Flexible article comprising pocket

Abstract

The invention relates to a flexible article such as a roll-up sign comprising a pocket, such pocket suitable for receipt of a support.

1 . A sign comprising at least one pocket wherein the pocket is comprised of a flexible substrate and defined by a pair of unstitched bonds that form an enclosure having at least one opening there between.  
   
   
       2 . The sign of  claim 1  wherein the sign is flexible such that the sign can be wrapped around a mandrel having a diameter of about ½″ (1.3 cm) at 25° C. without visible cracking.  
   
   
       3 . The sign of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the unstitched peripheral bonds are melt bonded.  
   
   
       4 . The sign of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the unstitched peripheral bonds are adhesive bonded.  
   
   
       5 . The sign of  claim 1  wherein the sign comprises a viewing surface and a non-viewing surface and the pocket is present on the non-viewing surface.  
   
   
       6 . The sign of  claim 5  wherein the viewing surface comprises retroreflective sheeting.  
   
   
       7 . The sign of  claim 5  wherein the non-viewing surface comprises a backing.  
   
   
       8 . The sign of  claim 7  wherein the flexible substrate of the pocket consists of the backing.  
   
   
       9 . The sign of  claim 1  wherein the flexible substrate is selected from fabric and polymeric film.  
   
   
       10 . The sign of  claim 9  wherein the fabric comprises a polymeric coating.  
   
   
       11 . The sign of  claim 1  wherein the sign is a quadrilateral having four corners.  
   
   
       12 . The sign of  claim 11  wherein pockets are present in the corners.  
   
   
       13 . The sign of  claim 1  wherein the article is free of stitched bonds.  
   
   
       14 . The sign of  claim 1  further comprising a support removably attached to the sign by means of the pocket.  
   
   
       15 . A flexible article comprising a viewing surface wherein at least a portion thereof is retroreflective and at least one pocket comprised of a flexible substrate wherein the pocket is defined by a pair of unstitched bonds that form an enclosure having at least one opening there between.  
   
   
       16 . The article of  claim 16  wherein the article comprising a viewing surface comprising at least indicia or graphics.  
   
   
       17 . A method of making a sign comprising: 
 providing a flexible sheet;    folding a portion of the flexible sheet onto itself; and    bonding the folded flexible sheet such that at least one pocket is formed.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the flexible sheet comprises retroreflective sheeting comprising a viewing surface and a backing and the backing is folded onto itself.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the bonding is selected from melt-bonding and adhesive bonding.  
   
   
       20 . A method of making a sign comprising: 
 providing a sign substrate,    providing at least one piece of a flexible substrate; and    bonding the flexible substrate to the sign substrate such that at least one pocket is formed.    
   
   
       21 . A flexible sign comprising at least one pocket comprised of a flexible substrate wherein the pocket is defined by a pair bonds that form an enclosure having two opposing openings there between.