EP0755805A2

EP0755805A2 - Book or the like having a composite structure

Info

Publication number: EP0755805A2
Application number: EP96111766A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giuseppe Covone
Original assignee: LA SCUOLA SpA
Current assignee: LA SCUOLA SpA
Priority date: 1995-07-28
Filing date: 1996-07-22
Publication date: 1997-01-29
Also published as: ITMI950569U1; ITMI950569V0; IT237096Y1; EP0755805A3

Abstract

A book or volume having a composite structure that can be divided into finished sections, particularly for school texts, university texts, and for other similar uses, comprising a plurality of sections (4,5,6,7) related to specifically defined subjects or part thereof and are enclosed and bound in a conventional manner in a continuous cover (2,2a) made of cardboard or the like, each section (4,5,6,7,) being divided from the contiguous one by means of two covers or leaves (2a,4a;5a,5b;6a,6b;7a,2) that are glued to the inner wall of the spine or back (3) of the volume and to the first and last sheet of the section, so as to obtain a plurality of sections complete with covers and with the corresponding spine monolithically with the spine of the outer continuous cover; the individual sections (4,5,6,7) that constitute the volume are then easily separable from each other by cutting or tearing along the continuous ribbing line (8) that retains the covers or leaves of two contiguous sections.

Description

The present invention relates to a book or volume having a composite structure, constituted by the coupling of a plurality of independent sections, which are perfectly bound and easily detachable from the volume, so as to allow to transport and use only those of interest, without having to also carry the weight of the sections that are not required for immediate purposes.
It is well-known that student textbooks, whether scientific or literary, and textbooks covering extensive periods of history or art, as well as some special publications, are often produced with very thick paper, for example glossy paper or the like, which entails, together with the number of pages, which is almost always very large in these cases, a considerable weight and an equally considerable bulk; these two factors entail awkwardness for transport and difficulty in reading.
It is equally well-known that these drawbacks are felt more intensely by students who must go to school every day with a plurality of books related to the various subjects; the considerable weight of the individual books, in addition to causing these drawbacks, can in fact entail considerable efforts for young people, and these efforts can entail, if repeated daily, severe damage to the spinal column of said young people; this has already been noted by the competent ministerial bodies, which have already acted by issuing the prohibition for students to carry books weighing more than a certain limit.
The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a book or volume having a composite structure, which is capable of obviating the drawbacks of current bulky and heavy books related to any subject, without reducing in any way the completeness of the content provided by current volumes and without affecting the logical sequence required for the subjects, arguments, or illustrations presented in said current volumes.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a volume that is heavy and bulky and is conceived so that it can be referenced by separate subjects or by preset historical and literary periods without having to carry and handle the entire volume related to the same subjects, with obvious advantages as regards ease in reference and reduction in weight and bulk.
Another object of the invention is to provide a volume having a composite structure that can be produced with conventional methods and therefore practically with the same production and sales costs.
This aim, these objects, and others which will become apparent from the following description are achieved by a book or volume having a composite structure and large dimensions and weight, related to various subjects, both scientific and literary, topical, or the like, which is constituted, according to the present invention, by a plurality of sections composed of sheets, each related to specifically defined subjects or to part thereof, said sections being enclosed and bound in a conventional manner in a continuous cover made of cardboard or the like, each one of said sections being divided from the contiguous one by means of two covers or leaves that are glued to the inner wall of the spine or back of the volume and to the first and last sheet of the section, so as to obtain a plurality of sections complete with covers and with the corresponding spine monolithically with the spine of the external continuous cover, the individual sections that constitute the volume being then easily separable from each other by cutting or tearing along the continuous ribbing line that retains the covers or leaves of two contiguous sections.
More particularly, each section, after separation from the contiguous ones, is enclosed between two normal and opposite covers that are mutually joined by a portion of the spine of the continuous cover that encloses the volume.
Furthermore, in order to facilitate separation of the various sections, along the line of the continuous spine that joins two contiguous sections it is possible to provide notches and/or scoring lines that allow separation by tearing.
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, given with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are provided merely by way of example and wherein:

figure 1 is a perspective view of a book or volume having a composite structure, executed according to the invention;
figure 2 is a view of the same volume as in figure 1, in the open position, so as to point out its structure composed of detachable sections;
figure 3 is a view of the same volume when open and during the separation, for example, of two sections from the other contiguous ones; and
figure 4 is a view of the finished structure of a section after its removal from the volume.

With reference to the above figures, the book or volume, generally designated by the reference numeral 1 and executed according to the invention, has the appearance shown in figure 1 in closed position; i.e., it is constituted by a large number of sheets enclosed within a continuous cover made of cardboard or the like forming its front cover 2 (where the printing related to the content, the author, the publisher, and the like is located), the rear cover 2a, and a back or spine 3. The pack of sheets retained between the two opposite covers 2-2a is anchored to the back or spine 3 by gluing at the edge, whereas a portion 2b and 2c, substantially a strip of said two opposite outer covers 2-2a, is glued to the first sheet and to the last sheet of the pack of sheets; the purpose of the two portions 2b-2c glued to the first and last sheets of the pack will be explained hereinafter.
The pack of sheets is also divided into various groups of sheets that contain the same or an equal number of sheets, as designated by 4, 5, 6, and 7 in figures 1 and 2.
Said groups of sheets 4, 5, 6, and 7 constitute the individual sections that can contain different subjects, clearly defined historical periods, distinct technological and scientific fields, such as for example electrical technology, electronics, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and other literary subjects divided by historical period or the like.
Each individual section is formed by two covers or leaves, which are inserted between the various groups of sheets during the binding of the volume, and by a back or spine, which is part of said spine 3 of the outer continuous cover.
More specifically, as clearly shown by figures 2 and 4, the group of sheets 6 that constitutes an intermediate section is enclosed between two leaves or covers 6a-6b that are anchored to the first and last sheets of the group by gluing a longitudinal strip 6c-6d; likewise, the section of sheets 5 is enclosed between two covers 5a and 5b, whereas the first group of sheets 4 is enclosed between the outer cover 2a of the volume and an internal leaf 4a; the group of sheets 7 is instead enclosed between the back cover 2 and an inner cover 7a.
Each section 4-5-6 and 7 is therefore fully formed and bound between the respective opposite covers and the outer spine 3 of the volume.
Said sections are furthermore completely formed even if one separates them from the contiguous ones. In fact, as shown by figures 2 and 4, in order to separate -- for example -- the first two sections 4-5 from the contiguous ones 6 and 7, the book is opened as shown in figure 2, then the spine 3 of the volume is split, by means of a transverse cut 8 performed along the line 8a that connects the two sections 5 and 6, until two volumes, each constituted by two sections, are obtained.
Each section, after cutting, has its own spine 3a-3b, etcetera, that is constituted by a portion of the spine 3 of the volume that remains stably anchored, along its edge, to the corresponding group of sheets, since all the groups of sheets have been glued to the spine 3 during the binding of the volume.
In other words, each section has the appearance of a small book that can be easily separated from the volume and therefore has a limited weight and bulk; at the same time, it can be used in relation to the text written in the selected section or in multiple sections, when required.
Finally, in order to facilitate section separation, it is possible to provide, along the separation line 8, pre-scoring or creases that allow separation by tearing.
Furthermore, all the indications related to the text that is written or illustrated in the respective section can be provided in the covers of each section.
The invention as described and illustrated above is of course susceptible, in its practical execution, of modifications as to the type of material used, the dimensions of the various components, the colors, and other details, without abandoning the scope of the protection of said invention.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A book or the like having a composite structure, particularly for use in the school sector and the like, constituted by a plurality of sections that are related, individually or in groups, to specifically defined subjects and are enclosed and bound in a conventional manner in a continuous cover made of cardboard or the like, each one of said sections being divided from the contiguous one by means of two covers or leaves that are glued to the inner wall of the spine or back of the volume and to the first and last sheet of the section, so as to obtain a plurality of sections complete with covers and with the corresponding spine monolithically with the spine of the outer continuous cover, the individual sections that constitute the volume being then easily separable from each other by cutting or tearing along the continuous ribbing line that retains the covers or leaves of two contiguous sections.
A book according to claim 1, characterized in that each section of sheets, after separation from the contiguous ones, is enclosed between two opposite covers or leaves that are mutually joined by a portion of the spine of the continuous cover of the volume.
A book according to claim 2, characterized in that pre-scoring or crease lines are provided along the line of the continuous spine that joins each section to the contiguous one and are adapted to facilitate separation of the sections by tearing.
A book according to claim 2, characterized in that the front cover of each section bears the titles of the subjects presented in said section and all the other necessary indications.
A book according to claim 1, characterized in that it is adapted for school texts, university texts, and the like.