Sheet protector

Abstract

In one embodiment, a sheet protector for holding a paper document comprises a sheet of transparent material, such as plastic, which is folded over on itself about a vertical fold line to form a front panel and a rear panel. The front and rear panels are identical in size and shape and each include a top edge, a bottom edge, a right side edge and a left side edge, the vertical fold line defining the right side edge of the front panel and the left side edge of the rear panel. The front and bottom panels are secured together along their bottom edges by a horizontal weld line. The top and bottom panels are additionally secured together at a location in close proximity the side edges opposite the vertical fold line by a first vertical weld line. Together the vertical fold line, the horizontal weld line and the first vertical weld line define a generally rectangular shaped pocket between the front and rear panels into which the paper document can be inserted. A vertical cut line extends down from the top edge of the front panel to enable a portion of the front panel to be folded open to enable the paper document to be easily inserted into the generally rectangularly shaped pocket. In another embodiment, the first vertical weld line comprises a bottom portion of increased thickness. As such, the vertical cut line separates the bottom portion of the first vertical weld line into an inner weld line and an outer weld line, the inner weld line serving to retain paper documents within the generally rectangular pocket. In another embodiment, the top and bottom panels are additionally secured together by a second vertical weld line which extends up from the horizontal weld line approximately 3/4 of an inch. The second vertical weld line serves to trap the paper document within the generally rectangular pocket.