GB2168290A - Book - Google Patents

Abstract

A book (10) is formed from a sheet of resilient material divided by fold strips (15, 16, 17, 18) into a plurality of page-like areas (14). Strips (16, 17, 18) are of different width to facilitate folding to a rectangular block-like configuration. The sheet may be a laminate formed by two layers of textile material with a foamed plastics or wadding filling, and when folded forms a cushion or pillow. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Book This invention relates to a book, that is to say an item carrying pictures and/or words, particularly for children.

An object of the present invention is to provide an article which can be printed with a plurality of pagelike areas of text and/or illustration and which can serve also as an overlay or cushion-like article.

The invention provides a book constituted by a sheet of resilient material divided by fold-lines into a plurality of page-like areas for bearing text and/or illustration.

The sheet can be a laminate comprising a resilient filling such as foamed material between outer layers of sheet material, such as textile material.

The fold lines can be defined by lines of stitching, welding or the like constituting zones of reduced thickness in the sheet. Some or all of the fold lines can be formed to constitute fold strips of differing width to facilitate folding of the sheet to form a book.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. lisa plan view of a book of the invention laid flat; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section (not to scale) on line fl-Il of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the book in a folded condition; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a fold line.

A preferred book 10 of the invention comprises two sheets 11, 12 of textile material between which is sandwiched a filling layer 13 of resilient foamed plastics material, wadding or the like. The book 10 is divided into eight page-like areas 14 by fold lines. All eight areas on each side, or some of them, can be printed with text and/or illustrations. For a child a sequential nursery rhyme can be printed as a series of illustrations each with accompanying text.

The fold lines are each constituted by a pair of parallel lines of stitching to form a fold strip and are further identified and described below. A central longitudinal fold strip 15 is constituted by a pair of parallel lines of stitching 1 spa, 1 sub whose separation 't' is generally equal to the thickness of the laminate of 11, 12, 13. A first transverse fold strip 16 has two parallel lines of stitching 1 6a, 1 6b whose separation 'T' is approximately equal to double thickness 't'.

Second and third transverse fold lines 17 and 18 are comprised of stitching transverse fold lines 17a, 1 7b and 18a, 18b whose respective separations are 2T and 3T respectively.

To fold the book 10 for storage, sale or for use as a pillow, cushion or support pad, a first fold is made along strip 16 to form a sheet of doubled thickness.

The doubled sheet is then folded as shown in Fig. 3 to form a compact, attractive approximately rectangular block of book like configuration and appearance. "Page" 14a can be printed to resemble a book cover.

The layer of filling 13 can be continuous, or can consist of individual pieces in each "page" pocket.

The dotted lines in Fig. 2 show the situation where the filling 13 is compressed only by the sewing at the fold strips. The solid lines show the situation where the filling 13 is heavily compressed or nonexistent at the fold strips.

Naturally, the number of fold lines or strips can be increased or decreased at will, the widths of the fold strips being varied to suit the chosen configuration.

The foam filling 13 can be replaced with a layer of wadding, quilting or the like.

The facing layers can be of textile or plastics material. The lines of stitching can be replaced by weld lines or lines of adhesion.

Many other variations are possible within the scope of the following claims.

1. A book constituted by a sheet of resilient material divided by fold lines into a plurality of page-like areas for bearing text and/or illustration.

2. A book as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sheet is a laminate comprising a layer of resilient filling between two sheets of facing material.

3. A book as claimed in claim 2, wherein the filling is of foamed plastics material or wadding.

4. A book as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3 wherein the facing layers are of textile material or of plastics material.

5. A book as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the fold lines are constituted by fold strips defined by parallel lines.

6. A book as claimed in claim 5, wherein the widths of the fold strips varies to facilitate folding to a rectangular block-like configuration.

7. A book substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Book This invention relates to a book, that is to say an item carrying pictures and/or words, particularly for children. An object of the present invention is to provide an article which can be printed with a plurality of pagelike areas of text and/or illustration and which can serve also as an overlay or cushion-like article. The invention provides a book constituted by a sheet of resilient material divided by fold-lines into a plurality of page-like areas for bearing text and/or illustration. The sheet can be a laminate comprising a resilient filling such as foamed material between outer layers of sheet material, such as textile material. The fold lines can be defined by lines of stitching, welding or the like constituting zones of reduced thickness in the sheet. Some or all of the fold lines can be formed to constitute fold strips of differing width to facilitate folding of the sheet to form a book. The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. lisa plan view of a book of the invention laid flat; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section (not to scale) on line fl-Il of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the book in a folded condition; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a fold line. A preferred book 10 of the invention comprises two sheets 11, 12 of textile material between which is sandwiched a filling layer 13 of resilient foamed plastics material, wadding or the like. The book 10 is divided into eight page-like areas 14 by fold lines. All eight areas on each side, or some of them, can be printed with text and/or illustrations. For a child a sequential nursery rhyme can be printed as a series of illustrations each with accompanying text. The fold lines are each constituted by a pair of parallel lines of stitching to form a fold strip and are further identified and described below. A central longitudinal fold strip 15 is constituted by a pair of parallel lines of stitching 1 spa, 1 sub whose separation 't' is generally equal to the thickness of the laminate of 11, 12, 13. A first transverse fold strip 16 has two parallel lines of stitching 1 6a, 1 6b whose separation 'T' is approximately equal to double thickness 't'. Second and third transverse fold lines 17 and 18 are comprised of stitching transverse fold lines 17a, 1 7b and 18a, 18b whose respective separations are 2T and 3T respectively. To fold the book 10 for storage, sale or for use as a pillow, cushion or support pad, a first fold is made along strip 16 to form a sheet of doubled thickness. The doubled sheet is then folded as shown in Fig. 3 to form a compact, attractive approximately rectangular block of book like configuration and appearance. "Page" 14a can be printed to resemble a book cover. The layer of filling 13 can be continuous, or can consist of individual pieces in each "page" pocket. The dotted lines in Fig. 2 show the situation where the filling 13 is compressed only by the sewing at the fold strips. The solid lines show the situation where the filling 13 is heavily compressed or nonexistent at the fold strips. Naturally, the number of fold lines or strips can be increased or decreased at will, the widths of the fold strips being varied to suit the chosen configuration. The foam filling 13 can be replaced with a layer of wadding, quilting or the like. The facing layers can be of textile or plastics material. The lines of stitching can be replaced by weld lines or lines of adhesion. Many other variations are possible within the scope of the following claims. CLAIMS

1. A book constituted by a sheet of resilient material divided by fold lines into a plurality of page-like areas for bearing text and/or illustration.

2. A book as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sheet is a laminate comprising a layer of resilient filling between two sheets of facing material.

3. A book as claimed in claim 2, wherein the filling is of foamed plastics material or wadding.

4. A book as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3 wherein the facing layers are of textile material or of plastics material.

5. A book as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the fold lines are constituted by fold strips defined by parallel lines.

6. A book as claimed in claim 5, wherein the widths of the fold strips varies to facilitate folding to a rectangular block-like configuration.

7. A book substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.