GB2270876A - Method of making a hardback book from a paperback book - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of making a hardback book from a paperback book, includes removing the paperback cover from the book and cutting up the paperback cover to form discrete cover portions 4', 5', 6'. The cut-up portions are inserted into a plastic sleeve to form a jacket assembly (14, Fig. 4), the book is bound in a hard cover and then covered with the jacket assembly. The cover portions may be connected together by strips 10 to form a cover sheet 11 prior to inserting into the plastic sleeve. A blurb sheet 12 may be provided at the step of inserting the cover portions into the plastic sleeve such that the blurb sheet can include advertising or other information. <IMAGE>

Description

NETHOD FOR PROVIDING A HARDBACK BOOK AND A HARDBACK BOOK MADE BY SAID METHOD The present invention relates to a method for providing a hardback book and, more particularly, a method for providing a hardback book having a removable dust jacket, and to a book made by said method.

So-called "paperback" books have become widely used in recent years. Such books, which commonly have card or flexible plastics covers, are inexpensive by comparison with conventional hardbacked books and are primarily intended for the private owner. This is why the cover is less durable than that of a hardbacked book and, thus, the book has only a relatively short life during which it can be said to be in good condition.

Due to financial constraints, it has become expedient for libraries to stock paperback books wherever possible.

However, due to the relatively short life of the paperback book in its original binding, it is common for libraries and similar users to re-bind paperbacked books into hard covers. To retain the visual appeal, it has become common to provide hard covers for such a re-bound book in the form of a board cover having a transparent outer plastic layer and with a section of the original paperback cover laminated between the outer transparent plastic layer and the board. However, this laminated arrangement, whilst being durable, looks significantly different from a conventional hardbacked book which normally is provided with a paper cover separate from the board cover.

Where libraries stock conventional hardbacked books, it is the practice for the paper cover to be enclosed in a plastics sleeve, so as to provide a dust jacket for the book. This has the feature of allowing the reader or potential reader to view the so-called "blurb sheet", which is the paper flap normally wrapped around but located inside the front and rear covers of the hardbacked book.

Such a blurb sheet may include a synopsis of the book, details of the author, or other information.

The provision of such a blurb sheet is not usual with a laminated cover re-bound paperbacked book.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of providing a hardback book comprising the following steps: i) providing a paperback book, ii) removing the paperback cover of the book, iii) cutting up the paperback cover to form plural cover portions, iv) providing a transparent plastic sleeve, v) inserting the cover portions into the plastic sleeve to form a jacket assembly, vi) binding the book in a hard cover, and vii) covering the hard covered book with the jacket assembly.

Preferably, the cover portions are connected together to form a cover sheet before said inserting step.

Conveniently said cover portions are connected together by a backing sheet to form a single extended cover sheet prior to said inserting step.

Advantageously, the cover portions may comprise a front portion, a spine portion and a back portion, with blank "blurb" substitute panels at either end.

The hard cover may be inserted into pockets formed by open ends of the plastic sleeve, or alternatively the jacket may be folded inside the hard cover.

Advantageously, a blurb sheet is also provided at step (iv) and the blurb sheet is connected to the cover sheet before said inserting step. The blurb sheet will normally be located inside the hard covers.

The blurb sheet may include advertising or other information.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a paperbacked book with its cover removed, Figure 2 shows a book bound in a hard cover, Figure 3 shows a cover sheet for the book of Figure 2, Figure 4(a) shows a hard covered book covered with a cover assembly in accordance with this invention, the book being shown in an open position, and Figure 4(b) shows the hard covered book of Figure 4(a) in a closed position.

In the Figures like reference numerals denote like parts.

The invention will now be described with reference to the following steps.

A paperbacked book 1 shown in Figure 1 has a cover 2 removed from a book text portion 3. The cover 2 has a front portion 4, a spine portion 5 and a back portion 6.

The book text portion of the paperbacked book is bound in a hard cover formed by a front board 7, a rear board 8 and a flexible spine portion 9 as shown in Figure 2. Any, or all of the end papers 16 shown in Figure 4(a), used in binding the book text portion may carry printed or other information if so desired. Referring to Figure 3, the cover 2 from the paperback book is cut up to form plural cover portions 4', 5', 6'. As the extent of the hard cover is normally greater than that of the paperback cover, the cover portions are connected together in spaced relationship by connecting strips 10, but in their original relationships to form a cover sheet 11. Two blurb sheets 12 are preferably provided for the inside flaps of the front and rear boards respectively. Thus, the blurb sheets 12 may be attached to respective ends of the cover sheet 11 by, for example, use of adhesive.The blurb sheets may incorporate on an outer surface in use, for example, advertising material. One or both of the blurb sheets may additionally, or alternatively, incorporate other information, for example information on the content of the book.

The assembly of a cover sheet with the attached blurb sheets (if provided) is then inserted into one or more pockets formed by at least one open end of a transparent plastic sleeve of the known type, as shown in Figure 4(a) and 4(b), so as to form a jacket assembly 14 for the hardbacked book. As is known, the hard cover may be inserted into pockets 15 of the plastic sleeve so as to releasably attach the jacket assembly to the hard cover, or the jacket may be folded inside the hard cover and preferably attached thereto by adhesive tape.

The book may have a flat back binding, i.e. where the spine is substantially orthogonal to the covers, or a rounded and backed spine, where the spine is rounded and extends beyond the planar surfaces of the covers.

It is to be understood the invention has been described with respect to one embodiment thereof. It is, however, not intended that the invention shall be limited to the described embodiment, as alternatives will readily come to the mind of the skilled man. For example, where a paperbacked book has substantially no spine section to its cover, for example in the case of thin paperbacked books, it may be necessary to provide a suitable spine section for the resulting hardback book. Although in the above embodiment the cover portions were connected together by connecting strips 10, it is possible that the cover portions are connected in other ways, for example by sticking them to a common sheet or by affixing them separately to the transparent plastic sleeve.

In this latter respect, the sleeve may be provided with separate envelope or pocket sections for housing each individual cover section. Further, the transparent plastic sleeve may be clear so that the cover of the paperback book is visible in its original colours, or the sleeve may be coloured in any desired fashion.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS:

1. A method of providing a hardback book comprising the following steps: i) providing a paperback book, ii) removing the paperback cover of the book, iii) cutting up the paperback cover to form plural cover portions, iv) providing a transparent plastic sleeve, v) inserting the cover portions into the plastic sleeve to form a jacket assembly, vi) binding the book in a hard cover, and vii) covering the hard covered book with the jacket assembly.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cover portions are connected together to form a cover sheet before said inserting step.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said cover portions are connected together by a backing sheet to form a single extended cover sheet prior to said inserting step.

4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the cover portions comprise a front portion, a spine portion and a back portion, with blank blurb" substitute panels at either end.

5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the hard cover is inserted into pockets formed by open ends of the plastic sleeve, or the jacket is folded inside the hard cover.

6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a blurb sheet is also provided at step (iv) and the blurb sheet is connected to the cover sheet before said inserting step.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the blurb sheet includes advertising information.

8. A method of providing a hardback book substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

9. A hardback book when produced by the method of any of claims 1 - 8.

10. A hardback book substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.