AU2031702A - A booklet and method for forming the booklet - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): CHIPPENDALE PRINTING COMPANY PTY LIMITED Invention Title: A BOOKLET AND METHOD FOR FORMING THE BOOKLET The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 A METHOD FOR FORMING A BOOKLET Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for forming a booklet. The method of the invention has broad use in booklet printing applications for all manner of booklet sizes, shapes and types.

oBackground Art 10 The sending of booklets, for example catalogues and *brochures, to recipients using the postal service normally *requires packaging of the booklet in a cover such as an envelope or plastic sheath, to reduce the risk of damage to the pages by creasing, bending or tearing for instance.

15 Furthermore, such covering articles can prevent unauthorised readers from readily viewing the contents of the booklet. However the apparatus and processes for packaging such booklet articles are expensive to purchase and operate and the manual "stuffing" of booklets into such 20 packaging is an expensive, labour intensive and time consuming process. The use of a cover for mailing purposes can significantly add to the overall cost of producing the booklet.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a method for forming a booklet from a rectangular sheet having opposing sides and opposing ends extending between the sides, including the steps of: folding the sheet at least once such that one of the sides is located at or near its opposing side to define a first edge and such that a first fold line is defined; folding the sheet at least once such that one of the ends is located at or near its opposing end to P45141 3 define a second edge and such that a second fold line is defined; prior to or after some or all of the folding, arranging for fastening means at the first and second folds and first and second edges in a manner such that adjacent folds and edges of sheet are attached around the perimeters of the resultant folded sheet; prior to or after some or all of the folding, defining a line of detachment inset from the perimeter of the resultant folded sheet that extends along and adjacent to the first fold and adjacent to the first and second edges, the line of detachment being such that severance therealong 15 allows all of the adjacent folded sheets to turn freely about the second fold.

The method of the invention provides a simple and effective way of producing a booklet capable of being handled or mailed so that no damage is caused to the 20 individual pages of the booklet by the handling or mailing process.

Preferably prior to or after defining the first fold, the fastening means joins the thus folded sheets at the first edge, at the ends, and along a line which will thereafter constitute (or align with) the second fold.

Preferably prior to or after defining the second fold, the fastening means is arranged to join the thus folded sheets at the first fold, and at the first and second edges.

Preferably the line of detachment is formed in the sheet adjacent the first edge and adjacent the first fold after the first fold is defined, and subsequently is formed in the sheet at the second edge after the second fold is defined.

Preferably consecutive folds of similar length are made in one direction from a first side of the sheet toward P45141 4 a second opposing side of the sheet such that the folded portion is moved repeatedly into a position co-planar with the remainder of the sheet, the folds being located such that ultimately one of the sides of the folded portion is located at or near the second side to define the first edge. This technique can increase the number of pages in the booklet.

Preferably the fastening means is an adhesive, but can be staples etc.

10 Also according to the present invention a booklet is provided, the booklet formed by the method previously described.

Brief Description of the Drawings S. .15 Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an unfolded rectangular sheet which can be folded to form a booklet in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the sheet of Figure 1 after a first fold has been made.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the sheet of Figure 2 after a second fold has been made.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the sheet of Figure 2 after a line of detachment has been defined in the sheet adjacent a first edge and adjacent a first fold.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the sheet of Figure 3 after a line of detachment has been defined in the sheet at the second edge.

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of an unfolded rectangular sheet which can be folded to form a booklet in accordance with the invention.

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the sheet of Figure 6 after a first fold has been made.

P45141 Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the sheet of Figure 7 after a second fold in the same direction as Figure 7 has been made.

Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the sheet of Figure 8 after a third fold in the same direction as Figure 7 has been made.

Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the sheet of Figure 9 after a fourth fold has been made.

.e.

e Figure 11 shows a perspective view of the sheet of Figure 9 after a line of detachment has been defined in the sheet adjacent the first edge and adjacent the third fold.

Figure 12 shows a perspective view of the sheet of Figure 10 after a line of detachment has been defined in the sheet at the second edge.

Modes for Carrying out the Invention Referring to Figures 1 to 5, a rectangular shaped booklet 10 is shown which has four pages 12 (Figure The pages are joined together at a spine 14 of the booklet which is located at one common side 16 of the pages 12.

The booklet 10 is formed as an intrinsic article having a detachable portion in the form of detachable tabs 17, 18, located respectively at the other sides of each of the pages 12 and not at the spine 14. The detachable tabs 17, 18, 20 are arranged for joining together each of the four pages 12 at the three sides 22, 24, 26, and the removal or detachment of the tabs 17, 18, 20 enables the pages 12 of the booklet 10 to be turned or rotated freely about the spine 14.

In use the article can be sent via the postal service as a "self mailer", in that the booklet 10 itself, when arranged with the detachable tabs 17, 18, 20 around each of the three sides 22, 24, 26, also acts as the envelope for protecting the innermost pages. Such an arrangement acts as a substitute for the placement of external packaging around the booklet, such as envelopes or plastic sheathes P45141 6 or sleeves, which can reduce the overall cost of and time involved in producing the booklet in a "mail ready" form.

The booklet 10 also has the advantages of preventing unauthorised readers from readily viewing the contents of the booklet unless the tabs 17, 18, 20 have been tampered with (such tampering being readily detectable with the arrangement as described).

Depending on the type of booklet and its eventual purpose, the number and position of the detachable tabs can 10 be varied for example so that they are not necessarily located adjacent the edge of each of the pages but can be indented or angled to form a variety of shapes of booklet and detachable tabs. Usually the detachable tabs are strips which extend away from the spine of the booklet, and 15 are detachable at that spine, however in other embodiments ,"it is possible that the strips terminate prior to reaching the spine and are merely torn off or otherwise detached from the booklet. Normally the strips are made of a similar material to the pages themselves and are made detachable by forming a perforation which is punched or stamped into the assembled booklet or into the pages which form the booklet at various stages during its assembly.

However, the edges of the booklet can also be retained by a removable strip of adhesive material such as glue, tape or adhesive rubber, or be in the form of some other externally applied detachable tab.

During the assembly of the booklet 10, an adhesive substance is used to join together the pages at the spine and in the tab area. Typically the adhesive substance used is a thin strip of glue or series of glue spots although in some embodiments other fastening agents can be used such as double-sided tape, or even staples.

A preferred method for forming the booklet 10 from a rectangular sheet 30 will now be described. The method includes a series of consecutive steps which are sequentially depicted in Figures 1 to 5. The sheet P45141 7 normally has pre-printed material placed on either side thereof in segments on the page which will correspond to pages after the booklet is assembled. The sheet 30 has opposing sides 32, 34 and opposing ends 36, 38 which extend between the sides 32, 34. The sheet 30 is folded so that its opposing sides 32, 34 are located adjacent to one another to define a first edge 40 (Figure A first fold line 42 is then defined in the sheet 30. The sheet is then folded in a direction transverse to the initial fold so 0 that the formerly opposing ends 36, 38 are located adjacent to one another to define a second edge 43 (Figure A second fold line 44 is then also defined in the sheet.

Typically, prior to defining the first fold 42 a strip of glue or a series of glue spots is placed in three 15 locations between the folded sheets; i.e. at the side 34, at a portion of the opposing peripheral ends 36, 38, and along a line (marked 50) which will thereafter align with the second fold line 44. These glue locations are shown as broken lines on Figure 1. The line 50 extends along the centreline of the sheet 30 from end 34 to a position midway toward the opposing end 32.

The sheet is then folded to define the second edge 43 and a strip (or spots) of glue is typically prior placed between the thus folded sheets along the first fold 42, and at the first edge 40 and end 38 as shown by broken lines 51 in Figure 2. A booklet is thus formed which has glue arranged at the first 42 and second 44 fold and first and second 43 edges so that adjacent folds and edges of sheet are attached around the perimeters of the resultant folded sheet.

The glued regions around the perimeters of the folded sheet then need to have a line of detachment defined to allow severance of these glued regions. Severance along the line of detachment allows all of the adjacent folded sheets to turn freely about the second fold 44 which now forms the spine 14 of the booklet 10. The lines of P45141 8 detachment 56, 60, 70 are inset from the perimeter of the resultant folded sheet and respectively extend along and adjacent to the first fold 42, the first edge 40 and the second edge 43 to form respective detachable tabs 17, and 18.

In a preferred version of the method, the lines of detachment 60 and 56 are formed in the sheet as lines of perforation adjacent the first edge 40 and adjacent the first fold 42 respectively after the first fold is defined Vi0 10 (as shown in Figure Subsequently a line of detachment being a line of perforation, is emplaced in the sheet at the second edge 43 after the second fold 44 is defined (as shown in Figure The lines of detachment can be formed by a punching machine, a cutting wheel or any 15 suitable perforating device.

"oo ~A method of forming a further embodiment of the booklet of the invention is depicted as a series of consecutive steps in Figures 6 to 12. In this embodiment the booklet formed has eight pages. In order to avoid 20 repetition and for ease of reference similar components and o features of this alternative embodiment of the invention have been designated with an additional such as the sheet 300. The sheet 300 has opposing sides 320, 340 and opposing ends 360, 380 which extend between the sides 320, 340. Three consecutive folds of similar width are made in one direction from a first side 320 of the sheet 300 toward a second opposing side 340 of the sheet such that each sucessive folded portion is moved into a position co-planar with the remainder of the sheet 300. The folds are spaced such that one of the sides of the folded portion is located at or near the second side to define the first edge 400 (Figure 9) with a first fold 280 and a second fold 290 having been previously formed (as shown in Figures 7 and 8 respectively). A third fold line 420 is then defined in the sheet 300 (Figure The sheet is then folded again so that the formerly opposing ends 360, 380 are located P45141 9 adjacent to one another to define a second edge 430 (Figure A fourth fold line 440 is then also defined in the sheet.

Typically prior to or immediately after making the first fold at 280, a strip of glue or a series of glue spots is placed in three locations i.e. adjacent side 340, part way along the ends 360, 380 (until infolded side 320 is reached), and along a line (marked as 100) which thereafter aligns with the fold line 440. These glue 10 locations are shown as broken lines on Figure 7. The line 100 extends along the centreline of the sheet 300 from end 340 to a position whereat sheet end 320 is located after the first fold 280 has been made (Figure 7) After folds 290 and 420 are made the sheet is then 15 folded in a transverse direction to these earlier folds to define the second edge 430. Typically prior to this transverse fold a strip (or spots) of glue have been placed along the fold 420, and along the first 400 and second 430 edges (shown as broken lines on Figure The lines at fold 420 and edge 400 only extend part-way therealong and terminate at a location corresponding to fold 440. A booklet is thus formed which has glue arranged at the fold 420 and fold 440 and first 420 and second 430 edges so that adjacent folds and edges of sheet are attached around the perimeters of the resultant folded sheet.

Severance lines of detachment in the form of lines of perforation are then made so that all of the adjacent folded sheets can, when the corresponding tabs 170, 180 and 185 are removed, turn freely about the second fold 440 (which now forms the spine 140 of the booklet 200). The lines of detachment 560, 600, 700 are inset from the perimeter of the resultant folded sheet and respectively extend along and adjacent to the fold 420 and adjacent to the first 400 and second 430 edges.

In the preferred method, the lines of detachment (600, 560) are formed in the sheet adjacent the first edge 400 P45141 10 and adjacent the fold 420 respectively after the last fold (as shown in Figure 11) is made, and subsequently a line of detachment 700 is formed in the sheet at the second edge 430 after the fold 440 is made (as shown in Figure 12).

In still further embodiments the specific order of placing the adhesive material or the sequence by which severance lines of detachment are emplaced may be varied.

For example, after the booklets are folded and the gluing is all completed, the technique used to produce all of the 10 lines of detachment can be employed on the sides and edges of the assembled booklet at one time. Alternatively it is possible to emplace the lines of detachment in the sheet as an unassembled booklet prior to folding and gluing.

While only one traverse fold has been described in the 15 embodiments of Figures 1 to 5 and 6 to 12, multiple folds could be made in the transverse direction to increase the number of pages in the booklet.

The materials of construction of the booklet can comprise any suitable materials which can be shaped, formed 20 and fitted in the manner so described, such as paper, cardboard, thin plastic (such as the type used in folders) etc to give a suitably folded product.

The embodiments of the invention described can produce "self mailer" booklets which meet the criteria of the postal service that loose pages or papers cannot be sent in the mail without the placement of external packaging around the booklet. The embodiments of the invention described can reduce the cost and complexity of producing booklets etc in a "mail ready" form and also provide tamper evident packaging.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to a number of preferred embodiments it should be appreciated that the invention can be embodied in many other forms. For example, the number of pages which a resultant booklet will eventually have will depend upon the size and shape of the printed sheet which is used to begin P45141 11 with, and the number of folds made therein.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

P45141

Claims (8)

1. A method for forming a booklet from a rectangular sheet having opposing sides and opposing ends extending between the sides, including the steps of: folding the sheet at least once such that one of the sides is located at or near its opposing side to define a first edge and such that a first fold line is defined; 1r_ 0 folding the sheet at least once such that one of the ends is located at or near its opposing end to define a second edge and such that a second fold line is defined; prior to or after some or all of the folding, 15 arranging for fastening means at the first and second folds and first and second edges in a manner such that adjacent folds and edges of sheet are C.o CC AC attached around the perimeters of the resultant folded sheet; 20 prior to or after some or all of the folding, defining a line of detachment inset from the perimeter of the resultant folded sheet that extends along and adjacent to the first fold and adjacent to the first and second edges, the line of detachment being such that severance therealong allows all of the adjacent folded sheets to turn freely about the second fold.

2. A method for forming a booklet as claimed in claim 1 wherein prior to or after defining the first fold, the fastening means joins the thus folded sheets at the first edge, at the ends, and along a line which will thereafter constitute (or align with) the second fold.

3. A method for forming a booklet as claimed in claim 2 wherein prior to or after defining the second fold, the P45141 13 fastening means is arranged to join the thus folded sheets at the first fold, and at the first and second edges.

4. A method for forming a booklet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the line of detachment is formed in the sheet adjacent the first edge and adjacent the first fold after the first fold is defined, and subsequently is formed in the sheet at the second edge i 10 after the second fold is defined.

A method for forming a booklet as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein consecutive folds of similar length are made in one direction from a first side of the 15 sheet toward a second opposing side of the sheet such that the folded portion is moved repeatedly into a position co-planar with the remainder of the sheet, the folds being located such that ultimately one of the sides of the folded portion is located at or near the second side to define the first edge.

6. A booklet formed by the method defined in any one of the preceding claims.

7. A method for forming a booklet substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A booklet substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 5 th day of March 2002 CHIPPENDALE PRINTING COMPANY PTY LTD By its Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK P45141