Identification card preform and laminating system utilizing same

Claim 2

A preformed assembly for making an identification card which when sealed forms a laminated envelope structure encasing an insert, comprising: a. a pair of transparent side flaps sandwiching an opaque core; b. said side flaps being precut to a generally similar configuration and being positioned with the peripheral edges of one side flap in registry with the peripheral edges of the other side flap; c. said core being precut to a size no greater than that of said side flaps and being positioned between said side flaps so as not to protrude beyond said peripheral edges; d. said core being bonded to one of said side flaps so as to form an integral laminated assembly; e. said core also being bonded to the other of said side flaps along only portions of the mating surfaces therebetween leaving the remaining mating surface portions freely separable so as to permit the insertion of an insert therebetweeN.

Claim 3

The assembly of claim 1 wherein said core has a precut opening therethrough whereby indicia provided on both sides of an insert can be viewed through said side flaps.

Claim 4

The assembly of claim 1 wherein the inner adjacent surface of said side flaps comprise heat softenable layers.

Claim 5

The identification card of claim 1 wherein said core is preprinted with general data which is viewable through said one side flap.

Claim 6

An identification card comprising: a. a heat sealed laminated envelope structure encasing an insert means: b. said laminated envelope structure prior to sealing comprising: i. a pair of transparent side flaps sandwiching a core; ii. said side flaps being precut to a generally similar configuration and being positioned with the peripheral edges of one side flap in registry with the peripheral edges of the other side flap; iii. the inner adjacent surfaces of said side flaps comprising heat softenable layers; iv. said core being precut to a size no greater than that of said side flaps and being positioned between said side flaps so as not to protrude beyond said peripheral edges; v. said core being bonded to and between said side flaps along only portions of the mating surfaces between the core and at least one of the flaps, leaving the remaining mating surface portions freely separable so as to permit the insertion of said insert therebetween; and, c. said insert means being precut to a size which will permit its insertion between said remaining mating surface portions and having identification indicia on its surface whereby said identification indicia is viewable through said side flap.

Claim 7

An identification card comprising: a. a heat sealed laminated envelope structure encasing an insert means: b. said laminated envelope structure prior to sealing comprising: i. a pair of transparent side flaps sandwiching a core; ii. said side flaps being precut to a generally similar configuration and being positioned with the peripheral edges of one side flap in registry with the peripheral edges of the other side flap; iii. the inner adjacent surfaces of said side flaps comprising heat softenable layers; iv. said core being precut to a size no greater than that of said side flaps and being positioned between said side flaps so as not to protrude beyond said peripheral edges; v. said core being bonded to and between said side flaps along only portions of the mating surfaces between the core and at least one of the flaps, leaving the remaining mating surface portions freely separable so as to permit the insertion of said insert therebetween; and, c. said insert means being precut to a size which will permit its insertion between said remaining mating surface portions and having identification indicia on its surface whereby said identification indicia is viewable through said side flap.

Claim 8

The identification card of claim 5 wherein said core has a precut opening therethrough, and said insert means includes additional identification indicia on its surface which is adjacent one of said side flaps whereby said additional identification indica is viewable through the other said side flap.

Claim 9

The identification card of claim 6 wherein said insert means comprises a pair of inserts one of which carries said identification indica, and the other of which carries said additional identification indicia, said inserts being positioned back to back between said side flaps.

Claim 10

The identification card of claim 7 wherein said other insert comprises a photograph which is cut to a size no greater than said precut opening, and said photograph is positioned within said opening so as to be viewable through one side flap.

Claim 11

The identification card of claim 5 wherein said core is preprinted with general data which is viewable through one side flap.

Claim 12

A preformed identification card blank comprising: a. a pair of transparent side flaps sandwiching an opaque core; b. said side flaps being precut to a generally similar configuration and being positioned with the peripheral edges of one side flap in registry with the peripheral edges of the other side flap; c. said core being preprinted with general data viewable through at least one of said side flaps; d. said core being precut to a size no greater than that of said side flaps and being positioned between said side flaps so as not to protrude beyond said peripheral edges; e. said core being bonded to and between said side flaps along only portions of the mating surfaces between said core and at least one of the flaps, leaving the remaining mating surface portions freely separable.

Claim 13

A preformed identification card blank comprising: a. a pair of transparent side flaps sandwiching an opaque core; b. said side flaps being precut to a generally similar configuration and being positioned with the peripheral edges of one side flap in registry with the peripheral edges of the other side flap; c. said core being preprinted with general data viewable through at least one of said side flaps; d. said core being precut to a size no greater than that of said side flaps and being positioned between said side flaps so as not to protrude beyond said peripheral edges; e. said core being bonded to and between said side flaps along only portions of the mating surfaces between said core and at least one of the flaps, leaving the remaining mating surface portions freely separable.

Claim 14

The preformed card blank of claim 10 wherein the inner adjacent surfaces of said side flaps comprise heat softenable layers.