Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
  • B42D—BOOKS; BOOK COVERS; LOOSE LEAVES; PRINTED MATTER CHARACTERISED BY IDENTIFICATION OR SECURITY FEATURES; PRINTED MATTER OF SPECIAL FORMAT OR STYLE NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DEVICES FOR USE THEREWITH AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; MOVABLE-STRIP WRITING OR READING APPARATUS
  • B42D15/00—Printed matter of special format or style not otherwise provided for
  • B42D15/0073—Printed matter of special format or style not otherwise provided for characterised by shape or material of the sheets
  • B42D15/008—Foldable or folded sheets

Definitions

• This invention relates to foldable sheet materials, regardless of whether in a folded or unfolded condition, and to sheet articles.
• foldable sheet material having a first set of concertina folds (which term means that the folds are alternately towards and away from the front of the sheet) . It is also known to provide foldable sheet material having a first set of vertical concertina folds and a second set of horizontal concertina folds, as exemplified in O-A- 87/04284.
• stiff portions which extend over one corner or two diagonally opposite corners of the folded sheet material .
• the stiff portions provide one or two covers, under or between which the folded sheet material is protected.
• a disadvantage inherent in the folded material is that the edges of the uppermost and lowermost portions of the folded sheet are substantially parallel and flush with the edges of the adjacent portions within the folded material . It is therefore difficult for a user to grasp the edges of the uppermost and lowermost portions and unfold the folded sheet material by pulling on those portions.
• stiff portions located on the uppermost and lowermost portion alleviates the disadvantage but the cost of manufacturing and affixing the stiff portions to the sheet material considerably increases production costs.
• a foldable sheet material comprising a first set of concertina folds defining a plurality of full segments in the sheet material, at which folds the sheet material can be folded and unfolded, wherein the sheet material is provided with a first segment of the sheet which when the sheet is in a folded configuration is an outermost segment of the folded sheet material, and wherein at least a portion of the first segment is shorter in at least one dimension than a full segment, when the sheet material is in the folded configuration.
• the first segment is the outermost segment when the sheet material is in the fully folded configuration.
• the first segment is an outermost segment of the sheet material .
• the at least a portion of the first segment is shorter in at least one dimension than a full segment when the sheet material is in the fully folded configuration.
• the at least a portion of the first segment is shorter in at least one dimension than its adjacent segment, when the sheet material is in the fully folded configuration.
• a user may grasp the first segment by a shortened edge.
• the shortened edge can be positioned such that the user's fingers and/or thumbs can slide across the adjacent segment and under the edge without the need to substantially separate the edge of the first segment from an edge of the adjacent segment.
• the first segment may be shorter in width, length or both width and length, than a full segment when the sheet material is in the folded configuration.
• the first segment comprises a handle portion, which, when the sheet material is in the folded configuration, is presented out of the plane of the first segment.
• the handle portion may be presented in towards the first segment, when the sheet material is in the folded configuration.
• the handle portion may comprise a folded portion of a full segment .
• the handle portion may be a separately connected handle portion.
• the first segment may thus itself comprise a handle portion, and thus the segment to which it is attached will then not constitute the first segment of the sheet material, but rather the handle portion constitutes the first segment.
• the handle portion comprises the first segment
• the handle portion is shorter in at least one dimension than the segment to which it is connected.
• the sheet material may comprise a second segment of the sheet, which, when the sheet is in the folded configuration, forms an outermost segment not comprising the first segment of the folded sheet, wherein at least a portion of the second segment is shorter in at least one dimension that a full segment in a folded configuration.
• the second segment is preferably as described for the first segment.
• the sheet material may comprise a segment which forms an outermost segment of the sheet when the sheet is in the folded configuration, and which includes a stiff portion connected thereto.
• the stiff portion is larger than the segment in at least one dimension, and preferably is larger in both width and length.
• the stiff portion comprises a stiff card or stiff plastics portion.
• the sheet material may be connected to the inside of a hinged cover, the sheet material being connected such that, when the sheet is in the folded conf guration, the first segment is an outermost segment presented from the inside of the cover.
• the sheet material comprises a second set of folds, and more preferably comprise a second set of concertina folds, transverse to the first set of folds.
• first and second sets of folds are perpendicular to each other.
• the sheet material comprises a second set of folds
• at least a portion of the first and, when present, second segments, as described hereinabove are shorter in at least one dimension than a full segment when the sheet material is folded about both the first and second set of folds, in the fully folded configuration.
• the first and, when present, second segments, as described hereinabove, are an or the outermost segment (s) of the sheet material, when the sheet material is in the fully folded configuration.
• the sheet material is a rectangular sheet material, but may be any suitable shape.
• either the first or second set of folds comprises an even number of folds
• the other of the first or second set of folds comprises an odd number of folds
• the most suitable folding for a rectangular sheet having first and second sets of folds comprises both the first set of folds and the second set of folds both having an even number of folds or both having an odd number of folds.
• the invention is particularly suited to printed sheet material intended to be carried round in the pocket, for which purpose the folds may divide the sheet material into segments of about 4 to 8cm width and 6 to 12cm length. It is preferred that the sheet material, in the folded configuration should be credit-card sized, that is with the folds dividing the material into segments of about 5 to 5%cm width by 8 to 8 ⁇ cm length.
• the sheet material may, during folding thereof, be folded first about the first set of folds and then the second set of folds, or vice versa.
• the sheet material is paper, but in other embodiments the sheet material may be a paperlike material such as plastics, or thin card, for example. It is conceivable that the sheet material may be stiff except at the folds, for example cards interconnected by paper, cloth or the like at the folds.
• a sheet article comprising a cover comprising hingedly connected first and second surfaces, wherein a foldable sheet material is connected to the inside of the first and second surfaces of the cover, the sheet material comprising a first set of concertina folds defining a plurality of full segments of the sheet material, about which folds the sheet material can be folded and unfolded, and wherein the sheet material is provided with a first segment of the sheet which, when the sheet is in a folded configuration, and when the cover is opened, is an outermost segment of the sheet presented from the cover, wherein at least a portion of the first segment is shorter in at least one dimension than a full segment, in the folded configuration.
• the sheet material is as described for the first aspect of the invention.
• Figure 1A illustrates a first embodiment of the sheet material of the invention in an unfolded configuration
• Figure IB illustrates an end view of the sheet material of Figure 1A in a folded configuration
• Figure 2A illustrates a second embodiment of the sheet material of the invention in an unfolded configuration
• Figure 2B illustrates an end view of the sheet material of Figure 2A in a folded configuration.
• Figure 3A illustrates a third embodiment of the sheet material of the invention in an unfolded configuration.
• Figure 3B illustrates an end view of the sheet material of Figure 3 in a folded configuration
• Figure 4A illustrates a fourth embodiment of the sheet material of the invention in an unfolded configuration
• Figure 4B illustrates an end view of the sheet material of Figure 4A in a folded configuration
• Figure 5A illustrates a fifth embodiment of the sheet material of the invention in an unfolded configuration
• Figure 5B illustrates an end view of the sheet material of Figure 5A in a folded configuration
• Figure 6A illustrates a sixth embodiment of the sheet material of the invention in an unfolded configuration
• Figure 6B illustrates an end view of the sheet material of Figure 6A in a folded configuration
• Figure 7A illustrates a seventh embodiment of the sheet material of the invention in an unfolded configuration
• Figure 7B illustrates a plan view of the sheet material of Figure 7A, with the sheet in a folded configuration
• Figure 8 illustrates an eighth embodiment of the sheet material of the invention in an unfolded configuration.
• Figure 9A illustrates a ninth embodiment of the sheet material of the invention in an unfolded state.
• Figure 9B illustrates an end view of the sheet material of Figure 9A in a folded configuration.
• Figure 10A illustrates a tenth embodiment of the sheet material of the invention in an unfolded state.
• Figure 10B illustrates an end view of the sheet material of Figure 10A in a folded configuration.
• Figure 11A illustrates an eleventh embodiment of the sheet material of the invention in an unfolded state.
• Figure 11B illustrates an end view of the sheet material of Figure 11A in a folded configuration.
• Figure 12 illustrates a twelfth embodiment of the sheet material of the invention in an unfolded state .
• a sheet material 2 of the invention comprises a generally rectangular sheet 3 defined by spaced apart pairs of edges 5 and 9, and having a first set of five concertina folds 4 and perpendicular to the folds 4, a second set of two concertina folds 6.
• the sheet 3 is divided up into segments in six columns and three rows.
• the right-hand peripheral column 7 has a shorter width than the other five columns (such that five of the columns include full segments, whereas the peripheral column 7 includes thinner segments) , and includes a first segment in the form of the corner segment 8 which, when the sheet 3 is in a folded configuration is arranged to be an outermost segment of the folded sheet material, as illustrated in Figure IB.
• the sheet material 2 is folded up by firstly concertina folding the sheet 3 about the fold lines 4 to stack the six columns on one another such that the corner segment 8 of the peripheral column 7 is located as the upper outermost (or lower outermost segment, depending on the way the folded sheet is presented) on the fully folded stack.
• the sheet 3 is then concertina folded about the second set of folds 6 such that the sheet forms a stack in which all the segments are stacked on one another, and such that the corner segment 8 of the peripheral column is located uppermost (or lowermost) on the stack, as illustrated in Figure IB.
• a user grasps the corner segment 8, located uppermost (or lowermost) on the stack and, holding onto the other of the lowermost or uppermost segments of the stack, pulls the segment 8 outwardly of the stack to unfold the sheet .
• segment 8 has a shorter width than the adjacent segment 18 in the stack, a user may easily slide his or her fingers under the segment 8 without the need to first separate the edges of the segment 8 from the edges of the adjacent segment 18.
• the action of folding and unfolding may be repeated as desired.
• FIGS 2A and 2B illustrate a sheet material 2 similar to that shown in Figures 1A and IB.
• Like numerals represent like features.
• the corner segment 8 comprises a portion 10 which is folded about a fold line 12.
• the fold line 12 may be replaced by a perforation line or a visual indicator line, about which a user may fold the portion 10.
• the portion 10 may also be folded about the fold line 12 such that it is folded towards the adjacent segment 7 in the folded configuration, and is thus presented into the stack.
• Figure 3A and 3B illustrate a sheet material similar to that shown in Figures 1A and IB. Like numerals represent like features.
• a stiff portion 14 is connected to the outside of the corner segment 13 which is diagonally opposite the corner segment 8.
• the stiff portion is located at the lowermost (or uppermost) segment of the stack, as illustrated in Figure 3B.
• the stiff portion being slightly larger than the underlying segments in the stack is relatively easy to grasp by a user and assists in the user unfolding and refolding the sheet 3 when desired, by providing a relatively large area to hold.
• the stiff portion 14 also provides a covering portion which decreases the likelihood of damage to the folded sheet 3 due to handling, liquid spillages or the like.
• the sheet may be connected to the inside of a hinged cover such that the lowermost or uppermost segment of the stack not comprising the corner segment 8 is connected to the cover, which cover may be closed round the sheet when stacked in the folded configuration.
• Figures 4A and 4B illustrate a sheet material 2 similar to that shown in Figure 1A and IB.
• Like numerals represent like features.
• the peripheral column 15 located on the opposite side of the sheet to the first peripheral column 7, also has a width shorter than that of its adjacent column.
• Figures 5A and 5B illustrate an embodiment of the sheet material of the invention very similar to that illustrated in Figures 4A and 4B.
• the opposite corner segments 8 and 16 are shorter in both length and width than the segment in their respective adjacent columns.
• the uppermost and lowermost segments 8 and 16 are shorter in both length and width than their adjacent segments 18 and 20 in the stack.
• FIGS 6A and 6B illustrate a sheet material 2 similar to that shown in Figures 1A and IB.
• Like numerals represent like features.
• the peripheral column 7 when the sheet material is in the unfolded configuration, has a width equal to that of its adjacent column.
• the peripheral column 7 includes a secondary fold line 26 which separates the column 7 into two sub-columns 22 and 24, each having a width of one-half of a standard segment of the sheet 3.
• the peripheral column 7 is folded about the fold line 26 such that the sub-column 24 at segment 8 is oriented as the outermost portion of the sheet 3, lying on top of sub- column 22.
• the outermost segment formed by the folded sub-column 24 is formed as a concertina-folded first segment presented out of the stack of full segments and half-segment 31, of the folded sheet 3 , as shown in Figure 6B .
• FIG. 7 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a sheet material 2 of the invention.
• the sheet material 2 comprises a rectangular sheet 3 defined by edges 5 and 9, and having a first set of 5 concertina folds 4 and perpendicular to the folds 4, a second set of a single concertina fold 6.
• the sheet 3 is divided up into six columns and two rows.
• the right-hand outer peripheral column 7 has a shorter width than the other four columns, and comprises two segments 8, one on each row of the sheet, separated by the fold line 6.
• the sheet 3 is connected to the inside of a hinged cover 28.
• the hinged cover 28 comprises first 30 and second 32 surfaces which are hingedly connected by a fold 34 therebetween.
• the left peripheral column 36 of the sheet comprises upper 37 and lower 39 segments separated by the fold line 6 of the sheet.
• the upper segment 37 is connected to the inside of the first surface 30 of the cover 28, and the lower segment 39 is connected to the second surface 32 of the cover 28 such that the fold line 6 between the segments is located directly above and extending along the fold 34 of the cover 28.
• the sheet 3 is concertina folded such that the concertina-folded upper row of the sheet is located above the first surface 30 of the cover, and the lower row of the sheet is located above the second surface 32.
• the shortened width segments 8 of the peripheral column 7 are located as the outermost segments of the stack above both the first 30 and second 32 surfaces of the cover 28, as shown in Figure 7B.
• the cover 28 can be closed by rotating the first 30 and second 32 surfaces about the fold line 34. As the cover 28 is closed the sheet 3 will fold about the fold line 6 such that the outer segments 8 abut.
• the cover 28 can then be opened to present the segments 8 as the outermost segments of the stack, which can then be grasped by the user, and pulled to unfold the sheet 3 to present the five regular columns and one shortened width column.
• Figure 8 illustrates an embodiment of a sheet material 2 of the invention which is similar to the embodiment shown in Figures 5A and 5B.
• the segments 8 and 16 which in the folded configuration form the uppermost and lowermost segments of the folded sheet 3, comprise tabs which extend from their respective adjacent segments 18 and 20.
• the tabs 8 and 16 do not form a continuous surface with the remainder of their respective peripheral columns 7 and 15, and are spaced apart from their adjacent segments of the columns, as illustrated in Figure 8.
• the tabs 8 and 16 have both a width and length shorter than their adjacent full segments 18 and 20 in the stack when the sheet 3 is in the fully folded configuration.
• the tabs 8 and 16 can have a width equal to the width of their adjacent segments 18 and 20 in their respective peripheral columns .
• Figure 9A and 9B illustrate a sheet material 2 similar to that shown in Figures 6A and 6B.
• the corner segments 18 of the peripheral right hand column 7 includes a fold line 26 diagonally bisecting the corner segment 18 such that the free corner portion bisected by the fold line 26 forms the first segment 8 of the sheet material 2.
• the outermost segment 18 is folded about fold line 26 such that the corner segment 8, forming the first segment as claimed in the invention, is presented either into or out of the plane of the segment 18.
• the peripheral column 7 has a width equal to that of its adjacent column it includes a first segment in the form of the corner segment 8 in which a curved sector has been removed from the free corner thereof.
• the first segment 8 has a portion which includes a width and length shorter than the adjacent segment 18, when the sheet 3 is in the fully folded configuration, as shown in Figure 10B.
• FIGS 11A and 11B illustrate an embodiment of the invention similar to that described for Figures 1A and IB.
• the peripheral column 7 has a width equal to its adjacent column and the upper right corner segment 18 is dimensioned identically to its adjacent segment when in the folded configuration.
• the corner segment 18 includes a handle portion 8 which forms the first segment of the sheet material 2 of this embodiment.
• the handle portion 8 is presented out of the plane of its adjacent segment 18, and has a width and length shorter than the adjacent segment 18.
• the handle portion in this embodiment forms the first segment as described for the invention.
• Figure 12 illustrates a twelfth embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention and a second embodiment of the sheet article of the second aspect of the invention, and is similar to the embodiment shown in Figures 3A and 3B.
• Like numerals represent like components.
• the sheet material is attached to a cover comprising first 14 and second 30 stiff portions, hingedly connected by a fold line 52 between the stiff portions 14, 30.
• the sheet material is attached to the first stiff portion 14, as described for the embodiment of Figures 3A and 3B.

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• 2001
  • 2001-11-10 GB GBGB0127094.1A patent/GB0127094D0/en not_active Ceased
• 2002
  • 2002-11-08 WO PCT/GB2002/005052 patent/WO2003041969A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2002-11-08 JP JP2003543831A patent/JP2005508775A/ja active Pending
  • 2002-11-08 US US10/495,136 patent/US20050040585A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-11-08 EP EP02774986A patent/EP1441913A1/en not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (6)

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