Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BOOK BINDER AND PRODUCTION THEREOF
A hard cover version of a book commands a much
higher price than a paperback version of the same book.
This disparity in price reflects the di-fferencé in
manufactuxing costs between the two methods of binding.
Although convenient and of lower cost, paperback books
lack durability and have an inferior physical appearance
in comparison with hard cover books. As noted above t
however, hard cover books are signiEicantly more
expensive.
The present inven~ion provides a novel book
cover or binder which enables paperback books to be
positioned in a hard external cover, either permanently
or on a temporary basis.
In accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention, there is provided a book binder,
comprising an elongate spine member having two
longitudinal side edges and two cover members integrally
joined to the spine member~ the integral join between
the spine member and one of the cover members being
effected by a first fold line formed at one of the
longitudinal edges of the spine member and the integral
join between the spine member and the other of the covex
members being effected by a second fold line formed at
the other of the longitudinal side edges of the spine
member, each cover member being formed of overlying
layers of paperboard which are joined so as to define a
pocket therebetween which is open to receive a book
cover at an edge of the pocket adjacent the fold line
join of the respective cover member to the spine member
and which is enclosed at the other three edges by
folded-over paperboar~.
In this way, the present invent.ion enables a
hard cover book to be provided at a reduced cost when
compared wlth conventional hard cover books.
In one embodiment, the cover member is formed
by provid.ing two panels integrally joined through a
third fold line, the two layers being the overlying
layers in the cover membexs, the one of the panels which
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constitutes the one of the overlying layers joined to
the spine member having wing panels integrally joined
thereto at opposlte free edges thereof, folding the wing
panels to overly and abut the one panel, folding thé two
panels on each other about the third fold line to
provide a folded-over panel overlying the folded~over
wing panels and an underlying panel, and adhering
abutting faces of the wing panels and the folded-over
panel.
Preferably, spacer means ar~ located within
each of the pockets to space the overlying layers from
each other, to assist in the insertion of a paperback
book cover into the respective pocket and to permit
sliding motion between the paperback book cover and the
pocket upon opening and closing of the book binder9 The
spacer means may take the form of discontinuous
embossings which are formed on the face of the wing
panel abutting the one.panel~
The invention also includes a blank for the
binder. Accordingly, in another aspect of the
invention, there is provided a blank for a book binder,
comprising a central elongate panel having tabs
integrally joined to the longitudinal ends thereof
through first and second fold lines; first and second
rectangular panels joined at one longitudinal side edge
thereof one to each longitudinal side edge of -the
central elongate panel through third and fourth crease
lines; third generally rectangular panel joined at one
longitudinal side edge thereof to the first rectangular
panel at the other longitudinal side edge thereof
through fifth crease line, fourth generally rectangular
panel joined at one longitudinal side edge thereof to a
second rectangular panel at the other longitudinal side
edge thereof thxough sixth crease line, first and second
wing panels joined one to each of the lateral side edges
of the first rectangular panel through seventh and
eighth crease lines, and third and fourth wing panels
joined one to each of the lateral side edges of the
second rectangular panel through ninth ancl tenth crease
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lines, the flrst, seventh and nlnth crease lines being
in straight line alignment and the second, eighth and
tenth crease lines being in straight line alignment,
each the wing panel having embossings extending
longitudinally thereof, each the wing panel having a
side edge extending angularly at an approximate angle of
45 from the free longitudinal edge thereof to the point
of join of the crease line joinir~g the wing panel to the
respective rectangular panel and the crease li.ne joining
the respective rectangular panel and generally
rectangular panel, each the generally rectangular panel
including an angularly directed edge in straight line
alignment with the angular side edge of the wing panel
extending from the point of join to the respective
lateral side edge of the generally rec-tangular panel.
The novel book binder of the invention may be
used in a novel method of assembly of a hardcover book.
ln accordance with a further aspect of the inven-tion,
there is provided a method of assembly of a hardcover
book, which comprises providing a s-tack of binder
covers, constructed as defined above, having the
intended interior of the cover facing upwardly; feeding
a cover from the stack along a substantially horizontal
path; folding the cover members downwardly about the
fold line join thereof to the spine member while the
spine member is maintained substantially horizontal
until the cover members are substantially vertical;
inserting each cover of a paperback book into one of the
pockets; and folding the cover members upwardly into
engagement with the paperback book.
The invention is described further by way of
illustration, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in whicho
Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank from which
a book cover according to the invention can be formed;
Figure 2 illustrates the steps required to
assemble a book cover according to the invention from
the blank- of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3 3 of
Figure 2;
Figure 4 shows assembly o:E a paper backed book
with the book cover of the lnvention;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cover
5. assembled with a paper backed book in the closed
position;
Figure 6 is a perspective vi.ew of the cover
assembled with a paper backed book in the open position;
and
Figure 7 i5 a perspective view of an automated
operation for assembly of a book with the cover of the
invention.
Referring first to Figures 1 to 4, a novel
book cover 10 provided in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the invention is formed from a blank 12.
The blank 12 includes an elongate central strip 14,
which forms the spine for the cover 10, having tabs 16
and 18 extending from the ends thereof and joined
thereto through fold lines 17 and 19 respectively. The
central strip 14 is joined to inner panels 20 and 22
through fold lines 24 and 26 respectively, while the
inner panels 20 and 22 are joined to outer panels 28 and
30 through fold lines 32 and 34 respectivelyv
The inner panel 20 has wing panels 36 and 38
joined thereto by fold lines 40 and 42 respectively.
The inner panel 22 has similar wing panels 44 and 46
joined thereto by fold lines 48 and S0. The fold lines
40, 17 and 48 are in straight line alignment as are fold
lines 42, 19 and 50~
The wing panels 36 and 44 and the wing panels
38 and 46 each has a longitudinal edge 52 which extends
at approximately 45 to the respective fold line 40, 43,
42 and 50 from the free longitudinal side edge to the
point of intersection of the fold lines 32 and 40, 34
and 48, 32 and 42, and 34 and 50 respectively~ The edges
52 are in alignment with cuts 54 formed in the outer
panels 28 and 30 and extending from the points of join
of fold lines 32 and 40, 32 and 42, 34 and 48, and 34
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and 50, so that the lateral edges 56 of the end panels
are aligned in pairs but the aligned pairs are spaced
inwardly with respec~ ~o the aligned fold lines 40, 17
and 48 and 42, 19 and 50~
The wing panels 36, 38, 44 and 46 are each
provided with lines of embossing 58 on the surface
thereof. The purpose of these embossings 58 will become
apparent from the discussion below.
To form the binder 10 from the blank 12, the
tabs 16 and 18 are folded about fold lines 17 and 19 and
adhered to the central strip 14.
The wing panels 36, 38, 44 and 46 are folded
about fold lines 40, 42, 48 and 50 respectively into
abutting relation with respective panels 20 and 22~
Outer panels 28 and 30 are folded about fold lines 32
and 34 to overly and abut the folded over wing panels
36, 38, 44 and 46, and the abutting portions adhesively
joined together.
As may be seen from Figure 2, the edges 52 and
54 form mitered corners and the foldings of khe panels
abou~ the respective fold llnes ensure that there are
rounded edges on all sides. The folded over outer
panels 28 and 30 combine with the inner panels 20 and 22
respectively to define pockets 60 and 62 which are able
to receive the covers 64 of a paperback book 66 therein.
The embossings or ridges 58 serve to maintain
the overlying panels 28, 20 and 30, 22 respectively
spaced from each other to enable the cover of the book
66 to be readily inserted into the pockets 60 and 62 to
provide a finished hard cover book 67. In addition, the
embossings permit the paperbook covers to slide freely
in the pockets 60 and 62 as the hard book is opened and
closed, as i5 illustrated n Figure 5 and 6. As the
cover 10 is opened~ the cover 64 of the paperback book
66 slides reely out of the pocket 60 and, when again
closed, the cover 64 slides back into the pocket 60.
This sliding motion of the paperback cover 64
in the pocket 60 has several advantagesO The pulling
action and wear and tear on the original glued binding
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of the paperback is decreased, improving its appearance
and extending the life cycle. Any binding action which
otherwise may occur between the paperback cover 64 and
the pocke~ 60 would cause creasing and crushing of the
cover 64 and prevent proper closing of ~he cover lO.
The sliding action o~ the cover 64 in the
pockets 60 and 62, resulting from the use of the
embossings 58 also eliminates added stre~s or hinding
action on the creases 24 and 26 at -the spine of the
cover 10 and thexeby adds to ~he maintenance of the
external appearance of the cover lO and the long term
durability of the cover 10.
The embossed lines 58 are discontinuous, so as
to avoid accidental foldlng of the wing panels about the
embossings and to provide only a minimal frictional
resistance to entry of the book cover into the pockets
60 and 62 and to sliding action upon opening and closing
the cover 10e
When a paperback book 66 is received by the
cover lO, it overlies the line of overlap of the panels
28 and 30, with the wing panels 36, 38 and 44, 46
respectively, and only the mitered corners of -the
abutting edges 52 and 54 appear. The result is an
overall seamless appearanceO There are no raw edges
which appear anywhere and those that do exis-t are hidden
by the pages of the book. This feature enhances the
overall appearance of the cover and its resemblance to a
conventional hard cover book.
The cover lO may be of a permanent or
non-permanent nature, as desiredO In the first
instance, the central strip 14 or spine of the cover is
provided with spot gluings 68 which serve to adhesively
join the cover spine to the book spine. A lower priced
paperback hook with an unprinted cover, in this way, may
be inserted and glue-bonded into the cover, ~hereby
forming â hard cover book. In the second instance, the
book is inserted into a cover without the presence of
the adheslve, and the cover then may be reused, as
desired, by removal of one paperback book and insertion
of another. Thls alternative permits the book cover 10
to be sold as i~ for use by customers with paperback
books in their possession.
The book cover 10 which is provided by -this
invention, represents a low-cost viable alternative hard
cover for books to traditional hard book covers. The
book cover 10 can be manufactured rapidly and
automatically on high speed equipment, requiring only
die-cutting of the blank 12 and folding and adhesion of
panels. The cover 10 is formed a~ low cos-t from a
single blank element 12 to produce a book cover 10 at a
fraction of the price of a traditional hard cover book
yet with the same quality and prestige appearance.
The book cover 10 is an attractive alternative
and has a close external resemblance to the traditional
hard cover for books and possesses no visible raw edges
or glue seams which would detract from its aesthetic
appearance.
The book cover 10 is capable of being printed,
lithographed, silk screened or hot-stamped, as desired,
to provide full colour graphics, or any other desired
graphics designs, to the exterior. The book cover 10 is
strong and durable and can be freely opened and closed,
as a result of siding of the paperback cover in the
pockets, without loss of effectiveness in use.
In some instances of use of the book cover 10~
fox example with larger heavier books, reinforcinq tape
may be applied in the hinge areas. In addition, further
thickening or reinforcing to the cover 10 may be
provided by inserting a sheet of rigid material, such
as, shee~s of chip board or corrugated paperboard, into
each of the yockets 60 and 62.
For decorative and strengthening purposes, the
outPr surfaces of the book covex 10 may be laminated
with light fabrics~ plastic films and decorative papers~
A wide variety of textures and surface finishes may be
obtained in this way. In addition, the book cover 10
may be lithographed in full colour and then cellucoated
or lacquered ~o provide a durable washable surface on
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the book cover, which enhances both the appearance and
the life cycle of the cover.
A further feature of the hook cover 10 is that
both the inside and outside suraces of the cover may be
printed at su~stantially no addi,tio~al cost, by printing
the blank 12 in contrast to traditional book covers,
which require a separate printing and labelling
operation.
Depending on the size of the book to be held
in the cover and other factors, the caliper and quality
of folding paperboard which can be employed to -form the
cover may vary widely. Usually, the caliper of folding
paperboard varies between about 0.012 and about 0.032
inches~
The book binder 10 of this invention is
adaptable for other purposes, such as, general binders,
presentation ki~s and loose-leaf covers.
As mentioned, above, the book binder 10 is
susceptible of automatic assembly with paperback books.
One procedure is illustrated in Figure 7. As
illustrated therein/ individual binders 10 are propelled
one at a time from the base of a stack 70 of planar
binders by pushers 72 driven by a chain drive 740 The
binders 10 in the 5 tock 70 are arranged with the
intended interior of the binders facing upwards. The
individual binders 10, as they are conveyed, are engaged
by curved folding rods 76 which gradually bend the cover
members down about the conveyor chain 74 to assume a
position suitable for receipt of a paperback book 66
therein wherein the covers depend vertically downwardly
from the horizontally~extending spine.
Hot melt adhesive, or any other convenient
adhesive, is automa~ically applied to the spine of the
cover by a suitable applicator 78. Immediately
thereafter, the covers 64 of the hook 66 are inserted
into the pockets 60 and 62 of the book cover 10 until
the spine of the book engages and i5 thereby adhesivelY
joined to the spine of the binder 10.
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Thereafter, lifters lift the covers of the
binder into engagement with the book which is then
conveyed between rails 80 to packing. By this procedur~
a hard cover book has been produced at a significantly
decreased cost, as compared with convent.ional hard cover
books-
In summary of this disclosure, the presentinvention provides a novel hard cover book binder which
is significantly distinctive from prior art hard cover
books. Modifications are possible within the scope of
this invention.
