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(11) | EP 2 540 518 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Jacket for exercise books and the like |
| (57) A jacket (1) for an exercise book or the like provides a main panel (2) for covering
at least one front face, a back face and a rear face of an exercise book, which has
a middle line (M) arranged at the rear face of the exercise book when the exercise
book is associated with the jacket (1). The jacket (1) further provides first (3)
and second (4) side panels which are overlapped and joined to the main panel (2) so
as to define a first side pouch (5) and a second side pouch (6) suitable to receive
a first page and a last page of the exercise book. In order to strengthen the jacket
and being capable of customize the latter at low manufacturing cost a reinforcement
central panel (7) is provided to be overlapped and joined to the main panel (2) at
the middle line (M) and defining a central pouch (8) for an additional element (9)
of the jacket (1) to be insertable or inserted therein.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Particularly, the invention relates to flexible jackets made of plastic material and will be intended herein below as being applied to a school exercise book, without departing from the broad aspects thereof.
PRIOR ART
[0004] This jacket 101, made of sheet plastic material, comprises a main panel 102 for covering a front face, a back face and a rear face of an exercise book, and protecting the exercise book from wear during the use of the latter. The main panel 102 has a middle line M corresponding to an ideal folding line of the jacket. When the jacket 101 covers the exercise book said middle line M is arranged at the rear face of the exercise book. The jacket 101 further comprises two side panels 103 and 104, which are overlapped and joined at opposite ends 102a and 102b of the main panel 102 relative to the middle line M and defining two corresponding side pouches 105 and 106, which are provided with an opening facing the middle line M, the first and the last page of the exercise book can be inserted therein in order to associate the jacket 1 with the exercise book.
[0005] These jackets have a drawback in that they get easily damaged mainly due to the continuous opening and closing movements. Particularly, cuts appear across the jacket over time, which can even impair the functionality of the latter.
[0007] The first and/or the last page of an exercise book are usually made of a different and stiffer material than the remaining pages and have colored or figurative elements thereon which allow identification of the exercise book.
[0008] However, when the exercise book is covered by means of an opaque jacket and thus the identification elements of the exercise book are no longer recognizable, different jackets are required (e.g., of different colors) in order to differentiate exercise books that are destined to different school subjects.
[0009] The production and the assembly of differently colored jackets, however, entails high manufacturing costs.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks, by proposing a jacket for exercise books and the like which ensure high toughness, which allows an easy identification of the item covered thereby, and which results in reduced manufacturing costs.
[0011] This object is achieved by means of a jacket for exercise books and the like in accordance with claim 1.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] For a better understanding of the invention, an exemplary non-limiting embodiment of the same will be provided herein below, with reference to the attached drawings wherein:
Fig. 1 shows a known jacket, as seen above, in a perspective view;
Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a jacket according to the invention;
Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the jacket in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the jacket in Fig. 2, which covers an exercise book that is illustrated opened and wherein an additional element carrying writings ("ABCD") is inserted within a side containment pouch;
Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the jacket with an exercise book illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein the rear face of the exercise book is shown.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 illustrate a jacket 1 according to the invention for a school exercise book. The jacket 1 comprises a main panel 2 to cover a front face 20, a back face 21 and a rear face 22 of an exercise book 50, illustrated in Fig. 4,5, and protect the exercise book 50 during the use thereof. The main panel 2 has a middle line M corresponding to an ideal folding line of the jacket 1. When the jacket 1 covers the exercise book this middle line M is arranged at the rear face 22 of the exercise book.
[0014] It should be noted that the jacket 1 has usually a rectangular shape but can take specific shape to be more attractive for a user and/or to be adapted to specific exercise books. Without departing from the broad aspects of the invention, the latter will be intended herein below as being related to a rectangular jacket 1 comprising a main panel 2 of rectangular shape.
[0015] The jacket 1 further comprises first 3 and second 4 side panels, which are overlapped and joined at opposite ends 2a and 2b of the main panel 2 relative to the middle line M and defining first 5 and second 6 side pouches. Each pouch 5 and 6 is provided with an opening facing the middle line M, for the first and last page of the exercise book to be inserted therein in order to associate the jacket 1 with the exercise book.
[0016] The jacket 1 further comprises a reinforcement central panel 7, overlapped and joined to the main panel 2 such as to be overlapped to at least one portion of the middle line M. This panel 7 further defines a central pouch 8 for an additional element 9 of the jacket 1 to be inserted therein.
[0017] The jacket has peripheral edges comprising a head edge 10, a bottom edge 11 and opposite side edges 12 and 13.
[0018] It should be noted that the edges 10, 11, 12 and 13 of the jacket match the edges of the main panel 2.
[0019] Particularly, the main panel 2 is joined to the side panels 3 and 4 by means of connecting means 14. More particularly, a side edge 3a of the first side panel 3 and a side edge 4a of the second side panel 4 are joined by means of the connecting means 14 to respective opposite side edges 12 and 13 of the main panel 2. Similarly, a head- 3c and a bottom-edge 3d of the first side panel 3 and a head- 4c and a bottom-edge 4d of the second side panel 4 are joined by means of connecting means 14 to at least one portion of the head-and bottom-edge 10 and 11 of the main panel 2.
[0020] Since only one side edge 3a and 4a, particularly the side edge facing outwards, is joined to the main panel 2, the side pouches 5 and 6 have an opening facing the middle line M of the main panel 2.
[0021] The middle panel 7 has side edges 7a and 7b and a bottom edge 7d joined to the main panel 2 via the connection means 14; thereby, the central pouch 8 is defined, which has an opening facing the head edge 10 of the main panel 2.
[0022] It should be noted in Fig. 2 and 3 that the bottom edge 7d of the central panel 2 is joined to a portion of the bottom edge 11 of the main panel 2, that the side edges 7a and 7b of the central panel 7 are parallel to the middle line M and that the central pouch 8 has a head edge 7a overlapped and transversal to the middle line M to define an elongated central pouch of open rectangular shape. However, the size of the central panel 7 of the central pouch 8 is smaller than the size of the main panel 2 along the middle line M, particularly the central pouch 8 is less high than the main panel 2.
[0023] It should be appreciated that, in an embodiment not represented herein, the central pouch 8 can be less high than the main panel 2 and have a head edge 7a of the central panel 7 which is overlapped to a portion of the head edge 10 of the main panel 2 and the respective bottom edges 7d and 11 not overlapped, or, as an alternative, it can be of the same height as the main panel 2 along the middle line M.
[0024] The jacket 1 comprises at least one side flap 15 at least partially overlapped to said first 3 or second 4 side panels and joined to said first 3 or second 4 side panels and to said main panel 2 to provide a containment pouch 16 wherein sheets or envelopes can be inserted, for example, which are connected to the jacketed exercise book. In the example illustrated herein, only one containment pouch 16 is provided at said first side panel 3.
[0025] Particularly, it should be noted that the containment pouch 16 is partially overlapped to the first side pouch 5 and main panel 2 and because a side edge 15a of the side flap 15 is joined to a portion of the side edge 3a of the first side panel 3 and a portion of the side edge 12 of the main panel 2 and further a bottom edge 15d of the side flap 15 is joined to the bottom edge 3d of the first side panel and to a portion of the bottom edge 11 of the main panel 2, the containment pouch 16 is opened on two sides.
[0026] It is observed that the width of the side flap 15 (transversal dimension relative to the middle line M) is greater than the corresponding width of the first side panel 3, to which the side flap 15 is overlapped.
[0027] The main panel 2, the first and second side panels 3 and 4, the central panel 7 and the side flap 15 are mutually joined via connection means 14 which are selected from the group: cold bonding, hot bonding, bonding through adhesive tape, ultrasound welding and radio-frequency welding.
[0028] It should be understood, however, without departing from the broad aspects of the invention that other types of bonding or welding can be used, as a function of the type of coupled material/materials with which the jacket can be used. For glass-like jackets made of clear embossed PVC having a thickness of 150 microns, the connection means 14 are made by means of hot welding.
[0029] During use, as shown in Fig. 5, an exercise book 50 is inserted within the transparent jacket 1 which covers the front face 20, back face 21 and rear face 22 of the exercise book. A paperboard strip carrying for example writings ("ABCD") is inserted within the central pouch 8 of the jacket as an additional element 9 of the jacket and almost entirely hides the rear face 22 of the exercise book, this additional element 9 being of the same size as the jacket along the middle line M.
[0030] A sheet, or envelope, or cardboard, or any flat item can be inserted into the containment pouch 16; in Fig. 4 a folded sheet 23 is illustrated as an example.
[0031] The jacket 1 results to be strengthened by the central panel 7, which prevents the jacket from being cut. The additional element 9 inserted within the pouch 8 contributes to the strengthening of the jacket 1.
[0032] The additional element 9, a paperboard in this instance, can be a printable, writable or colorable surface to identify the subject to which the exercise book is related. In place of differently colored jackets, hence, additional colored elements can be provided in order to identify the exercise book subject. Thereby, all jackets can be made transparent and one can rely on the additional element to customize a jacket, which results in an obvious saving of the manufacturing costs.
[0033] The containment pouch 16 allows to associate sheets and sheet cuttings with an exercise book, which could be otherwise inserted among the pages of the exercise book. This is particularly useful for collecting specific documents that must be kept attached to an exercise book.
[0034] According to a not illustrated variant embodiment of the jacket in Fig. 2, the jacket 1 can comprise the side flap 15 and a further side flap that are partially overlapped and joined to the first 3 and second 4 side panels and to the main panel 2 to provide two containment pouches, from the opposite part relative to the middle line M.
1. A jacket (1) for an exercise book (50) or the like, comprising a main panel (2) to
cover at least one front face (20), a back face (21) and a rear face (22) of said
exercise book (50), said main panel (2) having a middle line (M) arranged at said
rear face (22) when said exercise book (50) is associated with said jacket (1), said
jacket (1) comprising first (3) and second (4) side panels overlapped and joined to
said main panel (2) such as to define a first side pouch (5) and a second side pouch
(6) suitable to receive a first page and a last page of said exercise book (50), respectively,
said jacket (1) being characterized in that it comprises a reinforcement central panel (7), which is overlapped and joined to
said main panel (2) at said middle line (M), said reinforcement central panel (7)
further defining a central pouch (8) for an additional element (9) of said jacket
(1) to be insertable or inserted therein.
2. The jacket according to claim 1, wherein said central pouch (8) has an opening facing
a head edge (10) of said main panel (2), said central panel (7) being joined to said
main panel (2) at side edges (7a, 7b) and a bottom edge (7d) of said central panel
(7).
3. The jacket according to claim 2, wherein said bottom edge (7d) of said central panel
(7) is joined to a portion of a bottom edge (11) of said main panel (2) and said side
edges (7a,7b) of said central panel (7) are parallel to said middle line (M).
4. The jacket according to one of claims 1 to 3, comprising at least one side flap (15)
at least partially overlapped to said first side panel (3) or said second side panel
and joined to said first (3) or second side panel and to said main panel (2) to provide
a containment pouch (16) which is at least partially overlapped to said first (5)
or second side pouch.
5. The jacket according to claim 4, wherein a side edge (15a) and a bottom edge (15d)
of said side flap (15), a portion of a side- (3a) and a bottom-edge (3d) of said first
side panel (3) or second side panel and at least one portion of the side- (12) and
bottom-edge (11) of said main panel (2) are joined.
6. The jacket according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said side flap (15) is at least partially
overlapped to said first side panel (3) or said second side panel and said main panel
(2) and wherein said containment pouch (16) is opened on two sides.
7. The jacket according to any preceding claim, wherein said main panel (2), said central
panel (7), said first side panel (3) and said second side panel (4) are mutually joined
via connection means (14) which are selected from the group: cold bonding, hot bonding,
bonding by means of adhesive tape, ultrasound welding, radio-frequency welding.
8. The jacket according to any claim 4,5,6, wherein said main panel (2), said first side
panel (3) and/or said second side panel (4) and said at least one side flap (15) are
mutually joined by means of connection means (14) selected from the group: cold bonding,
hot bonding, bonding by means of adhesive tape, ultrasound welding, radio-frequency
welding.
9. The jacket according to any preceding claim, wherein said additional element (9) comprises
a printable and/or writable and/or colorable surface.
10. The jacket according to any preceding claim, wherein said additional element (9) is
a further reinforcement element.