Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1334986
INTERMEDIATE BLANK FOR IDENTIFICATION CARD
OR THE LIKE AND METHOD
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF INv~NllON:
This invention relates to an intermediate blank
for identification card or the like and method and, more
particularly, to one that provides several significant
advantages over the materials and methods used for
conventional I.D. cards.
The inventive intermediate blank includes a
transparent generally rectangular web of predetermined
width and height dimensions and having one face thereof
coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive. Adhered to
this face is a base stock ply substantially covering the
height and one side half of the width dimension. This
provides an imaging portion on the surface of the ply
remote from the surface confronting and adhered to the
transparent web. The other side half of the width
dimension of the transparent web is equipped with a
release liner. When the release liner is removed, the
transparent web is foldable on itself to cover and adhere
to the base stock ply, thus providing a superior, less
expensive I.D. card.
Thus broadly, the invention pertain~ to a
method for preparing a series of connected intermediate
blanks for identification cards or the like, comprising
advancing a base stock web along a predetermined path,
providing a composite web including a transparent layer,
a release liner layer, and a pressure sensitive adhesive
disposed between the transparent and release liner
layers, removing a predetermined width of the release
liner layer along one edge of the composite web to expose
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the pressure sensitive adhesive between the removed
portion of the release liner layer and the transparent
layer, introducing the composite web into the path in
overlapping relation with the base stock web, the base
stock web being disposed in side-by-side relation with
the ~ in;ng portion of the release liner layer, and
pressing the composite web and base stock web together to
bond the webs together to provide the connected series.
The invention further pertains to an article of
manufacture comprising a series of connected intermediate
blanks for identification cards or the like, including a
base stock web having sides and being of predetermined
width and of predetermined length and adapted to
imprinting on at least one portion of a surface thereof,
and a transparent web of pre-determined width and of a
length substantially equal to that of the base stock web.
Substantially one-half of the width of the transparent
web comprises a composite of a transparent layer, a
release liner layer, and a pressure sensitive adhesive
disposed between the transparent and liner layers. The
other half of the transparent web is adhered to at least
a portion of a ~urface of the base stock web whereby the
adjacent edge of the base stock web is laterally adjacent
and generally parallel to an edge of the liner layer.
There are several benefits of this as compared
to conventional I.D. cards. Typically identification
cards are made of a plastic material whose cost is
significantly greater than the sum of the materials used
to produce the inventive card. Also the cost of
manufacturing these ~plastic~ cards is much greater than
the production for the inventive blank.
The use of plastic does not insure that the
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information imprinted on the card will not be altered or
become illegible. The invention insures that the
information i8 protected from alteration and from the
environment. When producing I.D. cards with plastic
material, a signature panel must be added so information
such as a signature can be added. There is no need for
that with the invention. The entire non-laminated side
of the card can be written on.
As compared to an I.D. card produced from tag
stock, this invention has advantages. The invention
provides an I.D. card which has a laminate on the card
stock to help prevent the card from being torn or
otherwise made useless. The invention protects the
information from alteration or from becoming illegible
whereas on a tag stock, the information is ~exposed.
The invention is described in conjunction with
the accompanying drawing, in which -- ~
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing the
release liner in the position of being removed;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but in a
subsequent stage of usage wherein the exposed transparent
web is now being folded on itself to envelope the card
stock carrying the identification information;
FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of another
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the
connected series of intermediate blanks made according to
the teachings of this invention and featuring a further
embodiment thereof;
FIG. 6 i8 a schematic side elevational view of
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equipment used in the practice of the inventive process;
and
FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the inventive
intermediate blank in yet another embodiment thereof;
FIG. 8 i8 a bottom plan view of still another
embodiment; and
FIG. 9 i9 a side elevational view of FIG. 8.
Detailed Description
In the illustration given and with reference
first to FIG. 1, the intermediate blank is generally
designated 10 and is seen to include a transparent web 11
which is equipped on its underside with a pressure
sensitive adhesive 12. Underlying on one side of the
generally rectangular web 11 is a ply 13 of base stock --
usually a paper stock such as tag stock. This occupies
only one half the width of the card but extends
substantially along the height dimension. Completing the
underside of the blank is a release liner 14 which
generally is silicon coated to protect the pressure
sensitive adhesive.
In use, the blank 10 is imaged by the customer
(e.g., signed, special coding, etc.). The liner 14 is
then removed -- see FIG. 2 at 14' -- from the extended
length of laminating stock, exposing the pressure
sensitive adhesive. This extended length of clear
laminating stock is folded over the non-laminated side of
the card stock -- see FIG. 3 at lla. This produces a
fully laminated card and thereby protects the card and
the variable information from alteration and the outside
enviLo -nt.
Several variations in construction are possible
through the use of the inventive blank. The blank can be
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delivered in a cut sheet product, either individual card
sizes or in sheets of cards, or in a folded pack, or in
a rewound roll.
The card of FIG. 1 can be modified to improve
performance and appearance. In FIG. 4, a construction i9
shown with a vertical perforation 115 added to aid in
folding over the clear laminating material onto the
cards. Exaggerated as at 115a is the gap between the
base stock 113 and the release liner 114. As will be
appreciated from a description of the method of making
the intermediate blank hereinafter, sufficient of the
release liner is slit and removed from the transparent
web to accommodate the base ply 113 and the tolerance
developed by the slitting necessarily provides a small
gap 115a.
The construction of FIGS. 1 or 4 can be
modified to conform with a more standard appearance for
an I.D. card. A card developed from a connected series
of blanks designated 210 and including the base ply 213
and release liner 214 i~ equipped with rounded corners as
at 216. These rounded corners are provided utilizing a
punch station as will be described hereinafter with
respect to FIG. 6.
The Method of Manufacture
Referring now to FIG. 6, a roll of card stock
material 17 is provided which is unwound to provide a ply
18 ultimately constituting the base stock ply 13. The
web or ply 18 is advanced along a predetermined path 19
through various print stations 20 for front and back
printing.
The web optionally can be imaged with variable
information if desired in print station 21.
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The web of clear laminating material 22
(complete with fully coextensive release liner) is
unwound from roll 23. The web 22 is passed through a
slitting unit 24 where the liner of the laminate material
is slit but the clear laminating face stock or
transparent web is not slit. A half 25 of the slit liner
web is stripped off the clear laminating material and
rewound for disposal in the roll 26. This exposes the
pressure sensitive adhesive on one half of the web 22
which is then laminated to the card stock ply 18 in the
laminating station 27. The web 28 has one surface
equipped with pressure sensitive adhesive and, to this
surface, are adhered on one side the base stock ply 18
and to the other side the rs -;nder of the release liner.
After the web 28 has been created by laminating
pressure in the station 27, it passes through the
processing station of a press or the like for punching
round corners as at 29 and/or vertical perforating to aid
in folding over in station 30. Transverse perforation
for folding or cutting off for sheeting can be performed
-i at station 31. This re~ults in a stack of intermediate
blanks which can be individual, multiple, or zig-zag
folded as at 32, or rewound into a roll as previously
indicated.
Yet another variation in construction or usage
is seen in FIG. 7 where the addition of variable
information -- such as a bar code or a specific number is
provided on the pre-laminated side of the card. For
example, a bar code 333 is provided on the side of the
base stock ply 313 facing the transparent web. This
variable information is printed or encoded at the time of
manufacture and prior to laminating on the press or other
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manufacturing machine schematically illustrated in FIG.
6. The advantage of this type of information is that it
permits customers to protect information from damage or
alteration while en route to or from a customer's
customer.
Still another variation is seen in FIGS. 8 and
9. Here the base or card stock ply 413 is elongated to
provide a file record 413a so as to record data in the
issuing business's file. There are matching bar codes
433 on the file card and identification card.
The card holder's information is completed on
the file card 413a and signed. The identification card
413b is then signed after which the release liner 414 is
removed. This exposes the pressure sensitive adhesive
412. The clear laminate or transparent web 411 is then
folded over to seal the signature side of the card. The
card portion 413b is then torn off at the line of
perforation 415.
- Only a slight modification is required in the
arrangement seen in FIG. 6 to produce the embodiment of
FIGS. 8 and 9. The base stock ply 13 is made wider to
provide the file record 413a. The card holder~s card
413b is now arranged with its lengths parallel to the
direction of processing -- see the direction arrow in
FIG. 8 and compare it with the direction arrow in FIGS.
5 and 7.
While in the foregoing specification a detailed
description of the invention has been set down for the
purpose of illustration, many variations in the details
hereingiven may be made by those skilled in the art
without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
