SELF-ADJUSTING, NON-PLASTIC LAMINAR PROTECTOR FOR BOOKS AND THE LIKE

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention regards a self-adjusting, non-plastic laminar protector for books and the like.

[0002] More specifically, the object of the invention focuses on a protector for books, notebooks, and the like, as defined in claim 1, consisting of a laminar body that fits over a book's covers as a lining to prevent wear. Being of the sort that uses adhesive to stay attached, it is essentially distinguished by the particularity of being made of a non-plastic material made from a cellulose acetate film or vegetable parchment, which is derived from wood. Therefore, it is eco-friendly and compostable. Another feature that sets it apart is its structural configuration: in addition to improving on the preservative conditions, even if the user wishes to remove the protector, it allows the cover to be adapted to and fit different sizes of books.

THE INVENTION'S FIELD OF APPLICATION

[0003] The present invention's field of application is within the sector of the manufacturing industry that produces school supplies and stationery, particularly focusing on the field of linings and protective features for books and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Book covers or linings used for protection and preservation are widely known on the market; these have adhesives or strips of adhesive material on one side that are attached to the front and back covers.

[0005] Some of these covers are adjustable, thus allowing a single type of cover to protect several book sizes. However, they are normally only suitable for books of different widths, but not for books of different heights.

[0006] In any case, of all the book covers that are currently on the market, when the user wants to remove one of these covers from the book, either to replace it with another one or to have it without a cover, the book's front and back covers deteriorate irreparably where said adhesives were attached. This is because some of the layers attached to the adhesive come off since these are usually made of materials like cardboard or paper, which can rip.

[0007] On the other hand, book liners, especially when they have the aforementioned adhesive strips, are currently made of sheets manufactured from plastic products that come from petroleum. This means, in both their production and when they become waste once their useful life is over, they involve a product that pollutes the environment, as it can take many years to disintegrate. It also makes it impossible to recycle the book it is used on.

[0008] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved type of book protector which, in addition to being more environmentally friendly, is possible to remove practically without causing wear on the book and which may also be suitable for different book sizes.

[0009] On the other hand, regarding the current state of the art, it should be noted that, at least as far as the applicant is aware, no other book protector with the same or similar technical, structural, and constitutive characteristics as the one specifically claimed herein is known to exist.

[0010] Invention patent BE 834335 A may be cited in this regard. While it describes a covering element for paperback and hardcover books that may be ornate, printed, or decorative, it is an ornamental covering element, not a protective element as such.

[0011] At the same time, while the use of binding means where book covers are protected with biodegradable materials is known, such as in invention patent US2004 / 0108709A1, this is an industrial process to bring a particular product to market to be applied in an industrialized manner, not a protective element as such that the user utilizes directly to protect existing items.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The self-adjusting, non-plastic laminar book protector that the invention proposes makes it possible to achieve the aforementioned objectives in a satisfactory manner. The characterizing details that make this possible and which properly distinguish it are set forth in the final claims accompanying this description.

[0013] In particular, what the invention proposes, as noted above, is a protector for books, notebooks, and the like that consists of a laminar body that can be adjusted as a lining for book covers to prevent deterioration. As it is of the type that has an adhesive for attachment, it has the particularity of being made of a non-plastic material derived from wood and of offering a structural configuration that, in addition to improving preservational conditions even if the protector is removed, allows it to be adapted to fit different book sizes.

[0014] Thus, the invention's laminar protector for books and the like does not consist of a product made of plastic material that generates contaminating waste. Instead, it is a totally eco-friendly product since it is manufactured from a cellulose acetate film or vegetable parchment, meaning it is obtained from raw plant material such as cellulose, further allowing its recycling along with the book, notebook, or the like for which it will be used, if so desired.

[0015] More specifically, the invention's protector of books and the like is made from a transparent or translucent sheet, which may or may not be tinted or printed with graphic elements. It is essentially made from a cellulose acetate film or vegetable parchment, which has on one of its faces has one or more adhesive areas covering certain parts of it, acting as an adhesive means for attaching the protector. This area is covered by a protective siliconized material that is removed at the time of use to prevent the adhesive's deterioration prior to application.

[0016] Furthermore, this sheet of cellulose acetate or vegetable parchment is structurally shaped in such a way that it comprises an outer rectangular sheet, which may be of various dimensions depending on those of the book, notebook, or similar item to be covered, and two inner bands on both sides over said outer sheet and attached, at least, at their ends to the outer sheet, such that the front and back covers of the book can be inserted between the outer sheet and those bands.

[0017] In addition, the adhesive means mentioned for attaching the protector, consisting of the adhesive areas described, comprise at least one or two strips located at one or both lateral ends of the outer sheet and on its inner face. This way, once the book covers are inserted into the bands, and the protector is closed on them, the adhesive only comes into contact with the inner bands and not with the book covers. When the protector has a single adhesive strip, it closes on an open band, and this can be used to fit it to the size of the book. Meanwhile, the other band will be closed - that is, joined by its ends to the longer sides of the outer sheet, as well as by the side to the shorter side of that outer sheet, thus allowing the other book cover to fit into it.

[0018] Moreover, in the alternative embodiment, the inner bands, in turn, are each made up of two segments, one upper and one lower one. These are joined together to the upper and lower edges of the outer sheet and are closed on the book covers, overlapping one another to attach with two other adhesive areas provided for this purpose at the end of one of those segments.

[0019] As a result, in addition to the fact that the adhesive means of attachment are always applied to parts of the protector itself when applied to the book and not its covers, this protector can be fitted to the books, both with the lateral ends, where the adhesive strips are located, as well as with the upper and lower part, where the flaps can be adjusted, allowing it to be used with books of different widths and heights.

[0020] The outer sheet and the segments that make up the inner bands are preferably part of the same pre-cut sheet so that they fold over the book covers.

[0021] The protector has an advantageous means of closing that consists of reusable adhesive, preferably water-based (solvent-free).

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] To complement the description at hand and to aid understanding of the invention's features, the present specification is accompanied by technical drawings as an integral part thereof. The following has been represented for and not limited to illustrative purposes:

Figure number 1.- It shows a schematic plan view of one example of a version of the self-adjusting, non-plastic laminar protector that is the object of the invention, shown without the book, in an example thereof with one open band and one closed one and a single adhesive strip at the lateral end.

Figure number 2.- It shows a schematic plan view of another example of the protector according to the invention, also represented without the book. In this case, it is an example with two open bands and two adhesive strips at the lateral ends.

Figure number 3.- It offers a perspective view of the example of the protector shown in figure 2, in this case, shown with a book to illustrate how one fits in the cover.

Figure number 4.- It shows a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of the protector that is the object of the invention, also shown once added to a book. In this case, the example has inner bands that are divided into two segments that are then attached to each other.

Figure number 5.- It shows a view of the example of the laminar protector for books and the like, according to the invention, that is shown in figure 4. Here, a plan view and its unfolded layout are shown without a book, allowing the configuration and parts thereof to be seen.

[0023] And figure number 6.- It shows a plan view and the folded layout of the laminar protector that is the object of the invention, according to the example shown in figures 4 and 5.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0024] In light of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the numbering used, an example of a non-limiting embodiment of the invention of the self-adjusting, non-plastic laminar protector for books and the like can be seen therein, which is composed of that which is provided in detail below.

[0025] Thus, as can be seen in figures 1 to 3, the protector of the invention, which is composed of a laminar body (1) that fits on the covers (2) of the book (3) for which it is intended by means of attachment with adhesive, is made from a transparent or translucent sheet, which may or may not be tinted and/or printed with graphic elements. This sheet is essentially made of a non-plastic compostable material that's derived from wood, specifically from a cellulose acetate film or vegetable parchment that has on one of its faces areas with adhesive (4) covering some parts of it, acting as an adhesive means for attaching the protector; these areas are covered with a layer of protective siliconized paper (not shown);

wherein said laminar body (1) is composed of:

• an outer sheet (10) that is rectangular in shape, with dimensions similar to those of the book (3) for which it is intended,
• and two inner bands (11) located on both sides on the inner face of the outer sheet (10) that are at least joined at their ends to the edges of the longer sides (10a) of the outer sheet (10),

so that the book covers (2) can be inserted between the outer sheet (10) and those inner bands (11);

and where the adhesive means for attaching the laminar body (1) that makes up the protector, consisting of the areas with adhesive (4), are composed of:

• at least one strip-shaped adhesive area located on one of the two lateral ends of the outer sheet (10) giving shape to the shorter sides (10b) of said sheet, as well as on its inner face,

such that, once the covers (2) of the book (3) have been inserted into the inner bands (11), when the protector is closed, the adhesive strip (4) attaches to one of the inner bands (11) without coming into contact with the covers (2) of the book (3).

[0026] It should be noted that, in an embodiment option like the one shown in Figure 1, the laminar body (1) has a first inner band (11) that is open, meaning only its ends are attached to the longer sides (10a) of the outer sheet (10) and at a certain distance from the shorter side (10b) where it has an adhesive strip (4) so that when one of the covers (2) of the book (3) is inserted into said band (11), it protrudes from the end. It has a second inner band (11) that is closed, meaning its two ends are attached to the longer sides (10a) of the outer sheet (10) as well as to the shorter side (1 0b) so that the book cover (2) fits inside.

[0027] In another embodiment, as shown in figures 2 and 3, the laminar body (1) has two open inner bands (11), meaning only their ends are attached to the longer sides (10a) of the outer sheet (10) and at a certain distance from the shorter side (10b), where it has respective adhesive strips (4). This way, in this embodiment, the adhesive means for attaching the laminar body (1), which consist of the adhesive areas (4), comprise two zones in the form of adhesive strips located on the two lateral ends of the outer sheet (10), giving shape to the shorter sides (10b) of said sheet, and on its inner face. Once the covers (2) of the book (3) are inserted into the inner bands (11) and the protector is closed, in this case by folding the two ends of the outer sheet (10), the adhesive strips (4) are attached on the inner bands (11) and do not come into contact with the covers (2) of the book (3).

[0028] Furthermore, as we can see in Figures 4 to 6, in another alternative embodiment, each of the two inner bands (11) is formed by two segments, one upper (a) and one lower one (b). These are joined to the upper and lower edges of the outer sheet (10) and close over the covers (2) of the book (3) by overlapping one another and attaching by means of two other zones with adhesive (4) provided for this purpose at the end of one of those segments, as additional adhesive means of attachment.

[0029] The outer sheet (10) and the segments (a, b) that make up the inner bands (11) are preferably part of one and the same pre-cut sheet, as shown in the example of Figure 2, so that they fold over the covers (2) of the book (3) to attach the protector.

[0030] To adjust the protector to the width of the book (3), simply fold the lateral ends of the shorter sides of the outer sheet (10) with the adhesive areas (4) in the form of strips to adjust it to that width.

[0031] To adjust the protector to the height of the book (3), simply trim any excess from the outer sheet (10) that exceeds one of the longer sides of the rectangle defining that sheet, except in the area occupied by the segments (a, b) that form the inner bands (11). Then, fold those segments over the covers (2) and adjust the size by overlapping their ends.

[0032] The adhesive provided in the adhesive areas (4) for attachment is preferably a reusable, water-based type.

Claims

1. SELF-ADJUSTING, NON-PLASTIC LAMINAR PROTECTOR FOR BOOKS AND THE LIKE consists of a laminar body (1) that fits over the covers (2) of a book (3) for which it is intended by attaching with adhesive means,

wherein the laminar body (1) is made from a transparent or translucent sheet of non-plastic compostable material derived from wood, which is made from a cellulose acetate film or vegetable parchment that has on one of its faces areas with adhesive (4) covering some parts of it, acting as adhesive means for attaching the protector,

wherein the laminar body (1) is composed of:

- an outer sheet (10) that is rectangular in shape,

- and two inner bands (11) located on both sides on the inner face of the outer sheet (10) that are at least joined at their ends to the edges of the longer sides (10a) of the outer sheet (10),

so that the book covers (2) can be inserted between the outer sheet (10) and those inner bands (11),

and wherein the adhesive means for attaching the laminar body (1) that makes up the protector, consisting of the areas with adhesive (4), are composed of:

- at least one strip-shaped adhesive area located on one of the two lateral ends of the outer sheet (10) giving shape to the shorter sides (10b) of said sheet, as well as on its inner face,

such that, once the covers (2) of the book (3) have been inserted into the inner bands (11), when the protector is closed, the adhesive strip (4) attaches to one of the inner bands (11) without coming into contact with the covers (2) of the book (3).

2. SELF-ADJUSTING, NON-PLASTIC LAMINAR PROTECTOR FOR BOOKS AND THE LIKE, according to claim 1, is characterized by the laminar body (1) having one open inner band (11), meaning it is attached only by its ends to the longer sides (10a) of the outer sheet (10) and at a certain distance from the shorter side (10b), where there is an adhesive strip (4), and with a second closed inner band (11), meaning it is attached by its two ends to the longer sides (10a) of the outer sheet (10) as well as to the shorter side (10b).

3. SELF-ADJUSTING, NON-PLASTIC LAMINAR PROTECTOR FOR BOOKS AND THE LIKE, according to claim 1, is characterized by the laminar body (1) having two open inner bands (11), meaning they are joined only by their ends to the longer sides (10a) of the outer sheet (10) at a certain distance from the shorter side (10b), where it has corresponding adhesive strips (4).

4. SELF-ADJUSTING, NON-PLASTIC LAMINAR PROTECTOR FOR BOOKS AND THE LIKE, according to claim 1, is characterized by each of the two inner bands (11) consisting of two segments, one upper one (a) and one lower one (b). These are joined to the upper and lower edges of the outer sheet (10) and enclose the covers (2) of the book (3) by overlapping one another and being attached by means of two other areas with adhesive (4) located at the end of one of those segments as an additional means of attachment with adhesive.

5. SELF-ADJUSTING, NON-PLASTIC LAMINAR PROTECTOR FOR BOOKS AND LIKE, according to claim 4, is characterized by the outer sheet (10) and the segments (a, b) that make up the inner bands (11) being part of one and the same pre-cut sheet so that they fold over the covers (2) of the book (3) to attach the protector.

6. SELF-ADJUSTING, NON-PLASTIC LAMINAR PROTECTOR FOR BOOKS AND THE LIKE, according to any of the preceding claims, is characterized by the adhesive provided in the areas with adhesive (4) for attachment being of a reusable, water-based type.

7. SELF-ADJUSTING, NON-PLASTIC LAMINAR PROTECTOR FOR BOOKS AND THE LIKE, according to any of the preceding claims, is characterized by the transparent or translucent sheet, which is made from a cellulose acetate film or vegetable parchment, being tinted and/or printed with graphic elements.

Ansprüche

1. SELBSTEINSTELLENDER, NICHT-PLASTISCHER LAMINARSCHUTZ FÜR BÜCHER UND ÄHNLICHES, bestehend aus einem laminar Körper (1), der sich über die Umschläge (2) des Buches (3), für das er bestimmt ist, anpasst, indem er mit Klebemitteln haftet. Es ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es aus einer transparenten oder transluzenten Folie aus kompostierbarem, nicht-plastischem Material, das aus Holz gewonnen wird, besteht. Dieses Material wird aus einer Celluloseacetatfolie oder Pflanzenpergament hergestellt, die auf einer ihrer Flächen Klebegebiete (4) hat, die einige Teile davon bedecken und als Klebemittel zum Befestigen des Schutzes dienen. Der laminare Körper (1) besteht aus:

- einem rechteckigen Außenblatt (10),

- und zwei inneren Bändern (11), die sich auf beiden Seiten der Innenseite des Außenblattes (10) befinden und zumindest an ihren Enden mit den Rändern der längeren Seiten (10a) des Außenblattes (10) verbunden sind,

sodass die Umschläge (2) des Buches zwischen dem Außenblatt (10) und diesen inneren Bändern (11) eingeführt werden können, und wobei die Klebemittel zur Befestigung des laminar Körpers (1), der den Schutz bildet, bestehend aus den Klebegebieten (4), wie folgt zusammengesetzt sind:

- mindestens ein klebriges Gebiet in Form eines Streifens, das sich an einem der beiden seitlichen Enden des Außenblattes (10) befindet und die kürzeren Seiten (10b) dieses Blattes bildet, sowie auf seiner Innenseite,

sodass, sobald die Umschläge (2) des Buches (3) in die inneren Bänder (11) eingeführt wurden, wenn der Schutz geschlossen ist, der Klebestreifen (4) sich an eines der inneren Bänder (11) anheftet, ohne mit den Umschlägen (2) des Buches (3) in Kontakt zu kommen.

2. SELBSTEINSTELLENDER, NICHT-PLASTISCHER LAMINARSCHUTZ FÜR BÜCHER UND ÄHNLICHES, gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der laminare Körper (1) ein offenes inneres Band (11) hat, das bedeutet, dass es nur an seinen Enden mit den längeren Seiten (10a) des Außenblattes (10) verbunden ist und in einem bestimmten Abstand von der kürzeren Seite (10b), wo sich ein Klebestreifen (4) befindet, und mit einem zweiten geschlossenen inneren Band (11), das bedeutet, dass es an seinen beiden Enden mit den längeren Seiten (10a) des Außenblattes (10) sowie mit der kürzeren Seite (10b) verbunden ist.

3. SELBSTEINSTELLENDER, NICHT-PLASTISCHER LAMINARSCHUTZ FÜR BÜCHER UND ÄHNLICHES, gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der laminare Körper (1) zwei offene innere Bänder (11) hat, was bedeutet, dass sie nur an ihren Enden mit den längeren Seiten (10a) des Außenblattes (10) verbunden sind, in einem bestimmten Abstand von der kürzeren Seite (10b), wo es die entsprechenden Klebestreifen (4) hat.

4. SELBSTEINSTELLENDER, NICHT-PLASTISCHER LAMINARSCHUTZ FÜR BÜCHER UND ÄHNLICHES, gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jedes der beiden inneren Bänder (11) aus zwei Segmenten besteht, einem oberen (a) und einem unteren (b). Diese sind mit den oberen und unteren Kanten des Außenblattes (10) verbunden und umschließen die Umschläge (2) des Buches (3), indem sie sich überlappen und mittels zweier anderer Klebegebiete (4) an einem Ende eines dieser Segmente als zusätzliches Klebemittel befestigt werden.

5. SELBSTEINSTELLENDER, NICHT-PLASTISCHER LAMINARSCHUTZ FÜR BÜCHER UND ÄHNLICHES, gemäß Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Außenblatt (10) und die Segmente (a, b), die die inneren Bänder (11) bilden, Teil eines und desselben vorgestanzten Blattes sind, sodass sie über die Umschläge (2) des Buches (3) gefaltet werden, um den Schutz zu befestigen.

6. SELBSTEINSTELLENDER, NICHT-PLASTISCHER LAMINARSCHUTZ FÜR BÜCHER UND ÄHNLICHES, gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das in den Klebegebieten (4) zur Befestigung bereitgestellte Klebemittel von wiederverwendbarem, wasserbasiertem Typ ist.

7. SELBSTEINSTELLENDER, NICHT-PLASTISCHER LAMINARSCHUTZ FÜR BÜCHER UND ÄHNLICHES, gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die transparente oder transluzente Folie, die aus einer Celluloseacetatfolie oder Pflanzenpergament hergestellt ist, getönt und/oder mit grafischen Elementen bedruckt ist.

Revendications

1. PROTECTEUR LAMINAIRE AUTO-RÉGLABLE ET NON-PLASTIQUE POUR LIVRES ET SIMILAIRES, constitué d'un corps laminaire (1) qui s'ajuste sur les couvertures (2) du livre (3) pour lequel il est destiné, en s'adhérant avec des moyens adhésifs. Il est caractérisé par le fait qu'il est fabriqué à partir d'une feuille transparente ou translucide de matériau compostable non-plastique dérivé du bois, qui est fabriqué à partir d'un film d'acétate de cellulose ou de parchemin végétal qui a sur une de ses faces des zones adhésives (4) couvrant certaines parties de celle-ci, servant de moyens adhésifs pour fixer le protecteur. Le corps laminaire (1) est composé de :

- une feuille extérieure (10) de forme rectangulaire,

- et deux bandes intérieures (11) situées de chaque côté de la face intérieure de la feuille extérieure (10) qui sont au moins reliées à leurs extrémités aux bords des côtés les plus longs (10a) de la feuille extérieure (10),

de sorte que les couvertures (2) du livre peuvent être insérées entre la feuille extérieure (10) et ces bandes intérieures (11), et où les moyens adhésifs pour fixer le corps laminaire (1) qui forme le protecteur, constitués des zones adhésives (4), sont composés de :

- au moins une zone adhésive en forme de bande située à l'un des deux extrémités latérales de la feuille extérieure (10) formant les côtés les plus courts (10b) de ladite feuille, ainsi que sur sa face intérieure,

de sorte que, une fois que les couvertures (2) du livre (3) ont été insérées dans les bandes intérieures (11), lorsque le protecteur est fermé, la bande adhésive (4) s'attache à l'une des bandes intérieures (11) sans entrer en contact avec les couvertures (2) du livre (3).

2. PROTECTEUR LAMINAIRE AUTO-RÉGLABLE ET NON-PLASTIQUE POUR LIVRES ET SIMILAIRES, selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le corps laminaire (1) a une bande intérieure ouverte (11), ce qui signifie qu'elle est seulement reliée par ses extrémités aux côtés les plus longs (10a) de la feuille extérieure (10) et à une certaine distance du côté le plus court (10b), où se trouve une bande adhésive (4), et avec une seconde bande intérieure fermée (11), ce qui signifie qu'elle est reliée par ses deux extrémités aux côtés les plus longs (10a) de la feuille extérieure (10) ainsi qu'au côté le plus court (10b).

3. PROTECTEUR LAMINAIRE AUTO-RÉGLABLE ET NON-PLASTIQUE POUR LIVRES ET SIMILAIRES, selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le corps laminaire (1) a deux bandes intérieures ouvertes (11), ce qui signifie qu'elles sont seulement reliées par leurs extrémités aux côtés les plus longs (10a) de la feuille extérieure (10) à une certaine distance du côté le plus court (10b), où se trouvent les bandes adhésives correspondantes (4).

4. PROTECTEUR LAMINAIRE AUTO-RÉGLABLE ET NON-PLASTIQUE POUR LIVRES ET SIMILAIRES, selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que chacune des deux bandes intérieures (11) est constituée de deux segments, un supérieur (a) et un inférieur (b). Ceux-ci sont reliés aux bords supérieur et inférieur de la feuille extérieure (10) et enveloppent les couvertures (2) du livre (3) en se superposant et en étant fixés par deux autres zones adhésives (4) situées à l'extrémité de l'un de ces segments comme moyen supplémentaire de fixation adhésive.

5. PROTECTEUR LAMINAIRE AUTO-RÉGLABLE ET NON-PLASTIQUE POUR LIVRES ET SIMILAIRES, selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que la feuille extérieure (10) et les segments (a, b) qui composent les bandes intérieures (11) font partie d'une même feuille prédécoupée de sorte qu'ils se replient sur les couvertures (2) du livre (3) pour fixer le protecteur.

6. PROTECTEUR LAMINAIRE AUTO-RÉGLABLE ET NON-PLASTIQUE POUR LIVRES ET SIMILAIRES, selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que l'adhésif fourni dans les zones adhésives (4) pour la fixation est de type réutilisable et à base d'eau.

7. PROTECTEUR LAMINAIRE AUTO-RÉGLABLE ET NON-PLASTIQUE POUR LIVRES ET SIMILAIRES, selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la feuille transparente ou translucide, qui est fabriquée à partir d'un film d'acétate de cellulose ou de parchemin végétal, est teintée et/ou imprimée avec des éléments graphiques.

Drawing