TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a document folder for holding a document, a business
card and the like.
PRIOR ART
[0002] Document holders heretofore known typically have a rectangular shape in plan, and
include a document holding portion defined by a pair of synthetic resin sheets, a
reinforcement portion provided adjacent the document holding portion along one edge
thereof and reinforced by a synthetic resin tape held between the pair of synthetic
resin sheets, and binder engagement means including a plurality of generally T-shaped
cutaway portions formed in the reinforcement portion in a properly spaced relation
along the edge of the document holding portion for engagement with a document binder.
The document holding portion has an opening on a top edge thereof, as viewed when
the document folder is postured vertically, through which opening a document is inserted
into and taken out of the document holding portion.
[0003] For reinforcement of the binder engagement means, the synthetic resin reinforcement
tape is held between the pair of synthetic resin sheets as extending along the one
edge of the document holding portion. Therefore, production of the document folder
requires the steps of preparing the synthetic resin reinforcement tape and fixing
the tape between the synthetic resin sheets. This leads to an increase in costs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] To solve the aforesaid drawback, it is an object of the present invention to ensure
easy reinforcement of binder engagement means of a document folder for cost reduction.
[0005] For achievement of the object, the present invention has the following features.
1. A document folder for holding a document is provided, which comprises: a document
holding portion having a rectangular shape in plan; a reinforcement portion provided
adjacent the document holding portion along one edge of the document holding portion
and reinforced by a multiplicity of fusion-bonded spots formed therein; and binder
engagement means including a plurality of engagement portions formed in the reinforcement
portion in a properly spaced relation along the one edge of the document holding portion
for engagement with a document binder, the document holding portion and the reinforcement
portion being integrally composed of a synthetic resin sheet, the document holding
portion having an opening formed along at least one edge of the other three edges
of the document holding portion through which opening the document is inserted into
and taken out of the document holding portion.
2. The reinforcement portion has a multi-layer structure which includes not less than
three layers formed by folding one or both edge portions of the synthetic resin sheet
and spot-fusion-bonded to each other.
3. The fusion-bonded spots have a total area accounting for 30% to 75% of an area
of the reinforcement portion.
4. The fusion-bonded spots are spots formed by at least one method selected from an
ultrasonic spot fusion method and a thermal spot fusion method.
5. The engagement portions of the binder engagement means are generally T-shaped cutaway
portions.
6. The engagement portions of the binder engagement means are holes.
[0006] With these features, the reinforcement portion provided adjacent the document holding
portion along the one edge thereof is reinforced by the multiplicity of fusion-bonded
spots for reinforcement of the binder engagement means. Therefore, the reinforcement
of the reinforcement portion can more easily be achieved than in the conventional
case where the reinforcement is achieved by the provision of the synthetic resin tape
between the synthetic resin sheets. Thus, the costs can be reduced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a document folder according to one embodiment
of the present invention as viewed from one side thereof;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view illustrating major portions of the document folder;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along a line X-X in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the document folder bound in a document
binder; and
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a document folder according to a second
embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0008] FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0009] In FIGS. 1 to 4, there is shown a document folder 1 having a rectangular shape in
plan. Referring to FIG. 1, the document folder 1 has a document holding portion 4
defined by a pair of synthetic resin sheets 2 and 3, and a reinforcement portion 5
provided adjacent the document holding portion 4 along one edge thereof and reinforced
by a multiplicity of ultrasonically fusion-bonded spots. More specifically, the reinforcement
portion 5 has a multi-layer structure, as shown in FIG. 3, which includes a plurality
of layers (e.g., three or four layers) formed by folding at least one of the edge
portions of the synthetic resin sheet 2, 3 and ultrasonically spot-fusion-bonded to
each other. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of generally T-shaped cutaway engagement
portions 6 are formed as binder engagement means in the reinforcement portion 5 in
a properly spaced relation along the one edge of the document holding portion 4. The
document folder 1 has an opening formed along a top edge of the document holding portion
4, as viewed when the document folder 1 is postured vertically, through which opening
a document 7 is inserted into and taken out of the document holding portion 4.
[0010] As shown in FIG. 4, a document binder typically has a plurality of openable binding
rings 10 each comprised of a pair of binding hooks 9, and a pair of covers 11. The
T-shaped cutaway engagement portions 6 as the binder engagement means are brought
into engagement with the binding rings 10. Thus, a plurality of document folders having
the aforesaid construction can be bound in the document binder.
[0011] Since the engagement portions 6 are engaged with the binding hooks 9 of the binding
rings 10 as described above, the reinforcement portion 5 formed with the engagement
portions 6 is required to have a sufficient hardness and stiffness for prevention
of disengagement of the engagement portions 6 from the binder rings 10. This is why
the engagement portions 6 are formed in the reinforcement portion 5 which is reinforced
by the ultrasonically fusion-bonded spots. The size of each of the fusion-bonded spots
is properly selected depending on the size of the document folder 1, the type of the
synthetic resin sheet to be used for formation of the document folder 1, and the like.
In order to impart the reinforcement portion 5 with a sufficient hardness and stiffness,
the total area of the fusion-bonded spots should account for 30% to 75% of the area
of the reinforcement portion 5. If the total area of the fusion-bonded spots is less
than 30% of the area of the reinforcement portion 5, the hardness and stiffness of
the reinforcement portion 5 are not satisfactory. If the total area of the fusion-bonded
spots is greater than 70%, the reinforcement portion 5 will have an excessively high
hardness and may be impaired due to deterioration of the synthetic resin sheet. In
this embodiment, the synthetic resin sheet for the document folder 1 is made of polypropylene.
[0012] In the first embodiment, the generally T-shaped cutaway engagement portions 6 are
formed as the binder engagement means in the reinforcement portion 5. Alternatively,
a plurality of round holes 12 may be employed for the binder engagement means as in
a second embodiment shown in FIG. 5. The round holes 12 are also adapted to be engaged
with the openable binding rings 10 of the document binder.
[0013] In the embodiments described above, the document folder 1 is adapted to hold a document
therein, but may be designed so as to hold business cards, photographs and the like.
[0014] Further, the position of the opening through which a document or the like is inserted
into and taken out of the document folder is not limited to that depicted in FIG.
1, but may be determined depending on the kind of an article to be held in the document
folder 1.
[0015] The fusion-bonded spots in the reinforcement portion 5 are formed by the ultrasonic
spot fusion method in the embodiments described above, but may be formed by a thermal
spot fusion method. Further, the ultrasonic spot fusion method and the thermal spot
fusion method may be used in combination for the formation of the fusion-bonded spots.
Where the formation of the fusion-bonded spots is achieved by the ultrasonic spot
fusion method, a frequency of 15KHz to 50KHz may be employed to apply 15,000 to 50,000
impacts per second to the folded edge portions of the synthetic resin sheet (which
is formed into the reinforcement portion). By adjusting the frequency, the fusion
speed can be controlled as desired. Where the formation of the fusion-bonded spots
is achieved by the thermal spot fusion method, a roll having a multiplicity of needles
provided on its circumferential surface is heated up to a temperature at which the
synthetic resin sheet is melted to some extent but not perfectly, and the folded edge
portions of the synthetic resin sheet are passed between the roll and a counter roll.
[0016] In the embodiments described above, the reinforcement portion 5 provided along the
one edge of the document folder 1 has the multi-layer structure which includes three
or four layers formed by folding at least one of the edge portions of the synthetic
resin sheet 2, 3 and spot-fusion-bonded to each other. Alternatively, the reinforcement
portion 5 may have a two-layer structure which is formed simply by spot-fusion-bonding
the edge portions of the synthetic resin sheet 2, 3 to each other. Further, the reinforcement
portion 5 may have a multi-layer structure having five or more layers which are spot-fusion-bonded
to each other.
[0017] In accordance with the present invention, the reinforcement portion 5 provided along
the one edge of the document folder 1 is reinforced by the formation of the multiplicity
of fusion-bonded spots, and the binder engagement means including the plurality of
engagement portions (generally T-shaped cutaway engagement portions or round holes)
6 are formed in the reinforcement portion 5. Therefore, the reinforcement of the binder
engagement means can more easily be achieved than in the conventional case where the
reinforcement is achieved by the provision of the synthetic resin tape. Thus, the
costs can be reduced.
1. A document fold 1 for holding a document 7, comprising: a document holding portion
4 having a rectangular shape in plan; a reinforcement portion 5 provided adjacent
the document holding portion 4 along one edge of the document holding portion and
reinforced by a multiplicity of fusion-bonded spots formed therein; and binder engagement
means including a plurality of engagement portions 6 formed in the reinforcement portion
5 in a properly spaced relation along the one edge of the document holding portion
4 for engagement with a document binder, the document holding portion 4 and the reinforcement
portion 5 being integrally composed of a synthetic resin sheet 2, 3, the document
holding portion 4 having an opening 8 formed along at least one of the other three
edges of the document holding portion 4 through which opening the document 7 is inserted
into and taken out of the document holding portion 4.
2. A document folder 1 as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reinforcement portion 5 has
a multi-layer structure which includes not less than three layers formed by folding
one or both edge portions of the synthetic resin sheet and spot-fusion-bonded to each
other.
3. A document folder 1 as set forth in claim 1, wherein the fusion-bonded spots have
a total area accounting for 30% to 75% of an area of the reinforcement portion 5.
4. A document folder 1 as set forth in claim 2, wherein the fusion-bonded spots have
a total area accounting for 30% to 75% of an area of the reinforcement portion 5.
5. A document folder 1 as set forth in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fusion-bonded
spots are ultrasonically fusion-bonded spots.
6. A document folder 1 as set forth in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fusion-bonded
spots are thermally fusion-bonded spots.
7. A document folder 1 as set forth in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fusion-bonded
spots are spots formed by employing an ultrasonic spot fusion method and a thermal
spot fusion method in combination.
8. A document folder 1 as set forth in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the engagement portions
6 of the binder engagement means are generally T-shaped cutaway engagement portions
6.
9. A document folder 1 as set forth in claim 5, wherein the engagement portions 6 of
the binder engagement means are generally T-shaped cutaway engagement portions 6.
10. A document folder 1 as set forth in claim 6, wherein the engagement portions 6 of
the binder engagement means are generally T-shaped cutaway engagement portions 6.
11. A document folder 1 as set forth in claim 7, wherein the engagement portions 6 of
the binder engagement means are generally T-shaped cutaway engagement portions 6.
12. A document folder 1 as set forth in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the engagement portions
6 of the binder engagement means are holes 12.
13. A document folder 1 as set forth in claim 5, wherein the engagement portions 6 of
the binder engagement means are holes 12.
14. A document folder 1 as set forth in claim 6, wherein the engagement portions 6 of
the binder engagement means are holes 12.
15. A document folder 1 as set forth in claim 7, wherein the engagement portions 6 of
the binder engagement means are holes 12.