end of the channel, letting the blade steer itself around corners and curves. Once all of the scoring functions are complete, the medium can be folded along each score to form the particular three-dimensional structure, in the case of  FIG. 9 , a cube-shaped box.  
       FIG. 10  illustrates yet another embodiment of a template, generally indicated at  320  for forming a foldable three-dimensional structure in accordance with the principles of the-present invention. Using the template  320 , a card pocket can be formed having the general shape of a shirt or pant pocket. The template  320  can be used to form one of two pockets. By cutting the channels  321 - 325 , a fully enclosed pocket can be formed with both front and back sides. By cutting channels  324 - 327  and the corresponding portion of channel  322  extending between the tops of channels  326  and  327 , a pocket that can be glued or otherwise attached to a scrapbook page or other medium can be formed. Once cut, the medium can be folded along channels  330  and  332  by gliding the scoring tool  10  (see  FIG. 2 ) along the channels  330  and  332 .  
      If desired, decorative “stitch” lines can be formed by cutting along one or more of the channels  334 - 337 . Furthermore, channels  340  and  341 , along with the appropriate length of channel  322  between the top ends of channels  340  and  340  to form a card that will fit within the pocket once formed. A half circle pull tab can be added to the card by cutting the half circle channel  342  at the top of the card rather than cutting straight across with the channel  342 . The half circle channels  346  or  347  can be cut into the front of the pocket so that it is easier to grab the card out of the pocket.  
       FIG. 11  shows a pocket  350  formed from a material that has been cut and scored by using the template  320 . A card  322  formed by cutting along the channels of the template  320  is inserted into the pocket  350 .  
       FIG. 12  illustrates yet another template, generally indicated at  400 , for forming a three-dimensional purse-shaped card (see  FIG. 13 ). The template  400  can be used to form four different sized purse cards depending upon the channels used to cut. To form a purse card, the channels representing the outer size of the desired purse card are selected. Thus, for the largest purse card, the channels  401 ,  402  and  403  are cut. Next, the purse handle is formed by cutting long the channel  404  that is one size smaller from the purse size. The flap that is formed from the inside of the handle will fold down and become the closure for the purse card. Curved channels  405  and  406  are cut to allow the flap to be tucked and held in place. The curved channels  405  and  406  are also selected to correspond to the particular purse size. Next, by scoring with the scoring tool along channels  408 ,  409 , and  410 , the purse can be folded into the finished shape.  
       FIG. 13  illustrates a purse card  420  formed from the template  400 . As previously described, the flap- 422  fits within the curved cuts  424  and  426  and holds the card  420  together. Folds  428  and  430  are precisely formed by gliding the scoring tool along channel  410  of  FIG. 12  at the appropriate location. That is, the channel  410  can be moved over the appropriate location on the medium  421  to form a crease at a desired location for folding.  
       FIGS. 14-22  illustrate various other templates that can be used with the scoring and cutting tools of the present invention in order to form foldable three-dimensional objects in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 14  is a template, generally indicated at  500 , for forming a handled box. Each of the channels for cutting is designated with a “C” and each of the channels for scoring with the scoring tool is indicated with an “F” for fold.  
       FIG. 15  is a template, generally indicated at  520 , for forming another box-shaped object, in this case a “Chinese take-out” box from a medium cut, scored and folded as designated by the template  520 . Again, each of the channels for cutting is designated with a “C” and each of the channels for scoring with the scoring tool is indicated with an “F” for fold. Once cut and scored, the box can be assembled by folding along each line that has been scored and inserting the tab cut with the channel  522  into the slot cut with channel  524 .  
       FIG. 16  illustrates a template  540  that is configured to form three different sizes of pillow boxes. By cutting along the outer channels  541  and  542  and scoring along the inner channels  543 - 548 , a pillow box of a particular size can be formed by folding the material that has been cut along the scored lines and attaching the tab portions formed by scoring channels  543  and  546  together.  
       FIG. 17  illustrates a template, generally indicated at  560 , for forming a boot-shaped box or three-dimensional card. Similar to other embodiments herein, by cutting along the outer channels  561 - 565  to form the outer shape of the box and scoring along the inner channels  569 - 579  and folding the material along such scores, a boot-shaped box or card can be formed.  
       FIG. 18  illustrates a template, generally indicated at  580 , for forming a shoe-shaped box or three-dimensional card. Similar to other embodiments herein, by cutting along the outer channels  581 - 584 , scoring along the inner channels  586 - 596 , folding along the scores created by the scoring tool and attaching any tabs formed by cutting and scoring, a shoe-shaped box or card can be formed.  
       FIG. 19  illustrates a template, generally indicated at  600 , for forming a coffee cup shaped box from a material that is cut and scored through the channels of the template  600 . Similar to other embodiments herein, by cutting along select cutting channels  601 - 611  and scoring along select scoring channels  612 - 617  and folding along the scored lines, a coffee cup shaped box can be formed.  
       FIG. 20  illustrates a template, generally indicated at  620 , for forming a square envelope. The template is configured for allowing a user to form five different sizes of such a square envelope with each smaller sized nested within the next larger size. Similar to other embodiments herein, by cutting a material in sheet form along the outer channels for a particular sized envelope, such as outer channels  621 - 624  and scoring the material along scoring channels  625 ,  626 ,  627  and  628  without moving the material that has been cut while scoring, and folding along the scores created with the scoring tool of the present invention and the template  620 , a square envelope can be formed.  
       FIG. 21  illustrates a template, generally indicated at  640 , for forming a heart-shaped card. The template is configured for allowing a user to form three different sized cards. In addition, the cards can be formed with a scalloped outer edge or a smooth outer edge depending upon the channel,  645 - 650  or  651 - 656 , respectively, used to cut the top outer edges. By scoring along the inner channel  642  and folding along the score, a heart shaped card can be formed.  
      Of course, the templates are not limited to the specific designs shown in the drawings, and other designs obvious to persons skilled in the art may be used in making templates according to this invention. While the methods and apparatus of the present invention have been described with reference to certain embodiments, it is contemplated that upon review of the present invention, those of skill in the art will appreciate that various modifications and combinations may be made to the present embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as recited in the claims. The claims provided herein are intended to cover such modifications and combinations and all equivalents thereof. Reference herein to specific details of the illustrated embodiments is by way of example and not by way of limitation.