GB2320221A

GB2320221A - Childrens' book in the shape of a caterpillar or ball

Info

Publication number: GB2320221A
Application number: GB9726261A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Stewart Cowley
Original assignee: VICTORIA HOUSE PUBLISHING LIMI
Current assignee: VICTORIA HOUSE PUBLISHING LIMI
Priority date: 1996-12-11
Filing date: 1997-12-11
Publication date: 1998-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 2017-12-11
Also published as: GB9726261D0; GB2320221B; GB9625780D0

Abstract

The book has moulded three-dimensional front and back covers 3,4 interconnected by concertina-like pages 2. The covers are held together by a snap-fitting mechanism 5.

Description

BOOR The present invention relates to a book, in particular to a childrens' book comprising a plurality of pages joined in a concertina-like structure.

Many children's books have pages joined in a chain and folded in a zigzag manner, so that the book can be opened out into a concertina structure or alternatively folded up for storage purposes. If they have covers they are conventional book covers with front and back permanently joined by a spine.

The present invention aims to incorporate additional toy effects into books of this kind, and provides a book comprising front and back covers being three-dimensional structures, and a plurality of pages joined in a concertina-like fashion between said front and back covers, and a fastening mechanism incorporated into the covers which can hold the covers together, but when disengaged allows the covers to be moved apart from one another. This enables the book to be held in a compact form for storage, but if the fastening means are released, the covers can move bodily apart and allow the book to be looked at. The front and back covers are preferably injection-moulded structures secured to each end of the concertina book.

In a preferred form of the invention, this closing mechanism comprises a snap-shut fitting, where the two parts of the fastening are incorporated into the moulding of the two covers.

In one embodiment of the invention, the front and back covers comprise decorated structures resembling, for example, the head and tail of an animal of which therefore the pages represent the body.

In an embodiment of the invention, the book in its open form resembles a caterpillar. Preferably, the covers of the book, and the pages between them, are shaped and coloured in such a way that this resemblance is vivid.

In other embodiments of the invention, the book in its open form resembles another animal or thing, the colours of the component parts being chosen accordingly.

In another embodiment of the invention, the book is secured to front and back covers which are half-round bodies such that the book in its closed state resembles a ball. The covers may comprise injection moulded plastic hemispheres surrounded by a foam outer to provide a bouncy ball.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a caterpillar book in its open form; Figure 2 is a side view of the closed form of the caterpillar book; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a ball book in its open form; and Figure 4 is a side view of the closed form of the ball book.

Referring to the figures, Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention wherein the overall appearance of the book resembles a caterpillar. The book 1 has concertina-like pages 2, a front cover 3 moulded and decorated so that it resembles the head of a friendly caterpillar, a back cover 4 moulded and decorated so that it forms the tail of the insect, and a fastening mechanism 5 incorporated into the front and back covers 3,4. In this embodiment, the fastening comprises a snap-fitting, with studs on one cover and rings on the other.

As shown in Figure 2, the closure mechanism holds the book in a compact closed form, whereby the concertina pages are folded up and the front and back covers are held together by the fastening.

In Figure 3, a further embodiment of the invention is shown, in the form of a ball book. The book 1 has concertina-like pages 2, a front cover 3 and back cover 4 moulded into platic hemispheres, and fastening mechanisms 5 incorporated into the covers 3,4 to enable the book to be held in a closed form. The front and back covers 3,4 are surrounded by foam outer hemispheres 6 to provide bounce.

Figure 4 shows the ball book in its closed form, with the book 1 folded away inside the complete ball 7.

The pages 2 of the book may be made of any suitable material used in childrens' books, including stiff card, cloth or plastic. Similarly, the front and back covers 3,4 may be made of, and decorated with, any suitable material, but vinyl plastic mouldings are preferred.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A book comprising front and back covers being three-dimensional structures, and a plurality of pages joined in a concertina-like fashion between said front and back covers, and a fastening mechanism incorporated into the covers which can hold the covers together, but when disengaged allows the covers to be moved apart from one another.

2. A book according to claim 1 ,wherein the fastening mechanism snaps together to hold the covers together, where the two parts of the fastening are incorporated into respective different covers.

3. A book according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the covers of the book respectively resemble the head and tail of an animal.

4. A book according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each cover of the book is a half-round body, such that when the covers are fastened together the book resembles a ball.

5. A book according to claim 4, wherein the bodies are surrounded on the outside by a resilient material so that the ball is bouncy.

6. A book as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.