Patent Abstract:
A multi-layered card having a thin, flexible, non-moisture absorbable, printable first layer, a first high tack adhesive second layer on a back side of the first layer joining the first layer to a front face of a third layer of a moisture absorbable card stock. A back side of the card stock covered with a second high tack pressure sensitive adhesive fourth layer joining the card stock to a front face of a flexible magnet sheet fifth layer.

Full Description:
[0001]    This invention relates to advertising cards. More specifically, it refers to a multi-layered card having a thin, flexible, non-moisture absorbable material laminated layer over moisture absorbable card stock joined with a first adhesive layer and a flexible magnet sheet joined to the card stock with a second adhesive layer, the card used for determining relative humidity in ambient air.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Advertising cards such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,228,451 contain indicia for promoting various products. The front face is a blank having a corona or non-corona treated surface. The cards can be attached to a ferrous metal object by adhering a flexible magnet sheet to the back of the card or coating the back of the card with a low tack adhesive so that the card can be removed from a wood or plastic surface and repositioned as desired. Since an advertising card is commonly positioned within a home, it would be useful to create a dual purpose for the card in determining moisture levels in the home. Molds, dust mites, bacteria, viruses and other harmful microbes thrive when the relative humidity in a home exceeds fifty percent. The key to mold control is moisture control. If indoor humidity is kept low; i.e., between thirty and fifty percent relative humidity, mold control is achieved. It would be a great advantage to a homeowner to have a no additional cost method of determining relative humidity so that a dehumidifier can be turned on when humidity exceeds fifty percent. Such a no additional cost relative humidity indicating device is needed.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The present invention solves the need for determining home relative humidity levels by employing a modified advertising card usually obtained from advertisers at no cost to the consumer. The card of this invention has a thin, flexible, non-moisture absorbable material such as a silver foil printable with indicia as a front sheet. The front sheet back surface is attached with a high tack adhesive, either heat activated or pressure sensitive, to a six to ten point card stock that absorbs moisture. In one version, a rear surface of the card stock is attached with a high tack heat activated adhesive to a front face of a flexible magnet sheeting. A back side of the magnet sheeting retains a low tack adhesive covered by a carrier sheet prior to use. The magnet can be attached to a ferrous metal or other substances such as wood, plastic, aluminum and stone by use of the low tack adhesive.  
           [0004]    A lower portion of the card has perforations above a gauge adapted to show low humidity, just right humidity or high humidity. The gauge is removed and held at a right angle to the card attached to a vertical surface. The amount of curl of the card&#39;s bottom edge determines the relative humidity in the ambient air. The gauge positioned under the curled portion interprets the curl in terms of relative humidity. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a five layered card of this invention.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a side view of the five layered card of FIG. 1.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a first alternative card having seven layers.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is a side view of the seven layered card of FIG. 3.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a second alternative card having nine layers.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 is a side view of the nine layered card of FIG. 5.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a square configuration third alternative card having seven layers.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 8 is a side view of the third alternative card.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 9 is a side view of a card curled over a gauge showing low relative humidity.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 10 is a side view of a card curled over a gauge showing relative humidity of thirty to fifty percent.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 11 is a side view of a card curled over a gauge showing a high relative humidity over fifty percent. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]    Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.  
         [0018]    Referring to FIG. 1-2, the card  10  has a first layer  12  of a printable, thin, flexible, non-moisture absorbable material such as polyvinyl chloride, polyester, cellophane or silver foil. A front surface  14  of first layer  12  contains indicia. A back surface  16  of first layer  12  is adhered to a six to ten point moisture absorbable card stock  18  by an intermediate high tack adhesive layer  20 . A top portion  22  of the card stock  18  has a flexible magnet sheet  24  attached with a high tack adhesive  26 . A lower portion of first layer  12  and the card stock  18  has a perforation line  28  for removal of a gauge  30 . Referring to FIG. 9-11, the gauge  30  has a low moisture indicating portion  32 , a just right indicating portion  34  and a high humidity indicating portion  36 . The gauge  30  is placed perpendicular to a vertical mounting surface  38  just below a bottom edge  40  of the card  10  to convert the degree of curl into a relative humidity reading.  
         [0019]    A first alternative card  10   a  shown in FIG. 3-4 has a first layer  12   a  of a printable, thin, flexible, non-moisture absorbable material such as polyvinyl chloride, polyester, cellophane or silver foil. A front surface  14   a  of first layer  12   a  contains indicia. A back surface  16   a  of first layer  12   a  is adhered to a six to ten point moisture absorbable card stock  18   a  by an intermediate high tack adhesive layer  20   a.  A flexible magnet sheeting  24   a  is adhered to the card stock  18   a  by an intermediate high tack adhesive layer  26   a.  A low tack adhesive layer  42  is applied to a back side  44  along a lower portion  46  of magnet  24   a.  A carrier layer  48  is adhered to the adhesive layer  42  until the adhesive layer  42  is needed for attaching card  10   a  to a vertical non-metal surface  38 . The magnet alone can provide an attachment when surface  38  is a ferrous metal. A gauge  30  as shown in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 9-11 can be separately made to indicate the curl of card  10   a.    
         [0020]    A second alternative card  10   b  shown in FIG. 5-6 has a first layer  12   b  of a printable, thin, flexible, non-moisture absorbable material such as polyvinyl chloride, polyester, cellophane or silver foil. A front surface  14   b  of first layer  12   b  contains indicia. A back surface  16   b  of first layer  12   b  is adhered to a six to ten point moisture absorbable card stock  18   b  by an intermediate high tack adhesive layer  20   b.  A flexible magnet sheeting  24   b  is adhered to the card stock  18   b  by an intermediate high tack adhesive layer  26   a.  A back side  44   b  of magnet  24   b  has a high tack layer  50  applied and a first carrier paper  52  over the layer  50 . A low tack adhesive  54  is applied to a back side  56  of carrier paper  52  and a second carrier paper  58  is applied over the adhesive  54  for easy removal.  
         [0021]    A third alternative card  10 c shown in FIG. 7-8 has a square configuration as compared to the rectangular card configuration of FIG. 1-6. Card  10   c  has a first layer  12   c  of a printable, thin, flexible, non-moisture absorbable material such as polyvinyl chloride, polyester, cellophane or silver foil. A front surface  14   c  of first layer  12   c  contains indicia. A back surface  16   c  of first layer  12   c  is adhered to a six to ten point moisture absorbable card stock  18   c  by an intermediate high tack adhesive layer  20   c.  A flexible magnet sheeting  24   c  is adhered to the card stock  18   c  by a high tack adhesive layer  26   c.  A low tack adhesive  60  is attached to a back side  64  of magnet  24   c.  The low tack adhesive is covered by carrier paper  62  until the card  10   c  is ready for mounting on a vertical surface  38 .  
         [0022]    Although the alternative embodiments shown in FIG. 3-8 do not show a perforation line and gauge as shown in FIG. 1-2, such a gauge can be attached in the manner shown in FIG. 1 to a bottom edge  40 . In the same manner, the embodiment shown in FIG. 1-2 does not have to contain an attached gauge as the gauge can be separately created by a heavy grade of paper such as seen on business cards.  
         [0023]    In all the cards  10 ,  10   a,    10   b  and  10   c,  the card stock  18 ,  18   a,    18   b  and  18   c  is a moisture absorbable paper. The first layer  12 , adhesive layer  20  and card stock can be purchased from Fasson, Inc. The preferred first layer is silver foil obtained from Crown Roll Leaf. The high tack adhesive is a heat sensitive or pressure sensitive glue. The preferred card stock is about  8  point card stock. Preferably, the adhesive between the magnet sheet and card stock is a heat activated glue. The flexible magnet sheeting  24 ,  24   a,    24   b  and  24   c  can be obtained from Flexmag Industries, Inc.  
         [0024]    In use, gauge  30  along bottom line  40  is detached and the card  10 ,  10   a,    10   b  or  10   c,  is exposed to ambient conditions in a room. As the card bottom line  40  curls upwardly as shown in FIG. 9-11, the gauge  30  is held perpendicular to the mounting surface  38  and the moisture level is read from the gauge portions  32 ,  34 , or  36 .  
         [0025]    Equivalent elements can be substituted for the elements shown to produce a card in the same way with the same function and same results.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1