GB2075915A - Book jacket - Google Patents

Abstract

A book jacket comprises a substantially rectangular backsheet having a laterally extending strap overlying the backsheet adjacent a lateral edge thereof and joined thereto at the longitudinal edges thereof. A cover of a book is located between the strap and the backsheet such that the strap overlies the outer face of the cover. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Folding book jackets This invention relates to book jackets and the fitting or application of book jackets onto books of a range of different sizes, One size book jackets of plastics and other materials are known comprising a back sheet to extend over the front and back covers and the spine of the book, and spaced apart inner sheets welded or otherwise affixed to each of the lateral or side edges of the back sheet and to the two longitudinal or top and bottom edges thereof to form pockets at either end of the jacket. The inner sheets extend over only a portion of the area of the front and back book covers, this area being sufficient for the pockets to receive the respective book covers and thereby retain the jacket on the book.Such conventional jackets, which may be of transparent or translucent, or opaque and/or decorated material are suitable for both hardback and paperback books but any one jacket is useful only for books of one size or thereabouts. As books are made in a large number of different sizes, such conventional jackets have had to be made in a number of different sizes.

A substantial proportion of books now sold are published in more or less standard page height, the books differing largely in the number of pages (and hence in the width of the spine) and in page width.

Thus it is possible to standardise jackets and jacket blanks to a standard book height, leaving only the problem of accommodating the variations in book spine and paper width. There are systems based on this understanding, for example, as disclosed in our co-pending U.K. Patent Application No: 49891/76, which relates to a book jacket blank comprising an inner sheet overlying one of the book front or book back covering portions of a back sheet and joined thereto at the longitudinal edges only thereof, there being a second inner sheet overlying the other of said book front or book back covering portions which may be joined thereto at one, two or three of the edges thereof, ie. it may be a pocket as known in the prior art.In book jacket blanks of this type one of the front or back covers of the book is fed between the first inner sheet and the back sheet, the back sheet then being folded over the edge of the book and left loose or more preferably tucked under the inner sheet. Thus paper-backs of a nurnber of different spine and paper widths can be accommodated by a single book jacket blank.

The terms "book jacket blank" and "blank" are used to refer to preformed articles having defined physical characteristics suitable for convenient location over the covers of books of a range of dimensions to be formed into a well fitting jacket thereon.

As blanks can be pre-formed in a number of different ways and each blank may require different treatment to form a jacket conforming to the dimensions of a particular book, the physical characteristics of the blanks and jackets formed therefrom may differ.

The present invention seeks to provide an improvement of this type of adjustable book jacket blank whereby it can more easily and cheaply be manufactured and more easily be applied.

According to one aspect of the present invention a book having a jacket fitted thereon wherein the jacket comprises a substantially rectangular backsheet having a laterally extending strap overlying the backsheet adjacent a lateral edge thereof and joined to the backsheet at the longitudinal edges thereof, is characterised in that a cover of the book is located between the strap and the backsheet such that the strap overlies the outer face of the cover.

The term "lateral" is used herein to refer to the dimension of the book jacket and the book which will in use be substantially parallel to the spine of the book. The term "longitudinal" is normal to "lateral" and is therefore the direction which traverses the spine of the book.

The term "cover" is used in the present specification to refer to the outer boards or paper or card elements of a book which extend on either side of the book spine to protect the pages of the book. Thus the term applies both to paperback books and to hardback books.

As will become apparent below in use on a book the strap of the jacket and the area of backsheet which it overlies will have been folded back on the backsheet. Notwithstanding this where the terms "inner" and "outer" are used in relation to the lateral edges of the strap and indeed the adjacent lateral edge of the backsheet, these terms are to be understood as applying to the jacket in its flat unfolded condition. Thus while in its folded condition the outer lateral edge of the strap and the backsheet will in fact be closertothe spine of the book than will the inner lateral edge of the strap.

The outer lateral edge of the strap may be substantially flush with the adjacent lateral edge of the backsheet or it may be spaced from the adjacent lateral edge of the backsheet. In the latter case the outer lateral edge of the strap may be spaced inwardly or outwardly from the adjacent lateral edge ofthe backsheet.

The jacket may be provided with an area or areas of adhesive material for adhesion of the strap to the book, of the strap to the backsheet, and/or of the backsheet to the book. The jacket may be fitted to the book with the adhesive material in the form of a laterally extending strip by which adhesion in the following ways may be effected depending on its position:: (i) The strap is adhered to the backsheet, preferably with the area of adhesive located at the outer lateral edge of the strap (ii) The backsheet is adhered to the inner face of the cover, the area of adhesive being located either adjacent the inner edge of the strap or adjacent the outer edge of the strap (when the outer edge of the strap is spaced inwardly from the adjacent lateral edge of the backsheet) (iii) The backsheet is adhered to the inner face of the cover by an area of adhesive located between the backsheet and the strap (iv) The strap is adhered to the outer face of the cover by an area of adhesive between the backsheet and the strap.

(v) The backsheet is adhered to the outer face of the cover by an area of adhesive spaced inwardly from the strap.

(iv) The backsheet is adhered to the strap by an area of adhesive spaced inwardly from the strap.

Any combinations of two or more of these may be used, combinations of adhesive to comply with (i) and (ii - either form), (iii), (v) or (iv) being particularly favoured. Combinations of (vi) with (ii - either form) or (iii) are likewise favoured, as is a combination of (vi) with (iv). Symmetrical combinations may also be used to advantage.

In each case where the lateral extending area of adhesive material isto be located adjacent an edge either of the strap or of the backsheet it is preferred that the area of adhesive should extend as close as possible up to the said edge to minimise the ability of readers of jacketed book to get fingers, bookmarks and the like between the edge and the adhered surface; but not so close as to expose the adhesive to dirt and dust. The area or areas of adhesive and preferably pressure sensitive adhesive.

The jacket may be provided with a further laterally extending strap overlying the backsheet adjacent the other lateral edge of the backsheet and joined to the backsheet at the longitudinal edges thereof, the other cover of the book being located between the further strap and the backsheet such that the further strap overlies the outer face of the other cover. In this form of the invention both straps may be substantially identical i.e, the said further strap may be formed and arranged substantially as the said strap, ortho said strap and the said furtherstrap may each be any of the forms described above but different to one another.

In a further form the jacket may have a strap at one end and a pocket at its other lateral edge, the other cover of the book being located in the pocket.

According to a further aspect of the invention is a method of fitting to a book a book jacket comprising a substantially rectangular backsheet having a laterally extending strap overlying the backsheet adja centthe lateral edge thereof and joined to the backsheet at the longitudinal edges thereof, the method comprising insertion of a cover of the book between the strap and the backsheet such that the strap overlies the outer face of the cover.

Where the jacket has a double strap arrangement, i.e. a strap adjacent each of its opposed lateral edges the method of fitting the book jacket to the book comprises insertion of the covers of the book one between one strap and the backsheet and one between the other strap and the backsheet such that each strap overlies the outer face of the adjacent cover.

When the book jacket blank comprises a strap at one end and a pocket at the other end the method invoives insertion of the covers one in the said pocket and one between the strap and backsheet such that the strap overlies the outer face of the cover.

The method of the present invention further provides for folding the backsheet about the outer lateral edge of the cover adjacent the oreach strap, the backsheet and the strap thereafter being adhered either to one another or to the cover. As will be apparent below the method is susceptable of variation depending on the particular combination of strap and adhesive which is used at either or both ends of the jacket.

The plastics material of at least the backsheet of the jacket is preferably transparent such that the book cover or a dust jacket thereon may be visible through the jacket It may also be opaque.

Thus in use the or each strap of the jacket will be disposed between the outside of the book cover and the part of the backsheet overlying the outside of the book cover, the backsheet extending around one or both of the lateral edges of the book cover.

The method will normally invoive bending the book front and back covers too make an obtuse angle with their respective fly sheets so that the reverse fold element of the strap/back sheet combination can be fitted over the book. This makes the method particularly suitable for paperback books where little danger of spine breakage arises. The jackets may further be prefolded about a book and then assembled by appropriate adhesion for subse quentfitting on the book.

With the present invention a book jacket can be fitted to books having a variety of both numbers of pages and page widths, the fitting being simple and the resulting jacket both close fitting and secure.

Dependent on the application and position of the adhesive material the cover may be secured to itself in which case the cover can easily be removed from the book without damage thereto, or it may be adhered to the book should it be desired for the cover permanently to be attached to the book. The strap being located between the outer book cover and the backsheet is thus rather more inaccessible than the adjustable jackets of the prior art, only the smooth continuation of the backsheet around the outer lateral edge of the cover bing presented to a reader. It is anticipated that this will lessen the need to replace book jackets even for quite hard used books. Moreover the jackets of the present invention may be manufactured and supplied in simple rectangular form without the need for rebates.When the outer lateral edge of the strap is spaced from the lateral edge of the backsheet the corners of the proud element, ie. the strap or the backsheet, may be recessed or rounded, preferably in a short shallow rebate.

The aspects or the invention may be performed in various ways and a number of specific embodiments will be now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 7 is a perspective view of a book jacket fitted on a book in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a further perspective view showing how the book jacket shown in Figure 1 is applied to the book.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a book jacket for use in either aspect of the present invention showing various suitable positions for pressure sensitive adhesive material to adhere the jacket on or around a book.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a further book jacket for use in either aspect of the invention showing an alternate disposition of adhesive material.

Figures 5 and 6 are plan views of further jackets still.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show an opened book 10 comprising a block of pages 12 and front and back covers 13 and 14 respectively.

The book 10 has fitted over it an adjustable book jacket blank 20 of transparent plastics sheet material, for example, polyvinylchioride, polyester, polyethylene or polypropylene sheets of appropriate grades. The blank 20 comprise a back sheet 22 extending overthefull outer area ofthecovers 13 and 14 and the spine between them, and inner sheets 32 and 34 affixed to the two longitudinal edges of the backsheet as indicated by the hatched lines, the inner sheet 34 forming a strap and the inner sheet 32 also being attached to the lateral edge of the back sheet, likewise as indicated by hatched lines to form a pocket. The edges may be joined by welding orotherform of attachment of hitherto unjoined sheets or the blank may be formed out of preformed and folded integral sheets.

The outer lateral edge of the strap 34 is substantially co-terminus or flush with the adjacent edge of the backsheet 22.

In order to fit the blank 20 to the book, the book front cover 13 is inserted into the pocket formed between the inner sheet 32 and the back sheet 22 and the book back cover folded back as shown in Figure 2. The sheet 22 is then folded back as shown in chain line on Figure 2 and the back cover 14 of the book inserted between the strap 34 and the back sheet 22, the outer lateral edge of the book passing first between the strap 34 and the back sheet 22 at the outer lateral edges thereof. Thus the backsheet becomes doubled back over on itself. When the back cover 14 of the book has extended a sufficient distance between the inner sheet 34 and backsheet 22 that the blank will form a comfortable fit on the book 10, the back sheet may be folded to crease it at the line where it comes back on itself, thus providing a further pocket about the cover 14.

The inner sheet 34 is preferably provided with a line or band of pressure sensitive adhesive material 40 extending laterally across the jacket which, with the cover in position on a book as shown in Figure 1, will adhere the inner sheet 34 to the inside surface of the back sheet 22 thus securing the blank in place as a cover on the book 10.

As will be apparent from the Figure 3 in which the strap 34 has its outer edge substantially co-terminus or flush with the outer edge of the backsheet 22 of the adhesive material may be located as is indicated by numeral 40 which will as explained adhere the strap to the inside of the backsheet when in position around a book, or the adhesive material may appear as shown by numeral 41 disposed on the inner side of the backsheet22 adjacent the inner lateral edge of the strap 34 such that the backsheet 22 will be adhered with the jacket on a book by the adhesive 41 to the inner surface of the book cover itself. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4 where the outer lateral edge of the strap 34 is located inwardly of the lateral edge of the backsheet 22 a line of adhesive material may be located at 42 extending over substantially the whole area between the two edges.

The adhesive 42 will adhere the backsheet 22 to the cover inner surface. The Jackets of Figures 5 and 6 are similar in form to that of Figure 4 in that the backsheet 22 extends outwardly before the strap 34.

However the small tongues produced by the backsheet 22 extending outwardly beyond the strap 34 have short shallow rebates 50 and 51. The rebates 50 involve a cut corner to the strap 34 also, whereas the rebates 51 are of the backsheet 22 only.

In embodiments not shown the strip of adhesive material may be located between the strap 34 and the backsheet, either on the backsheet in which case the adhesive will adhere the backsheet to the inner surface of the cover or on the strap in which case the adhesive will adhere the strap to the outer surface of the cover.

Returning now to Figure 3 it will be seen that further areas of adhesive are indicated at 43 and 44 both being positions spaced from the strap 34. In either case dependent on the book width and number of pages these areas of adhesive will adhere the backsheet either to the outer surface of the cover or to the strap.

It will be appreciated that any combination of position or positions of strap and/or adhesive materials may be effected to enable a product of particu lar application of certain types of book and usage to be formed. Moreover it will further be appreciated that while the specific embodiments are described having a pocket 32 at the end of the jacket remote from the strap 34, jackets may be formed having straps 34 at both ends, the configurations at each end either being identical, the jacket therefore being substantially symmetrical, or different in which case a degree of asymmetry will be present.

Combinations using two areas of adhesive 40 with 41,42 or 44 or with areas of adhesive on either the backsheet 22 or the strap 34 between the two are particularly favoured. Combinations of two areas of adhesive 43 with 41 or 42, or an area on the backsheet 22 between the backsheet and the strap 34 are likewise favoured, as is a combination of two areas 43 and an area on the strap 34 between the strap and the backsheet.

The or each area of adhesive is protected until required buy a layer of release paper of the like.

There follows a description of a preferred method of attachment of the jacket of Figures 1 and 2 to a book: The book jacket blank should be fitted initially to the book before the release paper is removed from the or each line of pressure sensitive adhesive.

Thereafter a definite crease should be made where the backsheet 22 is folded over the back cover 14 of the book, to facilitate accuracy of location. Next, the book should be opened and placed on a flat surface with the outer covers uppermost, and the back sheet 22 lifted clear to enable the release paper on the adhesive to be removed from the line of pressure sensitive adhesive on the inner surface of the inner shet 34. Alternatively, and preferably, the front cover of the book can be removed from the pocket formed by the second inner sheet 32, and the back sheet folded through 180" so that the book jacket blank is lying in an unfolded position with the inner surface of the first inner sheet 34 exposed.The release paper can then be removed without difficulty, and the backsheet folded back into position so that its inner surface comes into contact with the exposed surface of the pressure sensitive adhesive. The front cover of the book can then be fitted into the pocketformed by the second inner sheet. As a third possibility this latter process can be carried out after removing the book jacket blank entirely from the book, as the crease will ensure that the line of pressure sensitive adhesive will come into contact with the inner surface of the backsheet in the right place. The book jacket blank can then be fitted to the book in the same way as a conventional type of plasticwelded cover with fixed pockets.

This description, which is in essence the precreasing of the blankaboutthe book and assembly of a double pocket cover e.g. by appropriate adhesion to one another of the elements of the blank, can apply with modifications of a procedural nature only to the remaining jackets ofthis specification.

Claims (29)

1. A book having a jacket fitted thereon wherein the jacket comprises a substantially rectangular backsheet having a laterally extending strap overlying the backsheet adjacent a lateral edge thereof and joined to the backsheet at the longitudinal edges thereof characterised in that a cover of the book is located between the strap and the backsheet such that the strap overlies the outer face of the cover.

2. A book and jacket as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the outer lateral edge of the strap is substantially flush with the adjacent lateral edge of the backsheet.

3. A book and jacket as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the outer lateral edge of the strap is spaced from the adjacent lateral edge of the backsheet

4. A book and jacket as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the outer edge of the strap is spaced inwardly from the adjacent lateral edge of the backsheet.

5. A book and jacket as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the outer edge of the strap is spaced outwardly from the adjacent lateral edge of the backsheet.

6. A book and jacket as claimed in any of Claims 3 to 5 wherein the longitudinal edges of the backsheet and/or strap are rebated at the outer lateral edge thereof.

7. A book and jacket as claimed in any ofthe preceding claims wherein the jacket is provided with an area or areas of adhesive material for adhesion of the strap to the book orto the backsheet.

8. A book and jacket as claimed in any ofthe preceding claims wherein the jacket is provided with an area or areas of adhesive material for adhesion of the backsheet to the book.

9. A book and jacket as claimed in any ofthe preceding claims wherein the strap is adhered to the backsheet by a laterally extending area of adhesive adjacent the outer edge of the strap.

10. A book and jacket as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the backsheet is adhered to the cover buy a laterally extending area of adhesive adjacent the strap.

11. Abookand jacket as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the said area of adhesive is located adjacent the inner edge of the strap.

12. A book and jacket as claimed in Claim 10 when dependent on Claim 4, wherein the said area of adhesive is located adjacent the outer edge of the strap.

13. A book and jacket as claimed in any of the preceeding Claims wherein the backsheet is adhered to the inner face of the cover by a laterally extending area of adhesive located between the backsheet and the strap.

14. A book and jacket as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the strap is adhered to the outerface of the cover by a laterally extending area of adhesive between the backsheet and the strap.

15. A book and jacket as claimed in Claim 13 or Claim 14 wherein the said area of adhesive is adjacent the outer edge of the backsheet or strap.

16. A book and jacket as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the backsheet is adhered to the cover by a laterally extending area of adhesive spaced inwardly from the strap.

17. A book and jacket as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the backsheet is adhered to the strap by a laterally extending area of adhesive spaced inwardly from the strap.

18. A book and jacket as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the area or areas of adhesive are pressure sensitive adhesive.

19. A book and jacket as claimed in any ofthe preceding claims wherein the jacket comprises a further laterally extending strap overlying the backsheet adjacent the other lateral edge of the backsheet and joined to the backsheet at the longitudinal edges thereof, the other cover of the book being located between the further strap and the backsheet such that the further strap overlies the outer face of the other cover.

20. A book and jacket as claimed in Claim 19 wherein the said further strap is formed and arranged substantially as the said strap.

21. A book and jacket as claimed in Claim 19 wherein the said strap and the said further strap are each as required by any one of Claims 2 to 6 but are different to one another.

22. A book and jacket as claimed in any of Claims 7 to 18 wherein the jacket comprises a pocket at its other lateral edge, the other cover of the book being located inthe pocket.

23. A book having a jacket fitted thereon substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

24. A method of fitting to a book a book jacket comprising a substantially rectangular backsheet having a laterally extending strap overlying the sheet adjacent a lateral edge thereof and joined to the backsheet at the longitudinal edges thereof wherein a cover of the book is inserted between the strap and the backsheet such that the strap overlies the outer face of the cover.

25. A method of fitting to a book a book jacket comprising a substantially rectangular backsheet having spaced laterally extending straps overlying the backsheet adjacent opposed lateral edges there- of, wherein the covers of the book are inserted one between one strap and the backsheet and one between the other strap and the backsheet such that each strap overlies the outer face of the adjacent cover.

26. A method of fitting to a book a book jacket comprising a substantially rectangular backsheet having a laterally extending strap overlying the backsheet adjacent a lateral edge thereof and joined to the backsheet at the longitudinal edges thereof, and further comprising a pocket at its other lateral edge, wherein one of the covers is inserted in the said pocket and the other cover is inserted between the strap and the backsheet such that the strap overlies the outer face of the cover.

27. A method as claimed in any of Claims 24 to 26 wherein the backsheet is folded about the outer lateral edge of the cover adjacent the or each strap, and the backsheet and strap thereafter adhered to one another or the cover.

28. A method as claimed in any of claims 24 to 27 wherein the backsheet is prefolded about the book cover adjacent the or each strap, removed from the book, the strap adhered to the backsheet to form a pocket and the jacket refitted onto the book.

29. A method of fitting a jacket to a book substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.