WO2005023556A1

WO2005023556A1 - Book cover

Info

Publication number: WO2005023556A1
Application number: PCT/AU2004/001174
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cameron Charles Spence
Original assignee: Cameron Charles Spence
Priority date: 2003-09-11
Filing date: 2004-08-31
Publication date: 2005-03-17

Abstract

A book covering (10) which is adapted for covering a book (12) having respective front and back covers (14, 16), a spine (18) and a plurality of pages (20). The book covering (10) including: a cover member (22a, 22b) of a flexible material having respective interior and exterior surfaces (22, 32) and top and bottom edges (28, 30); a flap (36) associated with one lateral edge (24, 26) of the cover member (22a, 22b) for receiving at least an outer portion of one of the front or back covers (14, 16) of the book (12); and, at least one band (40) disposed on the interior surface (22) of the cover member (22a, 22b), secured to the cover member (22a, 22b) substantially at the top and bottom edges (28, 30) and positioned at a predetermined location between the flap (36) and an opposite lateral edge (24, 26) of the cover member (22a, 22b). The at least one band (40) being adapted to receive the other of the front or back covers (14, 16) of the book (12) and a portion of the cover member (22a, 22b) when the opposite lateral edge (24, 26) is folded over and into an interior surface of the other of the front or back covers (14, 16) of the book (12) and inserted through the at least one band (40).

Description

BOOK COVER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to protective or decorative book covers, and relates particularly, though not exclusively, to a book covering which is removably attachable to a book and which is adjustable to accommodate books of varying thicknesses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Protective book covers in various forms are known. Conventionally books, in particular hard-cover books, have been fitted with protective or decorative covers, commonly referred to as book jackets, that loosely wrap around the hard cover of that book in order to provide a degree of protection for the same. Such jackets, usually made out of paper or plastics material, are generally designed in one-piece and include respective back, front and spine cover portions, along with two flaps making up the lateral edges of the jacket. The respective portions and flaps of the jacket are usually separated by permanent fold or crease lines formed therein. In use, a jacket is fitted to a book by being wrapped around the book such that respective portions of the jacket overlay and conform to adjacent portions of the book. The jacket is then retained on the book by way of the two flaps, which are folded around and onto the interior side of the front and back covers of the book, the retention being provided by the flaps being held between respective covers and the bound pages. While such jackets do provide a degree of protection for the books to which they are fitted, they have been found to suffer from the drawback of only being useable with a book of more or less exactly the same size, in terms of spine thickness (number of pages therein). Such jackets, by their very nature, are incapable of being used with other books of a different size or spine thickness. These prior art jackets are designed to accommodate a book of a particular size, and are not adaptable to be used with other differently sized books. This lack of adaptability is due primarily to the limitations of the size and positioning of the fold lines of each jacket. Thus conventional jackets are designed on a book-by- book basis and are non-adjustable in nature.

A book cover which is adjustable to suit books of varying dimensions is disclosed in US Patent No. 5,013,068, by David J. Maldonado. This book cover is constructed such that it includes a stretchable seam binding that is attached to and extends in a loop around the peripheral edges of the body covering material. Two pockets are provided at opposed lateral ends of the book cover for receiving front and back covers of a book. When fitting the book cover to a book the seam binding is stretchable to accommodate and adjust to the size of the front and back covers being inserted into the pockets and, when inserted, the seam binding compresses in order that the book cover may conform to the overall dimensions of the book.

A similar book cover is disclosed in US Patent No. 6,257,622, by Sharon A. Peker. Instead of having a stretchable seam binding, the entire body of this book cover is constructed of a stretchable fabric, such as spandex, in order that the book cover may conform to and be retained on the book to which it is fitted.

Both these adjustable book covers rely on the elastic properties of materials used in their construction to provide a means for retaining books of varying sizes. A major problem with book covers which utilise elastic or expansible retention means is that, when accommodating some books, especially paper- back books, tensile or compressive stresses induced by the expansible means can cause front and/or back book covers to crease or bend. In some instances it may even become difficult to actually read a book, as the stresses acting on the book cover may bias the book to an undesired open or closed position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a book covering which is adapted to be attached to a book to cover the same and which is adjustable to accommodate books of varying thicknesses. According to the present invention there is provided a book covering adapted for covering a book having respective front and back covers, a spine and a plurality of pages, said book covering including: a cover member of a flexible material having respective interior and exterior surfaces and top and bottom edges; a flap associated with one lateral edge of said cover member for receiving at least an outer portion of one of said front or back covers of said book; at least one band disposed on said interior surface of said cover member, secured to said cover member substantially at said top and bottom edges and positioned at a predetermined location between said flap and an opposite lateral edge of said cover member, said at least one band being adapted to receive the other of said front or back covers of said book and a portion of said cover member when said opposite lateral edge is folded over and into an interior surface of said other of said front or back covers of said book and inserted through said at least one band.

Preferably said book covering is adapted to be removably attached to and detached from said book. It is also preferred that said flap is a separate component to that of said cover member or is integral with said cover member and is formed by way of stitching or a fold in or relative to said cover member along one of said lateral edges. In a further preferred aspect said cover member, said flap and said at least one band of said book cover are constructed from either the same flexible material or materials of similar properties. In yet a further preferred aspect said book covering may include one band secured at said top and bottom edges of said cover member and disposed on said interior surface of said cover member.

In a practical preferred embodiment said flap is at least partially secured along said top and bottom edges of said cover member such that said flap forms a pocket for receiving said one of said front or back covers of said book.

In a further practical embodiment said book covering further includes at least one strap secured to one of said top or bottom edges of said cover member and adapted to be used as a book mark, to be inserted between selected ones of said plurality of pages of said book. In yet a further practical embodiment said cover member, said flap, said at least one band and said at least one strap are constructed from a soft flexible fabric, for example cotton or felt, which can be pressed to provide fold lines suitable for application to a particular book and can be later re-pressed to provide fold lines suitable for a different book. It is also preferred that said book covering is constructed from a material that can be washed in a conventional house-hold washing machine should said book covering become soiled.

In yet a further practical preferred embodiment said book covering includes at least one retention means adapted to be utilised to retain said book in a closed position. In a practical embodiment said at least one retention means is at least one retention band, which is preferably elastic, that can be drawn over an exterior surface of said book covering to retain said book in said closed position against an opposite side of said book covering.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and put into practical effect there shall now be described in a detail preferred construction an improved book covering in accordance with the invention. The ensuing description is given by way of a non-limitative example only and is with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the interior of a book covering made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the interior of the book covering of Fig. 1, shown arranged beside a book onto which the book covering is to be fitted; Fig. 3 is a perspective view, illustrating a first stage of the application of the book covering of Fig. 1 to the book of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view, illustrating a second stage of the application of the book covering of Fig. 1 to the book; Fig. 5 is a perspective view, illustrating a final stage of the application of the book covering of Fig. 1 to the book;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the book fitted with the book covering of Fig. 1, showing application of a preferred feature of the book covering; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the book fitted with the book covering of Fig. 1, showing the use of a further preferred feature of the book covering.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In Figs. 1 to 7, there is shown a book cover or covering 10 which can be removably attached to and detached from a book 12 (not shown in Fig. 1) having respective front and back covers 14,16, a spine 18 and a plurality of pages 20. Book 12 can be any suitable book, for example a novel, textbook, dictionary, yearbook, magazine or the like.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1, wherein the interior surface 22 of book cover 10 is shown in plan view in an unfolded state, book cover 10 includes opposed lateral edges 24,26, as well as top and bottom longitudinal edges 28,30 and is, in the present embodiment, generally rectangular in shape. The choice of the shape of book cover 10 is dependant on the shape of book 12 to which book cover 10 is to be fitted and, as such, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific example as shown.

Book cover 10 is shown constructed from respective inner and outer layers 22a,22b. Outer layer 22b constitutes the outer or exterior surface 32 of book cover 10 and inner layer 22a constitutes inner interior surface 22 of book cover 10. Both layers 22a,22b are preferably constructed from the same or similar soft pliable fabrics such as, for example, felt, cotton or the like, and are joined along join lines 34 near edges 24,26,28,30 of book cover 10. Join lines 34 are represented in the drawings as being the lines where inner and outer layers 22a,22b have been stitched together. It should be understood that join lines 34 are only shown for illustrative purposes and are not essential to the invention. Inner and outer layers 22a,22b may simply be glued together or joined in some other suitable manner, and as such the positioning of join lines 34 is dependant on the specific interrelationship of inner and outer layers 22a,22b. Similarly, although shown constructed from respective inner and outer layers 22a,22b, book cover 10 could be formed from a single piece of a suitable material constituting only interior and exterior surfaces 22,32 of book cover 10. In the case a single piece of material, join lines 34 would not be required.

Book cover 10 includes a pocket 36 located at lateral edge 26. Pocket 36 is adapted, in use, to receive all or part of front cover 14 of book 12. Pocket 36 is preferably defined by a separate section of inner layer 22a which has been attached to interior surface 22 at lateral edge 26 by stitching along top and bottom longitudinal edges 28,30 and lateral edge 26. Pocket 36 is arranged such that it opens to interior surface 22 along pocket opening line 38 for receiving inwardly therefrom front cover 14 of book 12. Although illustrated as a pocket 36 being enclosed by stitching along edges 26,28,30, it should be understood that pocket 36 may be constructed in many other ways, for example, pocket 36 may be defined by a section of outer layer 22b which has been folded over interior surface 22 at lateral edge 26 and stitched along top and bottom longitudinal edges 28,30. Similarly, pocket 36 may be arranged at lateral edge 24, instead of lateral edge 26, in the same or similar manner to what has been described. Should pocket 36 be arranged at lateral edge 24 then pocket 36 would be adapted to receive all or part of back cover 16 instead of front cover 14 of book 12. In a further embodiment (not shown) pocket 36 may not be stitched or joined along longitudinal edges 28,30, or may be partially stitched if so desired. If not stitched along longitudinal edges 28,30, pocket 36 would constitute a flap joined to, or integral with, book cover 10 along lateral edge 26. It should therefore be understood that a pocket 36 enclosed along edges 26,28,30 is only represented as a preferred design and is not essential to the invention. A flap joined or folded at lateral edge 26, for example, would achieve a similar result and is therefore intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Book cover 10 also includes a band 40 positioned on interior surface 22 at a point which is approximately mid- way between pocket opening 38 and lateral edge 24. Band 40, which is preferably constructed from the same or similar soft pliable material as that of inner and outer layers 22a,22b of book cover 10, may be positioned at any suitable location, the specific location thereof being chosen dependant on the intended application of book cover 10. Band 40 is joined to top and bottom longitudinal edges 28,30 by stitching or the like, and extends across interior surface 22 of book cover 10. In use, band 40 is adapted to receive back cover 16 of book 12 and subsequently a portion of book cover 10, at lateral edge 24, when the same is folded over back cover 16 and inserted into band 40. After lateral edge 24 of book cover 10 has been folded over back cover 16 of book 12, a portion thereof is inserted under band 40, between band 40 and the inside of back cover 16 of book 12. Band 40 serves as a means for retaining book cover 10 attached to book 12.

It is to be understood that if pocket 36 was to be alternatively arranged at lateral edge 24, instead of lateral edge 26, band 40 would be suitably arranged with respect to lateral edge 26, for receiving a portion of book cover 10 at lateral edge 26. In this alternate embodiment (not shown) pocket 36 and band 40 would receive opposite covers 14,16 of book 12.

What is also shown in the figures, as additional preferred features, is a book mark 42 and a retention means 44, which when book cover 10 is attached to book 12, can be used to retain book 12 in a closed position. Book mark 42 is arranged adjacent pocket 36 and is attached to book cover 10 by any suitable means, such as stitching or the like, along longitudinal edge 28. Although shown attached to top longitudinal edge 28 it should be understood that the same could be¹ attached to bottom longitudinal edge 30. Book mark 42 is preferably constructed from the same of similar materials to those used in the construction of inner and outer layers 22a,22b, pocket 36, and band 40 of book cover 10. h use, when book cover 10 is attached to book 12, book mark 42 can be lifted out from between front cover 14 and pages 20, away from pocket 36, and be placed at any location between pages 20 of book 12.

Retention means 44, which is preferably a band having elastic properties, is arranged alongside band 40 of book cover 10 and is attached to book cover 10 by any suitable means, such as stitching or the like, along top and bottom longitudinal edges 28,30. In use, when book cover 10 is attached to book 12, retention means 44 can be used to maintain book 12 in a closed position (Fig. 7). If retention means 44 is constructed out of an elastic material then retention means 44 can simply be stretched out and away from its rest position, relative to back cover 16 of book 12, and over the exterior surface 32 of book cover 10 relative to front cover 14. Although depicted as a one-piece band attached to book cover 10 at top and bottom longitudinal edges 28,30, retention means 44 may consist of two or more sections each co-operating with one another to achieve a similar result. Retention means 44 may include two straps (not shown) attached to respective top and bottom longitudinal edges 28,30 and adapted to be removably affixed to one another at any location by suitable means, for example, velcro fasteners, a buckle or press-studs, such that when affixed to one another the composite retention means retains book 12 in a closed position. The invention is therefore not intended to be limited to the specific example as shown.

To provide a better understanding of the use of book cover 10 relative to book 12, reference is now made to Figs. 3 to 7, each of which illustrate various stages of the application of book cover 10 to book 12. In Fig. 3, book cover 10 is shown in a first stage of application to book 12, wherein front cover 14 of book 12 has been inserted into pocket 36, at pocket opening 38, and moved into pocket 36 towards lateral edge 26. It is preferred that the outer lateral edge of front cover 14 is hard against lateral edge 26 of pocket 36. Book pages 20 are then moved in the direction of arrow A towards front cover 14, which is now enclosed in pocket 36. As can be seen in Fig. 4, back cover 16 of book 12 is then inserted under band 40, between band 40 and interior surface 22 of book cover 10, in the direction of arrow B. Should book cover 10 include retention means 44 embodied as a band as shown in the representations then back cover 16 must also be inserted under retention means 44, between retention means 44 and interior surface 22 of book cover 10 in similar fashion. The final stage of application of book cover 10 to book 12 is shown in Fig. 5, where it can be seen that book cover 10, at lateral edge 24, is folded to the inside of back cover 16 of book 12 and a portion thereof is inserted under band 40 (and retention means 44 if required) in the direction of arrow C. The extent to which book cover 10 at lateral edge 24 is inserted under band 40 is dependant on the thickness of book 12 and tile tension applied to lateral edge 24 in the direction of arrow C.

In Figs. 6 and 7, book cover 10 is shown attached in a final state to book 12. It can be seen that book cover 10 now provides an exterior covering to book 12 provided by exterior surface 32 of book cover 10 that extends from lateral edge 26, over front cover 14, spine 18 and back cover 16 of book 12. Book cover 10 is retained on book 12 by means of pocket 36 at lateral edge 26, and band 40 inside back cover 16 which maintains attachment and adjustment of book cover 10 to book 12.

What is also shown in Fig. 6 is the application of book mark 42 between pages 20. Here it can be seen that book mark 42 is movable relative to longitudinal edge 28 into engagement with pages 20 in the direction of arrow D. Thus it can be seen that book mark 42 can be placed into engagement with pages 20 at any suitable location and book mark 42 cannot be lost due to attachment thereof the same to book cover 10 at top longitudinal edge 28.

Although not shown in the drawings, book cover 10 may be pressed or the like before or after application to book 12 in order to temporarily or permanently provide fold lines therein. These fold lines (not shown) can be formed at locations on book cover 10 which correspond to the folds of book 12 and/or at the location at which book cover 10 is folded relative to back cover 16 and into engagement with band 40. Pressing book cover 10 at predetermined locations can improve the conformity of book cover 10 with book 12.

The present invention therefore provides a useful book covering which can be adjusted to suit many different books of varying thicknesses. A book cover is provided which includes a pocket or flap for receiving the front or back cover of a book, and which can be wrapped around the exterior of a book and over the other of the front or back covers and inserted under a band which also receives the front or back cover of the book. The provision of the band allows the book cover to be wrapped into close conformity with the exterior of the book and maintained by way of the portion of the book cover that is folded over the front or back cover and secured under the band. The band therefore provides a means for accommodating books of varying thickness so long as each book has matching spine height. In the case of novels, which typically come in one of four common spine heights, it is expected that four sizes of the book cover of the present invention would accommodate approximately seventy percent of novels on the market.

The invention provides a book covering which can be reused over and over with books of varying thickness in order to provide a temporary or permanent protective layer therefor. It provides the book with a level of protection against damage, while also providing privacy for the reader. The book cover can have ornamental designs or patterns applied to any of its surfaces for decorative or any other suitable purpose. The book covering can be made from any suitable material such as cloth, plastics or any other form of soft or pliable material.

The preferred choice of soft pliable materials used in the construction of the book covering further allows the book covering to be pressed, or the like, to provide temporary or pennanent fold lines suitable for application to different books.

Finally the present invention provides a book covering which can be removably attached to or detached from books of varying thickness and which is not fixed or glued to a book at any location. Therefore the book covering of the present invention is a reusable product that does not damage a book or the book covering in any way when applied to a book.

The invention will be understood to embrace many further modifications, as will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art and which will be deemed to reside within the broad scope and ambit of the invention, there having been set forth herein only the broad nature of the invention and certain specific embodiments by way of example.

Claims

1. A book covering adapted for covering a book having respective front and back covers, a spine and a plurality of pages, said book covering including: a cover member of a flexible material having respective interior and exterior surfaces and top and bottom edges; a flap associated with one lateral edge of said cover member for receiving at least an outer portion of one of said front or back covers of said book; at least one band disposed on said interior surface of said cover member, secured to said cover member substantially at said top and bottom edges and positioned at a predetermined location between said flap and an opposite lateral edge of said cover member, said at least one band being adapted to receive the other of said front or back covers of said book and a portion of said cover member when said opposite lateral edge is folded over and into an interior surface of said other of said front or back covers of said book and inserted through said at least one band.

2. The book covering as claimed in claim 1, adapted to be removably attached to and detached from said book.

3. The book covering as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said flap is a separate component that is affixed to said cover member along one of said lateral edges.

4. The book covering as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said flap is integral with said cover member and is formed by way of a portion of said cover member which has been folded into said interior surface of said cover member and which forms a fold-line that constitutes one of said lateral edges.

5. The book covering as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein said flap is at least partially secured to said cover member along said top and bottom edges such that said flap forms a pocket for receiving said one of said front or back covers of said book.

6. The book covering as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further including at least one strap secured to one of said top or bottom edges of said cover member and adapted to be used as a book mark, to be inserted between selected ones of said plurality of pages of said book.

7. The book covering as claimed in claim 6, including one strap secured to said cover member at one of said top or bottom edges, adjacent said flap.

8. The book covering as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said cover member, said flap and said at least one band of said book covering are constructed from either the same flexible material or materials of similar properties.

9. The book covering as claimed in claim 6, wherein said cover member, said flap, said at least one band and said at least one strap are constructed from either the same flexible material or materials of similar properties.

10. The book covering as claimed in claim 9, wherein said cover member, said flap, said at least one band and said at least one strap are constructed from a soft flexible fabric which is adapted to be pressed to provide fold lines suitable for application to said book and to be later re-pressed to provide fold lines suitable for application to a different book.

11. The book covering as claimed in claim 10, wherein said soft flexible fabric is cotton or felt.

12. The book covering as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, constructed from materials that are washable in a conventional house-hold washing machine.

13. The book covering as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including one band secured to said cover member at said top and bottom edges.

14. The book covering as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further including at least one retention means adapted to be utilised to retain said book in a closed position.

15. The book covering as claimed in claim 14, wherein said at least one retention means is/are at least one retention band disposed on said interior surface of said cover member, secured to said cover member substantially at said top and bottom edges and positioned at a predetermined location between said flap and said opposite lateral edge of said cover member.

16. The book covering as claimed in claim 15, wherein said at least one retention band is/are adapted to retain said book in said closed position by being drawn over said exterior surface of said cover member opposite said opposite lateral edge of said cover member when said book covering is attached to said book and said book is near said closed position.

17. The book covering as claimed in claim 15 or claim 16, wherein said at least one retention band is/are constructed of an elastic material.

18. The book covering as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 17, including one retention band.

19. A book covering, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to accompanying drawings.