BUSINESS CARD HOLDERS

Abstract

A document holder system can include a thin surface elongate along a first direction and a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. The document holder system can include a first adhesive portion disposed on a back side along a top portion of the thin surface. Additionally, the document holder system can include a second adhesive portion disposed on a front side along at least one of the top portion and a middle portion of the thin surface.

Claims

1. A document holder system, comprising: a thin surface elongate along a first direction and a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the thin surface comprises a front side and a back side that faces opposite the front side, and wherein the thin surface defines a top portion, a bottom portion located opposite the top portion, and a middle portion that does not overlap the top portion and the bottom portion; a first adhesive portion disposed on the back side along the top portion; and a second adhesive portion disposed on the front side along at least one of the top portion and the middle portion, wherein the bottom portion is devoid of adhesive on both the front side and the back side.

2. (canceled)

3. The document holder system of claim 1, wherein the thin surface is selected from the group consisting of paper, polymer, and fabric.

4. The document holder system of claim 3, wherein the thin surface defines a first width and a first height, wherein the first adhesive portion is adhesively attached to a large document that defines a width that is greater than the first width and the large document defines a height that is greater than the first height, and wherein the first adhesive portion is configured to release the large document without damaging the large document.

5. The document holder system of claim 3, wherein the thin surface defines a first width and a first height, the system further comprising a first document adhesively attached to the second adhesive portion, wherein the second adhesive portion is configured to release the first document without damaging the first document.

6. The document holder system of claim 5, wherein the first document comprises a business card.

7. The document holder system of claim 5, wherein the thin surface is a first thin surface, the system further comprising: a second thin surface elongate along the first direction and the second direction, wherein the second thin surface comprises a front side and a back side that faces opposite the front side; a third adhesive portion disposed on the back side along a top portion of the second thin surface; and a fourth adhesive portion disposed on the front side along at least one of the top portion of the second thin surface and a middle portion of the second thin surface, wherein the top portion of the second thin surface and the middle portion of the second thin surface do not overlap, wherein the first adhesive portion of the first thin surface is adhesively attached to a top portion of the front side of the second thin surface, wherein the first adhesive portion is configured to release the second thin surface without damaging the second thin surface.

8. The document holder system of claim 7, further comprising a second document adhesively attached to the fourth adhesive portion, wherein the fourth adhesive portion is configured to release the second document without damaging the second document.

9. The document holder system of claim 5, wherein the thin surface is a first thin surface, the system further comprising: a second thin surface elongate along the first direction and the second direction, wherein the second thin surface comprises a front side and a back side that faces opposite the front side; a third adhesive portion disposed on the back side along a top portion of the second thin surface; and a fourth adhesive portion disposed on the back side along a middle portion of the second thin surface, wherein the top portion and the middle portion do not overlap, wherein the first adhesive portion of the first thin surface is adhesively attached to a top portion of the front side of the second thin surface, wherein the first adhesive portion is configured to release the second thin surface without damaging the second thin surface.

10. The document holder system of claim 9, further comprising a second document adhesively attached to the fourth adhesive portion, wherein the fourth adhesive portion is configured to release the second document without damaging the second document.

11. The document holder system of claim 10, wherein the first thin surface is detached from the second thin surface, and wherein the first adhesive portion is adhesively attached to a large document that defines a fifth width that is greater than the first width and the large document defines a fifth height that is greater than the first height, and wherein the first adhesive portion is configured to release the large document without damaging the large document.

12. The document holder system of claim 1, wherein the thin surface is a first thin surface, and the second adhesive portion is located on the front side along the top portion, the system further comprising: a second thin surface elongate along the first direction and the second direction, wherein the second thin surface comprises a front side and a back side that faces opposite the front side; a third adhesive portion disposed on the back side along a top portion of the second thin surface; and a fourth adhesive portion disposed on the front side along a top portion of the second thin surface, wherein the first adhesive portion of the first thin surface is adhesively attached to the top portion of the front side of the second thin surface, wherein the first adhesive portion is configured to release the second thin surface without damaging the second thin surface.

13. A document holder system, comprising: a thin surface elongate along a first direction and a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the thin surface comprises a front side and a back side that faces opposite the front side, and wherein the thin surface defines a top portion, a bottom portion located opposite the top portion, and a middle portion that does not overlap the top portion and the bottom portion; a first adhesive portion disposed on the back side along the top portion; and a second adhesive portion disposed on one of the front side and the back side along the middle portion, wherein the bottom portion is devoid of adhesive.

14. (canceled)

15. The document holder system of claim 1, wherein the bottom portion is configured to receive hand-written notes from a writing instrument.

16. The document holder system of claim 15, further comprising a business card adhesively attached to the second adhesive portion, wherein the second adhesive portion is configured to release the business card without damaging the business card.

17. The document holder system of claim 15, further comprising a first protective film removably attached to the second adhesive portion.

18. The document holder system of claim 17, wherein the first protective film is removed from the second adhesive portion, the document holder further comprising a business card adhesively attached to the second adhesive portion, wherein the second adhesive portion is configured to release the business card without damaging the business card.

19. The document holder system of claim 17, wherein the thin surface is a first thin surface, the system further comprising: a second thin surface elongate along the first direction and the second direction, wherein the second thin surface comprises a front side and a back side that faces opposite the front side; a third adhesive portion disposed on the back side along a top portion of the second thin surface; a fourth adhesive portion disposed on one of the front side and the back side along a middle portion of the second thin surface, wherein the top portion and the middle portion do not overlap, wherein the first adhesive portion of the first thin surface is adhesively attached to the top portion of the front side of the second thin surface, and wherein the first adhesive portion is configured to release the second thin surface without damaging the second thin surface; and a second protective film removably attached to the fourth adhesive portion.

20. The document holder system of claim 17, wherein the thin surface is a first thin surface, the system further comprising: a second thin surface elongate along the first direction and the second direction, wherein the second thin surface comprises a front side and a back side that faces opposite the front side; a third adhesive portion disposed on the back side along a top portion of the second thin surface; a fourth adhesive portion disposed on the front side along at least one of the top portion of the second thin surface and a middle portion of the second thin surface, wherein the top portion of the second thin surface and the middle portion of the second thin surface do not overlap, wherein the first adhesive portion of the first thin surface is adhesively attached to the top portion of the front side of the second thin surface, and wherein the first adhesive portion is configured to release the second thin surface without damaging the second thin surface; and a second protective film removably attached to the fourth adhesive portion.

21. The document holder system of claim 13, wherein the bottom portion is configured to receive hand-written notes from a writing instrument.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] These and other features, aspects, and advantages are described below with reference to the drawings, which are intended to illustrate, but not to limit, the invention. In the drawings, like reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout similar embodiments. The above and other features of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates a sticker, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 2a illustrates a back side perspective view of a sticker, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0027] FIG. 2b illustrates a front side perspective view of a sticker, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates a back side view of a first sticker, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 4 illustrates a front side view of a first sticker, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG. 5 illustrates a front side view of a first sticker having a protective film, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG. 6 illustrates a front side view of a first sticker with a document attached therewith, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG. 7 illustrates a front side view of a first sticker attached to a large document, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG. 8 illustrates a back side view of a second sticker, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0034] FIG. 9 illustrates a back side view of a second sticker having a protective film, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0035] FIG. 10 illustrates a back side view of a second sticker with a document attached therewith, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0036] FIG. 11 illustrates a front side view of a second sticker, according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 illustrates a front side view of a second sticker attached to a large document, according to embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0037] FIG. 13 illustrates a document holder system having a plurality of stickers, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] Although certain embodiments and examples are disclosed below, inventive subject matter extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses, and to modifications and equivalents thereof. Thus, the scope of the claims appended hereto is not limited by any of the particular embodiments described below. For example, in any method or process disclosed herein, the acts or operations of the method or process may be performed in any suitable sequence and are not necessarily limited to any particular disclosed sequence. Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in turn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding certain embodiments; however, the order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations are order dependent. Additionally, the structures, systems, and/or devices described herein may be embodied as integrated components or as separate components.

[0039] For purposes of comparing various embodiments, certain aspects and advantages of these embodiments are described. Not necessarily all such aspects or advantages are achieved by any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, various embodiments may be carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other aspects or advantages as may also be taught or suggested herein.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0040] 10—Document holder system [0041] 11—Sticker [0042] 12—Thin surface [0043] 14—Back side [0044] 16—Front side [0045] 18—Top portion [0046] 20—Middle portion [0047] 22—Bottom portion [0048] 24—First adhesive portion [0049] 26—Second adhesive portion [0050] 28—Protective film [0051] 30—First document [0052] 32—Large document [0053] 34—Third adhesive portion [0054] 36—Fourth adhesive portion [0055] 40—First width [0056] 42—Second width [0057] 44—First height [0058] 46—Second height

[0059] The document holder system 10, as disclosed, has all the advantages of traditional business cards, and self-sticking business cards, without any of the deficiencies of either card type. For example, the document holder system 10 can be implemented with documents, such as business cards, that have printing on both sides. Additionally, the document holder system 10 can couple multiple business cards together, and attach one or more of the business cards to other documents or surfaces without the use of secondary devices, such as staples, rubber bands, tape, and the like. Even still, the document holder system 10 can allow the business cards to be attached to or removed from other documents or surfaces without damaging the other documents or surfaces.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 1, the document holder system 10 can include a sticker 11a that can further include a thin surface 12 elongate along a first direction X and a second direction Y. The second direction Y can be perpendicular to the first direction X. As further shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the thin surface 12 can include a back side 14 and a front side 16. It should be appreciated that the back side 14 faces opposite the front side 16.

[0061] With reference to FIG. 3, some embodiments of the sticker 11a can include a first adhesive portion 24 disposed on the back side 14a along a top portion 18a of the thin surface 12a. The first adhesive portion 24 can be used to adhesively attach the sticker 11a to other documents or surfaces, such as a brochure. In many embodiments, the adhesive, as implemented in the various adhesive portions, comprises a low-tack pressure-sensitive adhesive that can be easily attached, removed and re-posted without leaving residue on the substrate or document to which it is adhesively attached.

[0062] The sticker 11a can also include a second adhesive portion 26 disposed on the front side 16a. FIG. 4 shows the second adhesive portion 26 disposed along a middle portion 20a of the sticker. However, it should be appreciated that the second adhesive portion 26 can also be disposed along the top portion 18a of the front side 16a as well. In some embodiments, the top portion and the middle portion do not overlap.

[0063] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, some embodiments of the sticker 11a can further include a bottom portion 22a located opposite the top portion 18a. The bottom portion 22a can be devoid of adhesive on both the front side 14a and the back side 16a. In this manner, the bottom portion 22a can receive notes or inscriptions, such as any type of hand-written or imprinted ink mark. In some embodiments, the bottom portion 22a and the middle portion 20a do not overlap.

[0064] Now, with reference to FIG. 5, the document holder system 10 can include a first protective film 28a removably attached to the second adhesive portion 26 of the sticker 11a. In some embodiments, the first protective film does not cover any portion of the bottom portion 22a of the thin surface 12a, but may cover the top portion 18a. The first protective film 28a can be laid over the second adhesive portion 26 so as to prevent the second adhesive portion 26 from adhering to unwanted surfaces. In this manner, the exposed side of the first protective film 28a (the side not adhered to the second adhesive portion 26) can be a non-sticking surface that does not stick to other surfaces. If a person wants to adhesively attach a document to the second adhesive portion 26 of the sticker 11a, the person can thereby remove the first protective film 28a from the sticker 11a. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6, once the first protective film 28a is removed, the document holder system 10 can further include a first document 30 adhesively attached to the second adhesive portion 26. The second adhesive portion 26 can be configured to release the first document 30 without damaging the first document. In this manner, the first document can be adhesively attached to the second adhesive portion 26 and later removed without damage to either the first document or the sticker 11a.

[0065] As further shown in FIG. 6, the first thin surface 11a can define a first width 40 and a first height 44. In some embodiments, the first document 30 defines a second width 42 that is greater than or equal to the first width 40 and the first document 30 defines a second height 46 that is greater than or equal to the first height 44. In some embodiments, the second width 42 is less than or equal to the first width 40 and the second height 46 that is less than or equal to the first height 44. In some embodiments, the first document is a business card whereby the second width equals approximately 3.5 inches and the second height equals approximately 2.0 inches.

[0066] With reference to FIG. 7, the sticker 11a can be adhesively attached to a large document 32, such as a brochure or sheet of paper, via the first adhesive portion 24. The large document 32 can define a width that is greater than the first width 40. Additionally, the large document 32 can define a height that is greater than the first height 44. It should be appreciated that the first adhesive portion 24 can be configured to release the large document 32 without damaging the large document 32.

[0067] Now, with reference to FIG. 8, the document holder system 10 can include other types of stickers 11. In some embodiments, the document holder system 10 includes a sticker 11b, which includes a second thin surface 12b elongate along a first direction X and a second direction Y that is perpendicular to the first direction X. The sticker 11b can include a third adhesive portion 34 disposed on the back side 14b along a top portion 18b of the second thin surface 12b. Even still, the sticker 11b can include a fourth adhesive portion 36 disposed on the back side 14b along a middle portion 20b of the second thin surface 12b. In some embodiments, the top portion 18b and the middle portion 20b do not overlap.

[0068] As illustrated in FIG. 9, the document holder system 10 can further include a protective film 28b removably attached to the fourth adhesive portion 36. The document holder system 10 can further include a business card adhesively attached to the fourth adhesive portion 36. In some embodiments, the fourth adhesive portion 36 is configured to release the business card without damaging the business card. The fourth adhesive portion 36 can define an area less than or equal to an area of the document, such as the business card. In some embodiments, the fourth adhesive portion 36 defines an area greater than or equal to the area of the document, such as the business card. Generally speaking, the area of the adhesive portion that receives the document, such as the business card, can be greater than, lesser than, or equal to the area of the business card.

[0069] As previously described, and as shown in FIG. 10, the protective film 28b can be removed, whereby the fourth adhesive portion 36 can receive a first document 30, such as a business card. Because the back side 14b of the sticker 11b can include the third and fourth adhesive portions 34, 36, the front side 16b can be devoid of adhesive, as shown in FIG. 11. In this regard, the front side 16b can be configured to receive notes and inscriptions, such as the location, time, and other pertinent information regarding a meeting between a first person and a second person who's name and contact information is disclosed on the business card.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 12, the third adhesive portion 34 can be adhesively attached to a large document 32 to thereby adhere the sticker 11b to the large document 32. It should be appreciated that the third adhesive portion 34 can be configured to release the large document 32 without damaging the large document 32. In some embodiments, the large document defines a fifth width that is greater than the first width 40, as well. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the large document can define a fifth height that is greater than the first height 44.

[0071] FIG. 13 illustrates that the document holder system 10 can include a plurality of stickers 11. In some embodiments, the document holder system 10 can include the first sticker 11a, the second sticker 11b, and even a third sticker 11c Generally, it should be appreciated that the document holder system 10 can include any number of stickers. Additionally, the document holder system 10 can include any different type of stickers, such as all first stickers 11a (as previously described), all second stickers 11b (as previously described), and even a mix of some first stickers 11a and some second stickers 11b.

[0072] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the document holder system 10 includes stickers organized in various configurations and patterns. For example, the document holder system 10 can include stickers organized in a first pattern (from top to bottom) that includes a first sticker 11a, then a second sticker 11b directly below the first sticker 11a, then a first sticker 11b directly below the second sticker 11b, then a first sticker 11a directly below the second sticker 11b, etc. This can allow users to inscribe notes onto the bottom portions 22 or even on the middle portions 20 without leaving dents or inscriptions on the document or business card located on the sticker 11 directly below it. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that any type of configuration or pattern can be implemented in the document holder system 10.

Interpretation

[0073] It should be appreciated that the terms “first adhesive portion” and “third adhesive portion” can refer to the same portions and can thereby be used interchangeably. Additionally, the terms “second adhesive portion” and “fourth adhesive portion” can refer to the same portions and can thereby be used interchangeably.

[0074] None of the steps described herein is essential or indispensable. Any of the steps can be adjusted or modified. Other or additional steps can be used. Any portion of any of the steps, processes, structures, and/or devices disclosed or illustrated in one embodiment, flowchart, or example in this specification can be combined or used with or instead of any other portion of any of the steps, processes, structures, and/or devices disclosed or illustrated in a different embodiment, flowchart, or example. The embodiments and examples provided herein are not intended to be discrete and separate from each other.

[0075] The section headings and subheadings provided herein are nonlimiting. The section headings and subheadings do not represent or limit the full scope of the embodiments described in the sections to which the headings and subheadings pertain. For example, a section titled “Topic 1” may include embodiments that do not pertain to Topic 1 and embodiments described in other sections may apply to and be combined with embodiments described within the “Topic 1” section.

[0076] The various features and processes described above may be used independently of one another, or may be combined in various ways. All possible combinations and subcombinations are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. In addition, certain method, event, state, or process blocks may be omitted in some implementations. The methods, steps, and processes described herein are also not limited to any particular sequence, and the blocks, steps, or states relating thereto can be performed in other sequences that are appropriate. For example, described tasks or events may be performed in an order other than the order specifically disclosed. Multiple steps may be combined in a single block or state. The example tasks or events may be performed in serial, in parallel, or in some other manner. Tasks or events may be added to or removed from the disclosed example embodiments. The example systems and components described herein may be configured differently than described. For example, elements may be added to, removed from, or rearranged compared to the disclosed example embodiments.

[0077] Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without author input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations and so forth. Also, the term “or” is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements in the list. Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z to each be present.

[0078] The term “and/or” means that “and” applies to some embodiments and “or” applies to some embodiments. Thus, A, B, and/or C can be replaced with A, B, and C written in one sentence and A, B, or C written in another sentence. A, B, and/or C means that some embodiments can include A and B, some embodiments can include A and C, some embodiments can include B and C, some embodiments can only include A, some embodiments can include only B, some embodiments can include only C, and some embodiments include A, B, and C. The term “and/or” is used to avoid unnecessary redundancy.

[0079] While certain example embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions disclosed herein. Thus, nothing in the foregoing description is intended to imply that any particular feature, characteristic, step, module, or block is necessary or indispensable. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions disclosed herein.