GB2077186A - A photo album page and a method for manufacturing such a page - Google Patents

Abstract

A photographic album page comprises a fibrous centrally disposed lamina and a pair of overlying clear synthetic resinous laminae. Pockets (32) are formed by ultrasonic sealing of the clear laminae together through the fibrous lamina which disintegrates under the generated heat of sealing. The pockets (32) are thus formed as a continuous sealing operation at the same time the page is laminated by sealing in broken lines, whereby the fibrous lamina retains its structural integrity. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A photo album page and a method for manufacturing such a page The invention relates generally to photographic album pages of laminated kind, 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 kind are known and are normally manufactured 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 iamina. 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 along predetermined areas to form pockets of desired size. This construction requires the initial formation of foldable cut blanks which are embossed or printed prior to assembly, again a relatively expensive construction.

It is also known to make photo album pages completely of synthetic resinous materials, in which the various Iaminae are barsealed using radio frequency sealing means.

The pages are quite serviceable, but where the outermost lamina is necessarily transparent, it is often necessary to insert a paper backing to provide an attractive appearance.

Constantiy 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 Iaminae together. The cutting of such nontransparent 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.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method of forming a photographic album page comprising the steps of providing a first rectangular fibrous non-heat sealable lamina; providing second and third rectangular- clear heat-sealable laminae of substantially similar overall dimensions; placing said clear laminae in congruent relation with the fibrous lamina positioned between the clear laminae; and using an ultrasonic stitching device to interconnect said laminae by sealing the two clear laminae together to form a plurality of pockets on each side of the fibrous lamina, the fibrous lamina being penetrated at points of stitching in such manner that material comprising the fibrous lamina is vapourized under sealing heat to bring sealed areas of said clear laminae into integral relation to cap,ture said fibrous lamina therebetween.

The sealing is preferably performed as a run of stitches rather than as a continuous line, to allow for adequate venting of the consumed paper during the sealing operation, and to maintain the structural integrity of the paper layer.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view in perspective, showing a first step in the method of manufacture of a photographic album page according to the 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; and Figure 4 is a view in elevation showing a completed album page.

Referring to the drawing and firstly to Fig.

1, as a first step in the method, there are provided a first clear rectangular lamina 10, a second clear rectangular lamina 11, and a third non-transparent fibrous lamina 1 2. The laminae 10-12 inclusive, are 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 respectively.

Referring to Fig. 2, prior to sealing, the laminae 10-12 are placed in substantially congruent relation and a plurality of vertical ultrasonic stitching lines are then made as indicated by references 26, 27 and 28. Following this, the assembly is rotated through 90 , and a horizontal stitch line 29 is provided.

At this point, the stage 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 need not be effected.

The stitching is preferably performed using a device such as that disclosed in the USA patent No 3 666 599 granted 30 May 1972.

Reference is made to Fig. 3 of this patent which shows suitable stitching patterns of a discontinuous type, all of the patterns illus trated in that figure, with the exception of the leftwardmost being suitable. The use of discontinuous stitching permits the fibrous lamina to be captured without significantly weakening its mechanical strength. Also, such patterns, because of their relatively small area, permit the paper comprising the fibrous lamina to be readily vapourized 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 pockets 32 formed on either side which overlie the fibrous layer 1 2. It will be understood that the f6ur pocket pattern illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is given by way of example, and the number of pockets per page, as well as the specific rectangular configuration, may be varied as desired.

Claims (6)

1. A method of forming a photographic album page comprising the steps of providing a first rectangular fibrous non-heat sealable lamina; providing second and third rectangular clear heat-sealable laminae of substantially similar overall dimensions; placing said clear Iaminae in congruent relation with the fibrous lamina positioned between the clear laminae; and using an ultrasonic stitching device to interconnect said laminae by sealing the two clear laminae together to form a plurality of pockets or each side of the fibrous lamina, the fibrous lamina being penetrated at points of stitching in such manner that material comprising the fibrous lamina is vapourized under sealing heat to bring sealed areas of said clear Iaminae into integral relation to capture said fibrous lamina therebetween.

2. A method according to claim 1, in which a non-continuous electronic stitch is used to avoid completely severing the fibrous lamina at the lines of stitching.

3. A photographic album page comprising a first rectangular fibrous non-heat sealable lamina located in congruent relation between a pair of rectangular clear heat sealable lamina of substantially similar overall dimensions and interconnected by ultrasonic stitching to form a plurality of pockets of each side of the fibrous lamina, the fibrous lamina being so penetrated by the stitching that, at the points of stitching, the fibrous lamina is vapourized and the clear laminae are brought into integral relation with one another and the fibrous lamina is caputred therebetween.

4. A photographic album page according to claim 3, in which the ultrasonic stitching is non-continuous such that the fibrous lamina is not completely severed at the lines of stitching.

5. A method of forming a photographic album page as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described.

6. A photographic album page substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing.