EP1884373A2

EP1884373A2 - An article formed of sheets, associated with an object

Info

Publication number: EP1884373A2
Application number: EP07425166A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Amedeo Blasetti
Original assignee: Blasetti SpA
Current assignee: Blasetti SpA
Priority date: 2006-07-25
Filing date: 2007-03-21
Publication date: 2008-02-06
Also published as: ITRM20060136U1; EP1884373A3

Abstract

An article such as a notebook (10), a notepad, a record book, a printed book or the like comprises a plurality of sheets (12) enclosed by a cover (14), and two outer covers (16, 18) joined together so as to form a pouch (26) which contains an object (24). The outer covers (16, 18) can be made from transparent material, or from translucent or non-transparent material. In the latter case, they prevent the viewing of the object (24) contained in the pouch (26), which can thus have the properties of a surprise. The outer covers (16, 18) are advantageously removable, so that they can be removed before or after the object (24) is taken out of the pouch (26).

Description

The present invention relates to an article comprising a plurality of sheets, preferably enclosed in a cover, such as a notebook, a notepad, a record book, a printed book, or the like.
In particular, the article according to the invention also comprises two outer covers joined together so as to form at least one pouch which contains at least one object.
According to the invention, it is thus possible to associate another object with the article formed of sheets in a simple and economical way and without adversely affecting the functionality of the article.
The added object can, in particular, increase the attractiveness of the article to the public, as in the case of a surprise object whose true nature can be revealed only by opening the pouch formed by the two outer covers.
Apart from the surprise effect, the additional object can also complement the article, as in the case of a CD or an audio or video cassette relating to subjects similar to those of a book. Alternatively, the object may have no logical or functional relationship with the article, and the choice of the type of object is not subject to any constraints apart from this imposed by the available space.
Other advantages and characteristics of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description which is given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an article according to the invention in an intermediate stage of its production process,
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the article according to the invention at the end of its production process, and
Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of Figure 2.

An article, particularly a notebook 10, comprises in a known way (Fig. 1) a plurality of sheets 12 enclosed by a cover 14.
In turn, the cover 14 is enclosed by two superimposed outer covers 16 and 18, which are joined to the cover 14 and to the sheets 12 by means of staples 20 spaced apart longitudinally along the spine 22 of the notebook 10.
An object 24 is inserted between the two outer covers 16 and 18, and the two outer covers 16 and 18 are then (Figs. 2 and 3) joined along their perimeter 19 so as to form a sealed pouch 26 which extends over both of the main faces 28 of the notebook 10 and which contains the object 24.
The two outer covers 16 and 18 can be joined, for example, by gluing or heat welding, after the inner part of at least one outer cover 16, 18 has been treated by the application of a coat of materials suitable for this purpose, as in the case of the process known as "polythene lamination".
In Figures 2 and 3 an object 24 is present on only one of the main faces 28. It is also possible for an object 24 to be present on each of the two main faces 28, or for a plurality of objects 24 to be present on one or both of the faces 28.
In an embodiment of the invention not shown in the drawings, the outer covers 16 and 18 can be joined along their perimeter and along the spine 22 of the notebook 10, so as to form two sealed pouches 26, one on each of the two main faces 28 of the notebook 10, each pouch containing a corresponding object 24.
In another embodiment of the invention which is not shown in the drawings, the outer covers 16 and 18 can be joined along their perimeter solely on one of the main faces 28 of the notebook 10. In this way, the pouch 26 which contains the object 24 is formed on only one main face 28 of the notebook 10. On the other main face 28, however, the outer covers 16 and 18 are disengaged from each other and can be used to provide promotional messages, advertisements, games, or other content.
At least one or both of the outer covers 16 and 18 can be made from transparent material, so as to allow the viewing of the object 24 contained in the pouch 26.
Alternatively, both of the outer covers 16 and 18 can be made from translucent or non-transparent material, to prevent the viewing of the object 24. Obviously, this option must be chosen if the object 24 associated with the notebook 10 is to be a surprise.
The user can detach the outer covers 16 and 18 from the notebook 10 and then separate them to take the object 24 out of the pouch 26, or can separate them first to take out the object 24 and then detach them from the notebook 10. In both cases, following these operations, the notebook 10 returns to its standard configuration and has the same functionality as conventional versions.
Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the details of construction and the forms of embodiment may be varied widely with respect to those described, which have been given purely by way of example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims. In particular, the present invention can be applied to any article comprising a plurality of sheets, such as a notepad, record book or printed book, and not only to a notebook as in the case illustrated above. Furthermore, the number of objects contained in each pouch can, as a matter of fact, be chosen at will.

Claims

An article comprising a plurality of sheets (12) preferably enclosed by a cover (14) and characterized in that it comprises two outer covers (16, 18) joined together to form at least one pouch (26) which contains at least one object (24).
An article according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said article is selected from the group consisting of notebooks (10), notepads, record books and printed books.
An article according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said outer covers (16, 18) are superimposed and joined along their perimeter so as to form a sealed pouch (26) which extends over the two main faces (28) of the article.
An article according to Claim 3, characterized in that the said outer covers (16, 18) are superimposed and joined along their perimeter (19) and on the spine (22) of the article, so as to form two sealed pouches (26), one on each of the two main faces (28) of the article, each of these pouches (26) containing a corresponding object (24).
An article according to Claim 3, characterized in that the said outer covers (16, 18) are superimposed and joined along their perimeter (19) on only one of the main faces (28) of the article, so as to form a sealed pouch (26) on the said main face (28) of the article, this pouch (26) containing the said object (24).
An article according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said outer covers (16, 18) are joined together by gluing or welding.
An article according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the said outer covers (16, 18) is made from transparent material, so as to allow the viewing of the said at least one object (24) contained in the pouch (26) .
An article according to Claim 7, characterized in that both of the said outer covers (16, 18) are made from transparent material.
An article according to any one of the preceding Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that both of the said outer covers (16, 18) are made from translucent or non-transparent material, so as to prevent the viewing of the said at least one object (24) contained in the pouch (26).
An article according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the said outer covers (16, 18) are removable, in such a way that they can be removed before or after the object (24) is taken out of the pouch (26).