CA2250508A1

CA2250508A1 - Book shield

Info

Publication number: CA2250508A1
Application number: CA 2250508
Authority: CA
Inventors: Livingston Anthony Wedderburn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-10-21
Filing date: 1998-10-21
Publication date: 2000-04-21

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.

Description

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 Page 2 of S

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.
Page 3 oJ5 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.
Page 4 0l 5

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.