Document carrier and system for use therewith

• US 7,497,429 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gayla Marie Gardenhire, Lisa A. Reynders
• Original Assignee: Gayla Marie Gardenhire, Lisa A. Reynders
• Inventors: Gardenhire, Gayla Marie, Reynders, Lisa A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bollinger; David H
• Application Number:
  US10/954,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20060102704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,615 Days
• Field of Search: 271/1, 271/2, 229/70, 229/71, 229/72, 406/61, 403/59
• US Class Current: 271/2
• CPC Class Codes: B42P 2241/22 Sheets or cards with additional means allowing easy feeding through printers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 27/00 Envelopes or like essentially-rectangular containers for postal or other purposes having no structural provision for thickness of contents with shock-absorbing properties B65D81/03; letter-cards B42D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 27/04 with apertures or windows for viewing contents

Abstract

The construction of the present invention is suitable for use as a document carrier and is particularly adapted for the transporting of negotiable instruments such as checks and other items that are used to transfer funds, credits or the like through automated processing equipment such as readers, scanners, copiers and the like. The assembly of the present invention includes an internal pocket that is created through the use of a pair of translucent sheets affixed about an opening created in a standard format sheet, such as a sheet having a dimension of 8½″ by 11″.

Claims

1. A document carrier, comprising;

a) a substantially opaque sheet having outer dimensions of approximately 8½

″

by 11″

, said opaque sheet having front and rear faces, transversely extending edges and longitudinally extending sides, said opaque sheet having an opening sized and configured to receive a document, said opening having a perimeter with dimensions less than 7½

″

by 10½

″

;

b) a first translucent sheet is applied over said opening on said rear face of said opaque sheet so as to cover said opening and extend beyond each of said edges of said perimeter of said opening, said first translucent sheet is adhered to said opaque sheet by a pattern of adhesive extending about and slightly beyond the perimeter of said opening to effectively seal said first translucent sheet to said opaque sheet; and

c) a second translucent sheet applied over said opening on said front face of said opaque sheet so as to cover said opening and extend beyond said perimeter of said opening, said second translucent sheet is adhered to said opaque sheet by a “

U”

shaped pattern of adhesive extending along three sides of said perimeter so as to create an opening between an edge of said opening and said second translucent sheet; and

d) said opaque sheet with said first and second translucent sheets attached form a pocket that is disposed inwardly of said outer dimensions of said opaque sheet for carrying documents having dimensions less than 7½

″

by 10½

″

.

2. A document carrier as recited in claim 1, wherein said first translucent sheet is printable.

3. A document carrier as recited in claim 1, wherein said opening is approximately 4″

by 9″

.

4. A document carrier as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said transversely extending edges and longitudinally extending sides is provided with a leveling aid on one of said front or rear faces of said first sheet such that a stack of such document carriers will remain substantially quadrate in configuration when placed in an infeed tray for automated processing equipment.

5. A document carrier as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second translucent sheets have substantially equal dimensions.

6. A document carrier as recited in claim 5, wherein each of said first and second translucent sheets have a dimension of approximately 5″

by 11″

.

7. A document carrier as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second sheets have first and second transversely extending end edges and first and second longitudinally extending sides and at least one of said longitudinally extending sides of one of said first and second sheets are coterminous with said longitudinally extending sides of said first opaque sheet.

8. In combination with documents having dimensions less than 7½

″

by 10½

″

a document carrier for processing the same, comprising;

a) a document having first and second faces, said document having indicia on at least one of said first and second faces;

said document having a dimension less than 7½

″

by 10½

″

;

b) a document carrier, said document carrier having an opaque sheet having front and rear faces an outer dimension of 8½

″

by 11″ and

having an inner opening having a dimension of not more than 7½

″

by 10½

″

, said document carrier further including a pair of translucent sheets with one sheet affixed to each face of said opaque sheet so that each of said translucent sheets cover said opening, one of said translucent sheets is affixed permanently about a perimeter of said opening and another of said translucent sheets affixed about said opening by a “

U”

shaped pattern of adhesive so as to create an unsealed edge, said translucent sheets forming a pocket; and

c) said document is inserted in said pocket and rests between said translucent sheets such that said document may be scanned, read, or captured by automated processing equipment having standard sheet feeding equipment.

9. A system for scanning, reading or copying non-standard sized documents, comprising;

a) at least one document having a dimension less than 7½

″

by 10½

″

, said document having readable indicia;

b) at least one document carrier, said document carrier having an opaque sheet having front and rear faces an outer dimension of 8½

″

by 11″ and

having an inner opening having a dimension of not more than 7½

″

by 10½

″

, said document carrier further including a pair of translucent sheets with one sheet affixed to each face of said opaque sheet so that each of said translucent sheets cover said opening, one of said translucent sheets is affixed permanently about a perimeter of said opening and another of said translucent sheets affixed about said opening by a “

U”

shaped pattern of adhesive so as to create an unsealed edge, said translucent sheets forming a pocket;

c) at least one piece of automated processing equipment having sheet feeding equipment for reading, scanning or copying said at least one document; and

d) said at least one document is inserted in said pocket and rests between said translucent sheets such that said document may be scanned, read, or captured by said at least one piece of automated processing equipment.

10. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein the system includes a computer and display to illustrate the at least one document scanned by the automated processing equipment.

11. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein a stack of document carriers is provided.