GB2026434A

GB2026434A - Gramophone record sleeves

Info

Publication number: GB2026434A
Application number: GB7924267A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: GARROD C
Current assignee: GARROD C
Priority date: 1978-07-28
Filing date: 1979-07-12
Publication date: 1980-02-06

Abstract

In a gramophone record sleeve having a pocket 5 defined between two superimposed panels 1, 2, and a flap 3 provided on one edge of the pocket for closing a side of the pocket and/or at the open mouth of the pocket for strengthening or finishing the edge of the open mouth, the flap 3 is reduced in thickness at least centrally thereof. The part of the panel 1 to which the flap is affixed may also be reduced in thickness. The reduction in thickness may be constant or progressively decreasing across the width of the flap and panel. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in gramophone record sleeves The present invention relates to improvements in gramophone record sleeves.

Record sleeves are generally made of card blanks which are folded to provide one or more pairs of superimposed panels, each pair of panels defining a pocket therebetween for receiving a record, and flaps for closing edges of the pockets, the flaps extending from one panel and being glued to the inner surface of the other panel. To provide a sufficient adhesive connection between a flap and a panel, the flaps are generally of a width relative to the overall dimensions of the pocket such that the edge of a record received in the pocket will overlie the flaps. The pockets generally have such flaps on at least one pair of opposite edges so that the record is supported in the sleeve effectively at diametrically opposite points on the edges of the record and is not centrally supported by the sleeve. When so supported, the present thin and flexible records tend to bow permanently.Such distortion not only distorts the record but also distorts the recorded tracks which not only harms the recording but may also harm the recording reproducing equipment.

It has been proposed to avoid this problem by cutting away each flap centrally so as to minimise overlap of the record with the fiap. However this has the disadvantage of reducing the strength of the adhesive joint between the flap and the panel in the region of the pocket edge which will be load bearing if the sleeve is held vertically with the particular edge horizontal.

According to the invention there is provided a record sleeve comprising a pocket for receiving a record and defined between a pair of superimposed panels of sheet material, and a flap extending along one edge of the pocket and overlying and affixed to one of the faces of one of the panels at that edge, wherein at least centrally of the length of the one edge, the flap is reduced in thickness.

Advantageously the panel in the region of the reduction in thickness of the flap is also reduced in thickness.

The reduction in thickness may be constant across the width of the flap or the thickness of the flap may decrease progressively towards the inner edge of the flap. The reduction in thickness of the panel may correspondingly be constant or progressively decreasing. Optionally the effect of the reduction in thickness of the flap and panel is such that the total thickness of the flap and panel at least centrally of the one edge is approximately equal to the unreduced thickness of the panel so that the surface of the pocket provided by the panel and flap is substantially planar right up to the one edge.

The reduction in thickness of the flap and panel may be effected only in the central region of the one edge, where the flap is overlapped by a record; however the reduction in thickness may be effected along substantially the whole length of the edge.

The flap concerned may be an edge closing flap integrally connected directly or by a spine panel to the other panel of the pocket, or may be a flap at the open mouth of the pocket which is integral with the one panel and is folded inwardly of the pocket to overlie the one panel so as to improve the appearance of the mouth of the pocket and/or to strengthen the mouth edge.

Each such flap of a record sleeve may be reduced in thickness as described above and each portion of a panel to which such a flap is affixed may also be reduced in thickness as described above.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description of embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figures 1 to 8 are sections through embodiments of record sleeves in accordance with the invention.

Figure 1 shows one edge of a spined record sleeve comprising two panels 1,2 made from one or two blanks. The panels 1,2 are generally square and connected on at least two edges. If the sleeve is made from one blank the connection on one edge of the sleeve may be provided by a spine panel integral with both panels 1 and 2. If the sleeve is made from two blanks, and along non-integrally connected edges of a sleeve made from one blank, the panels 1, 2 are connected by a flap 3 which is integrally connected to one of the panels, as shown panel 2, by a spine panel 4, and overlies the inner surface of the other panel, as shown panel 1, to which it is adhered.

The flap 3 is reduced in thickness at least centrally of the edge of the sleeve and preferably the edge of the panel 1 to which the flap 3 is adhered is similarly reduced in thickness. Preferably, as shown, the reduction in thickness of the flap 3 and the panel 1 is such that the inner surface of the pocket 5 defined by the panels 1,2 is planar right up to the edge defined by spine panel 4.

Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 but showing an embodiment of record sleeve which does not have spines. As shown the panels 1, 2 of the pocket 5 are connected on one or more edges by a flap 3 which is integrally and directly connected to panel 2 and adhered to the inner surface of panel 1.

As in the embodiment of Figure 1, the flap 3 and part of panel 1 to which flap 3 is adhered are both reduced in thickness.

Figure 3 shows the open mouth 6 of a pocket 5 of a sleeve. As shown flaps 7 are integrally connected to the panels 1,2 along the open mouth of the pocket and are folded inwardly to overlie the inner surface of the corresponding panels. As shown in Figure 3, the flaps 7 are reduced in thickness to reduce the step which they create on the inner surface of the panels 1, 2. Preferably, as shown in Figure 4, not only are flaps reduced in thickness but also the portions of the panels 1,2 to which the flaps 7 are adhered.

While Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the open mouths of spined pockets, the flaps 7 may be equally provided aldong the open mouths of unspined sleeves.

In all the foregoing embodiments, the reductions in thickness of the flaps and panels may be provided only centrally of the corresponding edge of the sleeve or may be extended along substantially the full length of the edge.

In each of the foregoing embodiments, the reduc tion in thickness is constant across the width of the flap and in the corresponding direction of the panel.

Depending on the thickness of the sheet material from which the sleeve is made, the constant reduction in thickness can create a line of weakness at the step created thereby at the inner edge of the zone of reduced thickness. This effect is avoided if the reduction in thickness is progressive rather than constant, Figures 5 to 8 show embodiments corresponding to the embodiments of Figures 1 - 4 in which the thickness of the flaps 3 to 7 progressively decreases towards the free edge of the flaps and the panel to which the flap is adhered is correspondingly reduced in thickness so that the sum of the thicknesses at any point is substantially constant.

The above described record sleeves are all made from cardboard which is printed and finished on one surface only which becomes the outer surface of the sleeve. The reduction in thickness of the carboard is obtained by removing material from the other surface of the board for example using a phrasing machine, as is used in book binding.

While the invention has been described with reference to sleeves with inside flaps 3, twill be appreciated that it is equally applicable to sleeves in which the flaps 3 overlie the outer surfaces of the panels 1.

It will also be appreciated that the invention is applicable to any construction of record sleeve for housing one or more records and made from one or more blanks, in which there is a flap which is adhered to a part of a panel defining a pocket.

Claims

1. A record sleeve comprising a pocket for receiving a record and defined between a pair of superimposed panels of sheet material, and a flap extending along one edge of the pocket and overlying and affixed to one of the faces of one of the panels at that edge, wherein at least centrally of the length of the one edge, the flap is reduced in thickness.

2. A record sleeve according to claim 1, wherein the one panel in the region of the reduction in thickness of the flap is reduced in thickness.

3. A record sleeve according to claim 2, wherein the reduction in thickness of the one panel and flap is such that the combined thickness of the one panel and flap is equal to the unreduced thickness of the one panel.

4. A record sleeve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reduction in thickness of the flap extends the full length of the flap.

5. A record sleeve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the flap is reduced in thickness only in the central region thereof.

6. A record sleeve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reduction in thickness of the flap is constant across the width of the flap.

7. A record sleeve according to claim 6, wherein the reduction in thickness of the one panel is constant in a direction from the edge inwardly thereof.

8. A record sleeve according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein in the region of the reduction in thickness of the flap, the thickness of the flap decreases progressively towards the free edge thereof.

9. A record sleeve according to claim 8, wherein in the region of the reduction in thickness of the one panel, the panel thickness increases progressively from the edge thereof inwardly.

10. A record sleeve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flap is integrally connected to the one panel and extends along the open mouth ofthe pocket.

11. A record sleeve according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the flap is integrally connected, directly or by a spine panel, to the other panel and extends along a closed edge of the pocket.

12. A record sleeve according to any one of the preceding claims, including at least two said flaps.

13. A record sleeve according to any one of the preceding claims, including at least two pockets each having at least one said flap.

14. A record sleeve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reduction in thickness of the flap and/orthe panel is obtained by removing material from the inner surface of the flap and/or the one panel.

15. A record sleeve substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.