Business accessory article with graphic image and method of making

Abstract

An article of manufacture such as a soft cover portfolio, desk folder, or similar article, includes a graphic image provided thereon by transferring an image from a source to a processor which is operable to control a printer to print multiple images on a sheet of polyvinyl chloride or the like. The printed images may be protected by laminating a transparent vinyl sheet over the larger image sheet and the images are then precut to final size. The final individual image sheets are applied directly to the article of manufacture or to a member of flexible material to be used in forming an article of manufacture by, preferably, RF sealing the image sheet to the member which will form a part of the article. The precisely cut image sheet may be supported on a debossing die or placed on the member which will form the article, then struck by the debossing die. Accurate positioning of the image sheet on the member may be carried out by use of a guide device, focused light beams or by a light debossing operation to form an indentation in the member prior to locating the image sheet on the member. A virtually infinite range of graphic images may be rapidly and permanently placed on members which are then used to form articles of manufacture, such as portfolios, desk folders, luggage tags, memo pads and similar articles in relatively large quantities.

1 - 26 . (canceled)  
     
     
         27 . An article of manufacture, such as a folder, portfolio, luggage tag, keyfob, memo pad and the like having a printed image thereon and manufactured by a process comprising the steps of: 
 providing a flexible member to be formed as or forming at least part of said article;    providing a flexible sheet of plastic material adapted to be receptive to one or more printed images on one side of said sheet of flexible material;    transferring an image to be applied to said sheet of flexible material to a processor;    causing said processor to control a printer for printing at least one image on said sheet of flexible material;    cutting at least one image sheet from said sheet of said flexible material along predetermined contours of said image;    placing said at least one image sheet in contact with said flexible member; and    bonding said at least one image sheet to said flexible member.    
     
     
         28 . The article set forth in  claim 27  wherein: 
 said at least one image sheet is bonded to said flexible member by engaging said at least one image sheet with a debossing die and applying energy to bond said at least one image sheet to said flexible member.  
 
     
     
         29 . An article with a printed image thereon, said article comprising one of a portfolio, desk folder, binder, wallet, luggage tag, memo pad or keyfob having a cover part formed of a flexible and indentable material, said article including: 
 a member formed of said flexible and indentable material and comprising at least a portion of said cover part of said article;    an image sheet of a flexible material bonded to said member, including a printed image on a first side thereof;    said image sheet being in contact with said member at a second and opposite side of said image sheet;    said image sheet being bonded to said member by pressing said image sheet to said member to adhere said image sheet to said member, and    said member having a planar indentation formed therein while bonding said image sheet to said member in said planar indentation, said planar indentation having a depth at least as great as the thickness of said image sheet so as to recess said image sheet in said member.    
     
     
         30 . The article set forth in  claim 29  wherein: 
 said image sheet and said member are each formed of a flexible plastic material.  
 
     
     
         31 . The article set forth in  claim 30  wherein: 
 said image sheet is bonded to said member by pressing said image sheet to said member and applying RF energy to adhere said image sheet to said member.  
 
     
     
         32 . The article set forth in  claim 29  wherein: 
 said image sheet includes an ink receptive coating thereon.  
 
     
     
         33 . The article set forth in  claim 32  including: 
 a textured surface of said image sheet under said coating.  
 
     
     
         34 . The article set forth in  claim 29  including: 
 a transparent laminate sheet on said image sheet covering said image.  
 
     
     
         35 . The article set forth in  claim 34  wherein: 
 said image sheet is formed of polyvinyl chloride.  
 
     
     
         36 . The article set forth in  claim 35  including the step of: 
 said laminate sheet if formed of polyvinyl chloride.  
 
     
     
         37 . An article with a printed image thereon, said article comprising one of a portfolio, desk folder, binder, wallet, luggage tag, memo pad or keyfob having a cover part formed of a flexible and indentable material, said article further comprising: 
 a member formed of said flexible and indentable material and comprising at least a portion of said cover part of said article;    an image sheet of a flexible material adapted to be bonded to said member and including an image printed on a first side thereof;    a substantially planar indentation in said member having a depth at least about equal to the thickness of said image sheet; and    said image sheet is bonded to said member within said indentation by pressing said image sheet to said member and applying RF energy to adhere said image sheet to said member.    
     
     
         38 . An article with a printed image thereon, said article comprising one of a portfolio, desk folder, binder, wallet, luggage tag, memo pad or keyfob having a cover part formed of a flexible and indentable material, said article further comprising: 
 a member formed of said flexible and indentable material and comprising at least a portion of said cover part;    an image sheet of a flexible material having an image printed on a first side of said image sheet;    a substantially planar debossed indentation on said member; and    said image sheet being bonded to said member by RF energy to adhere said image sheet to said member at said indentation.