Patent Publication Number: US-7910189-B2

Title: Photo sheet assembly with removable adhesive portions

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/815,046, filed on 20 Jun. 2006. The co-pending Provisional Patent Application is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and is made a part hereof, including but not limited to those portions which specifically appear hereinafter. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to a sheet having removable portions to expose adhesive to which, for example, photos can be adhered. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A general object of the invention is to provide a sheet to which photos or other items can be adhered and described, such as for use in, for example, scrap-booking or other record keeping. 
     The general object of the invention can be attained, at least in part, through a sheet assembly that includes a first facing sheet, a second facing sheet, and an adhesive material disposed between the first and second facing sheets. A plurality of shapes is cut within a remaining portion of the first facing sheet, and each of the plurality of shapes defines a removable portion disposed over a portion of the second facing sheet. Upon removal of the removable portion the adhesive material is exposed. The remaining portion includes a printable area. 
     The invention further comprehends a method of using the sheet assembly of the invention. The method includes removing the removable portion defined by one of the plurality of shapes to expose the adhesive material and placing a picture on the exposed adhesive material. The user can write or print (e.g., using a computer printer) on the printable area, which is desirably aligned with the picture, to associate a note or record with the picture. 
     The invention further comprehends a sheet assembly including a first facing sheet, a second facing sheet, and an adhesive material disposed between the first and second facing sheets. Each of the first and second facing sheets includes a plurality of shapes cut within a remaining portion of the facing sheet. Each of the plurality of shapes of the first facing sheet defines a removable portion disposed over the remaining portion of the second facing sheet. Each of the plurality of shapes of the second facing sheet defines a removable portion disposed over the remaining portion of the first facing sheet. 
     The invention still further comprehends a sheet assembly including a first facing sheet having a first facing sheet surface. The first facing sheet includes a first plurality of shapes cut within a first facing sheet remaining portion. Each of the first plurality of shapes defines a first facing sheet removable portion. The sheet assembly further includes a second facing sheet having a second facing sheet surface disposed adjacent the first facing sheet surface. The second facing sheet includes a second plurality of shapes cut within a second facing sheet remaining portion. Each of the second plurality of shapes defines a second facing sheet removable portion. 
     A first adhesive material coating is on the first facing sheet surface and a second adhesive material coating is on the second facing sheet surface. The second adhesive material coating contacts the first adhesive material coating. Each of the first plurality of shapes is disposed over the second facing sheet remaining portion, such that upon removal of one of the first facing sheet removable portions the second adhesive material coating is exposed. Likewise, each of the second plurality of shapes is disposed over the first facing sheet remaining portion, such that upon removal of one of the second facing sheet removable portions the first adhesive material coating is exposed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other objects and features of this invention will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
         FIG. 1A  is a plan view of a sheet according to one embodiment of this invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is a plan view of the opposite side of the sheet shown in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of a sheet according to another embodiment of this invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of a sheet according to yet another embodiment of this invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of a sheet according to still yet another embodiment of this invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate a photo sheet  20  (not necessarily shown to scale) according to one embodiment of this invention. Photo sheet  20  is desirably formed of two opposing face sheets, such as face sheet  22  and face sheet  22 ′. The two face sheets are desirably the same size. The two face sheets are attached together by an adhesive coating. The adhesive coating can include any adhesive material known and available to those skilled in the art, such as adhesives for forming pressure sensitive, or self-adhesive labels. In one embodiment of this invention, each of the two face sheets  22  and  22 ′ includes an adhesive material coating one side of the sheet. The two adhesive coated sheet surfaces are joined together to form the photo sheet  20 . The face sheets  22  and  22 ′ will be described below with particular reference to face sheet  22 . 
     The photo sheet  20  is of any suitable shape. Common sizes of paper generally fed through printers are 8.5 inches by 5.5 inches, 8.5 inches by 11 inches, 8.263 inches by 11.688 inches (A4 size), and 8.5 inches by 14 inches. The face sheets are preferably, but not necessarily, constructed of any suitable paper, paper composite, non-metal and/or metal material that can be used as a label. Other suitable materials for constructing the face sheets include fabric, plastic, and metal foils. The adhesive coating is applied to the face sheets in any suitable manner known to those skilled in the art. The face sheet  22  desirably has a printable surface  24  on a side opposite the adhesive coating. 
     The face sheets and the printable surfaces of this invention can be any of a variety of face materials used to make pressure sensitive, or self-adhesive labels. Such face materials may include, but are not limited to: smudgeproof stock, litho stock, cast coated stock, tag stock, fluorescent stock, foils, computer printable polyester, vinyl, satin cloth, Tyvek™ material, flexible plastic, book papers, photo quality papers and/or photo quality film. Furthermore, various portions of the face materials can be different colors, thereby resulting in different colored parts. 
     The phrase “printable surface” relates to a surface of any type of matter upon which a person or machine can draw, print, color, paint, photocopy, write, emboss, or make any other type of mark or graphic. Laser printers, ink jet printers, impact printers, thermal transfer printers, direct thermal printers, typewriters, or any other suitable graphic printing devices are preferred but not necessary for use with printable surfaces according to this invention. 
     The face sheet  22  includes a plurality of shapes  30 , each defining a removable portion. The phrase “shape”, or the phrase removable or tearable shape or portion, is intended to relate to a shape, such as the shapes identified in  FIG. 1A  by element reference numerals  30 , that can be torn away from a remaining portion  26  of the face sheet  22 , by using tearable lines of separation  32 . Tearable lines  32  can be die-cut lines, perforated lines, micro-perforated lines, or any combination of these types of separation, or any other suitable structure that enables separation. A preferred type of tearable line  32  is a line that is die-cut. The shapes  30  can be die-cut along at least a portion of a periphery, such that the shapes  30  can be easily removed or separated from the remaining portion  26  of the sheet  22 . 
     The remaining portion  26  of the face sheet  22  includes a printable area  40 . The printable area  40  includes an optional plurality of printed lines to facilitate handwriting or other printing or writing thereon. Optional punched holes  42  are included to allow the sheet  20  to be contained within, for example, a three-ring binder. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art following the teachings herein provided, various and alternative sizes, shapes, and configurations are available for the holes, printed lines, and the printable area of this invention. 
     The second face sheet  22 ′ attached to the face sheet  22  is configured similarly, but opposite of the face sheet  22 . The second face  22 ′ sheet also includes a plurality of shapes  30 ′ defining removable portions, and a printable area  40 ′ on the remaining portion  26 ′. When the two facing sheets  22  and  22 ′ are aligned and attached, the printable area  40 ′ of the second facing sheet  22 ′ is aligned over or behind the plurality of shapes  30  of the facing sheet  22 . Likewise, the printable area  40  of the facing sheet  22  is aligned over or behind the plurality of shapes  30 ′ on the second facing sheet  22 ′. In other words, the remaining portion of each of the facing sheets acts as a backing or backing sheet for the removable shapes  30  of the other sheet. In one embodiment of this invention, two uncut sheets are first adhered together and the combined sheets are then die-cut to provide the removable shapes. 
     When the shapes  30  are removed from the facing sheet  22 , the adhesive on the other facing sheet  22 ′ remaining portion  26 ′ is exposed. A photo, for example, can be attached to the photo paper  20  by the adhesive exposed by the removed shape  30 . The printable area  40  can be used to add, for example, text describing or related to the attached photo. The removed shape  30  also includes an adhesive backing, which allows the shape  30  to be used as a label or sticker. 
     Thus the photo sheet of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  includes two opposing page surfaces with removable portions to expose adhesive to which photos can be adhered, as well as a printable portion to, for example, makes notes or describe the attached photograph. 
     As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art followings the teachings herein provided, various and alternative sizes, shapes and configurations are available for the photo sheet, the facing sheet, the removable shapes and the printable area of this invention. In the embodiment of this invention shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the removable shapes  30  and  30 ′ are about one inch square (dimensions B), and separated by about 0.25 inches of remaining portion  26  and  26 ′ (dimensions C). The removable shapes  30  and  30 ′ are disposed, for example, about 0.625 inches (dimensions A) from the longitudinal edge  46 . The number and placement of the removable portions can vary. For example, sizes according to known photo sizes can be utilized. Also, the removable portions are shown in the figures as being disposed on one side of the sheet, but could also be staggered on the sheet (desirably with an opposite staggering on the reverse side). 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a photo sheet  100  according to another embodiment of this invention. The photo sheet  100  is similar to the photo sheet  20  described above with reference to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , but the photo sheet  100  has a generally opposite configuration from the photo sheet  20 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a photo sheet  200  according to yet another embodiment of this invention. The photo sheet  200  includes similar elements as described above, yet includes a different number and size for the removable shapes  230 . The photo sheet  200  includes three removable shapes  230 , each desirably having a shape of about 2.875 inches (dimension G) by 1.875 inches (dimension H). The photo sheet  200  also includes a larger printable area  240 . Also in the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , an optional printed border line  250  is included around the removable shapes  230 . In the embodiment of this invention shown in  FIG. 3 , the removable shapes  230  are separated by about 0.625 inches (dimensions F) between the die cuts  232  and 0.5 inches (dimension E) between the optional printed border lines  250 . The removable shapes  230  are disposed, for example, about 0.625 inches (dimension D) from the longitudinal edge  246 . The optional printed border lines  250  are disposed, for example, about 0.5 inches (dimension E) from the longitudinal edge  46 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a photo sheet  300  according to another embodiment of this invention. The photo sheet  300  is similar to the photo sheet  200  described above with reference to  FIG. 3 , but the photo sheet  300  has a generally opposite configuration from the photo sheet  200 . 
     Thus, the invention provides various and alternative configurations of photo sheets that include two page surfaces with cut shapes that are removable to expose adhesive to which photos can be adhered, as well as a printable portion to makes notes or describe the attached photograph. 
     It will be appreciated that details of the foregoing embodiment, given for purposes of illustration, is not to be construed as limiting the scope of this invention. Although only exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiment without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention. Further, it is recognized that many embodiments may be conceived that do not achieve all of the advantages of some embodiments, particularly of the preferred embodiments, yet the absence of a particular advantage shall not be construed to necessarily mean that such an embodiment is outside the scope of the present invention.