Abstract: Rigid holders for protectively displaying collectible items such as sports and game cards, photographs, comic books and coins. The holder is constructed of three rigid panels, specifically a rear panel, a front panel, and an intermediate panel including an opening therethrough and secured between the rear and front panels. The dimensions of the opening are equal to or greater than the dimensions of the collectible item, and the thickness of the intermediate panel is equal to or greater than the thickness of the collectible item. The collectible item is contained within the opening in the intermediate panel and between the rear and front panels when the three panels are secured together by fasteners.

Abstract: A bi-directional album page including two flexible plastic sheets, at least one and preferably both of which are transparent, configured such that photographs of one width may be inserted through side openings and a photograph of a greater width may be inserted through a top opening. The page may include a paper sheet captured between the two plastic sheets.

Abstract: An album for containing items such as photographs or collectible cards, and its fabrication process, combining the advantages of a cover of one thermoplastic material with the different advantages of leaves of another thermoplastic material weld-incompatible with the cover material, using thermoplastic welding for securing the leaves to the cover. In its preferred embodiment, the album comprises a cover having vinyl inner and outer cover sheets secured to one another in superposed relation with a polypropylene sheet captured therebetween and extending along the cover's spine, and a plurality of polypropylene leaves thermally welded to the captured polypropylene sheet along the cover's spine and through the inner cover.

Abstract: A flexible plastic device for containing a compact disc and having a pocket configured such that the compact disc may be easily inserted into and removed from the pocket. The pocket is formed by a rectangular flexible plastic sheet and another flexible plastic sheet in superposed relation and welded together along three edges thereof with an opening between the rectangular sheet and an unsealed edge of the other sheet for receiving the disc, the unsealed edge extending between opposing welded together edges of the sheets and projectively contoured, the other sheet having an aperture for permitting access to the disc at the disc aperture when the disc is contained in the pocket, the other sheet having a narrow gap in the unsealed edge approximately mid-width thereof and communicating with the aperture of the other sheet.

Abstract: A CD wallet with an entrapped graphics sheet and dedicated to the storing of a particular CD corresponding to the graphics on the entrapped graphics sheet, together with a method for fabricating the dedicated CD wallet. The wallet is fabricated of flexible panels of thermoplastic sheet material, and the entrapped graphics sheet includes two parallel scores thereon and is preferably of greater rigidity than the plastic panels, permitting the plastic panels to bend along the scores on the entrapped graphics sheet to form a spine when the graphics sheet is folded along the scores.

Abstract: A device for protectively holding a disk, and in particular a plastic wallet for protectively containing an optical digitally encoded disk such as a compact disc or CD. The wallet is fabricated of flexible thermoplastic sheet material and includes a pocket for containing the CD, as well as pockets arranged for containing a single graphics sheet viewable through the transparent front and rear covers of the wallet. A preferred embodiment of the CD wallet includes an opening through one of the sheets of the CD pocket for assisting in withdrawing the CD from its pocket.

Abstract: A device for protectively storing collectible disks, in particular a plastic album leaf for protectively storing and displaying collectible disks such as milk caps or coins. The device comprises two flexible plastic panels in superposed relation, and securing means securing the panels in such relation with a first opening between the panels, the securing means including an arcuate seam sealing the superposed panels together along a circular arc for containing at least one-half but not the entirety of the disk between the panels within the arc of the seam, the arc of the seam exceeding 180.degree. and terminating at a second opening between the superposed panels of sufficient width for permitting passage therethrough and into the arc of at least one-half of the disk when the disk is received by the first opening for containing the entirety of the disk between the panels.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for holding photograph albums in localized association with photo negatives corresponding to the photoprints in the respective albums. The holder preferred embodiment includes three substantially rectangular panels, a first spine pivotally connecting a first one of the panels and a second one of the panels, and a second spine longitudinal parallel to the first spine pivotally connecting the second panel and a third one of the panels. Album retaining means are carried by the panels for retaining the photo albums thereon, and negatives storage means are also carried by the panels for storing photo negatives in respective localized association with the album retaining means.

Abstract: An improved thermocontact welding method and apparatus for producing welded seams joining superposed thermoplastic sheets, and in particular for producing solid seams in polypropylene and other polyolefin sheets. The method includes moving a lower platen for engaging an upper die assembly for applying pressure to interposed thermoplastic sheets at areas thereof between the die surface and the platen while the die surface is at a temperature higher than the melting temperature of the sheets and while thermally isolating other areas of the sheets, and the welded sheets are coerced or ejected from the die surface during disengagement of the platen from the die assembly. A preferred product of the method is a polypropylene album leaf having pockets defined by solid weld seams for containing cards or photographs.

Abstract: An improved thermocontact welding method and apparatus for producing welded seams joining superposed thermoplastic sheets, and in particular for producing solid seams in polypropylene and other polyolefin sheets. The method includes moving a lower platen for engaging an upper die assembly for applying pressure to interposed thermoplastic sheets at areas thereof between the die surface and the platen while the die surface is at a temperature higher than the melting temperature of the sheets and while thermally isolating other areas of the sheets, and the welded sheets are coerced or ejected from the die surface during disengagement of the platen from the die assembly. A preferred product of the method is a polypropylene album leaf having pockets defined by solid weld seams for containing cards or photographs.

Abstract: A reinforcing weld structure for thermo-adhesive sheets joined by high frequency welding methods. The invention is particularly concerned with a photo finisher wallet fabricated of flexible thermoplastic sheet material and including the reinforcing weld of the present invention at each corner of each of the wallet's pockets. The photo finisher wallet includes a first flexible thermoplastic sheet foldable to form front and rear covers, one of which is substantially rectangular and has a welded seam along three of its edges. A second substantially rectangular thermoplastic sheet is sealed along its three edges to the rectangular cover by the seam, the second sheet having an unsealed edge to form a pocket.

Abstract: A photo finisher wallet or pouch for utilization by a photo finishing laboratory for delivering photographic prints and corresponding negatives to a customer, as well as for storing the prints and negatives, and in addition for permitting some or all of the prints to be displayed by means of leaves having transparent pockets in the manner of a photo album. The photo finisher wallet comprises a flexible cover sheet foldable along a middle portion for forming a folder having a front cover and a rear cover; cover pocket means on the inner surface of at least one of the covers for storing stacked photographic prints; and a plurality of leaves, each leaf affixed along an edge to the cover sheet middle portion and contained within the covers when the cover sheet is folded, each leaf including transparent leaf pocket means for displaying at least one of the prints removed from the cover pocket means and inserted in the leaf pocket means.