IES67363B2 - A method of providing a retaining protective cover on the dust jacket of hardcover book - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of providing a retaining protective cover on the dust jacket (1) of a book (6) consists of applying to each surface of a flattened out dust jacket (1) a layer of material drawn from a continuous length of material, cutting the material to length to provide a protective cover on the dust jacket (1), and then securing the covered dust jacket (1) to the book (6).

Description

APPLICATION No.

A METHOD OF EWVIPXMG A RETAIMIMG FLWTECTIVE COVER M WE DUST JACKET OF A HARDCOVER BOOK FlaUd of the AniventlosT) The present invention relates to hard cover books provided with dust jackets bearing printed material, and relates in particular to methods of providing a retaining protective cover on a dust jacket so as to prolong the life of the dust jacket and the hardcover book.

Nowadays popular hardcover books are generally sold with a loose fitting dust jacket. Usually the hard cover itself is monochrome and bears very little printed matter, for example the printed matter on the hard cover may be limited to just the title and the name of the author and these may be printed on the spine only. In contrast the dust jacket usually bears a considerable amount of printed matter often in bright colours. For example the dust jacket may bear not only the title and the name of the author but may also bear colour pictures, a synopsis, comments by reviewers, the recommended retail price, the name of the publisher etc. If the hardcover book is subject to much use, for example a library book, reference book or text book, there is a substantial risk that the dust jacket will become detached and lost, or will be damaged and have to be discarded. The printed matter on the dust jacket is then lost to the reader. The hardcover is no longer protected by the dust jacket. It is therefore desirable that the dust . 2 jacket of a hardcover book which is likely to be used frequently should be given added protection and should be retained on the book.

Prior Art One method of providing a retaining protective cover on the dust jacket of a hardcover book will now be described. This method has been in use for many years.

Use is made of a preformed retaining protective cover generally made of polyvinylchloride (PVC). Polyester has also been used but to a much smaller extent as it has not been found to be particularly suitable for this type of cover. The preformed cover is in the form of a flat sleeve of flexible material, open at both ends (corresponding to the sides of an open book) or at one side (corresponding to the top or bottom of a book), into which the dust jacket may be inserted, and having dimensions just larger than the dimensions of the dust jacket (when laid flat) so as to accommodate the dust jacket therein. The sleeve is made at least in part of transparent material so that when the dust jacket is inserted into the sleeve the printed material on the dust jacket may be seen through the transparent material.

In the method, the dust jacket is removed from the hardcover book. One side edge of the dust jacket is inserted into one open end of the preformed sleeve (or one top or bottom edge of the dust jacket is inserted into one open side of the sleeve). The inserted edge of the dust jacket is then pulled or pushed through the sleeve until the dust jacket is contained within the sleeve. In this way the dust jacket is protected. The dust jacket accommodated within its protective cover or sleeve is then put back onto the hardcover book.

In this last mentioned step, the free side edges of the hardcover are inserted into the respective open ends of the sleeve and in this way the dust jacket and its protective cover or sleeve are retained in position on the hardcover book. In general the covers thus applied have been found to be successful in retaining and protecting dust jackets.

However, the method described above suffers from certain - 3 disadvantages. Firstly, because hardback books are produced in a wide variety of different sizes, the preformed protective covers or sleeves must also be provided in a wide variety of different sizes. Secondly, the method is very labour intensive. Providing a retaining protective cover on the dust jacket of a hardback book may take several minutes from start to finish. In particular the last step of inserting the free edges of the hardcover into the open ends of the sleeve is particularly awkward, especially because the sleeve already accommodates the dust jacket.

A second prior art method will now be described which does not require stocking of different sizes of preformed sleeve or cover, instead of using a preformed sleeve or cover, the sleeve or cover is formed at the time of application of the cover to the dust jacket. Use is made of a roll of suitable sleeve or cover material, the roll is essentially continuous in length and has a width at least twice the height of the dust jacket to be protected. The roll of material is partially unrolled. The dust jacket is removed from the book and is laid flat on the unrolled material. The unrolled material is then cut to the width of the dust jacket. The cut piece of material is folded over the dust jacket to cover both faces thereof. Any excess material is trimmed. The two free edges of the folded material are joined to form a sleeve, just like the preformed sleeve described above. The covered dust jacket is then put onto the book in the manner previously described.

This second prior art method has not found much favour. While this method does not require stocking many different sizes, it is nevertheless a time consuming and cumbersome method.

Qb-iiect and Smwnarv of the Inveimtion The object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of providing a retaining protective cover on the dust jacket of a hard cover book. A particular object of the invention is to provide a method which does not involve carrying a large amount of stock and which is generally more efficient than the second prior art method described above. . 4 In its broadest aspect the invention provides a method of providing a retaining protective cover on the dust jacket of a hard cover book comprising: applying a layer of covering material from a continuous length of such material to at least one surface of the dust jacket in such a manner that the layer is retained on the dust jacket; separating the dust jacket and covering layer from the remainder of the length of material; and carrying out a retaining step so as to retain the covered dust jacket on a book.

Preferably the method comprises applying a layer of transparent material to the printed surface and a layer of material to the other surface in such a manner that the dust jacket is retained between the two layers.

One advantage arising from the sequence of method steps set out above is the elimination of the folding step in the previously described second prior art method. However, more significant advantages arise when the sequence of steps described above is combined with further features set forth below.

In accordance with a more preferred method according to the invention, the step of applying the two layers of material comprises laminating the two layers to the dust jacket. Preferably the layers of material are self adhesive. More preferably the material is polyester. Even more preferably the two materials are identical.

The advantage of lamination is to provide a good quality finish. The use of material which is self-adhesive greatly simplifies the task of retaining the dust jacket between the two layers. The use of polyester gives a clear, more transparent retaining protective cover, and one which does not discolour with age. The prior art retaining protective covers made of polyester which did not adhere to the dust jacket were not very successful because polyester is not well suited - 5 for use as an expansive loose fitting material.

In the more preferred method described above, the retaining step preferably comprises joining each side flap of the laminated dust jacket to the main part of the laminated dust jacket to form a book retaining pocket at each side of the dust jacket. Preferably joining is effected by transparent self-adhesive material. Alternatively, joining may be effected by heat bonding. Alternatively, the step of lamination includes provision of extensions which extend beyond the side edges of the dust jacket flaps, and the retaining step comprises adhering these extensions to the book.

In accordance with an alternative less preferred method of carrying out the invention, the step of applying the two layers of material to cover and retain the dust jacket comprises applying at least one non-laminate layer so as to form a sleeve between the two layers, and the retaining step comprises inserting the side edges of a book into the open ends of the sleeve thus formed.

In both the more preferred method and the less preferred method according to the invention, the step of applying the two layers of material preferably comprises applying at least one layer which extends beyond at least one of the top or bottom edge of the dust jacket to provide a turn down or turn up flap. Preferably both layers extend beyond both the top and the bottom edge to provide both a turn down flap which is two layers thick and a turn up flap which is two layers thick.

Two advantages arise from the foregoing feature. Firstly, the dust jacket is provided with extra protection along the top and bottom edge, the top edge being the one which is most often fingered by a user, particularly when removing a book from a shelf, and the bottom edge being the edge which engages a shelf. Secondly, in carrying out the method, and assuming that the material is drawn from a continuous length of material which is wider than the height of a dust jacket, it is much simpler to allow for extension beyond the top edge and the bottom edge of the dust jacket than it would be to trim the layers of material precisely along the top and bottom edge. - 6 The invention also provides apparatus for carrying out the method, material for use in the method, dust jackets covered by the method, and books covered by such dust jackets.

Brief Description of tlfae Drawings The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Figures Ϊ to 5 show successive stages in carrying out the more preferred method according to the invention; Figure 7 is similar to Figure δ but showing a variant of the more 15 preferred method; and Figures 7 to 13 show successive stages in carrying out the less preferred method according to the invention.

It should be noted that the drawings are not to scale or in proportion. Instead certain features and dimensions have been exaggerated for the sake of better illustration of the invention.

Detailed Descriiation of tlbe Sore Prefsrred Met thereof and the Variant Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a dust jacket 1. As shown in the drawing the dust jacket 1 has been laid flat. As indicated by dashed lines, the dust jacket comprises five regions, a side flap la, a rear lb, a spine 1c, a front Id, and a side flap le. The dust jacket 1 is printed on one surface, that surface which is uppermost in the Figure, and is blank on the other surface, but the printed matter has been omitted from the Figure for the sake of clarity. Also shown in Figure 1 is an upper roll of material 2 and a lower roll of material 3. Each roll 2, 3 is made of polyester. Each roll 2, 3 is self adhesive on that surface facing towards the dust jacket, in other words in the upper roll 2 the lower surface 2a of the unrolled portion is self adhesive, whereas in the lower roll 3 the upper surface 3a of the - 7 unrolled portion is self adhesive. Self adhesion is produced by means of a chemical coating which is thermo-sensitive, the coating is not adhesive at room temperature, but when temporarily subjected to a higher temperature becomes and remains adhesive.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown material unrolled from the upper roll 2, the dust jacket 1, and material unrolled from the lower roll 3. These have been passed through a heating station (not shown) so as to trigger the thermo-sensitive adhesion, and the result is the laminate shown in Figure 2.

Referring now to Figure 3, the lengths of material 2, 3 have been cut at each side edge of the dust jacket 1. The result is a dust jacket 1 which has been laminated on both sides and includes an upper flap 4 which is two layers thick and a lower flap 5 which is two layers thick.

Referring now to Figure 4, the upper and lower flaps 4, 5 have been folded over to provide extra protection along the top and bottom edge of the laminated dust jacket 1.

Referring now to Figure 5f the side flaps la, le of the laminated dust jacket have been folded over, and the dust jacket 1 is about to be put on to the book 5.

Referring now to Figure δ, the laminated dust jacket 1 has been put on the book 6, and a retaining step has been carried out comprising applying transparent self adhesive clips 7 at each of the four corners so as to define a pocket 8 at each end of the dust jacket 1 for receiving the side edges of the book 6.

Referring now to Figure 7, there is shown a variant of the method described above. When carrying out the cutting step described with reference to Figure 3, material 3 from the lower roll is cut a distance beyond the edge of the dust jacket side flaps la, le whereas material 2 from the upper roll is cut at the edge of the side flaps la, le. The result is an extended portion 9 one layer thick and having an exposed self adhesive surface. As seen in Figure 7, this extended portion 9 is - 8 used to adhere the laminated dust jacket 1 to the book 6. In this variant, flaps along the top and bottom edge are dispersed with in order to prevent the extended portion 9 from accidentally adhering to a turned down flap at the top edge or a turned up flap at the bottom edge. This is achieved by carrying out a further cutting step, trimming the laminate of Figure 3 along the top edge of the dust jacket and along the bottom edge of the dust jacket. ietailed Description of Less Preferred Referring now to Figure 8, this is similar to Figure 1 but in this case the material 50 of the lower roll is non-adhesive.

Referring now to Figure 9, this is similar to Figure 2, but the 15 lower layer 50 does not adhere to the dust jacket 1, instead the lower layer 50 is held in position by contact with the adhesive upper layer 2 Referring now to Figure 10, this is similar to Figure 3, but the cutting step along the side edges of the dust jacket 1 has been carried out precisely at those side edges or even involves a little trimming of the side edges, so that the upper and lower layers 2, 50 do not adhere to one another along the side edges but do adhere to one another along the top and bottom edge of the dust jacket so as to form a sleeve extending along the length of the dust jacket with the dust jacket laminated to one inside surface of the sleeve but not the other.

Referring now to Figure 11, this is similar to Figure 4, the flap at the upper edge has been folded down and the flap 5 at the lower edge has been folded up.

Referring now to Figure 12, this is similar to Figure 5, but in this case the retaining step comprises inserting the side edges of the book 5 into the open ends of the sleeve.

Referring now to Figure 13, this is similar to Figure 6, but shows the retaining step accomplished.

From a consideration of the more preferred method, it will be - 9 appreciated that this offers numerous advantages over the prior art. Firstly, it is not necessary to stock different sizes of sleeve for different dimensions of book. As regards different widths of dust jacket, the method simply cuts the unrolling material to a suitable length. As regards different height of dust jacket, a few standard widths of material can be used to cover virtually all heights of book.

A further advantage of the method is that it is much quicker than prior art methods and very large numbers of books can be covered in a very short time and can therefore be used to fulfill large orders quickly.

With regard to the less preferred method, this may be compared with the second mentioned prior art method which eliminated the need for sleeves of different sizes but still involved the laborious step of inserting the edges of the books into the pockets at the end of the sleeve. However, in contrast with the second prior art method described above, the less preferred method of the invention involves less steps and gives a better finish.

The more preferred and less preferred methods have been described for the purposes of illustration only and it will be appreciated that numerous variations are possible. By way of example, the dust jacket could extend transversely of the rolls of material instead of along the rolls. By way of further example, in the less preferred method the rolls of material may be self adhesive across part only of their width.

Claims (9)

1. A method of providing a retaining protective cover on the dust jacket of a hard cover book comprising: applying a layer of covering material from a continuous length of such material to at least one surface of the dust jacket in such a manner that the layer is retained on the dust jacket; separating the dust jacket and covering layer from the remainder of the length of material; and carrying out a retaining step so as to retain the covered dust jacket on a book.

2. A method according to claim 1 comprising: applying a layer of transparent material to the printed surface and a layer of material to the other surface in such a manner that the dust jacket is retained between the two layers.

3. A method according to claim 2 in which the step of applying the two layers of material comprises laminating the two layers to the dust jacket.

4. A method according to claim 3 in which the retaining step preferably comprises joining each side flap of the laminated dust jacket to the main part of the laminated dust jacket to form a book retaining pocket at each side of the dust jacket.

5. A method according to claim 3 in which the step of lamination includes provision of extensions which extend beyond the side edges of the dust jacket flaps, and the retaining step comprises adhering these extensions to the book.

6. A method according to claim 2 in which the step of applying the two layers of material to cover and retain the dust jacket comprises applying at least one non-laminate layer so as to form a sleeve between - 11 the two layers, and the retaining step comprises inserting the side edges of a book into the open ends of the sleeve thus formed.

7. A method according to any of claims 2 to 5 in which the step of applying the two layers of material preferably comprises applying at least one layer which extends beyond at least one of the top or bottom edge of the dust jacket to provide a turn down or turn up flap.

8. Apparatus for carrying out the method according to any of the preceding claims.

9. A dust jacket whenever provided with a cover by the method of claims 1 to 7 or the apparatus of claim 8.