WO2006128943A1

WO2006128943A1 - Document divider/indicator

Info

Publication number: WO2006128943A1
Application number: PCT/ES2006/070071
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carmen PEÑALOSA RODRIGUEZ
Original assignee: Prymer Programas Y Mercados, S.L.
Priority date: 2005-06-02
Filing date: 2006-05-25
Publication date: 2006-12-07

Abstract

The invention relates to a document divider/indicator of the type that comprises a sheet (1) of paper, card, plastic or a similar material. The invention is equipped with inner punched cut-outs (11) defining several flaps (12) which are coplanar with the sheet (1) and which remain joined to the sheet by means of at least one of the ends thereof, such that the flap can be folded selectively into a use position in which the free end of same projects out from the edge of the sheet (11), thereby forming an index tab.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Document separator-indicator. Object of the invention The present invention relates to a document separator or indicator of the type of those formed from a sheet of paper, cardboard, plastic or the like.

Background of the invention. Currently there are on the market document separators formed from a sheet of paper, cardboard, plastic or similar, whose contour is prolonged on a flap or protruding tab. In the area of definition of the fin, the separator has a length or height greater than the documents to be separated, so that, when disposed between said documents, the fin is in an outstanding and visible position, allowing easy location of the Different chapters or themes.

These separators are usually supplied, in a small number, with the ring binders, allowing the separation of the drilled sheets that are incorporated into the folder and that refer to different subjects. One of the disadvantages of these separators is that they have an irregular contour that causes losses of material, in the form of cuts, during their manufacture, and prevents optimum use of the sheets or coils of material from which they are obtained, usually by die cut

Another disadvantage of these separators is that the separator sheets have different contours because the protruding tabs are at different distances from one of the leaf ends so that, in the position of use, said tabs are not superimposed, but staggered, facilitating the simultaneous visualization of several tabs and the rapid location of any of them. In the event that the user acquires this type of separators to separate the different chapters, annexes or subjects of the reports or documents made, he meets the problem that you can use in each report a greater or lesser number of separators, initially consuming those separators that have an eyelash in extreme position. Once these are sold out Separators must acquire new separators and discard the leftovers, which have fins in intermediate positions, or choose to use as initial separators those that have the tabs in intermediate positions, which gives the document an aesthetically incorrect appearance. These inconveniences frequently lead potential users to renounce the use of these separators, and to use adhesive labels as separators that are glued on the first sheet of each different chapter or annex.

The use as a separator of these adhesive labels does not constitute an optimal solution of one part, because when the labels are glued, they are not aligned providing the document with an aesthetically incorrect finish and of another part because during the transport of the document set it is usual that some of the labels take off losing the user the reference of the chapter or annex initially indicated by that one.

Description of the invention

To solve the exposed problem, the document separator has been devised, object of the invention, which, being of the type formed from a sheet of paper, cardboard, plastic or any other similar material, results from a great simplicity of manufacture and it presents some constructive peculiarities that avoid losses of material in the form of cuts and has a universal character allowing with the same contour of the sheet that forms the separator, the definition of an index tab at the desired height, according to the needs of the user.

For this and in accordance with the invention, the separator forming sheet has die cuttings that define several coplanar tabs with the sheet in question and that remain attached to said sheet, at least, by one of its ends to allow selective folding towards a position of use in which the free end of the chosen tab protrudes from the contour of the sheet, forming an index tab or an indicator.

The mentioned tabs form an alignment substantially parallel to one of the sides of the sheet, which allows, when using successive separators and folding towards the position of use those tabs that occupy consecutive positions, that the tabs or index tabs are staggered and can be displayed simultaneously.

One of the advantages of this separator is that the user, acquiring several identical units of the separator can use in each separator that index tab or tab that is at the desired height, depending on their needs, being sufficient to fold the appropriate tab of each separator towards the position of use, so that The free end of said flange protrudes from the contour of the sheet.

In order to facilitate the folding of the eyelashes towards the outstanding or use position and to guarantee that said eyelashes are perfectly aligned, it is provided that the leaf has a creasing line in correspondence with that end of the eyelashes that remains attached to the leaf. This creasing line defines the zone of folding of the eyelashes, facilitating said folding, and guaranteeing that the eyelashes in use of the successive separators are perfectly aligned.

Another advantage of this separator is that the manufacturing cost with respect to the sheet constituting the same is practically nil, since the tabs of the separator are obtained by means of a single die-cutting operation, using a die of the appropriate form.

It is planned to adopt a corresponding means of retaining the tabs, which is in the position of use at a given time. Said retention means may be located on the tab itself and / or in the area of the sheet between the folding line and the outer edge. This retention means can adopt several solutions; namely: a) It may be constituted by small fins, formed by selective cuts made in each of the tabs, which in position of use link with the edge of the sheet retaining it in this position. These selective cuts can be arranged on the sides of the flange, converging inwards and towards the free end of the flange, to form lateral triangular fins; or also, they can be made in the center of the corresponding tab, each of them presenting a general configuration in "C", so that they form a small fin, coinciding with the edge of the blade, directed towards the inside of the same when the corresponding tab is placed in the position of use. b) It can be constituted by a cut that configures a rectangular window, parallel to the edge of the sheet and located between said edge and the folding line, which has a length such that it allows the corresponding flange to pass through it when placed in The position of use protruding from the edge it. c) They can also be constituted by an adherent surface, located between each folding line and the edge of the sheet, protected by a disposable sheet that is selectively removed when the chosen flange is folded outwards, which is fixed in that position.

Any of the described solutions allows to keep the selected tab in the position of use, that is to say folded towards the edge of the sheet where a certain length protrudes, forming an index or indicator tongue.

Description of the figures.

To complement the description that is being made and in order to facilitate the understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a set of drawings is attached to the present specification in which, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the separator of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a stepped perspective view of several separators arranged in position of use between successive documents, each separator presenting a different tab folded towards the position of use, the successive tabs forming an index.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a variant embodiment of the separator, provided in this case with a row of eyelashes that occupies approximately half of the length of the sheet, observing in this figure two equal separators, rotated one of them 180 ° with respect to the other. Figure 4 shows a partial perspective view of a separator in which the punches or cuts that define the tabs have discontinuity points.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the separator of the invention, provided with means for retaining the tabs (12) in use position.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 show separate plan views of separators provided with means for fixing or retaining the tabs (12), other than those shown in Figure 5. Preferred embodiment of the invention

In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the separator is formed by a sheet (1) having die cuts or cuts (11) defining a row of flanges (12).

Initially said tabs (12) are arranged co-planarly with the sheet (1) and remain joined by one of its ends to the sheet (1). The sheet (1) has, in correspondence with said end of the flanges (12) a creasing line (13) to facilitate the folding of any one of the flanges (12) towards a position of use, in which it partially protrudes from the contour of the sheet (1), as seen in Figure 2.

By arranging several separators between the successive chapters, or annexes of the documents (2) and folding a different tab towards the outstanding position (12) in the successive separators or sheets (1), the easy location of said chapters or annexes is achieved, such as seen in figure 2.

Preferably, the outline of the sheet (1) will have a standard format (A4, A5, folio, etc.) and in accordance with the format of the documents or sheets (2) to be separated, so that in the position of use they protrude only from the outline those tabs (12) folded towards the position of use. As you can see the example shown in Figure 3, the tabs

(12) can form an alignment in one of the halves of the sheet (1), so that by rotating the separators 180 ° the tabs can occupy the upper half or the lower half of the sheet, allowing with the use of successive identical separators Obtaining protruding tabs along the entire side of the sheet or the documents, as in the case shown in Figure 2.

Additionally, the sheet (1) may have perforations (14) suitable for binding, together with the documents (2), by means of earrings, ring binders, spirals or any other similar binding element (eye, in some place it should be mentioned that the dividers can be bound together with the sheets to be separated, being part of the sheets of a book, folder, etc) ... by the theme of the agendas.

As shown in Figure 4, the cuts or punches (11) may have discontinuity points (11a) to ensure that the tabs (12) remain coplanar with the rest of the sheet (1) until the time of use . This feature allows the user to carry out, prior to the use of the separator, the printing of the sheet (1) or of the tabs (12) by hand (agenda again) or with a conventional printer without risk of the tabs causing the jam of the sheet during printing. To arrange any of the tabs in the outstanding position, of use, it is enough to tear the discontinuity points (11a) of the corresponding die cut (11) and fold the flange (12) along the creasing line (13).

As can be seen in Figure 5, the tabs (12) have selective cuts (15) made by the sides, which converge towards the inside and towards the free end of the flange (12) forming lateral triangular fins (16). that, in the position of use of the corresponding flange (12), they face the edge of the sheet passing to the opposite side by which the flange (12) is folded, retaining it in this position.

Figure 6 shows a variant embodiment in which the selective cuts (15) are made in the center of the corresponding tab (12) and each of them has a "C" configuration, so that they form a small fin (16), coinciding with the edge of the blade (1), directed towards the inside thereof when the flange or indicator (12) is placed in the position of use.

In Figure 7, some cuts (17) are observed, which form as many rectangular windows, parallel to the edge of the sheet (1) and located between said edge and the corresponding folding line (13), each of which has a length such that it allows the passage through its interior of the flange (12), when it is placed in the position of use, protruding by the edge thereof to constitute the appropriate index tongue.

Finally, in figure 8 other means of retention of the eyelashes (12) in use position are observed, in this case, constituted by an adherent surface (18), located between each folding line (13) and the edge of the sheet (1), said adherent surface (18) being protected by a disposable sheet (19) that is selectively removed when the chosen flange (12) is folded outwards, which is fixed in that position forming an index tab or indicator. Once the nature of the invention has been sufficiently described, as well as an example of a preferred embodiment, it is stated for the appropriate purposes that the materials, shape, size and arrangement of the described elements may be modified, provided that this does not imply an alteration of the essential characteristics of the invention that are claimed below:

Claims

1.- Document separator-indicator, of the type of those formed from a sheet of paper, cardboard, plastic or similar; characterized in that said sheet (1) has internal die cuttings (11), which define several tabs (12) coplanar with the sheet (1) in question and remain attached to said sheet, at least by one of its ends, to allow its selective folding towards a position of use in which the free end of the chosen flange (12) protrudes from the contour of the sheet (11), forming an index tab.

2. Separator-indicator, according to claim 1, characterized in that the tabs (12) form an alignment substantially parallel to one of the sides of the sheet (1).

3. Separator-indicator, according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the sheet (1) presents in correspondence with the end of the tabs (12) that remains attached to said sheet (1), a creasing line (13) to facilitate the folding of the tabs (12) towards the outstanding or use position.

4. Separator-indicator, according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the punches (11) have discontinuity points (11a) that maintain the tabs (12) coplanarly with the rest of the sheet (1) until the time of use .

5. Separator-indicator, according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the sheet (1) has perforations (14) for binding.

6. Document separator-indicator according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for retaining or immobilizing each of the tabs (12) in use position, said means being defined in the tabs (12) and / or in the area of the sheet (1) comprised between the folding line (13) and the outer edge of said sheet.

7. Separator-indicator, according to claim 6, characterized in that said retention means are constituted by small fins (16), formed by selective cuts (15) made in each of the tabs (12) and which, in position The protruding or use position of the flange (12), link with the edge of the blade (1) retaining said flange (12) in said protruding position of use.

8. Separator-indicator according to claim 6, characterized in that said selective cuts (15) are arranged on the sides of the flange (12) and converge towards the inside and towards the free end of the flange (12) forming paths lateral triangular fins (16).

9. Separator-indicator, according to claim 6, characterized in that the selective cuts (15) are arranged in the center of the corresponding tab (12) and each of them has a "C" configuration, so that they form a small fin (16), coinciding with the edge of the blade (1), directed towards the inside thereof when the main flange (12) is placed in the use position.

10. Separator-indicator, according to claim 6, characterized in that said means for retaining the tabs (12) are constituted by a cut (17), which forms a rectangular window, parallel to the edge of the sheet (1) and located between said edge and the folding line (13), which has a length such that it allows the corresponding flange (12) to pass through it when it is placed in the position of use, protruding from the edge thereof to constitute the tongue of timely index.

11. Separator-indicator, according to claim 6, characterized in that said means for retaining the tabs (12) in use position are constituted by an adherent surface (18), located between each folding line (13) and the edge of the sheet (1), protected by a disposable sheet (19) that is selectively removed when the chosen flange (12) is folded outwards, which is fixed in that position forming an index tab.