Photo album sleeve for various photo sizes

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a photo album sleeve for various photo sizes. The photo album sleeve comprises a plurality of dividing lines. Each of the dividing lines is extended inward from either vertical end of the sleeve by a predetermined length to thereby horizontally divide the sleeve into a plurality of photograph insertion spaces. At least one of horizontal ends and at least one of vertical ends of the sleeve are opened. With this configuration, a plurality of photographs may be horizontally inserted via the opened vertical end of the sleeve to be stored in the respective photograph insertion spaces, or an elongated photograph may be vertically inserted via the opened horizontal end of the sleeve to be stored throughout the photograph insertion spaces.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a photo album sleeve for various photo sizes, and, more particularly, to a photo album sleeve which can store various sizes of photographs using a single sleeve design without a necessity of several sleeves, respectively, adapted to store specific photograph sizes.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, photo albums are classified into self-adhesive photo albums and slip-in photo albums.

In use of self-adhesive photo albums, a transparent film has to be first removed from an adhesive mounting sheet so that photographs are positioned at desired locations, and after completing attachment of the photographs, the film is again covered over the mounting sheet. The self-adhesive photo albums have advantages in that various sizes of photographs can be easily mounted on the adhesive mounting sheet and the orientation of the photographs is freely selectable from a horizontal orientation to an oblique orientation.

In spite of the above-described advantages, however, sales of self-adhesive photo albums are lower than those of slip-in photo albums because their adhesive strength tends to be deteriorated due to frequent exchange of photographs and the attached photographs or album sheets are easily invaded by pollutants due to the sticky adhesive regions of the sheets. For this reason, recently, self-adhesive photo albums are used only as specific commemorative albums, such as wedding albums, having a low risk of frequent exchange of photographs.

On the other hand, slip-in photo albums are mainly used as the most representative album due to advantages in that exchange of photographs is easy, and overlapping of two or more photographs is possible.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a conventional photo album sleeve. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a usage example of conventional photo album sleeves for different photo sizes.

As shown in FIG. 5, the conventional photo album sleeve 1 may be divided into three sections 11 by thermally bonded lines 2. Here, each section 11 has a photograph insertion opening 13 formed at a vertical lateral end thereof. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, the photo album sleeve 1 may have two photograph sections 11, and a memo sheet section 14 provided at the center of the sleeve 1 or at an upper or lower end of the sleeve 1.

Generally, standard sizes of currently used photographs are 8.9×12.7 cm, 10.2×15.2 cm, 12.7×17.8 cm, and 20.3×25.4 cm. The photo album sleeve of FIG. 5 is for photographs having standard sizes of 8.9×12.7 cm and 10.2×15.2 cm, and the photo album sleeve of FIG. 6 is for photographs having a standard size of 12.7×17.8 cm. Photographs having a size of 20.3×25.4 cm require a photo album sleeve having a single section throughout the substantially overall area thereof.

In existing albums, since the proportion of widely used sleeves to less frequently used sleeves is predetermined, they may suffer from a shortage of specific sleeves. Therefore, it is necessary to additionally purchase the specific sleeves or to insert small-size photographs into sections for large-size photographs.

Additional purchase of specific sleeves, which are identical to the existing sleeves, is very difficult because respective manufacturers supply different sleeve designs. Mixing different sleeve designs with the existing sleeves causes a sense of incongruity.

Especially, panoramic photographs have gained in popularity recently but they are difficult to store because of the limited availability of album sleeves for storing panoramic photographs.

In the case of the above described memo sheet section 14, furthermore, although it allows insertion of a memo sheet, it tends to cause crumpling of the memo sheet or makes it difficult to insert the memo sheet due to its elongated narrow shape, resulting in an inconvenience of use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a photo album sleeve, which can easily store various sizes of photographs, including panoramic photographs, using a single sleeve design.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a photo album sleeve for various photo sizes, which can allow easy writing thereon.

In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a photo album sleeve to store one or more photographs in a space enclosed by overlapped two transparent films, wherein the photo album sleeve includes a plurality of dividing lines, each being extended inward from either vertical end of the sleeve by a predetermined length to horizontally divide the sleeve into a plurality of photograph insertion spaces; and wherein at least one of horizontal ends and at least one of vertical ends of the photo album sleeve are opened, whereby a plurality of photographs are horizontally inserted via the opened vertical end of the sleeve to be stored in the respective photograph insertion spaces, or an elongated photograph is vertically inserted via the opened horizontal end of the sleeve to be stored throughout the photograph insertion spaces.

That is, the photo album sleeve of the present invention is designed to allow one or more photographs to be vertically or horizontally inserted into the sleeve, thereby enabling storage of various sizes of photographs using a single sleeve design.

Preferably, the two overlapped transparent films may be thermally bonded or attached using an adhesive at the dividing lines. Also, a separate base sheet is inserted into a space enclosed by the two overlapped transparent films. The base sheet is made of a paper sheet, and has the same shape as the remaining portion of the sleeve where the transparent films are not thermally bonded or attached using an adhesive. Insertion of the base paper sheet into the space enclosed by the transparent films serves to provide the album sleeve with stiffness, thereby facilitating insertion of photographs into the album sleeve.

The horizontal dividing lines of the photo album sleeve of the present invention may be easily formed by thermally bonding the two overlapped transparent films or attaching them using an adhesive after interposing the base sheet between the two transparent films or without the base sheet. Admittedly, each dividing line is not extended throughout a horizontal length of the sleeve, but is extended inward from either vertical lateral end of the sleeve by a predetermined length to enable vertical insertion of an elongated photograph.

Preferably, the number of the dividing lines is appropriately determined in consideration of the overall size of the photo album sleeve. In an embodiment of the present invention, one or two dividing lines may be formed.

In the photo album sleeve of the present invention, one of horizontal ends and one of vertical lateral ends of the sleeve are opened for the insertion of photographs. Preferably, assuming that a horizontal direction of the sleeve corresponds to a minor axis and a vertical direction of the sleeve corresponds to a major axis, a horizontal upper end and a vertical right end of the sleeve are opened to allow photographs to be vertically inserted via the horizontal upper end or to be horizontally inserted via the vertical right end. In this case, preferably, the remaining horizontal bottom end of the sleeve is closed to prevent the photograph, which is vertically inserted via the horizontal upper end or is horizontally inserted into the lowermost photograph insertion space, from falling from the sleeve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a photo album sleeve according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a usage example of the photo album sleeve of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating a photo album sleeve according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating a photo album sleeve according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a conventional photo album sleeve; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a usage example of conventional photo album sleeves for different photo sizes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained. In the following description, although the preferred embodiments are explained with reference to the accompanying drawings for more intensive understanding of the present invention, various modifications, additions and substitutions of a photo album sleeve according to the present invention are possible. If necessary, a detailed description of known parts will be omitted when it is determined to obscure the important point of the present invention, in order to eliminate an unnecessary limitation in the practice of the present invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a photo album sleeve according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a usage example of the photo album sleeve of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the photo album sleeve according to the first embodiment of the present invention, designated as reference numeral 1, includes a base sheet 10 made of a thin paper sheet. At both sides of the base sheet 10 are overlapped a pair of transparent films 15a and 15b, which have the same size as one another. With this configuration, the base sheet 10 is enclosed by the transparent films 15a and 15b. A plurality of holes 25 is punched along a left end of the sleeve 1 for the coupling of loops 35 provided at a photo album. In the present embodiment, the sleeve 1 is horizontally divided into three photograph insertion spaces 11 by dividing lines 22. Each dividing line 22 extends inward from either vertical lateral end of the sleeve 1 by a predetermined length. Here, the base sheet 10 is located in the photograph insertion spaces 11, and the dividing lines 22 are formed as the transparent films 15a and 15b are overlapped and bonded to each other via thermal bonding. The photo album sleeve 1 is opened along a horizontal upper end 12 and a vertical right end 13 thereof so that different sizes of photographs 31, 32, and 42 are inserted via the open upper and right ends 12 and 13. The length of the dividing lines 22 is determined to stably keep standard sizes of inserted photographs in their intended positions without a risk of falling. A bottom end 21 of the sleeve 1 is thermally bonded to prevent separation of the photographs, which are inserted via the open upper and right ends 12 and 13. At opposite corners of the upper end 12 of the sleeve 1 are provided bonded portions 23 each having a length shorter than that of each dividing line 22. The bonded portions 23 serve to centrally guide insertion of a photograph via the upper end 12 of the sleeve 1.

With this configuration of the present invention, it is possible to insert the long panoramic photograph 31 or the photograph 32 having a standard size larger than the size of a respective one of the photograph insertion spaces 11. Thereby, although the sleeve 1 according to the present embodiment is basically designed to receive the three photographs 42 having a standard size of 10.2×15.2 cm, it can be also used to receive the photograph 32 having a standard size of 12.7×17.8 cm or the panoramic photograph 31. This eliminates the necessity of several sleeves, respectively, adapted to store specific photograph size.

FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating a photo album sleeve according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is identical to the above described first embodiment in configuration except for an incision 24 formed in a respective one of the dividing lines 22. The incision 24 provides aesthetic effects, and also serves to allow portions between the photograph insertion spaces 11 to be partially folded. Such a folding of the sleeve 1 is effective to prevent damage to part of the sleeve 1 when a photograph is inserted into or pulled out by force.

FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating a photo album sleeve according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Differently from those of the above embodiments, the photo album sleeve of the present embodiment includes a memo sheet insertion space 14 provided in a bottom region thereof. The photo album sleeve of the present embodiment is mainly used to store the photograph 32 having a standard size of 12.7×17.8 cm. The memo sheet insertion space 14 is defined by a portion remained after the photographs 32 having a standard size of 12.7×17.8 cm are inserted into the sleeve 1. A memo sheet may be inserted into the memo sheet insertion space 14, or the base sheet 10, located inside the transparent films 15a and 15b, may be used as a memo sheet. Therefore, after removing the film that forms the memo sheet insertion space 14, a memo sheet may be inserted into the memo sheet insertion space 14 or the base sheet 10 may be used as a memo sheet. Then, the film is again covered.

As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a photo album sleeve which can store various sizes of photographs using a single sleeve design, thereby enabling easy arrangement of photographs and eliminating a need to purchase separate sleeves.

Claims

1. A photo album sleeve to store one or more photographs in a space enclosed by overlapped two transparent films,

wherein the photo album sleeve includes a plurality of dividing lines, each being extended inward from either vertical end of the sleeve by a predetermined length to horizontally divide the sleeve into a plurality of photograph insertion spaces; and

wherein at least one of horizontal ends and at least one of vertical ends of the photo album sleeve are opened,

whereby a plurality of photographs are horizontally inserted via the opened vertical end of the sleeve to be stored in the respective photograph insertion spaces, or an elongated photograph is vertically inserted via the opened horizontal end of the sleeve to be stored throughout the photograph insertion spaces.

2. The sleeve as set forth in claim 1, wherein the dividing lines are formed by thermal bonding.

3. The sleeve as set forth in claim 1, wherein the dividing lines are formed by attachment using an adhesive.

4. The sleeve as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sleeve is provided at a horizontal bottom end thereof with falling-prevention means to prevent the inserted photograph from falling from the sleeve.

5. The sleeve as set forth in claim 4, wherein the falling-prevention means is a seal formed throughout the horizontal bottom end of the sleeve by thermal bonding.

6. The sleeve as set forth in claim 4, wherein the falling-prevention means is a seal formed throughout the horizontal bottom end of the sleeve by attachment using an adhesive.

7. The sleeve as set forth in claim 4, wherein the falling-prevention means is formed at a predetermined height spaced upward from the horizontal bottom end of the sleeve to define a memo sheet insertion space underneath the falling-prevention means.

8. The sleeve as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the dividing lines includes a horizontal incision extended from either vertical end of the sleeve.

9. A photo album sleeve to store one or more photographs in a space enclosed by overlapped two transparent films,

wherein the photo album sleeve includes:

a plurality of dividing lines, each being extended inward from either vertical end of the sleeve by a predetermined length to horizontally divide the sleeve into a plurality of photograph insertion spaces; and

a base sheet inserted in the photograph insertion spaces and having a size corresponding to the area of the photograph insertion spaces,

wherein at least one of horizontal ends and at least one of vertical ends of the sleeve are opened,

whereby a plurality of photographs are horizontally inserted via the opened vertical end of the sleeve to be stored in the respective photograph insertion spaces, or an elongated photograph is vertically inserted via the opened horizontal end of the sleeve to be stored throughout the photograph insertion spaces.

10. The sleeve as set forth in claim 9, wherein the dividing lines are formed by thermal bonding.

11. The sleeve as set forth in claim 9, wherein the dividing lines are formed by attachment using an adhesive.

12. The sleeve as set forth in claim 9, wherein the sleeve is provided at a horizontal bottom end thereof with falling-prevention means to prevent the inserted photograph from falling from the sleeve.

13. The sleeve as set forth in claim 12, wherein the falling-prevention means is a seal formed throughout the horizontal bottom end of the sleeve by thermal bonding.

14. The sleeve as set forth in claim 12, wherein the falling-prevention means is a seal formed throughout the horizontal bottom end of the sleeve by attachment using an adhesive.

15. The sleeve as set forth in claim 12, wherein the falling-prevention means is formed at a predetermined height spaced upward from the horizontal bottom end of the sleeve to define a memo sheet insertion space underneath the falling-prevention means.

16. The sleeve as set forth in claim 9, wherein each of the dividing lines includes a horizontal incision extended from either vertical end of the sleeve.