Stretchable fabric book cover and method

• US 7,290,801 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2005
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kittrich Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kittrich Corporation
• Inventors: Silverman, Robert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carter; Monica
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, JAMILA O
• Application Number:
  US11/157,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20050225073A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 281/2, 281/3.1, 281/5, 281/15.1, 281/29, 281/51, 281/19.1, 281/34, D19 26- 27
• US Class Current: 281/29
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 3/04 loose
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0448 With subsequent handling [i.e., of product]

Abstract

A flexible, preferably elastic empanelled book cover (12) that has pocket portions (25) to receive the covers of a book (10) that is inserted therein. The cover (12) consists of a unitary hexagonal sheet of pliable material such as “SPANDEX”, having extended upper and lower edges, with each edge bisected by a slot (32) of predetermined width that extends orthogonally. Fold lines (34, 36 and 38) form a laterally-extended rectangle, with the side fold lines (38) forming the lateral apices of the hexagon two triangular flap portions (20) of the cover pockets. The in-folded upper and lower flap portions of the hexagon are attached to each other and to the triangular side flap portions, to form the pocket portion (25), with lock stitching (27) at the innermost juncture by the spine opening. A central top and bottom fold-over engages the spine of the book in stabilizing relation. The unitary hexagonal blanks can be economically mass produced from roll material (40).

Claims

1. A stretchable book cover for insertion of a book therein, said cover having outer panel portions for covering the front cover, back cover and spine portions of said book;

said book cover having in-folded panel portions, including a lateral triangular panel, a top panel having at least four sides, and a bottom panel having at least four sides, in mutually edge-joined relation to form a pair of opposed pockets, with each pocket having an elongated aperture extending substantially parallel with said book spine, wherein said cover consists of a unitary, laterally-elongated hexagon of pliable material with extended upper and lower edges, with each edge bisected by said aperture, which is defined as a slot of predetermined width, extending at right angles to the respective upper and lower edge to permit insertion of said front and back covers of said book into the cover.

2. The stretchable book cover as specified in claim 1 further comprising upper and lower laterally-extending fold lines, and side fold lines extending normal to said laterally-extending fold lines and forming a laterally-elongated rectangle therewith, said rectangle having corners substantially coincident with said hexagon sides, wherein said slots extend adjacent to said laterally-extending fold lines in non-intersecting relation therewith, portions of said hexagon lying outside said rectangle being folded inward about said fold lines into mutually adjoining relation;

mutually adjoining edge portions of said hexagon being secured together to form a pair of laterally-opposed pockets, with each pocket having access thereto by way of said elongated aperture, to facilitate the insertion of the covers of a book therein.

3. The stretchable book cover as specified in claim 2 wherein said edge portions are joined in mutual secured relation by fastening means selected from the group consisting of stitching, taping, gluing, ultrasonic welding, R.F welding and heat sealing.

4. The stretchable book cover as specified in claim 1 wherein said pliable material is a fabric comprised of stretchable and elastic threads.

5. The stretchable book cover as specified in claim 1 wherein said slot of a predetermined width in said fabric which is comprised of stretchable and elastic threads is essentially four centimeters in width.

6. The stretchable book cover as specified in claim 1 wherein said outer panel portions have indicia in the form of a plurality of rhinestone/nail head transfers forming a design on said outer panel portion.

7. A method for manufacturing a book cover from a sheet of pliant material including the steps of:

cutting a laterally-elongated, unequal hexagon from a sheet of material sheet, cutting a slot in each laterally-elongated side in a substantially bisecting relation therewith, the slots extending at right angles to the respective elongated sides, and extending a predetermined distance into the hexagon;

creating laterally-extended fold lines and end fold lines orthogonal thereto, to form a rectangle having rectangle corners thereof coincident with the sides of the hexagon, folding inward the portions of the hexagon that are located external to the rectangle to bring the edge portions of the hexagon into mutually adjoining relation, and securing said adjoining edge portions together, thereby forming two pockets to receive, conceal and protect the covers of a book, wherein each pocket comprises a lateral triangular panel, a top panel having at least four sides, and a bottom panel having at least four sides.

8. The method as specified in claim 7 wherein said cutting step is selected from the group consisting of cutting by rule and rotary dies, rule and rotary dies with heating, and rule and rotary dies with ultrasonic energy.

9. The method as specified in claim 7 wherein said bisecting slots are cut to extend adjacent in non-intersecting relation with said laterally extending fold lines, wherein upon the folding upper and lower portions of said hexagon about the lateral-extending fold lines, a pair of central flaps are created, which engage in stabilizing relation with the ends of the spine of a book when the book is inserted within the cover.

10. The method as specified in claim 7 including laying out and cutting a plurality of said hexagonal blanks in adjoining rows having respective hexagons in mutually nested relation, and simultaneously cutting said bisecting slots of two adjoined hexagons as a single slot.

11. The method as specified in claim 7 wherein said adjoining edge portions are stitched together by applying lock stitching to the innermost adjoined edge portions.

12. A stretchable book cover for insertion of a book therein which comprises:

a) a cover blank in the form of an unequal hexagon of pliable material having a top edge, a bottom edge, an angular right side edge and an angular left side edge, with each edge in opposed parallel relationship, b) said top edge having a first slot and said bottom edge having a second slot bisecting each said edges and extending inward at right angles, said slots having a width of from 1 centimeter to 4 centimeters at a predetermined depth, c) a top fold line formed between the angular right side edge, and the left side edge parallel with the top fold line and bordering the first slot, with the cover blank doubled over the top cover fold line, thereby forming a pair of top edge panels, d) a bottom fold line formed between the right side edge, and the left side edge parallel with the bottom fold line and bordering the second slot, with the cover blank doubled over the bottom fold line, thereby forming a pair of bottom edge panels, e) a right side fold line and a left side fold line formed parallel with each other doubled thereupon forming a pair of triangular edge panels, and f) fastening means for attaching the top edge panels, bottom edge panels and triangular edge panels together to form pockets for retaining the book front and back covers, with said first slot and said second slot providing sufficient span to accommodate the book spine, wherein the top edge panels and bottom edge panels have at least four sides.

13. The stretchable book cover as specified in claim 12 wherein said pliable material further comprises a fabric composed of stretchable and elastic threads.

14. The stretchable book cover as specified in claim 13 wherein said first and second slots further comprise a width of essentially 4 centimeters when the pliable material is composed of stretchable and elastic threads.

15. The stretchable book cover as specified in claim 12 wherein said fastening means for attaching the top edge panels, bottom edge panels and triangular edge panels together are selected from the group consisting of stitching, taping, gluing, ultrasonic welding, R.F welding and heat sealing.

16. The stretchable book cover as specified in claim 12 further comprising indicia in the form of a plurality of rhinestone/nail head transfers that form a design on an outer surface of said book cover.