EP0087976B1

EP0087976B1 - Folders for documents

Info

Publication number: EP0087976B1
Application number: EP83301093A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Friedrich Joost
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-03-02
Filing date: 1983-03-01
Publication date: 1986-11-05
Also published as: NO830663L; EP0087976A1; DE3367351D1; JPS58160199A; DK154276B; NO159004C; NO159004B; BR8301075A; ATE23293T1; DK89882A

Abstract

A method of forming a folder of documents and a folder for putting the method into effect. The folder has folds or creases (2, 3) defining a spine (3) between a front and a back cover of the folder, and side folds (4, 5) spaced from the spine folds. An adhesive strip covered with a protective film is applied to the interior of the folder along the spine in a region delimited by the side folds (4, 5). In use the protective film is removed, a sheaf of documents (7), preferably stapled together is permanently secured in the folder so that documents cannot be removed without detection.

Description

The present invention relates to a method of forming a folder for documents such as reports or statements of account. Folders are known which have two parallel fold lines or creases that are spaced apart by a distance equal to the thickness of the completed folder, to define a spine. The sheets are inserted in the folder and are secured by staples.
Such known folders can be disassembled, documents removed and the folder assembled once again in such a way that the interference with the folder cannot be detected. This is a disadvantage.
There are also folders incorporating flexible, pre-bent metallic strips to be passed through holes in the sheets and bent back the top side of the sheaf. Documents can also be removed from such folders without detection.
It is further known to assemble documents in a sheaf by dipping the spine edge of the documents in adhesive. The glued sheaf is then inserted in the folder and secured there by staples.
Although this prevents the undetected removal of documents, the procedure is difficult and time- consuming.
One object of the invention is to avoid the above-mentioned disadvantages.
FR-A-1 382 574 discloses a folder for documents comprising a sheet of thin flexible material having first and second parallel spine folds or creases to define a first cover, a spine area, and a second cover, and adhesive applied to the folder in the region along the spine and a removable protective film covering the adhesive. To form the folder, a sheaf of documents are assembled into a sheaf and the sheaf is inserted into the folder with the spine edge thereof in line with and in contact with the spine area. The folder is then folded over the sheaf of documents and pressed in the area covered by the adhesive to bind the documents in the folder.
In accordance with the present invention a folder of the above-mentioned type is characterised in that the folder comprises a side fold or crease in the first cover of the folder, the side fold or crease being adjacent and parallel to the first spine fold and a double-sided adhesive covering the area defined by the side fold in the first cover and a region in the second cover adjacent and parallel to the second spine fold and extending into the second cover approximately the same distance as the side fold from the first spine fold.
Also, in accordance with the invention, I propose a method of forming a folder of the above-mentioned type characterised by forming a side fold or crease in the first cover of the folder, the side fold or crease being adjacent and parallel to the first spine fold; applying a double-sided adhesive to cover the area defined by the side fold in the first cover and a region in the second cover adjacent and parallel to the second spine fold and extending into the second cover approximately the same distance as the side fold from the first spine fold; and securing the assembled sheaf of documents together along the spine edge thereof.
In a preferred embodiment, a second side fold or crease is formed in the second cover, this second side fold being adjacent and parallel to the second spine fold. The double-sided adhesive covers the area defined by the first and second side folds.
U.S. 3 957 287 discloses the use of side folds and FR-2 138 389 discloses the use of double-sided adhesive tape, but neither are as proposed in the present invention, both documents relating to the binding of hard covers on books which is a complicated and expensive technique performed by experts. In contrast the present invention enables folders of documents to be assembled by the user without special technical knowledge.
Folders for documents according to this invention can be packed and transported in cartons, and stored for as long as necessary before use.
The side folds serve to define the region along the spine in which the double-sided adhesive is applied during manufacture of the folder. Also the glue is not overloaded in the completed folder and further, the sheets can be bent about a sharp pre-bent edge.
When there are two side folds either of the covers can be designated the front cover when being printed. The double-sided adhesive, preferably in the form of a strip, may be inserted before printing of the cover which may be an advantage during the process of manufacture.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematical perspective view of an open cover for a folder, in accordance with the invention;
Figure 2 shows the cover of Figure 1, but with inserted two-sided glue strip;
Figure 3 is a perspective drawing of a nearly completed folder in accordance with the invention.

The cover 1 shown in Figure 1 has two spline folds or creases 2, 3 and two side folds or crease 4, 5. The spine folds and side folds are arranged symmetrically about the centre line of the cover.
The cover may be made of cardboard, plastic or other suitable material.
Text can be transferred to the cover by printing.
As shown in Figure 2 adhesive is applied between the two side folds 4, 5 in the form of a double-sided strip 6 one side of which adheres to the cover and the other side which is covered by a protective film or foil.
The glue strip has the same width as the interval between the side edges.
As shown in Figure 3 the folder is assembled by attaching the documents together adjacent to the spine edge thereof, using staples 8. The documents may, however, be attached together in any convenient manner. Then the protective film is removed from the adhesive strip 6 and the sheaf 7 of documents is inserted in the folder so that the rear edge is in line with the spine fold 2. The underside is then secured by pressing the sheaf of documents onto the adhesive strip. Then the cover is folded about the spine fold 2 and the sheaf is glued on along the spine. The cover is eventually folded about the spine fold 3 and the top side in the report is glued onto the front cover. When the report is to be read, it is opened. The front cover is folded along the side fold 5 which forms a rigid edge by folding all sheets in the report.

Claims

1. A folder for documents comprising a sheet (1) of thin, flexible material having first and second parallel spine folds or creases (2, 3) to define a first cover, a spine area, and a second cover; an adhesive applied to the folder in the region along the spine, and a removable protective film covering the adhesive, characterised in that the folder comprises a side fold or crease (4) in the first cover of the folder, the side fold or crease being adjacent and parallel to the first spine fold (2); and a double-sided adhesive (6) covering the area defined by the side fold (4) in the first cover and a region in the second cover adjacent and parallel to the second spine fold (3) and extending into the second cover approximately the same distance as the side fold (4) from the first spine fold (2).

2. A folder for documents comprising a sheet (1) of thin, flexible material having first and second parallel spine folds or creases (2, 3) to define a first cover, a spine area, and a second cover, an adhesive applied to the folder in the region along the spine, and a removable protective film covering the adhesive and characterised in that the folder comprises a first side fold or crease (4) in the first cover of the folder, the first side fold or crease (4) being adjacent and parallel to the first spine fold (2); a second side fold or crease (5) in the second cover of the folder; the second side fold or crease (5) being adjacent and parallel to the second spine fold (3); a double-sided adhesive (6) covering the area defined by the first side fold (4) and the second side fold (5).

3. A method of forming a folder of documents comprising the steps of assembling a sheaf (7) of documents; inserting the sheaf of documents into a folder with the spine edge of the sheaf of documents in line with and in contact with the spine area of the folder, which comprises a sheet (1) of thin, flexible material having first and second parallel spine folds or creases (2, 3) which define a first cover, a spine area, and a second cover; applying an adhesive to the folder in the region along the spine folding the folder over the sheaf of documents, and pressing the outside of the folder in the area covered by the adhesive whereby the sheaf (7) of documents is securely bound therein and characterised by forming a side fold or crease (4) in the first cover of the folder, the side fold or crease being adjacent and parallel to the first spine fold (2); applying a double-sided adhesive (6) to cover the area defined by the side fold (4) in the first cover and a region in the second cover adjacent and parallel to the second spine fold (3) and extending into the second cover approximately the same distance as the side fold from the first spine fold; and securing the assembled sheaf (7) of documents together along the spine edge thereof.

4. A method of forming a folder of documents comprising the steps of assembling a sheaf (7) of documents, inserting the sheaf of documents into a folder with the spine edge of the sheaf of documents in line with and in contact with the spine area of the folder, which comprises a sheet (1) of thin, flexible material having first and second parallel spine folds or creases (2,3) which define a first cover, a spine area, and a second cover, applying an adhesive to the folder in the region along the spine folding the folder over the sheaf (7) of documents, and pressing the outside of the folder in the area covered by the adhesive whereby the sheaf of documents is securely bound therein and characterised by forming a first side fold or crease (4) in the first cover of the folder and a second side fold or crease (5) in the second cover of the folder, the first and second side fold or crease being adjacent and parallel respectively to the first and second spine fold (3); applying a double-sided adhesive (6) covering the area defined by the first side fold (4) and the second side fold (5); and securing the assembled sheaf (7) of documents together.