BOOK SHIELD

PROTEGE-LIVRE

English Abstract

Most books and magazines consist of pages of paper with an outer covering
binding the
pages together whereby the outer cover is either the same thickness as the
pages between
or in the case of a hard cover book it may be up to 2/3 cm in thickness. This
invention is
an outer plastic cover adjustable to conform to the entire outer surface area
of the book
cover and secured onto the cover of the book by a transparent adhesive around
the
perimeter of the plastic cover up to 6 cm from the edge, and along the area
where the
spine of the book is to be placed. Additionally, the area of the plastic cover
that will
cover the spine of the book is to be made such as to be flexible so as not to
obstruct the
opening of the book.

Claims

5. The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is
claimed are defined as follows:
A sheet of plastic whereby the edges can be torn off along defined grooves so
as to adjust
the size of the sheet and having transparent adhesive around the perimeter of
one side of
the plastic sheet with paper covering the entire surface area of the adhesive
such that the
paper can be easily peeled off without damaging the adhesive and with straight
line
indentations across the entire width of the center of the plastic sheet
consisting of
approximately six such indented lines approximately 0.5 cm apart and this area
to also be
covered with transparent adhesive and paper exactly as previously stated.
These features
will enable the plastic sheet to be pasted onto the entire outer surface area
of a book or
magazine cover, including the spine where the plastic will be flexible so as
not to inhibit
the opening of the book or magazine. This will in turn preserve the cover of
the book or
magazine while leaving its illustrations visible where desired.
Page 5

Description

CA 02250508 1998-10-21
Most books and mag s consist of pages of paper with an outer covering binding
the
pages together whereby the o cover is either the same thickness as the pages
between
or in the case of a hard cover book it be up to 2/3 cm in thickness. This
invention is
an outer plastic cover adjustable to conform entire outer surface area of the
book
cover and secured onto the cover of the book by a trap ent adhesive around the
perimeter of the plastic cover up to 6 cm from the edge, and a the area where
the
spine of the book is to be placed. Additionally, the area of the plastic that
will
cover the spine of the book is to be made such as to be flexible so as not to
obs the
opening of the book.
Specification
1. This invention relates to a form fitted plastic outer cover for books and
magazines,
primarily intended to improve the cover's rigidity and protect said book or
magazine but
also intended to provide durability so as to prolong the process of wear and
tear of the
outer cover.
2. Ordinarily books and magazines are published and made available to the
public
with a paper cover not much greater in thickness than the inner leaves of the
book or
magazine. In the case of books there is usually the paper back edition as
distinct from the
hard cover edition. The latter is usually a more durable thicker outer cover
often with a
decorative glossy paper covering bearing the title of the book and any
accompanying
illustration(s). In the case of the paperback edition of books the book cover
is more
flexible and does not stand up to the wear and tear of the everyday use to
which books are
ordinarily put. The paper cover is prone to being ripped and soiled and most
especially if
the book is exposed to water. The same goes for magazines.
The hard cover book while less susceptible to wear and tear than the paperback
and likely
more desirable in terms of its appearance and durability, it too will wear
over time and
does not have protection for its illustration and printed matter on the outer
cover which
will erode over time due to handling of the book and the ordinary process of
aging.
3. I have found that the aforementioned disadvantages may be overcome by a
plastic
outer covering on the external cover of the book or magazine. This covering is
to be
secured to the outer cover by an adhesive around the perimeter of the plastic
covering so
as to enable the plastic cover to be secured onto the outer cover of the book.
The plastic
cover is to be such as to be as closely form fitted to the entire outer cover
of the book as
possible and where desirable it may be transparent so as not to interfere with
any titles or
illustrations which may be on the covering of the book. As it is a covering
for the outer
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CA 02250508 1998-10-21
covering of the book it will also increase the covers thickness and rigidity.
In effect a
paper back book can be transformed into a hard cover book with the added
advantages of
a plastic outer layer which the book user will be able to purchase separate
from the book
and apply as may be desired.
Where it is not desirable to improve the thickness of the cover as in the case
of a hard
cover edition a thinner version can be used with all the stated features so as
to preserve
the appearance and enhance the durability of the book.
4. As per the attached drawings illustrating the invention Figure 1 shows a
sheet of
transparent plastic with a total dimension of approximately 30 cm x 24 cm. The
plastic
may range in thickness from 0.2 cm to 0.8 cm. Although the product will
generally be
made of transparent plastic it could also utilize non-transparent plastic with
the same
general characteristics. Furthermore the plastic may be decorated with a brand
name or
logo as may be desirable in the marketplace.
around the perimeter of the entire sheet are incisions to a fraction less than
the entire
thickness of the sheet so as to enable it to be torn along the incision to
change its
dimension to be compatible with the surface area of the book or magazine to be
covered.
These incisions are placed approximately 0.5 cm apart along the entire length
of each of
the four sides of the sheet intersecting at the four corners accordingly.
There will be
approximately six (6) incisions along each of the four sides, the last of the
six incisions
being approximately 3 cm away from the edge of each of the four sides of the
sheet.
These incisions will have the effect of facilitating tearing the plastic and
discarding the
strip torn off the entire length and/or width of the plastic to alter the size
of the sheet so as
to conform to the size of the entire surface area of the outer cover of the
book or
magazine to be covered for a precise fit.
The entire surface areas immidiately opposite to the side of the sheet where
the surface of
the sheet is pierced to create the incisions will be covered with a layer of
transparent
adhesive. From each of the four edges the glue will not be applied beyond the
last
incision approximately 6 cm from each edge.
Figure 2 illustrates paper (shaded areas) over the area of each of the four
sides and the
centre of the sheet containing glue. The paper is such that it can easily be
peeled off
without interfering with the adhesiveness or transparency of the glue. When
the paper is
peeled off the area of the sheet containing glue will be used to fasten the
sheet to the outer
cover of the book or magazine so as to cover the entire surface area.
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CA 02250508 1998-10-21
In the center of the plastic sheet is an area approximately 3.5 cm wide
straight across the
entire (width) of the sheet. This area will be where the spine of the book or
magazine is
centered. This entire area will also have the adhesive. Instead of incisions
there will be
lines defining both sides of the 3.Scm width. The lines will be created by the
plastic
being squeezed by precision machinery so as to enable the plastic to bend to
form fit the
spine of the book or magazine along each line. There will be approximately two
(2) more
straight lines squeezed into the plastic approximately 0.5 cm from the both of
the initial
squeezed lines to create approximately six (6) such squeezed lines in the
center of the
plastic sheet so as to facilitate form fitting of the spine of books with
varying dimensions.
This is illustrated by Figure 3 showing the sheet from a different angle.
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Representative Drawing