WO2013184160A1

WO2013184160A1 - Place cards, printable place card assemblies, and methods of making and using the same

Info

Publication number: WO2013184160A1
Application number: PCT/US2012/067631
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jay K. Sato; Alejandro G. Veyna Hernandez; Susanna L. SCHROEDER
Original assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
Priority date: 2012-06-04
Filing date: 2012-12-03
Publication date: 2013-12-12
Also published as: AU2012382041A1

Abstract

Place cards (11) on which markings and other indicia made manually and/or using a printing device can be displayed, as well as printable place card assemblies and methods of making and using the same. In one embodiment, the place card (11) is capable of standing reliably and being secured to a surface and includes a self-supporting sheet, the self- supporting sheet including a display panel (13) and at least two tabs (31, 33), the at least two tabs (31, 33) being joined to one another to form a stand for the display panel (13). The place card (11) also includes an adhesive applied to at least one of the two tabs (31, 33) to couple the stand to a surface. The place card can be incorporated into a sheet- like assembly that is amenable to being fed into a printing device, such as an ink jet printer, a laser printer, or a photocopier.

Description

PLACE CARDS, PRINTABLE PLACE CARD ASSEMBLIES, AND

METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to place cards and relates more particularly to novel place cards, novel printable place card assemblies, and methods of making and using the same.

BACKGROUND

[0002] There are many situations in which it can be desirable to display printed information, i.e., text and/or images, at an angle other than facing directly upwardly from a desk, table, or similar horizontal surface. As one example, in dining establishments, it is often desirable to display certain menu items or other advertising using a standing table display that is viewable by anyone seated at the table. As another example, in many retail establishments, it is often desirable to display to prospective customers sales-related information using a standing display that can be easily viewed from a distance. As still another example, it is often desirable at large functions for seating assignments to be displayed using standing place cards.

[0003] For situations such as the foregoing, a type of place card called a "tent card" is commonly used as the medium for receiving and displaying the printed information. Tent cards typically come in a number of different varieties. One common variety is a two-panel tent card, an example of which is shown in a standing state in Fig. 1. A tent card of the two- panel variety typically includes a sheet of cardstock having a score line that bisects the sheet longitudinally into a pair of panels. In use, information is printed on one or both of the two panels, either manually or using a printing device. The sheet of cardstock is then folded along its score line to assume a V-shape, and the folded sheet of cardstock is then propped up in a standing position on a horizontal surface, with the free edge of each panel in contact with the horizontal surface and with the folded edge separating the two panels spaced above the horizontal surface.

[0004] In another common type of tent card, the sheet of cardstock has two score lines to permit the sheet to be folded into a triangular structure having three panels, namely, a pair of print-receptive panels and a base panel, the base panel extending from one of the two print-receptive panels and being adapted to lie on top of the horizontal surface. In many cases, such tent cards further include means for securing the base panel to the other one of the two panels to maintain the triangular shape of the structure.

[0005] The dimensions of a typical tent card, whether of the two-panel variety described above or of the triangular structure described above, are often much smaller than the dimensions of a typical sheet of paper (e.g., letter-size, legal-size, A4). As a result, it is difficult to feed such cards into a conventional printing device, such as an ink jet printer, a laser printer, or a photocopier. Consequently, one known method for making such tent cards has involved forming one or more such cards as part of a sheet or card assembly whose dimensions are similar to those of a typical sheet of paper, for example, AVERY^® Tent Cards™ number 5302 (Avery Dennison Corporation, Pasadena, California). Such an assembly can then be fed into a printing device, whereby printing can be applied to one or more of the cards. Thereafter, the one or more cards can be separated from any matrix or waste portion of the assembly, as well as being separated from any other cards of the assembly, and then used in the fashion described above.

[0006] One shortcoming of place cards of the two-panel tent card variety described above is that such cards have a tendency not to stand stably and, instead, often flatten soon after being placed in a standing state. Place cards of the triangular tent card variety described above are better at maintaining a standing state; however, such cards tend to occupy a lot of space on the card assembly, and, as a result, only a small number of such cards can be laid out on the same card assembly. Moreover, a shortcoming of both types of cards is that such cards, once standing, have a tendency to move translationally from their original location when subjected to physical contact or even to air currents. As a result, such cards can easily be inadvertently knocked away or blown from the location they were originally placed.

[0007] It should, therefore, be appreciated that there is a need for a place card that can stand reliably and that can remain stationary on a surface, yet occupies a minimal amount of space on a sheet that can be fed into a printing device. The present invention satisfies this need.

SUMMARY

[0008] The present invention includes a place card including a display panel and at least two tabs. The at least two tabs are be coupled to the display panel and are be joined to one another to form a stand for the display panel. An adhesive is be applied to at least one of the two tabs to couple the stand to a desired surface.

[0009] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the display includes a print- receptive material. In other, more detailed features of the invention, the print-receptive material is receptive to at least one of hand-made markings and printing from a printing device. In other, more detailed features of the invention, the printing device is at least one printing device selected from the group consisting of an ink jet printer, a laser printer, and a photocopier.

[0010] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the display panel and the at least two tabs are formed from a self-supporting sheet. In other, more detailed features of the invention, the self-supporting sheet consists of a single layer of material. In other, more detailed features of the invention, the single layer of material is selected from the group consisting of a paper sheet and a polymer film. In other, more detailed features of the invention, the paper sheet is a sheet of cardstock.

[0011] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the self-supporting sheet includes a multi-layer material. In other, more detailed features of the invention, the multi- layer material includes a substrate and a coating. In other more detailed features of the invention, the substrate is selected from the group consisting of a paper sheet and a polymer film. In other, more detailed features of the invention, the paper sheet includes a sheet of cardstock.

[0012] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the coating includes a print- receptive material that is receptive for printing from a printing device.

[0013] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the self-supporting sheet has a thickness no greater than about 15 mils.

[0014] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the adhesive is a pressure- sensitive adhesive. In other, more detailed features of the invention, the pressure-sensitive adhesive is selected from the group consisting of permanent pressure-sensitive adhesives, removable pressure-sensitive adhesives, repositionable pressure-sensitive adhesives, and ultra-removable pressure-sensitive adhesives.

[0015] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the at least two tabs are configured to be joined to one another by the adhesive. In other, more detailed features of the invention, the at least two tabs are configured to be joined to one another by interlocking members. In other, more detailed features of the invention, one of the at least two tabs includes a tongue and another of the at least two tabs includes a slit and the tongue can be securely receivable within the slit.

[0016] In other, more detailed features of the invention, each of the at least two tabs is hingedly coupled to the display panel.

[0017] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the display panel has an edge and each of the at least two tabs is configured to be folded about the edge of the display panel. In other, more detailed features of the invention, each of the at least two tabs is independently foldable about the edge of the display panel.

[0018] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the adhesive is applied to each of the at least two tabs.

[0019] In other, more detailed features of the invention, each of the at least two tabs has an inner edge, and the inner edges are integrally formed.

[0020] In other, more detailed features of the invention, each of the at least two tabs has an inner edge, and the inner edges can be independently movable.

[0021] The present invention also includes a printable sheet assembly. The printable sheet assembly includes a sheet. The sheet includes a first portion severably connected to the remainder of the sheet. The first portion includes a first part and a second part. The first part is configured to be used as a display panel, and the second part is coupled to the first part and includes at least two tabs joinable to one another to form a stand for the display panel. An adhesive is applied to the second part of the sheet for use in coupling the display panel to a surface.

[0022] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the printable sheet assembly further includes a release liner covering the adhesive.

[0023] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the sheet is a sheet of cardstock.

[0024] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the sheet includes a print- receptive material.

[0025] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the first portion of the sheet is defined by, and severably coupled to the remainder of the sheet, at least in part by at least one of perforations and cuts/ties.

[0026] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the perforations are microperforations.

[0027] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the display panel includes a print-receptive material.

[0028] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the sheet further includes a second portion severably connected to the remainder of the sheet. The second portion of the sheet includes a first part and a second part, the first part is configured to be used as a display panel, the second part is coupled to the first part and including at least two tabs joinable to one another to form a stand for the display panel. An adhesive is applied to the second part of the sheet for use in coupling the display panel to a surface.

[0029] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the second part includes at least two tabs that are severably connected and that, once separated from each other, are rejoined and coupled to the surface.

[0030] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the at least two tabs includes interlocking members for their rejoinder.

[0031] The present invention also includes a method of displaying information. The method includes providing a place card. The place card includes a display panel, at least two tabs coupled to the display panel, the at least two tabs being joined to one another to form a stand for the display panel, and an adhesive applied to at least one of the two tabs to couple the stand to a desired surface. The method further includes making at least one marking on the display panel and joining the at least two tabs to one another to form a stand for the display panel.

[0032] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the method further includes coupling the place card to a surface using the adhesive. [0033] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the joining step includes adhering the at least two tabs together using the adhesive on at least one of the at least two tabs.

[0034] In other, more detailed features of the invention, the at least two tabs includes interlocking members and the joining step can include interlocking the interlocking members.

[0035] The embodiments of the present invention described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others who are skilled in the art can appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present invention. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention, the invention not being limited to any particular preferred embodiment(s) disclosed. Many changes and modifications within the scope of the present invention can be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such

modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] The accompanying drawings, which are hereby incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate various embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. It should be noted that the drawings are not drawn to scale. In the drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like parts:

[0037] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional two-panel tent card;

[0038] Figs. 2(a) through 2(h) are front, rear, top, bottom, left side, right side, front perspective, and rear perspective views, respectively, of a first embodiment of a place card constructed according to the present invention;

[0039] Figs. 3(a) through 3(g) are front, rear, top, bottom, left side, right side, and front perspective views, respectively, of a place card construction that can be used to form the place card of Figs. 2(a) through 2(h);

[0040] Fig. 4 is a flowchart, schematically depicting one method of using the place card construction of Figs. 3(a) through 3(g);

[0041] Figs. 5(a) through 5(i) are views illustrating certain steps of the method of Fig.

4;

[0042] Figs. 6(a) through 6(f) are front (broken away in part), rear, bottom, left side, right side, and front perspective views, respectively, of a first embodiment of a printable place card assembly constructed according to the present invention; [0043] Fig. 7 is a front view of the printable place card assembly of Figs. 6(a) through

6(f), with the release liners not being shown;

[0044] Fig. 8 is a flowchart, schematically depicting one method that can be used according to the present invention to make the printable place card assembly of Figs. 6(a) through 6(f);

[0045] Figs. 9(a) through 9(d) are views illustrating certain steps of the method of

Fig. 8;

[0046] Fig. 10 is a flowchart, schematically depicting one method that can be used according to the present invention to use the printable place card assembly of Figs. 6(a) through 6(f);

[0047] Figs. 11 (a) through 1 1 (j) are views illustrating certain steps of the method of

Fig. 10;

[0048] Figs. 12(a) through 12(h) are front, rear, top, bottom, left side, right side, front perspective, and rear perspective views, respectively, of a second embodiment of a place card constructed according to the present invention;

[0049] Figs. 13(a) through 13(g) are front, rear, top, bottom, left side, and front perspective views, respectively, of a place card construction that can be used to form the place card of Figs. 12(a) through 12(h);

[0050] Figs. 14(a) through 14(f) are front, rear, bottom, left side, right side, and front perspective views, respectively, of a second embodiment of a printable place card assembly constructed according to the present invention;

[0051] Fig. 15 is a front view of the printable place card assembly of Figs. 14(a) through 14(f), with the release liners not being shown;

[0052] Fig. 16 is a flowchart, schematically depicting one method that can be used according to the present invention to make the printable place card assembly of Figs. 14(a) through 14(f);

[0053] Figs. 17(a) through 17(c) are views illustrating certain steps of the method of

Fig. 16;

[0054] Figs. 18(a) through 18(g) are front, rear, top, bottom, left side, right side, and front perspective views, respectively, of a third embodiment of a place card constructed according to the present invention;

[0055] Figs. 19(a) through 19(g) are front, rear, top, bottom, left side, right side, and front perspective views, respectively, of a place card construction that can be used to form the place card of Figs. 18(a) through 18(g);

[0056] Figs. 20(a) through 20(f) are front, rear, bottom, left side, right side, and front perspective views, respectively, of a third embodiment of a printable place card assembly constructed according to the present invention; [0057] Fig. 21 is a front view of the printable place card assembly of Figs. 20(a) through 20(f), with the release liners not being shown;

[0058] Fig. 22 is a flowchart, schematically depicting one method that can be used according to the present invention to make the printable place card assembly of Figs. 20(a) through 20(f);

[0059] Figs. 23(a) through 23(d) are views illustrating certain steps of the method of

Fig. 22;

[0060] Fig. 24 is a flowchart, schematically depicting one method that can be used according to the present invention to use the printable place card assembly of Figs. 20(a) through 20(f);

[0061] Figs. 25(a) through 25(h) are views illustrating certain steps of the method of

Fig. 24;

[0062] Figs. 26(a) through 26(g) are front, rear, top, bottom, left side, right side, and front perspective views, respectively, of a fourth embodiment of a place card constructed according to the present invention;

[0063] Figs. 27(a) through 27(g) are front, rear, top, bottom, front perspective, right side, and left side views, respectively, of a place card construction that can be used to form the place card of Figs. 26(a) through 26(g);

[0064] Figs. 28(a) through 28(g) are front, rear, top, bottom, right side, left side, and front perspective views, respectively, a fourth embodiment of a printable place card assembly constructed according to the present invention;

[0065] Fig. 29 is a front view of the printable place card assembly of Figs. 28(a) through 28(g), with the release liners not being shown;

[0066] Fig. 30 is a flowchart, schematically depicting one method that can be used according to the present invention to make the printable place card assembly of Figs. 28(a) through 28(g);

[0067] Figs. 31 (a) through 31 (c) are views illustrating certain steps of the method of

Fig. 30;

[0068] Fig. 32 is a flowchart, schematically depicting one method that can be used according to the present invention to use the printable place card assembly of Figs. 28(a) through 28(g);

[0069] Figs. 33(a) through 33(f) are views illustrating certain steps of the method of

Fig. 32;

[0070] Figs. 34(a) through 34(g) are front, rear, top, bottom, left side, right side, and front perspective views, respectively, of a fifth embodiment of a printable place card assembly constructed according to the present invention; [0071] Figs. 35(a) through 35(g) are front, rear, top, bottom, left side, right side, and front perspective views, respectively, of a sixth embodiment of a printable place card assembly constructed according to the present invention;

[0072] Figs. 36(a) through 36(g) are front, rear, top, bottom, left side, right side, and front perspective views, respectively, of a seventh embodiment of a printable place card assembly constructed according to the present invention;

[0073] Figs. 37(a) through 37(h) are front, rear, top, bottom, left side, right side, and front perspective and rear perspective views, respectively, of a fifth embodiment of a place card constructed according to the present invention;

[0074] Figs. 38(a) through 38(g) are front, rear, top, bottom, front perspective, right side, and left side views, respectively, of a place card construction that can be used to form the place card of Figs. 37(a) through 37(h);

[0075] Figs. 39(a) through 39(f) are front, rear, top, right side, left side, and front perspective views, respectively, an eighth embodiment of a printable place card assembly constructed according to the present invention;

[0076] Fig. 40 is a front view of the printable place card assembly of Figs. 39(a) through 39(f), with the release liners not being shown;

[0077] Fig. 41 is a flowchart, schematically depicting one method that can be used according to the present invention to make the printable place card assembly of Figs. 39(a) through 39(f);

[0078] Figs. 42(a) through 42(c) are views illustrating certain steps of the method of

Fig. 41 ;

[0079] Fig. 43 is a flowchart, schematically depicting one method that can be used according to the present invention to use the printable place card assembly of Figs. 39(a) through 39(f);

[0080] Figs. 44(a) through 44(f) are views illustrating certain steps of the method of

Fig. 32;

[0081] Figs. 45(a) through 45(h) are front, rear, top, bottom, left side, right side, and front perspective and rear perspective views, respectively, of a sixth embodiment of a place card constructed according to the present invention;

[0082] Figs. 46(a) through 46(g) are front, rear, top, bottom, front perspective, right side, and left side views, respectively, of a place card construction that can be used to form the place card of Figs. 45(a) through 45(h);

[0083] Figs. 47(a) through 47(f) are front, rear, top, right side, left side, and front perspective views, respectively, an eighth embodiment of a printable place card assembly constructed according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0084] The present invention is directed, in part, at a place card on which markings and other indicia that can be made manually and/or using a printing device can be displayed and which is capable of standing reliably and being securely coupled to a surface. The present invention is also directed, in part, at a printable assembly including one or more such place cards and at methods for making and using such a printable assembly and such a place card. According to the invention, place cards and assemblies including the same can come in a multitude of configurations. A few non-limiting embodiments of such place cards and assemblies are discussed below, it being understood that additional embodiments are possible and that such embodiments come within the scope of the invention. Referring now to Figs. 2(a) through 2(h), there are shown various views of a first embodiment of a place card constructed according to the present invention, the place card being represented generally by reference numeral 1 1.

[0085] Place card 11 can include a display panel 13 and a base 15, display panel 13 and base 15 being physically coupled to one another. Display panel 13 can include a front surface 17, a rear surface 19, and a side edge 21, with the side edge 21 interconnecting the front surface 17 and the rear surface 19 along a portion of their respective peripheries. In the present embodiment, display panel 13 has a generally circular shape, with a chamfered bottom edge 23; however, display panel 13 is not limited to such a shape, and other shapes are within the scope of the present invention. Display panel 13 is preferably both sufficiently rigid to be self-supporting and sufficiently flexible to allow some flexure when place card 1 1 is assembled in the manner to be described below. In addition, where one wishes to use a printing device to make markings on display panel 13, display panel 13 is also preferably sufficiently flexible to permit its being fed through such a printing device. Display panel 13 can be made of a material or materials such that front surface 17 and/or rear surface 19 can bear markings of the type that can be made manually and/or with a printing device.

Examples of markings of the type that can be made manually include, but are not limited to, hand-drawn pencil markings, hand-drawn pen markings, hand-drawn crayon markings, hand- drawn paint markings, hand-drawn dry-erase markings, hand-drawn chalk markings, hand- made stampings, including hand-made hot stampings, hand-made heat-transfers, and other hand-made markings known to those skilled in the art, as well as combinations thereof.

Examples of markings of the type that can be made with a printing device include, but are not limited to, ink jet printer markings, laser printer markings, photocopier markings, and combinations thereof. In addition to or instead of bearing markings of the type that can be made manually and/or made using a printing device, front surface 17 and/or rear surface 19 of display panel 13 can bear other types of textual and/or non-textual matter, such as embossments, etchings, adhered matter, and the like. The material or materials used to make display panel 13 can consist of a single layer of a suitable material or can include a multi- layer construction. Examples of a single layer of material that can be used as display panel 13 can include certain paper materials, such as a sheet of cardstock, which can be, for example, a sheet of 70-pound cardstock, and certain polymer films, such as a film of an oriented polyolefin. Examples of multi-layer constructions can include, for example, a substrate coated on one or both marking surfaces with a layer of a print-receptive material. The substrate can include, for example, paper substrates, such as a sheet of cardstock, which can be, for example, a sheet of 70-pound cardstock, and polymer films, such as a film of an oriented polyolefin. The print-receptive material that can be coated on one or both marking surface of the substrate can be any one or more print-receptive materials known to those skilled in the art. For example, where one wishes to make dry-erase markings on display panel 13, the print-receptive material can include a conventional dry-erase film, such as a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, a polypropylene film, or the like.

[0086] Base 15 can include a pair of tabs 31 and 33 that can be secured to one another in the manner to be described below. Tab 31 , which can be oriented generally

perpendicularly relative to the plane of display panel 13, can include a top surface 35, a bottom surface 37, and a side edge 39, with the side edge 39 interconnecting the top surface 35 and the bottom surface 37 along a portion of their respective peripheries. Tab 31 can also include a joined edge 41 that connects tab 31 to display panel 13 along a portion of bottom edge 23 and through which tab 31 can be hingedly connected to display panel 13. Tab 31 can further include a slit 42, which can be formed by a through-cut having a generally semi- rectangular shape. For reasons to become apparent below, slit 42 can be angled relative to the length of tab 31 and can be positioned proximate to an inner edge 44 of side edge 39.

[0087] Tab 33, which can be oriented generally perpendicularly relative to display panel 13, can include a top surface 45, a bottom surface 47, and a side edge 49, with the side edge 49 interconnecting the top surface 45 and the bottom surface 47 along a portion of their respective peripheries. Tab 33 can also include a joined edge 51 that connects tab 33 to display panel 13 along a portion of bottom edge 23 and through which tab 33 can be hingedly connected to display panel 13. Tab 33 can further include a tongue 52, which can be formed by a through-cut of generally semi-circular shape. Tongue 52 can be appropriately dimensioned and appropriately positioned on tab 33, proximate to an inner edge 54 of side edge 49, to permit its insertion through slit 42 of tab 31 , thereby securing tabs 31 and 33 to one another at a desired angle 0. As can be appreciated, depending on how slit 42 and tongue 52 are arranged on tabs 31 and 33, respectively, angle 0 can range anywhere from

approximately 90 degrees up to, but not including, 180 degrees. In the embodiment shown, angle 0 is shown illustratively to be approximately 140 degrees.

[0088] It is to be understood that, although slit 42 and tongue 52 are described herein as being semi-rectangular and semi-circular, respectively, such shapes are merely exemplary. Consequently, other shapes of slits and tongues are possible, including semi-triangular and semi-elliptical, as a few non-limiting examples. Moreover, it is also to be understood that, although tabs 31 and 33 are shown herein to be generally rectangular in shape and similar in overall size and overall shape to one another, tabs 31 and 33 need not be generally

rectangular in shape nor do tabs 31 and 33 need to be similar to one another in overall size and overall shape.

[0089] One or both of tabs 31 and 33 can be made of the same type of material as display panel 13. Moreover, as is shown in the case of the present embodiment, display panel 13 and tabs 31 and 33 can be fashioned from the same (single layer or multi-layer) sheet of material.

[0090] Base 15 can further include a first adhesive 55 positioned on bottom surface

37 of tab 31 and a second adhesive 57 positioned on bottom surface 47 of tab 33. Adhesive 55 can have a footprint that is smaller than the surface area of tab 31 and that extends from just inwardly of an outer edge 59 of tab 31 to just prior to slit 42. Adhesive 57 can have a footprint that is smaller than the surface area of tab 33 and that extends from just inwardly of an outer edge 61 of tab 33 to just prior to tongue 52. Adhesives 55 and 57 can be used to secure base 15 to a desired surface S (see Fig. 5(i)), such as a desk or a tabletop. Adhesives 55 and 57 can include one or more adhesive materials applied directly to tabs 31 and 33, e.g., an adhesive coating, or can include one or more adhesive materials applied indirectly to tabs 31 and 33, e.g., a double-sided adhesive tape. The particular type of adhesive material used can depend on the degree of adherence one wishes to attain between tabs 31 and 33 and the surface upon which place card 1 1 is to be secured. Examples of suitable adhesive materials can include pressure-sensitive adhesives, such as permanent pressure-sensitive adhesives, removable pressure-sensitive adhesives, repositionable pressure-sensitive adhesives, and ultra-removable pressure-sensitive adhesives. Examples of suitable adhesives include ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) or rubber-based hot-melt adhesives, such as, for example,

SCOTCH- WELD^® adhesives (3M Corporation, Saint Paul, Minnesota), acrylic adhesives, such as, for example, AT-1 and R-423 adhesives (both from Avery Dennison Corporation, Pasadena, California), and ultra-removable adhesives, such as those made according to U.S. Patent No. 5,656,705 to Mallya, et al., issued August 12, 1997 (which is incorporated herein by reference), CLEANTAC adhesives (R.R. Donnelley and Sons Company, Chicago, Illinois), and the adhesive used in POST-IT^® products (3M Corporation, Saint Paul,

Minnesota).

[0091] Referring now to Figs. 3(a) through 3(g), there are shown various views of a first embodiment of a place card construction that can be used according to the present invention to form place card 11 , the place card construction being represented generally by reference numeral 71. [0092] Construction 71 can include a sheet of material 72. Sheet 72 can be made of the same (single layer or multi-layer) type of material used to form display panel 13. Sheet 72, which can be generally planar, can be shaped to include a display panel 73 and a base 75, display panel 73 and base 75 being joined together at a discontinuous fold line 76. Display panel 73 can include a front surface 77, a rear surface 79, and a side edge 81 , with the side edge 81 interconnecting the front surface 77 and the rear surface 79 along a portion of their respective peripheries. In the present embodiment, display panel 73 has a generally circular shape, with a chamfered bottom edge at fold line 76; however, display panel 73 is not limited to such a shape, and other shapes are within the scope of the present invention. Base 75 can include a front surface 85, a rear surface 87, and a side edge 89, with the side edge 89 interconnecting the front surface 85 and the rear surface 87 along a portion of their respective peripheries. In the present embodiment, base 75 has a generally rectangular shape, with a top edge at fold line 76; however, base 75 is not limited to such a shape, and other shapes are within the scope of the present invention. Base 75 can further include a pair of through-cuts 91 and 93 separated by a tie 95 and extending along the width wj of base 75. (Through-cuts 91 and 93 and tie 95 could be replaced with a line of perforations.) Through-cuts 91 and 93 can at least partially bisect base 75 into a first portion 97 and a second portion 99, the inner edges of first portion 97 and second portion 99 being joined to one another by tie 95. A through-cut 101, which can be similar in shape and orientation to slit 42, can be provided in first portion 97, and a through-cut 103, which can be similar in shape and orientation to tongue 52, can be provided in second portion 99.

[0093] Construction 71 can further include a first adhesive 105 and a second adhesive

107 positioned on front surface 85 of base 75. Adhesives 105 and 107 can be similar in composition to adhesives 55 and 57. Adhesive 105, which can be disposed on first portion 97, can have a footprint that is smaller than the surface area of first portion 97 and that extends from just inwardly of an outer edge 109 of first portion 97 to just prior to through-cut 101. Adhesive 107, which can be disposed on second portion 99, can have a footprint that is smaller than the surface area of second portion 99 and that extends from just inwardly of an outer edge 1 11 of second portion 99 to just prior to through-cut 103.

[0094] Construction 71 can further include a release liner 1 13 removably adhered to adhesives 105 and 107. Release liner 1 13 can be a generally planar rectangular member shaped to include a front surface 1 15, a rear surface 117, a top edge 1 19, a bottom edge 121, a first side edge 123, and a second side edge 125. The principal function of release liner 1 13 is to provide coverage of adhesives 105 and 107 prior to their deployment; therefore, release liner 1 13 need only be sized to provide sufficient coverage of adhesives 105 and 107.

Nevertheless, as in the case of the present embodiment, release liner 1 13 can be sized to substantially match the footprint of base 75. According to one manufacturing technique that can be used to make construction 71, through-cuts 91, 93, 101, and 103 of base 75 can be made by cutting down through release liner 1 13 and base 75. A result of such a technique, which is shown in the present embodiment, is that release liner 1 13 can include through-cuts 127, 129, 131, and 133 aligned with through-cuts 91, 93, 101, and 103, respectively.

However, according to an alternate manufacturing technique that can be used to make construction 71, through-cuts 91, 93, 101 , and 103 of base 75 can be made by cutting up through base 75 without cutting through release liner 1 13. A result of this alternate technique is that release liner 1 13 does not include through-cuts 127, 129, 131, and 133.

[0095] Referring now to Fig. 4, there is shown a flowchart, schematically depicting one embodiment of a method of using place card construction 71 , the method being represented generally by reference numeral 141. Method 141 can begin in a step 141-1 with the provision of place card construction 71 (see also Figs. 3(a) through 3(g)). (Place card construction 71 , itself, can be made using a method to be discussed below; however, place card construction 71 need not be made by such a method and can be made, for example, simply by appropriately cutting and scoring a suitable sheet of material and then by applying adhesives 105 and 107 and release liner 113 thereto.) As part of step 141-1, markings M or any other matter one wishes to have displayed on the place card made using construction 71 can be added to panel 73 of construction 71 (see also Fig. 5(a)). Method 141 can then continue with a step 141-2 of removing release liner 113 from base 75 (see also Fig. 5(b)). Method 141 can then continue with a step 141-3 of separating portions 97 and 99 of base 75, for example, by breaking tie 95, thereby forming tabs 143 and 145 having inner edges 144 and 146, respectively, that are free to move relative to one another (see also Fig. 5(c)).

Method 141 can then continue with a step 141-4 of folding tabs 143 and 145 about fold line 76 in the direction of rear surface 79 of panel 73 until tabs 143 and 145 are generally perpendicular to display panel 73 (see also Fig. 5(d)). Method 141 can then continue with a step 141-5 of inserting the tongue defined by through-cut 103 of tab 145 through the slit defined by through-cut 101 of tab 143. This can be achieved, for example, by rotating or pivoting inner edge 146 of tab 145 over inner edge 144 of tab 143 and guiding the tongue of through-cut 103 down through the slit of through-cut 101 (see also Figs. 5(e) through 5(h)). Once a place card has been assembled in the fashion described above, the place card can be secured to a surface S, such as a tabletop, by pressing adhesives 105 and 107 against the surface S (see also Fig. 5(i)).

[0096] As can be appreciated, although it is feasible to make handwritten markings on panel 73 of construction 71, it is also desirable to make markings using a printing device. Due to the difficulties of feeding an irregularly shaped and undersized item into a printing device, according to one aspect of the present invention, one or more constructions 71 can be incorporated into a sheet-like assembly having dimensions similar to that of a standard sheet of paper (e.g., letter-size, legal-size, A4) so that such an assembly can be fed into and can receive printing from a printing device, such as, but not limited to, an ink jet printer, a laser printer, a photocopier, or the like. Instead of having dimensions similar to that of a standard sheet of paper, the sheet-like assembly could alternatively have dimensions similar to other types of sheets that can be fed into and printed upon by known printing devices. For example, some desktop printers can receive and print onto 4 inches by 6 inches sheets. A non-limiting example of a sheet-like assembly is described below.

[0097] Referring now to Figs. 6(a) through 6(f) and Fig. 7, there are shown various views of a first embodiment of a printable place card assembly constructed according to the present invention, the printable place card assembly being represented generally by reference numeral 151. Assembly 151 can include a sheet of material 153. Sheet 153, which can have dimensions similar to a standard sheet of paper (e.g., letter-sized, legal-sized, A4) or to other types of printing media that can be used with a printing device (e.g., 4 inches by 6 inches sheets), can be a generally planar, rectangular structure including a front surface 155, a rear surface 157, a top edge 159, a bottom edge 161, a left edge 163, and a right edge 165. Sheet 153 can be made of the same type of material as display panel 13 and, for example, can consist of a single layer of a suitable material, such as an uncoated layer of cardstock, or can include a multi-layer construction, such as a layer of cardstock coated on one or both printing surfaces with a layer of a print-receptive material. An exemplary material for sheet 153 is 70-pound cardstock.

[0098] Sheet 153 can be provided with four sets of perforations 167-1 through 167-4, respectively, which perforations can be, for example, microperforations. Perforations 167-1 through 167-4 can be arranged to at least partially define the outline of four identical sections 169-1 through 169-4, respectively, of sheet 153. Each set of perforations 167-1 through 167- 4 can include a first interruption or tie 171 and a second interruption or tie 173. Ties 171 and 173 can serve to keep sections 169-1 through 169-4 connected to the waste matrix 175 of sheet 153 until one wishes to remove one or more of sections 169-1 through 169-4 from waste matrix 175. It should be understood that, instead of using perforations 167-1 through 167-4 to substantially define the outline of sections 169-1 through 169-4, one could instead use through-cuts separated by appropriately placed ties, also known as cuts and ties. In an alternative embodiment, the sections 169-1 through 169-4 can be defined by substantial cut lines in a laminate sheet designed to break apart, for example, the laminate sheets described in U.S. Patent Number 7,514,134 to Utz, et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 2002/0047263 to McCarthy, et al., and U.S. Patent Application Publication Number

2001/0007703 to Weirather, et al., the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0099] Sheet 153 can be further constructed so that each of sections 169-1 through

169-4 can also include the following: a pair of score lines 177 and 179 defining a fold line between a display panel 181 and a base 183; a through-cut 185 in the base 183 defining a tongue; a through-cut 187 in the base 183 defining a slit; and a pair of through-cuts 189 and 191 in the base 183 separated by a tie 193 and defining a separation line between portions 195 and 197. It should be understood, however, that through-cuts 189 and 191 and tie 193 can be replaced by a perforated line.

[0100] Assembly 151 can further include a pair of adhesive strips 199 and 201 applied to the front surface 155 of sheet 153. Adhesive strip 199, which can be in the form of an adhesive coating applied, for example, using a pattern coating process or a printing process, can extend generally parallel and proximate to bottom edge 161 between left edge 163 and right edge 165. One method of applying a pattern of adhesive is the XONAD process (Avery Dennison Corporation, Pasadena, California, see

http ://www. businessmedia. averydennison.com/tech/avery-dennison-xonad-technology/). Alternatively, strips of transfer tape can be applied to sheet 155. Adhesive strip 199 can be discontinuous and can include portions 199-1 through 199-7, which portions can be defined by a gap 200-1 near right edge 165, a gap 200-2 near the right end of perforations 167-1 , a gap 200-3 in the area encompassing through-cuts 187, 189, 191 and 185 of section 169-1 , a gap 200-4 near the left end of perforations 167-1 , a gap 200-5 near the right end of perforations 167-2, a gap 200-6 in the area encompassing through-cuts 187, 189, 191 and 185 of section 169-2, a gap 200-7 near the left end of perforations 167-2, and a gap 200-8 near left edge 163. Adhesive strip 201, which can be similar in structure and composition to adhesive strip 199, can extend generally parallel and proximate to top edge 159 between left edge 163 and right edge 165 in a fashion corresponding to that of adhesive strip 199 relative to bottom edge 161. Accordingly, adhesive strip 201 can be discontinuous and can include portions 201-1 through 201-7, which portions can be defined by a gap 202-1 near left edge 163, a gap 202-2 near the left end of perforations 167-4, a gap 202-3 in the area

encompassing through-cuts 187, 189, 191 and 185 of section 169-4, a gap 202-4 near the right end of perforations 167-4, a gap 202-5 near the left end of perforations 167-3, a gap 202-6 in the area encompassing through-cuts 187, 189, 191 and 185 of section 169-3, a gap 202-7 near the right end of perforations 167-3, and a gap 202-8 near right edge 165.

[0101] Assembly 151 can further include a pair of release liners 203 and 205 applied over adhesive strips 199 and 201, respectively. Release liners 203 and 205 can be slightly wider than adhesive strips 199 and 201 , respectively, and can have left ends 203-1 and 205-1 , respectively, substantially aligned with left edge 163 of sheet 153 and right ends 203-2 and 205-2, respectively, substantially aligned with right edge 165 of sheet 153. In addition, release liner 203 can have a bottom edge 203-3 aligned with bottom edge 161 of sheet 153, and release liner 205 can have a top edge 205-3 aligned with top edge 159 of sheet 153.

Additionally, release liner 203 can have perforations 207-1 and 207-2 aligned with perforations 167-1 along the left and right sides, respectively, of base 183 of section 169-1 and can have perforations 209-1 and 209-2 aligned with perforations 167-2 along the left and right sides, respectively, of base 183 of section 169-2. Similarly, release liner 205 can have perforations 21 1-1 and 211-2 aligned with perforations 167-3 along the left and right sides, respectively, of base 183 of section 169-3 and can have perforations 213-1 and 213-2 aligned with perforations 167-4 along the left and right sides, respectively, of base 183 of section 169-4. Moreover, where, as in the present embodiment, through-cuts 185, 187, 189, and 191 are formed by cuts made from the front, first through release liners 203 and 205 and then through sheet 153, release liner 203 can additionally include through-cuts 215, 217, 219, and 221 aligned with through-cuts 185, 187, 189, and 191, respectively, in each of sections 169-1 and 169-2 and release liner 205 can additionally include through-cuts 223, 225, 227, and 229 aligned with through-cuts 185, 187, 189, and 191 , respectively, in each of sections 169-3 and 169-4. (Alternatively, where through-cuts 185, 187, 189, and 191 are made from the rear of sheet 153 and do not pass through release liners 203 and 205, release liners 203 and 205 would not include corresponding through-cuts but could include corresponding

embossments.)

[0102] Where assembly 151 is intended to be used with a printing device, the total thickness of assembly 151 is preferably no greater than about 15 mils, with the thickness of sheet 153 preferably being approximately 8-12 mils, the thicknesses of adhesive strips 199 and 201 each preferably being approximately 1 mil, and the thicknesses of release liners 203 and 205 each preferably being approximately 2 mils.

[0103] Each of sections 169-1 through 169-4, together with its two adhesive segments of either adhesive strip 199 or adhesive strip 201, and its segment of either liner 203 or liner 205 collectively constitutes a construction 230. It should be understood that, although, in the present embodiment, assembly 151 includes four constructions 230, the number of constructions 230 in assembly 151 is merely illustrative and can be greater or lesser than four. In addition, it is to be understood that, although, in the present embodiment, the four constructions 230 are arranged in a particular fashion, i.e., in a staggered arrangement with bases 183 of sections 169-1 and 169-2 flush with bottom edge 161 of sheet 153 and with bases 183 of sections 169-3 and 169-4 flush with top edge 159 of sheet 153, such an arrangement is merely exemplary and other arrangements come within the scope of the present invention.

[0104] Referring now to Fig. 8, there is shown a flowchart, schematically depicting one method that can be used according to the present invention to make printable place card assembly 151, the method being represented generally by reference numeral 251. Method 251 can begin in a step 251-1 with the provision of a sheet of material 253 (see also Fig. 9(a)). Sheet 253 can be, for example, a sheet of cardstock or a similarly suitable material and preferably has dimensions similar to a standard sheet of paper (e.g., letter-size, legal-size, A4) or has dimensions otherwise suitable for use with a printing device (e.g., a sheet 4 inches by 6 inches). Method 251 can then continue with a step 251-2 of applying adhesive to front side 255 of sheet 253 so as to form adhesive strips 199 and 201 on sheet 253, thereby yielding an assembly 254 (see also Fig. 9(b)). Adhesive strips 199 and 201 can be discontinuous adhesive strips; as such, adhesive strip 199 can include segments 199-1 through 199-7, and adhesive strip 201 can include segments 201-1 through 201-7. The aforementioned adhesive applying step can include use, for example, of a pattern coating or printing process. Method 251 can then continue with a step 251-3 of applying release liners 203 and 205 over adhesive strips 199 and 201, respectively, thereby yielding an assembly 256 (see also Fig. 9(c)).

Method 251 can then continue with a step 251-4 of creating perforations 207-1, 207-2, 209-1 , and 209-2 in release liner 203, perforations 211-1 , 211-2, 213-1, and 213-2 in release liner 205, and perforations 167-1 through 167-4 in sheet 253, thereby yielding an assembly 258 (see also Fig. 9(d)). The aforementioned perforating step can be performed in a single step by a die-cutting, which die-cutting can be from either side of assembly 256 but preferably is performed from the front side of assembly 256. Method 251 can then conclude with a step 251-5 of creating score lines 177 and 179 and forming through-cuts 185, 187, 189, and 191 , in sheet 253 and forming through-cuts 215, 217, 219, and 221 (if present) in each of release liners 203 and 205, thereby yielding assembly 151 (see also Fig. 6(a)). The aforementioned step can be performed in a single step and can be performed with a single die or with a plurality of dies. It should be understood that, although step 251-4 is described above as taking place before step 251-5, the order of these two steps could be reversed.

[0105] Referring now to Fig. 10, there is shown a flowchart, schematically depicting one method that can be used according to the present invention to use printable place card assembly 151 , the method being represented generally by reference numeral 301. Method 301 can begin in a step 301-1 with the provision of assembly 151. Method 301 can continue with a step 301-2 with the making of one or more markings M on a front surface 303 of a display panel 305 of one or more of constructions 230, thereby yielding a marked assembly 307 (see also Fig. 11 (a)). The aforementioned marking step can be performed manually and/or with a printing device. Method 301 can then continue with a step 301-3 of separating a desired construction 230 from waste matrix 175 to yield an isolated, marked construction 309 that includes a release liner 31 1 (see also Fig. 11(b)). (The order of steps 301-2 and 301- 3 can be reversed if the one or more markings M are made manually, as opposed to being made using a printing device.) Method 301 can then continue with a step 301-4 of removing release liner 31 1 from construction 309 to yield a construction 313 (see also Fig. 1 1 (c)).

Construction 313 can include tab portions 315 and 317 coupled together by a tie 319. Tab portion 315 can have a through-cut 321 defining a slit, and tab portion 317 can have a through-cut 323 defining a complementary tongue. An adhesive strip 325 can be positioned on tab portion 315, and an adhesive strip 327 can be positioned on tab portion 317. Method 301 can then continue with a step 301-5 of breaking tie 319, thereby yielding construction 329 having tabs 331 and 333, tabs 331 and 333 having inner edges 335 and 337, respectively, that can move relative to one another (see also Fig. 11(d)). (If desired, the order of steps 301 - 4 and 301-5 can be reversed.) Method 301 can then continue with a step 301 -6 of folding tabs 331 and 333 back towards a rear surface 339 of display panel 305 (see also Fig. 1 1(e)). Method 301 can then continue with a step 301 -7 of pivoting tabs 331 and 333 towards one another and inserting the tongue formed by through-cut 323 into the slit formed by through- cut 321 , thereby forming an assembled place card 341 (see Figs. 1 1 (f) through 1 l (i)).

Method 301 can then conclude with a step 301 -8 of adhering the exposed adhesive segments 325 and 327 of place card 341 to a desired surface S, whereby place card 341 stands reliably and securely on surface S (see also Fig. H Q)).

[0106] Referring now to Figs. 12(a) through 12(h), there are shown various views of a second embodiment of a place card constructed according to the present invention, the place card being represented generally by reference numeral 351. Place card 351 can be similar in certain respects to place card 1 1 , a principal difference between the two place cards being that, whereas place card 1 1 includes an adhesive 55 that extends from just inwardly of an outer edge 59 of tab 31 to just prior to slit 42 and also includes an adhesive 57 that extends from just inwardly of an outer edge 61 of tab 33 to just prior to tongue 52, place card 351 includes an adhesive 353 that extends all the way from outer edge 59 to inner edge 44 of tab 31 and also includes an adhesive 355 that extends all the way from outer edge 61 of tab 33 to inner edge 54 of tab 33. Apart from the differences noted above, place card 351 can be used in a fashion analogous to that described above for place card 1 1.

[0107] Referring now to Figs. 13(a) through 13(g), there are shown various views of a first embodiment of a place card construction that can be used according to the present invention to form place card 351 , the place card construction being represented generally by reference numeral 371. Construction 371 can be similar in certain respects to construction 71 but differs from construction 71 in the following respects: First, whereas construction 71 includes a first adhesive 105 that extends from just inwardly of an outer edge 109 of first portion 97 to just prior to through-cut 101 and also includes a second adhesive 107 that extends from just inwardly of an outer edge 1 1 1 of second portion 99 to just prior to through- cut 103, construction 371 includes an adhesive 373 that extends continuously all the way from an outer edge 375 of a first portion 377 of base 378 to an outer edge 379 of a second portion 381 of base 378. Second, whereas construction 71 includes a release liner 1 13 that has a width w₂ that substantially matches the width wj of base 75, construction 371 has a release liner 383 that has a width w₃ that is less than the width w₄ of base 378 but that substantially matches the width of adhesive 373. Third, whereas construction 71 includes a through-cut 91 for use in defining first portion 97 and second portion 99 of base 75, construction 371 includes a perforation line 385 for use in defining first portion 377 and second portion 381 of base 378. Fourth, whereas release liner 1 13 of construction 71 includes through-cuts 127, 129, 131 and 133 aligned with through-cuts 91 , 93, 101 , and 103, respectively, release liner 383 does not include any through-cuts but may or may not include a perforation line 387 aligned with perforation line 385 and may or may not include embossments 389 and 391 aligned with through-cuts 101, and 103, respectively. Apart from the differences noted above, construction 371 can be used in a fashion analogous to that described above for construction 71.

[0108] Referring now to Figs. 14(a) through 14(f) and Fig. 15, there are shown various views of a second embodiment of a printable place card assembly constructed according to the present invention, the printable place card assembly being represented generally by reference numeral 401. Assembly 401 can be similar in some respects to assembly 151 but can differ in other respects from assembly 151. One difference between the two assemblies can be that, whereas assembly 151 can include adhesive strips 199 and 201 that extend discontinuously between left edge 163 and right edge 165 of sheet 153, assembly 401 can include continuous adhesive strips 403 and 405 that extend continuously all the way between a left edge 406 and a right edge 408 of a sheet 410. Another difference between the two assemblies can be that, whereas assembly 151 can include release liners 203 and 205 that are wider than adhesive strips 199 and 201, respectively, assembly 401 can include release liners 407 and 409 whose widths w₅ and w₆, respectively, substantially match the widths w₇ and w₈ of adhesive strips 403 and 405, respectively. Yet another difference between the two assemblies can be that, whereas assembly 151 can include a through-cut 189 for use in defining first portion 195 and second portion 197, assembly 401 can include a perforation line 411 for use in defining a first portion 413 and a second portion 415 of each of sections 169-1 through 169-4. Still another difference between the two assemblies can be that, whereas release liners 203 and 205 of assembly 151 can include through-cuts aligned with through-cuts 185, 187, 191 and 193 of sheet 153, release liners 407 and 409 do not include any such through-cuts aligned with through-cuts 185, 187, 191 and 193 of sheet 410 but can include perforation lines 417 aligned with perforation lines 41 1 and may or may not include embossments 419 and 421 aligned with through-cuts 185 and 187, respectively.

[0109] Where assembly 401 is intended to be used with a printing device, the total thickness of assembly 401 is preferably no greater than about 15 mils, with the thickness of sheet 153 preferably being approximately 8-12 mils, the thicknesses of adhesive strips 403 and 405 each preferably being approximately 1 mil, and the thicknesses of release liners 407 and 409 each preferably being approximately 2 mils.

[0110] Referring now to Fig. 16, there is shown a flowchart, schematically depicting one method that can be used according to the present invention to make printable place card assembly 401 , the method being represented generally by reference numeral 431. Method 431 can begin in a step 431-1 with the provision of a sheet of material 410 (see also Fig.

17(a)). Sheet 410 can be, for example, a sheet of cardstock or a similarly suitable material and preferably has dimensions similar to a standard sheet of paper (e.g., letter-size, legal-size, A4) or has dimensions otherwise suitable for use with a printing device (e.g., a sheet 4 inches by 6 inches). Method 431 can then continue with a step 431-2 of applying adhesive strip 403 and release liner 407 to a front side 435 of sheet 410 proximate to the bottom edge 432 and applying adhesive strip 405 and release liner 409 to front side 435 of sheet 410 proximate to the top edge 434, thereby yielding an assembly 437 (see also Fig. 17(b)). The

aforementioned adhesive strips and release liners can be applied simultaneously using a transfer tape including the combination of an adhesive strip and a release liner. Method 431 can then continue with a step 431-3 of creating perforations 417, 439-1, 439-2, 441-1, and 441-2 in release liner 407 (as well as corresponding perforations in adhesive strip 403), perforations 417, 443-1 , 443-2, 445-1 , and 445-2 in release liner 409 (as well as

corresponding perforations in adhesive strip 405), and perforations 447-1 through 447-4 in sheet 410, thereby yielding an assembly 438 (see also Fig. 17(c)). The aforementioned perforating step can be performed in a single step by a die-cutting, which die-cutting can be from either side of assembly 438 but preferably is performed from the front side of assembly 438. Method 431 can then conclude with a step 431-4 of creating score lines 448 and 449 and forming through-cuts 185, 187, and 191, in sheet 410 but preferably not in release liners 407 and 409, thereby yielding assembly 401 (see also Fig. 14(a)). The aforementioned step can be performed in a single step and can be performed with a single die or with a plurality of dies. Preferably, the aforementioned step is performed with a die that cuts from the back side 450 of sheet 410, with score lines 448 and 449 being formed by an unsharpened part of the die. It should be understood that, although step 251-3 is described above as taking place before step 251-4, the order of these two steps could be reversed.

[0111] Assembly 401 can be used in a fashion analogous to that described above for assembly 151.

[0112] Referring now to Figs. 18(a) through 18(g), there are shown various views of a third embodiment of a place card constructed according to the present invention, the place card being represented generally by reference numeral 451. Place card 451 can be similar in certain respects to place card 1 1 , the principal difference between the two place cards being that, whereas place card 1 1 includes tabs 31 and 33, place card 451 instead can include tabs 453 and 455. Tabs 453 and 455 can be similar to tabs 31 and 33, except that, whereas tabs 31 and 33 can include interlocking members for retaining tabs 31 and 33 at a desired angular orientation Θ, tabs 453 and 455 do not include such interlocking members but, nevertheless, can be retained at a desired angular orientation Θ of at least 90 degrees up to but not including 180 degrees by an adhesive strip 457 on tab 455 that can be used to adhere tab 455 to tab 453. Adhesive strip 457 can cover nearly the entire length of the bottom surface 459 of tab 455 (but can terminate just short of the inner and outer edges 458 and 460, respectively, of tab

455) so that the portion of adhesive strip 457 that is not used to adhere tab 455 to tab 453 can be used to adhere tab 455 to a desired surface S. In a similar fashion, an adhesive strip 463 can cover nearly the entire length of the bottom surface 464 of tab 453 (but can terminate just short of the inner and outer edges 466 and 468, respectively, of tab 453). Apart from the differences noted above, place card 451 can be used in a fashion analogous to that described above for place card 11.

[0113] Referring now to Figs. 19(a) through 19(g), there are shown various views of a place card construction that can be used according to the present invention to form place card 451, the place card construction being represented generally by reference numeral 471. Place card construction 471 can be similar in most respects to construction 71 but differs from construction 71 in the following respects: First, whereas construction 71 includes a through- cut 101 defining a slit and also includes a through-cut 103 defining a tongue for interlocking with the slit, construction 471 does not include through-cuts defining such interlocking members. Second, whereas construction 71 includes a first adhesive 105 that extends from just inwardly of an outer edge 109 of first portion 97 to just prior to slit-defining through-cut 101 and also includes a second adhesive 107 that extends from just inwardly of an outer edge 1 1 1 of second portion 99 to just prior to tongue-defining through-cut 103, construction 471 includes an adhesive 473 that extends nearly from an outer edge 475 of a first portion 477 of base 478 to a pair of spaced apart through-cuts 480 and 482 on the lateral midline of base 478 and also includes an adhesive 481 that extends nearly from an outer edge 483 of a second portion 485 of base 478 to through-cuts 480 and 482. Apart from the differences noted above, construction 471 can be used in a fashion analogous to that described above for construction 71.

[0114] Referring now to Figs. 20(a) through 20(f) and Fig. 21 , there are shown various views of a third embodiment of a printable place card assembly constructed according to the present invention, the printable place card assembly being represented generally by reference numeral 501. Assembly 501 can be similar in most respects to assembly 151. One difference between the two assemblies can be that, whereas assembly 151 can include through-cuts 185 and 187 and does not include adhesive in the areas encompassing through-cuts 185 and 187, assembly 501 does not include through-cuts 185 and 187 and can include adhesive strips 503 and 505 that can extend into the areas corresponding to where through-cuts 185 and 187 are present in assembly 151. Adhesive strip 503 can be discontinuous and can include portions 503-1 through 503-7, and adhesive strip 505 can be discontinuous and can include portions 505-1 through 505-7. Release liners 504 and 506 can cover adhesive strips 503 and 505, respectively. (It should be understood that, although, in the present embodiment, adhesive strips 503 and 505 do not extend all the way to through-cuts 507 and 509 or to perforations 510-1 through 510-4, adhesive strips 503 and 505 could extend across through-cuts 507 and 509 and perforations 510- 1 through 510-4 and, in fact, could be continuous adhesive strips extending from right side 51 1 to left side 513 of sheet 515.) [0115] Referring now to Fig. 22, there is shown a flowchart, schematically depicting one method that can be used according to the present invention to make printable place card assembly 501 , the method being represented generally by reference numeral 521. Method 521 can begin in a step 521-1 with the provision of a sheet of material 515 (see also Fig. 23(a)). Sheet 515 can be, for example, a sheet of cardstock or a similarly suitable material and preferably has dimensions similar to a standard sheet of paper (e.g., letter-size, legal-size, A4) or has dimensions otherwise suitable for use with a printing device (e.g., a sheet 4 inches by 6 inches). Method 521 can then continue with a step 521 -2 of applying adhesive to a front side 525 of sheet 515 so as to form adhesive strips 503 and 505 on sheet 515, thereby yielding an assembly 526 (see also Fig. 23(b)). Adhesive strips 503 and 505 can be discontinuous adhesive strips; as such, adhesive strip 503 can include segments 503-1 through 503-7, and adhesive strip 505 can include segments 505-1 through 505-7. The aforementioned adhesive applying step can include, for example, a pattern coating or printing process. Method 521 can then continue with a step 521 -3 of applying release liners 504 and 506 over adhesive strips 503 and 505, respectively, thereby yielding an assembly 536 (see also Fig. 23(c)). Method 521 can then continue with a step 521-4 of creating perforations 537-1 , 537-2, 539-1 , and 539-2 in release liner 504, perforations 541-1 , 541 -2, 543-1 , and 543-2 in release liner 506, and perforations 510-1 through 510-4 in sheet 515, thereby yielding an assembly 538 (see also Fig. 23(d)). The aforementioned perforating step can be performed by a die-cutting from the front side 540 of assembly 536. Method 521 can then conclude with a step 521 -5 of creating score lines 547 and 549 and forming through-cuts 507 and 509, thereby yielding assembly 501 (see also Fig. 20(a)). The aforementioned step can be performed with a die that cuts from the back side 551 of sheet 515, with score lines 547 and 549 being formed by an unsharpened part of the die. Preferably, through-cuts 507 and 509 go through sheet 515 but do not go through release liners 504 and 506. (Through-cuts 507 and 509 may not be visible through release liners 504 and 506, or release liners 504 and 506 may have embossments 553 and 555 corresponding to through-cuts 507 and 509.) It should be understood that, although step 521 -4 is described above as taking place before step 521 -5, the order of these two steps could be reversed.

[0116] Referring now to Fig. 24, there is shown a flowchart, schematically depicting one method that can be used according to the present invention to use printable place card assembly 501 , the method being represented generally by reference numeral 551. Method 551 can begin in a step 551-1 with the provision of assembly 501. Method 551 can continue with a step 551 -2 with the making of one or more markings M on display panel 552 of one or more of constructions 583, thereby yielding a marked assembly 585 (see also Fig. 25(a)).

The aforementioned marking step can be performed manually and/or with a printing device. Method 551 can then continue with a step 551-3 of separating a desired construction 553 from a waste matrix 554 to yield an isolated, marked construction 556 (see also Fig. 25(b)). Method 551 can then continue with a step 551-4 of removing the release liner 557 from construction 556 to reveal adhesives 572 and 574 and to yield a construction 558 (see also Fig. 25(c)). Method 551 can then continue with a step 551-5 of separating portions 561 and 563 of construction 558, by breaking tie 562, to form tabs 565 and 567, thereby yielding construction 569 (see also Fig. 25(d)). Method 551 can then continue with a step 551-6 of folding tabs 565 and 567 towards the rear surface 571 of display panel 552 until tabs 565 and 567 are generally perpendicular to display panel 552 (see also Fig. 25(e)). Method 551 can then continue with a step 551-7 of pivoting tabs 565 and 567 towards each other and adhering tab 567 to tab 565, thereby forming an assembled place card 570 (see also Fig. 25(f), which shows tabs 565 and 567 prior to being pivoted, and Fig. 25(g), which shows tabs 565 and 567 after they have been pivoted and adhered to one another). Method 551 can then conclude with a step 551-8 of adhering the exposed portions of adhesive segments 572 and 574 of place card 570 to a desired surface S, whereby place card 570 stands reliably and securely on surface S (see also Fig. 25(h)).

[0117] Referring now to Figs. 26(a) through 26(g), there are shown various views of a fourth embodiment of a place card constructed according to the present invention, the place card being represented generally by reference numeral 601. Place card 601 can be similar in many respects to place card 451. One difference between the two place cards can be that, whereas place card 451 can include a display panel 13 that can be generally circular, place card 601 can include a display panel 603 that can be generally rectangular. (However, it should be understood that display panel 603 need not be generally rectangular, and other shapes for display panel 603 can be considered as coming within the scope of the present invention.) Another difference between the two place cards can be that, whereas place card 451 can include adhesive strips 457 and 463 that cover most, but not all, of the lengths of tabs 455 and 453, respectively, place card 601 can include adhesive strips 605 and 607 that cover the entire lengths \_\ and 1₂ of tabs 609 and 611 , respectively, i.e, from outer edges 610 and 612 of tabs 609 and 61 1, respectively, to inner edges 614 and 616 of tabs 609 and 61 1, respectively.

[0118] Referring now to Figs. 27(a) through 27(g), there are shown various views of a place card construction that can be used according to the present invention to form place card 601 , the place card construction being represented generally by reference numeral 621. Place card construction 621 can be similar in most respects to construction 471 but differs from construction 471 in the following respects: First, whereas construction 471 includes a display panel 73 that can be generally circular, construction 621 can include a display panel 623 that can be generally rectangular. (However, it should be understood that display panel 623 need not be generally rectangular, and other shapes for display panel 623 can be considered as coming within the scope of the present invention.) Second, whereas construction 471 can include adhesive strips 473 and 481 that cover most, but not all, of the lengths of portions 477 and 485, respectively, construction 621 can include adhesive strips 625 and 627 that cover the entire lengths 1₃ and 1₄ of portions 629 and 631, respectively. Strips 625 and 627 of construction 621 can be covered by a release liner 633. Portions 629 and 631 can be partially separated by through-cuts 635 and 637, and release liner 633 can have embossments 639 and 641 corresponding to through-cuts 635 and 637. Apart from the differences noted above, construction 621 can be used in a fashion analogous to that described above for construction 471.

[0119] Referring now to Figs. 28(a) through 28(g) and Fig. 29, there are shown various views of a fourth embodiment of a printable place card assembly constructed according to the present invention, the printable place card assembly being represented generally by reference numeral 651. Assembly 651 can be similar in some respects to assembly 501. One difference between the two assemblies can be that, whereas assembly 501 can include four place card constructions 471 arranged in a staggered, two-by-two pattern and separated from each other by a waste matrix 514, assembly 651 does not include a waste matrix, but rather, includes two place card constructions 621 that can be conjoined and defined by a bisecting line of perforations 657 that can run substantially the entire length I5 of assembly 651. Another difference between the two assemblies can be that, whereas assembly 501 can include two discontinuous adhesive strips 503 and 505, assembly 651 can include a single continuous adhesive strip 658 that can extend the full width W9 of assembly 651 proximate to a bottom edge 659 of a sheet of material 661. Adhesive strip 658 can be covered by a release liner 660. Through-cuts 662 and 664 can be provided in sheet for defining tab portions 665 and 666, and release liner 660 can include corresponding embossments 667 and 668, respectively.

[0120] Referring now to Fig. 30, there is shown a flowchart, schematically depicting one method that can be used according to the present invention to make printable place card assembly 651 , the method being represented generally by reference numeral 671. Method 671 can begin in a step 671-1 with the provision of a sheet 661 (see also Fig. 31(a)). Sheet 661 can be, for example, a sheet of cardstock or a similarly suitable material and preferably has dimensions similar to a standard sheet of paper (e.g., letter-size, legal-size, A4) or is otherwise suitable for use with a printing device (e.g., a sheet 4 inches by 6 inches). Method 671 can then continue with a step 671 -2 of applying a transfer tape 672 to a front surface 675 of sheet 661 proximate to bottom edge 659 of the sheet 661. The transfer tape can include a double-sided adhesive tape covered with a release liner 660. In this fashion, application of transfer tape 672 to front surface 675 of sheet 661 can form a continuous adhesive strip 658, covered by a release liner 660, on sheet 661 , thereby yielding an assembly 683 (see also Fig. 31(b)). Method 671 can then continue with a step 671-3 of creating perforations 657 (which perforations can be microperforations) in release liner 660, adhesive strip 658, and sheet 661, thereby yielding an assembly 689 (see also Fig. 31(c)). The aforementioned perforating step can be performed by a die-cutting from the front side 686 of assembly 689. Method 671 can then conclude with a step 671-4 of creating a score line 691 and forming through-cuts 662 and 664, thereby yielding assembly 651 (see also Fig. 28(a)). The aforementioned step can be performed with a die that cuts from the back surface 699 of sheet 661, with score line 691 being formed by an unsharpened part of the die. Preferably, through-cuts 662 and 664 go through sheet 661 but do not go through release liner 660.

[0121] Referring now to Fig. 32, there is shown a flowchart, schematically depicting one method that can be used according to the present invention to use printable place card assembly 651, the method being represented generally by reference numeral 701. Method 701 can begin in a step 701-1 with the provision of assembly 651. Method 701 can continue with a step 701-2 of making one or more markings M on a front surface 624 of display panel 623 of one or more of constructions 621, thereby yielding a marked assembly 705 (see also Fig. 33(a)). The aforementioned marking step can be performed manually and/or with a printing device. Method 701 can then continue with a step 701-3 of separating the two constructions 621 from one another to yield at least one isolated, marked construction 706 (see also Fig. 33(b)). Method 701 can then continue with a step 701-4 of removing release liner 660 to yield a construction 71 1 (see also Fig. 33(c)). Method 701 can then continue with a step 701-5 of separating portions 629 and 631 to form tabs 712 and 714, thereby yielding construction 715 (see also Fig. 33(d)). Method 701 can then continue with a step 701-6 of folding tabs 712 and 714 towards the rear surface 716 of display panel 623 until tabs 712 and 714 are generally perpendicular to display panel 623 (see also Fig. 33(e)). Method 701 can then continue with a step 701-7 of pivoting tabs 712 and 714 towards each other and adhering tab 714 to tab 712, thereby forming an assembled and marked place card 720.

Method 701 can then conclude with a step 701-8 of adhering the exposed portions of adhesive segments 712 and 714 of place card 720 to a desired surface S, whereby place card 720 stands reliably and securely on surface S (see also Fig. 33(f)).

[0122] Referring now to Figs. 34(a) through 34(g), there are shown various views of a fifth embodiment of a printable place card assembly constructed according to the present invention, the printable place card assembly being represented generally by reference numeral 751. Assembly 751 can be similar in most respects to assembly 651. One difference between the two assemblies can be that, whereas assembly 651 can include two place card constructions 621, the two constructions 621 being arranged side-by-side and defined, in part, by a line of perforations 657, assembly 751 can include three place card constructions 753, the three constructions 753 being arranged side-by-side and defined, in part, by two lines of perforations 755 and 757. Perforations 755 and 757 can be microperforations. Constructions 753 can be similar in overall structure to constructions 621 and can include a sheet of material 761 on which an adhesive strip 763 and a release liner 765 can be mounted.

Through-cuts 767 and 769 can be provided in sheet 761 to define portions 768 and 770. A fold line 771 , which can be discontinuous, can also be provided in sheet 761. Embossments 773 and 775 aligned with through-cuts 767 and 769 can be provided in release liner 765. One notable difference between constructions 753 and 621 can be that each of constructions 753 has its longitudinal axis aligned with the width wjo of assembly 751 whereas each of constructions 621 has its longitudinal axis aligned with the length 1₅ of assembly 651. Apart from the differences noted above, assembly 751 can be fabricated and used in a fashion analogous to that described above for assembly 651.

[0123] Referring now to Figs. 35(a) through 35(g), there are shown various views of a sixth embodiment of a printable place card assembly constructed according to the present invention, the printable place card assembly being represented generally by reference numeral 801. Assembly 801 can be similar in most respects to assembly 651. One difference between the two assemblies can be that, whereas assembly 651 can include two place card constructions 621, the two constructions 621 being arranged side-by-side and defined, in part, by a line of perforations 657, assembly 801 can include four place card constructions 803, wherein the four constructions 803 can be arranged in two rows of two. The four

constructions 803 can be defined, in part, by two lines of perforations 805 and 807 in a sheet 808, which lines of perforation 805 and 807 can be perpendicular to one another, as well as by two adhesive strips 809 and 81 1 , which can be parallel to one another, and two release liners 813 and 815, which can be positioned to cover adhesive strips 809 and 81 1 ,

respectively. Perforations 805 and 807 can be microperforations. Constructions 803 can be similar in overall structure to constructions 621. One difference between constructions 803 and 621 can be that each of constructions 803 has length 1₄ that is approximately one half the length 1₅ of assembly 801 whereas constructions 621 have a length that is equal to the entire length of assembly 651. Apart from the differences noted above, assembly 801 can be fabricated and used in a fashion analogous to that described above for assembly 651.

[0124] Referring now to Figs. 36(a) through 36(g), there are shown various views of a seventh embodiment of a printable place card assembly constructed according to the present invention, the printable place card assembly being represented generally by reference numeral 851. Assembly 851 can be similar in most respects to assembly 801 ; for example, it includes four constructions 803. One difference between the two assemblies can be that assembly 851 can further include a margin 853 defined, in part, by a line of perforations 855. Apart from the differences noted above, assembly 851 can be fabricated and used in a fashion analogous to that described above for assembly 801.

[0125] Referring now to Figs. 37(a) through 37(h), there are shown various views of a fifth embodiment of a place card constructed according to the present invention, the place card being represented generally by reference numeral 901. Place card 901 can be similar in many respects to place card 601. One difference between the two place cards can be that, whereas place card 601 can include a display panel 603 that can be generally rectangular, place card 901 can include a display panel 903 that can be generally circular. (However, it should be understood that display panel 903 need not be generally circular, and other shapes for display panel 903 can be considered as coming within the scope of the present invention.) Another difference between the two place cards can be that, whereas place card 601 can include tabs 609 and 61 1 having inner edges 614 and 616, respectively, that are not coupled to one another, place card 901 can include tab portions 905 and 907 having inner edges 909 and 91 1 that are coupled to one another, namely, by a bridge portion 913. As will be described further below, bridge portion 913 can be integrally formed with tab portions 905 and 907 and can be folded over and adhered to itself. Still another difference between the two place cards can be that, whereas place card 601 can include two adhesive strips 605 and 607, which are applied to the bottom surfaces of tabs 609 and 611, respectively, place card 901 can include an adhesive strip 915, which can be in the form of a continuous adhesive strip applied to the respective bottom surfaces of tab portions 905 and 907 and bridge portion 913. (It should be understood, however, that adhesive strip 915 need not be a continuous adhesive strip and can include one or more discontinuities.)

[0126] Referring now to Figs. 38(a) through 38(g), there are shown various views of a place card construction that can be used according to the present invention to form place card 901, the place card construction being represented generally by reference numeral 921. Place card construction 921 can be similar in most respects to construction 621 but differs from construction 621 in the following respects: First, whereas construction 621 includes a display panel 623 that can be generally rectangular, construction 921 can include a display panel 923 that can be generally circular. (However, it should be understood that display panel 923 need not be generally circular, and other shapes for display panel 623 can be considered as coming within the scope of the present invention.) Second, whereas construction 621 can include portions 629 and 631 that can be partially separated by through-cuts 635 and 637, construction 921 does not include any through-cuts and can instead include a base 924 that can include portions 925, 927, 929, and 931. Portions 925 and 927 can be defined, at least in part, by a fold line 933, portions 927 and 927 can be defined, at least in part, by a fold line 935, and portions 929 and 931 can be defined, at least in part, by a fold line 937. Fold lines 933, 935, and 937 can be arranged so that they diverge from a point 939, whereby portions 925 and 931 can be trapezoidal in shape and mirror images of one another and whereby portions 927 and 929 can be triangular in shape and mirror images of one another.

Construction 921 can also include a fold line 940 separating base 924 and display panel 923 and can further include an adhesive strip 941 applied to portions 925, 927, 929, and 931, as well as a release liner 943 covering adhesive strip 941.

[0127] Referring now to Figs. 39(a) through 39(f) and Fig. 40, there are shown various views of an eighth embodiment of a printable place card assembly constructed according to the present invention, the printable place card assembly being represented generally by reference numeral 951. Assembly 951 can be similar in some respects to assembly 401. One difference between the two assemblies can be that, whereas assembly 401 can include a sheet 410 that can include through-cuts 185, 187 and 191 and perforation lines 411, assembly 951 can include a sheet 953 that does not include any structure corresponding to through-cuts 185, 187 and 191 or to perforation lines 41 1. Instead, sheet

410 can include fold lines 955, 957 and 959. Another difference between the two assemblies can be that, whereas sheet 410 can have fold lines 448 and 449, sheet 410 can have fold lines 961. Assembly 951 can additionally include adhesive strips 963 and 965, which can extend continuously from a right side 967 of sheet 953 to a left side 969 of sheet, and can further include release liners 971 and 973, which can coextensively cover adhesive strips 963 and 965, respectively.

[0128] Referring now to Fig. 41 , there is shown a flowchart, schematically depicting one method that can be used according to the present invention to make printable place card assembly 951 , the method being represented generally by reference numeral 971. Method 971 can begin in a step 971-1 with the provision of sheet 953 (see also Fig. 42(a)). Sheet 953 can be, for example, a sheet of cardstock or a similarly suitable material and preferably has dimensions similar to a standard sheet of paper (e.g., letter-size, legal-size, A4) or is otherwise suitable for use with a printing device (e.g., a sheet 4 inches by 6 inches). Method 971 can then continue with a step 971-2 of applying transfer tapes 974-1 and 974-2 to a front surface 975 of sheet 953 proximate to bottom and top edges 976 and 977, respectively, of sheet 953, thereby yielding an assembly 978 (see also Fig. 42(b)). Transfer tape 974-1 can include adhesive strip 963 covered with release liner 971 , and transfer tape 974-2 can include adhesive strip 965 covered with release liner 973. Instead of using transfer tapes, one could apply adhesive through a pattern coating or printing process as described above and then could apply a release liner over the adhesive strip. Method 971 can then continue with a step 971-3 of creating perforations 447-1 through 447-4 (which perforations can be

microperforations) in tapes 974-1 and 974-2 and in sheet 953, thereby yielding an assembly 985 (see also Fig. 42(c)). The aforementioned perforations can be made either from the back side or the front side of the assembly. Method 971 can then conclude with a step 971-4 of creating fold lines 955, 957, 959, and 961 , thereby yielding assembly 951 (see also Fig. 39(a)). It should be noted that the order of steps 971-3 and 971-4 can be reversed.

[0129] Referring now to Fig. 43, there is shown a flowchart, schematically depicting one method that can be used according to the present invention to use printable place card assembly 951, the method being represented generally by reference numeral 1001. Method 1001 can begin in a step 1001-1 with the provision of assembly 951. Method 1001 can continue with a step 1001-2 of making one or more markings M on assembly 951, preferably on one of the constructions 921, thereby yielding a marked assembly 1005 (see also Fig. 44(a)). The aforementioned marking step can be performed manually and/or with a printing device. Method 1001 can then continue with a step 1001-3 of separating a construction 921 from assembly 1005 to yield a marked construction 1006 (see also Fig. 44(b)). Method 1001 can then continue with a step 1001-4 of removing release liner 943 from construction 1006, thereby exposing adhesive 915, to yield a construction 101 1 (see also Fig. 44(c)). Method 1001 can then continue with a step 1001-5 of folding base 924 about fold line 961 towards the rear surface 1002 of display panel 923 until base 924 is generally perpendicular to display panel 923 (see also Fig. 44(d)). Method 1001 can then continue with a step 1001-6 of folding base 924 about fold lines 955, 957 and 959 to adhere portions 925 and 931 together to form bridge 913, thereby forming an assembled and marked place card 1020 (see Fig. 44(e)). Method 1001 can then conclude with a step 1001-7 of adhering the exposed portions of adhesive 915 of place card 1020 to a desired surface S, whereby place card 1020 stands reliably and securely on surface S (see also Fig. 44(f)).

[0130] Referring now to Figs. 45(a) through 45(h), there are shown various views of a sixth embodiment of a place card constructed according to the present invention, the place card being represented generally by reference numeral 1101. Place card 1 101 can be similar in many respects to place card 901. One difference between the two place cards can be that, whereas place card 901 can include tab portions 905 and 907 connected by bridge portion 913, place card 1 101 can include tab portions 1 103 and 1 105 connected by a bridge portion 1 107.

[0131] Referring now to Figs. 46(a) through 46(g), there are shown various views of a place card construction that can be used according to the present invention to form place card 1 101, the place card construction being represented generally by reference numeral 1 121. Place card construction 1 121 can be similar in most respects to construction 921. One difference between the two constructions can be that, whereas construction 921 can have a base 924 having three fold lines 933, 935, and 937, construction 1121 can have a base 1 123 having two fold lines 1 125 and 1 127. As a result, base 1 123 folds differently than does base 924. However, other than this difference, construction 1 121 can be used in a fashion analogous to that discussed above for construction 921.

[0132] Referring now to Figs. 47(a) through 47(f), there are shown various views of a ninth embodiment of a printable place card assembly constructed according to the present invention, the printable place card assembly being represented generally by reference numeral 1151. Assembly 1151 can be similar in most respects to assembly 951 , the principal difference between the two assemblies being that, whereas assembly 951 can include fold lines 955, 957 and 958 corresponding to fold lines 933, 935, and 937 for each of its four constructions 921, assembly 1 151 can include fold lines 1 153 and 1155 corresponding to fold lines 1125 and 1 127, for each of its four constructions 1 121. Other than this difference, assembly 1151 can be made and used analogously to assembly 951. [0133] As can be appreciated from the above description of the invention, one advantage of the place cards of the present invention, as compared to conventional place cards, particularly conventional place cards of the two-panel tent card variety, is that the place cards of the present invention stand reliably. Another advantage of the place cards of the present invention is that such place cards can be secured to a surface, thereby minimizing the possibility that the place cards will be displaced or toppled inadvertently. Still another advantage of the place cards of the present invention, particularly as compared to

conventional triangle tent cards, is that the place cards of the present invention can be used in conjunction with conventional printing devices and that a plurality of such place cards can be fed through a conventional printing device on a single sheet-like assembly.

[0134] All features disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, and all steps in any method or process disclosed, can be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in the specification, including the claims, abstract, and drawings, can be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent, or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0135] The foregoing detailed description of the present invention is provided for purposes of illustration, and it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the particular embodiments disclosed. The embodiments can provide different capabilities and benefits, depending on the configuration used to implement the key features of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined only by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A place card comprising:

a display panel;

at least two tabs coupled to the display panel, the at least two tabs being joined to one another to form a stand for the display panel; and

an adhesive applied to at least one of the two tabs to couple the stand to a desired surface.

2. The place card as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the display panel includes a print-receptive material.

3. The place card as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the print-receptive material is receptive to at least one of hand-made markings and printing from a printing device.

4. The place card as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the printing device is at least one printing device selected from the group consisting of an ink jet printer, a laser printer, and a photocopier.

5. The place card as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the display panel and the at least two tabs are formed from a self-supporting sheet.

6. The place card as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the self-supporting sheet consists of a single layer of material.

7. The place card as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the single layer of material is selected from the group consisting of a paper sheet and a polymer film.

8. The place card as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the paper sheet is a sheet of cardstock.

9. The place card as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the self-supporting sheet includes a multi-layer material.

10. The place card as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the multi-layer material includes a substrate and a coating.

1 1. The place card as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of a paper sheet and a polymer film.

12. The place card as claimed in Claim 1 1 , wherein the paper sheet includes a sheet of cardstock.

13. The place card as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the coating includes a print- receptive material that is receptive for printing from a printing device.

14. The place card as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the self-supporting sheet has a thickness no greater than about 15 mils.

15. The place card as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is a pressure- sensitive adhesive.

16. The place card as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the pressure-sensitive adhesive is selected from the group consisting of permanent pressure-sensitive adhesives, removable pressure-sensitive adhesives, repositionable pressure-sensitive adhesives, and ultra-removable pressure-sensitive adhesives.

17. The place card as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the at least two tabs are configured to be joined to one another by the adhesive.

18. The place card as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the at least two tabs are configured to be joined to one another by interlocking members.

19. The place card as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein one of the at least two tabs includes a tongue and another of the at least two tabs includes a slit, the tongue being securely receivable within the slit.

20. The place card as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two tabs is hingedly coupled to the display panel.

21. The place card as claimed in Claim 20, wherein the display panel has an edge and wherein each of the at least two tabs is configured to be folded about the edge of the display panel.

22. The place card as claimed in Claim 21, wherein each of the at least two tabs is independently foldable about the edge of the display panel.

23. The place card as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is applied to each of the at least two tabs.

24. The place card as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each of the at least two tabs has an inner edge, the inner edges being integrally formed.

25. The place card as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two tabs has an inner edge, the inner edges being independently movable.

26. A printable sheet assembly comprising:

a sheet including a first portion severably connected to the remainder of the sheet, the first portion including a first part and a second part, the first part being configured to be used as a display panel, the second part being coupled to the first part and including at least two tabs joinable to one another to form a stand for the display panel; and

an adhesive applied to the second part of the sheet for use in coupling the display panel to a surface.

27. The printable sheet assembly as claimed in Claim 26, further comprising a release liner covering the adhesive.

28. The printable sheet assembly as claimed in Claim 26, wherein the sheet is a sheet of cardstock.

29. The printable sheet assembly as claimed in Claim 26, wherein the sheet includes a print-receptive material.

30. The printable sheet assembly as claimed in Claim 26, wherein the first portion of the sheet is defined by, and severably coupled to the remainder of the sheet, at least in part by at least one of perforations and cuts/ties.

31. The printable sheet assembly as claimed in Claim 30, wherein the perforations are microperforations.

32. The printable sheet assembly as claimed in Claim 26, wherein the display panel includes a print-receptive material.

33. The printable sheet assembly as claimed in Claim 26, wherein the sheet further comprises a second portion of the sheet severably connected to the remainder of the sheet, the second portion of the sheet including a first part and a second part, the first part being configured to be used as a display panel, the second part being coupled to the first part and including at least two tabs joinable to one another to form a stand for the display panel, and wherein an adhesive is applied to the second part of the sheet for use in coupling the display panel to a surface.

34. The printable sheet assembly as claimed in Claim 26, wherein the second part includes at least two tabs that are severably connected and that, once separated from each other, can be rejoined and coupled to the surface.

35. The printable sheet assembly as claimed in Claim 26, wherein the at least two tabs include interlocking members for their rejoinder.

36. A method of displaying information comprising the steps of:

providing a place card, the place card including

a display panel,

at least two tabs coupled to the display panel, the at least two tabs being joined to one another to form a stand for the display panel, and

an adhesive applied to at least one of the two tabs to couple the stand to a desired surface;

making at least one marking on the display panel;

joining the at least two tabs to one another to form a stand for the display panel.

37. The method as claimed in Claim 36, further comprising the step of coupling the place card to a surface using the adhesive.

38. The method as claimed in Claim 36, wherein the joining step includes adhering the at least two tabs together using the adhesive on at least one of the at least two tabs.

39. The method as claimed in Claim 36, wherein the at least two tabs include interlocking members and wherein the joining step includes interlocking the interlocking members.