GB1585062A

GB1585062A - Blocks of sheet material

Info

Publication number: GB1585062A
Application number: GB2236376A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Irvin Brothers Fleet Works Ltd
Current assignee: Irvin Brothers Fleet Works Ltd
Priority date: 1977-05-26
Filing date: 1977-05-26
Publication date: 1981-02-25

Description

(54) BLOCKS OF SHEET MATERIAL (71) We, IRVIN BROS. (FLEET WORKS) LIMITED, a Company registered under the Laws of England of Denmark Street, Wokingham, Berkshire, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to blocks of sheet material such as paper in which the sheets are stuck together to provide a coherent unit, and from which successive sheets can be detached one at a time. It is usual for the sheets to be stuck together on a flat side surface of the block defined by a straight edge of each sheet, this surface constituting a spine of the block.

According to the present invention a block of sheet material comprises two block units positioned side by side and secured together at their adjacent sides by adhesive material which constitutes a common spine, the adhesive connection extending over substantially the full thickness of the block.

Thus, assuming the spine of a block unit consitutes the back of the block, the block according to the invention may consist of two such block units stuck together back-to-back.

The two block units may be stuck together in various ways. For instance, two blocks of unglued sheets may each be firmly clamped to provide flat side surfaces defined by edges of the sheets. A coating of an adhesive may then be applied to a side surface of one of the clamped blocks and a corresponding side surface of the other clamped block brought into contact with the adhesive-coated surface, the two clamped blocks being held together until the adhesive has set. The adhesive not only holds the sheets of each block together along one edge of each sheet to form the spine of a block unit, but also holds to two block units together, the spine being common to both and acting as a hinge for each individual sheet.

Another way is to take two separate block units, each with its own spine surface, and join these block units together back-to-back by means of a layer of an adhesive applied to one or both of the said surfaces. The said ways of sticking the block together may be modified, in that instead of using a coating or layer of an adhesive, a strip or sheet of double-sided adhesive paper or film may be sandwiched between the two block units.

It is sometimes desirable to provide visible matter on at least one side surface of the block.

Such visible matter may be decorative or may have a functional or utilitarian purpose. For example, it may be desirable to provide a block having on one or more of its side surfaces visible matter in the form of advertising material.

The visible matter can be applied to the side surfaces in various ways, for instance by a screen printing process as described in British patent specification No. 1320115 or by a transfer process as described in our British patent specification No. 14954401.

The visible matter may be applied to side surfaces of the individual block units before they are stuck together at the common or spine, or it may be applied to the block after the units have been stuck together.

Theblockunitsmay if desired be perforated, for instance so that the torn-off sheets can be placed in a loose-leaf file, or for holding a pencil or pen in an upright position.

Blocks embodying the invention have a variety of uses; for instance, where two persons on opposite sides of a table, desk or counter may each require a source of sheets of paper, or where the sheets are unnecessarily large for the intended purpose of the block. An example of the latter is a salesman's aid or advertising item got up to represent an article to be sold, and intended to be placed on a customer's desk as a note pad, and where individual sheets of half the size of the block would be appropriate.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A block of sheet material comprising two block units positioned side by side and secured together at their adjacent sides by adhesive material which constitutes a common spine, the adhesive connection extending over substantially the full thickness of the block.

2. A block as claimed in Claim 1 wherein visible matter is provided on one or more side surface of the block.

3. A block as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the visible matter is applied to the said side surface or surfaces by a screen printing process.

4. A block as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the visible matter is applied to the said side surface or surfaces by a transfer printing process.

5. A block as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein one or both of the block

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. (54) BLOCKS OF SHEET MATERIAL (71) We, IRVIN BROS. (FLEET WORKS) LIMITED, a Company registered under the Laws of England of Denmark Street, Wokingham, Berkshire, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to blocks of sheet material such as paper in which the sheets are stuck together to provide a coherent unit, and from which successive sheets can be detached one at a time. It is usual for the sheets to be stuck together on a flat side surface of the block defined by a straight edge of each sheet, this surface constituting a spine of the block. According to the present invention a block of sheet material comprises two block units positioned side by side and secured together at their adjacent sides by adhesive material which constitutes a common spine, the adhesive connection extending over substantially the full thickness of the block. Thus, assuming the spine of a block unit consitutes the back of the block, the block according to the invention may consist of two such block units stuck together back-to-back. The two block units may be stuck together in various ways. For instance, two blocks of unglued sheets may each be firmly clamped to provide flat side surfaces defined by edges of the sheets. A coating of an adhesive may then be applied to a side surface of one of the clamped blocks and a corresponding side surface of the other clamped block brought into contact with the adhesive-coated surface, the two clamped blocks being held together until the adhesive has set. The adhesive not only holds the sheets of each block together along one edge of each sheet to form the spine of a block unit, but also holds to two block units together, the spine being common to both and acting as a hinge for each individual sheet. Another way is to take two separate block units, each with its own spine surface, and join these block units together back-to-back by means of a layer of an adhesive applied to one or both of the said surfaces. The said ways of sticking the block together may be modified, in that instead of using a coating or layer of an adhesive, a strip or sheet of double-sided adhesive paper or film may be sandwiched between the two block units. It is sometimes desirable to provide visible matter on at least one side surface of the block. Such visible matter may be decorative or may have a functional or utilitarian purpose. For example, it may be desirable to provide a block having on one or more of its side surfaces visible matter in the form of advertising material. The visible matter can be applied to the side surfaces in various ways, for instance by a screen printing process as described in British patent specification No. 1320115 or by a transfer process as described in our British patent specification No. 14954401. The visible matter may be applied to side surfaces of the individual block units before they are stuck together at the common or spine, or it may be applied to the block after the units have been stuck together. Theblockunitsmay if desired be perforated, for instance so that the torn-off sheets can be placed in a loose-leaf file, or for holding a pencil or pen in an upright position. Blocks embodying the invention have a variety of uses; for instance, where two persons on opposite sides of a table, desk or counter may each require a source of sheets of paper, or where the sheets are unnecessarily large for the intended purpose of the block. An example of the latter is a salesman's aid or advertising item got up to represent an article to be sold, and intended to be placed on a customer's desk as a note pad, and where individual sheets of half the size of the block would be appropriate. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A block of sheet material comprising two block units positioned side by side and secured together at their adjacent sides by adhesive material which constitutes a common spine, the adhesive connection extending over substantially the full thickness of the block.

5. A block as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein one or both of the block units are perforated.

6. A block of sheet material substantially as described herein.

7. A method of manufacture of a block of sheet material as claimed in any of the preceding claims comprising adhering previously unglued block units together with a layer of adhesive.

8. A method of manufacture of a block as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6 comprising adhering previously glued unit blocks together with a layer of adhesive.

9. A method as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein the layer of adhesive is applied in the form of a strip of double sided adhesive paper or film.

10. A method of manufacture of a block as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6 and substantially as described herein.

11. A block which has been produced by the method of any of Claims 7 to 10.