GB2171357A - Book wrapper - Google Patents

Abstract

A wrapper comprises a sheet 1 of foldable plastics material with exposable self-adhesive strips 4,5 extending along or adjacent the two opposite edges 2,3. A sheet 1 is cut transversely to those edges 2,3 so that the height of the sheet perpendicular to the cut matches the height of the book 10, and the sheet 1 is then folded around the book with the ends 24,25 of the wrapper folded over the front and back book cover free edges, and the adhesive strips are then exposed and stuck to the insides of the covers 21,22. The sheet material can be provided on a roll and cut to suit any height of book. Rolls of three or four different widths enable books of virtually all sizes to be covered. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Book wrappers This invention relates to book wrappers particularly although not exclusively for paperback books, primarily of the type made of clear plastics sheets so that the actual book cover can be seen through the wrapper.

Hardback books are expensive compared with paperback ones and for economic reasons even libraries and schools are nowadays having to buy paperbacks notwithstanding that the use and wear and tear will be heavy. Some books are only available in paperback.

Libraries usually require paperbacks to be covered with a protective plastics covering and in the past they have used them, all-over adhesive plastics sheet which is cut to size to fit the book, shaped at the corners and to fit the spine, and it is then stuck to the book covers with the sleeve edges folded inside the cover along the top, bottom and free edges of the book's front and back covers. This is very time consuming.

Preformed plastics wallet are therefore now commonly used because they can be fitted very quickly.

One such wallet comprises a sheet of thicker plastics with a flat pocket formed at each end by means of superimposed further pieces of the same plastics sheet material welded around three edges leaving the inner one open to form the pocket mouth into which the book cover is slid. Such preformed wallets are made in a continuous process out of a common sheet, the weld which forms the pocket at each end being carried completely around all the wallet edges even where there is no double thickness to weld. This is because the weld tool has a cutter associated with it so that when the weld is finished, the completed book wallet can be torn adjacent the weld line out from the surrounding sheet.

The pocket wallets have several disadvantages.

First, because the book cover has to fit inside the wallet pockets, the actual pocket must be slightly bigger than the book cover dimensions so that the weld seam lies beyond the book cover edges at the top and bottom (and at the free edges) which means that the book rests only on the bottom weld edges when it is standing upright on a book shelf. The bottom weld seams therefore become bent, worn and torn.

Also, many libraries now use a metal check tab fixed to the book cover at a specific location so that when the book is passed through a check-out it is checked automatically, and when such a pocketed wallet is used the check tab may no longer line up accurately with the checkout apparatus because the datum edge is no longer the bottom of the book, but the projecting bottom welded seam of the wallet which raises the book by about 3 - 5 mm.

Afurther and more serious problem is that such a pocketed cover will only properly fit one size of book, whereas there are many tens, possibly hundreds, of different book sizes varying in height, width and spine thickness. There is a certain amount of standardization with paperback heights but obviously there cannot be with thicknesses. An improved pocketed wallet has a pocket only at one end, the other pocket being replaced by a strip welded at the top and bottom only at a position set in from the other end which may be shaped slightly top and bottom. This version can therefore accommodate different book thicknesses, the back cover being slid behind the strip and the free wallet end then being folded over the cover edge and tucked behind the strip.A still further version does away with the free strip but it is provided with a self-adhesive strip welded near to the free end, the free end being merely stuck inside the book cover at the appropriate place depending upon the book thickness.

None of these improved versions, however, is adjustable for different height books and therefore a very large number of wallet sizes need to be provided. Furthermore they all still involve the above-mentioned problems of the projecting weld.

Also, all but the last mentioned type can be removed easily and stolen or at least exposing the actual paperback covers to damage.

Moreover, in practice, if a wallet of the correct size is not available, a slightly larger one is often used which exacerbates the above-mentioned problems.

Even with the many different sizes of preformed wallets on the market, there are still perhaps 50% of books of a size or shape that cannot have sleeves fitted because none is made of the appropriate size.

The present invention has as an object to provide a book wrapper which is adjustable to suit books of different height, width and thickness, which is inexpensive and yet is almost as quick to fit to a book as is a pre-formed pocketed wallet without the disadvantages of the latter's welded seams.

According to the present invention there is provided a book wrapper comprising a sheetoffoldable material with exposable self-adhesive strips extending along or adjacent the two opposite edges which are to be folded over the free edges of the front and back book covers so that those edges can be stuck to the inside of the book covers.

In use a continuous sheet of such material, e.g. in a roll, could be provided with the exposable selfadhesive strips extending longitudinally of the sheet. The sheet is simply cut transversely exactly to fit the height of the book, it then is wrapped around the book, the ends folded over the edges of the book covers, and the adhesive strips exposed and stuck to the inside of the covers. Alternatively, the sheet could be provided pre-cutto suit particular book heights.

Since the sheet wrapper is cut to the exact book height it does not project above or below the top and bottom edges of the book when fitted so that the book can stand firmly on its own bottom edges and the weight is not taken only by the wrapper.

Furthermore, because it is stuck to the book covers it cannot easily be removed and does not become dislodged as with loose dust covers.

For books of greater height, it is simply necessary to cut off a longer sheet, the transverse cut line being farther along the sheet. For books of different width or thickness, the same width sheet is used but the flap of the wrapper folded and stuck inside the book covers is smaller or larger for books of respectively greater or less width or thickness. It is envisaged that wrapper material of perhaps three or four transverse widths will be adequate to make wrappers for almost every possible book size of standard size or not.

The sheet material is preferably a strong, e.g.

non-tearable, plastics material which will usually be clear but need not be so. Conveniently, it is also a readily creasable material so that the sheet can be folded when being fitted, to fit closely around the spine edges and book cover edges.

The invention also comprises a book having such a wrapper fitted to it, and a method of fitting such a wrapper to a book. The method of the invention comprises providing a sheet of foldable and cuttable material with strips of exposed or exposable adhesive along or adjacent opposite edges on the same face, cutting the sheet transversely to those edges, either before or after the adhesive is provided on it, so that the height of the sheet perpendicular to the cut matches the height of the book, folding the sheet around the outside of the book with the ends of the wrapper folded over the front and back book cover free edges, and sticking the adhesive strips to the insides of the covers. Conceivably, the sheet could be stuck to the book before cutting and then cut level with the top and bottom edges of the book.

The adhesive strips need not be continuous but could be formed intermittently. However, in practice, double-sided adhesive strip which is continuous, may conveniently be used.

The end flaps of the wrapper could be shaped e.g.

tapered like an envelope flap, if desired.

The invention may be put into practice in a number of ways but certain specific embodiments will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a book with sheet material, in accordance with the invention, to be cut for making a book wrapper; Figure 2 is a plan view of the sheet material, showing how different book sizes can be fitted with wrappers; and Figure 3 shows a book fitted with a wrapper in accordance with the invention.

For fitting books with wrappers, a continuous sheet 1 of clear plastics sheet material is provided, for example on a roll (not shown), having extending on one face and along or parallel and adjacent its opposite edges 2 and 3 two strips of exposable double-sided adhesive tape 4 and 5. The sheet 1 must be of a transverse width greater than twice the book width plus its spine thickness but not greater than four timers its width plus its spine thickness (as will be explained).

A book 10 to be fitted with a wrapper is laid on the sheet 1 with its top edge 11 level with the free end edge 12 of the sheet 1, and the sheet 1 is then cut transversely along a line 15 level with the bottom edge 14 of the book so that the sheet dimension in the longitudinal direction between the sheet edge 12 and line 15 exactly matches the height of the book.

The sheet material 1 is strong non-tearable plastics but one which can be creased so that when a crease line is formed it remains fairly definitely.

When it has been cut to height, the sheet is therefore creased twice approximately down its middle to match the edges 18 and 19 of the spine of the book., With the sheet held closely against the front and back book covers in turn, the end flaps of the wrapper are then folded and creased at lines 20 over the free edges 21 and 22 of the front and back book covers with the flaps (those sheet portions marked 24 and 25 in Figure 1) inside the covers. The masking paper covering the adhesive strips 4 and 5 is now removed and the wrapper flaps struck firmly to the insides of the front and back book covers.

It will be appreciated that the fitted wrapper is therefore the same height as the book which means that the book can stand upright in a stable manner with its weight distributed between the bottom edges of all the pages, the book covers and the wrapper. Any reference tabs or markings located precisely relative to a datum edge of the book are not rendered inaccurate as in the known wallets because of projecting edges of the wallet; the wrapper does not wear or break or tear at its edges which do not project beyond the book at all; and the wrapper is fairly permanently stuck in position so that it does not become dislodged and cannot readily be removed without tearing the adhesive strips off the cover insides which would damage them and be noticeable.

A further advantage of the wrapper of the present invention, which can be appreciated from Figure 3, is that if a book is dis-figured by someone writing or marking the top or bottom edges of the pages - see the work TOM as illustrated - or if a book becomes particularly dirty, the top and bottom edges can easily be cleaned by guillotining a thin shaving off the bottom (ortop) of the book and wrapper. With present book wallets this action would cut off the bottom weld and destroy the wallet.

Figures 1, and 2 particularly, show how different sizes of books can be fitted with wrappers in accordance with the invention from the same sheet material. Thus, in Figure 1 it will be appreciated that had the book 10 been taller so that its bottom portion extended as shown in the dash and -double-dot lines, the sheet 1 would have had to be cut at transverse line 15' farther down the sheet. Apart from that, the fitting procedure would be exactly the same.

The book 10 is shown as the intermediate size in Figure 2, represented as though it was flat open on the sheet 1. A smaller book 30, smaller in height and width, would simply require the shet 1 to be cut transversely at line 31, and a larger book 32 at transverse line 3. In other respects the fitting would be the same except with the smaller book the end flaps which are folded inside the book covers would be larger, and with the larger width books, the flaps would be smaller.

it will thus be appreciated that with a continuous sheet 1, a book of any height can be fitted; and a large variety of widths and thicknesses can also be fitted. In fact the range of book widths which can be fitted from a sheet of given width is such that the largest book could be about twice as wide as the smallest. This is in practice such a wide range that possibly three widths of sheet material will be all that is required to fit all conceivable book sizes, which is a very considerable advantage for libraries and schools compared with having to keep large stocks of preformed wallets of very many different sizes with all the associated problems of stock control, identification and capital outlay.

Whilst the invention is primarily described for paperbacks, the wrappers could equally well be fitted to hardback books. Also, the wrappers do not need to be clear but could be coloured and/or opaque, and/or provided with a window or printing or any other special finishes, features or marking.

Any suitable material may be used which is a rigid, or semi-rigid or flexible (plastics film or foil), e.g.

polypropylene, PVC, polyethylene, acetates, etc.

The adhesive strips need not necessarily be formed of double-side adhesive tape but could be formed of any convenient adhesive strip or series of adhesive regions. However, the invention particularly comprehends rolls of plastics wrapper material of a width suitable for making book wrappers, provided with masked adhesive strips extending along its opposite edges, or pre-cut sheets of such material.

Claims (17)

1. A book wrapper comprising a sheet of foldable material with exposable self-adhesive strips extending along or adjacent the two opposite edges which are to be folded over the free edges of the front and back book covers so that those edges can be stuck to the inside of the book covers.

2. A book wrapper as claimed in claim 1, in which the adhesive strips are continuous.

3. A book wrapper as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the exposable self-adhesive strips are double-sided strip.

4. A book wrapper as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the end flaps of the wrapper are shaped like an envelope flap.

5. Book wrapper material suitable for covering books, comprising a continuous sheet of foldable material with exposable self-adhesive strips extending along or adjacent the two opposite longitudinal edges of the sheet, whereby the sheet can be cut transversely to fit the height of a book, the cut piece can be wrapped around the book, the ends folded over the edges of the book covers, and the adhesive strips exposed and stuck to the inside of the covers.

6. Book wrapper material as claimed in claim 5, provided in a roll.

7. A book wrapper or wrapper material as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, being of clear, creasable plastics material.

8. A kit for wrapping books comprising a plurality of book wrappers as claimed in claim 1 or in any one of claims 2 to 4, the sheets being of the same longitudinal dimension as each other (for fitting books of one height), or of different longitudinal dimensions from each other (for fitting books of different heights).

9. A book having fitted to it a book wrapper as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4.

10. A method of wrapping a book, comprising providing a sheet of foldable and cuttable material with strips of exposed or exposable adhesive along or adjacent opposite edges on the same face, cutting the sheet transversely to those edges, either before or after the adhesive is provided on it, so that the height of the sheet perpendicular to the cut matches the height of the book, folding the sheet around the outside of the book with the ends of the wrapper folded over the front and back book cover free edges, and sticking the adhesive strips to the insides of the covers.

11. A method of wrapping a book, comprising providing a sheet of foldable and cuttable material with strips of exposed or exposable adhesive along or adjacent opposite edges on the same face, folding the sheet around the outside of the book with the ends of the wrapper folded over the front and back book cover free edges, sticking the adhesive strips to the insides of the covers, and then cutting the sheet so that the height of the sheet perpendicular to the cut matches the height of the book.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, in which the sheet has a tranverse width greater than twice the book width plus its spine thickness but not greater than four times its width plus its spine thickness.

13. A method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, in which the sheet is cut from a roll of the sheet material.

14. A method as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13, in which the sheet material is a clear, creasable plastics material.

15. A book when provided with a wrapper according to a method as claimed in any one of claims 10to 14.

16. A book wrapper substantially as specifically described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings.

17. A method of wrapping a book substantially as specifically described herein with response to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings.