Patent Abstract:
An adhesive blank for decorating articles such as pencils and the like. In one embodiment, the sticker has a first decal and a second decal that are connected together by a bridge. The sticker is preferably symmetrical about a central axis. One surface of the sticker is provided with an adhesive that is exposed when a protective backing sheet is removed. Thus, upon wrapping the bridge about an appropriately sized object, the decals meet in even alignment to create a decorative tag.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an article for affixing to items such as pencils and pens to create a decorative tag. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Ornamental articles in the form of stickers are well known in the prior art. Such stickers are typically formed from a suitably pliable sheet of material, such as paper or plastic, that has an adhesive layer on one of its sides. The adhesive is often covered by a protective backing sheet that may be peeled off to expose the adhesive. After removing the protective layer, the sticker may be applied to a desired surface. 
     Some stickers are configured to adorn specific surfaces or objects. For example, a wide variety of stickers in various shapes and sizes are used by manufacturers of goods to denote brand names and similar information. Likewise, bumper stickers are sized so that they can be applied to the bumper of automobile. Often these stickers include a political message or a statement of some type. Other stickers are used solely for decorative purposes. For example, it is popular among children to collect stickers that can then be used to decorate notebooks and other articles. 
     Typically, stickers are designed to be used on two dimensional surfaces. However, at least one patent discloses decorative stickers that can be used in conjunction with three dimensional objects. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,032 to Obidniak discloses a sticker for use on packages and the like. The sticker is formed from a pliable sheet of material that is shaped so as to represent a fanciful character. One surface is printed with a corresponding fanciful character. Two elongated arms—each having a hand-like shape at their ends—extend from the body of the ornamental article. Each hand-like portion includes a means to affix the ornamental article to a package. When applied to a package, the ornamental article looks as though it is holding the package. 
     The sticker described in Obidniak is not designed to fully wrap around an article so that portions of the sticker may be attached to one another to form a decorative tag. Instead, the entire surface of the sticker is solely applied to the article that it decorates. This prior art sticker can be used in combination with an article that has a relatively small circumference so that when applied, portions of the sticker extend away from the article. However, because the sticker is not symmetrical, its opposite sides do not align with one another. Thus, the gummy surfaces of the sticker are left uncovered and the general appearance of the tag is poor. 
     Other stickers are known in the prior art that are designed to be wrapped around or affixed to a surface that is not flat. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 3,994,085 to Groselak et al. discloses a baggage tag assembly formed from a single continuous sheet of material. The tag can be fastened to the handle of a piece of baggage by means of adhesive which allows the tag to be affixed to itself. This invention does not disclose a tag that is non-movably attached to an object. Rather, the tag in Groselak can be moved laterally along a baggage handle and can be rotated as well. Furthermore, as with Obidniak, because the sticker is not symmetrical, it cannot be used to create a flap that projects from the article. 
     Thus there is a need for an ornamental adhesive blank that can be used in conjunction with articles such as writing instruments and the like to form a decorative tag. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is thus a general object of the present invention to provide an ornamental adhesive blank that is suitable for decorating a pencil or other similar article. 
     A more specific object of the present invention is to provide an ornamental adhesive blank having decals connected together by a bridge, where the decals mirror one another so that they may be evenly aligned when the sticker is applied to an article. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an ornamental adhesive blank that is configured to display an image blank. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide an ornamental adhesive blank that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. 
     Thus, according to one embodiment of the invention, an ornamental adhesive blank of pliable sheet material is provided for decorating an object having a central axis and a circumferential surface area. The ornamental adhesive blank comprises a central bridge portion having first and second ends. A first decal is coupled to the first end of said central bridge portion. A second decal is coupled to the second end of the central bridge portion. The second decal is formed in the shape of a mirror image of the first decal. Thus, when the second adhesive side of the central bridge portion is wrapped about the circumferential surface area of the object, the second adhesive sides of the first and second decals contact one another to form a two-sided ornamental decal offset from the central axis of the object. 
     The above description sets forth rather broadly the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be understood, and in order that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for the purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings in which like reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ornamental adhesive blank affixed to a pencil according to one embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a rear view of the ornamental adhesive blank shown in FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of an ornamental adhesive blank according to another embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of an ornamental adhesive blank according to another embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of an ornamental adhesive blank according to another embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the ornamental adhesive blank shown in FIG. 5 affixed to a pencil; 
     FIG. 7 a  is a front view of an ornamental adhesive blank configured to hold an image blank according to one embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 7 b  illustrates an image blank that has been cut from a photograph according to one embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a is a perspective view of the ornamental adhesive blank shown in FIG. 7 a  affixed to a pencil and holding the image blank shown in FIG. 7 b  according to one embodiment of the invention; 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention, in accordance with one embodiment, relates to a ornamental adhesive blank  20 , illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, that can be used to decorate writing implements such as pencils, pens, markers or the like. Although a pencil  10  is shown, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in this respect, and that any cylindrical or tubular article or any article having a central axis can be used in place of pencil  10 . For instance, blank  20  can be attached to shoe laces, belt loops, key chains, toothbrushes, eyeglasses, hair accessories, among many other items not here listed. 
     In one embodiment, blank  20  which is preferably a single piece of material consists of three portions: a first decal  22   a , a second decal  22   b , and a bridge portion  24 . The two surfaces of blank  20  are a first ornamental side  21  and a second adhesive side  25 . As shown in FIG. 2, the shape of first decal  22   a  is a mirror image of the shape of second decal  22   b . With continued reference to FIG. 2, blank  20  is shown in more detail. In one embodiment, blank  20  includes an adhesive layer  26  over the entire surface of second adhesive side  25 . In another embodiment, adhesive layer  26  does not cover bridge  24 . In other embodiments, adhesive layer  26  covers only first decal  22   a  or second decal  22   b.    
     The adhesive used may be any of a number of commercially available adhesives but is preferably selected from a class of adhesives that are readily sealable in the first instance upon application. Preferably, blank  20  is reusable in that adhesive layer  26  is formulated so that the adhesive retains its gummy characteristics after it is repositioned by separating the first seal. A protective backing sheet  28  is disposed on adhesive layer  26  so as to prevent blank  20  from being unintentionally affixed to an undesired surface. Instead of pressure-sensitive adhesive, in another embodiment, a hook and loop fastener may used. 
     Blank  20 , itself, is preferably formed from a soft, flexible plastic material that provides a good printing surface. One such material appropriate for this application is polyester. However, blank  20  can also be formed from paper or other similar materials. A printed design is disposed upon first ornamental side  21 . In FIG. 1 this design is in the form of a flower. However, such designs are limited only by one&#39;s imagination. Decals  22   a  and  22   b  may have identical or similar designs or they each may have totally different printed matter thereupon. For example, decal  22   a  may display the front of a person&#39;s head while decal  22   b  may display the rear of a person&#39;s head. Preferably, in all cases, the printed design reflects the shape in which decals  22   a  and  22   b  have been cut. For example, in FIG. 1, decal  22   a  represents a flower in shape and the printed material on first ornamental side  21  reflects a like theme. 
     The printed design on decals  22   a  and  22   b  may also impart information to a user or any other person who comes in contact with the object on which blank  20  is attached. For example, blank  20  may make use of color and/or symbols to clearly indicate the type of object on which it is attached. In one embodiment, common first names are printed on decals  22   a  and  22   b  so that the owner of the object is identified. In another embodiment, colors may identify objects having similar appearance. For example, pencils containing various types of graphite, e.g., different hardnesses, may be identified using color coded blanks  20 . This may be useful to an illustrator who employs a number of pencils that are not easily distinguished from one another. 
     The first step in attaching blank  20  to an object is to remove protective backing  28  from sheet  31  to expose adhesive layer  26 . Central bridge portion  24  is then applied to the object such as pencil.  10  in FIG.  1 . Upon wrapping bridge  24  about pencil  10 , decals  22   a  and  22   b  meet one another and may be evenly aligned due to the fact that they are mirror images of one another. Because the entire adhesive layer  26  is covered by another portion of blank  20 , a decorative tag (in this case a flower) is formed that adorns pencil  10 . With proper alignment, the result is a neat appearance because all portions of second adhesive side  25  are covered. The decorative tag is offset from central axis A of pencil  10 . In a cylindrical object such as pencil  10 , axis A is a line that interconnects the center points of circles formed when a right plane intersects the cylinder. Blank  20  can be affixed at any point along the length of the pencil. Moreover, multiple stickers  20  can be used with one pencil so that additional tags are displayed on pencil  10 . 
     With reference to FIG. 3, bridge  24  may also form part of the decorative features of blank  20 . In this instance, the tailfin of a fish is represented by bridge  24 . Preferably, in any of the embodiments described herein, the length of bridge  24  approximates the circumference of a standard pencil. This length is typically about one inch. In turn, when blank  20  is used with an object having this circumference, entire decals  22   a  and  22   b  can be displayed. However, it should be understood that blank  20  is not limited to use with a writing implement such as a pencil, pen, marker or similarly sized object. For example, blank  20  can be wrapped around belt loops, key chains, and shoe laces. Moreover, bridge  24  can be sized so that it can be wrapped around objects having circumferences that are larger or smaller than a standard pencil. In turn, blank  20  can be used with articles such as chair legs and the like. Also, the design of bridge  24  may take advantage of the bulge created when blank  20  is wrapped around an article to create representations of various objects. 
     In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4, scored lines  29  are disposed on either side of bridge  24 . Thus, when used to decorate an object whose circumference is nearly the same as the length as bridge  24 , decals  22   a  and  22   b  can be more easily affixed to one another. Moreover, the scored lines help to improve appearance by causing there to be a crisp break between decals  22   a  and  22   b  and bridge  24 . 
     In another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5, an ornamental adhesive blank  30  is configured so that two decorative tags are formed when blank  30  is wrapped about an object. Specifically, this sticker includes a first left decal  32   a , a first bridge  34   a , and a first right decal  32   b  similarly configured to the originally described blank  20  that is shown in FIG.  2 . Blank  30  also includes a second left decal  32   c , a second bridge  34   b , and a second right decal  32   d . This portion is also similar to the originally described blank  20  that is shown in FIG.  2  and in shaped so as to mirror the other portion described above. In this embodiment, edges  36  of first right decal  32   b  and second left decal  32   c  are joined to one another to form one sticker having four decals and two bridges. 
     With continued reference to FIG. 5, the first step in attaching blank  30  to an object is to fold first right decal  32   b  onto second left decal  32   c  so that they are affixed to one another. In one embodiment, in order to simplify this first step, the line where edges  36  meet is scored. An object such as pencil  10 , shown in FIG. 6, is placed between bridges  34   a  and  34   b  such that the object is centered along bridges  34   a  and  34   b  and generally perpendicular to blank  30 . Bridges  34   a  and  34   b  are then affixed to the object. In the instance where the circumference of the object is less than the combined lengths of bridges  34   a  and  34   b , overlap portions of bridges  34   a  and  34   b  are affixed to one another. Lastly, decals  32   a  and  32   d  are affixed to one another. Blank  30  is shown affixed to pencil  10  in FIG.  6 . 
     In yet another embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 7 a , an ornamental adhesive blank.  40  is shown that is configured to display an image blank  50  that may be supplied with blank  40  or supplied by the user. In the preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7 b , image blank  46  is cut from a photograph  47 . Analogous to adhesive blank  20  shown in FIG. 2, adhesive blank  40  consists of three portions: a first decal  42   a , a second decal  42   b , and a bridge portion  44 . In this instance, first decal  42   a  is further die-cut so that an opening  48  is formed therethrough. The two surfaces of blank  40  are a first ornamental side  41  and a second adhesive side  45 . As shown, the shape of first decal  42   a  is a mirror image of the shape of second decal  42   b . In one embodiment, blank  40  includes an adhesive layer  46  over the entire surface of second adhesive side  45 . In another embodiment, adhesive layer  46  does not cover bridge  44 . In another embodiment, adhesive layer  26  covers only second decal  42   b.    
     With continued reference to FIG. 7 a , the first step in attaching blank  40  to an object is to remove protective backing  48  from sheet  41  to expose adhesive layer  46 . Image blank  50  is then attached to adhesive side  45  of second decal  42   b  in a position that will allow it to be seen through opening  48 . Central bridge portion  44  is then applied to the object such as pencil  10  in FIG.  1 . Upon wrapping bridge  44  about pencil  10 , decals  42   a  and  42   b  meet one another and may be evenly aligned due to the fact that they are mirror images of one another. A decorative tag including image blank  50  is formed that is offset from central axis A of pencil  10 . Blank  40  can be affixed at any point along the length of the pencil. Moreover, multiple stickers  40  can be used with one pencil so that additional tags are displayed on pencil  10 . 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above. 
     Thus, while there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to alternative embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the disclosed invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto. It is to be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, but that they are merely conceptual in nature.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8