Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
- 11415~76
This invention relates generally to the field of photo-
graphic album pages of laminated type, in which a pair of clear
laminae are overlaid upon the opposed surfaces of a fibrous layer
to form a pair of pockets open along at least one edge thereof for
the insertion of photographic prints or the like. Album pages of
this general type are known in the art, and are normally manufac-
tured in sizes corresponding to the size of the retained prints, one
print being thereby displayed on each side of the page. Where the
page is relatively large and is employed to retain more than one
print on each side, the inner fibrous layer is usually coated with
a pressure-sensitive adhesive which engages both the retained prints
and the clear lamina overlying the prints. In this construction,
the page is opened for the positioning of the prints by peeling the
clear lamina from the adhesively coated fibrous lamina. This is a
more expensive construction to manufacture, both in terms of the
number of steps required, and the materials used.
It is also known to manufacture an album page entirely
from paper stock, the laminae of which are glued alon~ predeter-
mined areas to form pockets of desired sizeO This construction re-
quires the initial formation of foldable cut blanks which are em-
bossed or printed prior to assembly, again a relatively expensive
con~truction.
It is also known to make photo album pages completely
of s~nthetic resinous materials, in which the various laminae are
bar-sealed using radio frequency sealing means. These pages are
quite serviceable, but where the outermost lamina is necessarily
transparent, it is often required to insert a paper backing to
provide an attractive appearance.
`- ~1415~6
Constantly increasing costs of materials and production
have made desirable the development of a simplified technique for
the manufacture of relatively large photographic album pages using
light-weight materials with accurately formed pockets and high
mechanical strength. Such pages preferably include a clear lamina
which protects the surface of prints stored therebeneath. The
pages also require for appearance's sake the presence of a non-
transparent lamina, with the pockets formed by the sealing of the
clear outer laminae together. The cutting of such non-transparent
lamina, and the insertion of the same into a formed pocket cannot
be satisfactorily accomplished at low cost at the present state of
development of the art.
Briefly stated, the invention contemplates the provision
of an improved album page of the type above described which
includes a pair of clear outer laminae formed from synthetic resin-
ous materials, and a fibxous paper lamina positioned therebetween.
The page is subdivided into pockets of desired size by ultrasonic
stitching of the two clear laminae together, directly through the
paper layer, without any previous cutting or inserting of the paper
layer. The material forming the paper in the sealed areas is
vaporized under the heat necessary to fuse the synthetic resinous
laminae. The sealing is performed as a run of stitches rather
than as a continuous line, to allow for adeguate venting of the
consumed paper during the sealing operation, and to maintain the
structural integrity of the paper layer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the
specification, similar reference characters have been employed to
designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
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7~
Figure 1 is an exploded view in perspective, showing a
first step in the manufacture of an album page in accordance with
the disclosed invention.
Figure 2 is a view in elevation showing the completion of
a subsequent step.
Figure 3 is a view in elevation showing a further step
in the method.
Figure 4 is a view in elevation showing a completed album
page.
The invention consists in a method of forming a photo-
graphic album page comprising the steps of:
(a) Providing a first rectangular fibrous non-heat
sealable lamina;
(b) Providing second and third rectangular clear heat-
~ealable laminae of substantially similar overall dimensions;
(c) Placing said clear laminae in congruent relation
with the fibrous lamina positioned between the clear laminae;
(d) Using an ultrasonic stitching device, interconnect-
ing said laminae by sealing the two outer laminae together to
form plural pockets on each side of said fibrous lamina, said
fibrous lamina being penetrated at the points of stitching in
such manner that material comprising said lamina are vaporized
under sealing heat to bring ~ealed areas of said clear laminae
into integral relation to captivate said fibrous lamina there-
between.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figure 1 in the drawing, as a first step in
the diselosed method, there are provided a first clear rectangular
lamina 10, a second clear rectangular lamina 11, and a third non-
transparent fibrous lamina 12. The laminae 10-12 inclusive, are
11415~
rectangular in configuration, being bounded by upper edges 13, 14
and 15; lower edges 16, 17 and 18; outer side edges 19, 20 and 21;
and inner side edges 22, 23 and 24.
Referring to Figure 2, prior to sealing, the larninae 10-
12 are placed in substantially congruent relation and a plurality
of vertical ultr~sonic stitching lines are made as indicated by
reference characters 26, 27 and 2~. Following this, the assembly
is rotated through 90, and a horizontal stitch line 29 is provided.
At this point, the page is essentially completed, except
for the provision of the usual punching of loose-leaf perforations
30, where desired. Where the page is to be bound within a cover
by glue means, this last step may be eliminated.
The stitching is preferably performed using a device such
as that disclosed in the Obeda patent7 No. 3,666,599 granted
May 30, 1972. Reference is made to Figure 3 of this patent which
shows suitable stitching patterns of a discontinuous type, all of
the patterns illustrated in that figure, with the exception of the
leftwardmost being suitable. The use of discontinuous stitching
permits the fibrous lamina to be cap~ivated without weakening its
mechanical strength. Also, such patterns, because of their relat-
ively small area, permit the paper comprising the fibrous lamina
to be readily vaporized without difficulty. It will be observed
that the stitching lines leave essentially unconnected the upper
and lower edges of the assembled page, generally indicated by
reference character 31, to provide entry to the pockets 32 formed
on either side which overlie the fibrous layer 12. It will be
understood that the four pocket pattern illustrated in Fig~res 3
and 4 is exemplary, and the number of pockets per page, as well as
the specific rectangular configurationJ may be varied as desired.
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114157G
I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the
invention limited to the precise details as shown and set forth
in this specification~ for obvious modifications will occur to
those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains~
