Patent Publication Number: US-9895923-B2

Title: Divider adhesion strip assembly

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present disclosure generally relates to a method and assembly for a divider having an adhesion strip assembly. More particularly, the disclosure relates to divider assembly that includes a laminate strip positioned along at least a portion of the divider sheet. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Dividers are well known and are widely used to separate and label various arrangements. When utilizing a bound component, such as a notebook, binder, address book, planner, diary, journal, and the like, it is often desired to mark a location in the bound component for future reference. Dividers are often utilized in binders such as three ring binders or spiral binders and other types of folders or media assemblies. Dividers for organizing sheets of paper or display elements generally include tabs that extend beyond the perimeter of the paper. The dividers separate and visually label various sections of the sheets of paper or display elements to permit prompt access to any one of these sections. 
     The tabs generally include label indicia thereon to identify a divided section of the sheets of paper or display elements. Other tabs have been known to be formed out of generally clear or semi-transparent material and formed into pockets to insert a label having indicia thereon. Other known dividers have tabs made of clear or transparent material that include labels that may be attached by a pressure sensitive adhesive directly to the tab. Additionally, the tabs may extend continuously from the divider body to allow label indicia to be placed thereon. 
     However, many known divider systems have inherent deficiencies. For example, there may be a limited area for customizable descriptors on the divider tabs. Further, labels designed to be adhered to the tabs are not easily removed from the tabs. Additionally, many divider systems offer limited range of customizable features. 
     Therefore, there is a need for expanding the space available for indicia or descriptors associated with a divider to allow for greater customization. There is also a need for an improved divider system that reduces the steps necessary to label or to re-label descriptors associated with divider tabs. 
     SUMMARY 
     A divider assembly as shown and described herein. The divider assembly may include a sheet having a front side and an opposite bottom side having a perimeter that is defined by a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge wherein the first edge is opposite the second edge and the third edge is opposite the fourth edge. A first laminate strip portion may be adhered to the front side of the divider sheet and may be positioned along the first edge of the sheet. The first laminate strip portion may extend between the third edge and the fourth edge. A second laminate strip portion may be adhered to the front side of the divider sheet. The second laminate strip portion may be positioned along the second edge of the sheet and may extend between the third edge and the fourth edge. 
     The first laminate strip portion may be made of a generally see-through material and the sheet may be made of paper. A plurality of apertures may be aligned along the second laminate strip portion to allow the divider assembly to attach to a binder or folder. A tab member having indicia thereon and an adhesive portion may be provided wherein the adhesive portion of the tab member may be configured to adhere to the first laminate strip portion such that the indicia extends past the perimeter of the sheet. A third laminate strip portion may be adhered to the front side of the sheet, the third laminate strip portion may be positioned along the third edge of the sheet and extend between the first edge and the second edge. A fourth laminate strip portion may be adhered to the front side of the sheet, the fourth laminate strip portion may be positioned along the fourth edge of the sheet and extend between the first edge and the second edge. The sheet may be generally rectangular shaped and the first laminate strip portion may be generally rectangular shaped. A bottom laminate strip portion may be provided on a back side of the sheet. The bottom laminate strip portion may be aligned with the first laminate strip portion along the first edge of the sheet. 
     In one embodiment, provided is a method of applying tab members to a divider assembly. The method includes the steps of providing a sheet having a front side and an opposite bottom side having a perimeter that may be defined by a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge wherein the first edge is opposite the second edge and the third edge is opposite the fourth edge. A first laminate strip portion may be applied to the front side of the divider sheet, the first laminate strip portion may be positioned along the first edge of the sheet, the first laminate strip portion may extend between the third edge and the fourth edge. A second laminate strip portion may be applied to the front side of the divider sheet, the second laminate strip portion may be positioned along the second edge of the sheet, the second laminate strip portion may extend between the third edge and the fourth edge. A tab member may be adhered to at least one of the first laminate strip portion and the second laminate strip portion such that a label indicia on a portion of the tab member may extend past the perimeter of the sheet. 
     In another embodiment, disclosed is a divider assembly including a sheet having a front side and an opposite bottom side having a perimeter that may be defined by a first edge, a second edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge wherein the first edge may be opposite the second edge and the third edge may be opposite the fourth edge. A first laminate strip portion may be adhered to the front side of the divider sheet. The first laminate strip portion may be positioned along the first edge of the sheet and extend between the third edge and the fourth edge. A plurality of apertures may be aligned adjacent the second edge of the sheet. At least one tab member having indicia thereon and an adhesive portion may be provided. The adhesive portion of the tab member may be configured to adhere to the first laminate strip portion such that the indicia extends past the perimeter of the sheet. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Operation of the disclosure may be better understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the following illustrations, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of an embodiment of a divider assembly of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of an embodiment of the divider assembly of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of an embodiment of the divider assembly in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of an embodiment of the divider assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of embodiments of the divider assembly with a tab member adhered to a first laminate strip portion in accordance with the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional changes may be made without departing from the respective scope of the disclosure. Moreover, features of the various embodiments may be combined or altered without departing from the scope of the disclosure. As such, the following description is presented by way of illustration only and should not limit in any way the various alternatives and modifications that may be made to the illustrated embodiments and still be within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 
     A divider assembly  20  having an edge design is disclosed and may be of any appropriate configuration and is not limited to that shown and described herein. It should similarly be understood that the divider assembly  20  may be adapted to divide a plurality of sheets or other display elements of any appropriate size, including, without limitation, 8.5 inches by 11 inches, A4 size, legal size or any other applicable size. The divider assembly  20  may be configured to be utilized with a binder of any appropriate size and construction. 
     The divider assembly  20  may include a sheet  30  as illustrated by  FIGS. 1-4 . The sheet  30  may be made of any appropriate material, including, without limitation a paper, cardboard, plastic or polymer material or a transparent, translucent or semi-translucent material. It should be understood that the sheet  30  may be of any appropriate construction and is not limited to that shown and described herein. The sheet  30  may include a front side  32  and an opposite rear side  34 . (See  FIG. 5 ) The sheet  30  may also include a first edge  50  opposite a second edge  60  and a top edge  70  opposite a bottom edge  80 . The respective edges  50 ,  60 ,  70 ,  80  define a perimeter of the sheet  30 . (See  FIGS. 1-4 ) 
     The sheet  30  may include a first laminate strip portion  90 . Further, the sheet may include a second laminate strip portion  100 . The first laminate strip portion  90  may be adhered to the sheet  30  and extend along the first edge  50 . The first laminate strip portion  90  may extend between the third edge  70  and the fourth edge  80  of the sheet  30 . The second laminate strip portion  100  may be adhered to the sheet and extend along the second edge  60 . The second laminate strip portion  100  may extend between the third edge  70  and the fourth edge  80  of the sheet  30 . The first and second laminate strip portions  90 ,  100  may extend up to and be against the third edge  70  and the fourth edge  80 . Also, there may be a space between the first edge  50  and the first laminate strip portion  90  and there may be a space between the second edge  60  and the second laminate strip portion  100 . However, this disclosure is not limiting as the first and second laminate strip portions  90 ,  100  may extend along and abut up to the first edge  50  and the second edge  60 , respectively. 
     A plurality of apertures  40  may be provided through the sheet  30  and aligned along the second edge  60  thereof. The apertures  40  may be aligned with the second laminate strip  100 . The apertures  40  may be configured to receive a ring member from a binder or wire from a spiral notebook to allow the divider assembly  20  to divide a plurality of sheets or other items. The apertures  40  are positioned on the sheet  30  to allow the divider assembly  20  to be operably attached to a binder or folder (not shown), such as a three ring binder. The apertures  40  may be of any configuration. There may be any appropriate number of apertures  40 , including, without limitation two, three, four, etc. 
     Additionally, the sheet  30  may include a third laminate strip portion  130  and a fourth laminate strip portion  140 . As illustrated by  FIG. 2 , the third laminate strip portion  130  may be adhered to the sheet  30  and extend along the third edge  70 . The third laminate strip portion  130  may extend between the first edge  50  and the second edge  60  of the sheet  30 . As illustrated by  FIG. 3 , the fourth laminate strip portion  140  may be adhered to the sheet and extend along the fourth edge  80 . The fourth laminate strip portion  140  may extend between the first edge  50  and the second edge  60  of the sheet  30 . As illustrated by  FIG. 4 , the sheet  30  may include the first, second, third, and fourth laminate strip portions  90 ,  100 ,  130 ,  140 . 
     The laminate strip portions  90 ,  100 ,  130 ,  140  may be shaped in elongated rectangular strips as illustrated by  FIGS. 1-4 . However, the laminate strip portions may include various arrangements and geometric configurations and this disclosure is not limited thereto. The laminate strip portions may provide reinforcement to the sheet  30  and may provide a surface along the sheet  30  that may hold an adhesive, such as a removable adhesive, with more reliability, structure and a longer duration than the sheet  30 . In particular, if the sheet  30  is made from paper or a polymer such as polypropylene, a removable adhesive that is attached to a tab member such as a sticky note, would not reliably hold its position on the sheet and would likely move or detach after a relatively short period of time. 
     The laminate strip portions  90 ,  100 ,  130 ,  140  provide an area along or adjacent to the perimeter of the sheet  30  that provide a stronger, more reliable adhesive bond for operable attachment with a tab member with adhesive. In particular, the surface of the laminate strip portion  90 ,  100 ,  130 ,  140  is configured to function well with adhesives to provide a relatively long and strong removable adhesive bond than if the adhesive was applied directly to the sheet  30 . The laminate strip portions  90 ,  100 ,  130 ,  140  may be a film material that is clear, colored, or have some kind of design thereon. Variations of the laminate strip portions may include the width of the strip, positioning flush to the edge or with a small gap, positioning exclusively on the back side  34 , or positioning on both the front side  32  and the back side  34 . Additionally, the laminate strip portions  90 ,  100 ,  130 ,  140  may be made from have the same or different materials or configurations. For example, the laminate strip portions may be made from various polymer materials such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) type films. Additionally, the laminate strip portions may even be made from a foil type film. 
     The tab member  110  may include label indicia  150  thereon and may be adhered to the laminate strip portions  90 ,  100 ,  130 ,  140  of the sheet  30 . As illustrated by  FIG. 5 , the tab member  110  may be a piece of paper having indicia  150  placed on either side of the paper and an adhesive portion  160 . For example, the tab member  110  may be a sticky note of various sizes and configurations. The adhesive portion  160  may be a removable adhesive configured for multiple uses. The tab members  110  may be made of any appropriate material, including, without limitation, paper, cardboard, or a polymer material such as a polyester material. The tabs may be clear or opaque, colored or colorless, transparent, translucent or semi-translucent material and include various combinations of colors and indicia  150 . 
     The adhesive portion  160  of the tab member  110  may adhere to the laminate strip portion  90 . The tab member  110  may be configured to align along the first edge  50  of the sheet  30  wherein a portion of the tab member  110  extends outwardly past the first edge  50  of the sheet  30  to position the indicia  150  of the tab member  110  to be viewable to a user of the divider assembly  20 . However, any number of tab members  110  may be provided along the laminate strip portions of the sheet  30  and this disclosure is not limited as to number or type. It is contemplated that a broad range of customizable tab members  110  may be viewable to the user along the first laminate portion  90 , the third laminate portion  130 , and/or the fourth laminate portion  140  of the sheet  30 . The tab members  110  may even be viewable to the user along the second laminate portion  100  having the apertures  40  located thereon. These laminate portions may be considered an adhesive strip that is configured to removably bind well with adhesives provided therein. 
     The divider assembly may further include at least one sheet  30  and preferably a plurality of sheets  30 . In one embodiment, there are five (5) sheets, however this disclosure may include generally any number of sheets, e.g., two, three, four, six, seven, eight, etc. In this embodiment, the sheets  30  may each include a tab member  110  having an outwardly configuration from the first edge  50  of each sheet  30  in a staggered orientation. The tab members  110  may extend from the perimeter of the sheet  30  at a different position along the edges  50 ,  60 ,  70 , or  80  such that when the plurality of sheets  30  are aligned, the tab members  30  may be off-set in a known manner for easy viewing, access and manipulation of the divider assembly  20 . 
     Although the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to just the embodiments disclosed, but that the invention described herein is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the claims hereafter. The features of each embodiment described and shown herein may be combined with the features of the other embodiments described herein. The claims as follows are intended to include all modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the claims or the equivalent thereof.