NL2003440C2

NL2003440C2 - Desktop or pocket diary having a longitudinal row of zigzag folded pages.

Info

Publication number: NL2003440C2
Application number: NL2003440A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Lara Elizabeth Veen; Niels Vrijlandt
Original assignee: &L,
Priority date: 2009-09-04
Filing date: 2009-09-04
Publication date: 2011-03-07

Description

P30003NL00/RR

Title: Desktop or pocket diary having a longitudinal row of zigzag folded pages.

The invention relates to the field of desktop or pocket diaries of the type comprising an assembly of pre-printed pages on which notes can be written, like for example work or private appointments, planning of activities, etc. With this type of diary the pages together usually cover a total period of somewhat more than a year. The individual pages are being 5 pre-printed with indications of the days of the week combined with indications of the corresponding dates (day and month of the year). Per page a whole week may be preprinted in this way. It is also possible to print a period of less than a week per page, like for example half a week per page or only one day per page, as long as for each day sufficient space is left free for the notes to be written down.

10 Although nowadays an increasing number of people are using electronic agendas, still an important number of people keep using paper agendas because they find that more practical and/or economic. Most of these paper version desktop or pocket diaries have a protective cover in between which an assembly of the above described pre-printed pages are bound, for example by means of adhesive, strings, or rings. With this conventional type 15 of diary a user who wants to view a certain day has the possibility to quickly leaf through the various pages until he arrives at the page with the aimed period.

A disadvantage with these known diaries is that it is hard to gain a proper overview over a period of more than two adjacent pages, that is to say an overview over a period of days which is larger than the number of days which has been pre-printed on those two 20 adjacent pages. For obtaining such an overview the user must remember his notes of one or more specific days, then leaf towards one or more specific days on another page and combine the remembered notes in his mind with the notes of this new page. A lot of people are likely to loose their overview with this, particularly if this process of leafing towards another page and remembering its content has to be repeated a number of times. They 25 need extra time for this, and frequently need to leaf forward and backward between the aimed pages. This may well lead to mistakes being made, for example in a planning of activities, particularly if this planning is to extend over a large period of more than a few weeks.

FR-2 555 513 discloses a type of pocket diary which aims to provide a solution for 30 the above mentioned problem. The diary disclosed herein is made in the form of a loose flat sheet on which a period of several weeks is pre-printed. The print has a grid shape and is such that several rows of weeks are printed beneath one another, with which each row -2- comprises the days of one week printed side by side. The sheet is further provided with horizontal folding lines between the respective rows of weeks and with vertical folding lines between the respective columns of days. This makes it possible to fold the sheet like an accordion in both the horizontal and vertical direction in such a way that the sheet is brought 5 back to the format of one day. The user has the freedom to chose which day he or she wants on view at a particular moment. Furthermore it is possible for the user to unfold the sheet and thus make a larger printed period visible.

A disadvantage of this known pocket diary is that the sheet has to be folded differently each time the user wants to have the following day on top. This has the effect that 10 some of the folds need to be folded in directions which are opposite to their original folding directions. This may cause the diary to get wrinkled or torn rather quickly. This may make it difficult to maintain a proper overview of the structure of the sheet, which may slow down the speed and ease of use with which the user can fold and unfold towards a certain day on the sheet. Another disadvantage is that it is not possible for a user to quickly leaf through this 15 type of diary. Furthermore, the number of weeks which can be printed on the sheet is limited, because a large number of weeks, in particular more than four weeks, make the diary rather thick and unmanageable in its folding and unfolding. If an entire year is to be covered, then with this type of diary it is necessary to use several of such sheets.

The present invention aims to overcome one or more of the above mentioned 20 disadvantages, or to provide a usable alternative. In particular the invention aims to provide a user-friendly diary with which it is easy to quickly obtain an overview of a certain period of days, weeks or even months.

This aim is achieved by a desktop or pocket diary according to claim 1. The desktop or pocket diary comprises an assembly of pages, each page being pre-printed with a limited 25 period of at least one to a maximum of seven days. The pages together cover a total period of at least a few months, in particular at least half a year, more in particular more than a year. All the pages of the total period are arranged next to each other and are connected with each other in this side by side arrangement. Thus, all the pages together form a single longitudinal row of pages. Between the pages in the row, folds are provided. The direction of 30 the folds/folding edges is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the row. The pages in the row are folded zigzag together to the format of one page. This particular arrangement of pages advantageously gives a user the choice to either leaf through the respective pages of the diary in its folded-up position or to draw out the longitudinal row of pages wholly or partly in the longitudinal direction to be able to overlook a desired period of several pages in one 35 view.

Each of the folds has its own preferential folding direction. Seen from one of either side of the diary, the folds are folded alternately inward and outward. Each fold remains its -3- respective preferential folding direction during normal use. The folding up of the diary is univocal since all the folding lines have the same longitudinal direction, and since the folding directions are alternately inward and outward. Because of this alternation the pages are stacked on top of each other. The longitudinal row can comprise as many pages as 5 necessary, and thus be made as long as one desires. A period of for example at least half a year can easily be covered on more than twenty-six pages with on each page pre-printed a period of a week. Another example is that the period of at least half a year is covered on more than fifty-two pages, each two adjacent pages being printed with the period of a week. Yet another example is that the period of at least half a year is covered on more than 10 hundred and eighty-two pages, each page being printed with a period of a day. Also a period of more than a year can easily be covered in these ways. It is also possible to use the pages on both sides.

The univocal folding process advantageously does not limit the maximum allowable number of pages of the diary. Seen from one of either side of the diary, the pages on 15 opposite sides of outward folds, in a way stick together somewhat in the folded-up position of the diary, and then act as if they were one page. By keeping the folds on one of either side of the diary closely together, it is possible to quickly and easily leaf through the diary, like if it were a traditionally bound diary. During drawing out of the longitudinal row of pages the user himself can freely choose how big a period he wants to overlook in one view.

20 Another advantage is that, like in a conventional diary, it is possible to use bookmarkers in order to indicate one or more specific pages or parts of the covered time period. These bookmarkers can for example be formed by edge parts like lower corners of the pages that can be torn out by the user or as another example by means of distinguishable prints on the outwardly directed folding edges, indicating for example the quarters of a year, or the 25 specific months.

It is noted that it is already known for birthday or year calendars to provide a longitudinal row of six pages zigzag folded together with on each page on both its front and back side printed one of the twelve months. A disadvantage with this is that for each day of the month only one line is available. Also it is noted that it is already known to provide 30 traditionally bound pocket diaries with such a zigzag folded birthday or year calendar as supplementary sheet which can be drawn out whenever desired. See for example FR-681634. Per page here three months are printed, resulting in even less than one line per respective day being available for making notes.

In an advantageous embodiment according to the present invention, the first and last 35 pages of the row are connected to protective cover sheets, particularly made of a material which is stronger, thicker and/or more rigid than the pages themselves. The cover helps in keeping the assembly of pages in good shape. Also the cover serves as a rigid underground -4- which makes it possible to always directly write on a page when the diary is opened at that page.

It is possible to form the longitudinal row of pages out of one continuous sheet of paper, which has been properly printed with the aimed period indications and which has 5 been properly folded. In an advantageous embodiment, however, the longitudinal row is formed by a number of sheet segments connected with each other. Each segment then comprises a number of zigzag folded pages, in particular at least five, more in particular exactly five, arranged next to each other. The segments can be connected with each other in various ways. For example they may be glued to one another. For this purpose each 10 segment preferably comprises a so-called “blank” page at its outer end, that is to say a page which is left blank on its front or back side. This “blank” page can then be connected with a “blank” page at the opposite outer end of an adjacent segment, that is to say with a page which is left blank on the other one of its front or back side. By using an entire page for the connection no local edge thickenings occur, and a uniform thickness over the entire width of 15 the diary is obtained. By using segments to build up the longitudinal row, it is possible to economically manufacture the diary by using large printing sheets, for example having common measurements of 72 by 102 centimetres. On such printing sheets various segments per sheet can be printed. After the printing has been completed, the segments can then be cut loose and connected with each other. Thus the longitudinal row can be 20 given a total length which is longer than the length of one printing sheet, in particular longer than 100 centimetres.

The entire period which the diary is to cover, can be printed on one side of the pages of the row. The other side can then be provided with another type of print, like for example sets of lines on which general notes can be made and/or pictures and/or information. It is 25 also possible to print one half of the period on one side and the other half of the period on the other side of the pages of the row.

Further advantageous embodiments are stated in the subclaims.

The invention shall be further outlined with reference to the accompanying drawings, 30 wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the diary according to the invention in a partly drawn out position;

Fig. 2 shows a view of the diary of fig. 1 in a folded up position leafed opened at a certain page; 35 Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of a method for manufacturing the row of pages of the diary of fig. 1 in which it is built up out of a number of segments to be connected with each other; -5-

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of a pre-print for the respective pages of the diary of fig.

1; and

Fig. 5 shows a cross section of an alternative embodiment with integrated magnet closure of the diary in its fully folded-up position.

5

In fig. 1 the diary in its entirety is indicated with the reference numeral 1. The diary 1 comprises protective cover sheets, in particular a hardboard cover 2 on the front and a hardboard cover 3 on the back. In between the covers 2, 3 a longitudinal row of zigzag folded pages 4. Seen from the right side in fig. 1, the right pages are indicated with 4a, and 10 their opposite left pages are indicated with 4b. Between the pages 4 folds 5 are provided. Seen from for example the right side in fig. 1, the folding edges 5’ are directed outward, whereas the folding edges 5” are directed inward. As can be seen in fig. 4 each of the pages is printed with a period of one particular week, with which for the working days Monday-Friday a somewhat larger space is framed and left open for notes to be made than 15 for the weekend days Saturday and Sunday. On each page increasing week numbers are printed, and for each day frame an increasing indication of the specific days, day numbers and months of the year are printed. It is also possible to print only one indication of the respective month per page or sets of pages corresponding to this specific month.

In the folded-up position as shown in fig. 2 it is possible for a user to leaf through the 20 diary in a somewhat traditional manner by turning the pages until the desired one is arrived. In the partly drawn out position as shown in fig. 1 it is possible for the user to overlook a desired period of several pages in one view. In the position shown in fig. 1, with one week per page and all the days of the week positioned beneath one another, all the similar days of the pages drawn out advantageously come to lie outlined next to one another. This 25 improves the overview and planning possibilities, since a lot of activities which spread out over a period of several months have fixed intervals, like for example every Monday or Tuesday.

The reading direction of any of the pages is such that a drawn-out part of the diary, laid out over the length of for example a desk, can easily be read by a user while he 30 maintains a for example central position behind this desk. This makes the content of the drawn-out part, that is to say a period of several weeks, well readable without having to rotate or twist ones head. Furthermore ones scope of vision has a larger width than height, which also advantageously goes well together with the horizontal extension direction. Also it is easier for a user to draw out the zigzag folded pages from left to right than from top to 35 bottom. The reach between ones arms is larger in the sideways direction than in the upward direction.

-6-

In fig. 3 it is shown that the longitudinal row of pages can be built up out of a plurality of segments 6. Each segment 6 comprises several alternating sets of pages 4a and 4b, as well as connecting pages 7 at their outer ends. The connecting pages 7 may be left “blank” on one side because either their front or back side need not be provided with a pre-print 5 since it needs to be connected with a “blank” page of an adjacent segment 6, in particular by means of a suitable adhesive.

The longitudinal direction of the row of pages 4 is indicated in the figures with the arrow 8. The longitudinal direction of the folding edges of the folds 5 is indicated in the figures with the arrow 9.

10 In fig. 5 an alternative embodiment is shown in which magnets 10 attracting each other are included in the front and back protective cover sheets 2, 3. The magnets 10 have substantially the same thickness as the cover sheets 2, 3 and for this are mounted in complementary cut-outs in the cover sheets 2, 3. The magnets 10 have the advantage that they aid in keeping the diary in its folded-up position, that is to say by the two magnets 10 15 attracting each other they clamp the zigzag folded pages 4 against each other. This gives the diary 1 cohesion in its folded-up position. The diary 1 is then less likely to fall apart in for example ones carrier bag, or when one tries to pick it up. The diary 1 thus advantageously can be closed over and over again without any effort from the user at all. With only a small extra force during opening the attractive force of the magnets 10 can be easily overcome.

20 The, for example cylindrical, magnets 10 can be glued or otherwise connected to the cover sheets 2, 3. Furthermore they can be covered by suitably laminating the cover sheets 2, 3. On the outer side of the diary 1 this lamination may be a top layer on which a printing of the cover sheets is included.

Besides the embodiments shown numerous variants are possible. For example 25 writing lines may also be pre-printed on the pages besides the indications of the days and/or dates. Furthermore the diary may also comprise different types of additional pages, like blank pages year calendar pages, personal info pages, etc. The segments may be connected with one another in different ways, for example by means of tape or small strips of paper. In addition to or instead of the cover sheets, it is also possible to use a protective 30 folder into which the folded-up set of pages can be inserted. The printings on the pages can be made with all kinds of sorts of printing techniques, like for example offset printing, copying, stencilling, screen-printing, etc. As an alternative for the magnet closure it is also possible to use a suitable elastic band or other kind of fastener.

Thus according to the invention a user-friendly compact pocket or desktop diary is 35 provided which contrary to the traditional diaries gives the user the additional option to really overview a period in his or her diary of more than a few weeks in one glance.

Claims

A desk or pocket diary comprising an assembly of pages, wherein each page is pre-printed with a period of at least 1 to a maximum of 7 days, the pages together covering a total period of at least a few months, and wherein the respective pages pages are folded to the size of a 5 page, characterized in that all the pages are provided side by side to form a longitudinal row, the pages in the row are separated from each other by means of folds, the direction of which folding edges are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the row, and the pages in the row are zigzag folded using the folds up to the size of one page such that a user has the choice of either scrolling through the diary in its folded position or to fully or partially extend the longitudinal row of pages in the longitudinal direction so as to be able to achieve a desired The period of pages can be viewed at a glance.

A desk or pocket diary according to claim 1, wherein the first and last page of the row are connected to protective cover sheets.

3. Desk or pocket diary according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the longitudinal row is formed by a number of segments that are connected to each other, wherein each segment comprises a number of zigzag folded pages arranged side by side.

4. A desk or pocket diary according to claim 3, wherein each segment comprises a connecting page at its end, which is connected to a connecting page of an adjacent segment.

A desk or pocket diary according to claim 4, wherein the segments are connected to each other by gluing.

A desk or pocket diary according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the longitudinal row of pages has a total length of at least 100 cm.

A desk or pocket diary according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least some fold edges of the folds are pre-printed. 35-8

A desk or pocket diary according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pages are pre-printed on both sides.

9. Desk or pocket diary according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a total period is pre-printed on the pages of at least one year.

A desk or pocket diary according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each page is pre-printed with a period of a week.

A desk or pocket diary according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein securing means are provided for zigzag folded to hold the pages together in their folded position.

12. A desk or pocket diary according to claim 11, wherein the fastening means 15 comprise magnets which attract each other and which are positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal row of pages in their folded position.

A desk or pocket diary according to claims 2 and 12, wherein the magnets are mounted on the protective covers. 20