Patent Abstract:
A dual flap scrapbook insert leaf for mounting in a scrapbook for preserving scrapbook displays and storing the displays in a multi-ring photo or scrapbook album. The dual flap scrapbook insert leaf consists of four polypropylene sheets laminated together and folded to form a plurality of display pockets. One of the sheets is formed and arranged to allow for the lamination of the other sheets thereupon. The scrapbook insert leaf further includes a plurality of apertures adapted to allow for connection to the multi-ring, post or strap hinge photo album.

Full Description:
[0001]     This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional application 60/494,679 filed Aug. 13, 2003 and having the same title and inventor. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to a book insert leaf and more specifically to a polypropylene scrapbook insert leaf that is adapted to retain and protect photographs and other cherished memories that are retained in a family album. Scrapbooking is the art of preserving cherished memories for years to come with a personalized scrapbook. Creating a scrapbook is become very popular for saving photographs and other cherished items. Plane tickets, attraction admission stubs, found objects, a pressed flower or even a child&#39;s drawing can become part of the keepsake scrap book. Typical scrapbook pages are approximately twelve inches square and are manufactured from paper. Scrapbook pages may also be manufactured in other sizes including 8.5″×11″, 8″×8″, 6″×6″, among others. Photographs, pictures and other items are placed upon the page and arranged in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Once arranged, a plastic sheet is placed upon the photos to preserve positioning and retard aging. Since scrapbook displays are limited in size due to the physical dimensions of the scrapbook, a need has arisen for a scrapbook leaf that permits larger scrapbook displays to be created, without requiring the use of a larger book. Summary of the Invention  
         [0003]     The dual flap scrapbook insert leaf for mounting in a scrapbook is designed to be a convenient and inexpensive method of preserving scrapbook displays and storing the displays in a multi-ring, post, or strap-hinge photo or scrapbook album. The preferred embodiment of this product consists of four polypropylene sheets laminated together and folded to form a plurality of display pockets. The sheets are formed and arranged to allow for the lamination of the other sheets thereupon. The scrapbook insert leaf further includes a plurality of apertures adapted to allow for connection to the album. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]      FIG. 1  is a top view of the dual flap scrapbook insert leaf with one flap in the open position and the other flap in a closed position;  
         [0005]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the dual flap scrapbook insert leaf with both flaps folded in a closed position;  
         [0006]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the dual flap scrapbook insert leaf with both flaps in an open position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0007]     For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, references will be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention illustrated herein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.  
         [0008]     A preferred embodiment of the dual flap scrapbook insert leaf  10  is shown in  FIG. 1 . The insert leaf  10  is adapted to be connected to a multi-ring album (not shown) and is adapted to retain photographs and other items that one would like to display.  
         [0009]     Also, in the preferred embodiment the insert leaf  10  is made of polypropylene sheet material. The benefits of polypropylene include, but are not limited to, better archivability of a display item. Additionally, a preferred embodiment of the insert leaf  10  uses a clear polypropylene. The clear polypropylene aids in the viewing of the display item.  
         [0010]     Other material can be used provided it has the properties of being a foldable clear or matte material such that an object can be easily viewed from within the display device. The material is preferably capable of being thermally bonded.  
         [0011]     Additionally, the material may be smooth or textured, as certain adhesives may perform better on textured surfaces.  
         [0012]     The insert leaf  10  is comprised of a central pocket  12 , a left flap pocket  14  and a right flap pocket  16  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The description of the insert leaf using positional language is for illustrative purposes only and is written to correspond to the orientation of the drawings, which are in a landscape position, adapted to be attached to an album along the left edge of the insert leaf  10 . Using an album with an attachment mechanism along the top edge would require the insert leaf to be reoriented in a portrait position. The insert leaf  10  includes a bottom sheet  18 , a top left lower sheet  20 , a top left upper sheet  21 , a central sheet  22  and a right sheet  24 .  
         [0013]     The right sheet  24  may be formed from a portion of the central sheet  22  with a section between the sheets. The sheets  18 ,  20 ,  21 ,  22  and  24  are preferably fabricated from polypropylene but other materials can be used that are known to those skilled in the art. The top left upper sheet  21  includes left and right edges  26 ,  28  and top and bottom edges  30 ,  32 . The top left lower sheet  20  includes left and right edges  27 ,  29  and top and bottom edges  31 ,  33 . The forming of and bonding of the top left lower sheet  20  to the top left upper sheet  21  is accomplished by attaching the top left upper sheet  21  to the top left lower sheet  20  about the right and bottom edges  28 ,  27 ,  32  and  33 . The top left upper sheet  21  and top left lower sheet  20  are attached to the central sheet  22  in the reinforcement region  68  along the left edge  26  of the top left upper sheet  21  and the right edge  29  of the top left lower sheet  20  utilizing various means including heat sealing, ultrasonic welding, stitch welding, or gluing to create the left flap pocket  14 . As described above, thermal heat sealing or welding is preferred. The top edges  30 ,  31  of the left flap pocket  14  are not bonded and provides for a slot  34  for the left flap pocket  14 .  
         [0014]     The central sheet  22  of the insert leaf  10  is formed and arranged to fit within a multi-ring, post, or strap-hinge photo or scrapbook album which is preferably 12″×12″, 8.5″×11″, 6″×6″, 8″×8″. Other sizes may be used, depending upon the design and sizing of the photo or scrap booking albums. The central sheet  22  includes a left edge  36 , a spaced apart right edge  38 , a bottom edge  40  and a spaced apart top edge  42 . The forming and bonding of the central sheet  22  to the bottom sheet  18  is accomplished by attaching the central sheet  22  about the left, right and bottom edges,  36 ,  38  and  40  by thermal heat sealing or welding. A secondary weld , as shown in  FIG. 1 , forms the left edge  43  of the central pocket  12 . The top edge  42  of the central sheet  22  is not bonded and provides for a central slot  44  for the central pocket  12  to allow for the ingress and egress of photographs and other articles. Alternatively, the forming and bonding of the central sheet  22  to the bottom sheet  18  could be accomplished by attaching the central sheet  22  about the top, left and bottom edges,  42 ,  36  and  40  by thermal heat sealing or welding. In this alternative, the right edge  38  of the central sheet  22  is not bonded and provides for a slot to allow for the ingress and egress of photographs and other articles. The left edge  36  of the central sheet  22  is spaced apart from the right edge  29  of the left lower sheet  20 , when in an open position, to allow clearance for folding.  
         [0015]     The right sheet  24  of the insert leaf  10  is approximately half the width of the central sheet  22  and is adapted to be folded over and positioned adjacent to the central sheet  22 . The right sheet  24  includes a left edge  46 , a spaced apart right edge  48 , a bottom edge  50  and a spaced apart top edge  52 . The forming and bonding of the right sheet  24  to the bottom sheet  18  is accomplished by attaching the right sheet  24  about the left, right and bottom edges,  46 ,  48  and  50  by thermal heat sealing or welding. The right sheet  24  may be formed from a portion of the central sheet  22  with a section between the sheets stripped out to form individual pockets. The top edge  52  of the right sheet  24  is not bonded and provides for a slot  54  for the right flap pocket  16  to allow for the ingress and egress of photographs and other articles. Alternatively the right flap pocket  16  could be formed by leaving the left edge  46  unbonded and bonding the top, right and bottom edges  52 ,  48  and  50  to form a pocket. The left edge  46  of the right sheet  24  is spaced apart from the right edge  38  of the central sheet  22  to allow clearance for folding.  
         [0016]     The bottom sheet  18  of the insert leaf  10  includes a left edge  56 , a spaced apart right edge  58 , a top edge  60  and a spaced apart bottom edge  62  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The four edges of the bottom sheet  18  define the outer perimeter when the right flap pocket  16  is unfolded. When folded, the left edge  46  of the right sheet  24  and the right edge  38  of the central sheet  22  define the right perimeter edge of the insert leaf  10 . The left edge  56  of the bottom sheet  18  is sealed to the left edge  36  of the central sheet  22 . This arrangement creates a reinforced region  68  to reduce the likelihood of tear-out of the photo album and to allow pages to lay flat when turned in the album. The reinforced region  68  includes a circular aperture  64  positioned equidistant from the top edge  60  and the bottom edge  62  of the bottom sheet  18  and is adapted to accept a ring from the photo album. The reinforced region  68  also includes a pair of elongated apertures  70 ,  72  that are spaced apart from the circular aperture  64 . The elongated apertures  70 ,  72  include reinforcing rings  74 ,  76  that strengthen elongated apertures  70 ,  72  to prevent pull-through.  
         [0017]     In use, the insert leaf  10  is attached to a photo album by connecting the apertures  64 ,  70  and  72  to the binder rings, posts or straps. Once connected to the photo album, the left flap pocket  14  and right flap pocket  16  of the insert leaf  10  are hinged outward, exposing the central pocket  12 . Once the user has created the photo scrapbook arrangements of choice, a first arrangement formed and arranged to fit within the slot  34  is inserted into the left flap pocket  14 , a second arrangement formed and arranged to fit within the slot  44  is inserted into the central pocket  12  and a third arrangement formed and arranged to fit within the slot  54  is inserted into the right flap  16 , creating an overall arrangement.  
         [0018]     Various features of the invention have been particularly shown and described in connection with the illustrated embodiment of the invention, however, it must be understood that these particular arrangements merely illustrate, and that the invention is to be given its fullest interpretation within the terms of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1