Plastic folder for retaining sheets of paper

A plastic folder for holding sheets of paper, comprising:

• a front cover;
• a back cover;
• a binge section between said front cover and said back cover, wherein said hinge section includes a first fold line adjacent said front cover, a second fold line adjacent said back cover, and a third fold line intermediate said first and second fold lines, said third fold line forming a spine so that said front cover is disposed over said back cover and so that said first fold line is over said second fold line, wherein a first hinge portion is disposed between said third fold line and said first fold line, whereas a second hinge portion is disposed between said third fold line and said second fold line;
• a first weld area disposed on said hinge section so as to be between said spine and said first fold line, wherein said first weld area connects said first hinge portion to said second hinge portion;
• a second weld area disposed on said hinge section so as to be between said spine and said first fold line, wherein said second weld area connects said first hinge portion to said second hinge portion,
• wherein said second weld area is disposed at a first distance in the direction of said spine from said first weld area, said first distance being smaller than a length of an edge of a sheet of paper to be disposed along said spine so that the sheet of paper is held within said plastic folder by said first and second weld areas;
• and
• a cutout disposed between said first weld area and an edge of said plastic folder which is opposite to said spine when said front cover is disposed over said back cover, and a cutout disposed between said second weld area and the edge of said plastic folder, wherein said cutouts reduce stress on said first and second fold lines and said first and second weld areas.