WO2002072364A1

WO2002072364A1 - A booklet

Info

Publication number: WO2002072364A1
Application number: PCT/GB2002/000925
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jay Young
Original assignee: Belitha Press Limited
Priority date: 2001-03-08
Filing date: 2002-03-04
Publication date: 2002-09-19
Also published as: GB2372959A; GB0105761D0; GB2372959B

Abstract

A booklet comprising a plurality of a main sheets (10-16), wherein said main sheets (10-16) are joined such that they are positionable in a closed position one on top of another with their edges aligned and such that consecutive mains sheets (10-16) are rotatable relative to each other about a first pair of aligned edges (120) and a second pair of aligned edges (220) opposite said first pair of aligned edges (120), and a plurality of pages are attached to at least one of said main sheets (10-16) on a surface which, in said closed position, faces a consecutive main sheet.

Description

A BOOKLET

The present invention relates to books, booklets, diaries, organisers and the like.

Loose leaf diaries and organisers such as personal organisers and filofaxes (RTM) have been known for many years. A problem with these is that they have a limited size.

A toy, the so-called Jacob's Ladder, has been known for many years. A typical Jacob's Ladder comprises six blocks of wood which are connected by ribbons. If the top block is held and rotated then the blocks under the top block alternately turn to the left and to the right and appear to fall down or tumble.

The present invention provides a booklet comprising: a plurality of a main sheets; wherein said main sheets are joined such that they are positionable in a closed position one on top of another with their edges aligned, such that consecutive main sheets are rotatable relative to each other about a first pair of aligned edges and a second pair of aligned edges opposite said first pair of aligned edges and such that during rotation relative movement apart of said pair of aligned edges about which said consecutive main sheets rotate is substantially prevented; and at least one set of pages is attached to a surface which, in said closed position, lies substantially parallel to and between consecutive main sheets.

In this way a booklet is provided in which information may be printed on the main sheets and, in particular, on the plurality of the pages. Furthermore, the booklet can tumble in a way similar to the way in which a Jacob's Ladder tumbles providing entertainment to the user.

Booklets according to the invention can be attached with, for example, velcro strips to other booklets according to the invention to increase the size of the booklets. The booklets may be used as diaries or personal organisers.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration from the side of a booklet according to the present invention in the closed position;

Figure 2 is a schematic illustration from the front of a booklet according to the present invention in the closed position; Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of a booklet according to the present invention in which the length of the first, second and third braces have been exaggerated in order to help illustrate the mechanism;

Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of one configuration of a booklet according to the present invention in the open position; Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of another configuration of a booklet according to the present invention in the open position; and

Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of the manufacture of a booklet according to the present invention.

Throughout the drawings like numerals will be used to illustrate like components.

Figure 1 illustrates a booklet according to the present invention in a closed position in which a plurality of main sheets 10-16 are positioned one on top of another with first edges 120 and second edges 220 aligned. The first and second edges are on opposite sides of the main sheets 10-16. Sets of pages 40-49 e.g. forming quires, are attached to surfaces between the main sheets 10-16 such that in the closed position the sets are substantially parallel to the main sheets 10-16. Any number of sets of pages may be included in the booklet.

Writing or other graphical representations may be provided on the main sheets or the sets of pages or both or optionally on any other part of the booklet. The pages may be left blank or ruled or printed with a form for the user to fill in information.

Consecutive main sheets 10-16 are joined such that they are rotatable relative to each other about their first edges 120 and their second edges 220. This is achieved by the provision of a first brace 20-24 between each pair of consecutive main sheets 10-16.

The first braces 20-24 are attached at a first end 225 adjacent the aligned edge

120 of a main sheet e.g. 12 and at a second, opposite end 227 adjacent the second edge 220 of the consecutive main sheet e.g. 13. This is best illustrated in Figure 3.

The first braces 20-24 are attached at their first and second ends such that they can hinge about those attachment points. When a pair of consecutive main sheets 10-16 are attached by a first brace 20-24 in such a way and the assembly is folded to form a "Z" shape, the consecutive main sheets 20-24 are then joined and rotatable relative to each other about their first 120 and second 220 pairs of aligned edges.

Of course, with only a first brace relative movement of consecutive main sheets 10-16 about the aligned edges 120, 220 is not constrained to only rotation - the edges may also move apart. To avoid this movement second 32a and optionally third 32b braces may be attached at a first end 325 adjacent the second edge 220 of a first main sheet of a pair of consecutive main sheets e.g. 12 and at a second, opposite end 327 adjacent the second edge 220 of a consecutive main sheet e.g. 13.

In this way it is possible to rotate both main sheets of a pair of joined consecutive main sheets relative to each other about both the first pair of edges 120 and second pair of edges 220 without substantial movement apart of the main sheets at the edges about which rotation takes place. As can be seen in figure 1, the length of the braces from one end to the other end are at least equal to the distance between the first and second edges of the main sheets.

A booklet assembled in this way will tumble in the same way as a Jacob's ladder and also provides an interesting setup for a booklet.

It should be noted that, for illustration purposes, the braces shown in Figure 3 are longer than they would be in practice. The braces in Figure 3 also do not show extension portions 201, 301 which are illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and are described below.

The at least one set of pages 40-49 may be attached to any surfaces of the main sheets or the braces between main sheets. In the preferred embodiment, two sets of pages are attached between each pair of consecutive main sheets 10-16. As can most clearly be seen in Figure 1, in the preferred embodiment, a set of a plurality of pages 40-49 is attached on one side of the first brace e.g. 22 nearest the upper (as illustrated) mainsheet and a second set of pages is attached to the lower (as illustrated) main sheet e.g. 13 of the pair of main sheets.

In this way, as is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, in an open position i.e. when a pair of consecutive main sheets are rotated by 180° to each other around a pair of aligned edges, only one set of pages is exposed. The other set of pages between that pair of consecutive main sheets is hidden beneath the first brace e.g. 22. This is achieved by ensuring that the width of the first brace 20-24 is at least the same as the width of the set of a plurality of pages.

It is also envisaged that a first booklet according to the present invention and a second booklet according to the present invention may be joined together to make a single larger booklet according to the present invention. In fact, Figure 1 illustrates one such embodiment in which the outer surfaces of the outer main sheets (which may be manufactured of a thick or more durable sheet than the other main sheets) of a booklet (e.g. main sheets 14 and 15) are provided with velcro strips 60, 61 which' can be used to join those two main sheets and thereby extend the size of the booklet.

As will be appreciated, the number of pages in each set of pages 40-49 and the surfaces to which they are attached may vary from booklet to booklet. The content of the sets of pages may also be varied. If desired the construction of the booklet may also be varied to allow simultaneous viewing of sets of pages between consecutive main sheets. In this regard, any number of braces may be used.

If the thickness of the sets of pages is significant, it may be necessary to provide extension portions 201, 211, 221, 231, 241, 301, 311, 321, 331, 341 at each end of each of the braces to compensate for the presence of sets of pages. The extension pieces ensure that the main sheets 10-16 can be neatly stacked on top of another. Figure 2 illustrates the extension pieces to the first braces 201, 211, 221, 231, 241 and those to the second and third braces 301, 311, 321, 331, 341.

The main sheets 10-16 may be joined in a number of ways. In the preferred embodiment the main sheets are joined by braces manufactured from cardboard strips. These may be glued to the main sheets or, as illustrated in Figure 6, consecutive main sheets and their interconnecting braces may be manufactured of a single sheet of card. This method has the advantage that only a single glueing action needs to be performed for each consecutive pair of main sheets. The blank illustrated in Figure 6 needs to be bent such that main sheet 12 lies over main sheet 13 and that first brace 22 is bent to lie between main sheet 12 and main sheet 13 and such that extra tab 70 can be glued to second edge 220.

An alternative way of manufacturing the booklet would be to form the braces out of ribbon and form the main sheets from wood, plastic or metal etc. The hinging mechanism may be similar to the one used for doors which can swing open in both directions.

Claims

CLATMS

1. A booklet comprising: a plurality of a main sheets; wherein said main sheets are joined such that they are positionable in a closed position one on top of another with their edges aligned, such that consecutive main sheets are rotatable relative to each other about a first pair of aligned edges and a second pair of aligned edges opposite said first pair of aligned edges and such that during rotation relative movement apart of said pair of aligned edges about which said consecutive main sheets rotate is substantially prevented; and at least one set of pages is attached to a surface which, in said closed position, lies substantially parallel to and between consecutive main sheets.

2. A booklet according to claim 1, wherein at least one pair of consecutive main sheets of said plurality of main sheets are j oined by a first brace hinged at one end to a first of said pair of consecutive main sheets adjacent said first aligned edge and at a second, opposite end to the other of said pair of consecutive main sheets adjacent said second aligned edge.

3. A booklet according to claim 2, further comprising a second brace hinged at one end to said first of said pair of consecutive main sheets adjacent said second aligned edge and at a second, opposite end, to said other of said pair of consecutive main sheets adjacent said first aligned edge.

4. A booklet according to claim 3, further comprising a third brace hinged at one end to said first of said pair of consecutive main sheets adjacent said second aligned edge and at a second, opposite end, to said other of said pair of consecutive main sheets adjacent said first aligned edge.

5. A booklet according to claim 4, wherein said first brace is positioned between said second brace and said third brace.

6. A booklet according to claim 5, wherein said at least one pair of consecutive main sheets, said second brace and said third brace are formed from the same sheet of card.

7. A booklet according to claim 6, wherein said first brace is also formed from said same sheet of card.

8. A booklet according to claim 7, wherein said first end of said first brace is integrally formed to said second of said pair of consecutive main sheets and is glued to said first of said pair of consecutive main sheets.

9. A booklet according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein in said closed position, said first brace completely covers one of said sets of pages.

10. A booklet according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein said surface is a surface of a main sheet or a surface of a first brace.

11. A booklet according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the distance from said first end to said second, opposite end is at least as long as the distance between said first and second aligned edges.

12. A booklet according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising attachment means on an outside surface of an outer main sheet of said plurality of main sheets.

13. A first booklet according to any one of the preceding claims and a second booklet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein main sheets which, in said closed position are outer main sheets of said first and second booklet, are attached on their outer surfaces.

14. A first and second booklet according to claim 13, wherein said outer surfaces are joined together with velcro.

15. A booklet constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.