Booklet

Abstract

 A booklet comprising separate front and back covers (A,B) so formed as to be magnetically attracted to each other in the closed condition of the booklet, and a paper sheet (5) which is larger than said covers in both of two mutually perpendicular dimensions when flat but is provided with fold lines (6, 6a) about which the sheet may be folded to a size correspon­ding to that of the front and back covers, two suitably located regions of said paper sheet being secured to the said front and back covers respectively.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to booklets usable for all manner of purposes, such as for example address books, telephone number books, memo books, atlases, street guides, timetables, business guides, or product handling manuals.

[0002] According to the invention there is provided a booklet comprising separate front and back covers so formed as to be magnetically attracted to each other in the closed condition of the booklet, and a paper sheet which is larger than said covers in both of two mutually perpendicular dimensions when flat but is provided with fold lines about which the sheet may be folded to a size corresponding to that of the front and back covers, two suitably located regions of said paper sheet being secured to the said front and back covers respectively.

[0003] In the closed condition of a booklet according to the invention, the front and back covers are magnetically attracted to each other and thus the booklet stays neatly closed. In this condition it may, if desired, be placed and magnetically held on a metallic surface, such as a metallic part of an automobile. The booklet may be opened when desired by separating the front and back covers at an angle to each other, like a conventional book, so that they remain magnetically connected at one pair of edges. Alternatively the covers may be completely separated if it is desired to open the paper sheet fully.

[0004] As the paper sheet is larger than the said covers in both dimensions, columns or other areas for recording information may be made substantially larger, typically at least twice as large, as the covers, which makes it possible to provide a multi-­purpose booklet, containing for example an atlas, a timetable and a business guide, whilst still keeping to a conveniently small size when the booklet is in its closed condition. As an alternative to providing more information on the sheet, the same information can be printed in larger format.

[0005] It is an important advantage of the invention that no binding process of any kind is necessary in making up a booklet according to the invention, and the booklet may therefore be made very cheaply.

[0006] In a preferred form of the invention the said paper sheet is of elongate rectangular shape and is secured to the respective front and back covers at opposite end regions thereof. The paper sheet may then be foldable both in concertina fashion about fold lines extending perpendicular to its length, and transversely about at least one fold line extending parallel to its length. The paper sheet may be formed with slits extending inwardly from at least one of its longitudinal edges, to enable it to be only partially opened transversely.

[0007] Some embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the present invention when fully open;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the same in the process of being folded;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the same when completely closed;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment when fully open; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a further embodiment when fully open.

[0008] In the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3 a front cover A and a back cover B are formed respectively of magnetic sheets 1 and 2, magnetized to be attracted to each other, and decorative sheets 3 and 4 made of paper, vinyl or aluminum are pasted respectively to the outsides of the front cover A and back cover B.

[0009] The magnetic sheets 1 and 2 may be made of a flexible rubber, so-called magnetic rubber, of a required thickness. The decorative sheets 3 and 4 should be such as to be readily printed with a title such as, for example, "Address Book" or "Telephone Book", and able to be coloured.

[0010] An elongate rectangular paper sheet 5 of a length W and a width H, larger in both dimensions that the front and back covers A and B, is interposed between the covers, the front cover A being secured to the paper sheet at one end and the back cover B secured to the paper sheet at the other end, opposite from the front cover A.

[0011] Vertical and horizontal fold lines 6 and 6a are formed in the paper sheet, along which the paper sheet is foldable to the same size as the front and back covers A and B. The fold lines 6 and 6a are so-called habit lines which are not printed on the sheet but are formed by folding after the required subject matter has been printed thereon. Then the front and back covers A and B are secured in place.

[0012] As a result of the formation of the fold lines 6 and 6a, as shown in Fig. 1, the paper sheet 5 is sub-divided into middle panels 5a, upper panels 5b and lower panels 5c by the longitudinal fold lines 6a.

[0013] To fold the sheet as shown in Fig. 2, first of all the upper panels 5b and lower panels 5c are folded onto the middle panels 5a along the fold lines 6a, and then all the panels are folded in concertina fashion so that the entire paper sheet 5 may be received and held between the front and back covers A and B, as shown in Fig. 3. In this condition the front and back covers will be magnetically attracted to each other so as not to be separated from each other.

[0014] Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment in which the upper panels 5b of the paper sheet 5 are of the same size as of the middle panels 5a, and the lower panels are eliminated, but the total area of the paper sheet 5 is the same as in the first embodiment.

[0015] Fig. 5 shows a third embodiment in which the middle panels 5a, upper panels 5b and lower panels 5c are of the same size, and some of the transverse fold lines 6 betwen the upper panels 5b and lower panels 5c are replaced by slits 7. In this case the area of the paper sheet is increased by 50% as compared with the previous embodiments. further, as the upper panels 5b and lower panels 5c are respectively divided by the slits 7, a required part of the sheet can be unfolded to be viewed when required.

[0016] The front and back covers A and B and the paper sheet 5 need not be rectangular as in the illustrated embodiments, but may be of any other suitable shape or design.

Claims

1. A booklet comprising separate front and back covers so formed as to be magnetically attracted to each other in the closed condition of the booklet, and a paper sheet which is larger than said covers in both of two mutually perpendicular dimensions when flat but is provided with fold lines about which the sheet may be folded to a size corresponding to that of the front and back covers, two suitably located regions of said paper sheet being secured to the said front and back covers respectively.

2. A booklet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said paper sheet is of elongate rectangular shape and is secured to the respective front and back covers at opposite end regions thereof.

3. A booklet as claimed in claim 2, wherein said paper sheet is foldable both in concertina fashion about fold lines extending perpendicular to its length, and transversely about at least one fold line exending parallel to its length.

4. A booklet as claimed in claim 3, wherein said paper sheet is formed with slits extending inwardly from at least one of its longitudinal edges, to enable it to be only partially opened transversely.

Drawing