WO2014053823A1

WO2014053823A1 - Item storage page

Info

Publication number: WO2014053823A1
Application number: PCT/GB2013/052555
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonathan Savory
Original assignee: Jonathan Savory
Priority date: 2012-10-01
Filing date: 2013-10-01
Publication date: 2014-04-10
Also published as: GB201303281D0; GB201217550D0

Abstract

An item storage page (11) for incorporation in a book (10). The page (11) is formed from at least three layers (12, 13, 14) bonded together. The layers (12, 3, 14) include two outer layers (12, 14) and an inner layer (13) therebetween. The inner layer (13) has a recess (30) sized to accommodate an item and the page (11) has an access opening (31) leading to the recess (30) such that the item (22) may be inserted into the recess (30) and removed therefrom.

Description

ITEM STORAGE PAGE

This invention relates to an item storage page for incorporation in a book.

The invention is particularly useful for the storage of data discs and is described herein with a particular emphasis on this use. It will be appreciated though that the invention is suitable for the storage of many items, including USB data sticks, store cards, business cards, or other substantially planar items.

Digital data discs, such as compact discs (CDs) or digital versatile discs (DVDs) are conventionally stored in cases when not in use. Such cases are usually provided with a circular foam stud or a circular arrangement of plastic tabs which serve to hold the disc securely to the case by its centre. The stud or tabs are arranged to protrude through the circular opening formed in the centre of the disc in a tight-fitting arrangement.

There are problems with such securing means in that the foam studs may deform easily and the tabs are brittle and can easily break. Thus, these cases do not provide a particularly secure connection for the discs. They also have a significant thickness.

Other cases exist for the storage of discs in a book-type arrangement. Such arrangements may be beneficial where it is desirable to store a series of like-discs together - for example a collection of DVD films or CDs. These known book-type arrangements conventionally comprise a series of plastic wallets in which the discs are inserted. These are usually flimsy and do not provide protection to prevent the discs being deformed or otherwise damaged. Additionally, they are generally purely storage products and do not provide an area for the display of information in a textual or graphical form.

Cases do not generally exist for other types of data device, such as USB memory sticks. It would be highly beneficial if a storage solution existed for these and other items.

It is a principle aim of the present invention to provide a storage page for one or more items, for incorporation into a book, which addresses some or all of the above problems associated with known storage cases. According to this invention, there is provided an item storage page for incorporation in a book, the page being formed from at least three layers bonded together, the layers including two outer layers and an inner layer therebetween; the inner layer having a recess sized to accommodate an item and the page having an access opening leading to the recess such that the item may be inserted into the recess and removed therefrom.

The page may be integral to the book or may be removeably inserted in a book. Such a book may have a suitable binder mechanism (such as a Filofax® or ring binder) to receive the inserted page. The item may be a USB stick, a card (such as a store card, bank card or business card) or it may be a data disc such as a CD or DVD. The item is preferably substantially planar so as to be accommodated in the page.

It will be appreciated that a page may be formed from more than three layers but there must be at least two outer layers and at least one inner layer. The page may comprise a plurality of outer layers and inner layers bonded together. The term "bonding" as used herein is intended to mean a secure connection between the layers and may include bonding by means of adhesive or any other fixing means. The layers may be bonded together over a part of or over the whole of a surface of the layers.

The item to be accommodated in the page may be any shape and configuration and the recess must be appropriately sized to accommodate that item. For example, the page may be formed with a recess sized to accommodate a circular disc, such as a CD or DVD, or may be formed with a recess sized to receive a non-circular disc, such as square minidisc. The recess need not be of a matching shape to the item so long as the item can be accommodated therein.

The access opening may be provided in or through an outer layer but preferably, the page is configured so that an item may be accommodated in the recess by sliding laterally from an edge of the page. Consequently, the access opening is ideally provided at or adjacent an edge of a page. This arrangement does not require the recess to extend to the edge of the page (though this configuration is not precluded, as discussed below), as an item may be slid laterally into the access opening and then slotted into the recess. As discussed briefly above, in a first embodiment, the recess may be configured to receive an item being slid laterally therein and to facilitate this, the recess will need to extend to the edge of the page.

Each page must accommodate an item therein in a secure manner so that it is protected from damage. To assist with this, it is preferable that the thickness of the inner layer is equal to or greater than the thickness of an item to be accommodated therein. In this way, an item inserted into the recess is maintained within the inner layer, with the inner faces of the adjacent outer layers (bonded to the inner layer) serving as a protective guard.

The shape of the recess is determined primarily by the size and shape of the item to be inserted therein. Preferably, the size and shape of the recess will be complementary to the size and shape of the item to be received. In the first embodiment the recess may be substantially U-shaped. This shape is particularly suitable for a circular shaped disc and in this arrangement the recess may extend to the edge of the page so that an item may simply be slid into the recess by insertion through the access opening.

In a second embodiment, the recess may not extend to the edge of the page. In this case, the recess may be substantially circular in shape. Again, such a shape is most suited to receive a circular disc, though it is not limited to such use.

Particularly where the first embodiment is adopted, an outer layer is preferably configured with a formation at an edge of the page which allows an item, accommodated in the recess, to be grasped for removal. In this arrangement, an item may protrude past the formation of the outer layer, when the item is received in the recess, so that it may be grasped easily. In a preferred arrangement, each outer layer is configured with a corresponding formation to facilitate grasping of an item. This enhances the ability to grip an item received in the recess to assist with removal of the item therefrom. The formation may be a cut-away portion adjacent the access opening. Such a cutaway portion may be any shape which allows access to an item inserted into the recess. Preferably though, the cut-away portion is generally semi-circular. It is important that an item accommodated in the recess is maintained in that recess until removal is desired. To achieve this, a closure member may be provided selectively to close the access opening. The closure member may be any form of barrier over the access opening which serves to prevent removal of an item accommodated within the recess. Where the page is incorporated into a book, the book cover may be provided with a closure member. Alternatively, or additionally, an outer layer may be provided with a closure member or a portion of an outer layer may be configured to define the closure member. In this way, the portion of an outer layer may be moveable between a closed position, where the access opening is closed and an open position where access to at least part of the recess is provided. This enables the closure member to be selectively operable for removal of an item.

The portion of an outer layer may be moveable about a fold-line or other hinge formed in the outer layer. This arrangement may be particularly beneficial in the second embodiment, where the recess may not extend to the edge of the page. The fold-line must be formed at a position which, when the portion of the outer layer is in an open position, provides a sufficiently large access opening. The fold-line may extend parallel to an edge of the page. The fold-line can extend part-way along the length of the outer layer or it may extend along the whole length of the outer layer. In this embodiment, an item received in the recess may be removed from the page by opening the portion of the outer layer and lifting the item (by gripping an accessible part thereof) and pulling the item from the recess. The item may then be slid out through the access opening.

A third embodiment of page of the present invention is very similar to that of the second embodiment, except that the inner layer may comprise two parts, one part adapted to move with the portion of an outer layer, as discussed above. The two parts may be separate distinct parts or may be movably connected. In this embodiment, the recess is preferably partly formed in the part of the inner layer which is adapted to move with the portion of outer layer. In this way, access to an item partially retained in the recess may be obtained by opening the one part of the inner layer and sliding the item laterally out of the recess and through the access opening. In all embodiments, the recess may be configured with a notch to assist with removal of an item therefrom. The notch preferably is formed in the inner layer and extends from the recess so that an item accommodated therein can be grasped and pulled out easily. This is particularly useful in the page of the second embodiment to enable the item to be lifted out of the recess.

The item storage page is suited for incorporation in a book and it is highly preferable that the (or each) storage page has textual or graphical information thereon. Such information may be provided on the planar face of the outer layers and/or on the side faces of the page.

In a further arrangement of the present invention, the item storage page may further comprise an electronic circuit incorporated therein and programmed to transmit data to an external device. The external device may be a media player a mobile phone, a smartphone, a computer or tablet or any device capable of receiving data from the circuit. The data may be information or an instruction(s) and may be transmitted upon actuation of a switch or lever or any other form of trigger. The trigger may be provided by an external device being within a certain proximity of the circuit, for example by utilising Near Field Communication (NFC), Bluetooth or other remote means such that the data may be transmitted by automatic actuation when the external device is within range. The circuit may incorporate a touch sensitive surface so that data is transmitted upon applying contact to that surface. Such contact may be human contact. Alternatively or additionally the circuit may be configured to co-operate with the external device by the employment of capacitive touch or conductive ink, foil or circuitry applied to the inner or to the outer surfaces of the page. The circuit may lie on or flush with the outer surface of an outer layer or may be embedded between the outer layers so that it is not visible.

The present invention also extends to an item storage book having at least one item storage page as hereinbefore described. The book and the pages may be formed from any suitable material which may be flexible or firm. The book may or may not be provided with a cover. The storage book may contain one or more than one page and the pages may all be the same or may be a combination of different embodiments. Where the book contains more than one item storage page, a secure binding technique is preferable and ideally this is achieved by forming the outer layer of one page and the adjacent outer layer of an adjacent page from the same piece of material with the pages being delineated by a fold line. This arrangement ensures a secure connection between adjacent pages.

By way of example only, embodiments of item storage page of this invention will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a book incorporating a data disc storage page according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of a storage page of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a view of an inner layer of the page of Figure 1 and Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of data disc storage page;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the inner layer of the embodiment of page of Figure 4;

Figure 6 shows a third embodiment of data disc storage page;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the inner layer of the embodiment of page of Figure 6 and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of an alternative configuration of storage page.

Referring initially to Figure 1 , a book 10 includes two substantially rectangular data disc storage pages 1 1 according to the first embodiment of this invention. More than two such pages will usually be provided in a book but for the purposes of illustration, only two pages 1 1 are shown. Each page 1 1 is formed from a first outer layer 12, a second outer layer 14 and an inner layer 13. The inner layer 13 is sandwiched between and adhered to the inner faces of the first and second outer layers.

The pages 1 1 are configured such that the outer layer 12 of one page 1 1 is joined along (or integral with) a fold line 15 to the outer layer 14 of an adjacent page 1 1 . This arrangement ensures a secure connection between the pages. As shown in Figure 1 , further outer layers 12, 14 forming endpapers are provided and these are secured to boards which define front 16 and rear 17 covers respectively. A spine 18 is formed between the front 16 and rear 17 covers.

Each page 1 1 has an inner edge 19 adjacent the spine 18 and an opposed outer free edge 20. The book 10 is provided with securing means to maintain inserted discs 22 within the pages 1 1 so that they are prevented from falling out. In this case, the securing means includes a tab 25 which extends from an outer layer 12 and which has a magnet 26 formed therein. The magnet 26 is contained within the tab 25 and may not be readily visible so as to maintain an aesthetic appearance. A ferromagnetic material 27 is incorporated into the outer layer 12 of an adjacent page 1 1 to cooperate with the magnet 26 when the tab 25 is brought into registration with that adjacent page 1 1.

An exploded view of the assembled page 1 1 of storage book 10 is shown in Figure 2 and the inner layer 13 of the page 1 1 is shown in more detail in Figure 3. The inner layer 13 of the page 1 1 has a generally U-shaped recess 30 formed therethrough towards the outer free edge 20 to accommodate a disc 22. The recess 30 is configured to enable a disc 22 to be slid laterally therein from the outer free edge 20 of a page 1 1 and held in a close-fitting arrangement. The inner layer 13 has a thickness sufficient to accommodate a disc 22 in the recess 30. The inner layer 13 of this embodiment is adhered to the outer layers 12, 14 across the whole of the outer faces 28, 29 of the inner layer.

Each outer layer 12, 14 has a small semi-circular formation 31 at the outer free edge 20 of the page 1 1 to provide easy access for the lateral insertion and removal of the disc 22 from the recess 30. The arrangement of page 1 1 in this first embodiment is such that the recess 30 extends to the outer free edge 20 of the page 1 1 so that a disc 22 may simply be slid into the aperture 30 from the outer free edge 20.

The storage book 10 illustrated in Figure 1 incorporates an embedded electronic circuit 40 which transmits data to an external device (not shown) when actuated to do so. The circuit may be touch sensitive such that applying pressure to a particular area transmits the data to the external device. The data is transmitted wirelessly via any appropriate means, such as Bluetooth or infra- red transmission. For example, where the data disc 22 comprises a film DVD, the data programmed onto the circuit may include a monologue or part of a scene from the film which is transmitted to a chosen media player when pressure is applied to the circuit.

Two further embodiments will now be described with reference to Figures

4 to 7, though it will be appreciated that these further embodiments relate specifically to different types of pages for a storage book rather than the storage book per se. The configuration of the book cover and securing means, as discussed above, are substantially the same for all embodiments.

A second embodiment of storage book page 32 is shown in Figures 4 and 5. This arrangement is similar to that of Figure 1 and also includes two outer layers 33, 34 and an inner layer 35 adhered between the outer layers 33, 34. The inner layer 35 has a generally cylindrical recess 36 formed therethrough for the accommodation of a disc 22. The recess 36 is located centrally through the inner layer 35 and a small notch 37 is formed adjacent the aperture 36 to enable a disc 22 to be grasped easily when in the aperture 36.

In this arrangement one of the outer layers 33 has a hinge 38 in the form of a fold-line part-way therealong so as to form a flap 39. The inner layer 35 is adhered to one of the outer layers 34 across the whole of one of the outer faces 52 of the inner layer 35. The inner layer 35 is adhered to the other outer layer 33 across part of the outer face 53 of the inner layer 35, save for the area of the flap 39. The fold-line 38 extends parallel to the outer free edge 20 of the page 32 and along the whole length of the outer layer 33. The flap 39 may include securing means (not shown) to hold it in a closed position. Access to the notch 37 and part of the recess 36 may be achieved simply by lifting the flap 39. When the flap is open, a disc 22 may be slid into the recess from the outer free edge and removed therefrom by sliding out of the page 32 in a similar way. As with the embodiment of Figure 1 , in this embodiment, the outer layer 33 of one page 32 is integral to the outer layer 34 of an adjacent page 32 so that the pages 32 are securely connected.

A third embodiment of storage book page 41 is shown in Figures 6 and 7. The page 41 of this embodiment is similar to the pages 1 1 , 32 of the first and second embodiments and includes two outer layers 42, 43 and an inner layer 44. A recess 49 is formed through the inner layer 44 for accommodating a disc 22. As with the page 32 of the second embodiment, one of the outer layers 42 is formed with a hinge 45 along the length to define a flap 46. In this embodiment, the inner layer comprises two parts so as to define a flap 48 which corresponds to the flap 46 of the outer layer 42. The entire planar surface 55 of the inner layer 44 which lies against the outer layer 42 is adhered to the outer layer 42. The opposing outer layer 43 is adhered to the corresponding planar surface 56 of the inner layer, but not to the flap 48. In this embodiment, part of the recess 49 extends through the flap 48 to provided access for the insertion of the disc 22 into the opening 49. In this way, when the flap 48 is lifted a disc may be inserted into the recess 49 by sliding laterally from the outer free edge 20 of the page 41 . Similarly, to remove a disc from the recess, the flap is opened and the disc simply slid towards and out the outer free edge 20.

In all embodiments, textual or graphical information 50 may be provided on the planar faces of each of the pages. The second and third embodiments of page may also incorporate an embedded electronic circuit, as described in the first embodiment of Figure 1. Each page may be configured for removable insertion into a book, as shown in Figure 8. Such a page may include appropriate securing means for connection of the page into a book such as openings 47 for the connection of a ring binder.

Claims

1. An item storage page for incorporation in a book, the page being formed from at least three layers bonded together, the layers including two outer layers and an inner layer therebetween; the inner layer having a recess sized to accommodate an item and the page having an access opening leading to the recess such that the item may be inserted into the recess and removed therefrom.

2. An item storage page as claimed in claim 1 , comprising multiple distinct recesses, each to accommodate one or more item.

3. An item storage page as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the item is a data disc.

4. An item storage page as claimed in claim 3, wherein the access opening is provided at an edge of a page so that an item may be accommodated in the recess by sliding laterally from that edge.

5. An item storage page as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the thickness of the inner layer is equal to or greater than the thickness of an item to be accommodated therein.

6. An item storage page as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the recess is sized to receive an item being slid laterally therein.

7. An item storage page as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the recess is substantially U-shaped.

8. An item storage page as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the recess is substantially circular in shape.

9. An item storage page as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein an outer layer is configured with a formation at an edge of the page which allows an item, accommodated in the recess, to be grasped for removal.

10. An item storage page as claimed in claim 9, wherein each outer layer is configured with a formation to facilitate grasping of an item.

1 1 . An item storage page as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the formation is a cut-away portion adjacent the access opening.

12. An item storage page as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cut-away portion is generally semi-circular.

13. An item storage page as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein a closure member is provided selectively to close the access opening.

14. An item storage page as claimed in claim 13, wherein a portion of an outer layer is configured to define the closure member.

15. An item storage page as claimed in claim 14, wherein the portion of an outer layer is moveable between a closed position, where the access opening is closed and an open position such that access to at least part of the recess is provided.

16. An item storage page as claimed in claim 15, wherein the portion of an outer layer is moveable about a fold-line formed in the outer layer.

17. An item storage page as claimed in claim 16, wherein the fold-line extends parallel to an edge of the page.

18. An item storage page as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the fold-line extends along the length of the outer layer.

19. An item storage page as claimed in any of claims 15 to 18, wherein the inner layer comprises two parts, one part adapted to move with the moveable portion of an outer layer.

20. An item storage page as claimed in claim 19, wherein the two parts of the inner layer are connected.

21 . An item storage page as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the recess is configured to provide a notch to assist with removal of an item therefrom.

22. An item storage page as claimed in any of the preceding claims, having textual or graphical information thereon.

23. An item storage page as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising an electronic circuit incorporated in the page and programmed to transmit data to an external device.

24. An item storage page as claimed in claim 23, wherein the circuit incorporates a touch sensitive surface so that data is transmitted upon contacting that surface.

25. An item storage page as claimed in claim 23 or claim 24, wherein the circuit is embedded between the outer layers so that it is not visible.

26. An item storage book having at least one item storage page as claimed in any of claims 1 to 26.

27. An item storage book as claimed in claim 26, having more than one item storage page and wherein the outer layer of one page and the adjacent outer layer of an adjacent page are formed from the same piece of material and are delineated by a fold line.